Major Countries- Reman Empire, Serican States, Huecha, Fu-Sang, and various
Barbaric
Tribes
Major Cities- Rem, Mercupolis, and Alexandria
General History-
Following the foundation of the city of Rem, and the transformation
of the Remans to the
semi-wolf beings that they are, the Empire they founded went through may
ups and downs
before reaching the position of power it holds today. After defeating
most of the major foes
around the Mediterranean basin, they continued on their pathway to world
dominance with a
major campaign ending in the conquest of Germania in 744 local years.
An industrial
revolution was fostered around this time, but not anything close to a scientific
one.
The Moonless Night, as the period following the fall of the First Empire
is called, was
a period of chaos, plague, death, and destruction. Barbarians from
Asia invaded the Empire,
taking over manyof the outer provinces and threatening Reman proper with
raids. Bolder in
general they also create havoc in the fledging state of the Sui in China,
ending their rise to
power. Provincial governors declared their autonomy and the First
Empire is said to have
come to an end in 1139 with the death of Emperor Kerentis, who died without
an heir.
Two hundred years later, in 1364, a series of military campaigns by the
General-Governor
Gaius reunited North Africa, and then was used as a base for the expulsion
of the Huns and
other tribes from the Italian Peninsula. The Second Empire is dated
to the year 1372, when
the city of Rem was retaken. The Atlanticus was explored through
new shipping technology,
and Emperor Mouamet was the first of many Emperors to direct the attentions
of the Empire
eastward towards Persia and India. After the discovery of the Hesperides,
the Reman Empire
had another addition to make, with the relatively easy conquest of the
Maiae and later tribes
nearby.
Like the Empire before, the Second Empire also fell apart, but it's decline
was slow instead
of sudden. Political corruption loosened the binding forces in the
Empire, famine and plague
created chaos and fear throughout the land, and around the start of the
second millennium the
Mongolian invasion was the straw that broke the camel's back, creating
another Moonless
Night in the Old World. But in the New World, the Empire experienced
only civil war and
after only a short century or so of wars, the Third Empire was founded
by Emperor Gaius in
Mercupolis in central Hesperia.
It would take longer to retake the Old World provinces, with the reconquest
of Rem
happening shortly after recontact, but other regions such as Persia and
India taking place only
as recently as one hundred years ago. The borders of the Empire are
now currently
expanding, although slowly. In Nova Brittania they are spreading
across the great grasslands
of the interior, with consideration given to conquering either the some
of the Serican States or
Huecha.
Country Details-
The Reman Empire- Generally this is an authoritarian state that has some
hints of
meritocratic equality developing. That is while social classes based
on birth are common, the
idea that one can work themselves up the ladder through service to the
state (mostly military)
is common. For the most part however the Emperor is the supreme ruler,
in all military and
civil matters. It is not allowed for the biological son to be the
next Emperor, adoptive heirs
only. The social classes are the Senators (Sans the Senate), Equestrians,
and Urbani, all
patricians. Next come the plebians, non-citizens, and finally slaves.
Generally any 'Reman'
(biologically) is considered to be at least a plebeian. Non-Remans
can be given citizenship,
although it is not hereditary. About 10% of the population is made
up of slaves, while about
55% are non-citizens. Included in this 55% are the Jews, a minority
religion that has been
tolerated at times, persecuted at others, and are found throughout the
Empire.
During the reign of Mouamet there was a movement towards making the worship
of Sol the
state religion, due to a combination of the desire for centralization and
to fight the growing
threat of Mithra, an originally Persian religion. The Jews were allowed,
even encouraged, to
build the Third Temple in Jerusalem and from that point forward they were
accepted, as the
Jews were also becoming more and more Remanized also. However the
attempt to
institutionalize the worship of Sol was less successful, and it was not
until the Third Empire
that the religion was reformed to focus on one deity.
In the New World the figure of Mercury was seen as closest to many of the
chief deities of
the tribes there. They related him to a mythical pre-historical figure
who came to them and
showed them the secrets of civilization, such as writing, and chocolatl,
the most widely traded
and value commodity other than precious gems and metals. With the
rise of the Third Empire
from the former colonies of Hesperia, the cult of Mercury grew and replaced
many other
figures, pushing them to the background. Except for the Jews, and
some Indians who follow
their native religion, it is now the religion of the common Reman.
The Serican States- These kingdoms to the East of the Empire are collectively
called Serica,
the land of silk, and generally viewed as all the same. This is not
true, as there is a vast degree
of diversity in the states. Although the proper part of the states
are mostly Chinese, following
a reformed version of Confucianism, other states such as the Southeast
Asian ones are a
hybrid of the Chinese and Indians, and there are some hybrid states of
native Nipponese and
Chinese on the Islands.
