The Empire of Xian

This nation is often referred to simply as "The Empire". It is the largest and the most powerful.

Society

This society might not be as rigid as Karakos, but it is very structured with the heaviest bureaucracy in existence.

Values

Political acumen, intelligence, discretion and empathy are viewed as extremely important, especially in the view that they are the best tools for one's social advancement.

Political and social mobility is considered primordial for a smoothly working society. Here, titles are easily given or stripped. Legal channels have been created especially for those.

Social Ranks

The Xian society ranks its people by how much honor they have. This depends on their position in life. In decreasing order, these ranks are:

Huangdi (Emperor or Empress)
Qing (high bureaucrats)
Zhuhou (nobles)
Daifu (bureaucrats)
Shi (yeomen)
Shumin (commoners)
Nuli (slaves), often called the Children of Ka. They are invariably looked down upon. Becoming a slave is seen as a curse or punishment from the gods. They are protected by laws, often pitied, but never taken into consideration.

Nobility

A person can receive a noble title from the Office of Rewards & Titles. With this honor comes a duty to society: a noble must provide for its community, by building infrastructure likes bridges and roads, provide amenities like temple and public baths, or any other public goods, like a statue. If not, they will lose their title and its honor.

A noble doesn't rule an administrative sector, but their advice is often heeded by the local bureaucrats for various reasons, be it knowledge, experience, prestige, money, acumen or political pressure. This influence is often the target of Censorate inquiries.

In decreasing order of importance, here the various noble titles:

Gongzhu (female) or Gongnan (male). The person officially represents the ruling family. Their influence extends throughout a province.
Tonghou (marquis or marquess). An officer of the Imperial Army whose influence extends throughout a border province.
Zhigui (jade scepter bearer). Their influence extends throughout a city.
Laozi (old master). Their influence extends throughout a prefecture.
Zhibo (silk bearer). Their influence extends throughout a district.
Zi (master). Their influence extends throughout a county.
Jun (lord). Their influence is limited to neighboring lands and villages.

Fashion

Fashion is very important to every high rank Xiani as well as any bureaucrat. The poorer classes see it in a more traditional way. They see it as a duty to wear the proper outfit for the task at hand and their status.

Celebrations

For all Xiani, low and high, celebrations are considered a moment to let loose, except for a few more solemn occasions like the Festival of Lights.

Festival of Lights

A joyous celebration marked by the launching of floating lights at night, it is a four-day event ending on the Day of Alia, goddess of Light & Day, the first Idyllday of the month of Isi, goddess of Plants & Life, which the first month of summer. It starts the preceding Marketday and often close to the solstice and the Monthday, it is usually a very tumultuous and very little work gets done.

The lights are painted with beautiful colors and prayers of a bountiful summer during the day, often a family activity, but also a work or temple endeavor. At night in a multitude of private and public events, they are then proudly launched by their creators who sing soft songs of hope and joy.

Language

Xiani is the only language spoken by its inhabitants, mostly because of snobbish purity.

Names

Their names sound like Chinese names. For some ideas, you can consult the following site: FNG.

Laws & Justice

Ten Abominations

All crimes fall into ten categories, presented here from the gravest to the pettiest.

Plotting rebellion. To overthrow the government.
Plotting treason. To defect to an enemy of the Empire, with or without imperial secrets.
Parricide. To harm or murder one's own parents or grandparents, or those of one's spouse.
Depravity.
- Sexual abuse.
- To cast curses.
- To disembowel or otherwise desecrate a victim's body after committing a murder.
- To kill or severely harm a baby or infant.
- To kill three or more people.
- To produce poison.
Great irreverence. To show disrespect to the Empress, Emperor or their family.
Plotting great sedition. To damage or destroy imperial infrastructure.
Unrighteousness. Petty treason. To murder one's superiors, mentor, or local government officials.
Civil unrest.
- Murder.
- Smuggling.
- To defraud the government.
- To use magic without permits.
Lack of filial piety.
- To entertain during periods of mourning.
- To maltreat one's elder relatives or those of one's spouse.
Discord.
- Forgery.
- Theft.
- To bear arms within a city without a permit.
- To harm or wrongfully sue one's spouse or elder relatives.
- To perform services without a proper permit.
- To severely harm a slave.

