Parsalos

## Empire of Parsalos

The Empire of Parsalos is currently led by Empress Yustitia II.

## Government

The Empire of Parsalos is led by the Empress, may she live forever. When the previous Empress dies, the next one is elected by the heads of the noble families from a pool of the previous Empress's most trusted advisors, guards, and family members. There are typically only a couple choices by the time a succession occurs, as the people in this pool assassinate each other often.

### Holidays and Celebrations

#### Highharvest

Highharvest is the most important holiday in Parsalos. During the weeks leading up to the day, all people currently imprisoned are taken to the nearest arena. There, they are fed with some of the early harvests of the year -- food that is not quite the quality that the general population would want to eat, but is far better than what the prisoners generally get while incarcerated.

Once the day of Highharvest has arrived, the now well-fed prisoners are brought into the arena proper, where they are to fight to the death in a large-scale melee. Local magistrates, judges, and other people of power oversee these fights, and they determine when they should end. Typically, they make sure that enough blood is spilled to appease Eadala (and the spectators). Some judges are known to be harsh when it comes to the battles, only ending when one person is standing, while some few others are so lenient that none die during their battles. Many prisoners attempt to bribe their way into these less-fatal jurisdictions.

The Parsalons believe that the combatants will be judged by Eadala to either be worthy of another chance at life, which means they survive the bloodbath and get released, or judged to have used up their goodwill on the mortal plane, which means they perish in the fight and are therefore judged again by Eadala as to the fate of their eternal soul. Once the fighting is done, the true harvest feast begins, and the feasting, dancing, and merriment pours out into the streets and typically lasts through the night.

Although this practice is seen as barbaric in some circles, many tourists come from all around to watch the arena battles and participate in Parsalos's unique Highharvest tradition.

## History

Prior to the emergence of Parsella the Just, Parsalos was known as Harrenhold, a relic of Hjaarenwald. After The Devastation, many people fled Hjaarenwald, looking to find somewhere new to settle, as they didn't want the reminder of what they used to have. They believed the lands in and around what is now known as Harren's Marsh were the perfect place for a new beginning. As the years went on, they discovered that the land wasn't as fertile as they'd hoped. The nearby marsh brought too much water into their farmland, causing the crops to suffer and not produce as much as was needed. Unfortunately, with few resources and fewer allies, this was all they could hope for.

That changed when Parsella came, about 150 years ago. A cleric and paladin of Eadala, Parsella studied and preached of justice far and wide. As her influence grew, so too did her power. And her ego. First proclaiming herself a prophet of Eadala, and later dubbing herself Empress of Harrenhold, Parsella led crusades into the east. Their attacks were sneaky, quick, and brutal, but only toward those who would fight back. This helped win the favor of the commoners, who quickly came to the side of Parsella and Eadala, and also built Parsella's might and myth even more. By the time Parsella had died, they had pushed Hjaarenwald out of its part of the Crystalwood Forest and had begun taking both forest and plains from Parvusia in the east. The next Empress of Harrenhold immediately changed its name to the Empire of Parsalos, in honor of Parsella the Just. As the crusades continued, the empire took over even more land. Parvusia, Hjaarenwald, and even Moranath and parts of Kell now live in fear that Parsalos will decide another crusade is necessary. If they do, no one knows where it will occur.