The Planet of Ionadis
Basic Facts
Religion: Novana, polytheism, state sponsored
5th Planet, Ionadis, in a solar system with one sun
Regal Empire
Confederate Theocratic Nation-State
Constitutional Parliamentary Hereditary Monarchy.
Capitalistic, colonial/imperial system of economy
Low level of social, gender, equality
Wide wealth gap
Population of Masona, Island of Sunmira, and the two Main Continents of the Regal Empire: 25,718,977
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GovernmentThe Regal Empire is a Confederate Theocratic Nation-State. They are made up of several different states, many of them dependent on the largest state and metropole, Regis. One of them is wholly recognized as independent but still adheres to many rules of the Empire. Two are seen as territories trying to secede (Masona Kingdom and Pistorum) and are actively watched by the central government.
The state religion of the Regal Empire is Novana, the followers are called Novites. There are sects, cults, and heretics for almost every god or goddess in the Novana religion. The most common sects are Solarians, Sarains, and the First Sons.
The Empire follows a Constitutional Parliamentary Hereditary Monarchy.
The top of the empire is run by the Mother Empress and the High King. Below them are the prince and princesses. Dukes and duchesses preside over states/provinces or appoint a Dominus. Barons and Lords preside over smaller towns.
At the local level people can vote for who to represent them. The only parliaments that people can vote for are at the local and state levels. This is how States and provinces come up with their own laws tailored to different religions and ethnicities and various areas. Judges are appointed by the Dominus.
The Empress is the head of the church as well. Even though she is in charge she is guided by a council of five called The Insightful, and their various ideas influence her decisions. The national constitution if needed to be changed is voted on by the Dukes and governors of the different States/provinces.
The Kingdom of Masona has someone to represent them in the empire but their vote never counts. The head of the military is a sibling of the Empress . If there is no living sibling, then the High King is appointed leader of the military.
Most of the Empire's immigrants are slaves. Immigration to the metropole is extremely limited. Voting is allowed for all of those of legal age, and are landowning citizens. Legal age of the Empire is 17.
The media is controlled by the state. Any show is allowed as long as it does not admonish or question the teachings of the Empire. All news media and journalism is heavily censored.
Women are considered at the top of the cultural hierarchy and it reflects in the law. Women have more freedom to move around then men, while their movement is restricted. The current Empire has become slightly more liberal, allowing voting of both genders, but only those of the landowning class.
Men are treated as they don't know better, and are sex obssesed, and that women are smarter and will guide them. Men are allowed to hold lower levels of government, but not higher levels of clergy or government. Depending on what sect your are in defines if you lean towards sexism/egalitarianism.
Misogyny is mainly influenced by religon.The goddess Solara is known to Novites as The Mother of All, and influences their thinking on gender roles. The god Lunos is protrayed as an enemy against Solara, and it is interpreted by the populace as men being deficient. Lunos is neither good nor evil, but state propaganda works its way into every facet of thier lives.
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Military and Paramility Groups, Rebellion groups and terrorist organizations
Sons of Stars
The biggest and major rebellion group is the Sons of Stars. Many of them are male, Masonan, or Nightwalkers. They reject the idea that they are inherently bad because they are men, they reject the teachings of Solara and the Empire. Many of them believe that the des Regalis family are the "false descendents of Unas" and aim to kill them and return the Empire to its rightful heirs, the Masona Family.
They are split into various groups throughout the Empire, and their biggest group is in Pistorum. They are funded by the government in Pistorum, and the Empire ignores them because they are a cold island of little value. The groups closer to the capital of the Empire, or in major towns are dealt with and eventually destroyed.
Their Patron Saint is the god Lunos
The Givers
An all female terrorist group that believes in the subjugation of men, and takes the teachings of Solara way too seriously. The government does little about them because it furthers their misogynistic narrative. There is a rumor that a high ranking noble finances their many activities, but no proof is found (so far).
The Givers go to various towns they deem "too liberal" and commit numerous atrocities. They wish to also eradicate other sects of Nova, so that only Solara will be worshipped.
