Summary - Magic fearing empire that sees itself as the spiritual successor of the Sulanese Empire. Much diminished due to its long running war with the now encircling Thule territories. Outside their territory the people have a reputation for being mercantile and exclusionary.
Appearance - Skin is either white or pink. Hair is blond, red, brown, or black. Noses have prominent 'aristocratic' ridges.
Ethnic Origin - Northwest Sula.
History
Albienne rose form the remnants of sula administrative centers.
Ablienne always has wanted to rebuild empire and focuses heavily in military might to do so.
Because of magics role in Sula's downfall Albienne is magic-phobic.
Albienne is xenophobic of magical races partly due to them contributing to the magical knowledge of Sula before it calamitous collapse.
Magic use is not tolerated in Albienne land.
The empire of Sula is held in highest esteem.
Major City
Suela Nuovo
Minor Cities
Farnese
Marta
Cura
Poleto
Greccio
Coppe
Narni
People
Albienne recognized both light and dark skinned humans as members.
Albienne people are called Sules. But in lands with lots of Thules they are often called Albiennes instead due to nationalities sounding alike.
Magical races (demi-humans, etc) are actively persecuted in Albienne lands due to the fall of Sula being partially attributed to them.
Races other than Sulans are tolerated but not allowed to become full members of society.
Faced with permanent second class status many leave or fear becoming like the Romani.
Law
Many laws have psuedo religious nature.
Law requires preservation of all things Sulanese.
Marrying a non Sul is against the law.
Many laws deal with the regulation of magic, magical abilities, and items.
Religion
Religion is mostly nationalistic.
The Sulan empire is worshiped as the promised land. Reassembling the empire is the duty of all Albiennes.
Religious ranks include : Pater (priest), Keeper (scholar), and Pariah(magic practicing)
Magic
Magic is blamed for the fall of the empire
Magic is hated and feared. Some sects only blame arcane magic but orthodox view is that all magic is bad.
Magic is highly regulated.
Only specially licensed mage hunters are allowed to practice magic. (pariah)
only for explicit purpose of protecting the population from magics corrupting influences.
Exposure to magic and magical items is considered to taint people and make them impure.
Magic talent is very rare. Considered a major blemish on a family. 1/1000 may have magical abilities. Expected to serve as a pariah until death.
Psionics - extremely rare
Government
Ruled by council of military generals
Albienne had the bureaucratic genius of Sula.
Everything is very well run but often there are inefficiencies or too many layers of government.
(Still using big government processes for a much smaller territory)
Military service
Mandatory military service is both an honor and obligation.
Many political or government positions result from military honor.
Sexuality
Homosexuality is considered a crime. (It detracts from the nations military might and is considered decadent.)
Childbearing is important to insure family and nation both grow in influence.
Marriage
Men are expected to marry after military service (20-30)
Woman are expected to marry and bear children after puberty (14-18)
Children's ancestry is traced back through the mother.
Woman's family provides dowry.
Both individuals are expected to be pure blood (no asian, and no demi human blood)
Divorce is allowed if there are no offspring, one partner dies, or is found to have magical taint/talent.
Names (simular to latin names)
All names have both a first and a last name. The last name is the name of the family through which you trace back your ancestry.
Names travel through the female side of a marriage.
Last name traces back to influential families from Sula traced back through female linage.
Famous last names -
Adralestos (General, ALBIN)
de Bricci (Artist, ALBIN)
Quintin (fifth born ALBIN)
Miles (Miller ALBIN)
Lucias (Dawn of Day ALBIN)
Dominic (Born on Sunday ALBIN)
Clemintine (Gentle and Merciful ALBIN)
Claudius (of the sky ALBIN)
Benedict (Blessed Holy ALBIN)
Augustine (royal ALBIN)
Marcellus (warrior ALBIN)
Marcus (Shining, March born ALBIN)
Patrick (senator ALBIN)
Venus (of the Sea ALBIN)
Alexander (Benefactor HELEN)
Anthony (Flowering/flourishing HELEN)
Christopher (HELEN)
Philip (horse lover HELEN)
Erasamus (Beatiful powerful HELEN)
Helen (Original royal HELEN)
Sebastian (royal HELEN)
Stephen (honored HELEN)
Theodore (Gift if Gods, HELEN)
Abdul Majid (Servant of Glorius one DRIJA)
Aziz (Powerful DRIJA)
Faruq (Magistrate DRIJA)
Abu Bakr (Father of Camel JHARR)
Hashim (Broker JHARR)
Garmai (Truth SETH)
Mbeki (SETH)
Dlamini (SETH)
Tolo (SETH)
Nozulu (SETH)
Madiba (SETH)
Nala (SETH)
Common first names -
Male - Adrian, Alvin, Anthony, Benedict, Calvin, Cato, Carsten, Constitine, Curt, Damon, Dominic, Duke, Errol, Guiles, Guy, Lars, Laurence, Luke, Marc, Marcus, Max, Nigel, Paine, Paul, Oliver, Rex, Sebastian, Silas, Serge, Tony, Tyre, Victor, Vincint
Female - Adrienne, Alba, Adelyne, April Ava, Beatrice, Bella, Christine, Candice, Carmen Christable, Clarabel, Constance, Donna, Emily, Faith, Fortune, Felicia, Florence, Gillian, Jill, Julia, June, Laura, Lila, Lucy, Lyda, Marissa, Marcy, Meryl, Nelly, Oriel, Paulla, Priscilla, Renbee, Rosa, Rosemary, Ruby, Sabrina, Silvia, Valery, Victoria, Vivian
Female rights
Women are educated in history and may serve in military.
In Abienne lands the females is expected to someday marry and rear children and run the household. This is a respected position.
Prostitution
women corrupted by the presence of magic or unclear racial heritage are often forced into prostitution due to lack of other options.
Education
All citizens of Sul decent are educated in history, literature, and basic military service.
Culture
Entertainment is regulated to official subjects like the history of Sula and the return of the empire.
Albienne culture is mostly fixated on past works and has very little acclaim for materials that push new boundaries.