Culture of the Great Empire

Social Divisions

Social divisions within the Empire are defined by Imperial Law, which states the rights and responsibilities of each stratum of the social spectrum. To attempt to move out of one’s social status is considered taboo, at best, and illegal, at worst. Very few individuals even consider such a radical concept, as cultural and religious mores teach that each individual exists within the social structure for a reason, and to defy this is to defy the natural order of existence, as well as temporal and liturgical law.

Slaves

Slavery is an institution in the Empire, one that is intrinsically a part of Imperial culture. A slave is defined as an individual, through racial or cultural heredity, who is accorded only a few rights above those granted by those who own them. Slaves are protected as all property is in Imperial law, and restitution for harm or the death of a slave is handled much like the harming or killing of livestock. The only right accorded to slaves by Imperial Law is the right of marriage, which may not be impeded by a master. If two slaves are married by a duly appointed priest and register their marriage with the priesthood of the church under which they were married (assuming it is one recognized by the Empire), a master cannot sell one slave without also selling that slave’s spouse to the same individual. Furthermore, any children which result from such a union may not be sold along with the parents until that child reaches six years of age. Of course, the laws protecting slaves are often ignored by unscrupulous masters, and it is rare for a slave to succeed in a legal case against his master, partially because Imperial law does not accord a slave the right to council in legal matters.

A slave has no other rights than that to marriage or their legitimate infants. They may not own property of any sort, and should they commit a crime themselves, their masters are made to pay recompense to their victims. In some states, such as Dracia and Aescalapea, this has resulted in wealthy slave-masters training a few of their slaves in the art of assassination, as they only have to pay a monetary recompense to the family of the victim. This practice is double-edged, however, as a slave trained to kill might turn on his master. Should a slave-master die, his slaves are granted to his heir(s), as according to local law or custom. Should he have no heirs, the slave reverts to the slave-master’s immediate superior, be it the noble to whom he pays taxes or the regnant of the region he inhabits.

Most slaves are treated surprisingly well by their masters; few would beat their prize cattle to death, or make them too weak to work, and the same logic is applied to slaves. There are many stories of over-zealous overseers who use brute force and corporal punishment on slaves, but such treatment is rare overall. Of particular note is the difference between house slaves and field slaves. House slaves, those who serve their masters directly in the household, are afforded much better treatment than field slaves, who work the agricultural lands of their masters. The work of a field slave is difficult and grueling, with long days and little rest. The stories of violent overseers are almost always of those overseeing field slaves. House slaves are often on almost familiar terms with their masters and their families, and some masters have even been known to keep some of their more attractive slaves as their mistress. Many field slaves who do have legitimate children attempt to teach their offspring specific skills which they believe will have their child placed in the household, in the hopes of making a better life for their child. These attempts meet with periodic success, as few masters would want a slave in the field that would function better in his home.

The slave trade in the Empire is strong, with Slave Guilds and other organizations in more established cities. Typically, this trade is in those who are the children of slaves themselves, but new slaves sometimes appear on the market. Slavers who capture and trade in new slaves are often found in the southern regions of the Empire, attacking remote villages in Ywys or the Mabean Marches, or even raiding Valtaan and the Green Isle for slaves. This meets with some success, though the people of Ywys and Valtaan are known for being intractable, and they do not pull a good price on the open market, unless they are sold as breeding stock. Some of the more unscrupulous slavers will illegally raid remote villages or homesteads within the Empire, regardless of the laws protecting serfs and plebeians from such practices. These illegal captures are sold on the black market in various nations, but most often within Aescalapea, which does not enforce the laws protecting serfs and plebeians unless the criminals are noticed by the nobles from whose land the slaves were kidnapped.

Slaves within the Empire are identified by a tattoo of the master’s symbol, which is magically embossed into the slave’s skin through the usage of a casting specific to the clergy of Zelos, though some other priesthoods have a similar casting. Those slaves with the fewest tattoos can typically fetch the highest price on the slave market, as those with multiple tattoos are viewed as intractable or useless. This practice has caused no end of problems when the Empire encounters a culture which does not reserve tattooing for their slaves. One historian, when recording the events surrounding the conquest of the Mabean Marches, noted that the local people seemed to desire slavery, as they often tattooed their faces with strange, blue paint. Of course, the Mabeans were painted to make themselves look more fearsome in war, but the Imperials found this practice laughable and proof of their savagery (and, thus, their need to be conquered).

