Geography
The empire is a vast peninsula, with coastlines along the Western Ocean, the Eastern Sea, and the Southern Ocean. Its territory is so extensive that a significant portion of the landmass has yet to be properly recorded, analyzed, and fully integrated into the imperial whole.
Borders and Neighbors
The Alavarian Empire shares borders with the Demonic Empire, Seafolks, Monster-kind, and several smaller kingdoms and queendoms of Humans, Beastmen, Demihumans, and some unknown species.
Imperial Power Hierarchy
The hierarchy of noble titles and authority is as follows:
- Emperor/Empress
- Grand Duke/Grand Duchess
- Duke/Duchess
- Count/Countess
- Viscount/Viscountess
- Baron/Baroness
The Four Grand Dukes
Contrary to what their title might suggest, the Grand Dukes do not govern a specific duchy. They possess incredible authority, power, and large personal estates. However their primary purpose is to maintain the Emperor's will and make his rule visible across the empire's vast territory. There are four Grand Dukes, each managing one of the cardinal directions.
Grand Duke of the Northern Marches:
This northern area shares borders with Monster-kind, Beastmen, and smaller kingdoms. Further beyond the direct borderlands lies a region governed by Elves, who rarely interact with the outside world. The empire maintains its distance from them.
Many imperial expansion efforts have been launched from here to take land from monsters and conquer smaller kingdoms. For now, these campaigns are halted, though monsters remain a major issue. This is the only region where the Grand Duke also holds the title of Duke of the North, due to its critical importance as a battlefront.
Grand Duke of the Eastern Expanse:
This area is of strategic importance as it shares a land border with the Demonic Empire, which captured territory in the last war. The main body of the Demonic Empire lies across the sea, but remains a close and constant threat.
Grand Duke of the Southern Heartlands:
This is the region where the current story takes place. Every town and scene witnessed so far exists within this area, including the Stellar Mountains. The mountains exist at the edge of the empire's border zone. The empire claims ownership of the Stellar Mountains, but has never actually conquered the territory beyond them due to its hidden mysteries and dangers. Most expeditions have failed, and very few know what exists on the other side, primarily the Sinclairs.
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Beyond the Stellar Mountains, alongside the Sinclairs, exist other powerful races. These groups rarely interact with the empire, except for one race that had frequent clashes with the Sinclairs in the early days.
The Southern region is incredibly prosperous, rich with rare material mines, and abundant precious gems, gold, and silver. The imperial capital is also located here.
Grand Duke of the Western Reaches: This is a major hub for trade and naval power, central to exploration and adventuring. It does not share land borders with any foreign powers but has occasional clashes with Seafolks and pirates.
The Duchies
There are 16 Duchies, and thus 16 ruling Dukes or Duchesses. Each duchy contains a varying number of counties, determined by the Duke's preference. The selection of the "Twelve Heroes" is managed by these sixteen families.
- North: Duchy of North
- South:
- Duchy of Foekest (Pipra Town and Tourmaline City are located within a county of this duchy)
- Duchy of Aquitaine
- Duchy of Pyrrhion
- Duchy of Lapisvale
- Duchy of Citrivorn
- Duchy of Obscurite
- East:
- Duchy of Redwood
- Duchy of Blackwood
- Duchy of Silverwood
- Duchy of Goldenwood
- Duchy of Ironwood
- West:
- Duchy of Abalone
- Duchy of Coraline
- Duchy of Larimar
- Duchy of Susurrus Maris
Law and Order
The empire operates through numerous departments responsible for defense, security, and military command. One such system is responsible for maintaining law, fighting crime, and solving issues, acting as the equivalent of a modern police force. It is divided as follows:
- Guards: Hired by the local governing authority, such as a Count, city chief, village chief, or town mayor.
- Royal Officers: Hired directly by the royal family.
- State Officers: Hired by the Duke of a region.
- Public Officers: Hired by and part of institutions established by the Empire.
Church of Zaherayal
The primary and overwhelmingly dominant religious institution in the Alavarian Empire is the Church of Zaherayal. Its influence is not merely spiritual, it is a pillar of the state, deeply intertwined with political power, social order, and imperial law.
Fitting the whole world of the Violet King into a single extra chapter seems a bit unfair, so let's end it here and return to discuss more about it, in the future.