The Atrían Empire

Atría (uh-TREE-uh), or the Divine Empire of Atría, is the "Evil Empire" of Felas. Most of the plots involve the Empire on some level, whether it controls the land the story is set or is an active antagonistic force. Its ruled by an god-in-human-form emperor, the Iŋolbí (in-yohl-bee), (also spelled Ignolbi). The first ignolbi, named Tankyo, claimed to be an avatar of Rímet-Zvondír, the deified first king of Atría; each Ignolbi after has been a direct descendent of Tankyo. It holds a massive territory across the continents, its mainland in southeast Namrok but its "jewel" being its colony state Ulprugo in the Danarsi Archipelago.

Atría first became a kingdom in PG 2,846, 1 3E (Year 1 of the Third Era) in the Imperial Calendar. A man named Rímet (ree-met) uniting the numerous clans that lived along the river. He was deified upon death, becoming Rímet-Zvondír (zvohn-deer). In 2737 3E, the king passed away with no declared heir. A former advisor named Tankyo (tahn-kyoh) was named king, and he brought in a new era of prosperity. He claimed he was an avatar of the god-king, and under his rule Atría expanded into a global power. With the establishment of the Danarsi Colony Ulprugo in 67 IE, under the rule of Tankyo's grandson Arutim (ah-roo-tim), the Empire began to dominate global trade.

Atría proper is in Namrok, but the Empire has acquired many oversea territories. The mainland is primarily temperate forests, the river Atrín providing seasonal flooding from the mountains that creates wetlands. To the north lies the small nation of Godin, which used to belong to the Empire but had earned independence in 55 IE. The same situation happened along its western border, with the state of Rira in 114 IE.

History

According to Atrían folk tales, humanity has lived through four Eras. The First Era is known as the Golden Era, when the gods created the universe and lived on Ignaknil alongside humans. Humans served the gods in ignorant bliss, and in return the gods gave them endless food, safety from wild animals, and eternal life. Eventually humans rebelled against the humans, and so the gods left the world and created Zlemyuvír, the Realm of God. Humans lost their immortality and learned the hardships of the world. Thus began the Second Era, known as the Fallen Age. 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 Atrín River since 16-12,000ya, but the Atrían culture wouldn't appear until 4,000ya. They were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, their lives surrounding the river. The food they ate, the grasses they wove into baskets, the clay they made into pottery. They hunted animals that also subsisted off the river's bounty. The ancient Atrían clans appear shortly after the emergence of the culture, and these clans were constantly at war with each other. They were also constantly in conflict with their neighboring peoples, the Desov in the west and the Berutsk in the east. It wasn't all war; many clans developed trading routes between each other, creating some of the earliest highways that are still being used in the modern day.

Rímet (ree-meht) was a son of the Bear Clan cheiftain, and grew up during a particularly heavy period of conflict. His exact birthyear is unknown, but his death is known to be in PG 2,846 as that is the first year of the Third Era. When he took over for his father, he refused to follow in his warmongering ways. He swore the Bear Clan to peace, which was challenged by those who wanted to continue the traditions. Rímet chose to leave the clan, leaving them to fight over who would be cheiftain next, and those who agreed with him followed.

Ancient History

The stories say Rímet spent 20 years traveling along the river and suggesting alliances with the other clans. He eventually gained the support of enough clans to outnumber those still fighting amongst themselves. Rímet led a campaign to assimilate the remaining clans, and declared the unified kingdom of Atría in PG 2,846, which became 1 3E (Year 1 of the Third Era).

Rímet had 13 children, 7 boys and 6 girls, who each became the founder of the new Atrían clans. He died in 25 3E, but his most devoted followers deified him posthumously, declaring him Rímet-Zvondír, meaning "the Eternal One". His children, the clan-founders, would also become gods upon their deaths. His descendents ruled Atría for # years.

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 Atrín 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.

