Sarmelonid Empire

The **Sarmelonid Empire**, officially known as the **Vozonid Empire** (Sarmelonid: **Bawallhag'oraz Wozonido**), was a series of dynasties that led one of the Galaxy's greatest civilisations. It was the namesake of the Sarmelonid Era, and its strongest civilisation at its latter centuries.

## Factfile

* Official name: Vozonid Empire
* Anthem: Gryphon's Ascent / Hymn to the Three Gods / We Are Coming / Long Live the Emperor
	+ Gryphon's Ascent (A minor) was the anthem during Sarmelon I's reign, the first anthem. It is sometimes played in religious ceremonies of great importance to Sarmelonid monarchy.
	+ We Are Coming (C minor) was the anthem during Silojennoz's reign.
	+ Long Live the Emperor (C minor) was used during Ratirminoz's reign, making it the last anthem of the Sarmelonid Empire. It is nowadays often considered as *the* (only) Sarmelonid national anthem, ignorantly and anarchonistically used by both outsiders and neo-Sarmelonids in history films.
* Official motto: Bring Order to Chaos / Hail Vozolaz
* Capital city: Bawornortar
* Official languages: Sarmelonid Vozonid
* State religion: Vozonid polytheism, Pjosaroz-based
	+ Major religions include Gauvajut polytheism, aboriginal beliefs, and Igarin polytheism
* Government: Constitutional elective monarchy
* Emperor: Ratirminoz
* Galactic location: south
* Population: billions
* Currency: min (100 jærippo)
* National Day: July 16 (Empire Day)

## Flag and symbols

### Flag

The flag of the Sarmelonid Empire (Sarmelonid: Swendoz Wozolaz Bawallhag'orazul ['swendos ˈwozolas bawʌɭːə'gʱorʌzul]) is a red standard with a gold-coloured gryphon facing to its left, wearing the crown of an Emperor and wielding the noble *sakhandoz* sword.

The gryphon and his weapon represents the Sarmelonids' emulation of the finer arts of the Gauvajut Empire, whom their ancestors conquered long ago, and whose culture they adopted to placate the Gauvajuts' pantheon and wights after a series of disasters. The crown represents their country's status as a powerful empire, and the sword represents their willingness to go to war and unite the galaxy under the rule of their Emperors. Gold stands for courage and righteousness, and red for honour and zeal.

### Symbols

Three substances are the national substances of the Sarmelonid Empire, by the order that they appear on the Vozonid emperor's crown: obsidian, gold, and emerald.

There are also sixteen other symbols of the Vozonid state:

* beech tree
* a torch
* the gryphon (such as when he holds a sword)
* the sun
* seven stars
* three mountains, including Mount Mandil
* lamp
* kalak-bird
* the colour red
* a lake
* a palace
* a large ship
* spear and shield
* a red triangular banner
* the fire crown of the Emperor
* a crystal throne of stars (representing Vozolaz as a space empire)

## Features

* Bawornortar Capital Metropolis
* Sawerzan Province
* Bawal Oghlin River/Makhantrondau River

### To be sorted

* Mount Mānothurjaz
* Mount Thojaksariz
* Mount Thænawon
* Mount Ônwazal
* Mount Azilomau
* Mount Ronathauraz
* Mount Wisilkaithoz
* Mount Shōlwaknoz
* Yromunthaz River
* Rhaumiloz River
* Maharathoz River
* Tiriwazil River
* Zarothjau River
* Zrinawai River
* Rokhaupal River
* Nakhautalpoz River
* Itrimantaz River

## History

See also: early, middle, and later Sarmelonid emperors

It was founded by a warlord, Aronzo Skarojonizo, after overthrowing the corrupt Manditur kings. His dynasty was followed by a series of foreign monarchs, such as the Thandzharos (Šarazno), the Šarais/Raukiroppo/Šarāznoruis (Vilonian), and the Littikars (southerners). The Sarmelonid Empire was invaded by the Konjor Supercorporation twice.

In the early years of the Sarmelonid Empire, the Vozonids were able to totally exterminate every rat and cuckoo within their realm. When the last rat and cuckoo was slain, piles of the creatures' skulls were raised to celebrate the Vozonids' victory over those pests. Some animals were also punished for infanticide, such as a cat being beheaded by angry villagers because it killed a litter of kittens.

