Strakan Empire

The modern Strakan Empire was born at the end of the Second Age and the beginning of the Third when the Kobold/Dragon Sorcerer Tarkus came to power in the city as well as the rise of Kobolds to equal citizens of the Fallen City. The Co-Rule of Tarkus and Negus Razeena Fa'Ajasa would become known as a golden age for the nation in the early Third Age. Tarkus served several successive Negus' after that, until the rule of Negus Qadibras Fa'Ajasa. Qadibras was a corrupt and tyrannical leader to the point that Tarkus felt comfortable enough to seize power from him, with the people's blessing. After, Tarkus maintained the title of Negus for a "worthy successor of the Fa'Ajasa's" but seeing as Qadibras died alone with no children (reportedly thanks to infertility) the line is effectively dead. As a result, Tarkus was, as far as anyone could see, the Eternal Ruler of Straka and the Empire. This ended in 1009 3A, with his death at the hands of his fellow Wayfarer, Jayllin Tano.    In the aftermath of Jayllin's Terror, Faisal Naji, a powerful Khedive who had been arrested for treason, managed to wrestle control of the aimless Empire and name himself Negus, which itself led to the currently raging Strakan Civil War.

The population of Straka is mostly split between Humans and Kobold as the most numerous, with many Kobolds of many different color backgrounds moving to the nation due to its former ruler and tolerance. Though Olark, Tieflings, and Dragonborn are all common sights. Some visitors from Efaanu are also seen, such as Genasi and even the occasional Loxodon.

Straka is primarily made up of the ancestral lands of Straka, and what was once Heldir. After Heldir fell to dark forces during The Return, the territory was annexed a few years later by Razeena Fa'Ajasa and has been in Strakan hands since.   Straka's territories are currently in dispute due to the Civil War, with the northern portions around Yamali and some far eastern portions held by the rebellious Sons of Tarkus; while Straka and the heart of the Empire is held by the loyalists under Faisal Naji.

The Strakan military is the result of centuries of political and military confluence between disparate organizations.   As power has flowed more and more away from local lords and more towards the provincial Khedives put in place by Tarkus, the armies they upheld have vanished with them.   The Strakan military as it is today is essentially split into four parts, the first of which is the Blades of Hakir, an old military/monastic order in the city. Originally royal guards for Hakir Fa'Ajasa himself, they became closer to warrior monks in the mid to late second age. After the loss of the last Negus, the Blades of Hakir turned more towards monasticism until Tarkus managed to politic them into working for him as well. The Blades of Hakir now serve as elite infantry and agents of Tarkus, and in times of war serve as the best of the best of the army, wading into battle wearing enchanted armor that seems to make them immune to gunfire. During times of peace, they act as the primary hand of Tarkus militarily, putting down revolts or rebellions with swift speed. This honored position also gives them a lot of sway on the Imperial Council and in Strakan society, which they have grown more accustomed to over the centuries.   The second part is the Strakan Standing Army, a small corps of paid and volunteer soldiers modeled after the Tharrisian Legion. Unlike the Tharrisian Legion, or even the Union Army, the force is much smaller. It is primarily used to guard the capital, and be a first response force in times of war while the Conscripted Army can be trained and prepared for the front lines.   The third part is the Strakan Air Fleet. Due to the nations reliance on its air ships, the Strakan Air Fleet is by default the largest and most well funded of the Strakan military. While Tharrisians may have better training, and Union airships may be more advanced technologically, the Strakan Air Fleet beats both in raw numbers and pure comfort amongst the clouds. Also under the Air Fleet are the Strakan Ta'yr Jarih (Birds of Prey), the Marines of the Strakan air fleet well renowned for their skill in air-to-air boarding actions. Despite not technically being the army, the Ta'yr Jarih outnumber the Strakan Standing Army even in times of peace.   The final part is the Conscripted Army. Effectively dead in times of peace, the Conscripted Army is only raised in times of actual war. Made up of conscripts as the name implies, the army is hastily trained and equipped to fight on the front lines, with Strakan Military doctrine relying mostly on the Air Fleet, Blades of Hakir, and Standing Army to actually win battles while the Conscripted Army serves as a glorified human wall (not that the Strakan government would ever confirm such an assertion).   The Strakan military is also known for making extensive use of Kobold scouts, who are quite adept at hit and run tactics and stealth. As well as large desert elephants native to the Deserts of Ulb, which they equip with heavy armor and weaponry as an answer to the tanks and technology of northern nations.   All of this structure is now split between the loyalists and Sons of Tarkus in the Strakan Civil War. Largely, the Standing Army has stayed loyal to the loyalists; the Strakan Air Fleet has split, with a slight advantage to Naji, the Blades of Hakir have split down the middle, and both sides have pulled large amounts of conscripts to their sides.

The nation of Straka is primarily devoted to Mantle worship, especially the Orthodox Church of the Mantle with a special focus on Hakir as a god due to his importance culturally and historically to the city. Beyond Mantle worship other religions are legally, if not socially tolerated.

Straka makes most of its industry off of trade up and down the continent and beyond, but also relies on its "breadbasket" of Northern Old-Heldir for feeding its people in conjunction with imports and fishing. During the Civil War, the Sons of Tarkus holding the breadbasket has been problematic for Straka proper, but has been relieved due to an alliance between the loyalists and the Federated Union of Eastern Kalin, allowing food imports.    Industrially, the nation relies on the foundries and factories of its cities, with parts and finished products being flown by its vast fleet of merchant airships.

Most education is done by local churches to the Mantle. While this means that effectively any child of any race can be educated for free, it is limited in that the Churches often discriminate against non-Mantle worshippers and their children, few though they may be.