In 2737 3E, íŋol Asík (ah-seek) passed away before naming his heir. The default choice would be his old child, Princess Sendula. Queens were nothing out of the ordinary at this time, but the rumor was the íŋol had purposefully avoided naming her as heir. The other canidate was Tankyo, one of Asík's close advisors. He was Berutsk, his family originally from the mountains to the northeast. They've been involved in politics since the time of Tankyo's great-grandfather; his father had been advisor to the previous íŋol. Tankyo was a shifty man, his nickname among Atrían nobility being The King's Serpent-Tongue, allegedly the reason behind many of the king's later decisions in life.

Tankyo used wit and charisma to charm the Atrían people, and easily swayed the noble courts in his favor. He slandered Sendula, beginning the state's rise of misogyny. Within three years, he managed to convince the whole kingdom the late king's daughter was unfit to rule. In the fall of 2740 3E, she was assassinated.

Tankyo was named íŋol, though he quickly made it clear he wouldn't be like any king Atría had before. He promised to bring the people into a new age of prosperity. He declared himself an avatar of the god-king, and the commonfolk fell for it. Noble houses that had opposed him were stripped of wealth and prestige.

While the first Ignolbi are well-documented and mythologized in modern day, there are many secrets commonfolk and most nobility don't know about. One of these is an underground spelltech research project looking to create a magic superhuman. At this time magic was being restricted under his own orders, keeping this and other secret projects running with the best engineers in the Empire. To read more, check out the article Project: Tagesi.

Tankyo passed away in 22 IE, leaving the throne to his son Tulavír (too-lah-veer). He heavily pushed for expansion, believing Atría was superior among any other state in the Basin. His goal for the empire became leading the world into a modern age, and he planned to do it by controlling international commerce.

In 34 IE, a plague swept through Atría. Iŋolbí Tulavír caught the disease and passed, leaving his eight-year-old son to inherit the throne. His wife acted as regent in the meantime. Every precaution was taken to keep the prince healthy, but three years into the plague the child fell ill and died. The crown went to Tulavír's younger brother Arvatím (ahr-vah-teem), who managed to set the Empire back on its feet and end the plague by the spring of 39 IE.

Arvatím passed away in 41 IE seven years after taking the crown. He had done so much for the Empire in the short amount of time, and his passing was a heavy blow to the commonfolk's morale. His eldest son Donstík (dohn-steek) became Ignolbi, a young man with an aggressive nature. He took after his uncle, focusing military power on expanding the Empire. Only a few years into his reign, his wife was unable to bear him any sons after three daughters, and he took on a second wife in hopes she'd give him an heir. His wife was furious as only her children could be considered legitamite heirs, and in response Donstík had her executed. Official records never say what happened to the Emperor's daughters, seemingly vanishing overnight. Two years after the old Queen's death his new wife did bear him a son, who he named Torok (toh-rok).

Torok wasn't as cruel as his father, but he believed in the Empire and truly saw what his family had been doing as right.

Modern History

With the discovery of the Danarsi archipelago in 2,834 3E, a gobal shift was about to occur. The Empire established their colony Ulprugo in 67 IE, with the port city of Ninevkar (nih-nehv-kahr). Many of the first families to settle Ninevkar were enslaved, and most would never be able to return home. The city would not have grown as rapidly as it did if it weren't for these two factors. The archipelago was famous for its soil, nutrient-rich and even naturally enchanted for higher quality. It made colonies the best place for agriculture, which spurred the development of refrigeration spelltech.

The Winter Massacres occured in 109 IE.

Geography

Atría proper is located in southeastern Namrok, its mainland controlling the entire basin and into the mountains to the north. It sits between latitudes 62-52N.

Atría is primarily deciduous forests, with patches of rainforests along the coast and especially around the mouth of the Atrín River. The other major river in the basin, its brother river to the west, is called the Nitek River. Its northern hills turn coniferous, until giving way to alpine tundra.

Climate

There are four seasons in the Atrían calendar. In Aitu, they are called:

Average summer temperatures range around the 60s, with highs in the low-60s to low-70s and lows in the 50s.

