Palabran
There can be no doubt that the Fortunes have smiled upon us to live here, in this: the center of civilization.Palabran is a great empire in the northwest of Southreach, stretching from the coastal scrublands of the west coast to the verdant forests of the Hargellish borderlands. It is the largest country in Southreach by area and population. Ruled by the Red Empress, the empire exercises jurisdiction over ten provinces and two territories: Ajarda and Nadesh.
-Empress Isidra III
Political
Government
Palabran is a feudal monarchy ruled by a single central figure: the Red Empress—so-called because she is the only one in the Empire allowed to wear red. Beneath the Red Empress are a number of landed nobles who rule over the territories and provinces of the Palabrani Empire. Also beneath her are the imperial court—who attend to her and her family and to the city of Palabran—and the Impravads—her personal guard.Military
Palabran has one of the largest militaries in Southreach. The Stratavads, Palabran’s primary military force, number over 100,000-strong. Size isn’t everything, though, and the Palabrani military has seen better days. Its troops are underfed and underequipped, often with shoddy armor and poorly-made weaponry.Demography and Population
Religion
Like most of the people of Southreach, Palabrani worship the Fortunes. Fortune-worship in Palabran is controlled by the Basilica, which is both a religious organization and an officially-recognized government body. While some powerful spirits are worshipped in pockets of the empire, the practice is frowned upon by the church. New regulations are cropping up every day to keep the power in the hands of the Basilica and its acolytes.Spirits
While spirits in the rural areas of Palabran are much like spirits everywhere, spirits in Palabrani cities are a sight to behold. These once-wild spirits have learned to coexist with humans to form a single, cohesive society. Walking down the street, it isn’t uncommon to see the colorful feathers of mayura, the flashing scales of piskans and high dragons, the hulking forms of ogres, and other, even stranger creatures. The extent to which these spirits engage in the economic and political lives of Palabrani humans varies, but there are certainly spirits that have shaped Palabran’s history—and who will shape the Palabran that is to come.Territories
Natural Geography
Starting to the west, the territory once known as Ajarda has a varied climate, with areas of chaparral forest and coastal scrubland along the southern coast, broken up by thick, old-growth coniferous forests as you journey further north. Then, separating Ajarda from the rest of the empire is the Dismani Range, which connects to the Mandraganian Peaks to the south. Closer to Palabran’s center, the heartland of the empire is made up mostly of dry temperate grasslands and savannahs, broken up by in places by sloping blackwood hills. This area is the most densely-settled part of Palabran, and it is also where Palabran City, the capital, is located. Finally, to the east, in the area formerly known as Nadesh, old-growth deciduous forests grow up along a profusion of rivers and streams that support a great deal of agriculture. As a result of Nadesh’s high agricultural production, it is often called the “breadbasket of the empire.”
Human Geography
Palabran is separated into ten provinces, which are as follows:Economics
Agriculture & Industry
Palabran’s large size means that its industrial output is extremely varied. There are regions that are almost entirely agricultural—these generally produce red rice, milk, cotton, beef, lamb, sugar cane, chickpeas, and an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. Mining is also a major industry in Palabran—Palabrani mines are some of the region’s leading sources of copper, iron ore, clay, limestone, marble, and pumice.Trade & Transport
Palabran has the most extensive network of roads in the known world. As a result, intranational trade is common between various parts of the empire, with all transactions taking place using a single currency: the Palabrani Koine. Palabrani also trades extensively with its neighbors. Its relationship with Ocustria is particularly strong, as it is Palabran’s only source of Kweiran goods and supplies.Culture
Architecture
Palabran is known for its impressive architecture. Walking down the streets of any of Palabran’s major cities, you will be greeted by innumerable splendors: the grand domes, the shadows of stone columns, the curves of imposing archways. Basilicas, in particular, are given particular architectural attention and are often decorated by resplendent stained-glass displays and mosaics. Everything about Palabrani architecture is intended to inspire a sense of awe and wonder in the viewer.Cuisine
Palabrani people eat a variety of foods. Palabrani cuisine is influenced heavily by Palabran’s many constituent cultures—and the wide variety of herbs and spices grown by Palabrani farmers. Staple foods include red rice, lentils, chickpeas, beans, tomatoes, lamb, beef, and fish. Spicy curries and soups are often served on top of red rice and eaten with flatbread. Spice-wine is also a staple in Palabran, with massive and highly profitable vineyards spread along the west coast. Palabrani vintages are sought throughout the world for their unique and bombastic flavors.The Palabrani Empire
Flag of Palabran
Capital
Demonym
Palabrani
Currency
Koine
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
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