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The Keller Empire is the single largest, and most powerful state in the Keller Lands. Aggressive and expansionist for its entire history, it once ruled the entire region... and it seeks to regain that status once again. The Keller Empire started as one of many moderately powerful kingdoms in the Keller Lands, ruled by a family of warlords called the Alakai. They ruled a region between the Keller and Sargos River, in the northeastern Keller Lands. The Alakai Dukes participated in the overthrow of the “Black Emperor” Vorokhoi, but were otherwise unremarkable rulers of the time. Two centuries after the fall of Vorokhoi, an ambitious Alakai duke named Varatos came to power. Claiming to be inspired by the sun god Aurintuli, Varatos was able to defeat the Nonadir who ruled north of his lands, and eventually consolidate most of the Keller Lands under his direct rule.
In 0KY he was proclaimed “Emperor of the Keller”, and stated that he had a divine mission to unify the entire Keller Lands under his divinely inspired rule. By 70KY, his son Varatos II completed his mission and ushered in three centuries of prosperity, now known as the “Shining Imperium”. In 475, the Emperor Sennach III started a disastrous war with the Pershamon Empire that ran for a decade. The leaders of the southern provinces and duchies lost confidence in the divine mandate of the Alikai Dynasty, sparking the modern dispute between the “Linealists” who believe that the Alakai are descended directly from Aurintuli, and the “Selectionists”, who believe that Aurintuli chose the Alakai to rule initially, but has since revoked the divine mandate from them. This quickly led to a twenty year civil war which shattered the empire and left many great cities in ruins.
In the three centuries since the Keller Civil War, the Keller Empire has regained some of its status, but not its domination of the continent. It is the largest state, and Alakai City is the center of Keller culture, but numerous other states challenge Imperial dominance. Gemric is the most powerful of these rivals, though several others are capable of thwarting Keller Imperial power in their home regions. As always, the unified Pershamon Empire lies beyond the Farspar Mountains, far vaster than any of the Keller states.
In the modern Keller Empire, power is shared unevenly between Imperial Throne, the Church of Aurintuli, and the Imperial Senate. The Senate is a deliberative body consisting of representatives from each of the provinces, major cities, and other powerful entities within the Empire, including the Church. The Imperial Throne retains sole command of the military and most of the actual power, while the Senate handles many of the more mundane affairs of state, law, and economics. The Church of Aurintuli, headed by the Patriarch Tarabrinus, wields immense informal power through influence, and temporal power through its various large estates throughout the empire. In most cases, the Throne and Church act to reinforce each other’s legitimacy, and in many eyes they are the same institution.
In 825KY, the Keller Empire began a campaign of expansion that continues to the present day. After a decade of preparation under the regency of his mother Vanaira, the newly crowned Emperor Ramallon III launched the Reunification Crusades, and declared the formation of the Ascendant Keller Empire. Joined by forces from Tempelhoff, the Imperial Army attacked the neighboring nation of Mismallon, annexing the eastern half of it. Immediately following this invasion, Tempelhoff united with the Keller Empire, becoming the new Domain of Tempelhoff. In one swift diplomatic and military move, the Ascendant Keller Empire expanded its borders and upset the delicate balance of power in the western Keller Lands. Now it potentially threatens all of the kingdoms of the west, as it seeks to conquer all of those smaller lands. The Ascendant Keller Empire is divided into nine traditional “Domains”, each of which is further divided among several provinces each. The provinces are the actual basic unit of governance, while the domains are simply archaic but still culturally useful ways to describe regions of the Empire. Each province is run by an Imperial Governor, appointed by the Senate and confirmed by the Emperor, serving for life or at the pleasure of the Throne. Domains generally serve as a large scale religious and military administrative unit, with each having a separate "Primarch of the Faith" and "Domainal Army". The Domains are as follows:
The Metropole - This is the vast conurbation surrounding the lower half of the Keller River, including the capital city of Alakai itself. The Metropole is densely populated, and is the functional center of the empire and of Keller civilization.
The Old Provinces - The original Alakai heartland, this is a region of gently rolling hills and fertile plains between the Keller and Sargos Rivers. It is mostly farmland that has been cultivated for millenia, and has a relatively high population.
Western Marches - The lands beyond the Sargos River are bordered by several of the Keller Empire’s rivals, including Durham and Sannath-Khai. Because there is always some sort of fighting in the region, the domain remains divided among feudal lords referred to as March Lords. The Marches are the source of the heavily armored “fighting aristocracy” of the Keller military.
Metsavaar - This frontier domain is mostly high mountain country. It is largely rural, with most settlements limited to the various small valleys. The southern parts are a source of some fine wine vintages, while the northern parts are mostly small feudal demenses.
The Southern Coast - A long coastal plain on the shores of the Keller Sea, the provinces here are Mediterranean in climate and character. The local economies are focused mainly on trade, fishing, and orchard agriculture, and the residents are considered somewhat less arrogant than most Imperial subjects by the rest of the Keller Lands.
Tuntur - This small mountain range in the center of the Keller Empire has long been its primary source of iron, gold, and tin. Most of the Empire’s industrial capacity, such as exists, can be found in Tuntur.
Pojoinnen - This flat, windy land is the center for most of the Empire’s large cattle and horse agriculture. The domain has ample water and wide grasslands, but little in the way of urban life. It is considered something of a backwater by the rest of the empire.
Etala Plains - The eastern quarter of the Keller Empire is occupied by these large grasslands. This domain produces much of the grain and corn used by the rest of the empire, and is considered the “breadbasket” of the empire. The entire area is moderately populated, but relies on slave labor to work the fields of the huge plantations.
Domain of Niemi - This easternmost domain is located at the mouth of the Keller Sea, and is largely self-contained. It has cities and local industry and agriculture, and a distinct identity. Niemi is often suspected of having secessionist tendencies, and is heavily garrisoned. It is also the center for Keller naval expansion beyond the Keller Sea, a recent change in priorities for the Empire.
Domain of Tempelhoff - The Domain of Tempelhoff is the newest addition to the Keller Empire; because Tempelhoff is constantly involved in border conflicts with its neighbors, it historically maintained good relations with the Keller Empire to provide strategic counterweight. As of 725, Tempelhoff has actually joined the Keller Empire as a new domain, participating in the invasion and annexation of eastern Mismallon. The new province has retained self-rule as part of the deal, making some minor changes to reflect the provincial structure of the Empire, as well as adopting the currency and integrating its armed forces into the Imperial Legion. The process has gone relatively smoothly, though it has not garnered unanimous support; many of the more independent-minded border lords have made efforts to retain their autonomy.
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