Drekon
09-06-2007, 00:49
The Empire of Selucia
Government
The Selucians are ruled by an emperor who holds complete control over all the lands of Selucia. The royal family is believed to have been chosen by the great god Selukos to rule Selucia for all eternity, so the title of emperor is passed down only from father to eldest son. Although the emperor has absolute authority over all decisions made in the empire, he keeps a royal council of five sages to advise him on important issues.
Society
There is large gap in Selucian society that splits the nobility and the peasantry. The nobility contains about 5% of the population while the peasantry contains the other 95%.
Nobility
Lords- Nobles that are directly or indirectly related to the royal family
Elites- Nobles who have proven themselves by gaining power, wealth, and prestige
Peers- The majority of the nobility
Peasantry
Middlemen- Peasants who are wealthy and well-educated, usually merchants
Crafters- Peasants who work with their hands, such as blacksmiths, artists, etc.
Serfs- The majority of the peasantry, usually farmers
Nobles live relatively free lives and are given many more rights than the peasants. Peasants, on the other hand, are often oppressed and live harsh, difficult lives. Members of the peasantry and non-Selucians are unable to rise to a position in the nobility, no matter how skilled or educated they are. Crimes committed by peasants are punished much more severely, especially if they are committed against nobles. Intermarriage between the nobility and the peasantry is frowned upon, as is intermarriage between Selucians and foreigners. Selucians are generally friendly toward other humans and are hostile toward anyone else. They are extremely suspicious of elves, view animal-like races such as beastmen and reptilians as monstrosities, and think all demons are evil spawns from the underworld. Slavery is allowed, but is unpopular due to the fact that Selucians don’t trust others to do work for them. Prisoners of war are often either executed or used as disposable troops.
Major Cities
Selukios- The capitol city, named after the almighty Selukos, is located in the heart of the empire and is defended by several layers of huge stone walls. The city is home to the royal family and all the lords in the empire. It is said that the city’s defenses are impenetrable, as all assaults on it have ended in failure.
Coralis- Located on the northwestern coastline, this city is where the majority of foreign traders visit to buy and sell goods. The city contains the largest naval base in the empire which holds the majority of the Selucian navy in it.
Veros- This city is located in the southwestern portion of the empire and contains much of the empire’s precious ivory, silver, and diamonds. This city is also where the fearsome Selucian war elephants are bred.
Taleran- This city is very close to the eastern border and is the agricultural center of the empire. Many farms are scattered around the fertile countryside around the city, where many crops, including the popular Selucian potato, are grown.
Falkor- Located just north of the Grand River, this city is more of a stronghold than anything else. It is surrounded by massive stone walls and has a large portion of the Selucian army stationed in it, which is why it is considered the one of the most heavily defended cities in empire, second only to the capitol. This city produces the majority of the empire’s weaponry and armor.
Technology
The Selucians are quite behind in technology, preferring to maintain their traditional way of life rather than move forward with the times.
Religion
The Selucians worship one god and one god alone, the all-powerful Selukos. They believe that Selukos created the entire world and that he has complete control over everything that happens on it. They also believe that Selukos made humans a superior race and that all other races, except for elves, are simply barbarians that should be controlled and made civilized. Elves are thought to be equal to humans, created by Selukos as a challenge to be overcome. The Selucians are extremely intolerant of other religions, and all heathens are forced to either convert or be exiled. All major cities contain temples and shrines built in honor of Selukos.
People
Selucians are fairly tan and usually have black hair and brown eyes. The average height for men is 5’10’’ and the average height for women is 5’ 5’’
Selucians- 22,250,000
Non-Selucians- 2,600,000
Slaves- 150,000
Military
All male citizens, regardless of caste, are conscripted at the age of 18 and must serve in the military until the age of 25. Those who stay in the military for more than seven years are promoted to higher positions.
