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| The Imperial flag |
Composition: Colonial empire
Geopolitical Stature: Military power
Government: Military dictatorship
Capital: Serenity
Leadership: The Serene Emperor
Dominant Religion:
Dominant Language: Teerviprak
Imports: Alchemical compounds, dyes, furs, hardwoods, incense, ivory, minerals, silk, spices, wine
Exports: Cotton, fish, grain, marble, precious metals, softwoods
Not as old as the Zahhak, but predating the Regnan Federation by quite a few centuries, the sprawling Serene Empire is a colonialist power that boasts a strong navy, a credible magical tradition, and the largest standing army in the known world. Once a culture of peace and faith, recent generations have seen the Empire shift dramatically in favor of expansion by force and a condescending perspective toward other nations, both fueled by an economy which rivals it's neighbors', to the south.
Spanning from the Bone Coast, where the Nom Kordor are interrupted by the Sentinels, in the west to the Kolma in the east, the Empire plays host to a population of millions. On any given day, the realm lays claim to Kolm, as well, although this boast is in name only, and totally ignored by the Trov who live there. The White Sea is more effectively imperial territory, patrolled by the Serene navy as well as scores of merchant vessels that ply the waters between the river delta, south of Serenity, and the northern ports of the Zahhak. The barrier of the White Reach archipelago means that Regnan sea trade generally passes along the outer coastline of the continent, going the long way round to distant Karanduniash in search of silk and dyes. What few ships dare to navigate the treacherous chain of reefs called the Teeth of Delaros to reach the White Sea are far outnumbered by the Empire's merchant fleets, and the bulk of Zahhak trade is made with the north, either across the waves or overland, through the Kolma.
This steady stream of wealth powers the Serene war machine, a massive military industrial complex built on ancient martial traditions that survive, in contemporary times, as institutionalized systems that incorporate things like rank, adherence to orders, and respect for soldiery into the everyday. Honor is less important than strength, and individuals are judged not only by their contributions to society, but also by their loyalty to the Empire. Nationalism is generally confused for patriotism, a practice which the propagandist government heartily encourages�and reinforces�with strict attention to cultural "values:" Patriarchy, dominance over inferiors, subservience to superiors, and a hearty dose of willful ignorance.
Much of the Serene Empire's necessities market is stable and self-sustaining, supported by sufficient land and resources that trade for basics is pointless, except to stimulate investment. Luxuries, on the other hand, are a booming business, and the income saved through reasonable pricing and distribution of essentials allows for a thriving, if foolish and entitled, middle class. Of course, this system is maintained through an extensive slave caste built primarily through forced assimilation of colonized lands. Until the beginning of the last decade, the slave population grew drastically as a result of importation from the "new world" across the Discordant Ocean. This practice continued until the Regnan Federation discovered their ports were being used to exploit and enslave the indigenous peoples of this new continent, at which point Queen Geltrude II began barring imperial vessels from Regnan ports, setting the stage for the current conflict.