Taldara

The nation of Taldara is, without question, one of the most powerful nations upon the world today. Forged from the fires of war at the end of the Chaos Years, the Taldaran people have since risen up to dominate much of the known world. They are the founders and primary powers behind the Empire, and gave birth to much of its beliefs and philosophy, including the Pantheistic Church. Originally founded on the basis of freedom, that has since drifted by the wayside in the formation of the Empire itself, the tenets of freedom within the government quite diminished.

People
The Men of Taldara are a strong people, and they tend to average a bit taller and heavier on average than Men of other lands. Their hair color is a lighter shade, often blonde or a light brown, though other shades are possible. Skin tones are a light shade of tan, though some of the more bookish sorts will have a paler shade. Men typically have full beards, though they also keep their hair cut short. Women, on the other hand, will normally wear their hair very long, with intricate stylings, though the peasantry will normally tie their hair up in buns to keep it out of their way as they work. Men will typically wear a tunic and leggings, while women will wear dresses and skirts, with the rare exception of a female adventurer. Women will use makeup quite a bit, as well, the better to attract the attention of suitable men. In battle, the Taldaran people have specialized armor for their legions, but barring that, will normally wear the heaviest armors available to them. In addition, most will use a large shield and a longsword or dwarven waraxe, with spears and javelins preferred to bows. They have a large contingent of cavalry with their legions, though normally such members are from other states. For their own personal use, horses are the typical choice for the Taldaran soldier.

Culture
Taldaran culture is very much wrapped up in a sense of self-righteousness. After all, it was the Taldaran people that finally ended the main threats of the Chaos Years, that formed the Pantheistic Church (whatever those Melorians might say), that forged the Empire that is unrivalled in the current age, etc. Of course, this leads to a degree of selfimportance and egotism that most other nations, particularly Verkant, finds grating and condescending. Despite the fact that the modern incarnation of Taldara was founded by a woman, there is a faint degree of sexual bias within the nation. Often women are discouraged from joining the legions, entering politics, or the like. Though there is no overt law against such acts, there is a subtle prodding for women to take care of homes and to support their husbands as they work. This attitude waxes and wanes, depending on the current Emperor and his or her attitudes on the subject. Ironically enough, the most freedom for women typically come when the Emperor declares his or her matron goddess to be Forstorelse or Aria. When the Emperor ascends to the throne, his first act taken shortly after his ascension within the Taldara Cathedral is to declare his patron deity. This often sets the tone for not only his reign, but the reactions of the various nations to Taldara proper. Normally, either Aurinko or Forstorelse are selected, though others have been known to occur: Kivi, Mod, Tuli, and even lesser deities such as Aria and Kunnia have been selected. Often panthiests that favor the selected patron, as well as specific clerics of that deity, will be favored with gifts, donations, and extra support that other temples will not receive. Set within a beautiful valley, the kingdom of Taldara has forged close ties to Meloria, and used the Tarathai river to trade with them. They have sinced used their central location to their advantage, trading more easily with the other nations in their sphere of influence, since the only one they do not border is, of course, Vintermor herself.

