## The Concalian Empire

The Concalian Empire was a vast, highly militaristic, highly sophisticated, and highly religious multi-ethnic nation that for centuries controlled most of the southern half of Eirus. They were seen as warlike, expansionistic, and prideful - but were most widely known for their unmatched ability to create large quantities of highly sophisticated construct soldiers. While it enjoyed a position among the primary powers around the Wayfarer's Sea for much of its existence, the empire came to an abrupt end shortly after The Great Disaster.

# Historical Rundown

- Existed for centuries
- Development of golems?
  - “Were rather well known for their golem technology, whom the Concalians claimed were made using divine magic in their Holy Forges with the direct assistance of their deities.”
- Turmoil due to magic disappearing at the Great Disaster
- Clerics kill Oracle as start of basically a takeover attempt.
- Others find out they have captured angels that they use to fuel the forges (maybe this was the case all along?)
- Civil war ensues, between those who believe the gods abandoned them (clerics who murdered Oracle), and those who believed they had to purge said blasphemy (using angels as fuel) to redeem the Concalians in the eyes of the gods.
- Ends with those seeking redemption from the gods freeing the Archangel of Justice, who is the main fuel for the forges. The archangel sacrifices the rest of its essence to annihilate the entire empire, casting a great spell left all their cities in ruin. A lot of Concalians died of this, while the rest were banished to the Shadowfell, where they were damned to roam forevermore. The surviving Concalians, banished to the Shadowfell, would not age, but would have their bodies slowly fade over time, eventually turning into different forms of shades (type depending on what they were exposed to in the Shadowfell). This process could be slowed by force of will and how powerful the individual is, but it cannot be stopped entirely. After their bodies have faded compeltely into the form of a shade, their minds will continue to deteriorate until they've lost all former sense of self.
- Shar, who has a strong presence in the Shadowfell, approaches the cleric side, and offers them a deal: Serve her forevermore, and she'll cure them of their curse, restore their forms, and give them a chance to have their empire rise from the ashes again – now in her image.
  - Those who accepted are who became the Nightsworn Concalians. They serve her with the goal of regaining their forms (they are currently transformed by her into different kinds of Nightshades, with a few important ones having regained their forms), and with the goal of regaining what they lost when the Empire fell.

# Governance

The Concalian Empire was governed by a pseudo-democratic system, divided among three main bodies: the Centuriate Assembly, the Senate, and the Magistrates. An additional influential force was the Clergy, which, though officially advisory, wielded considerable soft power due to the empire’s deep religiosity and the populace’s reverence for divine will.

## The Centuriate Assembly

The Centuriate Assembly functioned as a democratic forum for those who had served, or were currently serving, in military or civil capacities. It convened biannually in the capital to vote on legislation proposed by the Senate and to elect Magistrates from candidate lists also provided by the Senate. The laws it enacted formed the bedrock of Concalian legal code, only amendable by another Assembly vote.

Voting within the Assembly was stratified by military rank and public service role, with each rank or role being allocated a set number of votes. Participants belonging to the same rank or role would be divided into a number of groups equal to the number of votes their rank or role held, where each group had to come to an agreement on how their vote would be cast. This structure inherently favored higher ranks and those able to influence through persuasion or wealth, particularly as the sum of votes held by officers and equivalent civil positions outnumbered those held by lower ranks. Magistrates and Senators were barred from voting in the Assembly, preserving a degree of separation between legislative and executive powers. The duration of each Assembly session varied, lasting from a few days to several weeks, depending on the volume of matters to address and the time needed for groups to reach agreement on their votes.

## The Magistrates

The Magistrates were the elected government officials of Concalia, charged with running and governing various portions of the Concalian Empire. They had authority to determine taxes, make laws, and enact policies within their domains, but were bound by the overarching laws enacted by the Centuriate Assembly. Magistrates served 2-year terms, with roughly a quarter of the positions up for election at each session of the Centuriate Assembly.