Average winter temperatures range around the high-teens to low-30s, with highs in the mid-20s to high-30s and lows in the teens to high-20s.

Environment

Te has amet modo perfecto, te eum mucius conclusionemque, mel te erat deterruisset. Duo ceteros phaedrum id, ornatus postulant in sea. His at autem inani volutpat. Tollit possit in pri, platonem persecuti ad vix, vel nisl albucius gloriatur no.

Fauna & Flora

The most abundant trees within Atrían mainland territory were spruce, cedar and oak. Pine and fir were more common in higher elevations, especially once the deciduous-dominant forests faded. Birch was more commmon in the lowlands, the only place in the Basin one could find birch-only forests being in the west. Other trees include: aspen, larch, maple, elm, chestnut and walnut. There are many shrubs that dot the entire land: alder, rue, yew, hemlock, holly, rowan, juniper, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, elderberry, honeysuckle, and wintergreen.

Birds found in the Basin are: turkey, grouse, dove, raven, duck, owl, hawk, golden eagle, kestrel, quail, partridge, pheasant, crane, pelican.

Mammals in Atría are: tree squirrel, ground squirrel, rabbit, hare, beaver, skunk, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, weasel, marten, wildcat, mink, bat, wolf, cougar, elk, moose, black bear, brown bear, bobcat, fox, lynx, boar, auroch.

Fish (saltwater and freshwater): sunfish, bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish, carp, cod, perch

Government

Taxes were up to the Avokí (duke), so each province varied and prioritized different goods. As long as the Imperial Quota was made, they were free to do as they wanted to the people. Tolls were common at province borders, and there all sorts of slave taxes; a fee added to the price, a fee for slaves buying their own freedom, a yearly tax for owning slaves to name a few.

Being an imperial citizen meant agreeing to paying an annual tax either by coin, goods, or be given reduced taxes in exchange for military service. Nobility paid land taxes, so commonfolk also had local provincial taxes added on to account for their local lord. Being a citizen was required to buy land to build a new homestead, as well as the lord's permission and enough wealth. Citizens were given free heathcare and education.

Certain things required licenses granted by government authority. Hunting was heavily regulated, whether entire regions cut off from commonfolk or certain animals within a province. Magic was even more restrictive: one required a license to study magic, and one to teach it. Most magician licensing came from military training, as it was the easiest way one could achieve it. Imperial merchants, the lebé, also required proper certification. Without one, a merchant could only sell within Imperial land along with whatever local provincial laws allowed.

Politics

The Iŋolbí (in-YOHL-bee), also spelled Ignolbi, 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. Bisexuality was socially accepted in Atría, and many Ignolbi took numerous spouses of any gender; the only expectation was having a wife to provide him with an heir. All royal marriages had to be approved and subsequentially planned by the Ignolbi's mother as well as the potential bride's mother.

Directly under the Ignolbi is a council of advisors called 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 are all from noble houses, the elite of their clans. They controlled different departments of government:

Tax Collection

Military

Diplomacy

Law & Order

Agriculture

Architecture

Cartography

Landownership

Treasury

Trade & Commerce

Information, Communication & Education

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.

The Kestnik (kehst-nihk) is the viceroy, the only individual with as much power as an Avokí. They spoke for the Ignolbi when he could not physically be present. They were hand-chosen by the Ignolbi, and were often swapped out with each new Ignolbi out of paranoia.

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 or less equal between sexes during its kingdom, with women holding a lot of power in society. Women were just as likely to be named the king's heir as men. When Tankyo took over and the Empire established itself, women's rights were heavily 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.

Within the Empire, slavery was utilized in every day life. Enslavement was a common punishment for crimes, especially for non-citizens. They were labor contracts, but loopholes and hidden rules would often make a slave serve longer. There are those trapped into slavery for the rest of their lives because of these rules. Siero is the Empire's largest supplier of foreign slaves, and TBD* is their highest customer. When a slave was sold to Atría they would become property of the state. Any personal-own contracts were compromised into their imperial contract, but in the Empire slaves were "leased" out to buyers. During this time, a slave could not be majorly harmed or killed; the only punishment was a hefty fine for their previous master.

