The Holy Empire spans over two continents, dominating much of the southeastern portion of Avrupa and northern and northeastern Afer. The geography of the Empire ranges from scorching deserts to rugged mountains and deep, impenetrable forests. The Empire is so vast that it dominates three coasts of the Eastern Sea, one Coast of the Vorish Sea, the entirety of the Holy Sea, and the southern coast of the Middle Sea.
The Holy Empire is just the most recent power to hold sway over this region. It is built on the bones of the Rankian kingdoms, the Sharizaran Empire, and the Igorogid Empire. Founded by the Prophet and his heirs, the Holy Empire is a great theocracy that holds sway over the lives of millions. Power over these millions is divided among three castes; the priests, the warrior clans, and the slave-soldiers. This tripod of power, when equal maintains balance, making the Empire a true threat to other nations. When it is not, it is a miracle that any success can be found in the ongoing effort to make the world Amdati.
Currently the Empire is undergoing internal turmoil. Near the end of the Narrlachi Wars, the Kale Kesis took ill and died, leaving no clear heir. Each of the three castes have been championing a different potential successor, and Empire has suffered defeats on its frontiers as a result and the Rankian underclass has begun to show signs of unrest. A single mishap could lead the Empire down the path of civil war, or worse, dissolution.
Table of Contents
The Eternal State
The Most Holy Empire of the Prophet is unique in the West as it is the only state where religious and political authority sit in the hands of a single man. Despite this union, control of the Empire is always a precarious balance between the ruler of the Empire, the Kale Kesis, the warrior clans, and the slave-soldiers.
The Kale Kesis is the head of both the church of the Amdati and the secular ruler of the Empire. He is the lineal descendant of the Prophet, Amdati al-Badiya, though the line no longer can claim direct paternal links.
The Beygar is the strong right hand of the Kale Kesis, overseeing most of the day-to-day requirements of the state. Historically he has been a relative of the Kale Kesis, often an uncle, brother, or cousin.
The Cocuk administers the workings of the provincial system that maintains the Empire. Historically he too is a member of the imperial family and spends much of his time working with or against the thirteen Kesis.
The Isler is perhaps the second most powerful man in the Empire. He commands the treasury and his decisions often dictate the internal and external policy of the Kale Kesis.
The Empire is divided into fourteen provinces, thirteen of which are overseen by a Kesis. The Kesis come from the powerful old families of the Empire, some able to trace their lineage to Bravish dynasties that ruled after the death of the Igorograd Dynasty.
Just as each province is ruled by a Kesis, each is also overseen by a Kale Sual. The sword arm of the Kale Kesis, they command small forces of Sual, the bloodhounds of heresy.
The Prophet decreed in his first sermon that all men deserve God’s justice, and so it is the mission of the Muhzar to provide this. One for each Kesis, they travel their province administering rulings and judgments in all things secular and religious.
Each town and city of any importance is administered by a Bashani. In some places they are members of the family of the Kesis and in others they are members of other old and powerful families.
The bloodhounds of heresy, the Sual war against enemies within and without the Empire. Typically they travel in packs of five or more, but on occasion lone Sual operate in secrecy or on personal crusades.
We Conquer by Degrees
In the most Holy Empire of the Prophet, an uneasy peace between the church, the warrior clans, and the slave soldiers has existed for centuries. The warrior clans are the last strong ties in the Empire to the Bravish invaders that destroyed the successor states of ancient Karth. Through a series of blood ties, the clans are bound together into fourteen larger groups called an A’as.
When a man of the clans reaches maturity, he takes service in his future Ha’as. During his apprenticeship the Ogul is part servant and part soldier in training.
Upon meeting the approval of all the members of his Ha’as, an Ogul is indoctrinated as a full member. The majority of the members of the clans never achieve a status higher than of Erkek.
The day-to-day activities of each Ha’as is governed by a Bacau. The equivalent of a non-commissioned officers in the other armies of the Vors and Valadarins, he is part father and part slave driver.
Each Ha’as is commanded by a Za’arcba, who is picked by his own men. He must balance the needs of his men against the needs of his commanders.
A small clan of only a few Ha’as is lead by an Odaba. In almost all cases, the Odaba can trace his lineage to one of the many Bravish, Rankian, or Malin clans of the time of Igor the Great.
Each clan head has a Cabuk at his right hand. The Cabuk is one part champion and one part advisor.
Larger clans of dozens of Ha’as are lead by a Kulkethudas. These clan-heads are the powerful peddlers of influence in the Empire, having many lesser clans tied to them by blood.
The Sekbanba A’as each command all the clans within their A’as. From among their ranks they elect the Zar to rule all the clans.
The Zar is elected to command all the clans in times of war and to treat with the Kale Kesis in the most Holy City. Rarely is he not the most powerful war leader in the Empire, though weak Zar’s have been elected in the past.
Slaves to the Prophet
The slave soldiers of the Empire first came into use in the 3rd century as a way for the Malin Kale Kesis rulers of the Empire to act as a counter-balance to the powerful Bravish warrior clans. Their lack of connection to the established power structure created an ideal tool for this, particularly because most of the slaves were bought from outside the Empire in Toloska and the Narrlachi Khanates.
They rose to prominence in their own right when the current dynasty of Osanar took the Holy Seat in 499. The Osanar pushed the slave soldiers aside in favor of their own strong ties to the warrior clans. Ultimately they achieved their current position of power in the aftermath of the civil war that raged in the Empire from 602 to 613.
When a slave soldier is first bought and placed into training, he is nameless. His commanders simply call him Kole, which translates into worthless one.
A Kole completes his training after his first kill in battle. Upon killing an enemy he is granted the rank of Asker and given his first name. The name always has to do with the manner in which he was first blooded.
The Seyretmek make up the back bone of the slave soldier society. They lead small groups of men in both military action and administrative duties.
When a slave soldier distinguishes himself in some way he is granted a surname and the responsibility of commanding a group of Seyretmek as a Cavus. The surname is always tied to his achievement.
The Yusek is the master of all the slave soldiers in the Most Holy Empire. He resides in the Holy City and is, at times, the most powerful man in the Empire.
Path of the Katil Brotherhood
We are not murderers. We are executioners enacting the will of the Prophet. It is not enough that we kill the enemies of almighty God. No, we act as example to all.
In the killing of one man, we reveal God’s disfavor with the unbelievers. We bring fear to our enemies, and comfort to the chosen children of the Prophet. We strike at the very heart of our enemy’s belief in their fallen path.
Yet, killing is not our most important benediction towards almighty God. It is in the manner of our deaths that we truly show our faith. In our dying we display our courage, our faith, and the righteousness of our path. With each death we bring, we slay one infidel, but each time we die, we convert and conquer the faith of those who can be saved.
~ From the Writings of the Learned Father