Djintarian Empire

The Djintarian Empire is a nation on the western side of the continent of Bautlaon. It lies primarily in the Raventi Plains, though also extends into the Torn Ridges and the Lethnass Wood. Its capital is Mirleheim, where the triumvirate and other leadership bodies reside. In the years since its founding, it has grown to encompass all major settlements to the southwest of the Torn Ridges.

Geography
The Empire is bordered on two sides by both the Torn Ridges and the Daervieth Mountains, and extends some into them. On the east side of the nation, the Bautlaon river breaks through the mountains and forms the Yhendala gorge, leading to the Iremus forest. It occupies the Chanting Valley and a good portion of the Raventi plains, as well as a small portion of the Lethnass Wood.

The Chanting Valley

 * Mirleheim: the Empire's capital.
 * Tariniak
 * Wemtale

Southern Raventi

 * Aorne
 * Blumige
 * Fire's Opulence
 * Stockroad
 * Vinan

North Mountains

 * Demwould
 * Girdolin
 * Keridenn

East Mountains

 * Brightedge
 * Ivyth

The Lethnass Wood

 * Mellivald
 * Nriva
 * Zellivath

Founding
In circa 2660 IW, groups of farmers in the Raventi Plains found themselves assailed by outside bands of raiders pillaging their lands. The farmers decided to band together in the wake of these attacks and founded the city of Aorne. Over the next few decades, the people adjusted to a new urban lifestyle and the city grew. In the year 2685 IW, other settlements began to reach out to the city and a network of cities bound by geography and trade was formed. This union prospered in harmony, until troops from the surrounding mountains attacked. With the nation in need of leadership, Daerdras Djintar, a local aristocrat from merchant blood, declared himself leader. It was with this event in 2693 IW that the Djintarian Empire was founded.

Expansion
Not all cities wished to be brought under the Djintar banner, however. Through the years that followed, the monarchs gained support from artisans and aristocrats of the controlled cities and were able to fund a military. This enabled the rulers of the Empire to take the cities that resisted by force. By the year 2901 IW, the nation's borders extended all the way north to the Chanting Valley, where another nation led by a council of seven legislators called Pahinum had been established (the capital of which was Mirleheim). A major conflict ensued between the two, which eventually resulted in the Empire absorbing Pahinum. At this point, the Empire had gained control of almost all major settlements it has control of today.

War of Aorne
In order to win over favor of the former citizens of Pahinum, the emperor Friedrick Djintar sent his sibling Micah Djintar to Mirleheim. The goal of this was to bring more representation to the disenfranchised people of the Chanting Valley. Unfortunately, soon after this, in the year 2910 IW, Friedrick died and power passed to his daughter Hana. Outraged that they did not receive claim to the throne, Micah gathered a coalition of troops from the Valley and attacked Aorne without warning. This conflict grew into a twenty-six-year war that ultimately resulted in the destruction of Aorne in 2936 IW. Hana was killed by assassins, leaving the crown to Micah, who then made Mirleheim the new capital. They also founded the Homiraes, for which all citizens could choose their representatives.

Present Day
Over the past few decades, extremist descendants of the city of Aorne have formed a group called the Hook. The organization opposes the monarchy and wish to either replace it with some other form of government or dissolve the Empire completely. In the year 3009 IW, the group unsuccessfully made an assassination attempt on the triumvirate. The Luminguard then went on a campaign to entirely destroy and dismantle the Hook. There are still occasionally rumors of members making plans in the dark but no overt appearances have been made by any members of the group since then.

Politics
After Telvon Djintar took the throne in 3005 IW, she decided that one emperor was not enough to handle the expanding empire and the growing relations with outside nations. She then granted equal rule over the nation to her two sisters, creating the first triple monarchy in the Empire's history. The triplets have held back on expansion by threat of brute force and have instead fallen into granting limited autonomy and benefits for the ruling class of new cities.

The Homiraes are a council of five judges elected by the Empire's citizens that pass domestic legislation. These representatives serve for twenty year periods (or until they willingly step down), with re-election possible. Currently, the council consists of:


 * Giovanna Stone: human woman from Tariniak. Previously the head of the Woven Roost. Has been on the council for 18 years
 * Kyron Valheshar: human man from Mirleheim. From a family of upper-class aristocrats. Has been on the council for 27 years.
 * Alteira Sammartini: gnome woman from Aorne (before its destruction). Previously a carpenter, then turned to the military during the War of Aorne. Has been on the council for 63 years, but not continuously.
 * Payrus Jokhan: nonbinary half-elf originally from Lanis Del, but moved to Mirleheim as a child. Previously a keeper at the Silver Archives. Has been on the council for 15 years.
 * Bronwyn Bruni: human woman from Demwould. Former Lawmaster of the city. Has been on the council for 7 years.

Military
The Empire stations troops of guards in each town in order to keep the peace, enforce the laws, and defend towns from any possible threats. These guards are called the Luminguard, or "caps" colloquially. Every town has a barracks in which the Luminguard stay, unless they already have residence in the city. The barracks hold spare uniforms, weapons, and other materials for the guards, as well as provide training and meals for those enlisted. In times of need, these barracks are also equipped to hold refugees or locals who need housing.

Each member of the Luminguard is outfitted with scale male, a standard scimitar, a spear, and a shield emblazoned with the crest of the Empire. In addition, each guard is given clothing to go under the armor, which marks them as a member of the Luminguard through the orange, yellow, and silver color scheme.

Economy
The Empire funds a network of traders' caravans called the Woven Roost. These caravans are escorted by Luminguard troops and transport artisans' and farmers' goods safely throughout the nation in exchange for a small percentage of profits.

All citizens of the empire are subjected to a tithe to the Empire to fund public works such as roads and the Luminguard. Every year, inspectors sent from Mirleheim travel to each city and take stock of the people living in each town. In addition to collecting a tax based on the wealth of each person, the collectors perform a sort of informal census to find where funds need to be delegated.

Religion
After a period of rebellion and destruction from followers of Vorugan throughout the Empire, emperor Julios Djintar restricted religious worship to exclusively the Halcyon Deities. However, the current triumvirate has somewhat relaxed these restrictions and approved a few of the Grey Gods. Currently, the approved deities are:


 * Ara
 * Dianecet
 * Forhen
 * Helmirenium
 * Lir
 * Paladore
 * Usyna