Alia:Empire of Rhode

The Empire of Rhode

The empire of Rhode is, in fact warring on two fronts, with the northern humans in the north and the also at war with the elves of the Shadowwood forest on 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. The rulership of the south is an imperial monarchy. Lands are divided into principalities, duchies, counties and baronnys and ruled and administered by their hereditary nobility. All pay tribute to the Emporer, both in taxes and troops.

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, little better than being a slave.

Population breakdown by class is as follows:

• 1% high noblity - ranking land owners with taxation rights
• 4% "low" nobility - feudal land owners with power over a village, several small farms or other resource, or noble merchants and traders
• 5% commoner merchants and traders
• 5% skilled labourers - artists, and skilled crafters (smiths, coopers, brewers, sculptors, etc.)
• 65% free common labourers - carters, farmers, miners
• 20% slaves

Slavery

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. About 40% of slaves are used for labour in agriculture, about 20% as laborers in cities, 20% as house servants, and 20% as labour in mines. Most slave operations use slaves for the bulk of the hard and or dangerous labour with free workers as overseers and doing the lighter duties. Many farms and light industry use free workers exclusively.

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

The effect of slavery on the lifestyle of the free worker is quite dramatic. Because of the low cost labour of slaves, the life of a free worker in Rhode is little better than slaves lives are, unemployment is a growing problem, and available work often pays little better than slave wages.