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modsoflight) wrote2017-03-08 09:22 pm
modsoflight) wrote2017-03-08 09:22 pm
Dalvarus Empire
The Empire of Dalvarus
The Iron Darkness
Description: The Empire of Dalvarus rests much further North than its rival kingdom of Liciae, in a region made up largely of barren tundra and mountain ranges with precious little space for farmland. What it does have in abundance is access to a great amount of metallic ores and raw minerals. Resources that have led to the rapid development of the magitek and a relatively highly industrialized society and a powerful military. Most smaller communities are built around the mines that fuel this machinery with a few sparse farming communities, though most food and livestock resources are gathered from smaller territories and communities brought to heel by the Empire's sheer might with their advancement stymied only by Liciae's formidable magical power.
The seat of Dalvarus' power lies in the capital city at the center of the Empire. Here, laws are deliberated and set by a Senate composed of representatives appointed from various parts of the Empire although the ultimate authority on the administration of the Empire and the laws that are passed fall into the hands of the reigning Empress. Schemes and treachery are commonplace here and it is far from uncommon to hear of a Senator suffering an unfortunate incident that led to another taking their place. Even the reigning Empress holds the position following the death of the previous Emperor in the final days of the war, and there are more than a few whispers that her ascension to power is far from bloodless.
The harsh and unforgiving terrain the Empire was founded on has given rise to an equally harsh culture. While law and order exists and is strictly enforced, any child of Dalvarus is taught from a young age that any wealth or prestige they are to gain in life must be taken and that they only have the right to whatever they earn and have the strength to keep for themselves. Ambition and strength are seen as valuable traits and encouraged. Many disputes are ultimately resolved by combat, however, these participants in these conflicts are expected to abide by strict rules and must agree to the terms of combat ahead of time with the battle itself being presided over by a local authority. Random violence is not tolerated and is dealt with swiftly and brutally. In Dalvarus, a skilled warrior can make a decent living as a "professional champion" for anyone looking to hire somebody else to take to the field in their place.
Currently, Dalvarus is honoring the nonaggression treaty with Liciae... with some tension. There's little respect for the other nation among the general populace with many boasting that the new Empress is merely biding her time to consolidate her power before striking at the right time. Whether or not that's true remains to be seen.
Core Beliefs and Values: Strength, Power, Warfare, Valor. The people of Dalvarus are harsh and warlike but not entirely merciless or unforgiving. While any of them will favor violence over negotiation the best of them prefer an fair duel on even ground and it's not uncommon for a Dalvaran warrior to show mercy and a willingness to negotiate to an opponent who has shown valor and strength.
Most Dalvaran households pay tribute to Cosmos and the gods but few pray to them in times of strife, believing that the gods favor those who help themselves. Dalvarus views Cosmos as a warrior deity who threw down Chaos in a great battle and even now rides off to battle the demon god's forces. To them, it is now their duty to take up arms where Cosmos cannot be and hold back the forces of Chaos that remain in the mortal realm.
Major Resources and Industries: Mining, Steelworking, Machinery, Magitek.
Eidolons of Dalvarus:
Bahamut: The Great Dragon King, Bahamut is foremost among Dalvarus' Eidolons. It's said that Bahamut was the first dragon, created by Cosmos out of the raw elemental chaos at the beginning of time and served as her greatest champion against Chaos. There are ancient stories and records of Bahamut laying waste to entire armies and turning entire nations to ash. Currently, Bahamut can be summoned only by the reigning Emperor or Empress of Dalvarus but he owes his allegiance to no particular bloodline and will freely abandon any Emperor he no longer considers worthy of his power. Whatever standards Bahamut demands somebody meet, however, are known only to him.