From Emperor Īralto IV onwards, Vozolaz made riches from the frequent shipments of rubbish and scrap to its processing centres. The resulting vehicles, machines, and raw materials produced and sold made the empire rich within ten years.

Emperor Zoirondo was the one who made many allies offer an annual, later monthly, tribute of invasive animals. Many were killed as food, some were killed in hunting parks, and some (like horses) were kept as pets and beasts of burden. Horses, rabbits, and chickens were the most popular imports.

During the Second Šarai Dynasty, the Sarmelonid Empire spread westward to conquer dozens of islands.

In the middle part of its history, the Sarmelonid Empire was ruled by a series of empresses.

On the fourth year of Emperor Wantōzil's reign (SE 856), the Vozonid Empire slowly replaced its spinel coinage with metallic coins, to ease international commerce.

At some time within the civilisation's earlier years, the Ozoi Republic existed.

After they defeated the Konjor invaders, some of its rulers attempted to build their own space empire like their other Jerdiskar rivals did. Under its emperor Silojennoz, their combination of force, strategy, and recruitment won scores of planets into the Gryphon Realm's control. The Malendor Supercorporation, arch-enemies of the Konjors, welcomed them for fighting against the Konjors and Terrans, and also supported the Vozonid takeover of Konjor power to "seal" it from ever waging war on the Galaxy.

However, after defeating the Konjor Supercorporation in the Battle of Kazhoron, its later emperors wasted the empire's economy, such as its penultimate ruler Ratirminoz and his project to develop an immortality elixir. The Sarmelonid Empire came to an end when the Kyrvotins invaded the Galaxy out of a ruined portal from the jungle world of Autelon.

## Economy

In its earlier history, the Sarmelonid Empire used spinel tiles as its currency, but they were replaced with paper banknotes and metallic coins. The tiles were collectively known as *karki*, while the latter money were known as *min* after a silvery fish. From the reign of Silojennoz to the final years of the empire, every *min* is made of 100 *jærippo*.

The empire's economy was supported by manufacturing, using metals gathered and synthesised from scrap or mined from asteroids. It was also supported by recycling - Vozonids love to collect scrap and mine landfills, as that was where much of their supplies and resources came from in addition to mines.

## Government

In much of its history, the Sarmelonid Empire was a monarchy. Sometimes it was an absolute monarchy, although a later reform gave more power to a council who chose the next Emperor.

Below the Emperor were the dukes of the provinces and colonies.

One exception was the Ozoi Republic.

### Notable emperors

* Sarmelon I - the founder
* Zoirondo - killed many animals to feed the world
* Īralto IV - forged the scrap of the world to make his empire rich
* Wantōzil - stopped using spinel tiles and changed to bank notes and coins as imperial currency
* Ōndyrinoz the Unbeaten - defeated the Konjor Invasion of Vozolaz
* Zaighoroz the Stern - a dark-skinned emperor of Vozolaz, known for his discipline
* Alhjozor the Grim - adopted a male hyena pup to frighten his subjects from corruption, became a wise and benevolent servant of Death.
* Sīlōjennoz - led a war against the Konjors, instead liberated many worlds who joined him to fight the Konjors
* Zolholdoz the Steady
* Naurorantoz the Monster
* Maudolinnir the Conqueror
* Wenokes Igildothar the Trader
* Ratirminoz
* Zannoz

## Military

The Sarmelonid Empire's military would be considered to be extremely advanced to the standards of the present day. Each soldier is armed with a bulky plasma or *karkite* rifle, some grenades, a *sakhandoz* scimitar of toughened metal, and *tektonir* armour; while some platoons have machine guns, rocket launchers, or flamethrowers instead.

Much of the Empire's technology -- from the engines used by spaceships to their weaponry -- was derived from machinery left behind by the second Konjor invasion of Jerde after they defeated the latter. Larger engines are powered by a mixture of solar energy and *rytoryntar*.