Serfs

The serf is the backbone of the Imperial economy, and they are much more numerous than any other social class. Serfs are accorded few rights, but many more rights than slaves. They are permitted to marry who they wish and care for their children through adulthood (usually around 16 years of age, though this ranges with cultural differences). If one serf murders another, he is tried as a criminal, though if one of higher social status murders a serf, recompense is typically in the form of a fine, to be paid to serf’s lord, though a small percentage goes to the serf’s family. They are permitted to own property, except weapons and land, but they have little in the way of income to afford such. Serfs are tied to the land of their noble, and are not permitted to move to a new locale without paying a tax, called a chevage, to their lord annually. The lord need not pay the serf for his services, though a serf may charge anyone else should he desire to do so. His proper upkeep, including housing and food, is the responsibility of his lord, unless he is found to have the money to handle such things himself. There have been cases of a serf who felt that he was not receiving those basics of life that he needed, and sued his lord to permit him leave to become the serf of a new lord. As serfs are not afforded legal counsel by Imperial law, counsel is often paid for by the lord to which the serf desires servitude. Serfs are also permitted certain holidays, and it is against liturgical law to force a serf to work on those holy days where work is proscribed.

Serfdom is practiced primarily in agricultural communities, and it is rare for a serf to live in an urban environment. Some wealthy nobles who have moved to cities have brought their serfs with them, but it is more typical for a lord’s serfs to remain on the land that he leaves behind to serve the new lord of that land.

Plebeians

Plebeians compose the middle and lower upper class of Imperial society. Everyone from lowly apprentices to minor nobles are considered plebeians, and are accorded many rights. They may own property, including weapons, and may rent land from the noble who owns it. If they are killed by another, even if that other is a Patrician, it is considered murder and the criminal is treated as such. They are granted due process of law, including the right to liberty and legal counsel provided by the government, should they be unable to afford such themselves. They are also granted the right to elect their representative in the Senate, should they be citizens of a dependent government (as opposed to a colonial one, which does not have Senatorial representation).

Patricians

The patrician is one who is a member of a House recognized by the Emperor. Though the Great Houses dominate the Patrician class, most Patricians are merely members of important noble families which have been elevated to their current position due to great service to the Empire. In most regions, Patricians are exempt from certain taxes, such as entry fees into cities, and are accorded rights beyond the typical Plebeian. They are allowed to retain large groups of soldiers (Plebeians are not allowed to retain over 100 personal guards) and must be granted room and board by any member of the Empire when requested, even if such a request is of another Patrician. The most significant right of the Patrician class is the right to hold certain positions in the Imperial government. Only Patricians may hold a seat on the Senate, and the military commander of each Legion (the Legate), must be of Patrician status. Furthermore, only those of one of the thirteen Great Houses may inherit the Imperial throne or rule over an Imperial dependency (including colonies, but not monarchies). Needless to say, the Patrician class is quite powerful and have arranged themselves in a highly hierarchical system of self-governance. For more information on the Great Houses, see Chapter 6.

Emperor

The Emperor, though not officially recognized as a separate social class from the Patrician, is accorded rights above and beyond that of his fellow Patricians. As the final authority in the Imperial government, the Emperor is not subject to taxation or regional law. Though he is officially subject to the Imperial Code of Law, it is rare that anyone attempts to draw him up on charges, regardless of his behavior. Only a Patrician may charge the Emperor of a crime, and then the Emperor must be tried by the Senate for the crimes levied against him. The few trials that have occurred in Imperial history have resulted in exoneration of the Emperor, of course, and the Patrician(s) who brought him to trial are almost always executed as traitors to the Empire.

The Emperor’s primary duties are separated into three categories: liturgical governance, secular governance, and military governance. In his capacity as Pontifex Maximus of the Imperial Church, it is his duty to appoint the Pontifex of each deity recognized by the Empire, as well as oversee relations between the Churches. As Emperor (Imperator), it is his duty to review every decision made by the Senate and approve or veto those decisions. His veto power is absolute, of course. Once the Emperor has decided a matter, that matter may not be questioned again in the Senate while the Emperor lives. Finally, as Guardian of the Empire (Custodis Imperium), it is his responsibility to oversee the proper functioning and deployment of the Imperial military. Needless to say, these duties have become far too vast for one individual to handle alone, and the Imperial bureaucracy is composed of thousands of individuals who assist the Emperor in his duties.

Art & Architecture

As with most topics of discussion concerning the Empire, the art and architecture of its nations are more varied than the number of nations that compose it. Practices, laws and designs vary from region to region, though some of the more pervasive and important styles will be discussed below.