The highest positions within this structure were held by the Empire's two Consuls, who governed not only the capital but also wielded supreme authority over the entire Empire. The Consuls had equal power and could each veto any decree made by the other, ensuring a balance of power at the highest level of governance. Their duties extended to implementing empire-wide policies and laws, reinforcing their roles as the paramount leaders of Concalia. The Consuls were additionally responsible for appointing new members to the Senate.

Below the Consuls were the Preators, who governed individual provinces and were the only officials permitted to lead military campaigns, except in cases where a Preator was incapacitated or killed during an ongoing campaign. When new territories were acquired, governance was officially determined by the Centuriate Assembly, which voted on candidates from a list presented by the Senate. However, this list was often strategically compiled to favor appointees selected by the conquering Preator—typically relatives or close allies—effectively ensuring that the Preator’s preferred candidates were elected. This practice highlighted the system’s vulnerability to nepotism and allowed familial dominance to persist under the guise of democratic procedures.

Lower magistrate positions, not directly elected by the Assembly, were appointed by Consuls or Preators. Although these appointments could be overturned by the Assembly, the Senate controlled whether such decisions were brought to a vote.

## The Senate

The Senate’s function was to draft legislation and prepare the candidate lists for Magistrate positions, which the Centuriate Assembly would then vote on. Senators, appointed by the Consuls, served for life unless a significant breach of public trust warranted their removal. This occurred through an Assembly decree, which could only be initiated if the Senate itself agreed to bring it forward. There was no fixed rule for how many members the Senate would have, though the number was generally kept close to a hundred. The rationale for the Senate's existence was based on the belief that the average citizen lacked the capacity or time to formulate informed proposals about the empire's future trajectory.

Although Senators held no direct legislative power, they exerted significant influence over the political agenda by deciding which issues the Centuriate Assembly could vote on. This gatekeeping role enabled them to block or promote legislation and candidate nominations, effectively shaping the governance of the Empire. However, this power came with the expectation that Senators would uphold the Empire’s core values. Throughout its history, there were several instances where the entire Senate was lynched when the citizenry deemed their actions to have so grossly violated the Empire's principles and interests, and the mandates of their gods, that they were perceived as a direct betrayal. This meant the Senate always had to balance their power with public opinion and could find it challenging to maintain prolonged gatekeeping of popular propositions or Magistrate candidates.

## The Clergy

The Clergy served as an unofficial fourth pillar of the Concalian Empire's government. Although they held no formal political power, their significant soft power stemmed from their role as the perceived conveyors of the gods' will. Given the deeply religious nature of the Empire, governmental officials were cautious not to contravene the Clergy's decrees, fearing public backlash. Clergy members frequently accompanied both magisters and Senate members to leverage this influence as effectively as possible.

The Clergy was nominally led by the Oracle, a sacred figure who existed in a perpetual trance induced by a mix of herbs and incenses. This state was believed to facilitate direct communication with the gods. The Oracle's utterances and actions, however ambiguous, were interpreted by senior clerics and presented as divine guidance to both the government and the populace. Despite the Oracle's sacred status, their tenure was often short-lived, as the continual trance exacted a severe toll on their health, resulting in an early death. The next Oracle would typically be a young, healthy cleric who had demonstrated noticeable divine favor, chosen in the hopes of extending their service duration. Being selected as the Oracle was considered such a great honor that refusal was virtually unthinkable. Falsifying the words of the Oracle was a capital offense, with the fear of divine retribution reinforcing compliance. However, in practice, there was minimal oversight over what the Clergy chose to convey as the gods’ will.

# Religious Views

- Extremely religious. Going against the will of their patron deities is a capital offense.
- Would tolerate minorities worshipping some other deities, but they could not hold any other deity above that of the Empire's patron deities.
- Empire was quite aggressive in trying to assimilate those they conquered into worshipping their deities.