Ifrit: Ifrit, the Lord of Flames is a capricious Eidolon. There are as many stories of him flying into a rage and bathing the land in flames as there are of him lighting the way for brave warriors lost in the cold and treacherous mountains. Ifrit is said to be impressed by courage and to grant his favor to those who stand before his flames and rage without fear. Some say he was once the husband of Shiva and the two of them crafted the turn of the seasons together but now quarrel viciously whenever they meet.
Leviathan: The Devourer, a force of nature incarnate, Leviathan is considered by many to be the most terrifying of Dalvarus' Eidolons. For the most part it's depicted as a great serpent living beneath the sea, though some believe he can swim through the rivers of lava beneath the surface just as easily. Most depictions show Leviathan as a creature that must be tamed rather than negotiated with to earn its service.
Titan: The great giant and ruler of the rock and Earth beneath our feet. Titan is often considered a boisterous, loud entity who boasts about his strength and enjoys parties and is credited with providing the land for crops to grow and flourish. The relatively few farming communities in Dalvarus pay tribute to Titan during the harvest with large festivals that include feats of strength and wrestling matches and each family will bury a meal-sized portion of the harvest beneath the Earth as an offering to him.
Odin: The patron of warriors and generals, Odin is depicted as a grizzled old warrior in black mail, wielding a spear that can pierce any armor and strike down any foe. More than the others, Odin is known for his wisdom and is rumored to take the form of an old man who wanders the countryside offering counsel and testing the valorous. Besides this relatively benevolent depiction, Odin is often viewed as an avatar of death. An unstoppable warrior clad in black armor who eventually comes to strike down any warrior who takes the field of battle. It's said that he shows favor to the valorous but spares no one and it's common to hear a Dalvaran say that a soldier who died bravely in battle had "met Odin with their sword drawn." Legends say that he and Ramuh meet once a year to play to discuss philosophy and play against each other in games of strategy.
Diabolos: The most mysterious of Dalvarus' Eidolons, and the ruler of darkness. Diabolos favors the cunning and those who work in the shadows, rather than those who march into war. He's known as the patron of secrets and is said to make his home in the world of dreams, where he spies on people's innermost thoughts and citizens of Dalvarus often sleep with small charms either above their heads or beneath their pillows that supposedly hide their dreams from him. A Summoner seeking his power should tread carefully, for Diabolos' power always comes with a cost, though he often demands less of those who impress him with cleverness and wordplay.
Obsidian: The capitol city of Dalvarus is an imposing sight to behold, visible from miles away. The entire thing is carved out of what was once a towering mountain, now one massive structure. Legends say that the whole thing was carved from the raw stone by Titan himself and shaped with Ifrit's flames. The city is built upwards, spanning multiple levels with the base level consisting of the industrial areas, scattered with mines, factories and magitek furnaces designed to pull the heat up from beneath the Earth and funnel it to the upper levels. Above that are residential areas with the social strata increasing with each upwards step, from cramped and crime-ridden slums to the more elaborate housing of the wealthy, government leaders and high-ranking military officers. At the very peak sits the Imperial Palace, where the Empress makes her home.
The city for the most part is a dreary place, though a good many Dalvarans like it that way. The city is just as imposing within, tightly packed with sparse decorations of sharp ironworks and gargoyles.
Each level is accessible by a network of lifts and magitek tram systems, with a number of airship docks along the upper levels. The tracks form an impressive helix around the city and allow for quick and easy access to all levels.
The Wall: Dalvarus is a nation founded and tempered in the fires of war and conflict and little reveals this better than the towering guard wall surrounding the city. The very first structure built in the city, the Wall is crafted from stone and iron blackened from years of conflict and was built to withstand the raids of monsters and rival warbands that assaulted the settlement in its early years. The only way through are four large gates at each compass point with dozens of guard towers ringing it and many more cannons. In addition, a team of four Dreadnought-Class Magitek tanks constantly circle the perimeter, halting their patrol for crew changes and occasional maintenance. Just past it are the barracks and checkpoints staffed with sentries for quick watch rotations and extra manpower to repel any potential breaches. Obsidian is always guarded.
