Emperor Coreolanus Sheffield (79)


Emperor Coreolanus has reigned, unchallenged, for near fifty years and is one of the longest-ruling monarchs in Abelonian history. His reign has seen a steady and progressive advance in technology alongisde the rest of Avara, though little else of note has been achieved. This is not to say his reign has not been successful, however, in fact it could be argued that his has been the most successful of any reigning emperor. No land has been lost, and no great crisis has afflicted the Empire, leading to a prosperous fifty years.
Coreolanus, as a man, is most unpleasant. Similar to his father in that he maintains his viciously misogynistic and racist attitudes towards non-humans with a certain degree of pride, the two have no-doubt contributed to the less than favourable reputation Abelon has gained abroad, with most common folk believing Abelon to be an empire of slavery, racism and tyrannical rule. The truth is entirely different, with slavery having been outlawed almost one-hundred years ago and most of the power being divided among a far 'kinder' nobility, though such things do not make a good setting for the countless horror stories that have been created about Abelon.

Empress Celeste Sheffield, Third Wife of the Emperor (38)
The Empress has little in the way of true power, particularly with such a misogynistic husband, and yet she is officially the most influential and powerful womanan within Alberon, highlighting the sexist society that women live in. As is to be expected, however, women can often have great sway over their husbands and, excluding Coreolanus, misogyny has almost disappeared entirely with the more progressive and open-minded, modern nobility.

Heir Apparent, Prince Oswin Sheffield (44)
Prince Oswin is the embodiment of the 'modern' nobility and ruling class within Abelon, and is absolutely antithetical to his father. Where Coreolanus would refuse to shake hands with any non-human, Oswin would happily embrace them. Having travelled around Avara himself in his youth, Oswin is determined to defeat the views resolutely held by many in foreign lands about Abelon that have been born from a line of successively malevolent emperors, and hopes to usher in a new era of international co-operation with the growing empires that his father considers rivals. Likewise, Oswin was instrumental in bringing about the technological advancements over the past decades that his father initially refused to recognise.
He is, by no exaggeration, beloved by both the nobility and the commonfolk alike. Appealing to the nobility, Oswin has, if nothing else, a gregarious personality and has become a welcome face among many noble households who often meet him at social gatherings and other such social ventures. His devotion to family and country alike has made him a 'role model' for others in the Abelonian nobility, looking to reach heights similar to his own.
On the other hand, Oswin is loved by the commonfolk for his equally charitable nature, and his tendancy to walk among the commoners without a guard, almost creating the impression that he is 'one of them'. This has naturally led to him being viewed by the masses, and nobility alike, as a man to be trusted and his word is heeded at times without question.
He is married with two children, both girls.

Prince Casper Sheffield (39)
Living in the shadow of his elder brother, Prince Casper accompanied him on some of his travels across Avara and will always be seen by his side, though he has never reached the same levels of distinction and popularity as Oswin. It does not appear as though this bothers him, however, and instead an element of brotherly loyalty is evident between the two, with Casper looking to aid his brother in his ventures rather than competing against him in a sibling rivalry.
He is married with no children.

Princess Eleana Sheffield (21)
A rather tragic figure, Eleana is still unmarried, and this does not look to change anytime soon. Always having been a sickly child, an unfortunate accident that left her gruesomely scarred has not aided her image to potential suitors, nor her own confidence. She is softly spoken, on the rare occassions that she does, and is often found with her brother Phelix, their common love of literature having led to the development of a close bond between the two. Coreolanus has all but given up on her, describing her as a 'lifeless waste of space' on the few occasions he does deign to speak with her. As for her other siblings, while none are hostile in the same manner as her father, she cannot help but feel they look upon her as a failure no matter how hard they try to mask it.

Prince Phelix Sheffield (19)
Prince Phelix, unlike his brothers, is not a man keen on tournaments and combat, for he is instead a man of the cultural arts, literature and peace. Needless to say, this has not been welcomed by his father who has taken to shunning him until he becomes a 'real man'. It is likely through their own rejections at the hands of their father that Eleana and Phelix have formed a close friendship and loyalty to one another. Yet despite rejection at the hands of his father and the condescencion from Casper, Phelix has been treated kindly by Oswin, again highlighting his open-minded and amiable nature.
He is unmarried, and has no children.

Princess Gwendolyn Sheffield (17)
Gwendolyn is the daughter Coreolanus always hoped for. As beautiful as she is charming, Gwendolyn has hosts of suitors lining up to win her hand in marriage, and she revels in the attention. While she has never developed particularly strong bonds with her siblings, she instead surrounds herself with other friends of nobility and potential suitors.
She is yet to be married and has had no children.

