Post by Harkovast on Feb 28, 2015 15:56:12 GMT
The Lukavir Empire rose to prominence in Xalkara around the same the same time as the Ishmus Empire.
They came to dominate the South much as the Ishmus would dominate the north.
The Tsar of the Lukavir had massive power over a vast number of subjects, controlling both the Lukavir themselves and the nomadic Anzlov tribes.
The Lukavir were a hardy and tough people, whose major cities were built into deep cave systems with surrounding farmlands on the surface.
The Lukavir had wings, which combined with their air magic gave them the same advantages in light, skirmishing combat that the Ishmus enjoyed.
The vast majority of the Lukavir formed the serf class, under the rulership of the Boyars who were in turn under the Dukes who answered to the Tsar, who was both the ultimate political and religious authority.
The serfs were generally had little education and few rights. They toiled in times of peace and were drafted in large numbers in times of war, sometimes arm with the same implements for both.
Serfs usually dressed in distinctive long coats with high collars, which was often seen as the symbol of their station.
The Boyars held virtually total power over the serfs working their land and provided the core of the Tsars armies, fighting on Bataks as their mounts. They formed some of the first truly heavy cavalry on Harkovast, delivering direct and devastating charges into the heart of the enemies ranks. Their steeds were powerful but wild and hard to control, often turning on their riders or charging off uncontrollably and trampling their own side. Despite this, the sheer force of their impact and their psychological effect on their enemies made them a vital asset in battle.
The divide between the ruling class and their subjects was vast, with the rulers enjoying an opulent life style that was utterly detached from the grinding poverty of the serfs.
The Tsar also commanded a professional infantry force known as the Streltsy or Marksmen.
They used large axes and heavy crossbows in battle, as well as mobile wooden barricades, mounted on wheels or sleds, nick named "wandering towns" which allowed them to set up defences quickly on the battlefield.
They were a professional force, recruited from tradesmen and other more affluent serfs (who would still seem pitifully poor compared to the ruling class.) The Streltsy were well paid and trained and provided useful defensive forces in battle.
The Lukavir Empire always suffered from endemic corruption, with no oversight on the ruling class and no means of recourse for the governed.
Over time the divides between the rulers and the ruled became wider and wider.
The once elite Streltsy became increasingly self serving, acting as bandits when their pay demands were not met, while their recruitment became more focused on nepotism then meritocracy. Over time they became more of a burden on the state than an asset too it.
The Boyars meanwhile, continued to enjoy ever increasing luxury as the Empire struggled more and more. All the hardships were invariably heaped on the serfs.
The Tsar's and the Dukes that surrounded them became completely detached from their subjects, to the extent that they had almost no concept of how poor life was becoming for the population or how badly run the Empire actually was.
Instead they enjoyed dancing, music and the finest foods from across Xalkara.
Peasant uprisings were common place, sometimes being brutally repressed, other times being conceded to, depending on attitude of the local Boyar and the strength of the uprising.
The greatest blow to the Empire came when the vast majority of the Anzlov tribes, tired of having their demands ignored, departed Xalkara. They had been engaged in foreign trade with far off lands, and the welcoming and ambitious Gotetra Empire in Jaydia was always keen to acquire new allies.
Despite this massive blow to the Empires strength, its rulers seemed obvious to what had happened. Those that even acknowledged it generally viewed the Anzlov with contempt, since many of the tribes had resorted to banditry to support themselves, and were glad to see the back of them.
While the Lukavir's rulers did not realise their increasing weakness, other nations did.
The ambitious Galdrasai and Levengroust became increasingly bold, seeing the Lukavir as a tired, worn out power.
Their Empire became a pawn to be fought over in the wars of other, bolder powers.
Hordes of conscripts and barely controlled cavalry charges were anachronistic in the new age of warfare the younger empires were creating.
After the rise of the Godhead, the ragged remains of the Empire would be swept aside, its leaders largely not realising their danger until dark clad warriors stormed their palaces.
The Lukavir religion focused on Dac and Vek, two popular Gods throughout Xalkara. These monstrous beings were seen as punishers of the wicked. The focus of faiths involving them was always on avoiding lurid and hellish punishments for wickedness that the two gods would inflict in the afterlife. The attitude was very much to escape punishment, not to earn rewards.
Most Anzlov never really embraced this religion, preferring to their ancient, simple, spiritual beliefs. A small movement of Anzlov who embraced a form of these beliefs were driven out of the Empire for spreading dangerous heresy against the main Lukavir church.
They moved with many other Anzlov to Jaydia, taking their religious ideas with them.