While the Wall is an imposing sight to be sure, years of impenetrable status has led some of the longtime guards to take a bit of a... relaxed attitude to their duties. Contraband abounds and if you know the right name, and have enough coin or goods to trade, it's possible to slip inside.
The Peak: At the very top of Obsidian is the center of Dalvarus' government, known as The Peak to the residents. Here, you can find the Senate building where politicians debate and argue over laws. In recent years, a seat has been opened up for delegates from Liciae and the Crimson Rose for international matters although domestic matters are strictly Dalvaran affairs.
Dwarfing the relatively unimpressive Senate building, however, is the Imperial Palace. Towering over everything else at the absolute highest point of the mountain this imposing structure is both the residence and the seat of power of the Empress and whatever decision the Senate reaches everything must receive Imperial approval before it can become law and anybody seeking an audience with the Empress is going to have to climb the excessively large staircase to reach it. The castle is heavily guarded by elite corps of Dark Knights, Dragoons and, supposedly, even some Ninjas creeping in the shadows or masquerading as servants. Regardless, even if an assassin did breach it they would still have to contend with the Empress herself with the power of the Dragon King at her command.
Daguerro Academy: While there are many educational facilities in the Empire's territory, the famous Daguerro Academy in the capital city is definitely the most famous and prestigious. A standard curriculum is taught here including math, science and history (with a decidedly Dalvaran slant on events) but there are also a number of electives allowing students to train in various fields like magic, Magitek research and even combat. Recruiters from the various orders of warriors and mages can be found here and many talented knights, mages and researchers call this school their alumni.
The Academy's doors are technically open to any citizen of the Empire but many will find paying the hefty tuition fee a challenge. In addition, students will need to pass a rigorous entrance exam... but there's still no shortage of students who have had their way bought in by wealthy and high-standing families.
Other Locations of Note
Hillford: The harsh environment of Dalvarus makes farming an extremely daunting prospect. Because of that, most of the Empire's farming communities are actually captured territory in Dark Empire's ever-expanding reach. There are hundreds of such villages and towns in Dalvarus territory but Hillford is the closest to the DMZ's border and the most well-known to outsiders. Hillford was once a small independent village but all that changed during the war when Dalvarus established a garrison to "protect" it from monsters and invasion in exchange for heavy taxes of food and money. Now, the town is run by an iron rule and while the citizens are mostly allowed to live their own lives the soldiers there are ever watchful for dissent and rebellion and transgressions are punished severely. Despite this, citizens are strongly encouraged to put up a peaceful and content front for any travelers that might be passing through, but abuse by more unscrupulous soldiers is a sadly common sight.
Duskwall: Located close to the DMZ border, Duskwall is usually the first fort encountered by travelers entering Dalvaran territory. With large walls scorched by battle, Duskwall boasts about the many battles it has survived and invasions it's repelled but much of it is Dalvaran propaganda as the fortress has seen a great many casualties over the years. While the Crimson Rose's border checkpoint might be the official point of crossing, more experienced travelers don't consider their border crossing successful until they've passed Duskwall. A prospect that involves more than a few risks and plenty of gold.
Scorch Mountain: Located deep in Dalvaran territory, the ominous sight of Scorch Mountain can be seen for miles. It's a place swarming with monsters of all sort from Bombs to Behemoths. Worse than all of those combined is Grombinag, the great dragon who makes his home at the peak. A dangerous and greedy beast, Grombinag guards a great horde of treasure and powerful artifacts gathered over centuries of life. A truly grand prize for any adventurer brave enough to go after it. Or foolish enough.
Dalvarus-specific Jobs:
Dark Knight: Perhaps the most iconic of Dalvarus' warriors, the Dark Knight is an elite soldier among the Empire's armies and are highly respected. Thanks to their brutal fighting style and their willingness to tread the thin line between life and death through the use of their abilities they are considered the greatest example of the nation's ideals. In Dalvaran society a Dark Knight can expect a high standing and decent wealth, ranking just below the country's nobility.
