The Ralish
26-06-2008, 04:59
Yes, I know, possibly a little premature, but this thread can always wither and die if things don't proceed as I expect. I just wanted something to do for a few minutes, and thought I may as well flesh-out my ideas. It's a 'WIP'.
THE ETERNAL ALSHORIAN EMPIRE OF THE RALISH
"Vae Victis!"
History
Living up to its title, the Empire of the Ralish has existed in some imperial form since around 4,500bc. The Ralish have a very high opinion of their civilisation in respect of its culture and history, but have historically been accepting of others so long as the imperial power is not challenged.
Despite controlling some 4,825,733 square kilometres across the African continent, which the Ralish confusingly call Aisa, the Empire today is not a patch on its former self, once a great power in the Mediterranean and beyond. Forced south by the likes of Rome and then barbarians followed by Muslim encroachments, a much reduced Alshor bled much of its remaining strength to resist later European expansion from the fifteenth century onwards, the sixty-first century by the Alshorian calendar!
War, tribute, and ultimately sheer desert isolation and near autarky helped the Empire to endure until the present day, year 6508.
Now the unity of the most survivable of civilisations is being tested anew. Over the years, Alshor's natural environment has only become less hospitable, and drought is an ever worsening problem that even the once sophisticated irrigation methods of the classical empire can no longer dispatch. Locusts continue to bring famine amidst a black, living cloud, but the old plagues are joined now by fresh ravages, AIDS not least amongst them.
Further, despite its rich heritage and traditional acceptance of diversity, Alshor is possibly the world's leading market for slaves, and likely the only nation where the economics of slavery are still legally monitored and regulated by the state.
The current premier, Great King Ralish CLXXV of the New Kingdom, is going some way to destroying the Empire's history of tollerance for all races and religions, apparently doing so in an increasingly desperate bid to maintain a strong Alshorian core against the increasingly real threat of Imperial collapse.
(Cape Verde, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad)
THE ETERNAL ALSHORIAN EMPIRE OF THE RALISH
"Vae Victis!"
History
Living up to its title, the Empire of the Ralish has existed in some imperial form since around 4,500bc. The Ralish have a very high opinion of their civilisation in respect of its culture and history, but have historically been accepting of others so long as the imperial power is not challenged.
Despite controlling some 4,825,733 square kilometres across the African continent, which the Ralish confusingly call Aisa, the Empire today is not a patch on its former self, once a great power in the Mediterranean and beyond. Forced south by the likes of Rome and then barbarians followed by Muslim encroachments, a much reduced Alshor bled much of its remaining strength to resist later European expansion from the fifteenth century onwards, the sixty-first century by the Alshorian calendar!
War, tribute, and ultimately sheer desert isolation and near autarky helped the Empire to endure until the present day, year 6508.
Now the unity of the most survivable of civilisations is being tested anew. Over the years, Alshor's natural environment has only become less hospitable, and drought is an ever worsening problem that even the once sophisticated irrigation methods of the classical empire can no longer dispatch. Locusts continue to bring famine amidst a black, living cloud, but the old plagues are joined now by fresh ravages, AIDS not least amongst them.
Further, despite its rich heritage and traditional acceptance of diversity, Alshor is possibly the world's leading market for slaves, and likely the only nation where the economics of slavery are still legally monitored and regulated by the state.
The current premier, Great King Ralish CLXXV of the New Kingdom, is going some way to destroying the Empire's history of tollerance for all races and religions, apparently doing so in an increasingly desperate bid to maintain a strong Alshorian core against the increasingly real threat of Imperial collapse.
(Cape Verde, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad)