The High Imperial culture is founf most commonly in the middle of the Eldrian Empire, and prominently in the capital city of Eldron. Though many other cultures will refer to all people from the imperial heartlands as Imperials, the High Imperial culture a specific and unique culture that has been formed from the former cultures of the region into one of a modern and scientific curiosity, beleiving in their empire, and ar associated with arrogance and hubris.
History
High Imperial culture emerged from the Middleaxian culture during the 5th and 6th centuries of the Third Age. Middleaxian culture was a heavily fuedal society, with the exception of having a powerful merchant class that controlled the Gold House of the Kingdom's parliament. Middleaxians were known to be shrewed negotiators, businessmen, and bankers. As the Awakening spread throughout the world Middleaxe saw the formation of the Eldrian Empire, which began transitioning away from the fuedal economy towards and early-capitalist model.
By the formation of the empire, Middleaxe controlled Westaxe, Faineshire, and Southaxe. With the empire expanding into parts of Tumbria and Eastaxe, this saw many of the core classes of Middleaxe and Westaxe move to the new provinces. It was here that the first formation of the High Imperial culture began to form. Their abandonment of the towns and cities of the core empire combined with the liberation of the serfs saw those that could move into urban settlements and join the merchant classes, whilst those prominent merchants that moved to the colonial provinces saw their business expertise awarded with the appointment of noble ranks. This created the essence of High Imperial culture - social mobility through capitalism.
Traditional land owning nobles saw their hold on estates and cities decline, as they could be replaced at any moment by an up and coming merchants. Within the Imperial heartlands, this new culture of 'business first' began to inform the lives of the general population. Bargaining and diplomacy became more important in their homeland, as negotiations and business aquisitions became the foremost action of the regular citizen.
A growing scientific class began to boom as well, those that would use machinery instead of magic to bring equality and reliably mass production to the Empire. These scientists began to develop inventions such as gas candles, that could replace torchlight and light based spells, and other many contraptions that began to make the mage class redunant, seeing the disbandment of the Mage's Guild within the empire.
These advancements economically, scientifically, and technologically saw the High Imperials gain a sense of importance. Eldron was the new sentre of thinking and culture of The Awakening, and the Eldrians began to feel it was their 'duty' to spread this thinking to the cultures they conqurered. This led to a sense of Imperial superiority, and that they were better than the people they had conquered.
By the 10th century, the High Imperials hold power across their empire. In their provinces, they are considered to be arrogant and authoritariative by outsiders. Many high imperials still suffer in poverty, with even fewer still living on the fields as their ancestors did, especially in the Imperial homelands.
Common Archetypes
The archetypes for high imperials are for them to be noble speakers and businessmen. They are associated with science, technology, and wealth. Many High Imperial adventurers are bards in search of investment for their arts. Others may be artificers, blending the arts of magic and technology. High Imperials who cannot acheive wealth and prestige through money, or those from poorer backgrounds, may become clerics and paladins of the
Goose God, whilst others may hone their skills as warriors and become fights, often training for five years within the Imperial Army.
Demographics
Human 56%
Halfling 14%
Half-Elf: 10%
Dwarf: 8%
Elf: 5%
Gnome: 5%
Other: 2%
High Imperials are a vast and diverse group of people. They are human domianted, but other races who have been raised in imperial territories find it easy to adapt to their culture. They are a strong group of people
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