Despite their brutal ways, Dark Knights often abide by a somewhat rigid if questionable code of honor. They're expected to meet any challenge and striking down a helpless enemy is considered to be beneath them. It's accepted that anybody who dies by a Dark Knight's hand will do so with a weapon in hand, but that anybody who draws steel against them will be given no mercy.
Dragoon Knight: The second corps of elite Dalvaran knights and only slightly less recognized than the Dark Knights. The Order of the Dragoon Knights had modeled themselves after the Dragon King Bahamut himself, Dragoons seek to embody that spirit and pride themselves on their command of the air with their incredible jumps.
The Dragoon Knights have a longstanding rivalry with the order of the Dark Knights and while it hasn't spilled over into outright bloodshed just yet, duels are common between members of the two.
Magus: If the Dark Knight and the Dragoon Knight forms the elite core of Dalvarus's armies then the Magus serves the same role for its ranks of magic users. Unlike the other two, the Magus isn't a firmly military role and many operate independently to conduct their own research or catalog and pass on their arcane knowledge to a younger generation of Mages. Others perform their arts for a living or travel the world seeking both new and ancient knowledge or even serve in the military's spellcaster corps. Because of this they can occupy all areas of society from peasantry to nobility.
Ninjas: "There's no ninjas working for the Senate" is a common Dalvaran phrase to refer to an obvious falsehood. Ninjas are spies, saboteurs and assassins and there's no shortage of work in any of those fields in the cutthroat political landscape of Dalvarus. Nobody really knows how many ninjas really operate in the Empire as whatever order or society they may have is shrouded in secrecy and most live as regular citizens, never giving any indication of their true occupation. Some swear loyalty to the Empire, some work for profit and some work entirely for their own goals. No matter what choice led them to this career, the ninja is not bound by rules of honor or valor and can expect no recognition or standing for their work. They carry out the dirty work of the politicians.
Machinist: The elite society of inventors and tinkerers responsible for the advent of the mechanical components of Magitek, though many choose to base their inventions around other types of machinery like steam or black powder. Like the Magus, Machinists can be either independent or employed by the Empire and many independent guilds have cropped up in this time of peace seeking to advance their craft ever further.
Rune Knight: A new order of knights founded relatively recent to combat the superior magical mastery of Liciae during the war and indeed proved highly effective at this task. The Rune Knights were poised to become the third great order of knights in Dalvarus alongside the Dark Knights and the Dragoons... but then the war ended and their purpose largely ended with it. Now a smaller order, Rune Knights are still considered valuable warriors by many Dalvaran commanders but are perhaps doomed to exist in obscurity compared to their knightly brethren.
The Empress: Cinder Fall, the current Empress of Dalvarus is a young Au Ra woman only barely into her twenties who assumed the Dragon Throne after the death of the previous Emperor in the final days of the war. Unlike her predecessor, who is largely regarded as a madman due to his extreme bloodlust and hunger for battle, she is a far more cunning and tactical thinker and a capable politician. A fact quickly proven true in the first few months of her rule. While many a Senator assumed her to be young, inexperienced and easily manipulated she swiftly navigated the political landscape and many Senate seats were either overturned and replaced with far more loyal members, while others very publicly promised their fealty. Particularly when a number of Senators in question were found to have suffered from unfortunate accidents and turned up dead in those early days.
Where exactly she came from is a mystery. All anybody knows for certain is she rose rapidly through the ranks of Dalvarus' military, and earned the Emperor's favor due to her power, skill and absolute lack of mercy in battle (as well as fully solidifying the loyalty of the military as one of their own now sits on the Throne). It was for this reason that she was present to witness his death, before Bahamut passed to her and began her reign.
