The Cabal Empire

The Cabal Empire, ruled by the teenaged Queen Aricia II, stretches across the entire western half of the continent. It is a massive swath of land, mostly populated by humans after they spent several centuries violently expanding their domain. The Crown’s might is absolute and blessed with divine right by the Allfather, the all knowing creator that is the centre of the Empire’s monotheistic religion. Magic is rare and alien to most common folk, but industry is fast-expanding and ever-improving. Though the Empire is prosperous and its people are generally happy, unrest is brewing at all times under the constricting watch of the Landfyrd. Many of the continent’s ancient peoples are unhappy at being chased out of their homes and looking for weaknesses in the Empire’s defenses to exploit.

History
The first king of the Cabal Dynasty was crowned in 1 YD at Bregustol, and given a divine right to rule and mission to conquer and convert by the Allfather. At the end of the first century the Cabal kings had expanded their domain to cover the entirety of the river Axel’s delta, with the city of Bregustol at its center. Expansions reached the Éow Isle in the second century, the natural resources found on the island strengthening the country significantly. Expansion continued through the next centuries, slowly but surely fighting back both the original inhabitants of the Continent and the great Dendron Forest.

The city of Eagypunn was founded on the Punn river near the end of the third century, becoming a hub for trade with the East. The fourth century was one of relative peace and stability, with only minor excursions and expansions.

Aricia the Conqueror ended this peace in the fifth century and nearly doubled the Empire’s size by going East, making an alliance with the Daevanna elves and taking the great university city Trefor. Her son king Ogden the Mighty finished what she started and took the Northern half of the continent, expanding the Cabal Empire to encompass the entirety of the Western half of the Continent. He conquered the Blessed Valley, doubling the empire’s grain production, and formed an alliance with the mages of Exralot.

The increased grain production led to slow urbanisation and the emergence of industry, as king Eadwine the Just waged a decades long war on the nation of Ksor, on the other side of the Blue Mountains, to no avail. Hindered by political unrest within the Empire itself and some disastrous wartime experimentation, the war ended in a stalemate and an uneasy trade agreement.

Geography
The Cabal Empire stretches far and wide across the continent, and thus is home to many different climates. The Southeastern plains of Eylissean, surrounding the city of Trefor, are dry and warm, almost desert-like in places with a wet season in the winter. The Southwest, while also warm and temperate, sees more rains and thus more greenery in the hills and the river deltas of the rivers Punn and Axel. Many orchards and vineyards are found in these parts. The climate gets colder in the North, suited to cultivating grain and lush pine forests. Winter often brings snow in these parts, along the river Wyn and the city of Casuldon. The far Northern Farcyl Islands are mostly barren tundra, home to small fishing colonies and not much else.

The Cabal Empire is loosely divided into six regions: Eylissean, the southern plains around Trefor; the river deltas of the Punn and Axel, including Punncomb and Korndel; The impenetrable Dendron Forest, part of the Empire only in name; The Blessed Valley; The far North, including the city Casuldon and the Farcyl Islands; and Éow Isle.

Cities
Bregustol

The capital of the Empire, the seat of the crown. The centre of political power and the founding place of the Cabal Dynasty. Located on the West coast at the mouth of the river Axel. Surrounded by a great number of fruit orchards and vineyards. The castle and old city with its defensive walls form the centre of an urban area that sprawls far over the surrounding hills, along the coast and the river.

Eagypunn

The second largest city in the Empire, the centre of trade and industry. Situated within the delta of the river Punn on the southern shore of the Empire along the main trade routes. Its slums have expanded rapidly in recent years as more and more factories were built.

Trefor

Home to the Empire’s largest university on the Southeastern tip of the Empire. Its history as an independent city state and proximity to the much more liberal Concord cities of Gearnhyb and Port Keán make it a beacon of relative diversity and cultural freedom within the empire. Though it provides relative freedom, Trefor is also the largest military base in the southern half of the Empire and its streets are under strict watch by the Landfyrd.

Casuldon

The military stronghold in the North, home to the largest Landfyrd garrison within the Empire. Most trade in the North passes through the city, and it is also usually the point of contact with the mages of Exralot.

Éowstadt

The capital city of Éow Isle, the centre of island trade. One of the oldest cities in the empire.

Government and Politics
The Empire is an absolute monarchy, where the monarch has a divine right to rule and the final say in everything. The ruling monarch is assisted by a council of advisors and local authorities, but everyone reports back to them and has to answer to them. The current queen, Aricia II, came into power at age 16 when her father passed. Empire laws forbid a monarch from ruling until they come of age, so the Council ruled in her stead until she turned 18. Though young, Aricia II is a very capable queen, much beloved by her people who named her the Gentle Queen.

Structures of Power
The Council of Advisors

The highest ranking nobles and officers who advise their monarch on matters of the state. Should a monarch die without leaving behind and adult heir, the council will take over governing the empire. They ruled in Queen Aricia’s stead for two years until she came of age.


