Carto Empire

The Carto Empire is a nation located next to the Nirvan Republic, Gonarundu and the Radiant Wilds. They are a very trades focused nation, with a strong military but minor global presence.

## Leadership

The leadership of the Carto Empire has been in control of the Carto family since its creation. Understanding the risks that come with a monarchy and battles for the crown, the current ruler names whom their heir will be each year with an updated will. If the heir is no longer alive, then it falls to the previous one, or the next closest family member capable of taking the crown.

A single Regent has been avoided with the main family having shared control through a council. Once the heir has reached the age of 18 and passed a general education course, they will be able to take control but still must work with the council until the age of 25.

## Military

The Carto Empire has a large standing military, equipped with top of the line weapons and armour to ensure their victory. With a different approach, the Carto Empire focusses on quality of quanitity, meaning that their soldiers go through a rigorous training regime and must dedicate themselves to the army. They show very little fear, having been taken from their families at an early age to strengthen their loyalty to the Empire. Unless injured, they serve for 20 to 25 years.

### Training

The Training the Carton soldiers face is a 10 year course, 5 if taken a little later in life or an adult when choosing to sign up. There, they gain a general education and the ability to read and write. Any soldiers with magical properties are sent to a different school of learning, while regular soldiers begin their conditioning.

Conditioning is one of the toughest things they do outside of fighting, requiring them to run miles at their top speed while carrying both armour and pack. The weight and the distance continue to grow as they try and bring their bodies to the peak physical form. There are also times of starvation, where the trainees are not given food for a few days but required to do all the same tasks, in case they were every hungry during a prolonged battle. Outside of their starving days they are given 3 full meals daily to ensure their bodies can sustain such a harsh practice.

Weapon training is where they are further split apart, between the Cavalry, the General soldiers and the Archers. Archers are required to fire their arrows until they get it perfect or their fingers and arms cannot physically draw the bow. This goes on 5 days a week, with the weekend used to rest but do other training instead. Each week they have a different target and draw-strength bow, ensuring that they can fire perfectly at any range and with any bow. Cavalry are given a more luxurious time, thus it is a revered position. They instead spend most of their time training on the horse, which while difficult, is not as grueling as the rest. On their off days they are expected to keep up with their general conditioning and every 3 weeks they join the general soldiers. General soldiers have the rough end of the deal, fighting one another on the daily to get their individual abilities up before facing up against handicap positions so they can feel more comfortable. Anyone who loses is given a punishment, meaning competition is rampant through the troops. One of the drills for the General soldiers is getting their bones beaten in order to condition them and make them stronger.

### Organisation

The Carto Empire only has a single army made up of 30,000 troops, but are able to split it up into 20,000 and 10,000 if necessary. The reason for the uneven numbers is to confuse the enemy and the way training has caused the soldiers to gather together. Of the 30,000, there are 22,000 General troops, 6,000 Archers and 2,000 Heavy Cavalry.

## Society

The Society of the Carto Empire is an interesting one, they have very distinct social classes that rarely blend with one another. This has caused some issues in the past, with fights breaking out often but have calmed down for the time being as a larger threat of intruding cultures emerges.

### Soldiers/Ex-Soldiers

A soldier or ex-soldier that has passed their training and has at least one significant battle on record is given a large amount of pay and respect within society. They are known not to be messed with and it is not uncommon for their drinks to be purchased or free at one of the inns they frequent.

An ex-soldier that has served their 20-25 years are given access to the Achilles districts or towns, where they are given free housing and enough pay that they will not need to worry about working again. To show they are from these districts or towns, the ex-soldiers are given a badge of honour and a medal from the crown, allowing them to command high respect amongst the general folk. Though a strange part of the Achilles program is breeding, where they are given multiple wives to ensure that their gene is passed on and their children will be great soldiers. It is from this batch that children are often taken for the army, though the Achilles soldiers believe it to be an honour.

### Elite Tradesmen

Elite Tradesmen are those whom have been recognised by the various trading guilds in the Carto Empire, or even the crown themselves, for an expertise or general elite ability for their trade. These Elite tradesmen are often hired by the crown to make their goods, and are respected only a little less than current soldiers or ex-soldiers (not Achilles). Like the Achilles soldiers though, they are given a badge by the group that saw them as elite and can wear it as pride. Many businesses of these Elite tradesmen begin to boom soon after, bringing them high wealth and influence.

### Nobility

The Nobility are those whom have rose above the rest in their wealth, requiring their own standards when behaving and acting. While during the night they have a sense of freedom and can do whatever they want within the law, and sometimes bribing themselves out of law violations, during the day they are an upstanding people. Influenced by the Gonarundun people, the nobility often wear simple coloured clothes in order to show their cleanliness and while acting above the rest (excluding Elite tradesmen and Achilles soldiers), they do speak with a form of respect.

### Common

The common are the rest of the people, working their various lives. They are treated as lowly by the others, only able to break out of their way if they become wealthy or proficient enough in their trade they become close to an Elite.

