Post by Nazerine on Nov 29, 2011 17:32:13 GMT 10
Name: Imperials. Nicknames: Imperialists, Humans, Pink-skins, Men. Lifespan: 70 - 90 years. Reputation: Racist, biased, faithful, courageous. Common Classes: Paladins, Clerics, Warriors. Racial God: Thaumiel. Racial Attributes: * Weapon Specialisation with Swords * Gain Adaptable; able to live in any location. * Gain Supremacy; adding +2 points to all attributes. Capital: |
Origins
The imperial race was made with the expansion and mixing of blood between families. Eventually the dark haired gene was thinned and blonde hair and pale skin became dominant. Originally farmers, the first imperials lived a nomadic lifestyle, relying on their equine to help sow seeds and collect crops.
Eventually, their numbers grew and the imperials continued to expand throughout Midland and into Amberlin.
Rulers of noble blood came to rise over the commoners, their wealth and power surpassing that of their people. They served as rightful leaders, recruiting laborers from far away lands and settlements to come and join them.
The imperials had always been religious people, their faith being relied in texts and philosophies of the common good. Their morals were commonly shared and eventually a personification emerged as their deity.
Thaumiel, the lord of light and father of man became their most worshiped figure. Many prayed and thanked him for their success. The imperials had resilient blood, and as generations past they learnt to adapt to all climates and temperatures. It was their adaptation that allowed their kingdoms to flourish, and with the lord at their side, many went on to claim more land in their deities name.
With skilled engineers and architects, their technology advanced and exceeded where other races could not. With the invention of the ballista and the catapult, the imperials became famed for their siege weaponry and armored horsemen whom lead many successful campaigns.
To this day, the imperial race is the most common race in Verenthia. Their settlements, towns and kingdoms populate all regions and are also belong to the most wealthy. Though their spread has caused the loss of many cultures and driven out the native races, they are undoubtedly the most dominant and prominent. Their faith, their technology and their mindset has helped them achieve their status.
Biology
Imperials are made of mixed blood, giving them to have all skin colours and hair variations. However the most pure-blood are gifted with icy blonde hair and tanned skin, often complimented with dark eyebrows to give them an intense stare. Imperials are of all shapes and sizes with no true definition to any type. Muscles are common around hard workers and those whom live a life of luxury are more common to be lanky.
Their skin is mostly considered soft, though with males it is noticeably thicker. Hair length for men is usually kept short or well trimmed, with only women growing hair beyond the shoulders. Other prominent features are well defined eyebrows. Very rarely are they required to be trimmed. Facial hair on imperial men can be grown thick but are encouraged to be regularly shaven and trimmed.
Age and Reproduction
Families of two are the most common family build with larger family numbers usually only accountable to those that live in rural communities. Children are raised on a healthy diet of dairy, vegetables and meats if their family can afford it to be so. Once they are old enough to walk, most children are placed into primary school, allowing parents, caregivers and guardians time throughout the day to do chores and work.
Once the child has grown to the age of six, they are then shifted to academies to learn. However, due to the expensive costs of academies, only a small percentage of the population can afford it. Scholarships are offered to those whom are shown promise. If a child is found to carry magical flair, they are automatically relocated to a spellhold or magic academy where they are taught to control their powers. Those whom are found without a gift and without the money to afford their education are shifted to work duties, such as farming, food picking, labor or community service.
During early adulthood is when children are declared as adults, receiving a letter of congratulations from the lord of lady of the land. After they have came on age, the young adult is usually recruited into a job by an employer. Both women and men are addressed to join the military.
Social Structure
Imperial towns and settlements are ruled over by a lord or lady. The lord or lady stands as the most wealthy figurehead of the town and safeguards the people by placing in certain rules. Those of power are allowed to tax their people. Taxes are usually spent on the community, such as town maintenance and safety yet it is not unheard of hearing about greedy counts using the taxes of the people to further enhance their own wealth.
The most heavily populated regions such as cities are ruled by a noble family. Nobles often own not only the city but their own personal army and intuitions as well. Noble families will wed their children to members of other noble lines, with marriage to commoners often considered banned in many family lines.
The highest and most powerful noble family are the royal line which control the imperial capital; Armelus. The royal family are indeed the most powerful of all wealthy houses and as such, only bring in members of the higher noble houses to wed. Most of the royal line are actually married to their own cousins or siblings to keep the royal genes intact. This incestuous bond has been the target of ridicule for generations, and anyone found joking about the matter is seriously punished.
