The Oflar Empire is a place of high honor and the ways of the warrior. Though the country abides by the Peace of Ages it is said that the Emperor at the time was not overly willing to sign the peace treaty at first, believing it might dilute their society and weaken them. In the end the Emperor Khashi signed the peace treaty to end the war, which had become a war of attrition for his people. Though, those inside the Empire know this cost him dearly, shortly after he was assassinated by his generals.
Capital
The Abbey of Shattered Souls is the capital, the name carried over from so long ago that even the ancient scholars do not know where it came from. The Emperor rules from this location and meets with generals within its halls.
- Emperor
- Nekun
- First Consort
- Oyuun
- First Martyr
- Timujin
Politics
Though, to the world, the Emperor holds absolute power within his kingdom, it is known within Oflar that the Emperor isn't nearly as feared as the Clan of Martyrs. This body rules behind the Emperor, who is largely their figurehead, except in minor areas of social policy.
Culture / Society
Honor is the central in the life of the Oflaran people. Business deals, marriages, academies, courtships, and even rights can be decided solely on matters of honor. Family names and houses come with family honor, personal honor though is even more important. The code if honor can be oppressively strict at times, finer points decided by the elders of the culture. Family is incredibly important, connection to ancestors, and continuity of ones family line are crucial and center prominently within society.
Men generally are heads of any house, even if the eldest male is quite young. Women do have some authority, but from the background, behind the men. Only in the last 100 years or so have women been able to stop being seen as strictly property and have began being able to attend academies, most notably academies of magic and the burgeoning scientific community. They are, still, however not permitted to be warriors of government officials. It is legally permitted for a woman to have land or money holdings without a man, but it is frowned upon and society will lash back at a woman who does not marry or re-marry after acquiring wealth or land.
It is expected that a widow will marry the next eldest male of her former husband's family, even if he is very young unless she has a male child. The male child will then take over the family assets and run the household. When he marries, his widowed mother will be expected to step aside from running family affairs except as an advisor to her sons wife. Though recently, this has been fraying around the edges as a custom, which some widows continuing to run their households.
A married couple who stays together will still retain authority over all family affairs into their old age, as family elders. It is up to them to see that family traditions are carried on into future generations, so long as the elder male continues to live, his wife will retain a position of high power and status within the family and society as a whole. She is credited with the success of the family and health of her husband.
History
When the generals assassinated Emperor Khashi after the Peace of Ages was signed, they knew they needed an Emperor for the people to follow but were not willing to trust another man to rule over them. Thus, they used one of the lesser generals from the vast armies to put forth as the successor to Khashi, praising him as having ascended to the heavens for his valor and good deeds during war.
From this, the Clan of Martyrs was born, each member descended from the circle of 9 great generals at the end of the Peace of Ages. It is said that the Martyrs do not escape their duty even in death, and that the spirits of the original 9 generals inhabit the clan to this day through their descendants, speaking through them to rule the Empire.