Despite agreeing to and abiding by the peace accords between the kingdoms and outwardly respecting the autonomy of the Rose, most everyone regards her as an intensely dangerous woman all the same.
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The Iron Darkness
Description: The Empire of Dalvarus rests much further North than its rival kingdom of Liciae, in a region made up largely of barren tundra and mountain ranges with precious little space for farmland. What it does have in abundance is access to a great amount of metallic ores and raw minerals. Resources that have led to the rapid development of the magitek and a relatively highly industrialized society and a powerful military. Most smaller communities are built around the mines that fuel this machinery with a few sparse farming communities, though most food and livestock resources are gathered from smaller territories and communities brought to heel by the Empire's sheer might with their advancement stymied only by Liciae's formidable magical power.
The seat of Dalvarus' power lies in the capital city at the center of the Empire. Here, laws are deliberated and set by a Senate composed of representatives appointed from various parts of the Empire although the ultimate authority on the administration of the Empire and the laws that are passed fall into the hands of the reigning Empress. Schemes and treachery are commonplace here and it is far from uncommon to hear of a Senator suffering an unfortunate incident that led to another taking their place. Even the reigning Empress holds the position following the death of the previous Emperor in the final days of the war, and there are more than a few whispers that her ascension to power is far from bloodless.
The harsh and unforgiving terrain the Empire was founded on has given rise to an equally harsh culture. While law and order exists and is strictly enforced, any child of Dalvarus is taught from a young age that any wealth or prestige they are to gain in life must be taken and that they only have the right to whatever they earn and have the strength to keep for themselves. Ambition and strength are seen as valuable traits and encouraged. Many disputes are ultimately resolved by combat, however, these participants in these conflicts are expected to abide by strict rules and must agree to the terms of combat ahead of time with the battle itself being presided over by a local authority. Random violence is not tolerated and is dealt with swiftly and brutally. In Dalvarus, a skilled warrior can make a decent living as a "professional champion" for anyone looking to hire somebody else to take to the field in their place.
Currently, Dalvarus is honoring the nonaggression treaty with Liciae... with some tension. There's little respect for the other nation among the general populace with many boasting that the new Empress is merely biding her time to consolidate her power before striking at the right time. Whether or not that's true remains to be seen.
Core Beliefs and Values: Strength, Power, Warfare, Valor. The people of Dalvarus are harsh and warlike but not entirely merciless or unforgiving. While any of them will favor violence over negotiation the best of them prefer an fair duel on even ground and it's not uncommon for a Dalvaran warrior to show mercy and a willingness to negotiate to an opponent who has shown valor and strength.
Most Dalvaran households pay tribute to Cosmos and the gods but few pray to them in times of strife, believing that the gods favor those who help themselves. Dalvarus views Cosmos as a warrior deity who threw down Chaos in a great battle and even now rides off to battle the demon god's forces. To them, it is now their duty to take up arms where Cosmos cannot be and hold back the forces of Chaos that remain in the mortal realm.
Major Resources and Industries: Mining, Steelworking, Machinery, Magitek.
Eidolons of Dalvarus:
Bahamut: The Great Dragon King, Bahamut is foremost among Dalvarus' Eidolons. It's said that Bahamut was the first dragon, created by Cosmos out of the raw elemental chaos at the beginning of time and served as her greatest champion against Chaos. There are ancient stories and records of Bahamut laying waste to entire armies and turning entire nations to ash. Currently, Bahamut can be summoned only by the reigning Emperor or Empress of Dalvarus but he owes his allegiance to no particular bloodline and will freely abandon any Emperor he no longer considers worthy of his power. Whatever standards Bahamut demands somebody meet, however, are known only to him.
Ifrit: Ifrit, the Lord of Flames is a capricious Eidolon. There are as many stories of him flying into a rage and bathing the land in flames as there are of him lighting the way for brave warriors lost in the cold and treacherous mountains. Ifrit is said to be impressed by courage and to grant his favor to those who stand before his flames and rage without fear. Some say he was once the husband of Shiva and the two of them crafted the turn of the seasons together but now quarrel viciously whenever they meet.
