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Lanarian Empire (Luh-NAR-ee-un)

Founded by Melsar the Conqueror, the Lanarian Empire includes twenty states encompassing the entire northern hemisphere of Kavrillia and much of the southern.
  It encompasses the main continent of Lanaria, which is divided into five states: Melsaria, Sylesia, Kevoria, Jolethia, and Clayvia.
  The other states were either discovered and colonized: (Istuzia and Waznat), or were originally independent nations who were conquered or convinced to join the Empire (Aurillia, Alnashia, Narentia, Surelia, Tralenia, and Demaria.)
  After the Empire conquered the southern hemisphere in the 3930s, it divided Vancorra and adjacent archipelagos into the states of Erdiza, Olaria, Sholfrenia, Kerlonia, Ixtakia, Dorodia, Elikonia, and Tanatia.
  Note that Pledaria is a territory of the Lanarian Empire but not part of a state.

Structure

The Emperor or Empress rules the Lanarian Empire. Monarchs may choose anyone to be their successor, but usually select one their own children or grandchildren. The current ruling family is the eleventh dynasty to sit on the throne.   State Governors are subservient to the emperor or empress, but are mostly left to their own devices as far as governing their territories. Many of these governors are the direct descendants of the rulers who were defeated or befriended by Melsar the Conqueror.   The three hundred members of The Council meet in Shalanera, with representatives from across the Empire. They draft legislation and work with the monarch to manage the Empire. They also serve as a system of checks and balances by retaining the right to vote an emperor or empress off the throne in cases of extreme crisis. Centuries ago, Rozandax the Terrible had the dubious honor of being the only ruler ever removed from power in this manner.

History

In ancient times the northern hemisphere was divided into several kingdoms. A cycle of allegiances and wars ended about four thousand years ago when a great leader arose in northeast Lanaria. Melsar the Conqueror led a vast army across the continent and to the neighboring islands, using shrewd diplomacy when possible and military force when necessary to bring all those he encountered under his control.   The western isles of Aurillia and Alnashia were the last holdouts, but after a relentless decade of war they, too, bowed before Melsar’s throne. For the first time, all Lanarian people were unified under one banner.   Any ships that had ever tried to cross the equator were destroyed by enormous, territorial sea creatures known as grekks, making the southern hemisphere a complete unknown until primitive sonar technology finally allowed Lanarian explorers to avoid the great beasts--at least some of the time--and see what lay beyond the horizon.   None were prepared for what they found. Instead of pristine wilderness, they were astounded to find Vancorra inhabited by a proud civilization. Great cities rose from the jungle, boasting monumental temples only rivaled by the imperial capital of Shalanera. Although the language barrier was not easily broken, the people of Vancorra clearly had advanced art, mathematics, and astronomy.   The two cultures clashed immediately. Lanarian civilization treated all genders equally, but Vancorrans were strictly patriarchal. Lanarians worshiped a single Creator deity, while Vancorrans revered an array of gods and goddesses. Most disconcerting to some, however, was their appearance. The Vancorrans had large, dark eyes and hair of deep onyx, quite unlike the shades of brown familiar to Lanarians. Fumbling with unfamiliar words, the Lanarians called the southern people “Vincarans” rather than Vancorrans, and eventually the term became standard.   Impressive though Vancorran civilization was, within a few years it had fallen to the superior technology and unfamiliar diseases of the Lanarian Empire.   It was never technically legal to keep Vincarans as slaves, but the colonial government looked the other way during the first years, as Lanarian entrepreneurs scrambled to take advantage of the plentiful resources on the new continent. Vincaran language was outlawed and their religion prohibited. As Vancorra became more civilized (by Lanarian standards) more just laws were enacted, outright banning slavery and allowing Vincarans to follow their own customs as long as they remained out of sight and did not interfere with Lanarian matters. Left with no choice but to comply, the formerly proud people of Vancorra accepted the mispronounced name “Vincarans” and uneasily settled into their status as second-class citizens.   Centuries passed with the Vincarans chafing under Lanarian rule, until at last tensions exploded into a bloody conflict known ever after as the Great Civil War.   After tens of thousands of lives were lost, and a massive naval battle in the Miantar Passage decimated both group’s forces, young Emperor Xeres of the Lanarian Empire and Ontaz, the political leader of the Vincaran rebellion, signed a treaty to end the war. The Vincarans were granted ownership of three groups of islands in the Oriro Ocean, and any Vincarans who chose to move there would be allowed to leave the Empire’s lands peacefully. Thus was born the independent nation of the Vincaran Federation.   The two decades since have passed with simmering hostility and a few open conflicts. The Lanarian Empire has been recovering slowly but steadily under the leadership of the great peacemaker, Emperor Xeres. But no man, no matter how noble, powerful and influential, can live forever. Xeres' heir, Vazali, now has to guide the Empire into an uncertain future.

Technological Level

In 3927 the Empire's scientists were the first on the planet to invent sonar, allowing their ships to avoid grekks and thus cross the equator for the first time in history. This technological advantage propelled the Empire to world domination.

Religion

Most citizens of the Lanarian Empire follow The Way of the Creator, but there is no official state religion.

Foreign Relations

The Lanarian Empire has technically been at peace with the Vincaran Federation since the latter nation was created with the Treaty of Jantrala at the end of the Great Civil War. Tensions remain high, however.

Agriculture & Industry

In the northern hemisphere, grain crops are primarily grown in the plains of Clayvia and Kevoria, while fruit plantations dominate Jolethia. In the southern hemisphere, the Tanat delta is the agricultural heartland, while the jungles closer to the equator produce fruit.   Olaria is richest in mineral resources.   The fishing industry is robust across Kavrillia, particularly in the higher latitudes where grekks are less of a concern. Harvests are carefully regulated by the imperial government to prevent overfishing. Demaria in particular prides itself on its long history of fishing.

Trade & Transport

An extensive system of high speed rail is used for travel within large landmasses, while commercial shipping lines transport goods over the seas and oceans.

Maps

  • Council Chambers
    The 300-member legislative body of the Lanarian Empire meets in this chamber.
Founding Date
0
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Leader
Leader Title
Founders
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Gazetteer
It is easier to explain which parts of Kavrillia are not part of the Lanarian Empire than it is to list those that are: the archipelagos of Beticorra, Bexalit, and Iremeri belong to the Vincaran Federation. The rest of the planet is under imperial control.
Currency
The kavar is a unit of currency roughly equivalent to $00.75 USD.  There are six rills per kavar.
Legislative Body
Subsidiary Organizations
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Related Ethnicities

Character flag image: by Katie Sullivan

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