Government
The Taldaran Empire, is, of course, ruled by the Emperor or Empress. This individual has the ultimate say in what shall and shall not happen within the kingdom. Of course, he will often use his advisors for aid. Typically, this consists of the High Council, which is made up of seven representatives, including one from each nation: Taldara, Meloria, Vintermor, Verkant, Mastana, and Bereza. The seventh representative is the personal cleric of the Emperor, who is also a worshipper of the patron god of the Emperor. While they do not have a vote, the elven lands of Laurelen do have a representative here, whose word is respected and honored. Between these individuals, the fates of the Empire are typically decided, with laws passed and sent up to the Emperor to endorse and certify. However, the local government for Taldara, in contrast to the heriditary nature of the Emperor, is still rather much a republic. There are elections held every eight years in most communities, depending upon the population, though each city over a certain size is granted one representative to the Publios, the public offices where the national (as opposed to imperial) legislation is carried out. In addition to the Publios, each city will normally elect a mayor to oversee local issues, nominate city guardsmen and law officials, etc. The Publios, in addition to their responsibility to maintain Taldara, will elect from their ranks the Voice of the Empire, who is the representative to Taldara within the High Council. Competition for this position is fierce, as, unlike the Publios, it is a lifelong position, which leads to a fair amount of political intrigue within the halls of the Publios. Laws within Taldara tend to be fairly constant. Despite the imperial nature of the government, there is a strong streak of free speech and expression that inhabits Taldara, and for the most part, the Empire respects and encourages that. Seditious speech is outlawed, but even the strictest followers of Forstorelse often feel it best to be able to speak their mind about mistakes that the Empire might be making. In regards to more serious crime, Taldara does have a well-established court system, though the axiom 'guilty until proven innocent' often applies. However, most courts will have zones of truth and other spells prepared, in case of truly serious crimes. Typically, thievery is punished by a fine, often twice the value of the items stolen, while murder is punished depending on the circumstances: for accidental instances, the person might be conscripted to do backbreaking labor for the Legions, or (if a skilled warrior) be geased to serve in the Legions for a set duration. In it was premediated, typically death is the only acceptable outcome for them, though in some rare instances it is waived.

Race Relations
The race of Men make up the majority of the population, though they are far from all that inhabit the sprawling nation. Dwarves are quite frequently found in the hills and mountains near the Tarathai river, and they are fully accepted and welcomed. For the most part, the dwarves of Taldara like the lawful bent of its people, and work well with them, helping them develop new armors and weapons for their legions. Elves, by contrast, are a bit of a mystery, and are kept at arm's length. With the proximity of Laurelen (as it forms most of the border between Taldara and Verkant), most elves find themselves living there as opposed to Taldara itself. Halflings and gnomes are welcome, though the latter are only really common upon the higher mountainous peaks. Half-orcs are accepted, if not welcomed, and normally find homes as bouncers, guardsmen, or legionnaires within Taldara.

Class Preference
The most common class within Taldara is unquestionably that of the fighter. Stemming from their history of conflict within the Chaos Years, the Taldaran people have a strong military tradition that has existed for thousands of years. Paladins are also surprisingly common, as many of those within Taldara receive 'the call' to serve a god more directly. Pantheists are far more common than clerics, as the former have been formed by the Taldaran Empire itself, and druids are shunned, often encouraged to live in Laurelen. Monks are surprisingly common, with several temples of the more common orders (particularly the Order of Five Circles) present within the nation. Rangers are uncommon, the wilderness lifestyle leading them north to either Laurelen or Verkant. Barbarians are exceptionally rare, and normally are immigrants from Vintermor, Thromgar, or Dalriada. Bards are welcomed and respected, though the lawful mindset of most Taldarans keeps them from having the ability to take this class, but rogues are often found within the larger cities. Wizardry is very much accepted, as the Taldaran Empire has formed several colleges within member nations to educate and teach those willing to learn magic, in exchange for serving the Imperial Legions for a certain number of years after graduation. However, sorcery is regarded with disdain and mistrust, as many of the fouler overlords of the Chaos Years that were finally defeated had access to such magics.