The Sarmelonid military utilises dozens of different combinations of mechas, tanks, and infantry mechas (for vanguard or shock troops, such as the Conqueror Squads in their dark armour) to overwhelm their enemies, while fleets of battleships clash against hostile fleets in the skies above.

The Emperors of the Sarmelonid Empire are protected by his bodyguards, known as the Inner Celestial Guard. The Outer Celestial Guard is a larger army that consists of eight companies, the elites of the Sarmelonid Imperial Armed Forces established by Emperor Silojennoz. These included the 1st Company (Gryphon Legion) and the 6th Legion (Sunhorse Legion, a company of fire mutant troopers). The Outer Celestial Guard led the "vanguard", superior soldiers clad in black armour who led the wars against the enemies of the empire.

### The status of spellcasters in Sarmelonid society

Magic and sorcery are mostly avoided by the Sarmelonids, because they are seen as deadly enough to distort reality and put entire planets in danger. But because they cannot fight the sorcerers of other empires with conventional weaponry, they train small groups of mages to fight back against their Konjors, Igarins, and Terrans, whose mages were more experienced and crueller. These include the zrjorisso and k'aejolwonso (exorcists) and the rare thanudzhol (demigods or archmages). They are mostly assigned to battles where the enemy uses sorcery or consists of abominations that distort the laws of physics, known as "demons". Most of them are Kuelgon defectors and their descendants, while a large number are humans, whether Vozonid, Norse, or Terran.

People born with magical powers are raised by the Imperial Armed Forces as priests if they are individuals: they either join the military or the Sarmelonid state religion as priests. Communities of magic-users and mage cultures are incorporated as protectorates, granting them so much autonomy that they control their own militaries to defend themselves from the other empires. Some of them willingly send their sons and daughters to train other magic-users in the military with their better expertise in bending reality against their enemies. Magic-users who wanted to leave the military or priesthood must request any of these communities to take them in as citizens, in order to legally end their membership.

Because the Sarmelonids were fair to magic-users, instead of killing them as "witches" or sacrifices to gods (and because human sacrifice was banned in the Sarmelonid realm), the empire became an attractive refuge for sorcerers to survive if they were unable to reach the Malendors, the other Galactic civilisation that also treated magic-users fairly.

When the empire fell apart, these magic users formed their own leagues and alliances to protect themselves from the Kyrvotins. Their magical powers put an end to the Kyrvotin destruction of the Galaxy, pushing them back to the portals where they came from. After three months of mourning, they proceeded to help the survivors rebuild.

As of the latter reign of Ratirminoz, the rate of spellcasters among all people in the empire was one in every 5,000 people.

## Culture

See also: Sarmelonid language, Sarmelonid glossary, Sarmelonisation

National hobbies included mecha-duels, vehicle racing, shooting at targets, drumming, and bonfires.

Popular sports in the Empire include races (with vehicles or horse-drawn chariots), soccer, archery, and mecha-brawls.

Great towers known as "fire towers" were built as temples and monuments to Pjosaroz, and as symbols of Vozonid rule in conquered territories. They also functioned as libraries and universities.

It was a common practice to feed meat to gryphons for good luck -- people either fed pieces of meat to the royal *araukoppo* of the Imperial Household every full moon or on Emerald Week, or killed horses as sacrifices. A cheaper alternative was to feed one's pet *araukoz* gryphon due to their smaller size and capability of being trained.

"Dabbing" (known as *zawok* or *zjewok*) was the Sarmelonid equivalent of a face-palm, used to express annoyance, shame, or disapproval. Likewise, rooster crests and grass skirts were used on characters and people to represent foolishness.

Pork and fried eggs were popular ingredients in Sarmelonid cuisine. The human Vozonids often ate rice dishes.

In the later Sarmelonid era, the "silk wars" broke out between richer nobles and certain parts of the empire. It involved attempts to implement simplified Vozonid robes instead of the proper nobility attire, due to the amount of time and resources needed to put on the latter. The biggest supporters of simplifying Vozonid robes were poorer and industrial regions, and colonies. As time went on, more and more provinces loosened dress codes to allow simplified robes to be used in workplaces instead of the ornate robes.

