The Atrían Empire

Atría (uh-TREE-uh), or the Divine Empire of Atría, is located in Southeast Namrok. It's bordered to the east by Godin, to the west by Rira, to the north by the mountains, and to the south by the sea. It holds many overseas territories, its "jewel" being the city-state colony Ulprugo in the Danarsi Archipelago.

Humans have lived along the Atrin River since prehistoric times, 12-16,000ya. Atrían culture appears starting around 4,000ya, living around the mouth of the river and distinguishing themselves from their oceanic-themed pottery. They lived as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers until around the year PG 2,846, when a man named Rímet united many Atrían clans under one rule. He was deified upon death, becoming Rímet-Zvondír. When Tankyo ascended to Emperor, he declared himself a reincarnation of the god-king.

With the establishment of the Danarsi Colony Ulprugo in PG 42,67 IE in the modern Atrían calendar, the Empire managed to dominate global trade and became the wealthiest state.

History

Full Article: Atrían History

According to traditional Atrían folklore, humanity has lived through four Eras. The First Era is the Golden Age, when the gods lived on Felas alongside humanity. Humans served the gods, and in return they blessed humanity with bountiful food and drink, safety from wild animals and other dangers, and eternal life. This came to an end after humans betrayed the gods, so they left Felas to live in a divine other-world. Humans were left to fend for themselves, vulnerable to beasts and diseases. This was the Second Era, the Fallen Era. The Third Era, known as the Silver Era, began when Rímet formed the first united Atrían state, and Ignolbi Tankyo declared the start of the Fourth Era, the Imperial Era.

Prehistory

Humans have lived along the Atrin River since 16-12,000ya, but the Atrían culture wouldn't appear until 4,000ya. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers, living off the river and everything it provided. The modern clan system first appears around 3,200ya, around the time agriculture is introduced from the west. The Atríans began to settle in permanent housing around this time, creating villages and claiming territories for their clans.

Ancient History

Rímet was son of the chieftain of the Bear Clan, his birth year unknown as any records of his age at death has not survived. He grew up in an era of heavy conflict between the clans, and as a young man he refused to continue his father's warmongering ways. He left his clan, traveling along the Atrin and spreading word that the Atrían people would have to work together or they would destroy each other. The legend says it took him 20 years before gathering the support of the largest Atrían clans, and he became the first King of a united Atría in PG 2,846 - which became Year 1 of the new Era.

Classical History

As íŋol, King of Atría, Rímet focused on diplomatic relations with other peoples in the Basin. He established trade between the peoples further up the Atrin River and the seafaring peoples of the coast. He was beloved by his people, and upon his death in Year 25 he was renamed Rímet-Zvondír. His descendants would make the first Atrían dynasty, and future dynasties would be determined by the Clan whom the King belonged to.

Modern History

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Geography

Atría is located in southeastern Namrok, controlling the entire Great Basin and beyond. Its primarily covered in temperate forests, with wetlands and rainforests along the river and lining the coasts.

Climate

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Environment

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Fauna & Flora

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Government

The modern Imperial government is built off the traditional Atrían kingdom. The Iŋolbí (in-YOHL-bee), also spelled Ignolbí, is the Divine King of Atría. He is a god in human form, a reincarnation of the divine hero Rímet-Zvondír. He is the voice, ears and eyes of the gods. Traditionally, during its kingdom, successors weren't necessarily direct descendants; they didn't have to be related to the king at all. However, Iŋolbí Tankyo claimed his being Rímet-Zvondír reborn could only be inherited by those of his blood, and during the span of the Empire the Emperor had been from Tankyo's family.

Politics

The Ignolbí controls a council of advisors known as the Rada-íŋol (rah-dah-EEN-yol), "Words from the King". There are rumors among commonfolk that they share a direct telepathic link with the Ignolbi. They control different departments of government:

Tax Collection

Military

Diplomacy

Law & Order

Agriculture

Cartography

Landownership

Treasury & Commerce

Rarely does the Ignolbi need to personally involve himself in state affairs; the Rada-íŋol will usually handle disputes.

The Empire mainland is divided into provinces, each controlled by an Avokí (uh-VOH-kee), a duke. They each belong to one of Atría's noble families, called the Dukov (doo-KOHV). Not every Dukov is represented by an Avokí, however; the Ignolbi can pick and choose whom he wants to oversee a territory, and depending on the Emperor it could be as simple as getting on his bad side before a Avokí loses his title and his Dukov loses their honor.

For overseas territories, the leader is called the Uvask (oo-vahsk). He was politically equal to an Avokí, with the extra duty of rebuilding his territory in the Empire's image before ruling proper. An Uvask can be the former king of the defeated state, one who swore loyalty to the Empire in exchange of keeping his wealth and power. Otherwise, the Ignolbi can change the Uvask as he pleased.

Social Classes

The Empire changed how different classes and groups were seen. While the kingdom certainly had its problems, the Empire either made them worse or created entirely new societal problems. Atría was more equal between sexes during its kingdom, with women holding a lot of power in society.

