Ottin Empire
Structure
At the head of the Ottin Empire is the Kaiser. Below the Kaiser are a collection of dukes, grand dukes, free cities, and knightly orders. Though these magnates and organizations owe the Kaiser fealty, the Kaiser can only reliably enforce laws in and call up troops from lands that he inherited seperately from his role as the Kaiser. Underneath the dukes and grand dukes are their various vassals.
When the Imperial Throne is vacant (whether due to death or abdication), a new Kaiser is elected by the Electors. This group is made up of the grand dukes, and some of the larger free cities.
History
The Ottin Empire was founded by an Ottin king by the name of Segbart the Uniter. Through a combination of alliances, wars, and aggressive negotiations, he united several Ottin tribes under his banner. Not only did he fight against other humans, but also against an orc horde, some vampire kings, and some theocracies that worshipped arch-fiends.
Demography and Population
Humans make up the bulk of the population ruled by the Ottin Empire. There are also minorities of elves, half-elves, dwarves, half-orcs, gnomes, and halflings.
Military
Every noble is obligated to maintain household troops. These household troops form the backbone the Ottin Empire's military, and supplemented by militias, mercenaries, and the knights of the knightly orders. The grand dukes and dukes usually had a bodyguard of veterans, equipped with greatswords.
These household troops are mainly made up of trained infantry, though the exact training, equipment, and organization does vary between different nobles. They're typically armed and organized into 4 types of units: halberdiers, spearmen, crossbowmen, and archers. The halberdiers and spearmen of the state troops usually form the backbone (if not entirety) of a state's force's frontline, while the crossbowmen and archers usually acted as concentrated fire support or as skirmishers.
The Ottin Empire's cavalry is predominately provided by the nobility, their retinues, and the knightly orders. These troops are usually either men-at-arms (i.e. heavily armed and armoured lancers) or more lightly armoured mounted crossbowmen. The men-at-arms are used as shock cavalry to break opposing formations while the mounted crossbowmen are used as scouts and skirmishers.
The troops sourced from militias are infantry use similar primary weapons as used the state troops (and for similar battlefield roles), but are generally not as well equipped or trained otherwise. So militia troops are predominately deployed to lesser positions on the battlefield (for example, the state troop spearmen/halberdiers hold the centre while the militias flank them on either side). While most militia units are predominately infantry units, some from more wealthy areas are equipped and trained in the manner of mounted crossbowmen.
Religion
The vast majority of the Ottin Empire's populace are polytheistic. The position of most popular deity belongs to Segbart the Uniter, the founder of the Ottin Empire who was deified after his death.
Agriculture & Industry
Most agriculture in the Ottin Empire is conducted through manoralism, where serfs exchange a portion of their crops and a number of days of working the landlord's fields in exchange for the land that the serfs rent. The most common crops are cereals and legumes which are supplemented with various cash crops like livestock, hemp, or grapes.
Industry is organized around a combination of mills and artisanal workshops.
Trade & Transport
The Ottin Empire's roads mainly focus on connecting settlements with the nearest navigable river. For most of these roads, the responsibility of maintenance falls on the local lord who's fief the road passes through. When maintenance is needed, the lord's serfs are then organized into work gangs by the lord's officials. These serfs are usually obligated due to working to help build or maintain roads (or other such infrastructure) is often included in their lease obligations for the land they rent.
Much of trade in the Ottin Empire travels on its rivers, the largest of which is the River Iva.
Education
Most of the population is primarily educated in how to do their jobs. For the lower classes, that's usually manual labour (whether as miners, farmers, dockworkers, etc.) or artisanal labour (smithing, carpentry, etc.) and on-the-job. For the nobility, reading is a necessity (though writing not so much) and warfare is what the men are primarily educated in. For reading/writing, the nobility can also hire private tutors for their children, while merchants and artisans have to rely on schools/classes set up by religious organizations.
Non-job-related/higher education is primarily organized by religious organizations like temples and monasteries, mainly for the education of their own priests/monks. The younger children of all classes frequently join said temples and monasteries so that they'll be educated enough to make their own way in the world (without having to rely on inheriting wealth, on overworked relatives, or taking on risky occupations), especially since the nobility frequently use priests and/or monks as clerks and advisors.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Demonym
Ottin
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Metal coins are the Ottin Empire's official currency, though many feudal lords and free cities claim the right to mint their own coins. Gold coins are usually known as marks, silver coins known as thalers, and copper as pfennings.
Major Imports
Imports include silk and dyes from the high elven realms, adamantine, mithril, and iron from various countries, but primarily the dwarf holds, and various agricultural and manufactured goods from other human realms.
Legislative Body
The Ottin Empire's laws have to be approved by the Imperial Diet.
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Ranks & Titles
Related Ethnicities
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