Impero Tharrisian
Once a Republic, then an Empire. The Impero Tharrisian (Tharrisian Empire) has been called "The Spreading Storm" by the High Elves of Embrel for centuries, and the reasoning for that seems pretty evident in the common day. The Tharrisian Empire now crosses nearly sea to sea in Kalin, with millions of souls under its territorial control. If it wasn't for various nations acting as a check on Tharrisia's ambitions, it would probably keep conquering until it crossed the entirety of Kalin.
As it stands, Tharrisia is known continent wide for its highly trained and effective Legions as well as its peculiar institution of slavery. To many across the continent, Tharrisia is the boogeyman Empire that will come any day to conquer their town and enslave their children.
There is a kernel of truth in that statement; but while Tharrisia is indeed militaristic and is the only nation to maintain slavery as an institute on the continent, it is also a nation of laws, infrastructure, and knowledge. Tharrisian Citizens and Provinciales enjoy well protected and maintained roads and trading routes, access to many state schools, and strict laws protecting their rights.
Tharrisia is also home to the city of Singlar and its world renowned Singlar Academy, the most comprehensive and large university on the continent and possibly in the world.
Demography and Population
Tharrisa's wide empire covers lands of various former nations and Fallen Cities, despite this wide diversity of land, the population of Tharrisia is primarily Human by raw majority. Humans make up easily 70% of the citizen population, with Olark, Half-Orcs, and Tieflings making up nearly 25% of the remaining 30%.
Despite this relative lack of diversity the Empire has an engrained culture of diversity. Bigotry, when it exists, tends to be directed at national identifiers and not racial ones. As the saying goes "If they can wield a sword and fire a gun in the name of the Empire, then they can wear the Empire's name with pride."
Territories
Tharrisia's empire makes up many once powerful or notable nations, including the once pirate infested Gallows Isle (Now Risanare Isle), Singlar (once an independent Fallen City), Embrel (once home to the High Elves), Forelenium, Pouton, and Idiomaris. Despite its large domain, most of this territory is plentiful and filled with resources, adding to Tharrisia's power.
Military
Tharrisia's military is primarily centered around its renowned Legions and Auxilia Corps.
The Legions are spread across its Empire, though the most well trained and hardened Legions center around Tharrisia and the core territories. Unlike some other nations the Legions are maintained in peacetime as well as war time, with any citizen being able to sign up for military service of differing contrarre lengths. The option for citizens to join the legions as a career has led to a system where the Tharrisian Legions are constantly well trained and ready for battle both domestically and abroad, making them the most well trained and professional army in Kalin.
Backing up the legion are the Auxilia Corps. The Auxilia Corps is made up of recruits from the Impero Tharrisia that aren't citizens and live in the provinces, called Provinciales. While the Legion is made up of well trained infantry, heavy infantry, mages, and cavalry, the Auxilia makes no distinctions and both consists of infantry, as well as any other role the military of Tharrisia needs.
In effect, this means Auxilia act as the common troops of the Tharrisian military machine, as well as the supporting and specialized roles such as artillery, scouting cavalry, and airship crew. Meanwhile the Legions act as the more veteran and elite core that wins battles.
On top of the Legions and Auxilia there are also the Lions of Tharrisia and the navy.
The Lions of Tharrisia have a long and storied history, and act as the honor guards of the Imperatrice, the guards of the Senatus, and the special forces arm of the military. They are some of the most elite soldiers on the continent and known for their expertise in small group combat.
The Navy is an often maligned portion of the Tharrisian military machine. Not since the Fall of Ithalin and the Gallows Isle has Tharrisia really had an equal naval opponent, and so the navy is often seen as a necessity of logistics rather than a place to earn glory and honor like the Legion or Auxilia. Most of the navy is made up of Auxilia, specifically from the Province of Pouton, which is a land whose history is steeped in nautical expertise. While no Tharrisian will go out of their way to honor the Poutonese Auxilia and the role the navy plays in Tharrisian hegemony, neither will they deny its (perhaps boring) importance.
Technological Level
While Tharrisia may not be as technologically advanced as the Union, it maintains friendly relations with the Ordicus Technomantis to advance its use of up to date military and civilian technologies. But its true power is in the holding of Olbern, and thus de-facto control of the Schola Magus and its power over the mages of Kalin. To amplify this, Tharrisia goes out of its way to hire and retain mages for its armies and government.
Religion
The majority of religion practiced in Tharrisia is that of Mantle worship to the Orthodox Church of the Mantle. Tharrisia is especially reverent to Hallos, a god of war and the patron god of Tharrisia.
