Alphatia (Empire of)
Location: Largest floating continent, in an equatorial orbit over the Hollow World. HW
Area: 1,968,134 sq. mi. (5,097,465 sq. km.).
Population: 5,000,000 (humans 92%, elves 2%, all other 5%; note that this is different from before because the "monster" population of Limn, which is over 4% of Alphatia's population, was unaccounted for in the previous breakdown). The starvation in Stonewall is the main reason for the Alphatian decline in population since the arrival in the Hollow World.
Languages: Alphatian (various dialects). Elvish (Shiye-Lawr dialect), Dwarvish (Denwarf-Hurgon dialect).
Coinage: Alphatian Standard: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp). Various kingdoms may mint other denominations in addition. Kingdoms tend to prefer coins of their own mintage, and charge conversion fees for coins from other kingdoms, especially esoteric coins. Coins of imperial mintage are accepted at full value throughout the empire.
Taxes: 15% income tax on everyone of servant status or higher. Slaves are counted as the property of the owner and the product of their labour is taxed as income for the owner. Individual kingdoms may also have some additional taxes.
Government Type: Imperial monarchy overseeing subject kingdoms.
Industries: Agriculture, crafts, herding, exploitation of magic. Various others in specific kingdoms.
Important Figures: Eriadna (Empress of the Alphatian Empire, Queen of Vertiloch, Queen of Alphas'ar).
Flora and Fauna: With its immense size and use of magical arts, Alphatia boasts a wide variety of plant and animal life. One may find examples of just about any life form known, as well as some previously unknown types.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperor boxed set, previous almanacs.
Last Year's Events: Many wars erupted or went on in Alphatia: between Arogansa and
Eadrin, in Arkan with the dismantlement of Arkan by Stonewall-and maybe the
start of a new one in Haven. Some of
these wars were the renewal of old feuds, but even more were the consequence of
the disruptions wrought by the transportation of Alphatia to a floating
continent in the Hollow World: the famine in Stonewall, the disappearance of
Arogansa's beaches. Some kingdoms or
aristocrats pursued a more peaceful road at adjusting to the new conditions,
with the huge projects to build canals throughout Alphatia, the construction of
a new capital at Andaire, or simply the arduous exploration of this new world.