Art

Zetian art tends to be, for lack of a better description, boring. Murals and frescos are, by far, the most predominant form of art enjoyed by most citizens, with marble sculptures dominating government centers and houses of the rich. Most interior murals and frescos are of landscapes and pastoral scenes, painted as such to appear as if the room opened up to the outside. The colors used in these murals tend to be muted, as bright colors tend to be viewed as ostentatious. Painting on canvas is seen by most Zetians as somewhat primitive at worst, provincial at best. Furthermore, portraiture and the depiction of non-religious activities is prohibited according to the Luxury Law and common custom. Of course, higher nobles often ignore these restrictions (particularly those of the Patrician Class, as the Luxury Laws do not apply to them). Mosaics (murals which use tile as a medium) are used only in baths and fountains. Sculpture is almost always done in marble, when it can be afforded, or in wood. Sculptures are almost always of important political or religious figures, and are always painted in the same subdued colors that are used throughout Zetian art.

As one begins to move southward from Zeth, bright colors tend to get more prevalent, as does art on canvas. In those nations which border the southern shores of the Aurean Sea, mosaics become much more prevalent in private homes in the place of frescoes. Portraiture is also significant to the art of the central regions of the Empire and the subject is more often a significant family figure or head of a House, as opposed to the religious and political figures that often decorate Zetian homes. Sculpture is still significant, though it is more often used in government and religious buildings than in private homes.

Sculpture in marble almost disappears as a popular medium in the southern regions of the Empire. Iron, bronze and other metals are much more significant in the south, where they are moew plentiful. Bronze is extremely popular in Narbonne, while iron is significant in Mitaria and gold in Dracia. Portraiture is extremely significant, particularly to the Narbonese, and the subject can range from important political figures to family members to depictions of the gods themselves.

Architecture

Architecture in the Empire is traditionally divided into two or three major divisions: governmental/religious structures and private buildings.

Governmental structures in the northern and central reaches of the Empire tend to be tremendous affairs, constructed entirely of marble near Zeth, and granite in the central regions. Multiple columns and elaborate pediments are the norm, with the former being fairly plain, particularly compared to the story-telling statuary of the latter. In the southern regions, the stone castles popularized by the Narbonese are predominant, even in large cities, though some administrative buildings attempt to copy the Zetian style, though wood is often used in regions where marble or hard stone is unavailable or unaffordable. These imitation works tend to copy the Zetian style only in general shape and structure…they rarely display the same level of skill and attention to detail that Zetian architecture does.

Religious architecture near Zeth generally tends to be of the same style as governmental buildings; often a single structure will be used for both purposes. Religious architecture along the southern shores of the Aurean Sea, however, tend to be extremely elaborate affairs constructed entirely out of local stones. They have relatively thin walls with large stained glass windows that give the structure a very fragile appearance. Buttresses line the exterior walls of such structures to contribute to the structural integrity of the building. Religious structures of the south tend to follow either one form or another, though some older religious structures attempt to combine both forms, usually in a visually dissonant manner.

Private architecture varies wildly throughout the Empire. The homes and apartments of Zeth tend to either be large, urban manorial estates, in the case of the former, and claustrophobic apartment blocks in the case of the latter. Often, as many as twenty-four different spaces are crammed into a building that takes up the entire block and is only two stories high. Variations exist, though these variations tend to be intended for wealthier clients and, thus, provide more space. Of particular note is that Zetian houses are considered "inside out" by other cultures in the Empire. The back door faces the street and the interior is a courtyard which often has a small garden or fountain in its center. Some blocks are dedicated to only one or two families, and such blocks only have two entrances into the homes, which lie on the interior of the block, surrounding the courtyard. The exterior of the block is otherwise composed of small shops that are rented out by the owners of the building to merchants who seek to peddle their wares from within. Provincial homes near Zeth tend to have mud brick walls and clay tile roofing (which is popular in more urban areas, as well). As one moves southward into the central regions, wood becomes a more predominant material, as trees are more plentiful in those regions. Waddle-and-daub houses are common in more rural areas, while fully wooden homes, often with a shop of some sort on the first floor, are seen in the larger cities. Both sorts typically use thatch roofs, as quality clay is not as plentiful as it is in the north. Some wealthier urban homes will have wooden shingles, however, and many wealthy individuals will have clay tiles imported from the north. Even so, the apartment block design is still used in some regions, particularly in the Mabean Marches.

