Rembia
The Western Empire, known also as Rembia, is oldest human monarchy in the Realm tracing a bloodline back over four thousand years to General Isolde who defeated the Army Magica and was crowned Emperor of Rembia in the early tenth century First Age. The current emperor, Theodric the XIX, is the absolute ruler of this kingdom that stretches from Thorinshold in the north, west to Elothian and south to the Freelands. The emperor rules in absentia through a network of local governors and magistrates. Royal proclamations are brought via gold-gilded litters to these rulers from Theodric's Palace in the Celestial City on the holy island of Serapherum. Born in the palace, Theodric has never left the island.
Rembia is a well-settled land. Across from the holy island lies the great capital city of Whitecliff, the largest human settlement in the Realm. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children live in this sprawling metropolis. Serving as the mercantile capital of the Empire, Whitecliff forms the central brain of Rembia. Roads radiate out from Whitecliff like the spokes of a wagon wheel. Along these roads are the cities, towns and villages of the Western Empire. The first farms begin to appear after 100 miles journey from the coast, forests can be seen 500 miles away, but there is no true frontier in this ancient land. A patchwork of fiefdoms and crofts all swear loyalty to the Emperor, but this is a land of many nobles of ancient heritage and labyrinthine courtly rituals.
At the farthest edge of a spoke road running to the northwest of the capital lies the ancient city of Sarth, home of the great libraries of learning. The priests of Sarth jealously guard their incomparable hoard of books and papers collected over the last four thousand years. This city sits near the borders of Elothian and Thorinshold. It is rumored that both the elves and dwarves have sworn protection to the priests of Sarth.
While an empire in decline, Rembia is still a pre-eminent trading power with strong ties to the Tang Empire. The Army of the Emperor is the most technologically advanced in the Realm, although it is rarely called to action. Periodic feuds with the Lords of the Heptarchy represent the entirety of fighting that the Western Empire has undertaken in the last two centuries.