The treatment of minorities in the Roman Republic varied depending on factors such as their geographical location, social status, and relationship with the Roman state. Here are some general points:

Citizenship Status: Roman citizenship conferred certain rights and privileges, including the right to vote, hold public office, and access legal protections. Initially, citizenship was limited to freeborn males of Roman descent, but over time, it was gradually extended to include inhabitants of conquered territories and other non-Roman groups. However, even among citizens, there were distinctions based on social class and ancestry.

Assimilation vs. Accommodation: The Roman approach to minorities often involved a combination of assimilation and accommodation. While the Roman state encouraged certain aspects of Roman culture, language, and religion to be adopted by subject peoples, it also recognized the value of local customs, traditions, and religious practices. In some cases, the Romans allowed local elites to retain their positions of authority and administer their own affairs under Roman supervision.

Military Service: Military service played a significant role in the integration of conquered peoples into Roman society. Non-Roman soldiers, known as auxiliaries, were recruited from various provinces and ethnic groups to serve in the Roman army. In exchange for their service, these soldiers and their families were often granted Roman citizenship upon completion of their service, contributing to the spread of Romanization.

Social Hierarchy: Despite legal protections and opportunities for advancement, minority groups in the Roman Republic, especially those from non-Roman backgrounds, often faced social discrimination and prejudice. They might be viewed as inferior or treated as second-class citizens by members of the Roman elite. However, the extent of discrimination varied, and individuals from minority backgrounds could rise to prominence through education, military service, or economic success.

Religious Freedom: The Romans generally allowed conquered peoples to practice their own religions, provided they did not conflict with Roman law or imperial authority. While the state religion of Rome was officially sanctioned and promoted, local deities and cults were often tolerated as long as they did not challenge Roman religious or political hegemony.

Overall, the treatment of minorities in the Roman Republic was complex and multifaceted, reflecting the diverse nature of Roman society and the pragmatic approach of Roman governance. While assimilation was encouraged to some extent, the Romans also recognized the value of diversity and often sought to accommodate the cultural and religious practices of subject peoples to maintain stability and control in the empire.

# Concalian Society

Values:

- Virtue - valued qualities such as courage, honor, and strength, both in battle and in civic life. Virtue was considered essential for success and leadership.
- Piety - respect for Concalian tradition, duty to their deities, devotion to family, community, and Empire seen as central tenents.
- Public Affairs - A sense of collective responsibility for the well-being of the empire. Participation in governance and public services (including military service) highly valued.
- Trustworthiness - integrity, honesty, and loyalty in interpersonal relationships, business dealings, and diplomatic affairs were considered fundamental virtues.

Virtus (Virtue):

- Courage in Battle: The Romans highly valued bravery and martial prowess on the battlefield. Soldiers were expected to display courage and resilience in the face of adversity, and military success was often celebrated as a manifestation of virtus.
- Honor and Reputation: Virtus extended beyond the battlefield to encompass personal honor and reputation. Romans were keenly aware of their social standing and sought to uphold their honor through righteous conduct and adherence to ethical principles.
- Strength of Character: Virtus also encompassed moral virtues such as integrity, self-discipline, and perseverance. Romans admired individuals who exhibited strength of character and demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges with dignity.

Pietas (Piety):

- Religious Devotion: Pietas emphasized reverence for the gods and adherence to religious rituals and customs. Romans believed that maintaining harmonious relations with the gods was essential for the prosperity and security of the state.
- Duty to Family: Pietas extended to familial relationships, emphasizing filial piety and loyalty to one's ancestors. Romans honored their parents and ancestors through acts of devotion and respect.
- Civic Duty: Pietas also encompassed a sense of duty to the state and community. Citizens were expected to contribute to the welfare of society through public service, philanthropy, and civic engagement.