When Tankyo took over and the Empire established itself, women's rights began to be restricted. By modern day (around 150 IE), a woman's entire life was dependant on a man: her father, a brother, her husband, or her son. She couldn't own her own property, or hold positions of power. She had no private possessions and inheritance to pass to her children, unless her husband agreed to it. What hasn't changed is women's power in the home. The family was still ruled by a matriarch, and women were showed great respect within the home. Domestic abuse was not tolerated, especially towards women.

Atría had two castes: the nobility, šlyakta (schlee-yahk-tuh), and the commonfolk, díkro (dee-kroh). In modern day, the commonfolk have developed new class systems within the caste in response to the rise of industrialization and urbanization. Legally, the only distinction within the commonfolk are the lébe (layb), an elite merchant class. These merchants were licensed to sell Imperial goods overseas, and were the ones seen in ports and setting up shop in harbors.

Atrían Clans

The Empire utilizes slavery, being Siero's biggest buyer.

Calendar

Atría uses the Imperial Calendar System, standardized in 27 IE. The traditional Atrían calendar is set to Atría's creation under Rímet, Year 1 = PG 2,846. This was the beginning of the Third Era of Man, according to Atrían folk history (see Religion). When Tankyo became Emperor in PG 109, he established a new Era: the Imperial Era, abbreviated IE.

There are 614-615 days in a year, with a leap year every other year. The year is split into 22 months, all but two 28 days long (the two being 27 days).

Crime & Legal System

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Diplomacy

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Warfare

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Economy

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Currency

Before the Empire, Atría used two coins in its national currency: the copper míy (MEE-yeh) and the silver meléva (meh-LAY-vah).

The míy, colloquially called "the Poorman's Coin" and shortened into pom-coin, was crudely made and imprinted with a symbol of Rímet-Zvondír. It was easy to melt them down to the metal, shave down the sides or counterfeit new ones.

The meléva was made with silver, and edged with gold to prevent shaving.

When Tankyo became Emperor, he added a third coin: the [tbd].

Trade & Commerce

Atría has become a powerful trading power in modern day, inserting itself as the world's merchant.

Demographics

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Important Cities

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Language

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Religion

Full Article: Imperial Faith

The Imperial Faith, colloquially just "the Faith", has traditional Atrían folk belief as its foundation. As it expanded and assimilated local cultures, it absorbed its religion as well and adapted it to their pantheon.

The Faith instructs imperial citizens on how to live the most spiritually gratifying life, focused around the Fourteen Laws:

You shall be committed to your God and Empire.

You shall make sacrifices when necessary, in the name of your God and Empire.

You shall be grateful for all things, for all things are protected by your God and Empire.

You shall love others as you love your God and Empire.

You shall prove your worth, and work to become worthy.

You shall be truthful, and abide by your promises.

You shall care for the world, for it is your gods’ creation and the Iŋolbi’s domain.

You shall not cause chaos, mayhem or harm.

You shall not act with hatred in your heart.

You shall uphold your dignity, and seek to restore it when lost.

You shall honor your elders.

You shall be tolerant and accepting.

You shall not eat more than you need, and make sure everyone has their fair share.

You shall work towards balance in the world.

Major Gods

Words

Education

Traditionally, Atrían education was limited to private tutors paid for by noble families; commonfolk children were taught their parents' trade. The Imperial Public Education System was established in 117 IE

Magic & Technology

Magic

Atría has a complicated history with magic. During its kingdom, magic was viewed as neutral. It wasn't expressly banned by the government, but there were no professional studies like academies or dedicated libraries. An aspiring magician would have to hunt down the spare magic-book in general libraries, and if they were lucky their family would have some spelltomes passed down.

When it became an Empire, the Ignolbi restricted the use of magic. Tankyo was an ethnic Bezutski, and had less favorable opinions of magic. He made it so only those with proper licensing can study and perform magic, and magicians had to be registered with the state. After Tankyo, the Ignolbi weren't so strict on magic but also didn't rescind any of his decisions. The first Imperial Magic Academy was built in PG 64, but the magic taught was focused on combat, training battlemages for the Imperial Armies, and only men were allowed to enroll.

After the Winter Massacres, the Empire's view on magic worsening. Now magic was seen as an "eryla" practice, and therefore it was "inferior" and "dirty" for nami to study. Academies were shut down, and registered magicians had the choice of either giving up their tomes and renouncing magic or being imprisoned indefinitely. However, after a few decades magic became socially acceptable: spelltech was beginning to revolutionise the world, and the Empire knew it would need skilled magicians to develop and maintain it.

Blood Magic has always been a taboo topic in Atrían society, holding one of the harshest views of it in modern day.

Medicine

Science

Technology

Transportation

Communication

Culture

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Daily Life

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Art & Entertainment

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Architecture

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Cuisine

The staple of Imperial cuisine is barley.

Fashion

Ex quod meis per, ea paulo eirmod intellegam usu, eam te propriae fabellas. Nobis graecis has at, an eum audire impetus. Ius epicuri verterem ex, qui cu solet feugiat consetetur. Placerat apeirian et sea, nec wisi viderer definiebas ex, at eum oratio honestatis.