Selucian Forces- 650,000 total
Nobility:
3,000 Cataphracts (War horse, Horse chain mail, Partial plate mail, Heavy spear, Long sword)
5,000 Companions (War horse, Chain mail, Heavy spear, Long sword)
10,000 Swordmasters (Partial plate mail, Long sword, Spiked kite shield)
15,000 Noble Spearmen (Partial plate mail, Heavy spear, Short sword, Spiked kite shield)
Peasantry:
250 War Elephants [4 men each] (War elephant, Elephant chain mail, Composite bow x2, Javelins)
1,500 War Chariots [2 men each] (War horse x2, Chariot with rotating blades on wheels)
15,000 Light Cavalry (Horse, Leather armor, Spear, Short sword)
13,000 Horse Archers (Horse, Padded armor, Composite bow, Short sword)
50,000 Heavy Spearmen (Chain mail, Heavy spear, Short sword, Spiked kite shield)
150,000 Spearmen (Leather armor, Spear, Short sword, Kite shield)
200,000 Phalanxes (Leather armor, Long pike, Short sword, Round shield)
60,000 Javelinmen (Javelins, Short sword, Round shield)
50,000 Longbowmen (Padded armor, Longbow, Dagger)
75,000 Archers (Composite bow, Dagger)
Non-Selucian Forces- 80,000 total
40,000 Spearmen (Leather armor, Spear, Short sword, Kite shield)
20,000 Phalanxes (Leather armor, Long pike, Short sword, Round shield)
10,000 Javelinmen (Javelins, Short sword, Round shield)
10,000 Archers (Composite bow, Dagger)
Magic
The Selucians view magic as a gift from Selukos, so those who are able to use it are often praised and envied. Many magic users find work in society, while a few use their powers to serve the military. Most battle mages specialize in defensive and healing powers, although there are a few that specialize in offense.
Battle Mages- 10,000 total
6,000 Guardians
3,000 Healers
1,000 Devastators
Currency
Aoru- Made of silver, worth 50 Balu
Balu- Made of copper, standard unit of money
Ceku- Made of brass, worth 1/50 Balu
Government
The Selucians are ruled by an emperor who holds complete control over all the lands of Selucia. The royal family is believed to have been chosen by the great god Selukos to rule Selucia for all eternity, so the title of emperor is passed down only from father to eldest son. Although the emperor has absolute authority over all decisions made in the empire, he keeps a royal council of five sages to advise him on important issues.
Society
There is large gap in Selucian society that splits the nobility and the peasantry. The nobility contains about 5% of the population while the peasantry contains the other 95%.
Nobility
Lords- Nobles that are directly or indirectly related to the royal family
Elites- Nobles who have proven themselves by gaining power, wealth, and prestige
Peers- The majority of the nobility
Peasantry
Middlemen- Peasants who are wealthy and well-educated, usually merchants
Crafters- Peasants who work with their hands, such as blacksmiths, artists, etc.
Serfs- The majority of the peasantry, usually farmers
Nobles live relatively free lives and are given many more rights than the peasants. Peasants, on the other hand, are often oppressed and live harsh, difficult lives. Members of the peasantry and non-Selucians are unable to rise to a position in the nobility, no matter how skilled or educated they are. Crimes committed by peasants are punished much more severely, especially if they are committed against nobles. Intermarriage between the nobility and the peasantry is frowned upon, as is intermarriage between Selucians and foreigners. Selucians are generally friendly toward other humans and are hostile toward anyone else. They are extremely suspicious of elves, view animal-like races such as beastmen and reptilians as monstrosities, and think all demons are evil spawns from the underworld. Slavery is allowed, but is unpopular due to the fact that Selucians don’t trust others to do work for them. Prisoners of war are often either executed or used as disposable troops.
Major Cities
Selukios- The capitol city, named after the almighty Selukos, is located in the heart of the empire and is defended by several layers of huge stone walls. The city is home to the royal family and all the lords in the empire. It is said that the city’s defenses are impenetrable, as all assaults on it have ended in failure.