Res Publica (Public Affairs):

- Citizen Participation: The concept of res publica emphasized the active participation of citizens in the political life of the republic. Romans valued civic engagement and viewed political involvement as a duty and privilege.
- Republican Virtues: The republic promoted civic virtues such as justice, equality before the law, and the rule of law. Citizens were expected to uphold these principles and defend the republican institutions against tyranny and corruption.
  - Public's sometimes violent response to corruption can be described here. Them lynching the senate when it became too corrupt is basically them upholding and defending the empire's institutions in their eyes
- Public Service: Serving the state in various capacities, whether as magistrates, senators, or military commanders, was considered a noble calling. Romans aspired to contribute to the governance and defense of the republic for the greater good of society.

Fides (Trustworthiness):

- Integrity in Relationships: Fides emphasized trustworthiness, loyalty, and honesty in interpersonal relationships. Romans valued individuals who kept their promises, honored their commitments, and maintained integrity in their dealings.
- Business Ethics: In commercial and contractual transactions, fides was essential for maintaining trust and ensuring fair dealings. Business partners relied on each other's fidelity to uphold agreements and contracts.
- Diplomatic Relations: Fides also played a crucial role in diplomatic affairs, where trust and reliability were paramount for establishing alliances and treaties. Romans sought to build lasting relationships with allies and adversaries based on mutual respect and trust.

### Leisure

### Family Dynamics

### Concalian Fashion

### Cities and Architecture

### Demographics, Minorities, and Sub-Cultures

### Law Enforcement, Corruption, and Criminal Underworld

### Relations with the Mystical and the Magical

### Climate and Geography

## V1

### The Concalian Empire

The Concalian Empire was a vast, highly militaristic, highly sophisticated, and highly religious multi-ethnic nation that for centuries controlled most of the southern half of Eirus. They were seen as warlike, expansionistic, and prideful - but were most widely known for their unmatched ability to create large quantities of highly sophisticated construct soldiers. While it enjoyed a position among the primary powers around the Wayfarer's Sea for much of its existence, the empire came to an abrupt end a few centuries prior to The Great Disaster.

### Cultural Identity

The Empire's origin, and cultural focal point throughout its existence, centered around the south-eastern tip of Eirus - in what would be referred to as the Ruins of Concalia by those inhabited southern Eirus after the Empire's fall. The Concalians were from the very beginning a deeply religious and militaristic people, who soon expanded their borders and at their height controlled most of the southern half of Eirus. As they conquered new territory, some of the denizens of said territory were assimilated into the Empire. Those assimilated into the Empire were allowed to keep some of their local customs, and were even allowed to still pay homage to their own deities. This curtesy did not apply to those deemed to be following evil beings or gods. For such foul creatures, the only options were to either flee or die. However, regardless of local customs, those assimilated had to ultimately follow the will of both the Empire, and the will of it's two patron deities: Ammindur God of Might, Valor, Warfare, and Glorious Combat; and Iomanae, Goddess of Authority, Dignity, Law, and Rulership. Whatever course of action the Empire deemed favored by their two patron deities, through divining their omens, the Empire was sure to carry out. Going against the will of the gods was in the concalian culture unheard off - though it was not uncommon for both factions and individuals to accuse others of having misinterpreted their deities' will.

#### A martial yet sophisticated empire

Martial prowess was the most important trait a concalian citizen could have, and served as one of the primary factors in determining an individual's social status. While the Concalians knew the value of a good archer or artillery operator, nothing was more valued than excelling in the melee. Most young ethnic concalians - regardless of profession - trained from childhood through their adult life to hone these skills. Several of the assimilated cultures eventually followed suit in this endeavor. There was a real strive among concalians to become the perfect warrior through the entirety of the Empire's existence.

This martial focus might make one think the concalians were brutal or savage - this could not be further from the truth. The concalians prided themselves on their sophistication, discipline, eloquence, and diplomatic abilities, and were much respected among the other nations of their time. For the concalians, one's level of sophistication - how dignified one behaved; the strength of one's character; one's ability to persuade and inspire - were values second only to one's martial abilities. Yes, martial skill was the most valued trait - but one who lacked dignity and sophistication was viewed as nothing more than a brute. Being a good strategist can after all allow one to overcome superior strength.

