The Golden Empire
Structure
Culture
The people of the Golden Empire are for the most part welcoming and warm. However the actions of the Emperor has shown that the behaviors of the two species has become much more underhanded as time has gone on. It is not uncommon for visitors to be spied upon, or even outright discriminated against by a few royal loyalists. Unfortunately these Loyalists are only growing in number with many fearing the welcoming persona the Goldens put forward becomes just another ruse to gain power. Despite these fears however the Golden Empire remains a popular destination for gourmands. The people of the nation are lovers of food and cuisine from all over, and some even decide to increase the daily meals to 6 rather than 3. These meals are large and filling, some visitors who try to keep pace with the Goldens quickly find themselves bloated and sick by the second meal of the day. The hearty portions and filling food seems to expand in ones stomach leading to the inability to eat again for a few days. One thing that many find jarring when visiting the Kingdom is the comparatively unstructured society it has compared to the Elysian EMpire and especially the Iron Republic. Few Goldens consider themselves above the other and aside from those that have roles in the army, the guard, or government, all are seen as equal. A ditch digger will find themselves just as welcome in a tavern as a blacksmith.
Another jarring issue that many will come across is the “open door rule” that is present in many of the cities aside from the capital of Wellspring. In essence it is not unusual for complete strangers just to enter a house of someone. This is usually met with warm welcomes and hospitality. However if a non Golden takes part in this, the outsider will be met with strange looks and curt responses.
Homes and buildings are build low to the ground and at times directly into the ground. In a large Kingdom City there are no high rise buildings, and one could easily see clear across the city with only trees blocking the view. However in Wellspring; Emperor Xoton, eager to show off his power, created the large Golden Palace. A large castle that flies in the face of all Halfling and Gnomish Construction conventions and rather takes a page from Human construction with large fortified structures and opulent displays of wealth.
Death and funerals differ greatly in the kingdom depending on the species of the deceased. Non-gnome species and few Halflings have a general funeral with a small gathering of family and friends and is an all-around solemn occasion. However for the majority of Goldens the Gnomish funeral tradition is practiced. Gnomes about to leave on the “long walk” with their mate have one last large party with all members of their family, their friends and even others that they only know because they live in the same town. A large feast is had and stories are passed around while drinks are poured for all. Once the party is finished the Gnome says their final goodbyes and leave for their “long walk” never to be seen again. Halflings do not leave on a “long walk”, instead when a Halfling dies the party is had with the deceased Halfling body propped up as a guest of honor. When the party is finished the body is, either burned, or buried in an unmarked location.
When in the Kingdom it is advised to refer to it as the Empire and never a Kingdom. The people of the Golden Empire have a nationalistic fervor that is not seen in other nations. They are very adamant about its status as an empire despite it’s lack of size, population, or funds. Alluding to it being technically only a kingdom can cause angry rants about the definition of an empire. In recent times the people of the Golden Empire have started espousing a conspiracy theory about how the Golden Empire was a historic nation centuries ago,but its existence was covered up in recent years by the Elysian Empire working with the Grand Archive. The Elysians used this cover up to be able to control the narrative and refute all claims the Golden Empire has on “The Historic land of the Golden Empire'' currently under the control of the Elysian Empire.
Public Agenda
Assets
History
Before the formation of the Golden Empire the gnomes and halflings of the Lanilem Peninsula lived divided with families and shires always at eachothers throats. Oftentimes these feuds would end up in open hostilities with both families attacking one another. In the best of times the feuds would end after the one of the family heads died allowing the grudge to be settled. However more often than not the feuds would end up in either one side being completely wiped out, or both sides being completely decimated. This way of life continued for many years until a young upstart nation named the Elysian Empire started pushing westward towards the Lanilem Peninsula.
Both species, realizing the predicament they were in, put their feuds on pause in order to come up with a solution to the encroaching nation. The family heads and shire mayors met up on 3/25/1820 in a clearing known as the wellspring clearing to discuss. Two camps soon formed one camp led by the gnomish Gazu Family which advocated a migration westward to the Pelbrook Isles, and a Halfling shire mayor named Xoton Nutralna who advocated a unification to fight back against the emperor. Years passed and the two camps could not reach a consensus, and soon war began brewing between the two sides. Suddenly the hostilities ceased as the head of the Gazu family died without warning. Without a head to lead them the migration camp fell apart and the unification party reigned.
Using his newfound momentum Xoton commanded the new nation to be named the Golden Empire and he would serve as Emperor, and on the 23rd of The Month of Growth, 1823 the Golden Empire was established. The clearing of wellspring was named the capital of the nation called Wellspring, and there the Golden Palace began construction, while the gnomes and Halfling began gearing up for combat.
One year later the golden palace completed construction and Emperor Xoton moved into his new home. Once there he started the fortification of the palace while the army only grew in strength, but despite this he knew a full on war would be a death sentence for his fledgling nation he had to come up with a solution.
