Welcome to the immersive lore of the Splinterlands. In this series of articles, we present a comprehensive exploration of the major splinters of Praetoria. Each week, you’ll learn about a new splinter: its governance, economy, races, religions, culture, and more. Gain a deeper understanding of the Splinterlands and the splinters that shape it so the next time you see Eternan Brune or an Imperial Knight on the battlefield, you’ll know exactly what you’re up against.
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Belurocian Empire
"Darkness reigns."
Overview
The Belurocian Empire is a totalitarian dictatorship originating from the continent of Mortis. With the fall of the Wizards' Veil, the empire launched a colonization campaign and claimed much of the southern region of the Shimmering Coasts. Its grip continues to tighten, with expansion efforts stretching north into the Fenmoor Basin and west into the Central Fire’s Southern Highlands. Its capital, New Beluroc, sits at the delta of the Wraitholme and Rowan Rivers.
Governance
The Belurocian Empire is led by the Lord or Lady of Darkness, who holds unrestricted sovereign power. Matters of governance are facilitated through an inner circle of elites known as the Cimmerian Order, which is composed of advisors, commanders, and other high-ranking officials. The Lord or Lady of Darkness and Cimmerian Order exercise complete control and regulation over public and private life. Stability is maintained through coercion and repression, including restricting access to information, monitoring opposition movements, and violent action. Any opposition, including rivals, resistance movements, and disloyal members of the Cimmerian Order, is dealt with swiftly and harshly.
Cimmerian Order
The Cimmerian Order facilitates matters of governance and ensures the will of the Lord or Lady of Darkness is carried out. It is organized as follows:
- Grandfathers and Grand Widows are the personal emissaries of the Lord or Lady of Darkness, acting as conduits in the execution of his or her will.
- The Magi Cimmerial are powerful wizards, warlocks, and sorcerers charged with the legislations and oversight of magic across the empire.
- Spirit Flayers comprise the empire’s judiciary and serve as judge, jury, and executioner.
- Overlords command the Belurocian military.
- Blood Stewards are advisors to the Lord or Lady of Darkness and other members of the Order.
Belurocian Military
The Belurocian military is responsible for maintaining order within the empire, defense of its lands, and conquest of its rivals. Commanded by Overlords, it is organized as follows:
- The Darkguard are special forces that emphasize self-sufficiency, stealth, speed, tactical coordination, and unconventional techniques to conduct reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counterinsurgency actions. They answer directly to the Lord or Lady of Darkness.
- Underlords are dark knights who lead formations as directed by Overlords.
- Dark knights are armored warriors, usually on horseback.
- Lancers are light cavalry armed with lances.
- Dragoons are heavily armored warriors who ride horses for mobility but dismount to fight on foot.
- Archers and arbalists are skilled with bows and crossbows.
- Esquires are dark knights in training.
- Foot soldiers comprise the bulk of the Belurocian military and wield spears, shields, axes, swords, and other weapons. They wear helmets for protection, but most are otherwise unarmored.
Economy
Despite its dark reputation and the looming threat of its oppressive shadow, the Belurocian Empire is a key player in the Praetorian economy. The strategic placement of its major cities in resource-rich lands has established a robust and efficient economic system.
New Beluroc, the empire’s capital and administrative and political hub, is renowned for its arcane market, which deals primarily in the dark arts. Here, magic users from across Praetoria can find rare artifacts and mystical components shaped by the lower planes.
Necrulencia, located at the delta of the Daltaine and De'lai Rivers, is surrounded by sprawling farmlands that produce bountiful harvests of exotic grains such as ebon wheat and umbral barley. Nearby mines yield precious ores and minerals that artisans and blacksmiths forge into weapons, armor, jewelry, and other items often imbued with infernal boons or curses.
Meanwhile, Darkport serves as a gateway between Necrulencia and New Beluroc, further strengthening the empire’s expansive trade network. Darkport is shrouded in a perpetual fog so thick that it blots out the sun and casts the city in twilight no matter the time of day. Its labyrinthine marketplaces deal in local specialties, such as shadow silk and spectral fish.
Demographics
Races
Demons and Mortician humans comprise roughly half of the empire’s citizenry. The rest is composed primarily of:
- Chamen humans
- Onyx orcs
- Grayhair minotaurs
- Ravenfolk
- Revenants of various species and races
Religions
Most Belurocians worship Yzaos, God of Death and the Lower Planes, while a significant number also pay tribute to Lunaki, Sister Moon Goddess of Shadows and Darkness.
Culture
Belurocian culture, while dark and perhaps unsettling to outsiders, has been shaped by necessity and the harsh rule of its sovereign. It is steeped in reverence for darkness, death, and the power they symbolize. Society revolves around the word of the Lord or Lady of Darkness, and the empire’s citizens have developed a culture defined by resilience, secrecy, and a sense of shared destiny under the banner of the empire.
Belurocian architecture is emblematic of the empire’s relationship with the lower planes. Buildings are typically constructed of dark stone and adorned with tall, jagged spires that loom into the sky and statues of bestial fiends and nightmareborn. Art tends to feature deep shades of black, gray, and purple, with occasional splashes of red to symbolize the empire’s resilience and indomitable spirit. Sculptures, predominantly made of obsidian and other darker stones, portray historic scenes and dignitaries that have shaped the empire.
Philosophical works often contemplate the nature of power, free will, and destiny, while literary works are rife with tales of love, sacrifice, and the triumph of tenacity; these stories are just as likely to be set against a backdrop of loyalty and patriotism as one of oppression. Poets sing ballads of epic conquests and infernal heroes, while scholars pen treatises deliberating the benefits, drawbacks, and ethical implications of aligning with the lower planes for the prosperity of the empire.
Shadow plays are especially popular, with puppeteers using figures and torchlight to cast silhouettes on tall screens and narrate tales of old. Dances are often accompanied by haunting melodies that carry an air of melancholy and longing. Overall, thespians and musicians tend to use a subtle beauty in the performing arts to express the citizenry’s collective struggles.
The spices and herbs of Belurocian cuisine meld into a heady fusion of smoky undertones and tangy highlights. In New Beluroc, Nightshade stew and gloomberry pie are especially popular among locals and visitors alike. Spectral fish, found only in the waters off the coast of Darkport, are considered a delicacy and often served during ceremonial feasts and holiday celebrations.
The Arena Games are a central spectacle in the Belurocian Empire, and at the heart of New Beluroc stands its grandest arena: the Abyssal Pit. Carved into the earth, this awe-inspiring amphitheater boasts a capacity of tens of thousands of spectators. To the Belurocians, the Arena Games are more than a sport; they are a testament to the empire's might and dominion over any who would oppose their conquests.
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