Coralis- Located on the northwestern coastline, this city is where the majority of foreign traders visit to buy and sell goods. The city contains the largest naval base in the empire which holds the majority of the Selucian navy in it.
Veros- This city is located in the southwestern portion of the empire and contains much of the empire’s precious ivory, silver, and diamonds. This city is also where the fearsome Selucian war elephants are bred.
Taleran- This city is very close to the eastern border and is the agricultural center of the empire. Many farms are scattered around the fertile countryside around the city, where many crops, including the popular Selucian potato, are grown.
Falkor- Located just north of the Grand River, this city is more of a stronghold than anything else. It is surrounded by massive stone walls and has a large portion of the Selucian army stationed in it, which is why it is considered the one of the most heavily defended cities in empire, second only to the capitol. This city produces the majority of the empire’s weaponry and armor.
Technology
The Selucians are quite behind in technology, preferring to maintain their traditional way of life rather than move forward with the times.
Religion
The Selucians worship one god and one god alone, the all-powerful Selukos. They believe that Selukos created the entire world and that he has complete control over everything that happens on it. They also believe that Selukos made humans a superior race and that all other races, except for elves, are simply barbarians that should be controlled and made civilized. Elves are thought to be equal to humans, created by Selukos as a challenge to be overcome. The Selucians are extremely intolerant of other religions, and all heathens are forced to either convert or be exiled. All major cities contain temples and shrines built in honor of Selukos.
People
Selucians are fairly tan and usually have black hair and brown eyes. The average height for men is 5’10’’ and the average height for women is 5’ 5’’
Selucians- 22,250,000
Non-Selucians- 2,600,000
Slaves- 150,000
Military
All male citizens, regardless of caste, are conscripted at the age of 18 and must serve in the military until the age of 25. Those who stay in the military for more than seven years are promoted to higher positions.
Selucian Forces- 650,000 total
Nobility:
3,000 Cataphracts (War horse, Horse chain mail, Partial plate mail, Heavy spear, Long sword)
5,000 Companions (War horse, Chain mail, Heavy spear, Long sword)
10,000 Swordmasters (Partial plate mail, Long sword, Spiked kite shield)
15,000 Noble Spearmen (Partial plate mail, Heavy spear, Short sword, Spiked kite shield)
Peasantry:
250 War Elephants [4 men each] (War elephant, Elephant chain mail, Composite bow x2, Javelins)
1,500 War Chariots [2 men each] (War horse x2, Chariot with rotating blades on wheels)
15,000 Light Cavalry (Horse, Leather armor, Spear, Short sword)
13,000 Horse Archers (Horse, Padded armor, Composite bow, Short sword)
50,000 Heavy Spearmen (Chain mail, Heavy spear, Short sword, Spiked kite shield)
150,000 Spearmen (Leather armor, Spear, Short sword, Kite shield)
200,000 Phalanxes (Leather armor, Long pike, Short sword, Round shield)
60,000 Javelinmen (Javelins, Short sword, Round shield)
50,000 Longbowmen (Padded armor, Longbow, Dagger)
75,000 Archers (Composite bow, Dagger)
Non-Selucian Forces- 80,000 total
40,000 Spearmen (Leather armor, Spear, Short sword, Kite shield)
20,000 Phalanxes (Leather armor, Long pike, Short sword, Round shield)
10,000 Javelinmen (Javelins, Short sword, Round shield)
10,000 Archers (Composite bow, Dagger)
Magic
The Selucians view magic as a gift from Selukos, so those who are able to use it are often praised and envied. Many magic users find work in society, while a few use their powers to serve the military. Most battle mages specialize in defensive and healing powers, although there are a few that specialize in offense.
Battle Mages- 10,000 total
6,000 Guardians
3,000 Healers
1,000 Devastators
Currency
Aoru- Made of silver, worth 50 Balu
Balu- Made of copper, standard unit of money
Ceku- Made of brass, worth 1/50 Balu