Expanding Her Borders

Xalerion gazed out upon the land around his nation with an odd look upon his face. Two Dark Ore'd Overlords stood by him upon the Palace battlements high up, with their silken capes blowing in the cool wind. The old man, that was the Emperor, now within his sixties, ran a hand through his long white beard. He looked upon the land, open wide and green with smaller mountains in the distance. His two guards looked silently to one another, wondering what their Lord was thinking of.

"Lord Xalerion, what is it that you are thinking of?" One guard asked.

Xalerion looked to his guards with a gleam in his eye. He waved a hand over the land before them, which was not a part of their realm. His hand by the end of its arc clenched into a fist.

"Our nation is called the Anumian Empire.. and I am her Emperor. And yet, look at my realm... it is a single nation, with no expansion, yet there is so much land to the east that is open and belong to no one yet. Our people are growing yearly, and our cities are becoming abundant... expansion in some way or another is imminent. The land that has for long remain unclaimed shall forthwith be claimed in the name of Anumias.. I have decided this. To expand my borders for the good of my people, I will conquest new territory. If any lie in my path, I shall ask if they wish to become a part of something great." Xalerion replied.

"My Lord... but what if the people decline your gracious offer?" The second guard asked.

Xalerion was thoughtful for a while, as if in conflict. Soon, he responded.

"Then.. we shall force them to submission in the name of the Empire." Xalerion said.

At that, the two guards bowed low. Xalerion started to head back into the palace. He started to create a declaration of advancement with a quill and ink. The long notice was produced and shown to the people, who cheered in the name of their nation. New Capua would learn soon enough of Anumias' plans of expansion. For the first time in Anumian history, the false Empire would becoming Imperialistic and expand it's borders. The military was mobilized five days later, a full Regiment was to be an invasion army who would expand eastward. With the people's full support, on the fifth day, 1000 Anumian troops marched across the great bridges and started their move west.

After twenty years of development, looking back on her history, Tarmena was founded in another small village which stood upon a large hill that overlooked the ocean. It was the perfect place to make another great walled city, and that is just what would happen. After all, defense of valuable cities were just as important to Anumians as cultivating a culture. Just as the last city, annexation was an easy process with almost no revolt or disagreement from the natives populace. Tarmena was founded almost six miles east from Roksbry and closer to the coast. A small expanse of forest covered the southern borderline of the new city, and water covered the entire north. The city would take up around 100 square miles and boast a population after many years of development, 70,000 people.

Tarmena began as the hilltop colony. Roads had been connected to the growing city from Rokxbry and the Hontolos Anuminos. The walls and homes were the first to go up after a month of occupation. The natives, as well as thousands of migrants from Anumias were the ones to start Tarmena's construction. The borders, which were soon to be dug in with 20 foot thick walls and battlements, extended all the way to the ocean almost 50 miles away. The architecture of the buildings made was reminiscent of Citel Rhun's with their slanted and brightly tiles roofs and white exteriors. The roads within the city had also came into form as the famous Anumian styled cobble-stone.

Buildings lined the narrow streets as well as the major thoroughfares. At the far northern end, docking was erected along with shipping lanes and warehouses for trade. Fish markets started to sprout up, many times owned by the natives of that city, who happened to be great fishermen. Further south east and west in the city, the populace was much denser but boasted the most interesting of cultures. Tarmena was a mixing pot of different traditions and ways of life that melded itself together into something spectacular and new. Many different races existed in Tarmena, from native elfs, dark elves, native dwarves, and other human races aside from Anumians. The population spiked at the twenty year period all over Anumias, driving people to immigrate into other cities like Rokxbry, Tarmena, and the general Hontolos Anuminos. Anumian population count by the end of 20 years had grown considerably to 200,000 people.

Tarmena in that time had grown to be the second largest city in the Empire, and boasted the second largest population aside from the Imperial Capital of Citel Rhun. The national currency and banks of Anumias had found their way into the city early and gave over bountiful wealth. Agriculture was fairly big on the outer borders of Tarmena and Rokxbry, as large farms and cultivated fields sprouted up on the far reaching hills by the edge of the cities.

Tarmena however would be known as the capital of art and culture in Anumias as stated before. Simple citizens would soon become renowned throughout the Empire as great painters, sculptures, and artists in this time. Individual intellectuals would also become influential during the period bringing about reformation in local politics and a sense of national pride in Anumias and the Empire. If one were to travel through the city streets, many a home would bear proudly the Anumian flag.

This time of intellectual revolutions and cultural and artistic inception or birth, was soon to be known as the Anumian Renaissance. It seemed to be for the Empire, an opening in the dark clouds that hovered above the nation before the age of expansion began almost forty years ago. Generally, it was seen as a great golden age, as the economy was doing just as well as the government, politics, and agriculture. War seemed to be a far off concern.

The invasion troops that had come, the now small one thousand soldiers, all considered to be veteran "explorers" had settled down in the city and waited for further instruction from the new Emperor. Indeed, the first Emperor had died almost thirty years ago at the age of seventy five. The new Emperor, Xalerion II learned well from his father, bringing the nation into a new era of enlightenment and peace. Under his new regime, Xalerion II instituted a type of Hybrid Empire, as he was still considered an absolute head, but did institute local and national governmental bodies. In the Capital, a new building was made, just as grandiose as the other major buildings. It was called the Reichstros and housed all of the major politicians who acted as a cabinet of sorts to the Emperor. They would be the ones to make decisions based on the Imperial Constitution and the recent policies. They would also act as the Emperors assistants or department heads. All were held in high regard and respected as caring but lawful politicians.

In each of the cities were set of Bundestros which were the local government bodies. They consisted of ambassadors or chair positions who would answer to the Emperor and the higher house of the Reichstros. However, all local decisions were made by them as long as long as their reforms were affirmed by the Emperor. Each politician, just as in the Reichstros, would be able to serve for a period of five years before a campaign would happen where all the citizens would be able to vote for new seats. In total, the Bundestros held 50 positions per city, and the Reichstros held 20. It was a good system and seemed to work accordingly. All politicians were deemed to being patriots and supported the Empire.



^^^ This is more or less what Tarmena looks like.