While a martial people, the concalians did value art and sculpturing, ornaments and accessories. They particularly enjoyed displaying art and wearing accessories that displayed their and their family's status and achievements. If a soldier returned triumphant from a war, it was not uncommon for him or her to be wearing an ornamental piece taken as part of the spoils from their conquest. War was in many ways seen as the great equalizer - a place where any citizen may earn fame and glory, and thus rise their family's status, renown, and influence. Wearing such accessories was thus a way for them to make their accomplishments easily known to any they met. Still, being seen as accomplished was significantly easier for someone from an already affluent and influential family, and these families often went to great lengths to ensure that their offspring inherited and maintained their family's already high renown and status.

The empire itself was also not shy about displaying it's grandeur and accomplishments, constructing massive monuments to display the empire's might. These monuments were often built to commemorate specific feats, though others were made simply as a show of grandeur. The empire' skill in the field of construction - from their impressive cities; monuments; roads; aqueducts; and bridges, but also areas such as ship building and the making of siege equipment, were highly advanced for their time. They built roads that connected every corner of their empire, so that their merchants and armies may move from one point to any other quickly. Any city with a distance to its fresh water source would have a network of aqueducts built to provide their citizens with a steady water supply. The concalians took enjoyment in the notion of their empire displaying its grandeur and sophistication. These displays also helped instill a sense of greatness, national pride, and unity among the empire's populace.

Despite all the training and discipline expected of a concalian citizen, the concalians did know how to enjoy festivities and nights of revelry. Their festivals and celebrations, as grand as everything else in their society, were often city-wide events. As in most cultures, these were filled with food, drink, and social events. Most notable of these were the massive sporting events and competitions, which were a vital part of any celebration. Any citizen could join these in order to prove their athletic and martial capabilities. These events and competitions were often held in massive arenas or colosseums, and included everything from tests of strength, athleticism, and martial prowess (including both armed and unarmed duelling).

#### The melding of the arcane and the divine

The empire was not foreign to the concept of magic and it's practices. While having advanced knowledge in both the arcane and the divine, it was the divine which were most widely used. This was due to divine magic being seen as a gift to the wielder from their two patron deities. Being able to channel divine magic was therefore deeply respected in Concalian society. The Concalians nonetheless had enough arcane knowledge to allow them their quite unique capability in being able to meld arcane and divine techniques.

Concalian magic focused on enhancements and transmutations - magic that elevated one's abilities, and magic that applied new properties upon both people and objects. Using magic to cast spells at long range while remaining out of harms reach was seen as cowardly, and generally disliked among the general populace. Casting magic that enhanced ones abilities was on the other hand seen as fair, as one's ability to cast such magic was seen as part of one's prowess.

For all the empire's grandeur, the crown jewel of their accomplishments - that which they were known for in any corner of the Wayfarer's Sea - came not from their military might; their massive monuments; or their well-developed infrastructure and society. Rather, it came from their specialty in the field of magic. From the holy forges of the empire's capitol, through a series of advanced and closely guarded meldings of arcane and divine techniques, the concalians turned metal husks into legions of highly sophisticated constructs. These constructs served mostly in combat-related positions - including that of guards, peacekeepers, and security. Each model was designed to fulfill a specific position, and thus designed to excel in the skills deemed necessary to fulfill said position. It is perhaps a testament to the empire's own hubris and hypocrisy that their greatest magical achievement came in the form of a type of magic that made it possible for them to never get near the battlefield at all.

### Patron deities' impact on society

The empire's two patron deities, Ammindur and Iomanae, had an immense impact on the concalian society as a whole. The concalian culture was very much molded on the dogma of these two deities, and always followed the course of action they believed was favored by said deities. It is not without reason that a culture whose two patron deities both relate to warfare ended up putting so much value on martial prowess.

