Holy Balderan Empire

Holy Balderan Empire
Flag of Holy Balderan Empire
Motto: One Empire, under the Gods
Capital	Roodrowash*
Largest city	Balder
Population	70,215,020
Official language	Common
Demonym	Balderan
Government	Feudalism
Head of state	The Emperor
Area	About 2 million km sq
GDP	About 48 billion USD

The Holy Balderan Empire (named after the Balderan Empire of antiquity, which defeated the elf-kings and ruled over the subcontinent for several centuries in peace) is built on a concordat between the Covenant Order, led by the High Goth, and the Emperor. Under the banner of Balderan empire, the Dwarf Emperor and his knights conquered the vast land which is the Holy Balderan Empire today. It is a traditional feudal patchwork of principalities mostly inhabited by an admixture of humans and elves, and ruled by a mostly dwarven aristocracy.

History

The Holy Balderan Empire begins when King Goddar was crowned emperor by the High Goth, under the Concordat between them. At that time King Goddar was merely the leader of a powerful dwarf clan of the northern hills. Under this banner however, his armies grew and he defeated warlord after warlord. His descendants grew the empire further until it filled the entire subcontinent from the western mountains to the sea.

Foreign Relations

The principalities of the empire may be somewhat sovereign themselves, but the Empire, or at least the Emperor, do still have a foreign policy. The Empire's human neighbors are mostly hostile, allied in defensive alliances to defend themselves against its might. With the dwarven kingdoms, relations are friendlier, as the mountain dwarves are confident in the strength of their subterranean fortifications.

Geography

Broadly speaking, the Empire's subcontinent is divided into a handful of regions by two ranges of hills. North of them, is a large fairly dry plain. Between them is a fertile but not particularly flat countryside, whose rivers feed to the great river which passes through Balder.

Government

The Empire's government, such as it is, is composed of the Emperor, his advisory council of representatives of all the varied clans and noble houses, and a system of imperial magistrates. Most governance is local, under the local feudal lord. Some governance is also performed by the temples, mostly subordinate to the Great Goth in Balder

Politics

The Empire is awash with political conflict as many of the western princes, seeing the Covenant Order as an encroachment against their power, seek to break away from it by backing a new religious movement which believes the Covenant with the gods can be maintained without obeisance to the Order. Civil War is feared.

Economy

At this time, the Empire is reasonably prosperous, with successful agriculture using the three field system. There are many diverse crafts, with guilds organizing them. Cities have grown several times over during the last few decades. There is a thriving trade with the neighboring dwarves in ores, tools, weapons and foodstuffs & other commodities.