The Lord Seneschal, Celbar Othelen
The Seneschal is, officially at least, the second most powerful figure across the Empire of Alberon. They hold the most regular audience with the Emperor, are responsible for holding meetings of the Crown's Council in the name of the Emperor should they be unable to attend, and they generally speak with the authority of the Emperor himself. Most often however, the Seneschal will be found handling the more trivial duties of an Emperor.

The Lord Marshal, Abaloft Fearlocke
The Lord Marshal holds authority over the land-based military forces of the Empire and is one of the greatest strategic and militaristic minds in the Empire, or at least they should be. Abaloft is very much a 'man of the future', and has dedicated much of his time studying the latest technological advancements in the applications of gunpowder, with firearms being gradually introduced on a larger scale in the Abelonian military under his instruction.

The Lord Admiral, Galain Nolford
Unsurprisingly, the Lord Admiral is the highest office one can reach in the Abelonian Navy. The Abelonian Navy has a rather unorthodox method of appointing a Lord Admiral, in that the six members of the Abelonian admiralty elect one of their own to the post of High Admiral for a period of five years, at the end of which another election is held. It is their belief that through this method, the High Admiral will truly represent the greatest naval mind Abelon has to offer, and it has proven relatively successful since its introduction fifty years ago, with the land-based military considering implementing a similar method somewhere down the line.

The Lord Treasurer, Tholan Safilix
Responsible for handling the economy, it is the role of the Lord Treasurer to preside over the Imperial Treasury and find the means to finance Abelon. Likewise, the Lord Treasurer also oversees the imports and exports of Abelon on a very general sense, with merchants in the empire being granted surprising levels of autonomy, so long as they pay the trade tax set and enforced by the Imperial Treasury.

Capital: Shevaxisi-Torand Sil The land where light cannot reach, and darkness can never leave

Capital Population: 3,726

Type of Government: Theocratic Monarchy, where the royal family's rule is enforced by a rigid caste system and the religion of the Dominion.

Currency: There is no currency beyond the merit of one's actions within the Dominion, and that merit being based upon what an individual provides for their fellow Tarix-Na.

Population: 550,793

Racial demographics: 90% Tarix-Na, 10% Lorghesi

-Unique Trait #1:
-Unique Trait #2:
-Unique Flaw #1
-Unique Flaw #2

Other Major Settlements: Keranis-Shul Keltaric That which dwells in the twilight of death

Less a city, and more an always moving place of pilgrimage. The place known as Keranis-Shul Keltaric is always in constant flux with the ebb and flow of Tarix-Na civilization, and any place that could be considered a place of the dead would be such. These places are highly revered by the people of the land, and as such are barred from any travelers that are capable of braving the lands of the Tarix-Na.

Landscape/Wildlife:

The lands of the Dominion vary between heavily forested areas and blasted wasteland, with the former abundant on the coasts and southern peninsula, while the latter is sporadic among the central regions. While similar in some aspects to the plant life beyond the straits, the plant life of the Dominion is very different. Primarily a fibrous life form made of sulfur compounds, the plants of the land operate on a similar cycle to the native fauna. Photosynthesis largely depends upon UV light to fuel the internal processes of the plant, and enable it to break down cyanide gases into ammonia and complex hydrocarbons, both of which are released into the air in a similar manner to the more common plant beyond the Dominion. Native herbivores take in the sulfur rich fibers of the plants and break them down into compounds their own bodies synthesize to construct their tissue and bones, tissues which are then consumed by carnivorous animals and processed in the same way. In large part, the Dominion acts as a separate ecosystem, vastly different from the surrounding lands, yet eerily similar. One of the most important plants to the Dominion is the Harkti bush, a shrub that produces foliage that is capable of trapping oxygen within it's fibers and filtering through gases which the Tarix-Na can breathe. Drying the leaves allows longer use of the plant, as well as enables the Dominion to store supplies of the plant for long journeys. Using this plant, the people of the Dominion are able to leave their lands and travel the world for so long as they have a supply of the Harkti bush's leaves.

Name: Tarix-Na

Classification: Sentient

Species Description:

The Tarix-Na are a species of humanoids native to the deadly forests of Tarixis-Narikuli, one that is possibly related to the Lorghesi species who also inhabit the lands. They are an upright vertebrate hexapod, distinguished by their primary set of legs upon which they typically stand and move about, their primary set of arms which they use to manipulate and project force, and their vestigial arms located along the sides of their torso. In regards to the legs of the Tarix-Na, they are reverse-jointed with hooved feet, the hooves themselves made of a highly dense material in similar makeup to stone, though has been unconfirmed if that is the actual material. The legs of the Tarix-Na are their primary source of strength, with the average member of the species capable of delivering blows with their hooves of up to 300lbs of force per square inch, as well as enabling the average member to lift five times its own body weight. Upper-body wise, only the upper pair of arms are capable of lifting significant weight, or exerting force in a way similar to other humanoids due to their disadvantage in having only three fingers and a thumb per hand. On the other hand, their vestigial arms are not quite useless. Normally kept folded across their chest, the vestigial arms are commonly used to assist the upper pair in tasks that need a steadying hand, or in some cases they are used for tasks which do not require immediate attention. It is a common sight to see a Tarix-Na engaged in carving with his vestigial arms, while he is also utilizing his primary arms for more labor intensive tasks. The Tarix-Na are also curiously lacking in vocal cords, instead possessing a series of thin bony plates within the throat which are vibrated to project an audible hum, or clicked together through the muscles of the throat. This results in a highly complex language, and a high-degree in difficulty for the average member to speak other languages.

