# ![[calradian empire banner 1.png|]] ## Who Lives in, and who Created the Empire? Regardless of what stories were concocted to explain the material, economic, and technological advantage of the Imperials, the mundane truth of it is, roughly one thousand years ago the "great" Calradian Empire was nothing more than yet another tribe living in the hill countries of the Calradian Heartlands. But what did set the [[Calradoi]] apart from their neighbors, however, was their cunning for warfare and diplomacy. Whereupon defeating a rival tribe, the [[Calradoi]] – instead of looting everything not nailed down or massacring the men, women, and children, like many other tribes – the [[Calradoi]] chose to assimilate their foes, and even help them rebuild. Although, this came with four major caveats. Firstly, the [[Calradoi]] would allow the major gods and traditions of the enemy tribe to stay, and the Calradians might even incorporate some of those gods into their own beliefs. However, the enemy tribe would begin implementing Calradian customs. Second, the enemy was totally subservient and considered a vassal tribe, whose governor was chosen by the [[Calradoi]] and could only go to war or defend themselves with approval from the [[Calradoi]]. Third, the enemy tribe would grant soldiers, food, and other commodities ad hoc, as needed – and always when demanded. Lastly, the children of the elite in the enemy tribe would be taken as political hostages. Particularly the heir – or next in line. This was done for two reasons, one was to incentivize good behavior, and two was to speed up cultural hegemony by assimilating their heirs through education and customary influences. In other words, thesis, antithesis, and synthesis has always been the Empire’s greatest strength. Implementing many of their enemies’ weaponry, armors, teachings, traditions, and so on. This modality of change innate to the Calradians is most prominent in Calradic governance. - [x] The Calradians are the people of the Empire, though by now they have given their name to the entire continent which they dominate. ==A thousand years ago==, they were ==an undistinguished tribe living in the hill country== between the southern sea and the Battanian woods. One tradition set them apart from their neighbors - ==the Calradoi had no kings==. Eventually the ==Calradians formed an empire==, which evolved into ==a monarchy in all but name==. - [x] ==According to tradition==, ==the first Calradians entered the continent as exiles==, coming from lands across the western ocean. ==But the Empire's center of gravity moved east and south==, and ==their original heartland has==, for the most part, ==been lost to the Vlandians==. - [ ] Slavers took me when I was a girl. ==The Empire tell legends of warrior-women out in the deep steppe==, and when I was sold, they claimed I was one of these - to fight other slaves, to entertain them by making their legends come true. - [ ] The hills of this district are terraced with the ==olive groves== for which ==the southern Empire is famous==, ==producing a light==, ==fragrant oil==. - [ ] ==Gamardan== sits at the head of a small bay that branches off the larger Gulf of Charas. ==The wines of this region are unusually sweet and strong, and valued throughout the Empire==. - [ ] ==Fenon Etir== sits on an outrop overlooking the source of the Etir river, a tributary of the Trand. Villagers here raise grapes, ==producing strong Battanian wines that are highly valued in the Empire and among the Vlandians==. - [ ] ==Melion== in a narrow valley near the center of the Myzead, a rugged plateau in the east of the Empire. Villagers here cultivate mulberry bushes. ==The leaves are harvested and fed to silkworks==, ==producing thread much valued by both refined imperial nobles for their courtwear and hard-riding nomads and frontiersmen==, ==who wear it beneath their armor as an extra layer of protection against arrows==. ## What is the Empire? - [ ] Empire – Saddle Horse: ==The empire has a long equine tradition== and through time, they have strengthened their local breeds by crossing them with the best specimens they encountered throughout the continent. - [ ] ==Zeonica== sits by the seaside at the base of the Iltaric hills, a land of wine, grain and horses. It was ==named for the Lady Zeona==, ==one of the few women to rule the Empire== - ==admittedly as regent for her son rather than Empress Regnant==. - [ ] ==Empire’s core units are heavy infantry==, which are more durable than other infantry in Calradia. - [ ] ==The Empire has spent generations honing the arts of combined-arms warfare==, with cataphracts, spear formations, and archers all doing their part on the battlefield. ## When does the Empire Peak / Collapse? - [ ] The ==Empire was an old bear==. ==Well-fed==, ==slow-moving==. It ==wanted to keep what it had==. The Sturgians were, and are, hungry wolves. - [ ] ==Twenty years ago==, (1064 CE) my uncle ==Pateor led a deputation of his veterans through the streets of Ambrela==, ==requesting a fair compensation for their services to the Empire== - a bit of ==land==, ==so they wouldn't end up on the streets begging== scraps from those who they fought to defend. ==Lucon and== his friends in ==the Senate prosecuted my uncle for mutiny==, then ==beheaded him==. - [ ] ==Two generations ago==, (50 years approximately) however, ==something happened far away to the