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Wars and Invasions
The most current wars the Empire has been in during the time period of the story is
Invasion of Earth. Ionadis colonized Earth and used it as a way point for travel and trade. It took its resources, but not often because it was used more as a key waypoint for military expansion than the claiming of resources.
War between the Galactic Union and the Empire. Earth partook in this war to gain their independence and is a former colony of Ionadis
Invasion of Methuselah.
Invasion of Altera: The planet of Altera was a colony of Ionadis, until they began their own rebellion. It failed, and the Empire continued to take all of its resources. Many of the people from Altera left for the planet of Paradis.
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Economy
The empire mostly has a capitalist system that is based off of colonialism, imperialism, and mercantilism. Many of the subjects are free to import as many goods as they want but if they are to export any goods it's highly taxed to make sure that they keep all their goods within their economy. Because of the way that they gain their profits through conquering various lands most of their money goes towards the military.
The empire's economy is also supported through liberal use of slavery. Because of this system many in the empire do not work. This is fine for nobles in the upper classes who are born into money and have no need to work but keep the lower classes in poverty because it is hard to compete with people who are forced to work for free.
Very little of education is publicly funded, creating a wider divide between the rich and the poor. There is little investment in science unless it relates to medicine because of the use of magic in the Society of the empire.
Science is seen as a waste of time and hobbies of people who are rich at best, and at worst is seen as ignoring the gift of magic that the gods had given them.
The only aspect of society that they choose to put money into pertains to the ocean. Most of the empire rains a lot and has a lot of water and many of the people of the sea live near water so it is an important aspect of their culture.
It also explains why Sarai is one of the most revered goddesses.
Most of their income comes from selling the resources of their colonized lands. Because of the heavy use of slavery, colonialism and imperialism to gain income the empire refuses to change how it gains its income because it keeps the wealthy living lavish lifestyles and prevents them from ever having to work.
These ideas are fueled by their culture of strength and power as supreme. They view the Empress as a mother who punishes other lands and shows them the "right way" and "beauty" of the Empire, so unless she tells them slavery is wrong, it most likely won't go away any time soon.
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Law
Legal and Regulated
Prostitution, sale of Alchol, tobacco, and any drug deemed "of the earth".
Gambling
Very little if no gun control
Female Homosexuality
Slavery
Illegal or Banned
Jail Time
Murder, Obscenity( if religous), Attempted Abolition of Slavery,Male Homosexuality,Transgender Identification,
Death Penalty
Murder, Blasphemy, Atheism, Dissent,Treason, some forms of sexual assault.
Fines
Corporate Fraud, Public Embezzlement, Miscegenation, Obscenity (if sexual)
Life Imprisonment
Abortion, Murder, Child Abuse, Administration of Euthinasia
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Politics
Interactions of the most notable provinces on Ionadis, on the two major continents.
Pistorum
Pistorum is an island in the northern reaches of Ionadis. Many of those that live there are Masonan or people who fled for the farthest reaches of the Empire after the Unification War. They follow the sects of Lunos, Glaciei, and Bruma.
The capital is Kilhell, and is also home to the largest regiment of the rebellion group Sons of Stars. The Pistorium government funds their illegal activities to overthrow the empire, but all of their attempts have been unsuccessful. The central government in Regis in retaliation has given no support to Pistorum until it ceases its efforts, still forces taxation upon it, but never bothers to invade or crush it because its an icy island with very little of value.
It gets along great with the Kingdom of Masona, but every other province hates it.
It is home to the temple of Glaciei in Moshagand.
Britia, Bhia, and Froila
These three provinces separate Regis from the Kingdom of Masona. Originally during the War of Unification these three tried to join to create their own kingdom, but it failed. Now they act as a natural buffer between Regis and Masona so they don't start another needless war.
Brita doesn't support Masona. It wants its land to expand its sea ports. It doesn't like Regis either, but it takes whatever side in politics that gives them a temporary advantage.