Another distinguishing factor for the species is both their deep-red skin tone, and the varying degree of horns the typical male grows from their skull. These horns vary depending upon region, and familial line, though for the most part the horns are very similar to the antlers of common deer and can branch out to up to thirteen points. Lesser Tarix-Na grow horns more similar to the common ram, or mountain sheep, with the curvature of the horns denoting their status among the commoners. A steeper curve lends the male a role as a sort of consul, while shallower curves tend to leave the male as more or less, a commoner. Skin tone also denotes status among their fellow Tarix-Na, as deeper shades of red are found more appealing, while lighter shades tend to result in the individual being outcast from society. Rarer tones shift over into the burgundy and violet hues, with very few ever being born of a blueish tint. These individuals are typically taken up by the religious caste and taught the ways of their forests, though it is not unheard of for such an individual to be adopted into the royal family.

Biologically speaking, the Tarix-Na are quite different from their humanoid counterparts of elves, dwarves, and humans. The chief factor which separates them from other humanoids is their inability to breathe oxygen in the same quantities as other the creatures of the world outside their lands. They breathe a mixture of ammonia and methane-based gases which are secreted by the plant life of the forests they inhabit, a mixture which is processed into needed hydrogen by a large singular lung which forms a semicircle within their torso cradling the tri-valve heart which pumps a mercury-based solution throughout their bodies. Part of their respiratory system is also the conversion of naturally created carbon and the discarded nitrogen into cyanide gas, which is then exhaled from the same air ways which take in ammonia and methane. The diet of the Tarix-Na usually consists in sulfur rich animal tissue or plant tissue, both of which are in abundance in the forests of their lands. This sulfur, once digested into the body, forms the building blocks of their bone-structure, as well as fuels the metabolism and gives the body the ability to breakdown other chemicals. Oxygen is one element which the body is incapable of bonding with other molecules or elements, and so is often processed through an organ very similar to the human liver, though in this case the oxygen is pressurized until it is a liquid, and then forced from the body. Despite being able to excrete this chemical, the liver of the Tarix-Na is not fully able to rid itself of the element, and the oxygen which is left will often crystallize inside the organ over time

Most Tarix-Na will live to anywhere between 50-175 years in age, though this is primarily due to a host of diseases and parasites which begin attack the body of the Tarix-Na once they reach this age range. The reason that they suddenly become susceptible to existing disease and parasites, is because at that age most Tarix-Na will find their livers failing from the build-up of oxygen through the years, and be at the point where oxygen is starting to deposit in other areas of the body. One of the most common disease which strikes the Tarix-Na is that of the dreaded Shelvorak, a disease which gradually necrotizes the vital organs of the infected until they finally die of brain-death or drowning in the liquefied tissue that has built up within their lungs. Those who are afflicted with the disease are highly feared by the community due to the communicability of the disease to those who are not as advanced in age, and it is not unknown for entire regions of the forest to go suddenly silent after a single Tarix-Na became infected. In terms of lifespan unaffected by disease or parasite, it is completely unknown exactly how long a member of the species can live, with some records telling of individuals living for hundreds of years, and one remarkable case even living to a ripe six-thousand.

Lanuages:

The language of the Tarix-Na is a unique one, in that while they do have something similar to such a thing, it varies into a host of different forms that makes it nigh-impossible to learn from outside the species. The closest thing that could be called a "Common-Tongue" for the species is that of Kelto a bipolar mixing of both submissives and dominant commands and acknowledgments to commands. This leads the Tarix-Na to be rather blunt when dealing with each-other and those rare outsiders they are able to communicate with. Other forms of language within the species commonly used is the form Shekto which has been very loosely translated to mean emotion or intent. This form is most often used to convey feelings or intentions which are not expressible through Kelto, or which may be improper to express through Kelto. It is a common use of Shekto to express a desire for someone to do something, but in a way which is not leveled as a command, a trait of the languages of Tarix-Na which seems to fail to find its way into Human-Tongue. Rarely among the species will one find themselves keen to learn a language that goes beyond the bounds of the species, though these individuals have found themselves highly useful in the dealings with outside nations. While the average Tarix-Na is highly intuitive with communicative languages, they are well known to struggle with grammatical structure and due to the nature of their primary means of communication, they are highly prone to run-on sentences and lack punctuation in their speech. This is primarily because they only emulate the speech of other sentients by vibrating the plates in their throat to certain pitches that mimic spoken words.