Ammindur represented the empire's might and valor. He was their patron of warfare. It was through his dogma that the concalians built their principles and rules in regards to war. As a people who put much emphasis on warfare, they put an equal emphasis on the proper way wars should be waged. Iomanae represented the empire's authority and dignity. She was the matron of the empire's laws and rule. It was through her dogma that the concalians got their focus on dignity, their strong bond with family and companions, and their pride in the empire.

The empire generally accepted their people worshipping other deities, so long as said deity was not an enemy of either of the Empire's two patron deities, and as long as they also worshipped the Empire's two patron deities. If the will of one's other deity contrasted the will of the Empire's patron deities, the citizen was expected to side with the Empire's patron deities. Failure to do so would be seen as treason.

### Demographics and social structure

The Concalian Empire was a multi-ethnic civilization who incorporated many of the people whose lands they conquered into their nation. The rights each of these groups and sub-cultures received were much based on their perceived martial capabilities and sophistication - or said more generally, how proficient those people were in the traits deemed favorable by the Concalians. Those who were seen as proficient in most or all desired traits enjoyed rights almost on par with that of the ethnic concalians themselves. Those who were found as severely lacking in them were designated to be little more than servants. This notion was especially true if said people were seen as cowardly, a trait deeply frowned upon among the concalians. However, any inhabitant of the empire could rise through the social ranks, earning status and glory, through proving their own prowess. This was a right anyone had regardless of what race or grouping they originally belonged to. Similarly, even an ethnic concalian could be demoted to a simple servant if deemed completely incompetent. This was the greatest dishonor one could bring upon oneself and one's family.

On the other hand, loosing one's martial prowess due to injury or age while in service of the empire did not diminish one's social status. For those who got injured, it was viewed as a mark duty and devotion to the empire. For those who lost vigor due to age, it was instead seen as mark of respect for having gone through so many years without being bested.

#### The Concalian people

No description of the Concalian Empire would be complete without describing the ethnic concalian people, whom funded the empire and whom the empire is named after. It is they who expanded out from their initially small corner on the south-eastern tip of Eirus, conquering and incorporating the other peoples along the way. While they only constituted just over ⅓ of the empire's total population at the empire's peak, they nonetheless remained the undisputedly dominant group within the empire throughout its existence.

The concalians were a tall grey-skinned human-like people, with both males and female averaging around 2.1 meters tall. They had mostly dark hair with eyes varying from a dark purple to a deep orange, though other other eye colors could appear from time to time. Both males and females tended to have an incredibly strong, lean, and athletic physique.

They were a very martial and dignified people, who prided themselves on the might and sophistication of the empire they built. The culture of the empire as a whole was very much a reflection of the concalian people's own culture, with a splash of influence from the people they conquered here and there.

#### Family dynamics

The Concalian empire placed great emphasis on maintaining strong ties between family - a notion that they extended to also include brothers and sisters of the battlefield, as well as a strong sense of pride and belonging to the empire itself. Maintaining and living up to the expected status and dignity of ones family was seen as paramount, with those damaging their family's reputation risking disownment. They placed no emphasis on roles based on gender within either the family. Whoever held the strongest character within the family, in terms of charisma, persuasive skills, and martial prowess, would lead as the family's patriarch/matriarch. All members of the family were expected to obey the will of their family's patriarch/matriarch. The exception to this would be if said action went against the will of the Empire or its patron deities, in which case the patriarch/matriarch's actions would be considered treasonous. The beforementioned also applied to the empire as a whole - it did not particularly care from where you came or what you were - within reason of course - only your capabilities.

Children were highly valued within the empire. They were seen as both the family's and the empire's legacy, and each family was expected to raise their children in a manner befitting a citizen of the empire. Being childless was frowned upon, a notion that had its roots in the empire's constant need of more people due to the numerous conflicts it partook in.

