The Sublime Osmaniye Empire (Oss-man-ee)

Structure

The Osmaniye sultan, also known as the Padisha ( "lord of kings"), serves as the Empire's sole regent and is considered to be the embodiment of its government, although he does not always exercise complete control. The Osmaniye empire is unique in that the Sultan has persisted as a descendant of the same ruling family since its founding. In the Empire the cultural pressure to uphold the Sultanate is nearly absolute, and even in the case of a changeover in government, it has always been in favor of the same royal line. On no less than eleven occasions the sultan has been deposed and replaced by another heir of the royal line because he was perceived by his enemies as a threat to the state, but no attempt to replace the royal line with a new one has succeeded.
Although the sultan is the supreme monarch, the sultan's political and executive authority are delegated through a system of advisors, viziers, and regional governors. The politics of the state has a number of advisors and ministers gathered around the sultan, including military officers and local elites. This council, known as a Divan, is led by a Grand Vizier who is appointed to assume certain of the sultan's responsibilities and act as his proxy in most matters. The Grand Vizier has considerable independence from the sultan with almost unlimited powers of appointment, dismissal, and supervision. In the empire noone holds more political power than the Grand Vizier except for the Sultan Himself.
Another unique power base in the government of the Osmaniye Empire is the Imperial Harem. Composed of the spouses, children, and partners of the Sultan and his top advisors, the Harem is usually confined away from the public eye for their protection. When a member of the Harem does venture out, it is always under heavy guard against threat of violence or kidnapping. However, the Harem exercises considerable influence over the Sultan and the Divan, and the same emotional influence which makes members of the Harem potential targets also equates to an outsized power and influence upon politics, especially for those more or less sequestered from the world. Some believe this unique perspective lets them better impartially advocate for what is best for everyone in the Empire, some believe they do not have the experience to become involved in governance. The Harem is led by the Valide Sultana (Mother of the sultan), if living, or his most influential partner.
The Empire is subdivided into provinces, each with its own governor known as a Bey. Regional Beys can act with reasonable independence as long as their edicts do not set them up in opposition to the Sultanate.

Culture

Heritage: Dragonkin
The Osmaniye absorbed a great deal of their traditions, art, and institutions of culture from the former Old Persis Empire, and also assimilated culture and traditions from various regions they conquered. At the heart of the Empire a unique culture that is very distinctly Ossmanian dominates, with the language and trappings of Old Persis the preferred vehicle for the projection of an imperial image.
In the various provinces accumulated by the empire over the years, the original local cultures hold more sway. Generally the Beys appointed to these provinces are locals who have been raised up and have a vested interest in encouraging local traditions, or they are outsiders who have learned that seeking to impose changes is a bridge too far for their populations.

Deep Roots

The Empire is heir to some of the most ancient cultures on Terranon, and that foundation shows in their interactions with other countries. At best, this comes across as a benign belief in their own superiority, at worst it can lead to arrogance. Most citizens are very aware of the history of their lands, and how far back it goes, and a great deal of their culture is based upon traditions that in some cases go back millenia. This can be particularly true in the outer provinces, which each have their own deep history, lore, and traditions in addition to those generally practiced in the Empire.

Divided Spaces, Enclosure, And Open Sky

Citizens of the Empire are very concerned with the propriety of physical presence and space. There is a room or place for every activity, and tasks should only be performed in their proper space. Business should not be formally conducted in the same room one would take a meal, for example, though it may be discussed over a meal in an informal way. But to make any decisions or sign any paperwork, a different venue proper for business would be required.
This even extends to the clothing people wear inside or outside, and in public or private rooms. It can seem a morass of unspoken and implicitly understood rules, but in general can be understood by enclosure and open sky. The more private, enclosed, and protected a place a person is, the less clothes they may wear and the more relaxed and informal they can be. When going from a private space into a public one, or moving from inside to outside, a person will add layers of clothes. This can be seen as not only protection from the overly bright sunlight, but protection of a person's identity when mixing with those not as trusted and close as family.
The required presence or lack of clothing also affects the formality of a location. Temple worship, with best clothes and covered heads, is highly formalized. On the other hand a public Haman (bath) will be a very relaxed and informal environment, despite being public.