### Public holidays

See also: Sarmelonid calendar

* March 1 - International New Year (when the previous superpower of Ardesch starts its new year)
* March 9 - Gryphon Day (when Aronzo founded the Sarmelonid Empire)
* March 21 - Hannahanna Day
* May 3 - Victory Day (when the Vozonids defeated the Konjor invaders and drove them from the planet)
* June 16 - Pjosaroz Day
* June 21 - Tarhunz Day
* July 2 - Gauvajut Day
* July 16 - Empire Day (when the Vozonids began scoring a string of victories in their galactic conquests, and the Treaty of Waronzol that brought the Konjors under partial Vozonid control)
* July 23 - Sammakari Day, Naval Forces Day
* August 25-31 - Emerald Week (only for some provinces and businesses)
* September 1-3 - Vozonid New Year, Purulli
* early November - Uorimon Chariot Races
* October 23 - Hasameli Day
* November 16 - Zomjonor's Birthday
* December 21 - Arinna's Birthday
* variable - Coronation Day (in Ratirminoz's time, it was April 5)
* variable - Emperor's Birthday (in Ratirminoz's time, it was July 24)

## Religion

See also: Sarmelonid pantheon

The four-headed deity Pjosaroz was the national god of the Vozonid Empire during the Sarmelonids' rule, although Zomjonor and Tarhunz were popular deities worshipped by many people in the empire. Zomjonor became the symbol of the Vozonid people and their subjects, and Tarhunz became a symbol of victory against evil.

As these three gods are considered the most important deities in the Sarmelonid religion, they are treated as a divine triumvirate. Two symbols used for them include the trident and three gems: emerald for Zomjonor, spinel for Pjosaroz, and diamond (or sapphire) for Tarhunz. Zomjonor represents the people of the empire, Pjosaroz represents the authority of the Emperors, and Tarhunz represents the favour and power of the gods as they use the Sarmelonid Empire as a mighty instrument to carry out their plans and divine will.

Before any Emperor would go on any campaign, he and his officers would pray to Pjosaroz, Tarhunz, and the war god Tuoroz at the Grand Orrery for the gods' help.

During the conquests of the Galaxy, the Vozonids interpreted the savage Imperial Igarins and the Konjors to be armies of demons, both from their cruelty and the latter's usage of dragons. To them, every war and battle fought against these enemies was also an exorcism, so when fighting against these armies the Vozonids primarily invoked Tarhunz. To honour the gods, some regiments also used lightning cannons in their battles, targeted against the enemy's commanders and mechas.

In a proper religious ceremony to worship the gods, Sarmelonids beat great drums and bells as they chant monotonous hymns and dance before their idols. Sarmelonids attend temple services every full and new moon days, while more religious Sarmelonids also attend every Saturday.

The Vozonid state religion, erroneously dubbed as a "church" due to its hierarchy, was headed by a High Priest of the Empire, also known as a Pontifex.

## See also

Modern-day descendants:

* Vozolaz, near its heartland
* Turodaron
* Irajon, which retains much of its traditions and its monarchy, although it has a different dynasty
* Josol, which also claims itself as a faithful descendant of Sarmelon

Vozonised cultures:

* Porashon, which proudly claims to be "the last Sarmelonids" for continuing its traditions
* Vovtarla, which is also heavily-influenced by Sarmelonid culture
* Siangwaan, which adopted Sarmelonid culture to claim itself as its successor
* Bujan, which also claimed itself as *a* (not necessary *the* only) successor of the Sarmelonid civilisation.

## Terminology

* Vozonid Empire: **Wozolaz Bawallhag'oraz** [ˈwozolas bawʌɭːəˈgʱorʌs], **Bawallhag'oraz Wozonidō** [bawʌɭːəˈgʱorʌs ˈwozonidoː] \
* Sarmelonid Dynasty: **Sarmelonþar Haznāroz** [ˈsarmɛlonθʌr hʌzˈnaːros]
* Sarmelonid Empire: **Bawallhag'oraz Sarmelonþar** [bawʌɭːəˈgʱorʌs ˈsarmɛlonθʌr]

As the successor of the First (after King Wozondo) and Third Vozonid Empires (the Manditur kings), the Sarmelonid civilisation is known as the Fourth Vozonid Empire.