History
Taldara was originally a small farming community within the lush valley of the Tarathai river. It was here that the greatest empire in the world would be born, as they were isolated and cut off from the worst of the Chaos Years. However, soon the small community grew larger, and sent boats down the river, discovering the great city of Meloria. Forging ties of peace and harmony, the Melorians sent quite a few of their own people upstream, to settle in Taldara and help them grow. Soon the town became a city, then a nation, and this did not escape the notice of the Dark Lords of the North. Led by Rothgar, a half-dragon orc that boasted to be the son of Korinthar, the Dark Lords vowed to shatter the small human nation that was forming. However, the movements of the Dark Lords did not escape the notice of some people. The Berezani, a collection of nomads that were expert horsemen, brought news of this massive army that was coming towards the budding realm of Taldara. Abandoning their towns on the northern frontier, the Taldaran people brought their belongings to the now-city of Taldara, awaiting the onslaught as they sent word to all nations that might aid them in this time. The leader of Taldara's people, the Voice of Taldara, was Robert Eisengard, and was an experienced fighter in addition to being the elected leader of his people. As Rothgar's forces attacked the city walls, Robert knew that the hordes would quickly break through, if allies were not soon found. Just when all hope had appeared lost, the riders of Bereza, fully assembled, charged into the flank of the orcish hordes, taking them completely by surprise. Led by the Berezani warleader, Salena Wolfrider, the horde was assaulted and dispersed, Rothgar forced to retreat as Robert used the confusion to charge his army out of the gates, sandwiching the horde between Taldara and Berezani forces. His armies crushed, Rothgar fled to the north, the Dark Lords following with him as he vowed revenge. Robert and Salena led their combined forces northward, eventually solidifying the border with the Darkness at the boundary of the Laurelen forests. There they made a peace with the elven people. Shortly after that, Robert and Salena wed, and in the year 4532, they were blessed by the birth of a daughter, Aria. However, Aria was quickly thrust into the limelight, as her father was slain in an assassination by worshippers of Korinthar in the year 4551. Though her mother was unharmed and the assassins caught and killed, Aria used the situation to her advantage, catapulting herself into the position of Voice of Taldara to replace her father. Thought to be easily manipulated, the young woman proved her doubters wrong as she sent the newly formed legions northward, to end the threat once and for all. Upon the battlefield, Salena met against Rothgar, and fought against him personally in battle. Though she did avenge her husband's death, it was not without cost, as a follower of his stabbed her from behind, ending her life. Aria grieved, but did not despair, as the forces of Taldara cleansed the worst of the Dark Lords, killing them and sending their few remaining minions to the coldest north, out of view. Afterwards, she started the colonization of the lands the orcs had occupied, forming the land of Verkant. At this point, she declared that, for the stability of all people, Taldara would no longer be merely one nation, but rather the guiding hand of all nations. In the year 4556, the Taldaran Republic ceased to be, and the Empire was formed, with two member states at the moment, Taldara and Meloria. Though Meloria was alarmed by the thought, they also knew that other threats would be out there, waiting to strike. Aria continued to guide the Empire for the next seventy years, living to the amazing age of 101, dying in the year 4632. Her eldest son, Emperor Warrex, took the throne, but lacked the wisdom of his mother, instigating a conflict with the newly discovered nation of Mastana, which resulted in his death. Succeeding him, Robert II, Warrex's younger brother, used misdirection and cunning tactics to bring an end to the conflict, winding up with not only peace, but a bride in the name of Aryllia Dihya, the princess of Mastana. Though originally a matter of political power, it quickly grew into something more than that. As the years continued onward, Taldara kept expanding, with its only notable failure being the invasion and attempted occupation of Dalriada, from the years 4782 to 4894, which saw the discovery of how to break through the Mist lines safely, learned from the heathen barbarian sorcerers of Dalriada. In addition, the nation of Verkant, formed upon the bones of the lands of the now-dead Dark Lords, joined the empire in 4805, and the nation of Vintermor, discovered when Melorian sailors discovered the way to sail through the Mists, was allowed to join in the year 4995 after a brief conflict. Now, a little over one hundred years following the admission of Vintermor, the line of Eisengard is finally weakening, with a string of lesser and lesser emperors taking the throne. Soon, some speculate, the lineage of Aria will end, and while that will not affect the goddess, as she represents all of Taldara, not just her blood, it does make one wonder what direction the Empire will go. Dalriada still chafes at the proximity of Taldara, Meloria longs for its lost prominence, Vintermor craves independence, and Verkant wants to rule, as if infected by the evil shades of the Dark Lords themselves. Through it all, Taldara will endure, and if the people have any say in the matter, they will prevail.