Tarsisian Empire
From Praemal
At its height, the Tarsisian Empire encompassed all of the Prustan Peninsula and the lands surrounding the Southern Sea, including Uraq, and the northern lands from Cherubar to the Plains of Panish. Today, its control is questionable. To many, the Empire has fallen. To some, it exists in name only, the Glory That Was Tarsis. Yet to others, proud citizens dwindling in number, the Empire retains control over its lands, and all owe fealty to the Emperor.
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History
History, as it was taught to you, is centered about the formation of the Tarsisian Empire and the establishment of the Lion-Guarded Throne, its hereditary seat of power. However, be aware that history stretches out for thousands and thousands of years before that - not that the Empire, in its arrogance, believes anyone should care.
Two Emperors
To understand the Empire is to understand that there are truly two Empires: a spiritual empire and a temporal empire. When Delian Von Tessel became the first Emperor, he also named himself Holy Emperor of the Church of Lothian, which became the official religion of the Tarsisian Empire. After his death, his nephew Radlov Von Tessel took both positions, but quickly abdicated the position of Holy Emperor. Since that time, the two seats of power have never been held by the same individual, and over the years they have built very different infrastructures around themselves.
Although he controls no lands the way the Tarsisian Emperor does, the Emperor of the Church governs the spiritual lives of all citizens. The Holy Emperor has his own court, his own army, and his own vast treasuries. He has the power to pass laws and issue edicts, although they must involve spiritual matters, such as the Edict of Deviltry, issued in IA 560, banning the use and practice of arcane magic.
Life Under the Empire
Unlike many Empires, the Tarsisian Empire gained little of its dominion through conquest. A thousand years ago, the evil lord Ghul waged war against the rest of the world, his armies comprised of demons, undead, and horrible monsters. At that time, a group of humans called the Prust had occupied the area around the city of Tarsis. When the Prustan forces from Tarsis came westward to defeat Ghul, they stayed, helping to rebuild and establish order. Coming out of their terrible defeat at the hands of Ghul’s forces, the lands west of Tarsis welcomed not only their help but the Prustan advances in science. The Prust (and the Grailwarden dwarves of the same area) brought with them firearms, clocks, printing presses, and even steam-powered engines. They built roads, waterways, and well-ordered cities with running water, sewer systems, and postal services. Their laws were codified (in a book called the Vast Codex) rather than arbitrary. In short, life under the Empire seemed good.
The Empire, however, also brought with it strict controls. Various freedoms suddenly vanished in the name of maintaining order. Official citizens of the Empire achieved rights denied non-citizens. The Church of Lothian became the official religion of the Empire, and eventually the only allowed religion. Other faiths were persecuted, and eventually arcane magic was demonized, restricted, and finally outlawed. Life became very complicated.
For hundreds of years, the Tarsisian Empire expanded its domains and influence. The Church of Lothian, or simply "the Church," became omnipresent within society. Emperors and empresses came and went. It seemed that the Lion-Guarded Throne was destined to rule the known world forever.
But slowly the pillars supporting the Empire began to decay. The Edict of Deviltry was overturned, and arcane spellcasters were once again legal (even before that, time's passage had brought with it more and more safe havens throughout the Empire for the practitioners of magic - including the city of Ptolus). Other religions practiced their rites more openly, and the Church of Lothian was no longer organized or powerful enough to stop them. Education worsened. Complex Prustan and dwarven devices wore down and were forgotten rather than repaired. If anything, the last 200 years have seen a decline in science rather than its further advancement.
Today
The Empire is in shambles. Barbarians from the distant east have defeated Tarsisian armies and ransacked Tarsis itself. Three different people claim the Lion-Guarded Throne, including the current Emperor of the Church, Rehoboth Ylestos.
Empress Addares XXXIV herself is the cousin of the previous Empress Addares, who had no children or siblings. No one currently holds the title Prince or Princess of Tarsis, therefore there is no heir apparent. Segaci Fellisti, a powerful and aged council member who has survived six Emperors, now claims that only he is fit to rule in these trying times. Despite his non-Prustan heritage, his followers believe that he has as much right as the Empress, whose bloodline back to the original Von Tessels is convoluted at best. Addares now holds court in Dohrinthas, the city she has proclaimed the new capital, while Segaci has apparently returned to sacked Tarsis. Meanwhile, the Emperor of the Church, now residing in Ptolus, claims to be the only true ruler with the title Emperor.
But outside of Tarsis, some see the fall of the Empire, if it has indeed fallen, as a good thing. The hereditary monarchies, long disenfranchised, now return to power as Imperial governors lose their influence. Like a disease overcome, the Empire is fading and life is returning to the state it enjoyed a thousand years ago - but not without some indelible scars left behind.
Citizenship in the Empire
Citizens enjoy more legal rights and protections, are able to hold certain government jobs not open to non-citizens, are allowed to own and use firearms and even pay taxes at a different rate.
Being born into the empire is not sufficient to be a citizen. Humans from the Prustan Peninsula are automatically citizens, as are Grailwarden dwarves, although the Grailwarden High King can (and has) strip citizenship from his subjects when they commit a great crime against their people. Other humans are normally citizens themselves, either by inheriting it or earning it in their lifetime through service to the empire. Other races are less likely to be citizens, although of the non-human races, Stonelost dwarves, elves, halflings and gnomes make up the majority of non-human citizens. Members of other races who are citizens of the empire are exceptionally rare and, in some cases, may be the only living members of their race to have earned such an honor.
The Empire of Tarsis requires all citizens and noncitizens to carry identification papers. Display of these papers, which the Empire issues to all residents, is required for purchases over 100 gp. Guards and other officials also can demand to see one’s papers at any time. Identification papers include a person's name, race, place of birth, current residence, occupation, and a general physical description. Citizenship papers are more detailed than identification papers, and citizens licensed to bear firearms must carry such documents with them at any time they have such weapons on them.
Forgery is not uncommon but is a serious crime - convicted forgers lose a hand on the first offense. There are few second offenses.
Also see Imperial law.
