Lemasa
Until the year 443LE [340SA], Lemasa dominated the Eastern Seas. In the year 444LE [341SA], responding to Fomorian's challenge in the area, Lemasa invaded Tyan and executed 13,000 people (including 1,800 Fomorians). Following this atrocity the Kings of Fomoria attacked Ma'tan (446LE [343SA]) and killed every Lemasan they could find. Thirteen years of war followed the Ma'tan atrocity. When the war ended (459LE [356SA]) the Lemasan fleet was shattered, Ma'tan and six islands were lost, the Fomorians held Lema, on the sacred island (Lemara) itself, and the Empire was broken. Lemasa entered a dark age that lasted more than 300 years.
In the reign of Yyast XI (811 - 863LE [708-760SA]) the situation changed when Imperial traders discovered the Eastern Lands. For the rest of Yyast's reign he expanded trade with these lands. During the reign of Yyast's fifteenth son, Kshka III (863 - 885LE [760-782SA]), the holy city of Sscavhi formed alliances with Atla (866LE [763SA]) and A'khara (874LE [771SA]). After rebuilding Imperial authority in these kingdoms Kshka conquered Kai'cera (877 - 880LE [774-777SA]) and Vasa (879LE [776SA]). In the year 777 Aurisia rejoined the Empire rather than face the might of Kshka's host. For the next 100 years, the Empire rebuilt, made treaties with Dawana and Taolisa and increased the size of their forces.
In the year 1002LE [899SA], during the reign of Yymab IV (984 - 1012LE [881-909SA]), the Kingdom of the East invaded. Lemasa's fleet was badly mauled, the Fomorians in Lemdan expanded their holding and a Fomorian army was nearly annihilated when it landed near Atla. Since this war ended (1006LE [903SA]) Lemasa's rebuilding has continued. The Empire is dedicated to trade and the destruction of the Kingdom of the East.
Population
The holy city, and seat of the Emperor, is Sscavhi (17,000). The controlled cities on the island of Lemara are Yymab (53,000), Khara (41,000), Atla (32,000), Kai'cera (27,000), Aurisia (19,000), Vasa (16,000) and Lilini (11,000). The Empire also controls eastern colony cities, Yyast (12,000, founded in 908), Kshka (8,000, founded in 795) and Na'Yymab (5,000, founded in 908). In addition, they control the islands of Dagha (3,000) and Tiama (2,000). The total population of the Empire, including the islands and 130,000 subjects in the east, is 1,200,000.
NOTE - Sscavhi is the holy capital while Yymab is the Imperial capital. The Emperor is the supreme authority in both areas of the government. After winning the crown he spends most of his time in Yymab. The Emperor only travels to Sscavhi when his presence is needed for a ceremony of some kind. The islands of Dagha and Tiama are Imperial property.
The three kingdoms in the eastern colonies (each city is the capital of a kingdom) are on three islands. Two of the islands, Kshka and Na'Yymab, are in sight of the eastern continent. The third is Yyast.
The armies of Lemasa are divided into two groups. The Imperial army is based in Yymab, Sscavhi and the Imperial islands. It contains 3,200 elite footmen and 12,000 militia. Each kingdom, including those in the eastern colonies, fields a regular army equal to 5% of the urban population of the kingdom (rounded off to the closest 100 men) and a militia force three times as large.
IMPORTANT - There is no cavalry in Lemasa. The horse is not native to the island of Lemara and has never been imported successfully.
The total strength of Lemasa's armies is 3,200 elite footmen, 8,000 footmen and 36,000 militia, i.e., 47,200 men-at-arms. The militia is only used on its home island.
The Lemasan Empire and kingdoms have nine fleets. Their strengths are listed in the table below. The Empire has a force of 2,400 marines, organized into 480 five-man units, who serve as pilots for vessels headed east. (No vessel can legally head east without a pilot team.)
| Kingdom | Warships | Triremes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial | 32 | 12 | 44 |
| A'Khara | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| Atla | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| Aurisia | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Vasa | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Yyast | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Kshka | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Na'Yymab | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Kai'cera | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 96 | 27 | 123 |
Economy
Lemasa's unity is dependent on trade and control of the sea. Lemara produces spices, drugs and fine goods and trades for meals, finished goods and textiles.
