Empire of Bethesdal

## Coat of Arms

### Anthem

Three anthems played back to back, "In Bethesdal", "All Hail Todd" and "To War"Gott erhalte Howard, den Kaiser (Imperial anthem of Westlicheberge)

## Ethnicity & Culture

### National Religion

Todd Howard Worshipping

**The Empire of Bethesdal** is a big empire located in the northeastenmost corner of PCM. It's ruled by an authoritarian government led by a mysterious leader, and a diverse ecosystem that includes vast temperate forests, swamplands and cold tundras. Its capital is the Imperial Citadel.

## Government Policy

Except for Emperor Howard being on top, the nation's chain of command is shrouded in mystery. The known bodies of governance are the elite council of advisors being second to Emperor Howard. The High Advisor is officialy Bethesdal's second most powerful position, equivalent to a chancellor and is chosen directly by Emperor Howard. The current office holder, incumbent for 56 years, is High Advisor Wilhelm Von Gates,  who acts as Emperor Howard's mouthpiece. However, The Bethesdalian High Command may be the actual governing body, being comprised of anonymous generals who the public isn't allowed to see, they run the minstries of Bethesdal. The Imperial Institute of technology is also a suspected ruler of Bethesdal, with their highly advanced tech they might as well be running the country. The Bethesdalian Secret Police might play a major role, as they are directly in control of justice. The aristocrats may be highly powerful, since they legally own every region of the country. The Corporations may even be running Bethesdal, as they and the government are practically united. The lower governmental entities of Bethesdal include but are not limited to the city police, the regional officials and the tax collectors. Officials in Bethesdal are subject to termination at any moment if they disappoint the Emperor. They otherwise enjoy extraordinary luxuries that most people can only dream of.

## Economic Policy

Bethesdal is extremely corporatist, with the ten largest companies making up 60% of the country's gdp with the feudal lords making the other 39%, Bethesdal has all but outlawed small businesses. State approved and subsidised corporations are highly intertwined with the government, living in a symbiotic relationship, making all parties involved more powerful. The nation's greatest exports include, Advanced Information Technology, Weapons and machines of war, foodstuffs, common household objects and uranium, and in the services sector retail and great insurance.

## Societal Views

Bethesdalian society is extremely regressive, completely outlawing any change to the societal status quo. People deemed as undesirable, like other races, can never be citizens of Bethesdal, and are subject to extreme racism and even murder which the government won't prosecute. Women are more cosmetics than people and things like homosexuality are completely banned. History books of Bethesdal still tell the cautionary tale of Emperor Howard's brother and his secretary, who disregarded the Emperor's ban on homosexuality and though they would be safe due to Emperor Howard's relationship. Nevertheless, the Emperor publicly executed them, being present in the event and even pulling the lever in the gallows. Bethesdalians also oppose traditional recreational drugs, instead consuming the drugged Bethesdalian waters and chemical infused government backed products which make them enter a state of bliss, keeps them in check, makes them less hungry and makes them forget.

## History

A unified Bethesdal didn't exist until the 3rd century BC, however, the pre-bethesdalian tribes that merged are thought to have existed for a few centuries before that, although no proof of their civilization stood the test of time. The tribes were: the Stor Fhild, the Elders of the Skrell and the Befallen Hauts. They were isolated on the island where the Imperial Citadel is situated. They eventually unified and founded the First Bethesdalian Empire, with Emperor Bethesdal the Supreme taking the throne. Thus began the golden age of humanity, with now united Bethesdal laying the first wall around the Imperial Citadel which still remains, they also begun contacting elegant and extravagant temples, palaces, houses and other administrative buildings. Outside of it, they begun a centuries long conquest, that would eventually see them gain control of 1/3rd of the entire world, not just PCM. The Empire's last and second greatest Emperor, Emperor Skyrim, completed the war after taking polsim isle, which he named Contra Mundum Victoria. After his death, the empire declined as the generals attempted a coup on the capital, forcing the late Emperor's son to take refuge in the colony of sky's rim. That along with the southern migration of 576 lead to the First Bethesdalian Empire collapsing back into the Bethesdalian borders.

After the fall of the First Bethesdalian Empire, the Bethesdalians decided to experiment with democracy, thus came the Era of the First Republic of Bethesdal. The Republic would continue in Bethesdal's great footsteps, advancing society and technology, even without war. The Bethesdalians embraced a not yet seen aspect of luxury in one's lifestyle, and would regularly indulge in debauchery. The Bethesdalian Republic would elect one permanent ruler, and would replace him with another, always democratically elected ruler. The Republic declined after the senate burned and some people from the old imperial colonies came back weakening the economy in 1569. After that begun the Era of the second Republic. Modern Bethesdal was thus born. Not much is known about the second Republic, and it may even be largely fabricated. Due to the book burning of 1874, few written accounts do exist. The state accepted story states that the republic had been barely effective in its entire existence, only barely escaping downfall multiple times, however, some skeptics claim it was an age of prosperity for Bethesdal. Nonetheless, the golden age of man ended when the second Republic begun

The Downfall Era is the transitional period between the Republic and the Empire. In the early 18th century, the republic begun to decline, the old major political parties of the Union Party and the National Party had disillusioned, giving way to three new parties: The Colonial Party and the Bethesdal Libertarian Party.

The Colonial Party, founded by members exclusively from the Bethesdalian overseas colonies, seeked to unite the nation under one banner, their banner. It largely didn't care about mainland Bethesdal, instead only benefiting the colonies. It's political ideas fell largely into the centrist to right wing territory. A young admiral and lawyer by the name of Todd Howard would later be part of it, until his disillusionment that lead to the creation of the Great Bethesdalian Party.

The Bethesdal Libertarian Party was a right wing libertarian political party, which seeked to give more freedom to the Bethesdalians. They ended up making the nation even weaker.

The Great Bethesdalian Party, founded in 1869, winning the vote in 1873 was a minority party of founded by Todd Howard, comprised largely disillusioned National and colonial Party members, who seeked to return Bethesdal into its former imperial glory. The Great Bethesdalian Party became a larger player in 1870, when the now Emperor, Todd A. Howard, begun to entice the Bethesdalians to join his cause, later on winning the election and converting the country largely, thus begun the Second Bethesdalian Empire.

The Howard Administration, beginning in 1874, saw the replacement of the old republican system for the Monarchy, with Emperor Todd Howard becoming head of state. The secondary governmental body, the advisory council, has reasonable power, being able to draft laws and live without certain surveillance or retention laws, although all their decisions must be evaluated and approved by the Emperor.

The Howard Administration also has put in place multiple laws against dissent. Through the Emperor's leadership, the nation has become a superpower with an enormous army and thriving economy. The technologic advancement of the nation has reached an unprecedented high, surpassing all other nations. The Howard Administration has also been credited with the expansion of the Bethesdal Imperial Citadel, the nation's capital.

## Geography

The Bethesdalian environment is a varied one, with large sprawling woods, island territories, polar climates, moorlands, a great river passing through it, the urbanised Imperial Citadel, as well as all other Bethesdalian cities , the Great Bethesdalian Mountain range, the nuclear testing grounds of point 4 and point 76, as well as the volcanic island of Solstheim

## Trivia

* Bethesdal spent a month signing documents to join the world assembly. After a long process, Bethesdal signed the official agreement making them part of the WA. 12 hours later, Bethesdal attended its first World Assembly meeting where, after being told to conform to the WA laws, immediately took their items from their table and left, officially seceding from the World Assembly