Star Worshippers Empire

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Appears in: Slave Pits

The Star Worshippers Empire is one of the four major factions of Calima, in the south.

In Slave Pits (2503)

The Star Worshippers Empire is one of the current four major factions in Calima. They control the bigger part of the southern region, containing the most arable land and the largest population. It borders the Crafter territories to the east and the Beastmen jungles to the north. Its capital is Polis.

A caste-based society, the Star Worshippers' meritocratic principles promote every person to their proven position, in theory; every kid starts in the farmer caste and might become a warrior or a priest if they show the proper talents; finally the best among them can ascend to noble in one of the Houses. The Emperor is appointed by the best judgement of these noble Houses. In reality, the corruption is rampant and most of the positions are basically hereditary or simply following the noble Houses and/or the Church interests, when not the Emperor himself.

Although the women can be found in any caste (except as Empress), their role as life-givers is sacred and must devote themselves to it. Pregnant women receive a formal social respect and attention, but they return to a de facto second-class stance after that. Very few exceptions exist, mostly in the noble caste.

Slavery is legal in the Star Worshipper Empire. The slaves are the lowest station of the society, made up of disgraced members of any caste (although mostly from the farmers), criminals or captured enemies. There is almost no chance for a slave to become free again and join a caste.

The Star Worshippers receive their name from their devotion to the Red Star, which gives light, life and fire to the world.

More than 150 long cycles ago the Star Worshipper Empire lost more than a third of its territory in the Crafter uprising, led by Konrad: still today these two factions fight in their common border. A little after, a reformist movement started unnoticed in some villages of its distant and disregarded north region. They are called True Worshippers and have spread steadily during tens of long cycles. In the last long cycles, the current Emperor and his warmongering son, the Prince, have started to pursue these heretics and push their authority hard in the north.

The Contrition (2504)

Spoilers for Slave Pits

After the death of the slave of the coliseum, the north rises. The imperial army is utterly defeated, the Emperor is handed over by the nobles of the Houses and executed by the slaves, and the Empire disappears: the True Worshippers take control of the entire region, and their first edict is to abolish slavery. On the timeline, this is the Star Worshippers' Contrition.