There were two castes in Atrían society: the nobility, šlyakta (schlee-yahk-tuh); and the commonfolk, díkro (dee-kroh). It was impossible for one to become another, though it would be possible for a commonfolk family accumulate enough wealth to be privledged middle-class. Within the díkro, the only real distinction within the population were the lébe (layb), the elite merchant class. These merchants were licensed to sell imperial goods overseas; without this license, a merchant could only sell domestically.

The šlyakta were made of thirteen noble houses, one from each clan. It's from the clan's respective noble family that the Rada-íŋol are chosen. The thirteen Atrían clans are based off the thirteen Children of Rímet. Each clan historically had a symbolic occupation, a "job" each clan performed for the whole of Atría.

The clan system.

Venmekí, the Bear
The noble family of the Venmeki Clan, and the royal family descended from Tankyo, is the Slivkaník House.

Velukí, the Auroch
info

NAME, the Beaver
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NAME, the Bull
info

NAME, the Catfish
info

NAME, the Crane
The noble family of the Clan is the Bakoyáv House.

NAME, the Eagle
info

NAME, the Elk
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NAME, the Fox
info

Ilankav, the Hare
info

NAME, the Owl
info

NAME, the Salmon
info

NAME, the Wolf
info

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

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.

Diplomacy

When a territory was seized by the Empire, it registered its major cities and surveys were taken of the land. Imperial maps are some of the highest-quality of the modern age. If the previous ruler earned the Ignolbi's favor, they were often allowed to keep their title and wealth. If the king had fought the Empire at every step, they were at the very least deposed and at worst executed.

Warfare

The Atrían force is divided into three divisions: the Army, the Navy, and the Guard.

The Imperial Army are the soldiers trained to fight on land. Within the Army there are three classes of soldier: the Citizen Soldier, the Professional Soldier, and the Enslaved Soldier. Male citizens were conscripted into the Empire's Emergency Forces, called to fight in dire times. Most CS were voluntary fighters, some already trained as a warrior and others hoping for that training themselves. PS are also called Imperial Knights, members of the nobility that devote their lives to being a "hero" of the Empire. They're rarely called into serious battles, more valuable as propaganda when living. ES was one of the ways the Empire sentenced criminals to death, told that if they survive until the end of their contract they would be free but then being thrown on the front lines with little to no armor and weak weaponry.

The Imperial Navy was the Empire's most powerful division, sea travel being integral to modern trade and globalization. There were four types of Imperial Warships: Passenger, built for long travel; Merchant, built for speed with more cargo hold space than anything else; Ramship, oar-powered ships designed to attack other ships; and Warship, footsoldiers that acted as bodyguards for merchant ships.

The Imperial Guardsmen were the soldiers that acted as city guards across the Empire. They usually were local citizens, but during high-tense periods more guards will be deployed from elsewhere.

Economy

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.

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 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

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.

Important Cities

The capitol of the Empire is Zílevo (zee-leh-voh), pop. 20K (159 IE). It is one of the oldest Atrían cities, holding different names through the ages. Its first establishment dates back to the PG 3,200s, according to surviving records, legends and artifact evidence. It was within the size of the Eastern Docks in modern day, the village of the local chieftain. Across the river, where the modern Mead Docks stands, was a rival village. According to legend the chieftain in Zílevo fought the rival village in the PG 3,000s, assimilating it under his power.

The city walls began construction later in history, during the time of Rímet's grandson's reign. However, the city would not become the capitol and home to the king until the 500s 3E.

Language

The official language of the Empire is Aitu, the language of the Atríans. With the rise of the Empire, Aitu has become known as the global trade language. Many imperial citizens are bilingual, learning their first language at home and learning Aitu once starting school.

The first Aitu scripts appear around PG 1,000 (around 1800s 3E). It was used for trade, etched into clay tablets. During this time, it was common for merchant to carry soft clay "stones" and a stencil for when they needed to perform a quick transaction. In modern days this is reflected with merchants carrying a small bound booklet that kept track of their personal transactions.