### Positive

* Jolthau Gammappo - Between the Oceans
* The Gryphon Realm
* Realm of the Gryphon
* Sons of the Gryphon
* The Ascendant Realm
* The Rising Sun
* The Sun of the South
* Gift of the Gods
* Wrath of the Gods
* Children of Heaven
* Vozolaz Ever-ascendant
* Sarmelon the Great
* Bringers of Enlightenment
* Red Malendors - obsession with justice and civilisation, their crimson skin, usage of red in their imperial flags, ferocity

### Negative

* Alpatar - The Land of Ash and Dust, the Shameful Realm
* Bawolimbloz - The Great Failure
* Olimbollaz - The Ruined Land
* Glakulprazon - Council of Gamblers
* Sôtt'ôjùs - Land of Everlasting Corruption
* Otorlaz, Torulaz - Land of Doom, Land of Despair
* Dust-Eaters
* Drunks
* Land of the Drunks
* Puny Humans
* Mountain Men (Konjor)
* Gryphon-XXXXers
* The Reds
* Little Konjors
* Shame of the Gods
* Upstarts
* Unworthy of Tarhunzas
* Stupid Ones
* The Great Altar, The Great Abattoir - named during the reign of Emperor Zoirondo, where many animals from invasive species from all over the world are being slaughtered.
	+ Also named for the Sarmelonid practice of killing animals that killed their own whelps; and slaughtering certain species seen as parasitical or filthy, like rats, cockroaches, and cuckoos.
* Scrapdwellers - from the Vozonid Empire importing so much scrap, only to export more machinery and raw materials, relieving worldwide shortages and making the empire richer.

## Influences

* The Sarmelonid Empire's influences include Chinese history and emperors; the Baahubali films; and the arts and cultures of Nara-era Japan, Thailand, and the Hittites.
	+ Its earlier, spacefaring beginning was based on the Great Crusade; and its latter decay was based on the Imperium of Man, Mexican and Indian humour, Роисся Вперде! memes accompanied by rock music, cyberpunk, the randomness of Snospis Eht and Raxxo's videos, and Idiocracy.
	+ Its cultural influence and historical significance -- whether on its descendants or as one of the galactic empires -- may be compared to that of India and the Roman Empire.
	+ Its flag was inspired by the Arantarese flag. It, in turn, was influenced by the national flag of Sri Lanka.
	+ Other influences for Sarmelonid characters include Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, and characters from the Astra Militarum and the Empire from Warhammer.

## Trivia

* The author imagined that Sarmelonid Vozonids would speak in a British accent, to reflect that their culture was considered a classical culture in later eras.
* The author based some Sarmelonid war marches on Greek hoplites and Roman centurions and legions.
* Sarmelonid people are supposed to look like a mixture of Polynesian and Arab people. In a sense, the author also used them as a non-White civilisation of spacefaring people, as an equivalent to various human civilisations in US and British science fiction works. The author wanted to use the Sarmelonids as relatable human characters for readers to see themselves into, similarly to the humans in Star Wars and Warhammer.
	+ In a sense, the Vozonids may resemble the Telmarines from Narnia.
* The Sarmelonid Empire, or the Fourth Vozonid Empire, began 2,958 years after the end of the Sixteenth Age (12,978 16A), and ended 7,510 years after the end of the Sixteenth Age (20,488 16A).

## Gallery

### National flags

The national flag of the Sarmelonid Empire. It was originally the personal flag of the founding emperor, Sarmelon I.The war flag of the Sarmelonid Empire, later used as the standard of the Emperor. The gold border evolved from various prayers to the Vozonid gods.The later war flag of the Sarmelonid Empire's armies.
### Imperial standards

Sarmelon I. It was also used as the national flag of the Vozonid Empire.Ratirminoz.Zannoz.
### Sarmelonid Imperial culture

An emperor's crown.Sarmelonid architecture.A khopesh and an axe, two sacred weapons in Sarmelonid religion.Currency during Sarmelonid times, dating to Wantozil's reforms.A Sarmelonid starfighter.A soldier, late Sarmelonid era. His tektite armour was also plated with gold.Sarmelonid emperor on a gryphon.
## External links

* Sarmelonid history, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.