Cellian Empire

## Government

### Succession

After the death of the Empai, the next male relative in line becomes Empai at once, although their Coronation can be postponed if need be. If there are no male children, then siblings or cousins come next. Powerful daughters of the Empai will occasionally attempt to crown themselves instead of allowing a more distant relative to take the throne.

The Muzabachen Tribe of Tokai serve as bodyguards to the Empai, and have the power to enforce who they feel has best claim out of potential heirs if there is no clear favourite (for example, younger sibling versus older cousin).

### Hierarchy

**Empai**: The Empai is the messenger of Zarodossa and has complete authority.

**Doga:** The hereditary dogas rule large parts of the empire, notable the conquered Kavees and Ijhier regions.

**Grand Millile-Leader:** As a Millile leader, but with authority over other millile-leaders.

**Millile-Leader:** These leaders command a millile and are given political power so that they can force regional Loros to comply with the military policy they set out.

**Loro:** An appointed title which allows governance of a small municipality or rural area.

**Venificor:** These wizards are agents of the Empai and have limited power except to bypass bureaucracy.

**Arcen:** The Arcen serve as administrators within the government. They are tax collectors, judges, and clerics.

### Military

The Cellian Army is composed of Millile-Leaders who command milliles composed of eleven centiles (ten fighting, one auxiliary). These centiles are made of 100 soldiers, plus between one and eleven Arcva to control it telepathically. This is further sub-divided into ten deciles of 10 soldiers and up to one Arcva.

At a given time, there are roughly 50 milliles in the Cellian Army, although more can be raised on short notice. Large stocks of weapons and armour are kept to arm new recruits. The milliles sport heavy-armour wearing infantry with heavy shields, and heavy-armour wearing archers. Occasionally, they bring ballistae to assist in assaulting cities or ships.

### Navy

The Cellian Navy has fallen in numbers since the start of the Cellian Civil War. They use primarily galleys and triremes to defend the coast of the Papiska strait to ensure commerce passes through.

## Ruling Court

The ancient Rafil court, ruled in Arcellus since the year 492 when Dondorius arrived to conquer the city of Cella, now Werex Bankasorabeau. Court Rafil was usually centered around the family of the ruling Empai, but unrelated Arcva would join. This court's rule came to an end in the Cellian Empire in the year 1935 when he was assassinated by Gorn Betalium I. The Court Betalium has now assumed control of the empire.

### Chronology of Empais

Below is a list of famous Empais, their deeds, and their ruling periods.

* **Dondorius Rafil III (1929-1936):** A pleasant but inexperienced boy with many superstitious beliefs that lead him to investigate all manner of magical methods to restore the empire. Assasinated in 1936.
* **Magnus Rafil I (1896-1928):** A cleric of Zarodossa who took the throne and reformed much of Arcellus' laws to be more modern. His accomplishments were minor and he lost more territory in the rise to Vaten invaders.
* **Amros Rafil I (1846-1894):** A conquering Loro of court Haurim who integrated himself into court Rafil after deposing Muat Rafil IV. Defeated further uprisings from loyalists and repelled Ghidovia's attempts to re-install Muat's heir.

Though still part of court Rafil, the following are not related to the current ruling dynasty.

* **Muat Rafil IV (1838-1845):** Dethroned by rebellious Loros for his attempts to reduce their power over local cities and trade.
* **Athen "The Iron" Rafil I (1805-1838):** Took power following her brother's death and fought in the first Cellian Civil War.
* **Muat "The Young" Rafil III (1801-1805):** Died young in the battle of Noesmin Graniterra during the first Cellian Civil War.
* **Daria Rafil (1735-1801):** The nephew of both Andurian Rafil I and Mureios II, Much of Court Rafil was executed while she was a child, leaving her reign tumultuous, and saw the loss of Kavees and the colonies.
* **Andurian "The Hammer" Rafil (1730-1733):** The self-declared millile-zarod responsible for winning military campaigns across Altus and son of the deceased eldest son of Poneius Rafil. His failed attempt to conquer Ghidovia in 1715 made him a traitor to his cousin, Mureios II. Andurian would later launch a coup to overthrow his brother and severely cripple the Cellian Empire.
* **Mureios Rafil II (1701-1730):** An inept strategist and absent-minded artist. Many believed he was homosexual, and several of his "children" were claimed as murdered before the public could see them. Mureios was himself murdered by his cousin, Andurian.
* **Mureios "The Great" Rafil I (1657-1700):** A cruel and brutal Empai who murdered his brother to gain the throne, conquered Ijhier and Kavees from his cousins, and nearly united the entire civilized world. His mercantile expansion began the Cellian Empire.

## Economy

### Werex Bankasorabeau

The largest city in the world is Werex Bankasorabeau. Protected on one side by the Papiska Strait and pierced by a wide river, it is naturally protected from invaders. Coupled with the 12-kilometre long Betalium Wall and modern Wekep Empai, the city is prepared to withstand year-long sieges.