Official records started being consistently written starting in 1393 3E. They begun with birch-bark paper, using charcoal to write. They were wrapped in scrolls and kept in royal archives, but many withered with time. Starting in 824 3E the king changed the materials to parchment, using techniques adapted from neighboring peoples.

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.

The most important gods in the Faith form a trio named as TBD*. These gods are Rímet-Zvondír (ree-meht zvohn-deer), the First King of Atría deified upon death; Atéavír (uh-tay-uh-veer), the Atrín river god posthumously named Rímet-Zvondír's father as well as the Father of Atría; and Domvír (dohm-veer), the god of the sea and patron of the Imperial Navy.

There are a few gods that have existed across the basin, mythological figures that shared elements across cultures. Some examples are: The Sun-King and his Sun-Wife, the World-Mother, and the Twins of Chaos. The way the Empire has chosen to portray these figures was deliberate, such as smothering the World-Mother's important within the pantheon.

In the Faith, there existed three worlds: the Realm of God (Zlemyuvír, z-lehm-yoo-veer), the Realm of Man (Zlemživik, (zlehm-zchih-vihk), and the Realm of Spirits (Zlemnukdorny, (zlem-nook-dohr-nee). The Realm of Spirits is not the Underworld, instead the afterlife still considered within the Realm of Man. Atríans believe the afterlife physically exists deep under the world, miles underground further than any mortal could dig. Instead, the Realm of Spirits was the land of magic, where it originated and where the Unseen Creatures (incorporeal spirits) exist.

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. Commonfolk children were offered a "complete general study" where they learned arithmetic, Aitu literacy, imperial law and history of the Empire.

Families paid for it through an extra tax for each child yet it was mandetory for all commonfolk children within cities, which made many families struggle financially when it was put into law. Non-citizens paid more for their children to go to school, and had harsher punishments if families were found keeping children from school or unable to keep up with taxes.

A child's studies began at the age of 5, and lasted 10 years. At 15, they were considered educated enough to work in their family's trade or at least have the skills to develop their own. By 159 IE, 80% of the commonfolk children attended public school; 70-80% of the civilian population was literate, a massive difference from pre-imperial times.

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 within a few decades magic became socially acceptable once more: 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

Imperial magic categorized it into two: medicine and warfare. Women, if they were accepted to study magic, were heavily pushed to study medicine; men were given little option than to study for war.

Science

Technology

Transportation

Communication

The telegraph was invented on Felas in 135 IE. It was strictly for government use, powered by magic that could send coded messages across vast distances. The mainland could contact overseas territories much quicker now. It wouldn't be accessible to commonfolk until 172 IE. The telegraph was enchanted, and the person who worked the telegraph had to be spelltech-knowledgable.

The modern mail system was established in 183 IE, courier shops popping up across imperial territories. It didn't matter if the sender or recipient were literate; the courier had an option to read messages when delivering. The only rule was that the message had to be in Aitu. Payments were accounted for by the sender - each province had its own taxes and fees.

Culture

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.

Daily Life

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.

Art & Entertainment

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.

Architecture

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.

Cuisine

The staple of Atrían cuisine is barley. The other major grain in the region is known as rice, the staple crop for their neighbors along the Nitek to the west, the Desov. Historically barley was served in some form with every meal, the most common being bread or porridge. Traditional Atrían-style barley-bread is unleavened, a flatbread commonly baked with seasonal treats like fruits and nuts. When wheat and yeast were introduced from the Empire's conquered societies, barley was mixed to make pastries and sweetbreads. Porridge was commonly mixed with dried and fresh fruits, nuts, honey and sometimes dried meats. Fruit cakes are one of the most common foods found on stalls in larger cities, leavened bread with fresh fruit rather than dried like what went into flatbreads.