Religion
The Emperor is the supreme patriarch of the Lemasan faith. He is considered to be a god by about 40% of the Lemasan people. The faith worships hedonistic and conniving gods regardless of alignment. The favorite gods are Kototh and Sammael.
Personality
Lemasans are independent, greedy and treacherous. They only work for another person when it is to their advantage to do so. The unifying forces that bonds the kingdoms into an Empire are a common tongue, the Fomorian threat and mutual profit. As history shows, mutual profit is the most critical of these factors.
When possible, Lemasans as cunning and ruthless. They are domineering and inconsiderate toward people who depend on them. They tend to be kind, affectionate and subtly conniving with people who have power over them or from whom they expect a profit. Many Lemasans (40% of the population) have a tendency toward religious fanaticism. These people consider any religious slur to be a personal attack in them. Lemasans always seek to create opportunities for vengeance when they are attacked.
Legal System
The Emperor controls foreign policy and trade. He is Patriarch of the Faith and hereditary King of Yymab. Each Lemasan king is an absolute despot in his realm. Except for the trade monopoly, he cannot be forced to abide by any Imperial decision. No King can negotiate with a foreign power, but neither can he be forced to support the Emperor's foreign policy.
All non-religious crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the kingdom where they occur. Unless it is to their advantage to do so, no kingdom cares what a person does in another kingdom. They only extradite felons if they can find them easily and are paid to do so. Every kingdom has a network of agents in the other kingdoms who are used to find, and return, escaped felons. Most agents are paid a monthly retainer plus a set amount per felon they capture (usually 1d10Sc. Many of these agents are trained thieves and assassins.). The penalties for civil crime are mutilation, mutilation and slavery, mutilation and imprisonment, and death.
Religious crime is any statement or action against the faith or the Emperor. Persons who commit these crimes are hunted by Imperial agents and priests. Depending on the severity of the crime, the penalty is slavery, death or ritual sacrifice.
Allies
Lemasa has treaties guaranteeing the sovereignty of Taolisa and Dawana in exchange for their silence about the East.
Enemies
Lemasa is dedicated to the destruction of the Kingdom of the East. When that kingdom falls, the Lemasans will spit on its grave with consummate joy.
Language
| Lemasan | |
| Katai | 10% |
| Taolisan | 20% |
| Dawanese | 20% |
| Fomorian | 25% |
| Chunai | 5% |
| Eastern Tongues | 15%* |
*The languages of the three nations that Lemasa has trade ties with. Lemasa restricts knowledge of the existence of these people and very little is known about them, except by Lemasan scholars and traders.
Imperial Succession
When an Emperor dies, his sons are walled into the Sacred Caves (an ancient labyrinth near Sscavhi). Twenty-four hours later the exit is opened.
The first one to find this exit is the new Emperor. Immediately after his exit the cave is re-sealed. Any other son who is seen after this is killed. (It is considered to be a great omen when the new Emperor is the only survivor.)
At his coronation, five days after he exits the cave, the new Emperor marries his sisters and one princess and ten virgins from each kingdom in the Empire. (Most Emperors have about 100 brides on the day of their coronation. The number of children that he fathers in the first year of his reign is watched closely as an omen.)
Imperial Funerals
When an Emperor dies he is buried in the burial vaults of the Empire with his wives (living and dead), his personal property and 50 volunteers from the Sacred Guard. The location of the vaults is only known to the High Priest of Sscavhi. All members of the burial party, except the High Priest, are entombed with the dead Emperor or killed after they close the tomb.
The average Imperial grave holds the royal cadaver (draped in silver and gold), more than 100 wives, 50 soldiers and up to 20,000GC worth of grave goods. According to legend, the vaults have a powerful guardian and each tomb is warded with magic.
Basic Characteristics
| Height | 62" | |
| Weight | 125lbs |
Common Weapons
Javelins, Short Sword, Daggers
Ancestry
The Lemasan family are small and dexterous people with a good deal of stamina. They tend to have light complexions, oriental eyes and light brown or black hair.
Calendar (Lunar)
It is 1203 by the Lemasan calendar. The calendar begins with the first unification of Lemara, the jeweled home of man, under the priests of Sscavhi. It is ties to the rites of their common faith and devotions. The calendar is used in Lemasa, Ma'Helas and Taolisa (even though two of those states no longer heed the rule of the Emperor).