The sunny city is home to 200 000 Cellian Ashanzu craftsmen, artists, clerics, merchants, and soldiers. An additional 500 Arcva soldiers, wizards, nobles, administrators, and scholars live here. A large portion of the 1000 Alfar craftsmen, artists, and paladins came to the city following The Fall of Morata. These Callian Rise Alfar live primarily within the Cathedral of the Sun.

It is the mercantile capital of the world, with thousands of merchants and dozens of ships visiting daily.

### Mimimaj Bankalumafia

This large coastal port of 10 000 ashanzu of mixed Vasten and Cellian heritage is the largest city in Kavees and one of the few that has not fallen below it's population peak when the empire was formed. This major shipping port is one of the only ways into Kavees still controlled by the Empai. Olive oil to fuel the entire empire flows out of this harbour, as does a constant wave of refugees and immigrants from the steppe that flee the constant war that grips what used to be the heart of the wealthy Zarodom.

### **Darwemin Seridiufura**

A city built on an island near the mouth of the Darsuwes Fuval and protected by the nearby Darwekep Loro is Darwemin Seridiufure. A wealthy town of 8000 ashanzu that exports incenses, perfumes, and inks has begun to slowly decline as seaborne trade collapses. It is the base of operations of the Crimson Sails in Jarissa Sea and the cite of the Alfar's heroic last stand during the Cellian Wars. Locals here are on the fringe of the empire and many are worshipers of Feyus or Lesellia.

### Notable Regions

**Callian Rise:** This region produces much of the world's silver, copper, tin, iron, and gold. The southern parts also grow large quantities of linen for clothing.

**Kavees Coast:** Along this tropical coast are many spice plantations that have held out from the invasion of Vasten Ashanzu.

**Papiska:** This human region has the world's largest salt mine.

## Laws

The Cellian Empire is built on a strict rule of law. Furthermore, the Arcva have ensured that only Arcva may act within the legal system, preventing the rise of legal challenges to their rule. Local Loros govern small municipalities and are responsible for procuring an Arcva Invoker to serve as the judge of legal disputes. Although Invokers interpret the law, the laws are written by the court Argenia on behalf of the Empai.

Although all crimes are detailed in legal documents that span several libraries, below are some examples of the sorts of crimes and punishments recognized within the empire:

### Theft

Theft of property of money, or theft of possible gains (e.g., through anti-competitive economic practices or running competition out of business) is punished with fines. If fines are substantially larger than the net worth of a criminal, the criminal is often forced to sell themselves into slavery to pay for their debts.

### Negligence

If negligent behaviour results in a third party's loss, an Invoker aims to identify a similar punishment to inflict upon the victim. Whipping or beatings are common punishments, but confiscation of sentimental or valuable property is also used. Often, the criminal will be permitted to offer a one-time bribe to the victim in order to prevent the punishment after it has been declared.

### Treason

A general term that includes any activity deemed against the best interest of the Empai. Examples include trading with enemies of the Empire, avoiding taxes, or damaging imperial property. An Invoker will assess their likelihood of re-offence, but most minor offences result in temporary or permanent exiles. Criminals may be offered a chance to pay the Empai a fine in order to avoid the punishment.

### Incompetence

An incompetent official appointed to serve in the employ of the Empai who is found guilty of incompetence (for example, failing to coordinate a festival or incorrectly calculating supplies needed for an expedition) is humiliated. This often includes public speeches made by the criminal, and the lifetime ban of re-employing the criminal. Many officials instead choose to resign rather than face this punishment.

### Assault

Assault includes all forms of physical abuse. Invokers use prison sentences to punish violent offenders. More serious offenses like murder are usually punished with a "life sentence" - delivered by an executioner.

### Desertion

Soldiers who desert the army are usually killed for their crime. However, desertion at less crucial times - such as failure to return from leave - is punished with branding or scarring.

Additionally, the non-religious laws of the empire have produced a veriety of more special forms of criminal offenses:

### Forgery

The use of officially minted coins within the Empire ensures trust and reduces the cost of merchants doing business (e.g., by testing coins for their metal content). Since trade is so important to the empire, ever since Mureios I it has been punishable with death to forge a coin, a metal bar, to misrepresent the contents of any trade good, or to forge documents, including written orders for payment.

### Abuse of Slaves

Poneius Rafil was the mother of Mureios I, and her legal reforms of Arcellus' slavery laws are still in force. Slaves are given many rights, including the right to property, the right to safety, the right to birth free eggs, and the right to buy one's freedom. More recently, Magnus Rafil has made it illegal for freemen to sell their eggs into slavery, as eggs are not recognized as citizens and only citizens are protected by Cellian laws.

### Magic

Arcane magic is a key tool used by the ruling Arcva to keep their control of the Ashanzu. Anyone found teaching magic to a non-Arcva is guilty of an offense and is usually put to death. There are no restrictions on non-arcva *learning* or *practicing* magic.