Fu-Sang- Technically one of the Serican States, it is in the Northwest
portion of the New
World near some of the richest fishing areas in the world. Geographically
isolated from the
Remans, most of their contact with the outside world is through trade routes
going across the
desert to their south into the heart of the Reman Empire in the New World.
Huecha- Situated in the Andes this state is one of the few holdouts against
the Empire.
Tribe after tribe, civilization after civilization, fell in the conquests
of the Empire. Only a few
tribes in inhospitable lands survive. And the Huecha, who use the
mountains as the defense
against the Remans and have resisted three invasions to date. At
the same time however the
Huecha are unable to mount much of an offense against the Remans, and so
are not too much
of a problem.
Technology and other Things-
The Remans, and all other civilizations, have yet to have a scientific
revolution, but at the
same time have experiences many industrial revolutions that have continued
to drive the level
of technology forward. This limits much of their abilities when it
comes to advancementsfrom
applied science, instead of just invention and luck. Gunpowder is primitive,
black powder and
not very accurate, but is still a popular weapon. Their research
into Greek Fire and other such
things have advanced their knowledge of chemical weapons to some impressive
levels of
destruction and death. Steam remains the major force in terms of
engines, and through their
industrial revolution they have managed to reach levels of military might
and industrial output
that are equivalent to perhaps the 1860s on the First World. The retardation
of gunpowder has
allowed for some interesting inventions using steam, such as a steam powered
cannon or steam
powered 'hydro-javelin' for ships.
There is on Remus a larger than normal abundance of the some of the rarer
elements.
Vanadium is an example, and through its trace presence in much of the iron
ore used by the
Remans, and their high quality of iron working, has allowed for some very
strong and durable
blades, the finest having a strange pattern of lines that is almost impossible
to copy with a
blade not of the same material. In fact with the slow development
of gunpowder, a Reman
short sword is still standard issue to legionaries and often the higher
officials will have a blade
made from this material. Other elements include molybdenum, and manganese,
but vanadium
being the key player in the creation of these blades.
The Legion of Harkeus-
The early history of the Reman Empire, during the First Empire's earliest
years, there was a
great hunter warrior that was named Harkeus. At that time the Empire
was in a short period
of peace, it's conquests had taken place the generation before and it was
still securing its hold
on them. What was the major threat of the Empire was not an outside
nation, but the threat
of nature itself. Fighting with alone he freed the areas around Rem
of many beasts that had
been living there for years, setting an example for all hunters to come.
A hunter of everything,
some of his well known events, called the Twelve Feats of Harkeus, are
below.
1- A species of cave lions left over from the Pre-Historic world of Remus,
the first
legendary event of the life of Harkeus was his defeat of this beast that
had moved into the area
of Rem during a bad winter. Following its death the hide was converted
into a makeshift
clothing that was worn for the rest of his life. It is believed that
the species as a whole
parished around this time.
2- In ancient times a species of Dragons that were unable to fly or breath
fire inhabited
much of the Mediterranean Basin, and were viewed as a threat by almost
every civilization.
Hunted to near extinction by the Greeks and Egyptians, the task was well
on the way to being
finished by Reman hunters when Harkeus brought back from a trip to Sicily
the largest Dragon
yet to have been killed.
3- Legend held that in the lands north of the Alps lived a giant elk with
antlers up to 13 ft in
span, with a golden hue to them. Not to let this challenge go past
him, Harkeus spent a year in
the barbaric wilderness of then Gaul hunting the beast down before being
able to bring it
down. No more elks of this species are believed to still live.
4- Although not as terrible as his other exploits, the tale of Harkeus's
hunting trip in Greece
is well known because of his rescue of the local Governor of almost certain
death when one of
the other hunters attempted to turn on the Governor and assassinate him.
At the same time
Harkeus was able to single handedly spear the boar that was the goal of
the hunt. The
Mediterranean species of Wild Boar, totally extinct except for hunting
reservations set up by
rich senators, is of about average size but once in a generation produces
some very large
specimens.
5- The Emperor at this time had something of a fetish for horses, and asked
Harkeus to go
to the edges of the Empire in the Atlas Mountains to return with at least
one pair of the famed
Pegasi, winged horses. Known for their ability to give sudden bursts
of speed, their 'wings' are
in fact used to vent off extra heat in the desert. Harkeus returned
with the pair, although
domestication was not very popular due to the difficulty of saddling the
horse because of their
wings. But even today they are often raised for races.
