Dwendalian Empire

The **Dwendalian Empire** is a nation on the continent of Wildemount, dominating the western half of the region of Wynandir. The capital of the Dwendalian Empire is Rexxentrum, a massive city more than twice the size of Emon.

They are at war with Xhorhas

## Society

The current head of state is King Bertrand Dwendal. His law is absolute throughout the kingdom. In exchange for protecting its citizens from chaotic horrors and shadowed evils beyond its borders, the crown of the Dwendalian Empire demands that its citizens pay it tithes, follow its laws, worship its gods, and bow to the installed local leadership (known as "Lawmasters", such as Norda in Trostenwald). This accord has led to a prosperous century, primarily for the Dwendalian political elite. Otherwise, most citizens of the Dwendalian Empire are left to their own devices. However, tensions brew beneath the chafing watch of the Crownsguard.

#### **Tithe collectors**

Every six months, tithe collectors (known to the commoners as "Reapers") go through the empire, each usually escorted by a couple of Crownsguard. They are recognizable by their black cloaks with gold trim. Reapers go building to building, business to business. They inspect ledgers, ask about each business, look at the means by which citizens are living, and then make an estimation of what each Dwendalian citizen would owe for the biannual tithe. Reapers then collected the money and moved on their way. Officially, this process is so each citizen could contribute to the military spending and social programs of the Empire as a whole. Unofficially, this is also used as a means of inspecting for any illegal activity and anything that goes against the Crown. Often, a lot of people get arrested for illicit goods and activities discovered while tithes are being collected.

#### **Royal assassins**

The Volstrucker (known colloquially as "**Scourgers**") are regarded by most Dwendalian citizens as ghost stories and urban legends told to children as bogeymen to warn against disobeying parents or staying out too late. Only the Empire's elite are aware that the Scourgers truly exist. Even the Expositors of the Cobalt Soul have difficulty verifying the truth about the Scourgers. The Scourgers answer directly to the Dwendalian crown.

#### **The Augen Trust**

The Dwendalian crown's spy network is called the Augen Trust.

#### **Nobility and influential families**

There are several noble houses in the Empire, whose influence is determined by their wealth, their relationship with the royal family, and their political and geographical position ruling certain lands.

Some of the noble houses are the following:

* **Brentahill family**: Noble house involved in the textile commerce in Pride's Call.
* **Darrington family**: Now impoverished house affiliated with the Darrington Brigade.
* **Dummaroff family**: Dwarven house ruling Grimgolir with a council that includes several lords and ladies and the Crown-appointed starosta.
* **Graf family**: Influential house with diplomatic contacts.
* **Lorelei family**: Helped the Empire in the Marrow War, obtaining lands near the Cyrengreen Forest.
* **Sauer family**: Minor noble house from Druvenlode.
* **Saugiss family**: Noble house related to the royal family through the marriage of Suria Saugiss and Prince Eidys.
* **Seledo family**: Noble house in Rexxentrum.
* **Sutan family**: Prominent house from Zadash, now disgraced due to its Lord's corruption.
* **Truscan family**: Longtime allies of the Dwendalian bloodline, and unofficial rulers of most of the Truscan Vale.

There are also some families and clans that, even though they lack a title or a settlement, they gain prominence in different ways:

* **Arness family**: Family known for their connections within the merchant guilds of the Empire.
* **Felder Clan**: Halfling clan that gave name to Felderwin.
* **Guiatao Clan**: Firbolg clan from the Crispvale Thicket, terribly decimated by slavers.
* **Odakar Clan**: Orcish clan, once affiliated to the Julous Dominion, that became militar allies to the Empire.
* **Uludan family**: Athesias Uludan is a member of the Cerberus Assembly and Zhafe Uludan is marquis of the Nicodranas.

#### **The Crownsguard**

The Crownsguard is a paramilitary gendarmerie that serves as the primary law enforcement arm of the Dwendalian Empire, as well as its military reserve. They are sent throughout each major city in order to keep the peace, while also acting as a national secret police that observes and eliminates any opponents to King Bertrand Dwendal's reign. Their standard uniform and equipment consists of vermilion or maroon robes, bronze scale mail breast and arm plates, a shield, greaves, a helmet, a crossbow, and a basic longsword.