Food & Drink

Among the many things that Zeth is known to excel in, the production of wine is perhaps the most well known throughout the Empire and, indeed, the rest of the known world. Grown in the hills and fields near the city, Zetian wine can be found everywhere from the poorest urban hovels to the court of the King of Koramia. Indeed, the Zetian people themselves rarely drink anything but wine, and much of the economy of the north is based on vinting. According to historians, it wasn’t until contact was first made with the people of Medalia that beer was even known. In Medalia and the central Imperial states, wine is still popular, though beer and hard liquor is more often used by the lower classes. The soil and climate doesn’t seem to lend itself particularly well to the production of grapes, except in a few areas along the southern coast of the Aurean Sea. In the southern regions of the Empire, ale and mead are important staples of the diet, and wine is almost non-existent. The major exception to this is Narbonne, which took to vinting soon after it joined the Empire. The vinters of Narbonne have, in the last few decades, discovered a process in which bubbles are forced into the wine, and the resulting concoction is extremely significant to the nobles of the region; it is referred to as Narbonnese wine elsewhere in the Empire, where it is seen as a curiosity.

Food products in the Empire vary greatly. Grains are predominant throughout, as bread and other grain products are extremely important to the diet of most Imperials. Other plants, such as various roots and legumes, are important to stews or by themselves. Chicken and mutton (lamb’s meat) are the only meats commonly found on the dinner tables of the poor, though wild fowl and fish are predominant in the diets of those who subsist off of the sea. Only the wealthy can afford wild game, such as boar (wild pigs) and hind (deer), or large fowl, such as pheasant and swan. Every meal, regardless of the social standing of the participants, includes at least some form of bread (often multiple forms) and a stew or porridge. As one increases in status, the variety of foods that can be found on the table increases greatly, though the peasant farmer is not completely bereft of an interesting diet. Breakfast amongst all classes usually consists of some dry bread and, perhaps, some cheese. Lunch is perhaps some fruit (grapes in the north and apples in the south) and cheese with fresher bread. Dinner is the largest and most important meal, and it is where the classes divide.

A typical noble dinner begins with something sweet and relatively light, like candy or cake. During this time, conversation is expected among the guests, and a light wine with berries or fruit will often be served. The next course is usually the stew or soup, composed of various vegetables and meat products, usually served in bowls. In some of the less civilized regions of the Empire, guests will drink from these bowls directly, having only their own, personal knives to eat with. In those regions that attempt to simulate the Zetian style, spoons are provided. No drink is offered with the soup. After the soup is cleared, the main course is served. The main course is dominated by many different sorts of meat, including, at least, one form of fowl, one form of land game, and one form of fish. Often, there are a variety of forms of each available. Meat is cooked with vegetables, wine, and often covered in molasses or other sugary syrup (maple syrup from Anclea has become very popular recently). A heavy wine is served with the main course that is often very high in alcoholic content. In the southern regions, ale or beer is served during this course and thereafter. During the main course, entertainers are usually brought into the hall for the entertainment of the guests, to relieve them from the necessity of conversation while eating. After the main course is complete, all entertainers except for musicians depart. Salads are often served as the final course, as they clean the palate after eating. Zetian salad tends to be a simple affair, with only lettuce and, perhaps, carrots, while salads of the southern reaches tend to have a greater variety of vegetables, including cucumbers, radishes, and even small bits of meat and cheese.

The dinner of a peasant, conversely, is usually only composed of porridge in a bowl made out of bread with some wine or ale and, perhaps, some cooked vegetables. Any meat is usually a part of the porridge or stew, except on important religious holidays, when a whole bird or lamb may be cooked for a large, family meal.

Water, standing alone, is rarely used as a beverage. This is due to a pervasive belief that natural water is poisonous and unhealthy. Indeed, most do get sick when they drink only water during a meal, but scholars suggest that this is more due to the putrefying state of the food itself, which is sterilized by alcohol, than the water.

Dress

Imperial dress varies wildly throughout the Empire and this forum is too small to discuss the various fashions in full. Thus, it will discuss the clothing of the absolute elite (the Patricians) and of those at the lowest end of the social ladder.

Textiles

Wool is by far the most common cloth used for clothing, though flax and hemp tend to be more popular in the warmer northern lands. Cordosian sheep, a long haired variety of the sheep that are popular throughout the Empire, are particularly treasured for their wool, and the Cordosian economy is based heavily on this export. The finest and most expensive wool, however, is from Koramia. A combination of the quality of the wool as well as their shearing and combing processes seem to make the wool particularly soft and free of dirt. Flax and hemp come from the shores of the Aurean Sea, and are typically used by the poor, as well as those of the higher classes during the warm northern summers.