6- During this period of history the Black Sea was still a mostly unexplored
area, and
following his trip to North Africa Harkeus set off to explore this new
land. One of his many
encounters was with a carnivorous species of birds that attacked anything
that invaded the area
around their nest. Killing off several, Harkeus would later return
with the bronze hued
feathers of the bird which would soon become an item so popular to the
Remans that they
would be hunted to extinction.
7- Also in the Black Sea area was a tribe of Amazons, women warriors that
were famous
even back in Rem through tales of merchants and traders. Although
not an actual hunt,
Harkeus is well known for his other exploits. ::Wink wink::
8- On Crete, during his return voyage to Rem, Harkeus choose to aid in
the hunt of one of
the few remaining aurochs, the ancestors of the modern cattle, in the area.
Using his massive
might alone, Harkeus strangled the creature to death with his bare hands.
9- As mentioned earlier the Emperor at the time had a fetish for horses,
as did the King of
Thrace at that time. Outside of Reman control the King had been raising
horses by feeding
them the flesh of men, a way of adding protein to their diet and adding
to their aggressive
behavior. Harkeus was sent to destroy this horrid experiment, and
he did by feeding the King
to the horses and then releasing them into the wild where they were hunted
to extinction over
time.
10- In the newly conquered area of Spain there lived a much feared three
bodied giant
attached to one pair of legs, believed to be an ancient Siamese triplet.
With this terrible
appearance the giant had been able to force many local towns into giving
him tribute, and
Harkeus was sent to dispose of the problem.
11- Exploring rumors of a species of apple in Northern Africa, Harkeus
was forced to fight
a North African Dragon, which was only a minor distraction for him.
The species was a rather
weak one, no where near as feared as the Mediterranean Dragon, and was
hunted into
extinction save for some remaining pockets south of the Sahara.
12- For his final task Harkeus decided that he would travel to the Underworld
and return
with the three-headed hound that guarded the entrance. He set off
to follow the path of the
Nile river to its source, which was believed to be the gate to the Underworld.
Harkeus never
returned.
Harkeus was forever remembered as a great hunter, and soon was given a
near god like
status. As the Roman Empire expanded and ran into new species, the
figure of Harkeus was
taken up as a guardian deity by hunters and explorers. The discovery
of the New World
created a surge in the numbers of those following Harkeus, and after Mercury
he was perhaps
the most popular deity there. With the foundation of the Third Empire
the Emperor created a
special 'Club' called the Legion of Harkeus for Senators who had a desire
to hunt and explore
the frontiers of the Empire.
Membership in the Legion proper requires that one be a Senator, and have
proven
themselves through the hunting of some famed and dangerous beast.
However many of the
more popular species are protected under law and only members of the Legion
can hunt them.
This means that most members must make do with a large and dangerous species
of boar,
bear, lion, or other such animal. The Legion also has a number of
aids, porters, and the like
that serve the Senators in their hunts and those positions are open to
any that are qualified,
chosen by the Senator they serve. Some other species in Remus not
found in Earth Prime are
the following.
Thunderbirds- Large, and I mean large, birds that live in the interior
of Nova Britannia and
are able to pick up horses. They keep the population of the interior
down, hindering native
and Reman alike in the attempts to settle.
Bonnacon- Native to the interior of Asia, these yak/buffalo like animals
are mostly normal,
with large curved horns on their head. It's main form of defense
is the ability to spray a very
acidic and foul smelling mixture of chemicals from its rear when threatened.
Leucrota- As many know the hyena is actually a member of the cat
family, and this species
is a middle ground between the two. The oddest trait is that the
teeth are in face straight
across the mouth, they are in fact bony ridges that aid in crushing the
foodstuff, such as bone
and marrow, better. They also are able to 'chatter' and create a
sound that is similar to many
people talking all at once.
Couatl- A group of birds in the New World around the jungles of the Maiae,
they all have a
long tale similar to a lizard, small teeth, and several scales on the leg,
tail, and neck. Different
species have evolved to eat different things and live in different areas,
all with very colorful
feathers. They have been hunted greatly, but recently a tax on the
sale of their feathers and
the placement of them on the list of Legion only species is aiding in controlling
to influx of
feathers, keeping the prices steady but not too low. Just where the
hunters want them.
Yale- Found south of the Sahara known of the Yale is rare in the Reman
Empire. It is well
known for its ability to move its horns separate from one another, an ability
that may aid it in
digging for roots and other items to eat in the ground. The face
is similar to the warthog, but
with the legs longer and allowing for faster movement.
Catoblepas- While the gate to the Lodge from Mt. Hekla is rather easy to
get to, the one
near the source of the Nile is the native habitat of the Catoblepas, a
large creature the side of a
buffalo. It has the features of a warthog, but with hippo features
such as skin and other
adaptations to live partially in water, including a turned up nose.
