Imperials
Language: Imperial, lower classes speak common Imperial a dialect of Imperial.
Lifespan: Up to 90-130 years old.
Homeland: Daeria
Capital City: Breckton
Race: Daerian (common term; Imperial)
Overview
The Imperials believe in freedom of spirit, and follow no religion or belief system. To them, following one's desires and emotions is the most important thing in life. Their race specialises in magic and knowledge, and cherishes beauty. They have a formidable army which they consider superior to other races. There is a downside to all the freedom and following ones emotions; Imperials are quick to anger, holding grudges for long periods of time. They do not forget past wrongs done to their family line, which often turns Daeria into a political battleground. Treachery is normal, as are wagers and people going where the money is rather than doing the right thing.
Society
Imperial society is based on a hierarchy divided by social status. At the top of the hierarchy are the Emperor and his family, next come the Commander of the Imperial Army, the head Mage and the head Healer. The Nobles, Mages, Healers and officers of the Army/Guard are next, followed by merchants. The peasants are at the bottom of the hierarchy, and many of the higher classes look down on them. Likewise the peasants have a low opinion of the Nobles, and Mages. They have a slightly better opinion of the Healers as some Healers offer their services to the peasants for free.
Members of the Imperial Army do not have a specific place within the social hierarchy as they have their own ranks within the Army. The status of the Courtesans varies depending on their popularity with the Nobles.
The Imperial society is also patriarchal, with many professions and positions only available to men. Women cannot serve in the Imperial army, and only recently they may serve in the Army if they are a mage or healer. This change was the Emperor's way of showing other Races that his race is willing to change their patriarchal ways in aid of peace. Within the ranks of the Order of Krasus (the Order of magic) there is no gender prejudice as all mages and healers are precious to Daeria. The Order of Krasus also accepts magic users from any social background, and all are trained equally. However, this does not stop some from maintaining old social prejudices.
Physical Appearance
Imperials are olive skinned with dark hair colours, such as; dark red, auburn, brunette, dark brunette and black. Body size varies depending on class; peasants are usually the thinnest, while the higher classes tend to be a healthier weight. A prominent feature among Imperial women is curves.
Relationships & Family
Any sexuality, any desire and any form of relationship are welcome in Imperial society. They put very few restrictions on pleasure, and only extreme methods are considered perverse. Fetish or homosexuality is normal to an Imperial. Marriage is commonly used for trade or bargains, to better one's family, although it does also happen for love. Marriage is more of a contract than a binding between partners, and it is common for the higher classes to indulge in pleasure with courtesans and unmarried servants. Liaisons with someone else who is married is considered bad form though, unless both of their partners consent.
Magic
There are a variety of types of magic that exist, and magic users usually inherit their magic from a family member. Magic has been known to skip one or two generations, although traditionally it is passed from parent to child. On a few rare occasions a Mage or Healer will be born without any magical heritage, no one knows why or how, it just happens. There are two disciplines of magic in Daeria; Mages and Healers. Mages and Healers belong to the Order of Krasus, the high order of magic in Daeria which trains and oversees the magic users of the land.
Mages are born with the power to influence two forms of magic, called a major and a minor. Their greatest power lies within their major power, and their minor power will always be their weaker side of magic. Mages can have power over anything, here are some examples: one of the elements (air, water, earth, fire), the weather, nature, shadows, light, crystals (empowering crystals with magic), alchemy (creating elixirs and potions), cuisine (using magic to create special recipes), transmution (changing something into something else), shapeshifting (major; shapeshifting into up to 4 creatures, minor; 1 creature), music (creating magic using instruments or singing).
Healers are born with the ability to heal like Mages are born with magic, however, they do not have a major and minor power. All healers are able to stop bleeding and heal minor wounds, but they are each strongest in one specific type of healing. The different types of healing include;
Bones: Setting Bones, healing difficult breaks/fractures, and encouraging bone growth.
Skin: Healing skin, growing new skin (i.e. bad burn victims), and cleansing skin.
Poisons: Identifying poisons and cleansing a body of toxins.
Diseases: Identifying diseases, easing pain/suffering, removing them from a body (if caught early enough).
Fertility: Encourage/discourage fertility (pregnancy prevention methods), healing the unborn child, and midwifery.
Mages and Healers do not use wands, wear pointed hats or ride brooms. Some (especially Healers) need to use touch to focus their magic, while others only need to focus their mind. It all depends on the magic user and how their magic works.
Warriors
The Imperials are a very military based Race, with some form of military outpost on each of Daeria's borders. The treasures of their army are the Knights and the Mage Warriors. Knights are close combat fighters, excelling in the art of war, its strategies and its many forms of fighting. In comparison the Mage Warriors know nothing of close combat, weapons or fighting. They fight from a distance, using their magic to help disable or harm the enemy.
Social rank defines what form of training a member of the army follows. Those of noble birth begin training to become Knights, starting as Pages and then rising to the rank of Squire. At this rank they recieve tutelage from another Knight until they reach Knighthood. Pesants begin at the rank of scouts, then archers, guardsman and soldiers. Officer ranks are the same for both Nobles and peasants, and follow the same rank system as our own.
Mages and Healers can only join the army after they have completed their training at the school of Magic. There are less formal ranks for Mages and Healers in the army, Mages are known as Mage Warriors, while Healers retain the title of 'Healer'.
While women are not accepted into the ranks of the Imperial army, for centuries women have travelled or worked alongside the army. Women can often find work as cooks, tailors, and animal keepers. Courtesans of both genders are also commonly found travelling with the army, especially in times of war. Different Commanders have different views about this; some find the Courtesans a good stress reliever for troops, others find them a distraction.
Other Races
There are several elements of Imperial society that rub other Races up the wrong way. The Celts do not understand their freedom with love and desire, in return the Imperials find the Celts repressed and unintelligent. The Elves dislike them for their disregard for nature, and many Imperials fear the Elves connection with nature. The Protectors are wary of the Imperial patriarcal society, and their pompous attitudes. The Imperial's reaction to the Protectors is one of fear, fear of the unknown as little is known about this Race.