Leviathan: The Devourer, a force of nature incarnate, Leviathan is considered by many to be the most terrifying of Dalvarus' Eidolons. For the most part it's depicted as a great serpent living beneath the sea, though some believe he can swim through the rivers of lava beneath the surface just as easily. Most depictions show Leviathan as a creature that must be tamed rather than negotiated with to earn its service.
Titan: The great giant and ruler of the rock and Earth beneath our feet. Titan is often considered a boisterous, loud entity who boasts about his strength and enjoys parties and is credited with providing the land for crops to grow and flourish. The relatively few farming communities in Dalvarus pay tribute to Titan during the harvest with large festivals that include feats of strength and wrestling matches and each family will bury a meal-sized portion of the harvest beneath the Earth as an offering to him.
Odin: The patron of warriors and generals, Odin is depicted as a grizzled old warrior in black mail, wielding a spear that can pierce any armor and strike down any foe. More than the others, Odin is known for his wisdom and is rumored to take the form of an old man who wanders the countryside offering counsel and testing the valorous. Besides this relatively benevolent depiction, Odin is often viewed as an avatar of death. An unstoppable warrior clad in black armor who eventually comes to strike down any warrior who takes the field of battle. It's said that he shows favor to the valorous but spares no one and it's common to hear a Dalvaran say that a soldier who died bravely in battle had "met Odin with their sword drawn." Legends say that he and Ramuh meet once a year to play to discuss philosophy and play against each other in games of strategy.
Diabolos: The most mysterious of Dalvarus' Eidolons, and the ruler of darkness. Diabolos favors the cunning and those who work in the shadows, rather than those who march into war. He's known as the patron of secrets and is said to make his home in the world of dreams, where he spies on people's innermost thoughts and citizens of Dalvarus often sleep with small charms either above their heads or beneath their pillows that supposedly hide their dreams from him. A Summoner seeking his power should tread carefully, for Diabolos' power always comes with a cost, though he often demands less of those who impress him with cleverness and wordplay.
Obsidian: The capitol city of Dalvarus is an imposing sight to behold, visible from miles away. The entire thing is carved out of what was once a towering mountain, now one massive structure. Legends say that the whole thing was carved from the raw stone by Titan himself and shaped with Ifrit's flames. The city is built upwards, spanning multiple levels with the base level consisting of the industrial areas, scattered with mines, factories and magitek furnaces designed to pull the heat up from beneath the Earth and funnel it to the upper levels. Above that are residential areas with the social strata increasing with each upwards step, from cramped and crime-ridden slums to the more elaborate housing of the wealthy, government leaders and high-ranking military officers. At the very peak sits the Imperial Palace, where the Empress makes her home.
The city for the most part is a dreary place, though a good many Dalvarans like it that way. The city is just as imposing within, tightly packed with sparse decorations of sharp ironworks and gargoyles.
Each level is accessible by a network of lifts and magitek tram systems, with a number of airship docks along the upper levels. The tracks form an impressive helix around the city and allow for quick and easy access to all levels.
The Wall: Dalvarus is a nation founded and tempered in the fires of war and conflict and little reveals this better than the towering guard wall surrounding the city. The very first structure built in the city, the Wall is crafted from stone and iron blackened from years of conflict and was built to withstand the raids of monsters and rival warbands that assaulted the settlement in its early years. The only way through are four large gates at each compass point with dozens of guard towers ringing it and many more cannons. In addition, a team of four Dreadnought-Class Magitek tanks constantly circle the perimeter, halting their patrol for crew changes and occasional maintenance. Just past it are the barracks and checkpoints staffed with sentries for quick watch rotations and extra manpower to repel any potential breaches. Obsidian is always guarded.
