The Unification Calendar is used in Atar Khos. On that calendar, the current year is 84 SU (second Unification) or 219 FU (first Unification). The current population is around three million.
The existence and accuracy of this calendar is symptomatic of how highly developed astronomy is (for the period) in the Empire.
The majority of Atar Khos is taken up by the Khosan Desert. It is also home to the Ataric Plateau and Grand Khosii River
Architecture
Buildings in Atar Khos are built out of clay or stone, depending on one's budget. The personally wealthy both often boast large, multi-story palaces with many cloth/hide windows. The military build similarly large estates, but they are usually somewhat longhouse-like dwellings arranged on a grander campus ground. These buildings rarely feature windows, except perhaps in the roof.
Timekeeping
The Antiquity Empire of Atar Khos divides the day into eighths. First light or dawn is when the sun is directly to the east (obviously). The first early quarter is when the sun forms an angle greater than 0 but lower than 22.5. The second early quarter is for angles between 22.5 and 45. Et cetera. Eventually, you reach noon or midday when the sun is directly overhead. Then, you have the four late quarters, which are basically the same. 90 to 112.5, 112.5 to 135, and so on. Last light or dusk is when the sun is directly to the west.
Needless to say, normal people would eyeball the angle and not measure it to half a degree.
Breakdown Table:
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Long ago, the extremely populous Ataric and Khosii ethnic groups began to develop Clans. Copper metal was found in the mountains, leading to the creation of better hunting weapons. The Clans expanded, and began to butt heads.
300 years ago, the leaders of these clans began to compete against each other, and they formed City-States beneath them. Conflict lasted for four generations (~80 years), before it was settled with the advent of the Unification Emperor
Thus, 220 years ago, the Empire of Atar Khos was founded, with the capital city-state of Imperium ruling over the seven other city-states. The reign of the Unification Dynasty lasted for six generations, but it eventually collapsed.
100 years ago, with the rise of an enigmatic figure named Debrum Voltis, the Unified Empire of Atar Khos broke into civil war. Ten years later, Bronze was discovered, and the bloodshed was immense among the 24 city-states. The conflict lasted for about 15 years, before Debrum Voltis was slain by the Phoenix Emperor at Mount Katharis in the fateful Battle of Imperium. The aftermath was not easy to deal with, but the Phoenix Emperor managed to rebuild. Atar Khos was reformed as the Antiquity Empire, and the previous capital Imperium became the new capital Imperia.
Lineage of Emperors:
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Currently in it's Second Unification, the Antiquity Empire of Atar Khos is comprised of 37 city-states.
However, discontent is brewing. For over forty years, the Autarchs who rule the city-states have been split across four factions:
- The Imperial Faction, who submit themselves to the Emperor, honoring the oaths of fealty their ancestors swore. Imperia, the six city-states surrounding Imperia, and the edge-case outer city-state of Penultima (also known as Bastion) make up this alliance.
- The Traditionalist Faction, who admire the past. They have many gripes with the current Imperial Faction, but generally respect the Emperor's authority. Dangerously, however, is the fledgling group within the faction called the Revivalists, who have an almost mythological devotion to the ancient ways of the 'Clan system', which predates Atar Khos proper. They currently have ten members.
- The Noval Faction, who seek new ways to bring glory to the Empire. They advocate for a more Republic-based society, and are heavily aristocratic. Democratic tendencies exist within the boundaries of these City-States, though corruption is rampant and it would be stranger to find an elected Autarch (they instead call themselves as Primarchs) who isn't incredibly shady and with secrets to hide. The Noval Faction has fifteen members
- The Moderate Faction, led by the allied city-states of Harathin and Krade. They are very new, only emerging in the last couple decades. It is difficult to say exactly what their creed is. They currently have four members, but are always attempting to bring more Autarchs to their side.
Beyond the factional lines, there are also geographical lines. Atar Khos is vast, and always expanding. For that reason, cultural and economic differences have emerged over time, based on the distance from the capital city, from which many supplies are administered
- The 'Central' States are those belonging to the Imperial Faction (sans Penultima)
- The 'Interior' States are roughly evenly split between the Traditionalist Faction and the Noval Faction, at any given time.
- The 'Outer' States are mostly Noval, though a couple of west-ward city-states go against the grain and align themselves with the Traditionalists. Harathin and Krade are Outer States in the eastern end of the empire.
