Editing Alia:Empire of Rhode

=The Empire of Rhode=

The empire of Rhode is, in fact warring on two fronts, with the Republic of the Isles 
in the north and with the elves of the Shadow Wood forest in the south. The economic and military might of Rhode is great, due to the large amount of fertile land, the temperate weather and good supply of natural resources, bolstered by Rhode's use of slave labour. They appear to be doing well in both wars. 


==Population of Rhode==

Rhode is an Imperial Monarchy. Lands are divided into duchies, counties, marches and baronnys and ruled and administered by their hereditary nobility. All pay tribute to the Emporer and to their Duke, both in taxes and troops.  The system of government is entirely based on the feudal system.  The empire has no single standing army, but rather each noble, by his oath of fealty must equip and train men, and send them to serve the Emporer or Duke in his wars.

All land is owned by the nobility, by law. Most land and businnesses are also administered by hirelings of the noble families but there are a small number of commoners who rent from the nobility and run their own operations. Being low-born is a great impediment in the southern kingdoms.

Population breakdown by class is as follows:

* 0.1% high noblity - ranking land owners with taxation rights
* 0.9% "low" nobility - knights or noble merchants and traders
* 4% commoner merchants and traders
* 5% serving class
* 5% skilled labourers - artists, and skilled crafters (smiths, coopers, brewers, sculptors, etc.)
* 65% free common labourers - farmers, and light unskilled labour
* 20% slaves - heavy and/or dangerous labour

===The Royalty of the Empire===

Rhode has a single emporer and number of princes.  The emporer 
appoints those princes in his favor to rule the non-hereditary 
posts of the six Duchies of Rhode.  Other princes are granted 
titles at the Emporer's pleasure.

===Sovereign Nobility===

Peers are the true nobility of Rhode.   Counts, Marquis and Barons 
are all titled, hereditary ranks, with full taxation rights over 
their land, and bound by an oath of fealty to their Prince and to 
their Emporer.  Each is responsible for equiping and training a 
certain number of footmen, and for providing mounted knights to 
be sent to war at the Emporer's or their Duke's word.

Marquis have sovereign power over a march or border city.
Counts have soveriegn power over large county or city.
Barons have soveriegn powers over smaller baronies.

These landed nobles are named after the counties, marches, 
cities and baronies they rule.  A nobles word are as law to 
all commoners, and to all lower or equal ranked nobles in 
their domain.  Visiting nobles are usually treated with respect, 
but may be banished from the domain by the right of the ruling 
lord.

===Knights===

====Landed Knights====

Knights (form of address Sir or Madam) are a non-hereditary rank granted to an 
individual in exchange for service and fealty.  The spouse of a Knight has no 
noble rank. Knights are typically the younger sons or daughters of titled 
nobility or baronets, or of knights.  The rank of knight is granted to an 
individual cavalryman or spellcaster in exchange for military service.  
They are nobility by law, and have the right to bear arms or magical devices, 
to wear a white belt to identify them as nobles, to own land.  The grantor 
of the knighthood will give the knight 1000gp, and a portion of his land as 
well as 50% of the revenue from such land.  The knight is expected to 
provide all of his martial equipment, weapons, a mount, armor and or 
magical equipment and supplies as well is to build and or maintain a 
hall or manor.  Experienced knights usually have a small retinue of 
retainers and cohorts as well.

====Landless Knights====

Some knights are not granted a fief by their liege lords, but rather are paid a 
salary for thier service.  This is the usual case when a noble has an obligation to provide more mounted troops for the Empire, but has no land to provide. Such salaries are usually 50 gold pieces per year of service as well as accomodation during times of peace.  Such landless knights rarely have a retinue, but must still pay for their own equipment and maintenance and they are held in low regard by other knights.

====Holy Orders====

The Church of Man, has the right in the Empire of Rhode to knight it's own mounted warriors, in service to god and the emporer.  These are called the Knights of Man.  Such knights have the right to bear arms and magic, have the duty to answer both to the Church and to the Emporer, and are granted the rank of Knight by the Empire, but never have land granted to them.  They are funded by either their family, or by a wealthy sponsor.

(There is no prestige class, or class requirement to becoming a Knight of Man.)

===Clergy===

Lower ranks of clergy have a social rank somewhat equivalent to landless knights, with higher ranking bishops, having a social status equivalent to a Landed Noble.  The clergy are basically immune to the laws of the land but are subject to the laws of the Church of Man and internal discipline.

===Commoners===

Most commoners are farmers, either bonded or free.  Established farmers are typically 
free and have hereditary access to pastures and fields owned by their liege.  When 
the hereditary land is not enough to support a family, younger men will bond 
themselves to a new (usually uncleared) fief.  The knight will pay for travel to 
the new land and support his new bonded peasants while the land is cleared and 
planted, in exchange for bonded service.  Farmers may pay off this bond, but 
usualy only do so after many years.

===Slaves===

Slavery of non-human races is legal in the south. Humanoids like Orcs and Goblins are considered too foul to enslave and are always killed. The most common slaves are 
half-orcs and halflings. Half-orcs have been subjugated by the Church and have been 
taught that there rightful place in the hierarchy of life is as slaves to humans. 
Halflings are mostly Golanites and are pacifists, and as such they are easy to 
capture and are model slaves, although their small size makes them unsuitable for 
heavy work. Gnomes are also quite common although they are seen as more troublesome 
than halflings and just as unsuitable for heavy labour in addition their mastry of 
illusion has led to several slave breakouts. Dwarves are prized for their 
craftmanship, but are known to be troublesome slaves. They are regarded as worth 
it and are always well guarded. Some wood elves have been taken as slaves. So far, 
little gain has come of it, many wood-elves dying in their attempts to escape, 
sometimes taking some of their slave masters with them. 

Citizens of Rhode and the families of Citizens are exempt from slavery.  Citizenship 
is aquired by birth and is held by most humans, high elves and half elves who reside 
in Rhode.  Citizenship is revoked for criminals, and several years to life enslavement 
is a common punishment for crimes.  Children of human slaves, born in Rhode are 
commonly granted citizenship upon their 16th birthday.

Slaves comprise about 20% of the population of Rhode, and are responsible for 
about one third of all labour.  By tradition and law, slaves are not used for 
agriculture.  Typical jobs done by slaves include unskilled 
labour in foundries and other heavy industry, mining, and
construction.  Slave operations often use a mix of slaves and skilled labourers, 
for example, in construction of a keep, slaves will be used for heavey labour 
of lifting stones into place, while stone masons will do the stone cutting and 
supervision.

Racial breakdown of slaves are: 10% Foreign Humans, 10% Criminal Human, 
50% Half Orc, 20% Halfling, 5% Dwarf, 3% Gnome, 2% Elf.

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