Empire of Bruxia

The Empire of Bruxia is a powerful nation which borders Tirrenor to the southwest. Bruxia is a very powerful and wealthy empire dominated by the Bruxus Dynasty, a large and dominant family who has ruled for centuries through divine right.

The current emperor of Bruxia is Fazael Bruxus V, who resides in the **Great Pyramid of The Citadel** in the capital city of Brux Arkana.

The Empire is known as being the source of the continental Ganjadil trade, a highly sought-after drug. Multiple Cartels are operated out of Bruxia to smuggle and trade the drug throughout the region. It is also known as the main source of Sela Petrae, a mineral used for its explosive potential, researched by Bruxian alchemists.

## Notable Locations

* Brux Arkana (capital, seat of emperor)
* Brux Vassili
* South Yanama (on the border with Tirrenor)
* Vasque Relicto

## Bruxian Factions

* Bruxus Dynasty
* College of Sages
* Vox Populi
* Birchmen
* Vassili Cartel
* Yurican Liberation Front

## Government

The Empire's power is managed as a top-down command & control structure. The power is isolated to the Emperor or Empress in Brux Arkana, and members of the Bruxus family, called the "Branded" class. The Emperor is surrounded by **The Ministry**, consisting of members of the Bruxus family, with offices such as the following:

* Minister of War
* Minister of Truth
* Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Minister of Public Health
* Minister of Law
* Minister of Education
* Minister of Trade

And a variety of other offices over time, as the individual rulers call for their reinstatement or dispersion.

Other cities and provinces are ruled by members of the Bruxus family installed as Governors (often referred to as Matriarch or Patriarch of the city/province), and supported by hands called **Chancellors.** The Chancellors often handle daily political duties while the Branded Governors serve in their symbolic role.

## Caste System

Bruxian people are organized into a caste system, in a pyramid-like structure. The Emperor/Empress is considered the top of that pyramid.

* The Branded (Royal blood members of the Bruxus Dynasty)
* Warrior Caste (Career soldiers and other authorities in service of the Empire)
* Sage Caste (Priests, scholars, alchemists, and teachers)
* Merchant Caste (Traders, farmers, and industrialists)
* Plebian Caste (The majority of Bruxian civilians, laborers, and servants)

Bruxian culture is heavily religious, as the Doctrine of Gaia is used to justify the divine rule of the Emperor/Empress, and enforcement of the caste system. It is believed that the Great Mother Goddess sorts people at birth into these strict social classes.

## Culture

Culturally, the nation has its own organization, religion, and customs, resulting in cultural strife with Tirrenor and the Creed of the Five Gods.

### Religion: Doctrine of the Goddess

The dominant religion endorsed by the Bruxian power structure is referred to as "Doctrine of the Goddess". Their belief centers on a monotheistic viewpoint that all of creation is under the control of the "Great Mother Goddess", sometimes called "Gaia" or "Gaiax". They believe that the Emperor or Empress is the child of the Goddess, chosen to rule by her divine will. They believe that the founder of Bruxia, **Empress Escaia**, was the human embodiment of the Goddess herself, and that her descendants, the Bruxus Dynasty, are chosen to rule the world by right of their divine blood. Members of the "Sage Caste" are devout followers of the Doctrine. The leading Sages comprise the group called the College of Sages, which serves as the governing body of the religion. Even the College of Sages are subservient to the Emperor's will.

### Conquered People

The Bruxian empire has expanded over time by conquering various people and assimilating them. Examples include the K'loni , Dixari & Yuricans. Extremities of the empire still cling to their own regional tongues & customs. However, the Branded have outlawed the continuation of these traditions and re-educate their subjects into the "Doctrine of the Goddess".

### Gender in Bruxia

Bruxia has a much different perspective on gender than Tirrenor. Dynasties descend through absolute primogeniture, so there have been as many Bruxian Empresses as there have been Emperors. Bruxian men are known to wear there hair in long locks. (Tirrenians are known to have a strong distrust of men with long black hair because of this) Women in Bruxia are often known to wear their hair short, and serve in equanimous roles as men in the society.

Technologically, Bruxia is far ahead of the curve as well, and much is to be said and feared of Bruxian chariots, siege equipment, and the seemingly divine miracles of Bruxian alchemists, who provide advanced medicine as well as destructive weaponry.

## History & Founding Mythology

The Empire of Bruxia is said to be founded nearly 500 years ago by the legendary **Empress Escaia**. Called the "Great Mother of Bruxia", Escaia was believed to be the embodiment of the Great Goddess herself. She was the founder and mother to the entire Bruxus Dynasty, and it is claimed that she had over 20 children. Supposedly, the children were born with the Sigil of Bruxia on thier necks as a holy birthmark, and were the first "Branded". The grounds of the Citadel of Brux Arkana was declared by Empress Escaia in 69 ACR.

The Bruxian caste system was established and enforced throughout the 100's.

The Great Pyramid of Brux Arkana was first built by Emperor Jaak in approximately 212 ACR. Built largely by slaves, Jaak claimed it was the will of the Goddess to create the largest building ever constructed as the seat of the Empire.

The Bruxians helped conquer the Yuricans in the Second Yuricaz War in 509 ACR. Empress Benezia sent members of the Warrior Caste as the Bruxian Foreign Legion. This resulted in a good deal for the Empress, as the city of Yanama was split in two. All lands south of the Whitewater river came under control of the Bruxian Empire.

## Civil War (545 ACR - present)

*The Bruxian nation is currently engulfed in a brutal civil war caused by a revolution against the royal family. Rebels, calling themselves the Vox Populi have mobilized against the government. Motivated by the immense inequality within the Empire, they seek to overthrow the dynasty and install a new government, as well as restore independence to conquered lands. The war has engulfed the empire in anarchy as various ethnic groups, political parties, and criminal organizations vie for power as the government attempts to combat them and maintain the status quo. -* Intel briefing from Inquisitor Caius to Thane Kain Kallistratos II (546 ACR)

A civil war began in Bruxia when the Vox Pupuli movement caught fire, mobilizing the huge underprivileged Plebian caste against the dominant Bruxus regime. The movement began in the capital of Brux Arkana with massacres against peasant protesters. Before long, the entire empire was engulfed in resistance. The Vox Pupuli movement, however, was just the spark to a bigger fire, and the government found themselves defending from local resistances, criminal cartels, religious extremists, and nationalist movements in occupied lands. The civil war was a complete mess, with no end in sight as the Emperor lost control of the nation his family dominated with an iron fist.

Now in 553 ACR, the situation has been brought to order & largely quelled by violent means. Emperor Fazael Bruxus V rules through fear & deterrence, after dropping the hammer on his own people. The Vox Populi movement was defeated, but resistance continues in various forms.

## Notable Known Bruxians

* Emperor Fazael Bruxus V, the current regent.

### In *The Crimson Mountains*

* Hilde, a Gaiaxan Sage and refugee to Stoneshade.
* Suleiman, an alchemist and refugee to Stoneshade.
* "The Condor", a former soldier in the Bruxian Foreign Legion who later joined with and united the Mountain clansmen.

### In *The Final Will*

* Kaveth Bruxus
* Nero Bruxus
* Nadia Bruxus
* Princess Sola Bruxus
* "Minister of War" Ghizlain Bruxus
* "Minister of Foreign Affairs" Mazeeda Bruxus
* "Minister of Truth" Xylo Chigurh
* Vetharia Bruxus, Matriarch of Vassili
* Chancellor Saxyn