#### The Concalian Constructs

Widely admired and integral to the concalian way of life were the tens of thousands of constructs that existed within its borders. These constructs were mostly created to serve in combat and security related roles, though influential families also had custom-made constructs ordered to fulfill other roles.

At the time of the first constructs' creation, the empire had two major challenges that they sought to solve: (1) they wanted to find ways to make their soldiers more formidable. This was part of the Empire's never-ending search for the perfect warrior. (2) the empire's numerous wars meant there was a real issue in terms of manpower, and they thus needed a way to both better protect their existing soldiers, as well as a way to make more of their people into elite-level fighters. In what started out as an attempt solve these by making armor that would aid and quicken the movement of its wearer, the melding of numerous arcane and divine techniques eventually became so advanced that the armor could move on its own.

The concalians continuously improved upon their construct designs, with each model being more advanced than the previous ones. As their numbers grew, they quickly became the Empire's most defining and famous feature with their creation process being the Empire's most closely guarded secret. Throughout the empire's existence, even when production peaked, the only place ever with facilities capable of making these constructs were the holy forges located in the empire's capitol.

These constructs were famous for being able to perform complex behavior and problem solving, behaving as if having a real intelligence. Later models also started displaying signs of will. Whether these concalian made constructs could truly be considered sentient - along with the question of whether they were simple servants or full citizens of the Empire - were often discussed topics whose answers were kept in perpetual limbo throughout the empire's existence. Even though each new model narrowed the gap between how they and how regular citizens behaved and acted, very seldom did any of them display wants that went outside the areas of what they were designed for. Only the very latest models in the empire's existence started truly deviating from their original designation, having a few of their numbers being seen partaking in social events similar to what one would expect of a regular citizen. However, the number of constructs that deviated in this way were never large enough to warrant a serious discussion on their laws and rights. They were instead mostly seen as oddities.

These constructs were nontheless highly respected in concalian society. They were, after all, the empire's crown jewel. Regardless of whether one saw these constructs as non-sentient servants; pseudo-citizens; or as friends and comrades on par with any other race - one was never to unnecessarily degrade one of the empire's constructs.

All constructs the concalians made were strangely unique. Even though many construct of each model were made, and each construct of the same model being made using the same rituals, they nonetheless showed a lot of individual differences in terms of capabilities and behavior ("personality"). This was a phenomenon the Concalians never truly managed to explain properly, instead merely concluding the gods had individual wants for each of the constructs they helped create. This did however result in the constructs that proved most skilled and accomplished being highly valued and sought after. A tradition eventually formed were those constructs were bestowed with their own individual names, as opposed to the regular model + numbering naming schema that they were originally assigned. Some of these named constructs enjoyed much fame within the empire, with some even being given higher-up leadership roles within the military.

#### Other sub-cultures

The empire included numerous minorities, most of which were incorporated into the empire during its expansions. Notable minorities included humans, dwarfs, and halflings. Humans were mostly seen as mediocre, though with great variance between individuals. Dwarves were seen as almost on par with the concalians themselves due to their strength and their stubbornness when it came to perfecting their crafts. Halflings served mostly as servants and peasants due to being seen as small, weak, and unambitious, though halfling craftsmen and merchants did also exist within the empire.

Creatures that were seen as serving evil and/or rival deities, such as orcs and hobgoblins, were seen as foul creatures, and did not have any place among the citizenry of the empire. They were either killed, driven off, and in some places enslaved.

### Governance

The Concalian Empire was ruled through 4 pillars of governance: The Centuriate Assembly, the Magistrates, the Senate, and the Clergy. While these 4 pillars of government were meant to work in tandem, complementing one another, it was not uncommon for there to be secret and sometimes violent bickering and rivalries both between and within each of the pillars. It was also not uncommon for those already in power to “quietly get rid of" up-and-comers who became too famous and popular with the populace.

