Empire

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Empire
Original Name	帝國
Also known as	Calradia Empire
Type	Sovereign state
Ruling House	Imperial Royal Family, headed by Emperor Anikovalest XIII
Capital	Lycaron
Status	Active; facing external invasions, trade disruption, regional rebellions, and escalating conflict with Count Henry 263 267
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background

The Empire unified Calradia through conquest and consolidation. In its early years, the Royal Family granted vast enfeoffments to defeated royal houses to stabilize the realm, including nine grand dukes and nine principalities. Over generations, five major principalities were eliminated: Urhun Nait, Banu Huleting, Gondarov, Dai Melok, and Fen Gruffindok. 5

Former regional identities persist in place names and local designations, but the population is formally regarded as Imperial subjects. The remnants of Kusait, Sturgia, Aserai, Battania, and Vlandia were respectively expelled, assimilated, or pursued overseas during the Empire’s expansion. 5 61 62

Government and Administration

Imperial Authority

The Empire is ruled by the Royal Family. Its ruler was initially styled King, but Anikovalest XIII assumed the title of Emperor after the Eastern Region Campaign; the Senate subsequently acknowledged the new title. 61 69

The Emperor’s authority rests heavily on his ability to mobilize elite standing legions, Free City militias, and the resources of the Royal Family’s fiefs. This military capacity deters most nobles from openly challenging the throne. 135

Senate and Nobility

The Imperial Senate traditionally had the authority to invest a king as Emperor. After Anikovalest XIII’s elevation, its political functions were curtailed, alarming many Senate members. 61 69

Nobles govern fiefs, raise private forces, develop territory, and participate in campaigns. Unlike the usual reluctance of enfeoffed lords to provide taxes and military service, Imperial nobles are described as actively seeking major wars, military distinction, and expansion opportunities. 61

Imperial Office

The Imperial Office is a vast empire-wide institution with branches in every city. Its responsibilities include:

• Business partnerships and property sales.
• Land transfers and mail delivery.
• Tax audits and banking services.
• Establishing local offices in noble territories. 3 86

The Office functions as both an administrative network and a major source of intelligence for the Imperial government. 86

Territory and Economy

Lycaron

Lycaron is the Imperial capital and the Empire’s center of wealth and political power. It has enormous walls, elite armored defenders, broad stone roads, extensive markets, and trade caravans arriving from every direction. 65

Trade

The Empire’s prosperity is strongly tied to maritime trade and the Desert Trade Route. The Gronia Republic serves as an important maritime intermediary, receiving overseas weapons, armor, soap, and cloth to sell within the Empire, while exporting Imperial grain and serfs in exchange for supplies and forging techniques. 128

The Empire’s trade network has also made advanced armor and weapon production widely available to its legions, although the Royal Family retains priority access to the finest equipment. 54 153

Economic Strain

Overseas trade and desert commerce later suffered major disruption from regional instability and Lizardmen attacks. Reduced income, continued military spending, bureaucratic costs, infrastructure demands, and growing social inequality contributed to worsening internal pressures. 141 166 232

Military

Imperial Legions

The Empire fields dozens of elite standing legions equipped with high-quality armor, weapons, and warhorses. These forces form the core of Imperial power and are supplemented by garrisons and the militias of Free Cities. 135

Imperial legionary forces include heavily armored infantry, crossbowmen, cavalry, horse archers, and specialized regional troops. Their disciplined formations and long-term training give them a significant advantage over less organized forces. 53 59 142

Noble and Local Forces

Most local nobles maintain three parallel military systems:

• Standing private troops.
• Conscripts.
• Garrison militia. 9

The Royal Family is described as the only power capable of relying fully on a standing recruited army rather than conscript forces. 9

Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard is a powerful and secretive force that had not appeared publicly for more than a decade before reportedly moving toward the coast. Its rapid suppression of the Western Coast rebellion earned it widespread admiration. 135 194

Society

The Empire is culturally diverse, incorporating customs, equipment, and regional traditions from the civilizations it absorbed. Former Aserai, Sturgian, Vlandian, and other cultural influences remain visible in armor, troop types, place names, and local customs. 61 66

Its population includes nobles, Free People, merchants, serfs, tenant farmers, soldiers, and militia. Serf ownership is permitted for nobles and landlords, while local rulers determine the terms under which serfs may become free people or tenant farmers. 10

Military service carries substantial social prestige. Well-paid soldiers in noble armies can earn more than many laborers, receive food and clothing, and gain dignity through their status as armed professionals. 86

Major Conflicts

Conflict / Threat	Situation
Demihuman incursions	Demihuman armies devastated eastern border fiefs, prompting the revival of the Pioneer Act and major Imperial campaigns. Four legions later encircled and annihilated a Demihuman main force. 1 60
Lizardmen war	Lizardmen attacks disrupted the Desert Region, threatened Akis and Hubia, and exposed weaknesses in Imperial logistics and frontier defenses. 128 140 150
Northern Beastmen invasion	Beastmen repeatedly appeared in the Northern Region Snowfields, eventually adapting their tactics and capturing Imperial equipment. 216 223
Western Region rebellion	Rebellions in Shalas, Garcila, and Galen were suppressed by Imperial forces before Henry’s arrival in Wostrom. 163
Overseas instability	Overseas trade declined amid unrest beyond the Empire’s borders, while foreign forces and merchants were suspected of influencing internal affairs. 86 164
Eastern Grasslands crisis	Henry’s seizure of Audoh and continued expansion provoked the Emperor, who viewed his actions as a threat to Imperial stability. 260 263 267

Current Political Situation

The Empire is under simultaneous pressure from external invasions, trade disruption, banditry, regional unrest, and competition among the Emperor’s heirs. The First Prince, Third Prince, and other major figures command forces in separate theaters while pursuing their own political interests. 150 151 201 230

Henry’s rise in the Eastern Grasslands has become a direct challenge to central authority. After he captured Audoh and dismantled the Hoyland family’s rule, neighboring counts began recruiting troops and discussing countermeasures, while the Emperor considered military action to prevent wider unrest. 261 263 264

Duke Calvin cautioned that immediate war against Henry could drive other nobles toward rebellion and further fragment the Empire. 267 268