Azure Sea Empire

The **Azure Sea Empire**, often just referred to as the **Azure Empire**, is the sole country in the world. For more than 10,000 years, citizens of the Azure Sea Empire have been under Imperial rule and resisting the Enemy - the Defiled. It is split into five provinces: Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central, and its population is made up of both humans and half-beasts/demi-humans.

## Background

> "The strong protect the weak. The weak serve the strong."
>
>

Martial warriors make up around 1% of the population and they are the primary combat force that fight for the Empire. Direct land invasions by the Defiled can occur at three choke-points to the North, West and South of the Empire which are walled off by colossal fortifications and manned by the Imperial Army and Imperial Defense Force. Imperial cities ensure a basic level of security within the lands of the Empire where there are wild beasts, bandits and the errant Defiled group. Meanwhile independent villages must fend for themselves. Furthermore, without adding to the Imperial Defense Force as mercenaries, those same villagers may be subjected to slavery. The Empire is kept separate from the rest of the world and the Defiled thanks to the Walls.

### General Information

* The dominant language is Common Script.
* Currency traded consists of copper, silver (equals 100 copper), and gold (equals 10 silver); larger sums of gold are traded with gold bars (equals 10 gold) and gold cards (equals 100 gold).
* Metric system is used for units of measurement.
* Dates are counted according to the Lunar calendar with a week equivalent to ten days, a month to three weeks, and a year to 12 months.
* The Empire places particular importance on the sociological concept of "face".

## Imperial Clan

The Eastern Province is home to the Imperial Clan which was established by the First Emperor and His five generals, ancestors to the Five Supreme Families: Yang, Liang, Xing, Tian, and Di (Sun, Moon, Stars, Sky, and Earth). The Emperor holds absolute power across the Empire as head of state. His right hand man, the Grand Marshal, drafts laws and manages issues of economics. The Prime Minister acts as judge, jury, and executioner while working through his army of clerks, Enforcers, Adjudicators, and Justiciars.

Current Office:

* Grand Marshal: Liang Bao Zheng
* Prime Minister: Head of the Yang family (Jixing's father)

The Imperial Clan safeguard several secrets such as the manufacturing of silk.

## Outer Provinces

The Northern, Southern, Western and Central Province act as their own spheres of influence beholden to the Emperor. Each Imperial City is governed by a Magistrate and their heirs who hold office for 100 years. Each Province elects their own Marshal through the endorsement of Magistrates' and Lieutenant Marshals' in said Province. The top military authorities in the outer provinces are the Colonel Generals of the Imperial Army.

Current Office:

* Marshals: Shing Yuzhen (Northern), Yo Jeong-Hun (Central), Quyen Huong (Southern)

* Colonel Generals: Situ Nian Zu (Northern), Ryo Dae Jung (Central), Shuai Jiao (Central), Mitsue Juichi (Central), Tran Hoang (Southern)

The Azure Sea itself spans across parts of the Northern, Western and Central Province.

## The Treaty

Details pertaining to the Treaty are only known among Divinities and some high up in the Imperial Clan. What's known so far includes:

* Ancestral Beasts can claim lands as Territory Lords; unclaimed lands belong to the Empire.
* Getting personally involved in conflicts between mortals violates the treaty.

## Trial By Combat

In the case that opposing parties cannot mediate a deal, a dispute is settled via duels to determine judgement. It's usually fought through a best of three duels in single combat separated by age: over 100 years old, under 100 years old, and under 25 years old.

## Trivia

* Certain colors have specific meanings: red for happiness, luck, prosperity, vitality, and fertility; black for death; white for funerals.
* It is widely accepted that wealth and status is determined by the Heavens themselves.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 11
2. ↑ Chapter 480
3. ↑ Chapter 476
4. ↑ Chapter 494
5. ↑ Chapter 622