In terms of written language, the Tarix-Na's main form of writing is a highly complex runic system which to date has been found to consist of nearly seven-hundred thousand characters. To what degree the language actually extends to is completely unknown, as is the depth of knowledge the average Tarix-Na understands. In most cases, the religious and royal castes are the members who are the most knowledgeable, with many capable of independently identifying up to forty-seven thousand characters, while the commoner castes are rarely able to identify six-thousand. Curiously, nearly all of the characters that the commoners are able to identify are characters which the royals are incapable of identifying, while the religious caste is capable of identifying all of the characters that both royal and commoner castes are capable of identifying.

Religious beliefs:

The religious ways of the Tarix-Na are equally as strange as their language and biology, with differing regions playing host to separate deities of the pantheon under a belief that both life and death is to be highly revered. Life is perhaps the most understood of their beliefs, in that the Tarix-Na believe in the preservation of the natural world under any but the most stringent of circumstances. This is thought to be because of the bizarre rituals of death the species partakes in, where they will lay the dead upon freshly turned soil and plant saplings within the cavities of their torso, only moving on from the grave once the sapling has fully taken root. With this ritual, it is believed that the reverence of life and death comes full-circle, and paints a grim picture of the lands of Tarixis-Narikuli, for the species has lived within that poisoned forest for quite some time, and has seen rises and falls of its population just as the other sentients of the world. Beyond this, they species commonly worships gods depicting aspects such as the seasons, weather, cycles of the moon and sun, as well as varied other aspects.

Military

For all intents and purposes, the Dominion has no military, and has never had a military. The people of the Dominion have never found need or want to engage hostilities with another species or nation, and as such are not versed in the ways of war. The closest thing the Tarix-Na have come to a fighting force is the hunters which roam the forests to hunt wild game in order to provide meat for the populace.

-Head of State/Monarch:
-Ruling Dynasty (If applicable):
-Military Chief (If applicable):
-Religious Head (If Applicable):
Important People: The only individual who has weight outside of the Dominion is the Tarix-Na known as "Hel", a member of the royal family who has come to learn the common-tongue of the outside world.

-History: (I will add key historical episodes to the history timeline above.)
Relations with other races:

Never moving far from their lands, the people of the Tarix-Na are wary of outsiders, though are quite amicable once they have come to know an individual. As a species, they are well known for their passive behavior towards known people, and commonly gift their works to those they have become close to, many times without any reason for such a gift. War and hostility has never been known to be associated with the people, the species preferring to retreat within their forests until hostilities have passed, and known to bear a great sadness that their biology is toxic to other humanoids.

Influence and relations: The Dominion is largely isolationist, and therefore holds few ties to other nations, and has little influence on world events.

Social dynamics:

The Dominion operates on a caste system, determinate on factors such as skin-tone and the horns which males grow atop their heads. At the top of the caste system is the Royalty, a family of supposed pure-blooded Tarix-Na who have run the multitude of settlements for thousands of years. Just below them is the religious caste, a society of priests and monks who practice a nomadic lifestyle that enables them to reach all of the people of the Dominion. Finally, at the lowest level of the caste system is the commoner caste, those who practice the ways of the land and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. It is the commoners who are responsible for a majority of the food production of the Dominion, as well as taking part in various other economic activities.

Art:

More so a hobby than an actual trade, the Tarix-Na are adept at carpentry, and carving in general. Even the least skilled of the people are capable of working the wood of the native trees without the use of nails or other binding agents, and master-craftsmen are known for their ability to make the most out of a single felled tree. This skill carries over into carving, where the people are able to carve figures without the aid of tools beyond a carving knife, and are able to intuitively know where and how to cut in order to produce the desired shape. A well carved item can range anywhere from intricate scripting upon a talisman, all the way to a perfect recreation of another being in wood.

Law:

In their society, the Dominion carries little in terms of written laws, choosing to rule according to the law of the people. This leads to a greatly minimized presence of law within the Dominion, as the only things which merit punishment are actions which will bring harm to another individual or the community in any way. Theft is one such crime, and is often dealt with by way of forcing the individual to work for the offended party until the debt is paid. This is a common theme among the Dominion, in that they only punish an individual in accordance to the damage they have done, and the only exceptions are the crimes of murder and dishonouring the dead. Despite the weight of these individual crimes, it is against the ways of the Dominion to revoke the rights of another being to live, and so such crimes are nearly always repaid by a life of service to the family of the offended party. In the case of an offended party either having no family, or the family being unknown, or even the offended party being unknown, the accused is serviced to the religious caste until they have been found redeemed by the gods.