Just like the hippo it can
become very aggressive, but it is still very much at home on the land too
and this adds the
danger of it chasing someone on the land. The creature is partially
carnivorous, in fact it is
known to have killed hippos in its hunt for food. They have never
been successfully killed.
Su- The Giant Ground Sloth of South America, still living in some parts
of Southern Nova
Lusitania. It is one of the most difficult to hunt, and except for
a specimen successfully killed
by Legionnaire Julius Lusitanius none have been successfully brought down.
In addition almost all of the species in Africa, such as the gorilla, elephant,
rhino, lion, etc.
etc. are still Big Game. Asia too, with its pandas, elephants, tigers,
and other species.
America has the bison, coyote, and the like. The Amazon is no walk
in the park either. Only
Europe and the Middle East, and North Africa, can claim to be anything
close to civilized and
free of wild beasts. Australia is only vaguely known about, and who
knows what new species
might be found there. And then there is the Lodge and the worlds
there.
Some Terms-
"Hunting the Gulon"- The Gulon is a mythical, or believed to be, creature
that would
overeats, and then had to squeeze himself between 2 trees to push the food
through his system
and then would return to eating again. Today it is seen as a symbol
of gluttony and general
sin, even for the somewhat party happy Remans. When a member of the
Legion has taken
actions that bring dishonor to the Legion, they are asked by the head of
the Legion to go on a
quest to hunt the Gulon, basically kicking them out of the order in the
nicest way possible.
"Gladiator"- Even today the games continue from time to time, whenever
the Emperor feels
like it basically. Wild beasts are brought in from across the Empire,
to battle with brave
warriors representing the people of the Empire, supposedly. Often
though old lions are brough
from local zoos, starved a couple days to get them angry, and released
on a slave armed with a
toothpick. They are mostly entertainment shows for the masses, and
to call a member of the
Legion a Gladiator is to insult them greatly.
"Tracking the Golden Elk/Hunting in Arcadia"- A person never retires from
the Legion,
never. If they are too old or too injured to hunt ever again, it
is never stated so. They are off
Tracking the Golden Elk, which was a task a year long for Harkeus and therefore
a very time
consuming event, or Hunting in Arcadia, the mythical land of the Golden
Elk and holds similar
meanings.
"Chasing Cerberus"- Even Harkeus had an arrogant side to him, the side
that made him
think that he could travel to the Underworld and return. The term
is basically telling someone
to not go to hunt something above them, that they have to start hunting
small and go up.
Know what you can hunt.
"Hunting in Thule, Atlantis, Any other Mythical Land of the Past."- Knowledge
of the
Lodge and other worlds is known only by the Legion and the Emperor, and
even the Emperor
is untold of the other worlds with regards to being populated. This
is the great secret that the
Legion wants to protect at all costs. Trips to the Lodge and into
other worlds for hunting are
covered with this phrase, and generally it's viewed as the Legion giving
names for certain
regions. Thule has long been considered to be the North Pole area,
for example, by the
general public.
Discovery-
The discovery took place when Commander Rupus ordered that the Legion go
forward
with the long delayed plans to explore the source of the Nile, a mostly
unknown grouping of
caves in Africa. The main goal was to discover what happened to Harkeus,
but in addition the
second goal was to explore. Already other worlds had found the Lodge,
and seemed to accept
that others might wander into discovering the Lodge. Relations are
mostly good, although
members of the Club wishing to travel to Remus find it very difficult as
the Legion wants to
plan out everything ahead of time to leave no room for error. Members
of the Legion seem to
be uninterested in traveling to worlds already populated by Club members,
not wishing to
impose to much.
Gates to the Lodge-
There are two known, and two possible more, gates that travel between Remus
to the
Lodge world. The most well known, because of the tales of Harkeus,
is the source of the Nile
in Africa. Another is Mt. Hekla, an extinct volcano in the northern
reaches of the world. Also
on Remus are the City of Brass and the City in the Jungle, the first in
the Sahara and the
second in the Amazon. Both are built in the same style of the buildings
in the Lodge, and have
paintings and the like of many species native to Remus. However no
one has been able to find
any way to travel to the Lodge yet from these locations.
Notes on Hunting-
Perhaps because of the fact that many members of the Legion start off hunting
boars and
the like, and the low technology of the world, many members of the Legion
seem to have an
attachment to the hunting spear as a means of hunting. Many find
it daring to use their
servants to herd an animal into a narrow area where the Legionnaire then
has the chance to
skewer it, and hopefully jump out of the way. Spear throwing is another
popular way of
hunting for the beasts that are just a bit too dangerous for the boar method.
Gunpowder,
usually weapons made outside of Remus, is becoming common though for hunting
in other
worlds.
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