The empire

Structure

The empire is ruled by the emperor, Pharanox, who delegates power to high kings or high queens. They must undergo training within the capital before being allowed to rule. The people of the empire vote representatives, called overseers, that directly answer to the high king or high queen. The Outlanders are a special elite force that are on equal standing as the high king and high queen. They police and protect the empire.

Emperor

High king - High queen - Outlanders

Overseers - Nobles - King - Queen - Military Officers

Priests - Military

Merchants - Farmers - Craftsmen - Scribes - Laborers

Public Agenda

To further expand the empire and maintain the peace.

History

It all started when Emperor Pharanox decided to protect a tribe of humans. He guided them to safer lands were they could flourish. The lands became far more peaceful as the centuries went by. Eventually Emperor Pharanox decided to expand his lands which gave rise to the empire. During the expanse they allied with other splintered tribes of both humans and jotunn. There were also many dragons that, although reluctant at first, joined under Emperor Pharanox's rule.
There were many bumps and internal conflicts, but they were hammered out by the emperor. He started to understand how to delegate power and how to trust. His long life allowed him to gain great wisdom. First he gave rise to the capital's academy where high kings and high queens could be trained. The same academy would come to host Outlanders with even more extreme training.
Now the empire has control over the known world. From the western ocean to the far west were unexplored land still remains. The northern border are barren polar lands and the icy seas and finally to the south is a forbidden barrier. It is known by many names, the great divide, the edge of the world, the infernal lands... This border stretches from east to west and contains some of the most inhospitable climates.

Demography and Population

Empire population: circa 37 500 000
//Kingdoms have not been named yet.
Totaer Totimnox : circa 4 004 000
Kingdom2 : circa 1 835 000
Totaer Alnophali : circa 2 353 000
Kingdom4 : circa 1 320 000
Kingdom5 : circa 3 246 000
Kingdom6 : circa 1 462 000
Kingdom7 : circa 2 001 000
Kingdom8 : circa 2 376 000
Kingdom9 : circa 2 144 000
Kingdom10 : circa 2 033 000
Kingdom11 : circa 2 804 000
Totaer Totobregol : circa 3 295 000
Kingdom13 : circa 2 323 000
Kingdom14 : circa 2 462 000
Kingdom15 : circa 2 615 000
Totaer Adoth Ithphal : circa 1 187 000

Military

The military has three main branches.
1. The Outlanders act independently. They have authority over other branches.
2. The Lawbringers focuses on the expanse of the empire. Their authority lies only on and outside off the borders of the empire.
3. The Sentinels maintain the peace and have authority within the empire. The Sentinels have a commander within each kingdom, who's authority stops and the border of each kingdom.

Religion

1. Ascendancy People believe Emperor Pharanox to have become a god. Ascendancy named him the prime god, the all-father. According to them the chosen dead will go to the afterlife were they prepare for their god to arrive once he has completed his task on the mortal world.
2. Shards of the Titans The Lords of Metal have their own belief. They say the lands were once filled with titans that wrecked havoc across the land. Nothing could grow. The pure metal titans fought the other titans in an epic battle that lasted for centuries, eventually the metal titans won and then ended their own lives to give way to the new age. When they did all titan remnants spread across the world and everything originated from these shards.
Cults reside throughout the empire, these cults have only inspired acts of cruelty and destruction. Ever since a cult of cannibals was discovered the law has outlawed such groups from even forming in the first place. Yet every half a century or so a cult emerges, it's a constant problem for the empire.

Education

Besides the crafting guilds and the imperial academy there are no formal schools of education. Despite this around 80% of the population is literate enough to the degree that they can use their literacy for their job. Philosophy is practiced by scholars and scribes in dedicated temples or libraries.

Infrastructure

Great walls border the outside of the kingdoms to deter the bigger animals from entering the farmlands. These walls are simple and are made out of massive stone bricks. In front of most walls is a ditch, this can be either a dry moat or filled with water.
Most roads are external to villages since the buildings are all placed next to one another. A lot of them have their entrance placed on the roof. These clusters of buildings also have a mutual underground hall with the town supplies. The roads outside the cities are simple dirt roads. While inside the cities footpaths are made out of tiled stone and the actual road is cobblestone.
Tunnel roads connect the kingdoms. These roads are designed for traveling merchants and are mostly underground to avoid the wild lands. The roads that are above ground have Outlanders patrolling and escorting the travelers along the road.
Almost all kingdoms have aqueducts for the larger cities. They are the architectural pride of the empire and provide water throughout high population zones, that could not sustain itself without it. They are very well protected by the Sentinels.
The large cities have very simple sewage tunnels. Never tall enough for the average human to stand in. The sewage end in pits were the water is drained and the remaining excrement is combined with ashes to create arable soil. The sewage water is also used to fertilize some areas were water is more scarce. There are also many outhouses not connected to the sewage system. Instead the waste is picked up and then thrown with the rest in the pits.

Founding Date

43

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Head of State

Emperor Pharanox

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Unitary state

Economic System

Mixed economy

Currency

While a lot of trade relies on barter there is a coin currency. Gold Coin, Gold Ring, Silver Coin, Silver Ring, Copper Coin, Copper Ring. Rings are worth half as much as their coined equivalent.
The value per coin and ring compared to 1 Gold Coin:
1 Gold Coin (gc) : 2 Gold Rings (gr)
100 Silver Coin (sc) : 200 Silver Rings (sr)
1000 Copper Coin (cc) : 2000 Copper Rings (cr)
Rings can be worn and are most common with lower classes of society who can't protect their wealth as well. Merchants usually weigh rings since they come in many forms; arm- or neck- rings, earrings or other piercings and lastly normal rings. This is different from jewelry, for one currency rings are plain and have a official embossed marking.

Legislative Body

Imperial edicts are made by Pharanox and his council. These laws are absolute across the empire. Each high king or high queen can make their own laws as long as they don't impede on the imperial edicts. They do not have to ask permission for these laws, however an outlander may contest these laws. If this were to happen two representatives of the academy, selected by the emperor, are send to investigate the query.

Judicial Body

The imperial army is the primary force that maintains the peace. The policing branch of the military is called: "The Sentinels". The high king or high queen are not in direct command over the sentinels. They are allowed direct control if the situation deems it necessary.

Official Languages

• Imperial

Related Myths

• The tear of Nox