The few historical annals that remained in the world after The Conflux all told the tale of The Tindremic Empire, and the writing was always grand and pompous. Some of these annals tell the tale of an empire that spanned the width of three continents, Myrland, Sarducaa, and Nordveld, with settlements such as Gabaria on the border of a fourth, Herabalter.

Indeed, records indicate that the Tindremic Empire's reach on Myrland alone even extended as far south as the settlements of Amodia, Canteri, and Chloros. The reputation of the Tindremenes as colonizers, conquerors or liberators is something that still lives on in all great civilizations in the known world, and as a testimony to all this stands the grand Tindrem, the largest city of the modern age.

Many things have come to pass since The Conflux, and although Tindrem escaped that long-past catastrophe with minor damages, the city's populace, much of its culture, and the famed imperial army were not so lucky when faced with The Irruption.

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The native Tindremenes still regard themselves as the most advanced civilization in the known world and call attention to their heritage from the mythic Shinarian culture and their ancient but now long-broken alliance with Húergar.

Although Tindrem is still a powerful city, it is also one of the few things that remain of the great empire. Tindrem itself is nowadays a melting pot of different cultures and not even Myrland can be regarded as dominated by the Tindremenes, with the Khurite Allied Tribes on the steppes and the warlike Risar clans to the east.

The Tindremic Empire still lives on as a name and as an ideal in the minds and hearts of the Tindremene people. Despite their pride the Tindremenes have realized the awkwardness of keeping the name of the empire on the map itself.

Today the western part of Myrland and the different colonies are instead called The Tindremic Provinces, and their borders are not always fixed, with a few exceptions. These include the capital city of Tindrem, a few small cities and villages on Myrland such as Fabernum, Meduli, the island of Isla Piska north of Tindrem, and a small number of colonies across the world. Contact with the colonies, however, is sporadic at best.

To the north-east, the remote mining colony and city of Gabaria on the border of Herabalter fell to the Risar hordes long ago, and is now known as Gaul'kor. Its ruins are now home to all manner of criminals and outcasts, and travel to or from the region is all but unheard of.

For a brief period after The Conflux and just prior to The Irruption, Kranesh had also officially joined or was annexed into the Tindremic Provinces. Records detailing the circumstances of this unusual union are unfortunately lost to time, and the settlement's few Irruption survivors violently refused to rejoin the recovering Empire, remaining an independent town to this day.

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In old times, only those with a true bloodline were considered genuine Tindremenes, meaning that they had the right to belong to the Plebeian caste. This bloodline, which was claimed to have run in the Tindremic race since they parted from the Shinarian civilization, had to be inherited by having at least one parent who was a part of the Plebeian caste or higher, or by presenting a proper pedigree for evaluation. Although this system had been generally abandoned since The Conflux and the confusion following it, it was still practiced by many in the Theurgy and Nobilitas castes prior to The Irruption.

A caste was not always inherited but can rather be assigned at random by various groups who possessed societal power, and what once was a clear system has degenerated into a jumble of symbols, where no one really kept track of what stood for what. The caste mark was still said to signify plenty of information concerning the bearer to an observant beholder, such as family, social class, political influence and power, profession, assets and even sexual disposition.

However, most Tindremenes only had knowledge concerning a small set of caste marks belonging to nearby families or people in one's close proximity, as well as the most important marks belonging to the higher castes. To not be able to recognize a mark was however never shown outwards since it was regarded as one's duty and related to one's honor to show others a proper amount of respect depending on their specific caste. The “proper amount of respect” could have been anything ranging from contempt to courteously fawning.

In the wake of the Empire's reorganization after The Irruption, a plethora of new caste marks saw the light of day—each one larger and more elaborate than the other—significantly complicating this practice.

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The rules governing the caste-system proclaimed that the caste mark should be placed in the center of the forehead and plainly visible, though this was rare in the countryside or in less civilized settlements. A basic pattern existed for every major caste, and this pattern grew and became more advanced for every step on the ladder.

In addition to one's major caste mark, which was required by law to always be visible, there existed an abundance of extensions to the mark depending on which sub-caste, family and profession an individual belonged to. Usually the basic major caste mark was tattooed while the extensions to the mark were painted on a frequent basis.

Below follows a listing of the largest major castes and their most important aspects.

