Lanthyrian Empire

The **Lanthyrian Empire**, the **Eternal Empire** or the **Empire of the Sun**, is a vast empire that covers almost the entirety of eastern Antagarich. To the south it borders the Mag Turgan steppe and the Dragon Kingdom of Sicair, to the north it borders the Golden Empire of Fabiola.

## Geography

### Territories, Vassals and Provinces

* Lanthyrian Heartland (since founding)
* Angren (conquered, 320AC)
* Eiddon (incorporated, 324AC)
* Erna (conquered, 330AC)
* Paixe (conquered, 342AC)
* Mecht (conquered, 365AC)
* Metinna (conquered, 382AC)
* Gesso (conquered, 404AC)
* Magnair (conquered, 430AC)
* Yossana (conquered, 456AC)
* Turgan Steppe (partially conquered in 476AC, fully conquered in 486AC)
* Lebioda (incorporated as a vassal in 506AC, formally incorporated as a province in 522AC)
* Akelia (conquered, 530AC)
* Fano (conquered, 541AC)

## Society and Culture

### Attitudes towards Magic

Unlike Enroth or Sicair, where magic is not heavily restricted or controlled, in Lanthyria the state tends to regulate all aspects of advanced magic through the Imperial Magic Academies in the capital and major cities such as Ard Iletha in Eiddon or Darn Exter in Gesso, as well as the Imperial Mage Hunters who are tasked with hunting down mages and notable magic users who refuse to register with the *Impera Liosta aep Il'edrithean* (Imperial List of Sorcerers) and one of the magic academies. Additionally, the Mage Hunters work towards rooting out demonjagers and other such deviants in conquered provinces, usually with incredibly cruelty.

### Language and Names

Their language closely resembles the old variant of Elvish that was spoken by the Sun Elves that inhabited the modern-day Imperial Heartland. It is marked by long, hard pronunciations and drawn out syllables, but differs with the tongues of elves in several ways.

Lanthyrian names, at least those for men, consist of their first name, the name of their mother, the name of their father and, lastly, the name of their grandmother or the place of their origin, usually preceded by the preposition "aep", meaning "of." The Imperial dynasty uses the preposition "var" rather than "aep."

Women's names are much shorter and simplistic, consisting solely of their first name, mother's name and their last name or place of origin.

### Greetings and Manners

The most common and simplistic greeting in Lanthyria is the simple "Fàilt" which can be translated as either hello/greetings. More sophisticated greetings include "Gloir aen Ard Feainn" or "Gloir aen Lanthira" which mean Glory to the Great Sun/Lanthyria. In the military the phrase "urram y gloir" is used as a greeting and goodbye by soldiers, officers and commanders, it translates as "honour and glory" but can be interpreted as "pride and glory", another common and popular greeting among soldiers is "caer y gloir" which means blood and glory. Although not as popular, the phrase "tuvean channe nàire a thann" which translates as death is no disgrace/death is not disgraceful, is occasionally used by battlefield commanders and can be sometimes seen used at the bottom of formal military orders.

When addressing the Emperor, it is assumed that one uses "Fàilt aen Impire" or "Gloir aen Impire" which translate as Hail the Emperor or Glory to the Emperor. Men must bow not only before the Emperor but also before women, the formal bow in the Empire is left leg extended, right leg and head flexed down, right hand on chest, left hand extended.

### Clothing and Appearance

The prevailing colour for clothing is black, white and gold, seen across every stratum of Lanthyrian society. Noblemen will often wear black and white silk clothes accompanied by golden cuffs, amulets and rings, while the common folk tend to wear basic clothes in those three colours. Beards, and facial hair, is seen as difficult on the eyes, as such, humans in the Empire tend to shave them. Assimilated dwarves and halflings are not expected to shave their beards, but many do.

### Cuisine

The poor generally eat a lot like the peasantry in the Westerlands and other parts of the world. Their diets consist of porridges and mushes made from wheat and water that are sometimes improved with the addition of honey, fruits - either fresh or dry depending on the season - and vegetables. Meat is less common in peasant diets but when available it is most often served in stews or thick soups. Those living close to the coasts, rivers and lakes often eat a variety of fresh and salt water fish and sometimes oysters.

The urban population and artisan class will more often than not consume stews, meats - which may come roasted, smoked, boiled or grilled - various kinds of cheeses, fruits and vegetables and bread. Olives and grapes are quite common as well, olive oil is a very popular addition to meals as well. The aristocracy, landowners and the wealthy will often eat like the urban population but in much greater quantity. Their diets also include many roasted dishes such as pheasant and turkey, a particular honeyed sauce, spices imported from Sicair and exotic fruits such as mangos and lemons. Halfling cuisine is very popular among the aristocracy.

Wine is a popular beverage most often mixed with water and served in taverns, halls and noble homes. Besides wine the Lanthyrians enjoy mead and other honey-based beverages, but also light and foamy beer and sour spirits.

## Military

   The Imperial Lanthyrian Army is among the largest and best equipped fighting forces in Antagarich, rivalled in size only by the Sacred Army of Fabiola. It fields infantry, missile, magical and mounted fighting units, and has many powerful mages and sorcerers at its disposal in the form of Imperial Battlemages and field healers.

Soldiers of the Imperial Army wear iconic black armour and clothes accompanied by golden or yellow decals of the Great Sun and sometimes decals identifying which province they hail from: a green tree for Eiddon; a horse decal for Turga; etc. The term "Black Ones" is derived from the Lanthyrian uniform.

### Distinct Units

* Eiddon Green Infantry - human and elvish light and spear infantry sourced from the province of Eiddon.
	+ Eiddon Green Infantry Archers - sourced from the elvish population of Eiddon, the Green Infantry Archers are the foremost marksmen in the Empire's arsenal and among the best in the world, surpassed only by the Forest Guard of Ard'oril.
* Turgan Riders - mounted archers and lancers recruited from nomadic population of the steppe province of Turga using promises of livestock, lands and plunder. Renowned for their horse archery and horse riding skills.
* Vrihedd Brigade - an all-elvish cavalry brigade sourced from across the Empire, consists of both light and heavy cavalry.
* Infernal Battle Corps - all-tiefling units specialising in skirmishing and guerrilla warfare, used extensively to quell brigands and partisans.
* Gesso Brigadiers - mounted mercenaries of human, dwarven and elvish origin sourced from the province of Gesso. Their functions primarily revolve around running down routed foes, capturing deserters and slaves after a battle.
* Metinna Sergeants - heavily armoured infantry known as the Black Ones because of their iconic fully-black steel plate armour with depictions of the Great Sun on the chest.
* Imperial Battlemages - magic users specialising in offensive magic.