Five Punishments

There are five types of punishment a judge can handout as a sentence:

Beating with a light stick.
Beating with a heavy stick.
Penal servitude. Forced labor in large imperial infrastructure projects or in imperial mines.
Life exile.
Death.

Fines

Penal servitude and beatings can be reduced to the lower echelon by paying a fine, the amount of which is determined by the judge.

Imprisonment

Keeping someone captive as a form of punishment is never done and is considered a waste of resources. Imprisonment is only used for forced labor at night.

Punishment That Fits the Crime

The Imperial Code of Laws consist for the most part of several volumes that list appropriate punishment for the listed crimes. If a crime is not listed, the sentence that is then given will be sent with a transcript of the trial to the Office of Punishments for review. If the sentence is judged appropriate, the crime and its punishment will be added to the Compendium of Punishments.

Every five years, a compendium is closed and copies are sent to every city of the Empire to be read and reviewed by a judge and prosecutors.

Five Deliberations

Leniency or harsher sentences are applied according to the Five Deliberations:

Motive for the crime
Virtue of the culprit and victim
Ability of the culprit and victim
Past merits of the culprit and victim
Nobility status of the culprit and victim

These are left to the judge to decide. Example: a noble killing their would-be assassin could mean that no punishment is dealt.

Trials

In most cases, which usually involve the two lower abominations and the two lower punishments, once arrested the culprit in brought in front of a prosecutor that hands down a sentence on the spot which is immediately carried out in the Court of Punishment.

Other abominations are brought in front of a judge for a full trial. The culprit will be given a certain amount of time proportional to the severity of the crime to find themselves a defendant, or they will have to defend themselves.

Bureaucracy

The empire is strictly governed by a very heavy bureaucracy powered by a multitude of mildly corrupt officials ever watched by structural checks and balances with at its head the Emperor or Empress (Huangdi) and their six Grand Chancellors (Zaixiang).

Central Secretariat

The Zaixiang in charge is called the Grand Secretary. This office, which used to be one of the courts, is responsible for proposing and drafting all imperial decrees, writing all and documenting all imperial correspondence, recording all imperial activities in the Imperial Journal, as well as counseling the Empress and Emperor.

The Office of the Imperial Archive is subordinate to it and is responsible for archiving, copying and maintaining in good state all imperial documentation.

Censorate

The Censorate (Shen) is the key tool with which the Impress or Emperor controls the government. Reporting directly to them, it serves as a network of eyes and ears reporting on all services of the government for corruption, fraud, treason or simple mistakes.

The Zaixiang in charge of the Censorate is called the Master Inspector (Zong Chayuan) and even though they are of the same rank as other Grand Chancellors, the others fear them.

Each branch of the Censorate is headed by a Senior Inspector (Ji Chayuan) in charge of Inspectors (Chayuan) who are official bureaucrats. At the bottom is a myriad of informal informants called Eye (Jing). These are what makes the Censorate so fearsome. No one knows who they are, but the person they report to.

Inspectors never stay in one place very long. There isn't enough of them to cover the whole Empire at all time, so they must keep moving. They move about discreetly, often anonymously to better inspect and evaluate.