A Society In Decline

It has been a few centuries since the height of the Empire, and its power and influence are waning. It currently controls less than half of the territory it once did, and opportunities for revitalization through expansion are almost nil. Strong borders maintained by Ruskovitch and Kehmet discourage adventurism to the North and South, while the deserts and arid plains in the East are not cost effective to inhabit more fully. Increased danger along the silk route to the east in the past few hundred years has also precluded expansion in that direction.
Whereas once the Empire grew rich on the trade routes crossing their lands from across the globe, advances in eletech, airships, and water trading routes has severely eroded the income that can be gleaned by tariffs and trade.
Along with the presence of the dangerous Sea of Ruin touching most of the Empire’s coastline, there is a persistent fear amongst the Elite that the Empire is also on the brink of destruction and ruin. This has led to many hasty and not particularly well thought out 'revitalization’ schemes, only some of which have helped. There is also a tendency to adopt anything new, such as Eletech, but again these advancements are often implemented haphazardly.

Cultural Norms

Creation is Art, Art Glorifies Creation

The Arts of the Empire are notable for their focus upon the nature and natural forces of the world. Highly ritualized and symbolic poetry glorifies not only blooming flowers but also the unrelenting harshness of the desert, or a gentle spring rainfall. Visual arts portray plants and animals more so than people, and painted or carved words of poetry are equally common.

Science & Education

Up until the last century, the Empire was considered to be the center of scientific knowledge and achievement. With the advent of eletech this reputation is now in decline, as is much else in the empire, but its past scientific achievements are notable. The empire is still considered the place to find original manuscripts on many topics, and is home to expansive libraries built over centuries which house many translations of books from other cultures.
While the Empire may be a bit behind the curve on Eletech and mechanical advancements, in the areas of Astronomy and Surgery, they still reign supreme. Osmanian doctors and surgeons are considered some of the best, and they have long adopted practices that are just now gaining popularity and use in Europa, such as germ theory. The Empire is also home to some of the largest and best observatories, and their knowledge of the workings of Sepheria’s night sky border on the mystical.
Education for all citizens is considered a must in the Empire, with public schools for children 8-14 subsidized by the sultanate. Particularly bright children of any social class can expect further education in a number of public universities, and later positions in the government, arts, or sciences. No adult is considered to be very accomplished without fluency in several languages, a conversant understanding of the natural sciences, and skill in at least one art such as music, painting, or dance.

A Mosaic Culture

Because the Empire is a patchwork of ancient cultures, society has developed in such a way to prize diversity. Like many different pieces of glass and stone joining together to create a beautiful mosaic, the integration of all into the fabric of the Empire only enhances its glory. The Empire’s citizens have a tendency to meet something or someone new with curiosity and a desire to learn. Of course, their own culture is the best in the world, but that is because so many diverse parts make a beautiful whole and there is always room to integrate more.

Holidays

Aliandimam Yawm (Accession Day) - Spring Equinox, March 20th
This holiday celebrates the Accession of the First Sultan of the Empire to the throne on a day deemed Auspicious by the Temple of Kelesta “When Sephira and Akmon stand equal in the sky.” It is a day marked with feasts and displays of national fervor.
'Atwal Yawm (Longest Day) - Summer Solstice, June 21st
The Longest Day celebrates the victory of Sephira over Akmon, and the advent of shorter days and longer nights. It is marked by evening celebrations and feasts, with candles lit in emulation of Sephira’s stars.
Shahr-ul-Masābīh (Month of Luminous Lanterns) - 8th month of the Lunar year, from crescent moon to crescent moon. Roughly August.
Masabih is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Set during the hottest days of the summer, it is marked by fasting and rest during the daylight hours, with celebrations and feasting in the longer evening hours. Bright lanterns are lit in the evening, from whence the festival gets its name, to enhance and emulate the light from Sephira’s stars. While some business is still conducted under the blazing heat of the summer sun, it is highly encouraged to defer business during this month to the dawn and dusk hours.
Masabih is considered a time for citizens of the Empire to reflect upon their lives; to turn a new page; and to become better people, for the benefit of themselves and others. Socially, the month of Luminous Lanterns offers an opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives for the breaking of the daily fast and additional collective prayers in the evening. There is the custom of neighborhoods breaking the fast in the lantern-lit streets outside their homes, with each house contributing a dish to the communal evening meal. Often, any passersby and local travelers will be invited to join these meals in honor of Sephira.
Adha al-Qadar (The Sacrifice of Fate) - Last Crescent Moon of the Lunar year, roughly December.
Adha al-Qadar is a day dedicated to the Goddess Kalesta. All business is suspended so citizens can spend the day in the contemplation of where they sit in the loom and focusing on the weave for the coming year. Special clothes in black or white with elaborate gold embroidery are worn and anyone with a special responsibility, from the head of a family up to the Sultan himself, makes prayers for understanding and guidance to best lead in accordance with Kalesta’s plan.
Affluent citizens who can afford it sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually a camel, goat, sheep, or ram depending on the region) in honor of Kelesta. The eyes and entrails of the animals are given in offering at one of the many temples of Kalesta, and the entrails are read for insight into the fate of the family for the next year. The Sultan himself sacrifices a prized and unblemished all black animal in proxy for the Empire.
The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts. The family retains one-third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends, and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.
Once every 19 years, a 13th month is added into the Lunar year to bring it back into accordance with the Solar year. This month is known as Kelesta’s Month, and is a special time of reflection and change. The Adha al-Qadar celebrations and sacrifices which occur at the beginning of this month are especially formal and lavish.

