Darome

> "E*mni Urbana Omna Vitaris"* -- From The Imperial City Flows Prosperity. ~ Motto of the capital city
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## The Empire of Darome

### Inhabitants

Queen GinevraMarshal Colfax†

The Marshal Service of Darome

Count Adrius Martius†

Countess Mariadne†

Sophistus†

Tutor Koresh†

Tutor Arrasia

Tutor Karanetta

Oleis

Arex Nerren

Cerreck

Lord Major Leonidas

Tasia†

### Language

Daroman

Darome is a major empire on the main continent, and has significant influence over a number of countries. It is traditionally represented by the suit of Shields in the Argosi deck, as it has the strongest military on the continent. It it a religious monarchy, currently ruled by Queen Ginevra.

## History

Many centuries before the present day, the people that would found the empire of Darome first inhabited a small section of plains on the 'old continent' called Daromis.

The modern civilisation of Darome is at least two thousand years old, due to the belief in the eternal spirit of the monarch: Queen Ginevra is believed to contain a soul that is two thousand years old which inhabits all rulers of Darome.

## Laws and Enforcement

Law enforcement in the Daroman Empire falls first and foremost to the Marshal Service of Darome, an organisation that is famous for its determination to track down criminals, and the impossibility of avoiding them. Due to the uniquely Daroman idea of only punishing criminals after trial, the Marshals tend to arrest criminals as painlessly as possible, and while the prisoner is in their care, they spare no expense in keeping them - if not comfortable - as safe and uninjured as possible, as seen when two marshals used the incredibly expensive *aquae sulfex* on both a Zhuban Elite who had just attempted to kill them, and later on Reichis after they injured him in attempting to subdue him.

The laws of Darome appear remarkably conservative to many outsiders, especially in regards to marriage. In Darome, children from the age of twelve can be married with the consent of the parents, regardless of the age of the spouse. While not stated outright, in practice this tends to occur with older men marrying young girls.

Another conservative element of Daroman law is the idea that a man's wife is considered his property, and even extremely harsh treatment is legal, if not necessarily socially acceptable.

One of the more important legal concepts in Daroman law is that of the *citavis teradi*. Unless a visitor is an officially sanctioned foreign diplomat, upon crossing the border into Darome, they become a 'territorial citizen', which grants them a few minor protections under the law, and the duty to defend the monarch.

One of the most significant crimes in Daroman law is that of declaring war against the Royal Family of Darome, which is signified by soaking the queen's flag in blood. Due to visitors' status as territorial citizens, the majority of these cases are considered acts of treason, rather than acts of war. This crime is so major that Marshals are legally bound to arrest the criminal immediately, regardless of circumstances, as seen when Kellen accidentally got blood on the flag when attempting to stop bleeding after a duel.

## Trivia

* The Daroman empire seems partially inspired by the Roman empire in a number of aspects, including the similar sounding names, the infamous martial prowess, and the use of Latin-sounding terms.