Bhia fully supports Masona in their quest for independence, but never outwardly states it. They carefully toe the line so one day they can have a kingdom of their own.
Froila simply wants Masona and Regis to exist together for trade deals. They are neutral and don't care unless they feel threatened by either Masona or Regis.
In all three provinces it is a healthy mix of Masonans, Sunwalkers, and Regalians. Most of the area are deserts inhabited by oasis towns.
Ingen
The province between Pistorum and Masona. Most of those who live in Ingen follow Solara, Bruma, Glaciei, Lunos. It is also home to the cult of Marth.
A major trade route passes through Ingen, bringing people of all ethnicities through it at one point or another. Its proximity to the ocean also brings in People of the Sea, and its proximity to Masona and Pistorum has plenty of Masonans. It is one of the most liberal parts of the empire, and has the highest level of racial coexistence and religious tolerance.
It is also home to one of the smaller groups of the Sons of Stars.
Ingen is generally respected amongst most of the other provinces, however the province of Regis feels it is too "culturally loose".
Regis
Regis is the biggest province, is home to the capital and also has the largest population. In the capital of Rex is where many people in high society, nobles, and merchants live. It is also home to the des Regalis family and their castles and various estates.
The religious sects practiced there are the only ones that are allowed: the First Sons, Daughters of Debella, the Solarians and the Blessed of Diva. The Empire is a theocracy, and it focuses its religion towards Solara. Those in the capital of Rex found not adhering to their conservative and religious views are quickly imprisoned, kicked out, or executed.
It is home to the Temple of Solara in the city of Rex.
Most of those that live in the capital are DayWalkers who are also astrals. The society in the province of Regis is extremely rigid, and there is not much tolerance of differences.
A small group of the Apprentices of Isolda stay there, working in the shadows and spying amongst the elite to find out where they can find more celestial objects.
Regis is also the wealthiest of provinces because of its inclusion of the capital, multiple trade routes and ports.
Many move to Regis for improvement in economic status, but those who are minorities try to avoid the capital of Rex at all costs. The farther from the capital one gets, the more liberal it tends to be, and the less likely social laws against miscenegation or sexuality are enforced.
Elgulf
Elguf is home to many People of the Sea and the Temple of Sarai. It is an island on the eastern side of the empire. Most of the religious believers follow Sarai, and her children Natio, Fluvio, Hurio. There are few followers of Solara.
The racial makeup is very homogenous, but the ethnic makeup is divided evenly between the people of the sea that are more human like versus those that are more animal like.
Elguf neighbors Elreth and Elsin, similar in beliefs and racial makeup.
All three of these provinces are on good terms with each other, and generally try to avoid most of the conflicts in the empire because most of them are rooted in racial conflicts that they cannot emphatize or havea stake in.
Island of Sunmira
The Island of Sunmira is largely independent. It is one of the provinces farthest from the capital of the empire, and is the birthplace of Unas, fire of god and Revenge. His temple can be found in the city of Litwele. The temple of Debella can be found in Freystals. Its capital is Sungulf, a town… that is sunny… in a gulf.
Almost all of the believers are Daughters of Debella or the First Sons. There is a small minority of those that worship Diva, however they are mostly merchants who worship wealth, and can be found in almost any major town.
The Week of Victory, and The Great Feast is celebrated here. Opulent parades and feasts are also held on the day of Unas' and Debella's birth.
Near the Temple of Unas is the altar of Toris.
Sunmira is loved by the province of Regis. It makes a ton of money through trades, and also worships the son of the patron goddess Solara. They are similar in religious conservatism but tend to be more racially diverse.
Sunmira does not wish for much from the capital since it is already largely independent, but knows that its independence comes with fealty. When it comes to the realm of politics they agree with everything Regis does, to the chagrin of everyone else.
They are not liked much outside of Regis.
Bisexland
Secretly the home of the Hidden Kingdom. Has the Forest of Fear, which makes your deepest fears a reality.