Legal System:
Autarchs/Primarchs elect numerous officials below them. The common name for this position is Magister, but it can change depending on the role to be served.
Magisters handle crime amongst the civilians, though they have a reputation for being lazy and ignoring incidents if they can get away with it.
The military is self-governing in Atar Khos.
Though it's rare for this kind of persecution to actually take place, if the outcry or consequences are great enough, or if they have been personally offended or harmed, the Emperor might declare an Autarch to be a criminal. In that case, one can only attempt to run and hide (bringing their close family if they actually care about them), taking what little they can carry. If they are found, the punishment is always death. Their vacant position will be quickly filled by another member of the same Clan, though usually not a direct family member.
List of City-states
- Altheric: Interior State of the Noval Faction. Population is 118 000.
- Penultima / Bastion: Outer State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 25 000.
- Imperia: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 318 000.
- Jainus: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 142 000.
- Mithyar: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 134 000.
- Sebaster: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 125 000.
- Angbul: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 120 000.
- Tenkhang: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 108 000.
- Vaslangur: Central State of the Imperial Faction. Population is 94 000.
- Denaster: Interior State of the Traditionalist Faction. Population is 72 000.
- Mutiny: Interior State of the Traditionalist Faction. Population is 81 000.
- Harathin: Outer State of the Moderate Faction. Population is 46 000.
- Krade: Outer State of the Moderate Faction. Population is 32 000.
- Gemacitan: Outer State of the Moderate Faction. Population is 46 000.
- Telmok: Outer State of the Moderate Faction. Population is 24 000.
Economy - Currency
Copper, when used for trade, is called "Rhok".
Bronze, when used for trade, is called "Koile".
Tin, when used for trade, is called "Tavi".
Silver, when used for trade, is called "Li-tavi".
Gold, when used for trade, is called "Druve".
Culture
In the Empire of Atar Khos, there are different kinds of greetings depending on one's social class, gender, and context.
- Men of equal standing (such as commoners, or military brethren) will normally clasp hands with one another when meeting for the first time, or when they are familiar and friendly with each other.
- Men of equal status will normally stand apart from one another with hands clasped behind their back when they are acquainted with but not close to one another. They may instead give a single nod if they wish to indicate neither friendliness nor unfriendliness.
- Men who are exceptionally close to one another (such as blood brothers or sworn brothers) may also pat each others backs when clasping hands. They might continue walking while holding hands afterwards.
- Women of equal status will normally briefly incline their heads to one another when meeting for the first time.
- Women of equal status will normally hug one another when they are familiar and friendly with each other. If they are exceptionally close (blood sisters or maybe wives-in-law), they might continue walking with hands on one another's upper backs afterwards.
- Women of equal status will normally stand apart from one another when they are acquainted with but not close to one another.
- Women will normally stand apart from men of equal status with hands clasped in front of them when meeting for the first time or when acquainted but not close. The man will only briefly incline his head in response if he wishes to show respect.
- Husbands and wives will greet each other however they desire in private, but in public the man will usually hold his wife by her waist to indicate their status. Married men will usually place a hand on their wife's lower back when the two are walking together, also to show their relationship.
- Brothers and sisters (or fathers and daughters) normally hug each other when meeting, unless the woman is married in which case the man will usually take the woman's hands in his own. Family members that are not on good terms will probably not hug or take hands.
- Men and women of inferior status will clasp their hands before them and temporarily lower their head to men and women of slightly superior status (such as the status difference between youth and adults, or civilians and veterans).
- Men and women of highly inferior status will clasp their hands before them and maintain a bow to men and women of greatly superior status, until that individual has passed by. They must not make eye contact while bowing this way.
- In the military, men of inferior rank will clasp hands behind their back and stand straight and silent before men of superior rank. When greeting or saying farewell to a superior, they are also expected to perform a salute of dominant hand over opposite shoulder.
- In the military, men of extremely inferior rank will kneel to superior men with their heads lowered. They should not salute unless given a command, in which case they should do so twice.
- In the military, there is a rare salute which is only ever performed when a soldier feels true respect and admiration for a senior. The salute is done by pressing a fist over the heart. This salute is usually only ever seen before a superior sacrifices their own lives for those of their subordinates, or perhaps when a sworn brother sacrifices himself for the others in his regiment.