Patrician clothing

The daily clothing of a typical patrician isn’t that much different than that of a wealthy member of the middle class. Their official dress, however, is composed of a white linen toga with a white tunic underneath. Those few of the patrician class who have held no office may only carry a border, of a design that varies from family to family, around the neck of their tunic. Those who have served in the military may also have a single, thin red border on their toga. A double border on the toga identifies one who has served as a tribune, and a thick red border identifies one who has served as a Legate. Those currently in the military are expected to wear their full armor in most situations, except when in audience with the Emperor or a Senator (including situations where he must enter the Senate building itself). Though most priests wear attire appropriate to their station, those of the patrician class are expected to wear their toga and tunic when not performing official functions. A single green border on the toga denotes a lesser priest, while a green double-border identifies an episcopus and a thick green border identifies a Pontifex. Those who also serve as nobles or civilian leaders have a blue border, with kings and prefects identified by a thick blue border. Black borders identify dweomercrafters and yellow identifies a member of the Imperial bureaucracy. The Emperor himself wears a solid purple toga with golden borders, and is the only one permitted to wear such clothing, upon penalty of death (even the particular shade of purple is prohibited on the clothing of his inferiors). Even the Emperor, however, wears the white tunic with the border identifying his House.

Peasant clothing

The serfs and slaves of the empire tend to wear simple wool or flax tunics. Pants are considered provincial by the peasants of the region near Zeth, though pants are common in the southern regions due to weather and comfort considerations. Colors vary, though an undyed gray is most common. Leather sandals are popular in the north, while heavier boots and shoes are used in the south to protect the foot against the climate. Wool cloaks are commonly used to keep out the cold or rain, with treated hides being used in more southern regions.

The appearance of slaves in the Empire, of course, is also augmented by the tattoos that they are forced to wear to identify their owner. As a result, most slaves are forbidden from wearing garments which cover these tattoos in all but the most extreme climates. In other words, if they have a facial tattoo, they may not wear a hood, and if they have a tattoo on their shoulder, they may not wear sleeves. In those colder regions, only the tattoo of the current owner must be so displayed…other tattoos may be covered.

Language

There are several languages spoken throughout the Empire, and almost as many regional dialects of those languages. There are nine languages spoken in the Empire, divided into four groups. The Zetian group includes the Zetian language itself in addition to Aurean, Narbonese and Dracian. The Valish language group includes Valish and Mitarian, with Caledonian being a close relative. Some scholars have suggested that the Valish group should be expanded to include Koramian and even Dwarven, the latter as a parent language to Valish itself. The reason these varied groups have such a similar linguistic structure is much debated in academic halls. The Gael language group includes Gael, Caledonian, and Hobbit, though some scholars also include Elven in this group. Murgosh is a language group in and of itself, and has little variation in the nations that it is spoken in and has received little influence from outside factors. Some intrepid Imperials also learn Orcish, to better communicated with those natives of the southern reaches and whose language is a separate group of its own, while others learn Tamerish, the pirate tongue of Tamerynd Isle. Though there are some borrowed Zetian words that are commonplace in Tamerish, its grammar structure clearly identifies it as another single-language group.

Zetian is, of course, the official language of the Empire, and all government and religious ceremonies and written works are conducting in this language. Legal and religious laws prohibit the usage of other, "impure" languages in such matters. The functions of hereditary nobles, however, are not so impeded, as they are not considered "civilian" governments for the purposes of these laws.

Below is a table detailing the various languages found in or near the Empire, along with those languages closely related to them. If an HP has a language that has one or more related languages, he also gets those related languages at no cost, at the listed penalty to the STEEP of the original language. These sub-languages cannot be improved with AP unless they are learned as separate K/S Areas. For those who haven’t the time to make up your own languages (as few of us do), real-world equivalents are provided as well that can be used if the proper resources are available.

Language	Nations where used	Relationships	Reality Equivalent
Aurean	Aescalapea, Darria, Milosia, Cordosia	80% Zetian 10% Hobbit	Vulgate Latin
Caledonian	Challieann Mountains	75% Gael 25% Mitarian 5% Valish	Scots Gaelic
Valish	Valtaan	75% Mitarian 50% Dwarven 10% Gael	Norse
Dracian	Dracia	50% Zetian	Romanian
Gael	Mabean Marches, Ywys, The Green Isle	75% Caledonian 25% Elven 10% Valish 5% Mitarian	Irish Gaelic
Hobbit	Various hobbits	80% Gael 60% Caledonian 20% Elven	Gaelic
Mitarian	Mitaria	75% Valish 25% Gael	Anglo-Saxon
Murgosh	Murgosia, Anclea, Drallia	Nil	N/A
Narbonese	Narbonne	50% Zetian 10% Mitarian	French
Zetian	Zeth, Camaria, Ganesia, Medalia	80% Aurean 40% Dracian 40% Narbonese 30% Koramian 5% Tamerish	Classical Latin