#### **The Righteous Brand**

The Righteous Brand is the military of the Dwendalian Empire. They wear plate mail with a silver and dark crimson design. They (along with the Crownsguard) are trained in Bladegarden.

### **Laws**

As judged by the eyes of the local lawmaster, appointed hands of the lawmaster, or the The Lawbearer herself, any criminals discovered and/or convicted of crimes within local halls of judgement throughout the empire are subject to punishment befitting the crime. All fines and punishments for crimes against a Crownsguard member, Righteous Brand soldier, or noble are doubled. All fines and punishments regarding crimes against an imperial official of the Cerberus Assembly are tripled.

* **Theft**: 5-10 days incarceration and/or a fine of twice the worth of the stolen goods.
* **Worship of Non-Empire Gods**: 30 days incarceration and a fine of 250 gp.
* **Slavery**: 12-20 months incarceration and a fine of 1800 gp.
* **Trespassing**: 12 days incarceration and/or fine of 215 gp.
* **Tax Evasion**: 5-30 days incarceration and a repossession of property equal to the amount owed.
* **Damage to Private Property**: 5-15 days incarceration or a fine of twice the worth of property damaged.
* **Damage to Crown Property**: 15-60 days incarceration and a fine of twice the worth of property damaged.
* **Kidnapping**: 60 days incarceration and/or a fine of 800 gp.
* **Assault with Intent to Injure**: 30 days incarceration and/or a fine of 350 gp.
* **Assault with Intent to Kill**: 250 days incarceration and/or a fine of 1800 gp, or execution.
* **Murder**: 8-15 years incarceration, and/or a fine of 6000 gp, or execution.
* **Treason**: Execution.

### **Religion**

Around 545 PD, shortly after the end of the Marrow War, there was a rebellion within the Julous Dominion against the Empire and Emperor Manfried Dwendal, led in large part by many priests of the various religions using religion as their cause. As a result, Mannfried sought to abolish all religious worship within the Empire, but this crackdown further fueled the rebellion. When the rebellion was eventually quashed, a handful of gods that fit easily within the overall goals of the Empire were chosen as "approved". The deities that were chosen were those that fit within its ideas of society and knowledge, and aligned with its goals.

Every temple in the Dwendalian Empire is government-owned and government-run. Religious practices are considered a social taboo, and the Empire looks down on divine magic with general disdain. Worship of unapproved deities (e.g. The Changebringer) results in imprisonment on charges of "idol worship". In Zadash, worked into the government structure, heralds run each shrine. They all give sermons and counsel to anyone who requires it.

## **History**

The Zemnian people were left desolated by the events of the Calamity, struggling to survive in the harsh climate of north Western Wynandir. With the founding of the city of Rexxentrum, civilization once more began to grow, and eventually in 539 PD, Manfried Dwendal became the first Emperor of the newly-established Dwendalian Empire.

### **Expansion**

The Dwendalian Empire spread to encompass its neighbors - namely, the peoples of the Zemni Fields and the Marrow Valley - before finally conquering the Julous Dominion in about 545 PD. With the Empire's victory in the Marrow War, all of Western Wynandir was controlled by the Dwendalian Empire. In the tense atmosphere following the end of the war, as a propaganda move hearkening back to the kings and queens of the Age of Arcanum, Emperor Manfried Dwendal proclaimed that henceforth he would be known as "King" of the Dwendalian Empire.

Zadash was the last remaining bastion of the previous government over the Marrow Valley. However, eventually it was conquered and the whole Marrow Valley became a province of the Dwendalian Empire. With the conquest of the Marrow Valley, Zadash is now the most central and second largest city in the kingdom. This has made Zadash an important center for travel and trade.

### **War with Xhorhas**

On the third of Fessuran 835 PD word reached Starosta Wyatt of Zadash that the Ashguard Garrison at the Brokenveil Bluffs had fallen to the Kryn Empire. With accounts numbering the dead at over a thousand, war was formally declared against the Kryn Dynasty. This conflict became known as the War of Ash and Light.

## Locations

Solstryce Academy

Hupperdook

Bysaes Tyl