While the Wall is an imposing sight to be sure, years of impenetrable status has led some of the longtime guards to take a bit of a... relaxed attitude to their duties. Contraband abounds and if you know the right name, and have enough coin or goods to trade, it's possible to slip inside.
The Peak: At the very top of Obsidian is the center of Dalvarus' government, known as The Peak to the residents. Here, you can find the Senate building where politicians debate and argue over laws. In recent years, a seat has been opened up for delegates from Liciae and the Crimson Rose for international matters although domestic matters are strictly Dalvaran affairs.
Dwarfing the relatively unimpressive Senate building, however, is the Imperial Palace. Towering over everything else at the absolute highest point of the mountain this imposing structure is both the residence and the seat of power of the Empress and whatever decision the Senate reaches everything must receive Imperial approval before it can become law and anybody seeking an audience with the Empress is going to have to climb the excessively large staircase to reach it. The castle is heavily guarded by elite corps of Dark Knights, Dragoons and, supposedly, even some Ninjas creeping in the shadows or masquerading as servants. Regardless, even if an assassin did breach it they would still have to contend with the Empress herself with the power of the Dragon King at her command.
Daguerro Academy: While there are many educational facilities in the Empire's territory, the famous Daguerro Academy in the capital city is definitely the most famous and prestigious. A standard curriculum is taught here including math, science and history (with a decidedly Dalvaran slant on events) but there are also a number of electives allowing students to train in various fields like magic, Magitek research and even combat. Recruiters from the various orders of warriors and mages can be found here and many talented knights, mages and researchers call this school their alumni.
The Academy's doors are technically open to any citizen of the Empire but many will find paying the hefty tuition fee a challenge. In addition, students will need to pass a rigorous entrance exam... but there's still no shortage of students who have had their way bought in by wealthy and high-standing families.
Other Locations of Note
Hillford: The harsh environment of Dalvarus makes farming an extremely daunting prospect. Because of that, most of the Empire's farming communities are actually captured territory in Dark Empire's ever-expanding reach. There are hundreds of such villages and towns in Dalvarus territory but Hillford is the closest to the DMZ's border and the most well-known to outsiders. Hillford was once a small independent village but all that changed during the war when Dalvarus established a garrison to "protect" it from monsters and invasion in exchange for heavy taxes of food and money. Now, the town is run by an iron rule and while the citizens are mostly allowed to live their own lives the soldiers there are ever watchful for dissent and rebellion and transgressions are punished severely. Despite this, citizens are strongly encouraged to put up a peaceful and content front for any travelers that might be passing through, but abuse by more unscrupulous soldiers is a sadly common sight.
Duskwall: Located close to the DMZ border, Duskwall is usually the first fort encountered by travelers entering Dalvaran territory. With large walls scorched by battle, Duskwall boasts about the many battles it has survived and invasions it's repelled but much of it is Dalvaran propaganda as the fortress has seen a great many casualties over the years. While the Crimson Rose's border checkpoint might be the official point of crossing, more experienced travelers don't consider their border crossing successful until they've passed Duskwall. A prospect that involves more than a few risks and plenty of gold.
Scorch Mountain: Located deep in Dalvaran territory, the ominous sight of Scorch Mountain can be seen for miles. It's a place swarming with monsters of all sort from Bombs to Behemoths. Worse than all of those combined is Grombinag, the great dragon who makes his home at the peak. A dangerous and greedy beast, Grombinag guards a great horde of treasure and powerful artifacts gathered over centuries of life. A truly grand prize for any adventurer brave enough to go after it. Or foolish enough.
Dalvarus-specific Jobs:
Dark Knight: Perhaps the most iconic of Dalvarus' warriors, the Dark Knight is an elite soldier among the Empire's armies and are highly respected. Thanks to their brutal fighting style and their willingness to tread the thin line between life and death through the use of their abilities they are considered the greatest example of the nation's ideals. In Dalvaran society a Dark Knight can expect a high standing and decent wealth, ranking just below the country's nobility.