The various branches of the Censorate are:

Army Branch. It is in charge of reviewing all aspects of the imperial armies. In times of war, an Inspector will only be sent to a command post in case of a blunder in order to minimize the effect on the morale of the troops and the commander's self-confidence.
City Branch. It is in charge of checking the administration of urban areas. This branch is focused on trade and its taxation.
Financial Branch. It is in charge of checking the administration of imperial revenues and expenditures. This branch is the one most preoccupied with corruption, bribery, embezzlement and fraud within the bureaucracy, including the army.
Palace Branch. It is in charge of checking the administration of the imperial palaces. It reports on the various schemes, plots, factions, alliances and rivalries within the imperial household and the higher echelons of bureaucracy. This branch is focused on the safety and absolute power of the ruling Impress or Emperor.
Territorial Branch. It is in charge of checking the administration of rural areas. This branch is focused on the production of food and its distribution.

Six Courts

The Zaixiang in charge of the six courts is the Gaoqing (High Chamberlain) and in charge of structuring the personal affairs of the Impress and the Emperor. Each court is headed by a Jiuqing (Chamberlain).

The Court of Judicial Review headed by the Grand Overseer is in charge of reviewing judicial proceedings at all administrative levels and singling out the cases for a retrial by court officials or the emperor himself. The Grand Court of Revision is the top court of review.
The Court of Imperial Entertainments headed by the Grand Herald is in charge of catering for the imperial household, central government officials, and imperial banquets.
The Court of the Imperial Clan headed by the Grand Servant is in charge of all matters regarding the imperial family.
The Court of the Imperial Stud headed by the Grand Coachman is in charge of managing state horses, pasturage, stables and corrals, as well as maintaining the imperial vehicles for the imperial household and high bureaucrats.
The Court of the Imperial Treasury headed by the Grand Treasurer is in charge of the fortune and possessions of the imperial family.
The Court of the Imperial Regalia headed by the High Guard is in charge of the imperial guards responsible for the safety of the imperial family and high bureaucrats.

Six Directorates

The Zaixiang in charge of the six directorates is the Gaoyan (High Director) and in charge of all imperial infrastructure. Each office is headed by a Daoyan (Director).

The Directorate of Roadways and Waterways is in charge of the canals, ports and river traffic as well as imperial highways and tolls.
The Directorate for Imperial Manufactories is in charge of all factories run by the government.
The Directorate for Imperial Buildings is in charge of the building used by the government, including the palaces.
The Directorate for Armaments is in charge of the imperial fleet and wall defenses.
The Directorate of Education is in charge of all the state-run schools, their teachers and the curriculum. The Office of the Imperial Examinations is subordinate to it.
The Directorate of the Imperial Granaries is in charge of all the state-run granaries, the management of grain and its distribution in case of need.

Six Ministries

The Zaixiang in charge of the six ministries is the Zongli (Prime Minister) and in charge of structuring the imperial state affairs. Each ministry is headed by a Shangshu (Minister) and their two Shilang (Vice-Minister).

The Ministry of Justice is in charge of judicial and penal processes within the Empire, but has no purview over the Censorate or the Grand Court of Revision. The Office of Punishments is subordinate to it.
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of appointments, reviews, promotions, and demotions of all imperial officials. The Office of Rewards & Titles is subordinate to it.
The Ministry of Public Works is in charge of government construction projects, hiring of artisans and laborers for temporary service, manufacturing government equipment, the maintenance of roads and canals, and the gathering of resources from the countryside. The Office of Standard Weights and Measures is subordinate to it.
The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the census, collecting taxes and handling state revenues. The Office of Currency, the Office of Salt and the Office of Trade Taxes are subordinate to it.
The Ministry of Rites and Foreign Affairs is in charge of state ceremonies and rituals, as well as communication and relationships with foreign powers. It also oversees relations with the priesthoods within Xian. The Office of Information, the imperial international spy network, is subordinate to it.
The Ministry of War and Defense, which is entirely composed of soldiers, is in charge of the maintenance of military installations, equipment and weapons, as well as conducting war, preparing defenses and orchestrating any other military maneuvers. The Office of Couriers, the imperial communication system, is subordinate to it. The appointments, promotions and demotions of military officers is subject to approval by the Ministry of Personnel, except in time of war.