Alliums are a large part of Atrían cuisine: onions, garlic, shallots, and chives. One could be found in nearly every meal, like barley. Soup was made with either a water or milk base, and was the most common way vegetables were consumed. Pickling vegetables was a common practice, as well, a common snack in city food stalls. Jams were made from fruit, the traditional way to preserve them for the colder months. Mushrooms were locally gathered and could be added to dishes, with different clans having different uses for them. It continued to be a popular pastime with modern cityfolk, giving them a chance to leave the bustle of society for a little while.

Originally the Atríans domesticated only goats. Cattle, pigs and ducks were influences from other peoples, becoming important to modern cuisine in their own way. Fish was the most common meat the Atríans consumed, hunting - especially larger game - considered the poor man's way to get meat. If prepared fresh, meat could be grilled, sauteed or oven-roasted. To preserve meat, it was put into brine, salted, dried and/or smoked. Hard-boiled eggs are a common hand-snack, but eggs were most commonly adding into baked dishes like pastries.

Milk is typically not drunk raw, instead either fermented into alcohol or cooked into dishes. Butter was always made with garlic and herb, an important ingredient of modern cuisine. Atrían culture is considered "fatty", with its abundance of butter and animal fats. Traditional Atrían goat-cheese is soft to semi-soft, and it was common to add nuts, herbs, and dried fruit. A modern adaption is aging the cheese in oil.

Traditional Atrían beer, still the most commonly drank along the Atrín River, was made with barley and fruits or herbs for additional flavoring. It was considered an adult drink, but during holidays and festivals parents tend to give children as young as six a drink for themselves. Fermented milk was introduced and became a popular drink, sweeted with honey and fruits. It wasn't very alcoholic, and was enjoyed by everyone of any age. Ciders and fruit wines weren't traditionally drank by Atríans, and in modern day is mostly reserved for nobility.

An Atrían's day should consist of three meals: breakfast, eaten in the morning before the workday; dinner, after the workday was over; and supper, eaten in the evening depending on households. Breakfast could be a bowl of porridge or a flatbread, a bowl of curds in whey, or a leavened cake. Dinner was the largest meal, considered the "main" meal of the day for the upper class who didn't spend the day in labor.

Festival foods in Atría can be specific to one holiday or celebration, but there are a few dishes reserved for parties and gatherings. One is called "summer-cheese", made with a mix of soured and fresh milk and cooked with seeds, salt and egg. Butter or cream was often added for flavor. Once in semi-loose curds, the cheese is fried and folded into a roll. The outside was a darkened crisp from the pan, but inside the cheese was thick and soft. Another general festival food are barley-flour rolls, its filling depending on the specific holiday.

Fashion

The basic garment was an elbow length-sleeved tunic that fell around the mid-thigh. In rural regions, this garment doubled as sleepwear and was typically washed on a weekly basis. Men wore trousers over the tunic, and in the summer the final layer was a sleeveless knee-length tunic. Women wore an additional undergarment that fell just above the ankles, with a thicker dress that was an inch or two shorter in general. Working women also wore a full apron as an outergarment. In the winter, men and women alike wore hooded ponchos, with extra scarves and shawl for additional warmth as well as accessorize.

Married women covered their hair in public, the common fashion being a wrap. Wealthier women could decorate their wraps with brooches, chains, other colored fabrics, etc. Unmarried women were still expected to keep their hair tied back, letting hair down and keeping it loose considered childish. Men wore their hair long and tied back, and for facial hair the style of choice was a groomed beard with a bigger mustache.

An old Atrían tradition was young men shaving the sides of their head when they married, wearing his hair in a braid during the wedding. After the wedding, the braid was shaved off and the man would grow his hair out from there. A superstition was if the couple couldn't have a child by the time the man's hair could be tied into a braid, it was a bad omen.

Materials varied between populations and classes. Commoners primarily wore linen, traditional homesteads using goat fur and hide for outergarments. Nobility could afford more valuable materials, mostly imported goods like silk and exotic furs. Commoner jewelry/accessories were made of cheaper materials, painted beads and shells or more valuable materials like metal; nobles adorned themselves with gold, silver, and gemstones, both mundane and magic.