Pharakaatus

"Our founding sagas say that we carved ourself out of the world's core and were the first people to claim the land outside. Yet those horrors that crawled out after us, and still haunt our borders today. They would beg to differ."
- Ancient saying

The Eternal Empire of Pharakaatus (Degdurqun e Enkraunquel in Ciradonian Corespeak), also known as the Thanatocracy of the Ruptured Vault, the Eternal Empire or simply Pharakaatus, is a large dwarven country in West Parthus. It stands as a bastion of ancient dwarven civilization within the heart of the Pharakaatus Mountain Range. It is an ancient realm steeped in history, mystery, and perpetual conflict.

At the heart of Pharakaatus lies the Ruptured Vault, where the Second Gate of the Forgotten was entombed. Yet, the sealing of the gate was unsuccessful and monstrous insectoid entities still emerge to plague the realm. The dwarves have waged an eternal campaign against these creatures, ever since the Second Gate War, that continues to this day. The conflict ebbs and flows, with periods of relative calm punctuated by intense battles and incursions.

Pharakaatus is characterized by its isolationist policies, it's stubborn adherence to tradition, and the perpetual conflict within. The dwarves here have long remained aloof from the affairs of the outside world, focusing instead on their eternal war against the creatures that still emerge from the Second Gate. This isolationism has led to stagnation within the empire, as its resources and energies are primarily dedicated to warfare.

While other civilizations flourish and evolve, Pharakaatus remains locked in a cycle of war and survival, its people spread thin and isolated across the harsh landscape of Parthus.

Map of the Eternal Empire of Pharakaatus with the location of the Second Gate.

History

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Geography

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Government & Politics

In the Eternal Dwarven Empire, governance takes on a unique form known as a Thanatocracy. Unlike conventional systems, where rulership may be vested in political or military leaders, the Eternal Empire is guided by those who tend to the dead. Historians and politicians within the empire are needed to be warriors. So those with the understanding of history and the intricacies of governance are required to use those skills to defend the realm against the ceaseless threats that emanate from the depths.

Therefore, the true authority in the Eternal Empire lies with those who oversee the rites of the deceased. The caretakers of the fallen, who honor the memory of the dwarven ancestors and manage the rituals surrounding death, hold a revered position in society. It is they who provide guidance and counsel to the empire, drawing wisdom from the eternal cycle of life and death. In the Eternal Dwarven Empire, the governance of the living is intricately linked to the reverence for the departed, creating a society where the guardians of the afterlife wield profound influence over the affairs of the realm.

Economy

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Culture

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Military

In the Eternal Empire, the defense against the spawn of the Forgotten is not the sole responsibility of dwarves alone. Every citizen, regardless of race or status, is compelled to join the struggle against the encroaching darkness. This mandate extends even to the Lesserkin and Elves who dwell within its borders.

To bolster its ranks, the Eternal Empire maintains a vast population of slaves, whose labor and lives are dedicated to the defense of the realm be it working its fields or fighting its wars. Unusable resources from the empire's mines are allocated to procure more slaves, ensuring a steady supply of manpower for the eternal conflict.

Venturing near the empire's territories poses risks for unwary travelers, as they may encounter intricately laid mechanical traps or fall prey to dwarven slave hunters operating far from their mountain strongholds. Those captured are conscripted into service, armed with scavenged weaponry and blood-stained armor, and sent into the depths alongside their newfound brothers and sisters-in-arms.

Survival in the perilous depths brings its own rewards. Those who endure may earn better equipment or, in rare cases, their freedom, often accompanied by a pouch of dwarven gold. As such some brave mercenaries travel to the Eternal Empire in search of wealth and glory. However, many who descend into the depths never return, their fates eternally sealed by the relentless dangers of the eternal war.

References

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