Imperial Gordunnese
Though the Empire of United Gordunni was a brief moment in the history of this World, the cultural impact it's left on that region cannot be understated. The concept of a united Gordunni, one without factional strife and warlords always in the background of life, is a romantic ideal for the people of the region. The knowledge that it actually happened at one point in time and lasted nearly a hundred years fills the Gordunnese people with a sense of hope that it could happen again one day, and a grief that it crumbled so long ago.
You'd be hard pressed to find a warlord, claimant, powerful mage, or pirate king who doesn't claim to wish to return the Empire to its glory days. All promise their followers that if placed on the throne, they'll unite Gordunni the way Queen Peresha once did: bringing stability, defeating the other warring factions, and reclaiming the inter-regional power Gordunni once held. Those same military leaders will often wear copper ring armor, invoking the image of the former queen's husband and general.
For the average folk of the region, the Empire brings a sense of nostalgia, though no living soul ever experienced it. Imperial construction is still visible across the countryside; from aqueducts to bridges, palaces, temples, and arenas, there are markers everywhere of an authority that had power to build in this land without someone else instantly tearing it down. Citizens of the largest cities still dress in the silks and tall pointed hats, the fashion of the Imperial days, and speak with their best approximation of the old Imperial accent.
Queen Peresha's image can be found in artwork and statuary across the region, as well as in books, poetry, and theater. A number of fictionalized accounts of her life have bled into the real history for the common folk, giving her a semi-mythical status that borders on religious devotion in parts of the region.
You'd be hard pressed to find a warlord, claimant, powerful mage, or pirate king who doesn't claim to wish to return the Empire to its glory days. All promise their followers that if placed on the throne, they'll unite Gordunni the way Queen Peresha once did: bringing stability, defeating the other warring factions, and reclaiming the inter-regional power Gordunni once held. Those same military leaders will often wear copper ring armor, invoking the image of the former queen's husband and general.
For the average folk of the region, the Empire brings a sense of nostalgia, though no living soul ever experienced it. Imperial construction is still visible across the countryside; from aqueducts to bridges, palaces, temples, and arenas, there are markers everywhere of an authority that had power to build in this land without someone else instantly tearing it down. Citizens of the largest cities still dress in the silks and tall pointed hats, the fashion of the Imperial days, and speak with their best approximation of the old Imperial accent.
Queen Peresha's image can be found in artwork and statuary across the region, as well as in books, poetry, and theater. A number of fictionalized accounts of her life have bled into the real history for the common folk, giving her a semi-mythical status that borders on religious devotion in parts of the region.
Comments