Nation Name: Scythean Imperium
Ruler Name: Emperor Adrian Scythus VIII

The Statistics Box:
WEALTH: 5. The Imperium is exceedingly wealthy from prosperous trade, rich gold mines, and strong banking and coinage systems. But not all of its wealth comes from gold and silver, as the Imperium’s trade in quality steel weapons and armor and cannons, as well as other assorted trade and merchant activities by the kingdom’s cartels and merchant organizations.
INFLUENCE: 2. The Imperium’s influence is not what it once was. Despite its sway over coin and economics, its political power waivers due to the youth of its new Emperor and dissent amongst the nobility and more than a few who dare to usurp the throne. Still, the Imperial bureaucracy is efficient enough in managing domestic affairs despite the plots and schemes of the nobility.
POWER: 3. While the Imperium is a powerful force capable of defending its territories with well-organized and supplied forces and fortresses, they have limited ability to project offensive power beyond their borders besides hired mercenaries. Much of their army is made of militia and conscripts (albeit after going through hasty but time-tested effective training programs) and sellsword mercenaries, and their navy is of dubious quality and ability. Defensively however, the Imperium is a citadel that is difficult to breach. The Crown has invested considerable wealth in fortifying every major port with long-range cannons and establishing strong garrisons, the militia brigades are zealous in defending their homes, and Imperial thalers can buy notoriously competent mercenaries.

Economy:
There is no speaking of the Scythean Imperium without speaking of its riches. First fueled by rich gold mines and then by cunning and talented banking visionaries, the Imperium has gone from strength to strength economically regardless of its leadership, politics, or even external invasions. 

A great part of their economic status comes from advanced mercantile and banking techniques. Even if the Kingdom didn’t have rich gold mines, the inventions of double-entry bookkeeping and high-grade coin minting alone would have secured the Imperium’s fortunes. Paired with the implementation of heavy caravans, extensive high-speed couriers and raven messengers, and codified methodology of forming information and trade contacts in foreign lands, merchant guilds and cartels of the Imperium are always on top of changing economic conditions or able to rapidly adapt as needed with or without master-level merchant leaders.

The foundation of the economy is the Imperial Thaler, consisting of copper, silver, and gold coins with a distinctive double-sided stamp of the throne and crossed swords. The stamp of the Imperial Mint is considered an absolute in the realm, as it is impossible to counterfeit or fake the ring of runes around the edge of the coin or the detail in the swords, and thus holds extreme value amongst the trading kingdoms. Regardless of the tides of fate, war, and politics, the value of the Thaler has remained a universal constant and many seek the support of Scythean banks because of it.

Major Characters

Emperor Adrian Scythus VIII
Species: Human
Age: 19
The sudden emperor upon the throne with the death of Scythus VII in his bed. Adrian is young and unprepared for the duties of rule, and leaves much of the day to day running of his domain such as it is to his regents and nobles while spending his days with concubines and games. A weak emperor in a time of strong subjects.

“Ms. Redcoin”
Species: Kitsune
Age: Unknown, presumably centuries. Appears in mid-20’s
Ms. Redcoin is a field agent of the Ironclad Bank, one of the three oldest banking orders of the Imperium. A rare mythical beast who regularly interacts with mortals, Redcoin finds the concept of economics and banking to be amusing, and thus traveled to the Bank to learn more about it. A mutually beneficial deal was brokered after the initial meeting incident: Redcoin got a new name, a job, and a mentor at the Ironclad Bank, while the Bank received a new field agent capable of shapeshifting, lie detection, and literally sniffing out deals. She typically prefers the form of young, attractive women in dressed in red when not in wolf form, but can’t shapeshift casually. Has a calling card of red copper Thalers with a wolf-head stamped on them.

Randall Haste
Species: Human
Age: 36
Randall is Redcoin’s handler, mentor, and partner in economic activities. A veteran field agent of the Ironclad Bank, he is a man driven solely by a profit-loss mentality. Emotions, sentiment, and morality have little sway over him; it is always business as usual. That being said, he isn’t heartless, and does judge profit as more than just sums of coins. His present focus is on the matter of securing the Ironclad bank’s investments into mercantile shipping, and procurement of mercenaries to do so, with Redcoin tailing along to watch.

Lord Marcus Tyran
Age: 42
The head of House Tyran, Marcus Tyran controls the fortress-city of Anvegad and holds considerable sway at court through his close ties with the Ironclad Bank (strives to keep a good credit rating) and the Echo Bazaar. While he's loyal to the throne, he sees the current Emperor as weak and incapable of rule, and thus takes matters into his own hands to ensure House Tyran remains standing until the Emperor grows into his role, if at all. While he is a honorable man, recent events are forcing him to consider increasingly darker methods to maintain his house's standing.

LORD HAWTHORNE TYRAN, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!!!
Age: 40
LORD HAWTHORNE TYRAN is the secondborn son of House Tyran who prefers the call of war and adventure to the schemes of court, which he leaves to his siblings and older brother. Commanding a small but fanatically loyal and dedicated troop of cavalry mercenaries, LORD HAWTHORNE TYRAN travels the realm seeking adventure, artifacts, and men to put to his sword in honorable combat. While boisterous and boastful, LORD HAWTHORNE TYRAN can back up his posturing and pride with the talent of being a master swordsman and a capable leader of his troop of cavalry. He does however have a severe tendency to get into trouble, whether of his own making or by others.