The Povitz (Province) of Karthaig is home to many of the elder races within the
Velgan Empire, although the nonhumans do not rule or govern themselves, nor can they worship their ancestral deities nor carry out their cultural practices. The nonhuman peoples of Povitz, and most of the
Velgan Empire, are not free, instead they are serfs who must seek boyars permission to move or change profession.
Geography
Most of Karthaig is either mountainous or wide open plaines. The Icy Spines mountains run along the north, east, and south of the Povitz while the east is dominated by the Plain of Hammers. In the west Karthaig ends with the Endless Ocean. Karthaig’s capital, Procom, is located under the Icy Spines and the River Ulga runs through the city.
Level of Autonomy
Karthaig is a Povitz (Province) of the
Velgan Empire, and is directly ruled by a noble representative of the Tsar known as an Imperial Boyar. The Boyar is responsible to the Tsar and has broad authority to rule as they please so long as they keep the peace. The
Velgan Empire’s tax collectors have a stranglehold over trade and common tax in the Povitz. The Povitz is subject to a process known as Velganisation of culture and language where practices and language are sought to be destroyed and replaced by Velgan ones; as such all official pledges, documents, and duties are carried out in the Velgan language.
Race Relations
The
Velgan Empire has remarkably and notoriously bad relations between races. The Elder Races have a long history of being opposed, abused, and conquered, a feature that is firmly still the case. Discrimination against nonhumans is entrenched in the legal system of the
Velgan Empire, as they are official second class citizens, who are restricted in terms of employment, ownership, and even where they are permitted to live. Additionally, nonhumans have fewer and worse legal recourses when a crime is committed against them by a
Human. The majority nonhuman provinces also face much greater taxes and restrictions against them.
Views on Arcane Magic
The
Velgan Empire believes that magic is an unpredictable risk, but its use is more than justified in service to the Tsar. The
Velgan Empire is a signature to the
Toc’vastil Accords, but only tacitly conforms to it, allowing various leniencies; providing
Bastille Mages prove their loyalty to the Tsar and Empire they are given more freedom that mages in virtually any other
Human kingdom save for
Aarelan, they are permitted to leave the
Arcane Bastille for pre approved amounts of time, and some are even freed from the confines of the
Arcane Bastille system itself. Mages who are not loyal can be subject to the same abuses seen in other kingdoms.
History
Karthaig was founded by dissidents from the
Orzar’Nack Empire who sought to create an independent kingdom where they could rule themselves. Karthaig established the Council of Clans who elected their rulers. The
Orzar’Nack Empire repeatedly attempted to take control of Karthaig, through diplomacy and force, and despite difficulties Karthaig remained independent.
The independence of Karthaig was not shattered by
Orzar’Nack, but instead the Tsars of
Maskeva and the
Velgan Empire.
Religion
The official state religion of the
Velgan Empire is the
Ebon Flame , a sect of worship to the
Radiant Lady , it is the popular religion within the Empire, and the only one that can be legally worshipped. The dogma of the
Ebon Flame is based upon a hatred of the nonhumans, as well as the belief that the
Radiant Lady is the only true faith. The
Ebon Flame believe that those who are born with magic or learn its arts are cursed, but can be redeemed through devout faith and service to the country.
The
Radiant Lady has been rejected by the majority of those within Oxengrad, especially those within Oxengrad University, however, to avoid legal repercussions many still pay marginal lip service.
Despite the illegality, there are other deities and faiths worshipped within the
Velgan Empire, some of these are the
Seldarine is the most popular pantheon among forest gnomes and elves, and the
Morndinsamman among dwarves and rock gnomes. Likewise the
Draconic Pantheon are favoured among the draconic races.
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