Though their movement ultimately died off and never gained much of a foot hold amongst the Anzlov, it made a far greater impression on the Gotetra...
They came to dominate the South much as the Ishmus would dominate the north.
The Tsar of the Lukavir had massive power over a vast number of subjects, controlling both the Lukavir themselves and the nomadic Anzlov tribes.
The Lukavir were a hardy and tough people, whose major cities were built into deep cave systems with surrounding farmlands on the surface.
The Lukavir had wings, which combined with their air magic gave them the same advantages in light, skirmishing combat that the Ishmus enjoyed.
The vast majority of the Lukavir formed the serf class, under the rulership of the Boyars who were in turn under the Dukes who answered to the Tsar, who was both the ultimate political and religious authority.
The serfs were generally had little education and few rights. They toiled in times of peace and were drafted in large numbers in times of war, sometimes arm with the same implements for both.
Serfs usually dressed in distinctive long coats with high collars, which was often seen as the symbol of their station.
The Boyars held virtually total power over the serfs working their land and provided the core of the Tsars armies, fighting on Bataks as their mounts. They formed some of the first truly heavy cavalry on Harkovast, delivering direct and devastating charges into the heart of the enemies ranks. Their steeds were powerful but wild and hard to control, often turning on their riders or charging off uncontrollably and trampling their own side. Despite this, the sheer force of their impact and their psychological effect on their enemies made them a vital asset in battle.
The divide between the ruling class and their subjects was vast, with the rulers enjoying an opulent life style that was utterly detached from the grinding poverty of the serfs.
The Tsar also commanded a professional infantry force known as the Streltsy or Marksmen.
They used large axes and heavy crossbows in battle, as well as mobile wooden barricades, mounted on wheels or sleds, nick named "wandering towns" which allowed them to set up defences quickly on the battlefield.
They were a professional force, recruited from tradesmen and other more affluent serfs (who would still seem pitifully poor compared to the ruling class.) The Streltsy were well paid and trained and provided useful defensive forces in battle.
The Lukavir Empire always suffered from endemic corruption, with no oversight on the ruling class and no means of recourse for the governed.
Over time the divides between the rulers and the ruled became wider and wider.
The once elite Streltsy became increasingly self serving, acting as bandits when their pay demands were not met, while their recruitment became more focused on nepotism then meritocracy. Over time they became more of a burden on the state than an asset too it.
The Boyars meanwhile, continued to enjoy ever increasing luxury as the Empire struggled more and more. All the hardships were invariably heaped on the serfs.
The Tsar's and the Dukes that surrounded them became completely detached from their subjects, to the extent that they had almost no concept of how poor life was becoming for the population or how badly run the Empire actually was.
Instead they enjoyed dancing, music and the finest foods from across Xalkara.
Peasant uprisings were common place, sometimes being brutally repressed, other times being conceded to, depending on attitude of the local Boyar and the strength of the uprising.
The greatest blow to the Empire came when the vast majority of the Anzlov tribes, tired of having their demands ignored, departed Xalkara. They had been engaged in foreign trade with far off lands, and the welcoming and ambitious Gotetra Empire in Jaydia was always keen to acquire new allies.
Despite this massive blow to the Empires strength, its rulers seemed obvious to what had happened. Those that even acknowledged it generally viewed the Anzlov with contempt, since many of the tribes had resorted to banditry to support themselves, and were glad to see the back of them.
While the Lukavir's rulers did not realise their increasing weakness, other nations did.
The ambitious Galdrasai and Levengroust became increasingly bold, seeing the Lukavir as a tired, worn out power.
Their Empire became a pawn to be fought over in the wars of other, bolder powers.
Hordes of conscripts and barely controlled cavalry charges were anachronistic in the new age of warfare the younger empires were creating.
After the rise of the Godhead, the ragged remains of the Empire would be swept aside, its leaders largely not realising their danger until dark clad warriors stormed their palaces.
The Lukavir religion focused on Dac and Vek, two popular Gods throughout Xalkara. These monstrous beings were seen as punishers of the wicked. The focus of faiths involving them was always on avoiding lurid and hellish punishments for wickedness that the two gods would inflict in the afterlife. The attitude was very much to escape punishment, not to earn rewards.
Most Anzlov never really embraced this religion, preferring to their ancient, simple, spiritual beliefs. A small movement of Anzlov who embraced a form of these beliefs were driven out of the Empire for spreading dangerous heresy against the main Lukavir church.
They moved with many other Anzlov to Jaydia, taking their religious ideas with them.
Though their movement ultimately died off and never gained much of a foot hold amongst the Anzlov, it made a far greater impression on the Gotetra...