Administrative Divisions

The Empire is divided in various levels of administrative regions. The Zaixiang in charge of supervising them is called the Master Administrator (Zhuli).

Provinces (sheng). At the top level, the empire is divided in provinces, each administered by a Governor (Shengzhang).
Prefectures (zhou) and Cities (fu). Each province in divided into prefectures and cities. The population density determining the type of division, to give each urban area of importance its independence from the surrounding rural area. Each of these is administered by a Prefect (Zhouzhang) that reports to the Governor of its province.
Counties (sanzhou) and Districts (santing). Each prefecture is then divided into counties and each city, large enough to warrant it, into districts. Each of these is administered by a Vice-Prefect (Xiashu) that reports to the Prefect of its prefecture or city.

Bureaucratic Ranks

The rank of a bureaucrat determines their standing, salary and punishment in case of an infraction. The higher the standing, the better the salary and the greater the punishment. Each rank has a title and fixed salary attached to it.

Daitoku Greater Virtue 350 gp/month
Shotoku Lesser Virtue 180 gp/month
Daijin Greater Benevolence 120 gp/month
Shojin Lesser Benevolence 100 gp/month
Dairei Greater Propriety 80 gp/month
Shorei Lesser Propriety 60 gp/month
Daishin Greater Sincerity 45 gp/month
Shoshin Lesser Sincerity 35 gp/month
Daigi Greater Justice 25 gp/month
Shogi Lesser Justice 17 gp/month
Daichi Greater Knowledge 12 gp/month
Shochi Lesser Knowledge 8 gp/month
[ Unranked ] 3 gp/month

If a bureaucrat is officially retired by Office of Rewards & Titles, they receive a pension equivalent of half their current salary, until their death.

Each bureaucratic position has a minimal rank attached to them and a bureaucrat must achieve the given rank before occupying the given position. Usually, the new rank and position come hand in hand as a promotion. Here are the positions assigned to each rank.

Grand Chancellor, Protector General
Master Inspector, Minister
Chamberlain, Director, General, Inspector, Vice-Minister
Governor, High Judge
Commandant, Prefect
Vice-Prefect
Colonel, Judge
Prosecutor
Major
Captain
Greater Scribe, Scout
Lesser Scribe, Sergent
Soldier

If a bureaucrat is demoted, they assume a lower rank and cannot occupy a higher rank position. However, a bureaucrat can be assigned to a lower rank position without being demoted. In such a case, they keep the same rank and salary (and possible punishment), avoiding losing honor.

Taxes

Taxes at all levels are funneled by the Ministry of Revenue agents through to the central government. Only the central government has the power to distribute these revenues to the provinces who distribute theirs to the prefectures and cities which in turn distribute them to their counties or districts.

Army

The Imperial Army is a very flexible army utilizing a multidisciplinary approach that prioritizes finding the right combination of units for a given situation.

Recruiting

At the age of 20, every able-bodied person, male or female, must go through basic training. For a year, the recruits are drilled in maneuvers, instilled with discipline and made to work on various building projects.

After that year, they can either join their local militia, which is a part-time unpaid defense force, and be able to help their family, or join the army for an additional year and receive a salary.

Depending on their performance and abilities, some recruits might be incentivized to stay with a joining bonus, or as part of a better paid unit or even a commanding position.

Training

Discipline is paramount within the Imperial Army. It's quick response time and maneuver efficiency depends on it. To achieve this, training is arduous, long and intense.

Discipline

Discipline is harsh. A soldier of the Imperial Army is expected to respond to command quickly and efficiently at all times. Most penalties are physical punishments given by members of the soldier's own squad.

Sometimes, an entire unit can be punished, including the rare practice of decimating which is the death of one member of each squad stoned to death by his fellow squad members.

Engineering

The army is in charge of engineering and building almost all imperial infrastructure, like bridges and roads, including, but not limited to, canals, granaries and palaces.

