🪷(Georic Gazetteer) The Barthey Empire

The Barthey Empire

Pantheon: Ferasean (primarily Akana)

Ruled by: Emporer Koprostes X the Constant

Capital: Barthey City

Other Cities: Urstan'Baaka, Akorros, Telchinis

Language:  Trade Feraso, Parthian

Flag/Emblem: Gold star on a sky blue field
Coinage: Barthey Standard

Important Persons: Archmage Malachai, Archbishop Theophillus, General Amira
Alliances: Marakeikos, All followers of Akana, Myridius City-States, Trebeizond
Hostilities: Yarbay, Parthia, Myridius City-States

Open Warfare/Skirmishing:  None

Intrigues:  Korpostes is trying to marry his widowed daughter Dianna to Prince Mydas of Arzawa.  

Demi-Humans:  small groups of all demi-humans across the Empire, nymphs 

Magickal Devices:  A huge collection of magic items from over the centuries, including the Book of Doom, the Legion of Shadows, the Cholchian Vendomorts, the Phrophry Tableau, the Purple Sky Staff and notable Swords of the Wyrm. The Imperial Palace itself may store a dozen different artifacts, waiting for the right time to use them.  

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The Barthey Empire is rumored to be older the first Ferasean Empire, although it has been part of the Ferasean lineage by diplomacy or by conquering.  Barthey City is old, like Khemmet and Parthia.  Barthey fully converted to Akana during the 2nd Ferasean Empire, and while most of their territory is technically in the Palu Eu, Barthey prides itself on being the protector, the wall holding back the eastern masses from the civilized world of Akana. 

The Straits of Byalbik is the a significant waterway, not only the connecting the Mer Kasp with the MerMed and far-off lands, but also the boundry between the continent of Talaishia and the Palu Eu.  Barthey's navy is concentrated in this region, and it's rumored that the great colossus known as the Titan of Akana, stands over Barthey City and can warn the populace of trouble in the waters. 

Since the fall of the Second Ferasean Empire, the country has splintered, starting with Oliva, but most notably Marakeikos and Treibezond.  The other dominions within the Palu Eu portion of the empire strive for more sovereignty, especially after the War with the Master in 1135. 

When a coalition of desert raiders from Yarbay, humanoid armies, and the Parthian regulars invaded eastern Barthey under the banner of a secretive individual known only as "The Master", it seemed to spell doom for the empire as a whole.  However, while many credit the adventuring group, the Burning Trogs for traveling and establishing new alliances, and reestablishing old relations, the armies stationed in Treibezond, Arzawa, and Iowones fought valiantly on the land, broke sieges in multiple cities, and actually pushed the Master backed, before they all fled back to the original eastern boundary.  With the passing of the Empress during the war, Emperor Korprostes has had little desire to govern those outside of Barthey, relying on nobles and bureaucrats.  

In this environment, the dominions have spent the last decade rebuilding, without a single coin from the treasury to assist, so discussions of independence are spoken casually in public.   

The Scholomance of the Eternal Flame is the magic university in Barthey City, across the main thoroughfare from the Throne of Light.  It serves as a center of arcane knowledge, and an additional repository of divine wisdom, blending Akana theology, ancient sorceries, and the finest engineering in the region, into a unique school of magic.  

Students and graduates of the school are put to work, casting everything from basic blessing and curses, to using powerful magicks to repair the walls and further enchant the city.  It was named the Eternal Flame from a  a mystical fire that burns without fuel in its central hall, said to be a shard of divine essence from the dawn of creation.

Our more sensitive travelers might need to be advised that most imaginable forms of slavery are legal within the empire.  Do not be surprise if you discover that a well-to-do business is operated entirely by well-fed and cared for slaves, and down the street is some of the most despicable treatment imaginable to other beings.  

While the army is large and competent, both in Barthey City and the dominions, the Emperor has his own private army, The Wyrmguard.  Composed generations ago from wandering warriors from Wyrmanl, Pohjola, and other northern lands, they are the elite guards of the realm, not only ensuring the safety of the Emperor, but anything else required from supporting bureaucrats 

The Wyrmguard, arriving at another assignment

Geography of Note: 

Three major dominions of Barthey in the Palu Eu

Arzawa  - Capital: Ancyra  Ruled by: Prince Mydas

Iowones   - Capital: Arna  Ruled by: Komes Hector

Melonia  - Capital: Sardon Ruled by: Cnosis Derious

The Titan of Akana:  The colossal statue celebrating Akana, along the Straits of Byalbik.  It's halo glows at comfort, a comfort for sailor and traveler alike.

The Lesser Imperial Palace:  Located on the high hills known as the Golden Bough, the portions of the palace are opened to visitors, other portions are locked away with magical (and very lethal) protections, guarding some of the finest treasures and magicks in the world.

The Throne of Light:  The largest temple of Akana anywhere,  magically illuminated at all times to be a beacon faith to all.  

The Veil of the Old Ones:  A vast, eerie, fascinating expanse on the eastern edges of Arzawa and Melonia.  Ghostly apparitions of past armies can be seen marching at dusk.   The ruins of ancients civilizations, some predating Khemmet, appear for days, then disappear without notice.

The Stone Forests of  Arzawa: An ancient woodland where trees have turned to stone, frozen in time by a long-lost curse. Travelers report hearing whispers among the trees, as if trapped souls still linger there.  Even more amazing, the stone trees sprout leaves and the trees slowly grow, perhaps an inch a decade .  

The Flaming Lighthouse at Telchinis:  A reconstruction of one of the great lighthouses of the ancient world, it is enhanced with divine fire that never dims.

Mentions of Barthey in the Blog

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #47 - Piecing together some of the ancient history of Barthey within the region.

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #74 - Mentions of mercenaries and crusaders protecting Yarbay.

Burning Trogs Rule #15  - Heavily armed desert raiders from Yarbay have finally been driven from Barthey

Burning Trogs Rule #17 - Mention of Ariahad DeTuris - noble - 8th in line for Throne of Barthey. suave guy.  Murdered by slavers.

Burning Trogs Rule #22 - The Burning Trogs travel to Barthey to help with the Yarbay raider problem.

Burning Trogs Rule #23 - Mention of the village of Grubal in Talaishian Barthey.  Ruins of House Indigo.

Burning Trogs Rule # 24-33:  Against the Desert Nomads and the Temple of Death

Burning Trogs Rule # 39-43:  The War with the Master, Invasion of Akorros in Melania

Burning Trogs Rule #46 - Marakeikos allies itself with Barthey

Burning Trogs Rule #47 - News of Barthey's coastal cities faltering, but interior cities withstanding the Master's armies.

Burning Trogs Rule #49 - All armies are finally holding the Master in check.

Burning Trogs Rule #52 - The end of the war, plus details as to military awards and honorifics.

Burning Trogs Redux #0.2 - Notes on the revocation of Janus Redrock's estate, by Imperial decree around 1140, so more independent control of the Themata of Trebeizond happened between 1141 and 1150.

Burning Trogs Redux #6 - Refugees from Barthey flood into Marakeikos and Danaan.

Burning Trogs Redux #7 - More refugee problems.