#### The Centuriate Assembly

The Centuriate Assembly served as semi-democratic military voting structure. When new laws were presented by the senate, any member of the military - regardless of race - could come to the capitol to vote on the law as part of the Centuriate Assembly. The Assembly worked by assigning each military rank a set number of votes. When the assembly convened, those with the same rank would be put into equally size groups - with the number of groups equaling the number of votes said military rank was assigned. Each group would then have to come to an agreement on how they would cast their vote. The Centuriate Assembly's voting structure was always set up so that the higher-ranks in total had more votes than the lower-ranks. The number of votes each military rank was given was set, and could only be changed by being put forward to and voted in favor of by the Assembly. In addition to voting on laws, the Centuriate Assembly also voted on who'd fill the different Magistrate roles.

The Centuriate Assembly met twice a year - during spring and fall - with each gathering lasting however many days they needed to get through all the topics. Since voting only took place in the empire's capitol, the Assembly strongly favored the wealthy (who could afford the travel) and those who already lived in the capitol itself. Poorer families from further off provinces thus had little opportunity to have their say.

#### The Magistrates

The Magistrates were the Empire's elected officials. Magistrates held the power to make laws and enact policies, though these could later be overruled by the Centuriate Assembly. Most magistrates served 1-year terms, with half being up for election each time the Centuriate Assembly convened. Highest of these were the empire's two Consuls - one up for election each time the Centuriate Assembly convened. These two individuals were the leaders of the Empire, and ruled the capitol directly. These two held equal power, with both importantly having the power to block any decree made by the other. The Consuls were also responsible for appointing members of the Senate.

Below the Consuls sat the Preators, with each Preator governing one of the empire's provinces. Preators were the only ones allowed to lead armies, the only exceptions being if the Preator died or was incapacitated during a military campaign. Preators were often assigned to be the commander of a military campaign by the Consuls in cooperation with the Senate, though they also held the power to raise armies on their own, and could draw volunteers from other provinces. A preator could not be voted out of power while they were on a military campaign.

Only magistrates of Consul or Preator ranks were voted on by the Centuriate Assembly, with lower ranks being handled within each province. While technically anyone could become Consul or Preator, in practice only a few prominent families dominated these positions.

#### The Senate

The Senate consisted of 100 prominent and influential members of the Concalian Empire. They were appointed by the Consuls, and served for life unless they themselves decided to step down. A decent number of Senate members were former Consuls and Preators themselves, or members of their families. The Senate was seen as a forum where the empire's most influential could discuss the state and the future course of the empire. It was the Senate who put forth laws and policies for the Centuriate Assembly to vote on, and it was the Senate that presented candidates for the different Magistrate positions. Thus, while the Senate did not hold law-making powers themselves, they held immense influence over those who did. The Centuriate Assembly did however have the power to hold a vote on throwing out the entire Senate, meaning the Senate had to keep the citizenry at least adequately happy. This did mean that if a person from a non-prominent family earned a considerable amount of fame within the Empire, the Senate could find themselves pressured into granting them a Magistrate title.

#### The Clergy

The last column was The Clergy. While there were many clergies in the Empire, The Clergy refers to a select group of powerful clerics located in the empire's capitol. They were led by the Oracle - an individual kept in a kind of perpetual trance, and was seen as being present in the both the material realm and in their deities' courts simultaneously, and could thus bring forth the deities' will directly and instantaneously. The Clergy was thus seen as the official voices of Ammindur and Iomanae. While The Clergy held no official political power, neither the Magistrates, the Senate, nor the Centuriate Assembly would find it easy going against whatever the Clergy decreed to be the will of the gods. In addition, while the Clergy only constituted a small portion of the empire's clerics, all clerics of the empire would have to follow any order given to them by the Clergy. This generally extended to any member of the Empire, as few would dare go against the will of the gods. However, while clergy could technically order you to do anything, they generally avoided anything that would put into question whether the clergy had gone astray - as anything that could put into question the Clergy's legitimacy among the populace was of high concern to them.

### Clothing and Architecture