This is how the Empire keeps its soldiers in top physical condition.

Military Ranks

Duhu (Protector General) is a temporary title given to a general in time of war. They are in charge of counseling the Huangdi (Impress or Emperor) on conducting the war, as well as managing all the armies as per the will of the Huangdi. With it comes the title of Zaixiang (Grand Chancellor).
Jiangjun (General) is a temporary rank given to a Duwei for a specific task. They are in charge of an army composed of several battalions.
Duwei (Commandant) is in charge of a battalion of 2 to 5 companies.
Xiaowei (Colonel) is in charge of a company of 5 to 10 regiments.
Sima (Major) of a regiment of 80 to 100 soldiers.
Junhou (Captain) is in charge of a wing of 2 to 5 squads.
Tunzhang (Sergent) is in charge of a squad of 4 to 10 soldiers.

Special Units

Cavalry

Members of a cavalry unit are ranked one level higher within the bureaucratic hierarchy compared to their non-cavalry unit counterparts.

Scouts

Scouts are a treasured member of the army. The quality of their work can mean life or death for an army. Thus, they have better pay, get bonuses in times of war for critical reports and are absolved of chores. However, lack of discipline on their part is treated more harshly, and inaccurate reports are severely punished by physical means ending up with death by hanging on a third offense.

Elite Units

These special units have specific roles within the Empire and are each ranked one level higher within the bureaucratic hierarchy compared to their regular unit counterparts. Here are a few examples:

Huben, Rapid as Tigers, Hereditary Palace Guard.
Shesheng, Archers who Shoot at Sound, Elite Archers.
Yulin, Feathered Forest, Recruits from the sons and grandsons of fallen soldiers
Zhijinwu, Bearer of the Gilded Mace, Imperial Guards.

Divisions

An Imperial Army is divided into battalions, each composed of companies that are formed of regiments that are made up of squads. Squads within a company are also arranged into wings to better respond to battle events.

Battalion

A battalion will have artillery units, engineering units and heavy cavalry regiments as well as standard companies. A field army will normally have one or more battalion.

Company

The company is the main tactical unit, comprising around 1000 soldiers. A field army is never composed of less than a company.

In a company, each 2 regiments of heavy infantry will usually be supplemented by 1 regiment of light cavalry, like horse archers, 1 regiment of missile troops, like archers or slingers, and 1 regiment of light infantry.

As standard practice, heavy infantry units are positioned in the middle, screened in front by light infantry and flanked by light cavalry. Before melee contact, the archers are in front of the infantry will shower the enemy with arrows. The infantry leaves gaps in their rank for the archers to retreat through. As the enemy closes, the light infantry covers the archers' retreat and soften the enemy then themselves slowly retreats until the heavy infantry makes contact. All the while, the cavalry harasses the enemy or covers the flank of the infantry, as needed.

Regiment

The regiment is the main unit for maneuvering and is composed of a single type of unit. They receive strategic commands from the officer in charge of the army. Each regiment has scout units.

Wing

During a battle, a wing responds and adapts to variations, plugging gaps and weaknesses within their ranks, exploiting those of the enemy. Captains are trained to keep one eye on the progress of the battle and to motivate their soldiers through a battle, as well as rotate which squads are on the frontline.

Squad

A squad is a self-sufficient unit with enough food and supplies to last until the next supply depot is reached.

Ghel Dorul

Ghel Dorul is not part of the Empire, it is a very large dwarven settlement. Its boundaries are mostly undefined, because the Xiani have always respected the dwarves enough to give them privacy.

Trade

Trade with Ghel Dorul is extremely important to Xian, and with the dwarven reputation for fighting, probably the two most important reason why the Empire has never tried to assimilate them.

Lenneas

Lenneas is not part of the Empire, it is a small nation of Wild Elves that demands and receives complete autonomy. The Shai people of Xian have always been their allies and mutual protection has assured the elven independence.

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