In the provinces things are a little different. While some provinces such as Pouton are pretty similar to Tharrisia itself in terms of worship, some are a bit less Orthodox. In Idiomaris most worship is done to Idiomar, Saint Celadrien, and Exemplar Qaren instead of Hallos, which is looked down upon, but accepted. In Embrel and Olbern, Lethaego and Suthan tend to have more sway from ancient High Elven traditions (though the High Elves are long gone). For the most part, as long as one gives their due to the Empire, the Empire cares not for what they worship.
The exception to Tharrisia's acceptance is Forelenium. Its ancient Dragon Worship is seen as problematic, especially with the rise of the Strakan Empire to its south. But far more concerning are the Cults of Ris, which not only profess heretical thoughts against the Mantle, but also have a specifically anti-Tharrisian message and mission in their worship and are a constant source of anti-Tharrisian terrorist attacks and radicalization.
Agriculture & Industry
Tharrisia maintains trade relations with its many neighbors, even the Federated Union of Eastern Kalin, its main rival. But most of its agriculture (with the exception of specialty items such as Atresan apples) is produced within its borders, thanks to almost all of Tharrisia's territory being arable and temperate or warm.
In terms of industry, Tharrisia is mostly unparalleled due to its size and worker base with the exception of the Union, who it is tied with, or surpassed depending on who you ask.
One complicated nature of the Tharrisian economy is its practice of slavery. Laws actually forbid more than 1/10th of manual labor being done at places such as mines, farms, and the like from being slave labor to protect paying jobs for citizens and provinciales (even if said jobs pay next to nothing and are slave like in nature). Due to the fact they are limited from contributing to manual labor, slaves are mostly held by the rich as status symbols and house hold servants. It is a common practice for one to sell oneself into slavery to help pay for a child's education or to pay off debts.
Education
Tharrisia has taken queues from other nations on the continent, and offers free compulsory education to all of its citizens. However, this privilege does not extend to the provinciales. Instead, Provinciales must either hope that their specific provincial governor is willing to fund schools (which some are), pay hefty sums to join private schools, or pay less hefty sums to buy their way into citizen schools. Though provinciales face unmasked prejudice by both students and teachers in public schools, and are subject to being kicked out of the school if they need space for a citizen student, entry fee paid or not.
Slaves are not legally promised any education, but many masters will sponsor a slaves education to serve them better in various needs.
Vittoria Eterna Radiosa (Radiant Everlasting Victory)
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
The Spreading Storm, The Wo'Ir (Spreading Storm in Torvish), The Empire
Demonym
Tharrisian
Leader
Government System
Dictatorship
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Tharrisian Lira
Legislative Body
As the Impero Tharrisian has evolved into an empire and power has shifted to the hands of the Imperatrice/Imperatore (Empress/Emperor) the old systems it was built on have stuck around as tools.
To that end, the Empire is still nominally controlled by the Senatus Populi (Senate of the People) and the Senatus Superiorum (Senate of Superiors). The Senatus Populi is made up of the “lower classes” such as tradesmen, craftsmen, laborers, etc and draws its 200 members from that body. The Senatus Superiorum is made up of 190 of the higher classes such as long-term nobles of the city, well regarded veteran commanders, and the richest members of society.
While the Senatus Populi has stayed much the same as it has since its inception (minus its size), the Senatus Superiorum has had the caveats added that anyone added to its number must be approved by the Imperatrice, and the Imperatrice can overrule any decision the Senatus Superiorum makes.
The Senatus Populi may propose and pass laws, and does so on a normal basis. However at any time the Senatus Superiorum may pass a law that supersedes any Populi law. This effectively means that the Populi handle smaller matters that the Superiorum won’t bother to overwrite, while the Superiorum handles larger and more overarching matters of state. These two houses are referred to collectively as “The Tharrisian Senate” or “The Senatus"
Since the Imperatrice has overriding power over the Senatus Superiorum, and the Senatus Superiorum is chosen by the Imperatrice, the Senatus is effectively the method by which the Imperatrice wields power in the Empire since it acts as their rubberstamp. If the Imperatrice desires a law or decision, it will be so.
Judicial Body
Tharrisia has a very intricate and involved legal system. While the Senatus makes the laws, the Judici interprets and enforces them. The Judici cannot be overruled by anyone, not even a Senator. The only way to overturn a Judici ruling is to change the related law and appeal based on the new law.
However the Judges of the Judici are appointed by the Senatus. With the Senatus Populi recommending Judges, and the Senatus Superiorum approving their selection. Judges serve until death or are ousted by the Senatus at either the Populi or Superiorum level.
This has served as another system that the Imperatrice uses to wield power, as the Senatus can remove any Judici that does not comply with the Imperatrice's mandates, and replace them with one that does.
Subsidiary Organizations
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
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