Despite their brutal ways, Dark Knights often abide by a somewhat rigid if questionable code of honor. They're expected to meet any challenge and striking down a helpless enemy is considered to be beneath them. It's accepted that anybody who dies by a Dark Knight's hand will do so with a weapon in hand, but that anybody who draws steel against them will be given no mercy.
Dragoon Knight: The second corps of elite Dalvaran knights and only slightly less recognized than the Dark Knights. The Order of the Dragoon Knights had modeled themselves after the Dragon King Bahamut himself, Dragoons seek to embody that spirit and pride themselves on their command of the air with their incredible jumps.
The Dragoon Knights have a longstanding rivalry with the order of the Dark Knights and while it hasn't spilled over into outright bloodshed just yet, duels are common between members of the two.
Magus: If the Dark Knight and the Dragoon Knight forms the elite core of Dalvarus's armies then the Magus serves the same role for its ranks of magic users. Unlike the other two, the Magus isn't a firmly military role and many operate independently to conduct their own research or catalog and pass on their arcane knowledge to a younger generation of Mages. Others perform their arts for a living or travel the world seeking both new and ancient knowledge or even serve in the military's spellcaster corps. Because of this they can occupy all areas of society from peasantry to nobility.
Ninjas: "There's no ninjas working for the Senate" is a common Dalvaran phrase to refer to an obvious falsehood. Ninjas are spies, saboteurs and assassins and there's no shortage of work in any of those fields in the cutthroat political landscape of Dalvarus. Nobody really knows how many ninjas really operate in the Empire as whatever order or society they may have is shrouded in secrecy and most live as regular citizens, never giving any indication of their true occupation. Some swear loyalty to the Empire, some work for profit and some work entirely for their own goals. No matter what choice led them to this career, the ninja is not bound by rules of honor or valor and can expect no recognition or standing for their work. They carry out the dirty work of the politicians.
Machinist: The elite society of inventors and tinkerers responsible for the advent of the mechanical components of Magitek, though many choose to base their inventions around other types of machinery like steam or black powder. Like the Magus, Machinists can be either independent or employed by the Empire and many independent guilds have cropped up in this time of peace seeking to advance their craft ever further.
Rune Knight: A new order of knights founded relatively recent to combat the superior magical mastery of Liciae during the war and indeed proved highly effective at this task. The Rune Knights were poised to become the third great order of knights in Dalvarus alongside the Dark Knights and the Dragoons... but then the war ended and their purpose largely ended with it. Now a smaller order, Rune Knights are still considered valuable warriors by many Dalvaran commanders but are perhaps doomed to exist in obscurity compared to their knightly brethren.
The Empress: Cinder Fall, the current Empress of Dalvarus is a young Au Ra woman only barely into her twenties who assumed the Dragon Throne after the death of the previous Emperor in the final days of the war. Unlike her predecessor, who is largely regarded as a madman due to his extreme bloodlust and hunger for battle, she is a far more cunning and tactical thinker and a capable politician. A fact quickly proven true in the first few months of her rule. While many a Senator assumed her to be young, inexperienced and easily manipulated she swiftly navigated the political landscape and many Senate seats were either overturned and replaced with far more loyal members, while others very publicly promised their fealty. Particularly when a number of Senators in question were found to have suffered from unfortunate accidents and turned up dead in those early days.
Where exactly she came from is a mystery. All anybody knows for certain is she rose rapidly through the ranks of Dalvarus' military, and earned the Emperor's favor due to her power, skill and absolute lack of mercy in battle (as well as fully solidifying the loyalty of the military as one of their own now sits on the Throne). It was for this reason that she was present to witness his death, before Bahamut passed to her and began her reign.
Despite agreeing to and abiding by the peace accords between the kingdoms and outwardly respecting the autonomy of the Rose, most everyone regards her as an intensely dangerous woman all the same.
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