east== - a change in the winds, perhaps, or some terrible but distant conqueror - and the ==horse clans were set in motion==. New tribes pushed westward, seeking fresh pastures. Unwilling to be crushed in the middle, the clans nearest the empire ==formed a confederacy under Urkhun the Khuzait==. They caught the Empire in a moment of overconfidence. ==A force of legions was annihilated==, ==the trading cities capitulated==, and Urkhun's ==confederacy was now a khanate==. - [ ] Because the Empire is in some ways the centre of gravity of the game, we're going to divide this blog into two parts. ==At the start of the game the Empire is divided into three factions engaged in a civil war==. - [ ] However, because ==Empire is split into three individual factions that are on the brink of a civil war==, we had to decide whether to go with completely different banner designs or to use the same banner across all three factions (after all, each of the three rulers claim to be the rightful heir to the throne!). - [ ] ==The Empire's dilemma==, the ==failure== of its ruling elites to agree ==on how to tackle the shifting balance of power==, has brought it to the ==edge of civil war==. Different noble houses have taken sides based on their ==political outlook==, their ==rivalries==, or just ==rank opportunism==. - [ ] ==From the birth of our empire until only 100 years ago==, (984 CE) ==the Senate chose the emperor==. The Senate could remove him. Any emperor who went against the Senate was a tyrant. ==One hundred years ago==, the ==emperors== stopped going before the Senate, and ==started naming their heirs themselves==. ==The Senate was weak at the time==. ==We acquiesced==, so as not to split the empire, ==but we never accepted==. ==Nor did we have the right==, even if we had wanted, to sign away a right and ==a duty given to us by the Heavens==. - [ ] ==Valiant warriors== have ==always been welcomed as citizens of the Empire== and ==granted lands==, ==titles== and ==honors==, {PLAYER.NAME}, but you have yet to prove yourself. Take your sword to my enemies and we may speak of this later. - [ ] Their heavy cavalry, second to none, ran down the Emperor's foes from the Aserai wastes to the distant steppes. But ==the empire never had as much silver as it needed==, and treasury officials soon learned that it could ==pay its mercenaries with land grants and titles==. This was perhaps not the most far-sighted of policies. The Vlandians settled, married, planted farms, and built fortresses. It was not difficult, during the recent interregnum, for ==Osrac Iron-arm to declare himself king==, independent in all but name. He ==seized the imperial capital of Baravenos== (Pravend) and the lands along the coast, and ==that was how the west was lost to the empire==. ## Where is the Empire in its Downfall? - [ ] ==Sturgians== are the descendants of the ==foreign tribes of northern Calradia==. As ==the empire expanded into their cold forests==, they found that a ready ==market for the luxurious furs== of woodland animals whom they traditionally hunted and trapped. - [ ] ==Many of the oldest families of the Empire live in the north==. They came here as marcher lords, granted vast tracts of land by their colleagues in the Senate to keep 'pacified' northern tribes in check and hold the frontiers against Battanian, Sturgian, and Khuzait raiders. - [ ] Alas, ==the empire has little land to grant today==, even to trained cavalrymen like myself who wish to serve. - [ ] Founded in ==923== when the ==Empire recognized Thalas al-Asera==, a chief of the southern tribes, ==as king of== the lands between ==the Baetoric Sea and the great desert==. - [ ] Founded in ==940== when the ==Battanians==, a confederation of hill clans that had long been the Empire's most restive subjects, ==revolted and massacred the imperial garrison==. - [ ] Founded in ==882== when the ==Empire granted Uthor==, a ==warlord of the Waland seafarers== who had long ravaged the western coasts, the title '==Dux of the Sea==.' They have since declared themselves ==an independent kingdom==, controlling the river valleys and pastures that were once some of the Empire's wealthiest lands. When my ==great-grandfather Osric Iron-Arm declared himself king of Vlandia==, the ==emperor himself sent us a golden crown== as a goodwill gift. The Vlandian monarchy descends from Osric Iron-Arm, ==a warlord who seized the western coasts of the Empire and was recognized as king by the emperors as the price of peace==. Vlandian warships first came to the western shores of Calradia as traders. Then, seeing how rich the land was, they decided to take it. ==First the Empire fought them==, then ==when that failed granted them noble titles== and estates to make them into ==imperial clients==, and then - ==when they rebelled== - ==fought them again==. Now they are an independent kingdom, known for steel-forging and their horses, and their armored riders are a constant menace to the Empire's western marches. - [ ] Founded in ==1002== by the ==warlord Gundar==, who ==united the fractious colonies== established by raiders in the forests and bogs of the north. The ==Empire granted him== the title '==Warden of the Marches==.' - [ ] Founded in ==920== when steppe horsemen led by the ==Khan Urkhun== ==overran== an earlier ==imperial client kingdom==, itself made up of civilized former raiders, that had guarded. The caravan