Gilm
The largest empirein Baleria, and one of the oldest, being founded in the later years of the second age. Gilm is one of the greater powers to be contended with in this area of the world. Gilm is divided between two ruling factions; the nobility and the priesthood. In the last decades the priesthood have gained in power at the expense of the nobility, although the priesthood doesn't have any legislative powers. Instead they hold the masses in their grasp. The nobility deals with laws and appoint judges as well as rule over the military, and in that regard the nation functions as a standard feudal monarchy. The royal family stands strong, though they seldom bother with any legislation any more, functioning mostly as symbols of worship. The Emperor, or Dracon as he is referred to, has absolute power and his decree is law. Popular belief will have the royal family are descendants of Dragons, and the Dracon is ranked as the divine priest of the Draconic religion. In this regard the Kingdom stands aside from the other nations, in that they worship dragons in general, and the great pantheon are depicted as dragons and great spirits.
Structure
Gilm is divided between three ruling factions; The crown, the nobility and the priesthood.
The crowns power is supreme, and laws issued from the emperor is written as divine mandates affecting all of the empire.
The nobility deals with regional laws, collect taxes for the crown and field armies, and in that regard the nation functions as a standard feudal monarchy.
The priesthood serves as guardians of moral and conduits to the divine will of the gods. They serve in all layers of society from healers to judges, and officiate any official dealings. In the last century the priesthood have gained in power at the expense of the nobility, for although the priesthood doesn't have any legislative powers they are involved in all dealings. They are the healers and the judges, and they hold the masses in their grasp.
Culture
Society is organized into a complex and strict hierarchical caste system. Upward mobility between casts are nearly impossible, as one do not change status by marriage, and children will nearly always belong to the lesser of two casts. Only the higher casts can chose to elevate someone to their own caste, and this in turn must adhere to strict rituals and costs.
Besides the Hierachical division between cast levels, there are lesser casts within each level and suitable accepted dress codes, wich is most strongly adhered within the middle caste.
Casts in Gilm are starkly visible, as your caste is tattoed onto the face as part of a maturity ritual, and the castes also comes with different dress codes and allowed colors. Black for instance is reserved for the nobility, while white is reserved for the ordained.
Divine birth
Emperor
Royal family
Higher cast
Ordained (Clerics and paladins and priests)
Ruler (Nobility)
Warrior (Fully accepted warriors)
Middle caste
Craftsman (Artisans)
Trader (Traveling merchants)
Lesser cast
Pessants (Farmers, woodsmen, miners)
Servant (Slaves)
Emperor
Royal family
Higher cast
Ordained (Clerics and paladins and priests)
Ruler (Nobility)
Warrior (Fully accepted warriors)
Middle caste
Craftsman (Artisans)
Trader (Traveling merchants)
Lesser cast
Pessants (Farmers, woodsmen, miners)
Servant (Slaves)
Public Agenda
Since the rise of the Draconic rulers some 1600 years ago Gilm has grown many times over, consuming many other nations and peoples, to grow into the power it is today. They were stopped in their expansion only when Dhima was formed in the east, and their war with Tulim stagnated years ago. In the North Tulim lost a lot of land, but the situation there stabilized around the aid of Herestan, simultaneously when Gilm had to reinforce the west front against monsters from the Balerian heartlands.
In regards to foreign policy they are largely expansionist and are in conflict along the entire border, that said not much has happened along the borders to The wild lands and Tulim, where the conflict has cooled off to a tense stalemate with extensive fortifications on both sides. Gilm Has in the later years sought to amend relations abroad and has started to aggressively push into the wild lands. A lot of would be adventurers have been flocking to Gilm to seek riches in the wild frontier.
They are actively pushing into the wild lands in a goal to reach the jaws of the sky. This quest has been ongoing for the last 160 years now and has cost hundreds of thousands, mostly slave soldiers, as they encounter the horrors that live in the wild lands. Last year they experienced a severe set back as monsters they encountered decimated most of the advancing soldiers and routed the army. They lost considerable ground due to this, and have had to regroup and build up the expeditionary army again. Now they are preparing to go at it again, this time with siege weapons and an untold number of slaves bought from Kellerion. They are relentless in this task, as it has been decreed by the highest circle of the priesthood as a divine undertaking. The Jaws of the sky is a mountain range situated deep in the wild lands nestled between horrid bogs, wild rivers, monster-filled planes and wild forests. Many a ruin from bygone ages can be found in the wild lands, and lure with their secrets and treasures.
History
The royal family stands strong, though they seldom bother with any legislation any more, functioning mostly as symbols of worship. The emperor, or Dracon as he is referred to, has absolute power and his decree is law. History tells the royal family are descendants of Dragons, and the Dracon is ranked as the divine priest of the Draconic religion. In this regard the Empire stands aside from the other nations, in that they worship dragons in general, and the great pantheon are depicted as dragons and great spirits.
In fact the royal family can be considered part draconic. At one point in time a King married a half dragon and made a family. What soon became apparent to the king was that his children did not age as others, and they were taller, stronger, smarter and more beautiful than their peers. In fact they where half of what his wife was, but showing no draconic features except for reptilian pupils and unique colorations of the Iris. In time the king died and his son succeeded him. The son, raised by his father, soon proposed to marry his mother so they could sire an even stronger heir. The mother was disgusted by her son's ambitions and soon left Gilm. The new King, now bereft of his ideal wife sought the next best thing, so he married his two sisters. Their children were as them, half of a half dragon, a draco. In time it became evident that the draco were not immortal like half dragons, but they had a vastly extended life span, some 450-500 years. They became infatuated with keeping the bloodline pure, and have for the last 1600 years continued their practice of marrying their siblings. Most of all they wish to become Dragons, and priesthood readily created a cult around this, and have become part of the general religion. The current emperor has ruled for 1100 years and his rule remains strong.
Founding Date
-2862
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Gilmare
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Comments