Demography and Population

There is a larger than usual percentage of warforged within the citizenry of the Empire, perhaps because some of the most powerful Wizard Kings of the Wizard Wars period were located in and around the Sea of Ruin. There are even small communities of warforged in the major cities of the Empire, often near to a temple of Sephira.

Military

The Osmaniye army was once among the most advanced fighting forces in the world, being one of the first to use muskets and cannons. As with the government, the Sultan is the supreme military officer and is supported by various advisors. The military is subdivided into various corps of career soldiers, the most elite of these being the Janissary corps.
There have been many times throughout the Empire's history when a large, and bored, professional military could have been a dangerous element in the otherwise smoothly running government. During these periods it became traditional to hire out various corps of the military as mercenaries to other countries when they weren't otherwise occupied with the conquests of the Empire. Osmanian Mercenaries have a sterling reputation as well-trained and fierce warriors, known for the meticulous eradication of any target they are set after.
Many of the recent modernization and revitalization efforts of the Empire have been focused on the military, with foreign experts being hired and officers sent for training in western Europan countries.
The Osmanian Navy is currently experiencing a resurgence, with their focus upon control of shipping throughout the dangerous Sea of Ruin and the oceans south of the Empire. It is rumored that the empire has lately partnered with certain Avalonian shipyards to build the first fully underwater submersible ships.

Religion

Primary gods worshiped:

Kelesta, Goddess of Fate

Sephira, Goddess of Night & Adventure

Athesne, Goddess of Knowledge & Magic

Eriu, Goddess of Valor

The Empire in general recognizes Kelesta and Sephira as their primary patron deities. The sultanate in particular sees it as the incontrovertible Fate of the royal line to rule, and fancies the Empire itself to be a golden foundational thread in the loom of fate. Despite the current threat of decline and ruin, the Empire is forever.
Sephira worship has developed in the Empire as a counter to the unrelenting destructive heat of Akmon’s sun. Sephira stands in as a nurturing mother, guiding the Empire's development and offering succor in her cool night beneath her guiding stars.
Athesne and Eiru are also very popular deities, especially among the Empire’s many scholars and the warriors of its military. If there is any irony in the 4 most popular deities in a fairly patriarchal society being female, it remains unremarked upon.
No religion is explicitly outlawed in the Osmaniye Empire, but worship of the most unpopular gods are still relegated to secretive cult worship due to social and cultural pressure.

Agriculture & Industry

The decline in the significance of land routes to the East as Western Europa opened ocean routes that bypassed the Empire has been a significant contributor to its overall decline, as had an increase in danger along the silk routes. Previously, high tariffs on goods passing through were a primary driver of the Osmanian economy. Currently, there is a larger focus on finished textiles, taking materials from the east and transforming them into finished goods for western markets. The most popular and highly sought after are highly patterned carpets that are currently all the rage in Europa.
The Empire is currently in negotiations with the country of Kemet to build a large canal between their two countries which would connect the Sea of Ruin to the southern oceans. if such a canal is built, the Empire would be able to regain a large degree of economic power they once enjoyed by dominating shipping from East to West as securely as they once dominated land based trade.
Another major driver of the Empire’s economy is the funds paid directly to the Sultanate for the use of military corps as international mercenaries. This has been a steady source of income for the government, though declined in recent years as the Empire struggles to keep up with eletech advancements in warfare and the general season of peace throughout Europa.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Capital

Al Khalut

Demonym

Osmanian

Government System

Monarchy, Crowned Republic

Gazetteer

The Ifriti Dessert: Arabian Peninsula. populated by roaming Bedouin tribes
South Sea: Sea between Vodacce and Sultanate
Sea of Ruin
Forbidden Land: Island civilization- now blasted and ruined from Wizard Wars
Mount Olympus: Floating Island, originally over the Forbidden Lands, now drifted further into the Sea of Ruin
Salamis: Island Of cyprus equivalent, relatively safe area in the sea of ruin. waypoint for crossing