Helgish Empire

The Helgish Empire, a human empire centred on the Helgish Isles off the coast of Auratia, is one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world. Founded in 1171 YL when the Kingdom of Dorland conquered the Principality of Idwyl, the Empire has grown from a single island into a vast power, holding sway over multiple kingdoms and a host of colonies. All told, it is estimated the Empire rules over at least 250 million people. With kingdoms, dominions or protectorates scattered across Terrilia, the Helgish Empire is often heralded as 'the empire on which the sun never sets'.  

Politics

Politics and legislature within the empire is complex, having evolved over decades and centuries in a somewhat haphazard manner to respond to the unique issues of a given time and place. Nevertheless, it is at least possible to list the primary governing institutions of the empire.   The Crown - currently in the person of Empress Alexandra II - is the supreme executive of the empire, over and above the Prime Minister of the Imperial Government. She retains the right, in person or through a Governor-General, to refuse royal assent to legislation by any parliament of the empire and to call or dismiss such parliaments, as well as the right to determine foreign and internal imperial policy and declare war. The Crown is also the supreme commander of the armed forces. Throughout the empire's recent history monarchs have varied in their willingness to take executive control rather than simply take the initial advice of the Imperial Council or allow Parliament to take the lead; Empress Alexandra II has become one of the more active monarchs in that regard, frequently traveling the empire to sit in on legislative sessions and meet nobles and lawmakers in person.   The Imperial Council is a semi-permanent advisory body consisting of delegates appointed by the various overseas territories of the empire, along with representatives of the Imperial Government. Evolved from the Privy Councils of old that advised the Crown on matters of the royal prerogative, but reconstituted after the Equilian Crisis in New Helgaine, its purpose is to ensure continuity and stability of the empire by guaranteeing overseas voices are heard directly by the Crown, without first passing through a governor. Theoretically, the Crown should act with the consent of the Council, and in practice they do so on most issues. However, they are under no obligation to do so, and can and will defy the Council if they wish.   The core legislative body of the empire is the great Imperial Parliament, seated in Bolfort, with representation from the nations of the Helgish Isles. Members of the lower house, the Commons, are elected by the people, while seats in the upper, the Lords, are granted to hereditary peers of the realm - the nobility. The leader of the party that commands the confidence of the House of Commons forms the Imperial Government by invitation of the Crown, and is known as the Prime Minister.   While the Imperial Parliament is the highest legislative authority across the empire, reserving the right to legislate on any matter, many of its powers are delegated to junior legislatures, particularly the domestic affairs of the overseas dominions. Thus, it conventionally constrains its lawmaking to the Home Nations, matters of imperial coordination, and legislation for territories without their own parliament. Similarly, much of the Imperial Government's purview is subordinate to the Crown. Under the current Empress, the Government's Foreign and Imperial Offices are much more directly influenced and controlled by the Crown than by the ruling party.  

Constituent States

The Home Nations

The Home Nations - Dorland, Idwyl, Firbhein, Reidhen and the Southern Isles - are the core constituent nations of the empire within the Helgish Isles, eligible to elect members to the Imperial Parliament. Each home nation had some variety of parliament prior to the great upheavals of the Helgish Civil Wars of the 17th century, and they have since had limited single house parliaments, with control primarily over domestic affairs such as agriculture, education and housing.   Many a parliamentarian has made the wry observation that the home parliaments are in fact more limited in their abilities than the governments of the far flung colonial dominions. The Dorlish Parliament in particular is barely a separate parliament at all - by convention all Dorlish members of the Imperial Parliament are also members of the Dorlish Parliament, leading to tight convergence in policy.  

Dominion of New Helgainian States

After the crisis caused in part by the attempted imposition of direct taxes by the Imperial Parliament following the Twenty Years War, the Equilian colonies of New Helgaine were granted autonomy as the first Dominion of the Empire. This legally enshrined their right to the local legislatures and governments they'd already begun to develop, as well as an overarching Dominion Congress and the ability to advise the Crown.   Today, each of the twelve states maintains its own state legislature - some unicameral, some bicameral - and a separate executive led by an elected governor, taking the name but not the royal appointment of the earlier colonial executives. These governments are responsible for the great majority of the day to day running of the states.     The Dominion Congress itself is bicameral, with a lower House of Delegates elected by all eligible New Helgainians, and upper Senate appointed by the state legislature. The executive of the Dominion is led by the elected President-General, with the royally appointed Governor-General as a permanent Cabinet member vested with veto authority by the Crown. As with every other overseas territory, New Helgaine sends a triad of delegates to the Imperial Council to represent their interests directly to the Crown.  

Dominion of Cenacan

   

Culture

The Helgish Empire encompasses a wide range of races and cultures, from the highly industrialised societies of the Helgish Isles, to the frontiers of the Equilian Dominions and the massive but largely rural societies of the Azunasi Domains. The various corners of the Empire may seldom mix, separated as they are by both geography and culture, but increasing trade and immigration across the Empire has fostered a somewhat multicultural feel in its growing urban cores. This is in contrast to the many millions who still live in rural regions far from any urban centre, who may never leave their town in their lifetime.  

Class

Helgish society is deeply divided along class lines, both in the core territories of the Helgish Isles and overseas. The upper classes, comprised almost entirely of the aristocracy, hold almost all power and wealth, while the working class often live in squalor in poor quality accommodation, even in the heart of the Empire. Classism is rampant - the upper classes consider the lower classes inferior, unworthy of significant investment. For these reasons, it is almost impossible for someone born into the lower classes to rise to the upper echelons of society.   Over the last century however, a new middle class has grown exponentially in the more industrialised parts of the Empire - factories require an army of clerks to function, on top of the manual labourers and engineers on the shop floor. Likewise the products of Empire need to be sold, and so a new breed of merchants has developed. This new class tends still to be too poor to own property, unlike the aristocracy, but they do at least have the means to rent comfortably - and even to hire cleaning staff or childcare.  

Gender & Sexuality

As with many nations of Terrilia, the various cultures of the Helgish Empire are somewhat liberal when it comes to gender and sexuality. There are no prohibitions on sexuality in any Imperial territory, and people of any gender play almost equal roles in society. For those who need to - or even just want to - it's also possible to physically transition with the aid of some transfiguration; assuming that one has the means to pay.   That is not to say, however, that there is no difference in views and beliefs within Helgish society. The working classes are perhaps the most free spirited - as they're often heard to say in Caedomar, a wedding is a wedding, and a brilliant excuse for a party. The upper classes can be less open - many frown upon same gender couples for the likely lack of children, and often consider that women should tend homes. In high society, while gay couples do exist, they're often in less prominent positions than those considered more 'proper'. Because the upper class are dominant across the Empire, such views tend to filter down; absent any local laws against discrimination, women and LGBT people can find themselves passed over for employment in fields with a heavy upper class influence.