 * Princess Hilda Cabal, the queen’s great aunt and a trained mage who studied at Fabon. She is 125 years old and has advised the crown since the days of her brother King Ogden the Mighty. She is fiercely protective of her grand-niece and wants to shield her from the preying influences of some of the other council members.
 * Lord Leighton Ebenezer Chaleb Rothschild, the Marquis of Korndel, steward of Bregustol. A distant cousin of the queen, a man in his sixties who enjoyed a great deal of power while the king was off waging war in the North.

Stewards

Representatives of the crown who govern the different cities of the Empire. They hold the highest authority over all matters pertaining to their respective cities, have the position of high judge, and are the head of the City Guard. They operate with relative independence, but ultimately report back to the crown. Stewards are usually nobles from old families and as such hold different titles.


 * Lord Eadric Athelred Llywelyn, the Duke of Punncomb, steward of Eagypunn. A young man, he inherited the title only a couple years before queen Aricia II ascended the throne. He is fiercely loyal to the crown and good friends with queen Aricia. His twin sister, Lady Uthra, is his most trusted advisor.
 * Lord Leighton Ebenezer Chaleb Rothschild, the Marquis of Korndel, steward of Bregustol. A distant cousin of the queen, a man in his sixties who enjoyed a great deal of power while the king was off waging war in the North.
 * Lady Chanah Dvora Argall, the Duchess of Eylissean, steward of Trefor. A woman with distant elven blood, descended from Daevanna elves, sea merchants and empire nobles. A lover of learning and the arts, who nevertheless rules her rowdy domain with a firm hand and utter devotion to her god-blessed monarch.

The Landfyrd

The Empire’s armed forces, they are found all over the empire but most densely along its borders and urban centres. They provide leadership for local law enforcement and guard the empire’s land borders and ports. Prominent garrison locations are Casuldon in the North, Trefor in the South and the Crypel Garrison along the Blue Mountains. They also control the Empire’s biggest prison in the far North, at Islegard.

The Nerunga

The palace guard and the crown’s personal bodyguards. They are handpicked from the high ranks of the Landfyrd and the best students at Tranon. To be counted among the Nerunga is considered one of the highest honours a warrior can achieve.

The city guard / town guard

Local police force, generally led by a low-ranking Landfyrd officer. They are in charge of keeping the peace in their city or town, prosecuting criminals, and keeping watch at night.

The Brimfyrd

The Empire’s naval force, who guard the seas and merchant fleets. Not as important or powerful as the Landfyrd.

Economy
The Empire’s economy is mostly self-sustaining, though they do trade with other nations as well. They produce a great number of agricultural products, most predominantly grain. The slowly developing industry is sustained by raw materials from Ksor, as the empire has very little mines.

Different regions of the empire provide very different agricultural products due to the many different climates. The southwestern region of Eylissean cultivates cotton and products suited to its warm and dry climate like olives and figs. The river delta’s to the Southwest produce a lot of wine grapes and other orchard fruits. The west coast and the Blessed Valley provide most of the Empire’s grain production, as well as potatoes, carrots and other such vegetables. The North Coast and the Farcyl Islands house many fishing colonies. Éow Isle is famous for its wool, and also exports a lot of wood from its forests to the mainland.

Demographics
The Empire is not very densely populated, with most of the land dotted by small farming towns. The exceptions to this norm are the big urban and military centres, with Bregustol and Eagypunn being the two largest cities. The great majority of the Empire’s population is human, especially in rural areas. There is a decent number of elves spread out throughout the empire, most densely within the Daevanna and Dendron forests, and half-elves are not an uncommon sight. The Blessed Valley still houses much of its original halfling population, but halflings are not often seen elsewhere. Dwarves are very rare, and mostly found in the far north, along with the few half-orcs that have decided to find their home in the Empire. Uncommon races are generally looked upon with distrust or outright fear, especially outside the cities. The city of Trefor, being more closely connected to the East, is an exception and a more diverse place.

Holidays
The Turning of the Light

The Turning of the Light rings in the new year in the Empire. Celebrated on the winter solstice, it is a celebration of hope and good tidings for the coming year. Traditionally, lanterns are hung all around town to ward off the darkness and people keep vigil through the longest night of the year. It is a time where the people come together to celebrate during the dark days of winter, a reminder that spring will soon come again.

Beltane

Beltane is celebrated on the first day of summer, at the midway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is a celebration of fertility, where people pray for a bountiful harvest. In its original form, Beltane is a day of prayer and quiet celebrations within the family. Beltane is celebrated as a festival in urban areas, where people are less concerned with its ritualistic origins, often including fairs, dances and parties late into the night.

Harvest Opening & Harvest Close

The twin harvest festivals, signalling the beginning and end of the harvest season. Both grand celebrations, with Harvest Opening being the last opportunity to live it up before the hard work starts, and Harvest Close as a wonderful reward at the end of the season as well as a chance to show off your crops.