routes leading to the lands ==of the Padishah==. Consists of wealthy trading cities and settled former nomads, ==recognized by the Empire== as ==overlords of its eastern frontier==. Bitter winters protected them from the reach of the Empire, but no blast of wind was cutting enough to stop the horsemen of Khan Urkhun, ==who 40 years ago forced this town to submit to the khanate==. (Baltakhand) - [ ] Now, in Urkhun's day, if a Khuzait apprenticed in siegecraft went to work for another master, it meant a very painful death if he was recaptured. But times have changed. ==The richest plums of the empire's cities have fallen==, and ==they build their walls higher than they once did==. \ - [ ] Khergits had always come here, to trade and raid, and ==in the last days of the Empire== we began to settle. ==Just like the Vaegirs, Swadians, Rhodoks, Nords and the House of Sarran==, ==we took the Emperor's coin to keep the other tribes at bay==. But ==when the Great Horde attacked our homeland in my grandfather's day==, (50 years ago, 1,217 CE) we moved into this region in force. ==We pushed the Vaegirs back, and made their fortresses our own==. ## Why was the Empire Successful? - [ ] As with the Romans, ==the Empire is assumed to have imposed a form of Pax Calradica== - at least on its heartland, if not on the ever-embattled frontiers. Peace and stability has allowed cities to grow, so the empire is assumed to be slightly more developed than the outer kingdoms. - [ ] ==The Empire is surrounded by enemies and citizens willingly join== their town militia to learn to defend its walls, usually specializing in archery. ==Commanders will often take them on campaign==, where they serve ==as bowmen or arbalists== depending on the need. - [ ] ==The Empire even at its heights preferred not to send its legions into the army-devouring wastes==. (the Nahasa) - [ ] ==The Last Legion was created after the Emperor Arenicos abolished the last of the Empire's standing armies== in the wake of the battle of Pendraic, ==relying instead on the archons' private retinues which were significantly cheaper and better at controlling territory==. - [ ] I fear for this land, in these sorry days, when men are cowards and huddle behind walls for their protection. ==I fear for a land where lords hoard their troops==, for why protect the citizens of the empire, when you may ==change emperor at the drop of a hat?== - [ ] I'm a soldier by trade. I've served in the ==empire's legions== for 20 years. ==Once upon a time== they were worthy of being called 'legions.' We served together for years, and ==we'd die rather than see our standards falter or fall==. - [ ] ==I am Battanian==. But for 20 years, ==I fought for the Empire==. Indeed, ==most Battanians my age learned their trade in the legions==. We saw no dishonor in it. They fed us well, they paid us well, ==they respected our courage==. ## How is the Empire Failing? - [ ] Ah, no. ==Slavers are rare these days==. It used to be that, ==when the Empire and its neighbors made war upon each other==, the ==defeated were usually taken as slaves==. That helped pay for the war, you see! ==But today==, for better or for worse, ==that is not practical==. What with the frontiers broken and raiders crossing this way and that, there are far too many opportunities for captives to escape. But that does not mean that war cannot be profitable! Indeed it still can! - [ ] ==They purchase new recruits from slave markets across the empire==, putting them through a rigorous course of training before initiating them into the order. (the Ghilman) - [ ] ==The Empire has a genius for destruction== - the destruction ==of languages==, ==traditions==, ==gods==. It takes our fortresses, slaughters our men, and turns our children into its own children. - [ ] Many ==empires granted== their populations ==citizenship==, which usually ==came with a series of rights==. Of course, ==citizenship could not be granted immediately== to conquered provinces ==until the population showed it was willing to adopt the ways of the empire==, including the ==language==, ==clothes==, and ==religious cults==. - [ ] ==The Empire in particular has a long history of promoting foreigners to== positions of power, in the expectation that they or their heirs will eventually ==become Calradicized==. - [ ] Suffice to say that ==I know better than anyone about the lies and cruelty that kept the Empire== alive. - [ ] ==A century ago==, (984 CE) the ==eastward expansion of the Empire== met the "**great sea of grass**" in the centre of the continent. Beyond that, with ==no farmland where the legions could forage==, they ==could conquer no more==. They fortified their most recent acquisitions, the great trading cities on the steppe's edge, confident that the disorganized horse tribes beyond the frontier posed no major threat. - [ ] ==The lands that are now the southern Empire were once ruled by proud independent city-states controlling trading routes over the Perassic Sea and the steppe==. They invited the Empire into their internal feuds and one by one ==they were absorbed==, ==some by treaty==, ==some by conquest==. - [ ] ==Sagolina== sits at the foot of a narrow valley in the Myzead, a rugged plateau in eastern Calradia. ==The silver mined from nearby hills helps explain the effort and expense to which the Empire has gone in past centuries to conquer and defend these lands==.