Punishment in the imperial kingdom is severe. Public executions are not uncommon with those found guilty often having their lives ended by the gallows or the guillotine. Other measures are in place for those whom have committed lesser crimes. Public humiliation such as being paraded through the town naked, hung in shackles or caged in the main street are the most well known methods of teaching wrongdoers their lesson.
Psychology
Their religion has told that the lord made mankind in his image, and as such, believe they stand superior compared to the savage and pagan races. Their arrogance and lack of understanding has made them biased people, believing that they stand for the common good. The common good merely reflects what their people see as right, and since their population outnumbers all others, it justifies them as being the most common.
Imperials are known to be very devoted to their faith or to other figures of worship. They appreciate and preserve their beliefs through texts and prayer and will often pray both before bed and before eating their meals to show appreciation to those they admire.
They can also be labelled as assertive. Most of the people will stand up for what is right. However, they will follow orders from a superior such as a king or other royal position with the utmost respect, or should they believe that order to be wrong, they will justify their choice openly.
Racial Traits
The imperials were the first to invent the standard issue swords that have now grown so popular and well known that cultures and even other races have opened trade for their craft. Swords have been an imperial symbol since the first days of ruled nobility and as such, gain an expertise with the common weapon.
Their blood and adaptability has given them the edge needed to travel and plant their kingdoms far. This flexibility has served imperials well for generations, giving them the reputation to live in any climate and region.
Imperials are also known for their equine. Horsemanship had always been a pride of their culture. Children are taught to ride horses from a very young age no matter their heritage. Their bond with their horses are second to none. Their most famous soldiers were that of Crusaders, armored paladins riding on the back of steeds into battle.
Art, Clothing and Industry
Controlling the largest military force in all of Verenthia has made the imperial race one to be feared. Their soldiers are all professionally trained. Lessons in survival and weapon handling are among the most important taught during training. Their military has specialised in several assault and defense measures with their cavalry and siege weapons being the most renowned.
The military is constantly seeking to boost it's ranks by recruiting the talented of other races. Dwarves, elves, baysaad and even halflings are often pulled into the military for individual positions, requiring the certain talents each race offers.
Imperials take pride in their faith. Churches are erected in every town where commoners and townfolk gather at the end of every season to pray. Of course, the church is open every day, inviting the faithful in with free meals and consultation by priests.
Churches are also responsible for handling aura readers, individuals tasked with the ability of sensing potential magical talent. Most aura readers are priests or servants of the church, however others can be found in other unofficial locations.
Marriage is regarded as a sacred bond and is promoted to commence before intercourse. Many young couples are wedded with the consent of their lord or lady. Those found having coitus outside of marriage are treated with loss of respect.
Clothing is consistently changing with many fashions from far and wide affecting the imperial culture. Robes, gowns, dresses, shirts, tunics, suits and all other kinds of apparel are evident in the common-folk. Those of higher position dress with evident seals declaring them of authority.
Blacksmithing, farming, horsemanship and carpentry are among the favorable work sought after by young adults wishing to enter the workforce. The imperials in particular are famous for their well fortified cities with towering walls and protective moats. Stonework is particularly important with thousands of men used to help carve the blocks from quarries each day.
Religion
The imperial faith is reliant upon the recordings of ancient texts speaking of a group of gods and goddesses. Known as the Pantheon, these deities were the strongest formation of beings, with the weaker or unjustifiable being exiled and thrown from the afterlife itself.
Thaumiel, the Lord of Light is said to be the leader of the Pantheon and the personification of the greater good. The imperials crafted the Holy Inquisition under his name; a force that fought for the common good of all. The Holy Inquistion was charged with leading campaigns against heretics and foul creatures, and as with the cost of power, the few bad eggs in it's ranks have tarnished it's once glorious image to being one of cruelty.
Seeking to purge the unclean and track down those practicing magic illegally, the inquisition was found responsible for hundreds of murders, including women and children. Since then, many have been arrested for crimes of war. Still, many of the religious within the inquisition have questionable desires to the present day.
Those whom pass away are mourned by family and friends at a funeral. Usually the body is left in an open coffin where their beloved lay their last gifts and make speeches about the fallen before the coffin is sealed and lowered into the ground at a specified location. Their faith tells that the souls of the dead pass into the afterlife where they are free of pain and suffering and watch over those they love with caring guidance.