[hider=The Empire of Polydius]
 
Polydius is an ancient Empire, often claimed to be the oldest still standing with a good possibility of this claim being valid. It is also massive, being a state with climates ranging from a colder temperate land in the borders with Winthrope to jungles and deserts in the South. It diversity is far from only geographic however, for within the bounds of the Empire are perhaps hundreds of cultures and ethnicity all of whom are Polydian citizens. It is for this reason there is a distinction between [i]Polydians[/i] - any person living under the Empire’s benevolence - and Polydii: the ethnicity and accompanying culture that first founded the Empire long ago.

It is a fairly wealthy place by virtue of a few banal facts: excellent roads and associated infrastructure, great access to the sea, and its size allowing it to produce and export a wide variety of goods while not necessarily lacking any to create a deficit should they not wish to import them. 

The Empire has grown rather arrogant in recent years, many of its leadership believing it is too big to fail. While there is a grain of truth in that statement, more and more people see the danger in resting on such a belief and as such it seeks to undertake great efforts in insuring its legacy will not fall in the future.

After all, any Emperor who causes the great state to fall will have to shoulder the weight of hundreds of predecessors looking down upon him from the heavens. The Imperial mandate has an ancient tradition that is brought by divine right, and with this synthesis of Church and state fear works rather well in making the monarch do well for his country. The people of Polydius are likewise fairly faithful, Monks, Nuns, and Priests all given a very high status in the lands. Their faith is tentatively monotheistic, with a greater Allfather deity that has many Saints below him often originally of smaller religions absorbed into the new pantheon. This is the modus operandi for integration of new cultures in the Empire, whereupon either by conquest or confederation the civilizations that join them assimilate into the greater Imperial culture while still retaining their unique identities and customs. 

This is a process found necessary over the years in Polydius, for without it the people either get indignant of their culture’s erasure or nationalism grows rampant without a stern hand; the process of soft assimilation is currently found to be the golden mean. This has been tried and tested on many peoples of course, Polydius ever expanding, some golden ages having the inclusion of a new culture into the Empire’s sphere of influence every year. This has lead to an interesting mode of governance for eventually every single region and people of Polydius want representation in the government. As such, a sort of senate of nobles was formed long ago such that the Emperor would be forced to appease them all lest they excercise their votes in governance against him. Though over the years the formal power of the senate has been reduced with many new laws, the factual power grew over the years as the families in the seats amassed wealth and power. 

This mess of a state and had certainly grown overstretched over the years and as barbarous tribes struck the borders and people grew lax, it seemed a dark age loomed in the interim after the death of the previous heirless Emperor Nikos Thadian. A very distant relative was eventually confirmed into power, and the then young Ioannis brought a new age of prosperity to the Empire. Ancient arts and crafts were discovered and repurposed for the modern day. Barbarian tribes were stamped out, and many internal conflicts were resolved. But Ioannis was most certainly an ambitious man too. He wanted to create not only a stronger Empire, but one that would also be ruled by his dynasty which he saw as the only one fit to rule. The new wealth and safety of the Empire has been contrasted by many repressions and strikes against his detractors. Though for now apparently more than competent he has covered government seats of office with the arses of friends and family. As his boldness grew, the man seemingly went for a Magnum Opus; bringing the King of Winthrope in the North to submission with some claiming that he wants to outright annex the land in the future. Only time will however, for with that one arrives at the modern day of the Empire of Polydius. 

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Alright then, I made the above for you viewing pleasure. Shall I make the IC PM or would you like the pleasure?