This solution came to him in the night after a war game with his son Valnan. Xoton noticed his son would never fully commit to an engagement with his father’s army rather he would use scouts and lighter calvary to tie up his father’s army, and slip away without his father being able to launch a counter attack. In the end despite Xoton’s larger numbers and skill of his soldiers, Valnan had achieved overwhelming victory. He knew he would have to use this tactic in order to stand a chance against the Empire’s army. However this alone would not do enough, he knew that he would have to bluff for long enough so his army could become better equipped and prepared so a secondary plan was hatched. He would invite the scouts of the Empire to the nearby town of Calcheth and there he would introduce himself. Once introduced he would begin negotiation and during this time, a group of soldiers disguised as bandits would attack and simulate a huge terror attack. Then as Xonton would “lead the soldiers to safety” he would ask for help from the empire to quell the bandit attacks. Then the empire will be so busy fighting an enemy that doesn't exist they will not notice the army that is only growing stronger while they are only getting weaker. Then on the 12th of the Month of Nights 1825 the plan was carried out.
The operation went off without a hitch and the empire responded that they would help the best they could however the war with the zoog is the top priority. The Golden Empire was overjoyed with this news and began discreetly sending aid to the Zoog as well. This allowed them to weaken the Empire even further. Xoton began looking past his original aspirations for stability and instead began looking towards border expansion especially to the north.
Xoton began putting more pressure on the empire and launched more frequent raids. However in 1828 his fortunes changed and a “bandit” was captured and confessed the entire plan to the Elysian Empire. The Empress of the Elysian Empire Elifae Olmaxim became furious and called for the army to begin attacking the soldiers of the Golden Empire. She made it absolutely clear that the Golden Empire was now enemy number 1, and the Zoog war should be wrapped up or put on the backburner.
With the new found fervor of the Elysian Empire the gains that the Golden Empire had made East and Northward were lost and their unprepared soldiers were quickly out maneuvered. However the Golden Empire dug its heels in and resumed with the guerilla tactics. The battles soon drew to a stalemate and the fighting seemed to have no end, though the winds of fate would soon shift against the Golden Empire again.
The war with the Zoog without warning started to flounder as the Chieftain of the Zoog Akhokles Aivruko was murdered by his chosen daughter on the 4th of the Month of Sunlight 1829 leading to the signing of the Treaty of 1829 between the two nations 2 months later. The Elysian Empire learned more about the treachery of the Golden Empire and their army is now fully able to focus on the Golden Empire, with the empress herself joining the frontlines.
The Golden empire once holding its own started to lose ground fast. The moral boost of the empress combined with the full strength of the army proved too much as the golden empire’s guerilla tactics became ineffective. The experience the empire had fighting the zoog allowed them to handle the Golden Empire much easier. On the second of the Month of Nights 1832 a seeming boon occurred for the Golden Empire. An ambush on a group of soldiers left the Empress Elifae Olmaxim dead; the golden Empire believing it to be a turn of fortune celebrated their kill. However they were unprepared for the consequences. Not even a day later the Elysian Empire army marched straight into the Lanilem peninsula burning and looting any and every town they happened across. The earth was salted and the only thing left in their wake was destruction. The Golden Empire was unable to turn them back and had to retreat, but they were quickly being closed in on , the Elysian Empire now fueled by vengeance. Knowing that the coming storm would only bring destruction the Duke of False Life stepped in and sent a messenger to call a truce. Both sides agreed to a one day truce while the Duke made his appeal. The Duke stated that the war has gone on long enough and that the two sides must come to an agreement.
After much argument and back and forth a treaty was drawn up. The Golden Empire must admit defeat, pay reparations to the Elysian Empire, ceade all claims on the lands to the West of the Misty Divide, and pay a continuing payment to the Elysian Empire for the next 100 Years. in exchange the Elysian Empire will vacate the Lanilem Peninsula and ceade all claims they have on the lands of the Golden Empire. Both Nations satisfied with the outcome, signed the Treaty of 1832 and the Border Skirmishes came to a close on the 13th of The Month of Rest 1832.
The years pass and life in the golden Empire begins to grow without the fear of war. The financial situation of the Golden Empire becomes stable and trade starts opening up. Though the Golden Empire is at peace, schemes and treachery are still performed on other nations the most noteworthy being attempting to press its claim on the Misty Divide nearly leading to an Eluth wide war had the Duke not stepped in again and Authored the Misty Divide Sovereignty agreement in 1858. Other notable examples include, stealing information from the Grand Archive, Attempting to annex the Zoog Lands, a leaked plan to assassinate the Uborean Dynasty chief, and suspected financing of terror group Leviathan’s Claw.
In 1878 the Emperor Xoton died after a battle with sickness. He was succeeded by his Son Valnan Nutralna. It is unknown whether his son will have the same proclivity for scheming and treachery that his father once had, but the Empire remains in a Precarious position with few allies and even fewer prospects for the future.
Demography and Population
Territories
Military
Technological Level
Religion
Foreign Relations
Agriculture & Industry
Trade & Transport
Education
Infrastructure
United we stand, United we stay
Maps
-
The Golden Empire
Map of the Current Land of the Golden Empire