### Lazers

Influenced by the Arenian sub-culture, Lazers are a culture of people whom are incredibly good workers but when outside of work are uninteresting and laze around. It is believed they act this way due to expending all available energy to dedicate themselves to their work, and many lazers have gathered a bit of renown from what they do. However, due to their nature outside of work they are often avoided and ignored, including when it comes to being Elite Tradesmen. Lazers are never used for the Carto military.

## Geography

The Carto Empire is a nation that once held more land, but over time has had its borders shrink. The border changes have left them with a total of 3 cities. The land they hold has no major forests or mountain ranges, and is quite flat in comparison.

### Climate

The climate of the Carto Empire is similar to its area, but for a strange reason their highest average temperature is lower than the others. Their hottest period occurs in July and Augona, with a highest average of 27 degrees, while Deamber and Janu are their colder times with a lowest average of 10 degrees. Most of their rainfall occurs during Deamber and Janu, with little to no humidity. It is believed that this is caused by some unusual atmospheric changes, making the sea winds much cooler than usual.

### Cities

The Carto Empire only has access to a total of 3 cities:

* Helicules (Capital)
* Ayteran
* Mytaron

## Commerce

The Carto Empire has a small amount of land to gain resources from, other than using the Radiant Wilds, which has a high risk, there is a lot that they have to import. Though, with their cities all being connected to either the coast or a river, trading is a much easier task.

### Imports

Through their trading routes, the Carto Empire imports: Metals, Ores, Stone, Lumber, and Scents.

### Exports

With the little land they have, the Carto Empire has ensured they remain relevant in the global market, though have very little influence: Weapons, Grain, Wine, Oil, Lamb, Papyrus and Silks.

## Culture

### Clothing

The clothing of the Carto Empire revolves around a lot of tight fitted shirts and pants. The materials of such are usually leather pants and a wool shirt. For colour, most of the common folk wear a colour mixture they identify with their family, such as light blue and the colour white for the Carto family.

#### Formal

Soldiers of all types wear a formal armour, with a white shirt, some cleaned armour on the shoulders and their formal weapon by their side. They wear their medals proudly on their left breast, with a bit of fabric sowed on to show it. Achilles soldiers wear their medals as a necklace, and have a darker form of clothing to stand them out.

Elite tradesmen also wear darker colours, with a cleaned and specialised tool of their choice to represent their trade. Like soldiers, they wear their badge on their left breast.

Nobility often wear ever changing fashions, usually with loose fitting clothing and the colours of their family, their design often changes every event for what's popular.

### Food

Cartons have the same approach to their meal times as most of Arlec, however they eat a very heavy breakfast before the day. Usually consisting of a mix of meat, eggs and bread before starting the day. Lunch is usually light, with simply bread and a small amount of cold meat. Dinner is where they get most of their nutrition, eating mostly salads and vegetables for dinner with a glass of wine.

### Education

Education is only really accessible to the wealthy in the Carto Empire, with many of the poorer Cartons homeschooling or pooling together for a tutor. For the very wealthy in the Carto Empire, they often just send their children to the Octavian Institute.

### Arts

#### Literature

Literature is of small importance to general Cartons, with a low education, many cannot read. Though, there are still a fair amount of authors in the Carto Empire, recording either the history of their nation, the deeds of adventurers going into the Radiant Wilds and the fantasy stories that travel across the seas. For tradesmen that can read and write, there are many educational books that are quite popular.

#### Visual Art

Visual art is very popular in the Carto Empire, due to the large amount of people that cant read or write. It is mainly created in either long carpets, banners or a widened canvas. Their art often tells a short or longer story, something that can be told by a guide or interpreted for different meanings. Things including fights with monsters and dragons are always popular, or parts of satire.

#### Music

Music is not as popular in the Carto Empire, unless the song either tells a story or some jokes. For the Cartons don't really care about background music but rather something they can be fully attentive for. Thus, any instruments that allow the musician to still tell a story is popular while things like Flutes, are not.

### Sports

Sports that are popular in the Carto Empire are ones that show physical might at its extreme. Such as weight lifting, sprints, and a form of cross country. Other, more team-like sports include Handball, and a game called Cricket.

Competitions relating to ones trade are also popular, such as speed painting or whomever can craft the perfect sword.

### Entertainment

Marching drill is quite a popular form of entertainment for the Cartons. With the soldiers being so highly respect among their societal rank that seeing them even in minor action draws interest.

Inside houses, games that involve drawing, lying and storytelling are very popular. While the nobility and soldiers often play wargames with one another, trying to see who can get the tactical advantage and bragging rights.

Every week in the city districts a performance is held telling a whole different story.

## History

**489PR** - Carto Empire created, splitting off from Ilaka. Their first monarch is Zinon Carto.

**583PR** - Adonis Carto invades Ilaka, beginning the War of Revenge.

**618PR** - Carto Empire razes the Ilakan capital, Kras.

**665PR** - Ilaka conquered, ending the War of Revenge.

**740PR** - Voula Carto and heir assassinated. Demos Carto becomes the new King.