Thalmonian Empire

Flag of the Thalmonian Empire

The Empire in Pydwell

The **Thalmonian Empire**, known to the north as the **Black Empire** (*Ceas'raet* in Thalmonian language) or **Thalmonia**, its core realm, is the most powerful empire in the history of the known world. It is located in the southern part of Pydwell, bordering Bohaem, Medina and the twin realm of Kovric and Caellon to the north, and rules over what was once the Southern Realms.

The Empire has its roots in the Thalmonian Civil War, one of the Great Pydwellian Wars, which ended in victory for the Church of the Great Sun, who overthrew the royal family and installed their high priest as emperor. In the subsequent centuries Thalmonia continued to expand, ultimately invading their neighbours - Kihirrin, Tarv and Niildard - during the Great Sun Crusades and transforming them into proxy states. Following the dissolution of the Drakengard Empire in 8:0, the four Southern Realms coalesced into the modern Thalmonian Empire. Ruled today by Emperor Awaer van Peron, the Empire is a cultural and religious hegemony where the Church of the Great Sun is the sole religion and governing force. Boasting an economy only dwarfed by Medina and mighty armed forces, the Empire aims to spread its religion all across Pydwell, and thus is a significant threat to the Northern kingdoms. Through backing Arn Druwso's coup against Clan an Kett in the Archipelago, the Empire robbed the north of a significant ally and invaded Caellon in 9:0, triggering the Third Northern War and defining the start of the Age of Contempt.

## Culture

### Religion

The Empire has a single legal religion: the Church of the Great Sun. Originating from an extremist Thalmonian cult that worshipped Raan, the personification of the sun, the Church of the Great Sun overthrew the former Thalmonian royalty to form the Empire. Thalmonia then instigated the Great Sun Crusades on their neighbours Tarv, Niildard and Kihirrin, abolishing the worship of Lanis, personification of the moon, and installing the Great Sun as the sole legal religion throughout the provinces.

## Geography

Since the seizure of the other Southern Realms, the Empire's northern borders with Medina, Kovric and Bohaem are defined by the Gnawed Mountains, the tallest and longest mountain range in Pydwell; the mountains have always defined the boundary between the northern and southern realms and continue to be the Empire's biggest obstacle in their northern conquest.

Their former border with Caellon ran through the southern reaches of Dol Elga, a flat valley plagued by ash from past eruptions of Mount Volos; to the west, the Empire's border with Bohaem consists of a divide in the Gnawed Mountains, a divide that is flanked by the Hertch Peaks. This entry-point into Bohaem runs up the Bohaemian Plateau, providing Bohaem a natural defence against southern invasions.

The Empire shares a water border with Medina on Lake Llyn, southernmost of the Great Lakes.

### Climate

The Empire spans a huge area and thus the climate varies greatly, from warm but mild in Tarv and Niildard to cold and dry in the far south; most of the southernmost reaches of the Empire are frozen throughout the year. Some territories have microclimates, which are dictated by both the land (like in the mountains or river deltas) to weather such as rain and wind.

## Constituent States & Provinces

* Kiirhine
* Niildard
* Tarv
	+ Mournfall
* Thalmonia
	+ Thalo