“A finger alone may point the way, but a hundred thousand hands together build the path.”
- First chair Vithimiris, 1 CE.
“Together we strive for greatness, bonded under one flag we can overcome weakness and forge our utopia”
- Empress Vespera, 253 CE.
Daethian Empire
The Daethian Empire, formerly the Republic of Daethia, is a sovereign territory covering most of western Illenfar. It is the single largest nation world-wide and is home to an estimated 78 Million people.
It is currently ruled by Empress Vespera, an elf descendant of the great Vithimiris himself. The empire is currently comprised of four states, Daethia, Veshal, Etrya and Atrus. It has also recently obtained some territory in northern Kairenya.
Life in the Empire:
The empire is characterised by shortage and hardship since the spread of The blight.
Many large, cramped cities have cropped up since the forming of the republic, some of these cities act as manufacturing or trade hubs for the Empire, with Kromostadt being the largest.
Many people still live in small villages and towns, though these have diminished as many seek opportunity in the more urban areas. These individuals tend to lead more simple, traditional lives.
Regardless of whether an individual lives in a remote countryside village or in the cities, their lives are governed by a bureaucratic council, who dictate local law, taxation and production, even down to telling farmers which crops to grow. It is this council that also collects large portions of food, manufactured material and coin to feed the empire’s military.
The councils also tightly control the spread of information, ensuring that anything that may harm the empire directly or indirectly does not come to light. These councils report directly to the now diminished great council, who report to the empress herself.
Daethian Military
The Daethian empire boasts the worlds largest and most effective army in the world, as so far that has mostly proven true, with Atrus being the only real resistance the empire has faced.
Military service, while not mandatory, is a popular career choice for many. Firstly, it pays well - particularly compared to life as a simple farmer. It is also exempt from many strong taxes, allowing individuals to send money back to support their families and loved ones.
Daethia has never had the highest quality equipment, favouring mass production over technical advancement. However, in the last 20 years a new kind of weapon emerged from Daethia - the firearm. A mechanical ‘wonder’ capable of piercing even the thickest of armour, giving even the most unskilled solider a weapon capable of defeating any enemy. Such weapons are still difficult to produce in mass, and are currently still limited the higher ranking officials of the military.
History:
Formation of the Republic
The Republic of Daethia was formed 290 years ago at the end of the great uprising. The puritanical church had been increasingly enforcing their will upon the people for a near century, applying increasingly absurd laws to the lower classes while the upper echelons of society slumped into decadence.
The church, reaching new heights of religious zealotry formed a crusade, with the goal of enforcing new a new tithe, and imprisoning or executing infidels. Much to their dismay, the people rose up in arms against them, abandoned their gods and fought for their land. This war lasted for 10 years, ending with former king Vayerick II being exiled, and his holy Grand-seer executed. The revolutionists were lead by Anton Vithimiris, a scholar, philosopher and political leader, who formed the Council of Daethia and took the rank of First Chair.
The disaster
101 years ago, a magical curse fell over much of eastern Daethia, known as The blight. This loss of agricultural lands pushed the republic of Daethia to the edge of famine. Mages were able to seemingly halt the spread, but leagues of land were lost.
The Empire
After just over 250 years of Republic rule, and an ever growing council body, the council of Daethia was deposed in a single night 48 years ago, known as ‘the night of flame’, lead by Vespera. Her goal was to unify her nation under the guidance of Vithimiris, and put an end to the nauseating bureaucracy and petty conflict of self interested politicians. Daethia, at that time was beginning to falter having never truly recovered from the loss of land.
Under Empress Vespera’s rule, Daethia looked out from its bounders. Its neighbouring kingdoms - corrupt, decrepit and unjust lands. If Vespera could unite one country, why not a continent?
Under her rule Daethia has revolutionised into a seat of industry, embracing mages and the study of the arcane along with new technologies.
Religion
Daethian Religion
God worship and formal religion is officially outlawed in the empire of Daethia. Many still practice their faith in secret, and oft authorities will turn a blind eye to private practice, provided the individual is decent and the worship is generally non-offensive.
For this reason many clerics and paladins have adapted their faith to be their personal belief in the Daethian empire, the Empress and the tenets of Vithimiris.
First Chair Vithimiris performed sweeping reforms to the former kingdom, setting four tenets for the people of Daethia, which are still followed to this day:
Link to originalTenets of Vithimiris
Link to original
- The Strength of Unity: We are not individuals adrift, but a single, unbreakable body. Our personal strength is measured by how it serves the greater whole, for a thousand hands can accomplish what one never could.
- The March of Progress: We leave behind the chaos of the old world for the clarity of our path forward. We build not on the mistakes of the past, but on the firm foundation of our shared vision for a better tomorrow.
- The Virtue of Reality: We do not look to the heavens for answers, for they lie in the strength of our will and the reality of our shared purpose. Our truth is not a whisper from the sky, but a truth we can see, build, and touch.
- Mutual Strength: This is a virtuous cycle. The strength of the people builds the state, and the strength of the state protects the people. A mutual and unbreakable bond.