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Eeta was not considered a caste per se, it was more of a common name for those with no rights, also known as the Casteless or Untouchables. Belonging to Eeta was one step away from being permanently banned from the Tindremic Provinces and Eeta was mostly constituted by convicted felons and outcasts such as native Thursar, the gravely ill, plague victims, or those who suffered from a mental or physical handicap.

They were all regarded as a potential risk towards the rest of society regardless if that was the case or not. Several Eeta had their forehead badly burned with a symbol which displayed their individual caste in order to prevent them from adopting a false identity. For example, thieves belonging to Vispellio, Canacheni or Thesauria (body looters and grave-robbers, pickpockets, burglars and treasure-thieves) were all burned with their respective mark when sentenced.

Eeta who lived in the city of Tindrem were banished to Vica Caducus, the Sinking City, and were not allowed to set foot on any other property in the capital.

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Those who belonged to the Slave castes were not regarded as regular citizens, however these castes were differentiated depending on their use and their personal rights. For example, a lower class such as Serfs worked on their master's estate in exchange for food and lodging but were not allowed to own any property themselves.

Villeins also worked in exchange for food and lodging but were allowed to own property, and Gladiators were even expected to fight and earn enough money to buy their own freedom.

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The majority of the population belonged to Plebeian or Plebs and it was also the most extensive of the major castes. Even visitors to the empire were considered Plebeian although many specific rules and constitutions concerning visitors existed.

Everyone who belonged to the Plebeian were considered free men and women who could own and manage property. The term covers recently redeemed slaves, Freemen, to a plethora of other sub-casts such as Courtesans, Mercenaries, Guards, Workers, Fishermen, Crafters, Merchants, and Lesser Landowners. Only the Plebeian had the right, and were forced by law, to enter into the army if necessary.

It was also among the Plebeian you could have found the majority of the guilds in the empire, and they were represented by members of the Nobilitas in the Tricapita.

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Those who could be said to belong to the army were only those who are employed to serve in the defense of the city of Tindrem, these men and women were often of higher rank. Regular guards and soldiers still belonged to the Plebeian and it was only if they rose to a higher rank that they could change their major caste. Belonging to this caste were Guards, Officers, Lictors, Specialists, Military Officers, Aquilifers, Commanders, Legati, and Generals.

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The Theurgy consisted of those who were regarded as “knowledgeable and wise individuals who were a benefit and of use to the empire” and includes members of “approved” magisteria, sciences, religions and magic schools.

Following the same manner as other castes, one could see a distinct hierarchy within the caste's members, the Readers, Acolytes, Hierodules, Scholars, Vicars, Lawmen, Mages, Priests, Archimandrites, Elders, as well as Arbiters, Archmages, Patriarchs, and Matriarchs.

Within the Theurgy constant debates and disputes were held, the topics discussed ranged from questions regarding faith and science, to what sub-divisions should or should not have been included in the turbulent Theurgy caste. However, open fights and wars were rare, probably owing to the theoretical nature of the caste, but when fighting did arise it was fought in the shadows by hired agents.

To have belonged to the Theurgy caste from birth, at least one, or preferably both of one's parents had to already be members of the Theurgy caste, or another superior caste. Representatives of the Tricapita were chosen from the Theurgy class.

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Little in the way of specifics are documented about the Tindremic Empire's Nobilitas caste, outside of their significant wealth, political influence, and frequency of residence in Vica Despectus—the highest and finest district of the city.

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Most of the Alis reside in a tower next to Arx Primoris in Tindrem called Specula Summa, which is somehow connected to caves within the mountain. These caves once housed Dragons, and still do according to some, but Dragons haven't been sighted in the skies for a very long time. The order still trains Draconigena “knights”, however, which are almost as rare a sight to the plebs as the would-be Dragons.

The “Draconigena Armatus” armor design which can sometimes be seen in arming shops and smithies is very likely mimicked from paintings or statues—very few people have even seen a piece of the real thing. However, a common belief among blacksmiths is that the revered Tindremic Messing came about when looking for a heat resistant alloy for the legendary armor.

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The Tricapita was the ruling caste with the highest ranking representatives, and it was composed of the Imperator or Emperor himself, his two Ephors from the Theurgy, and the Nobilitas. Both men and women could have held the position of emperor/empress, and the title was both hereditary and open for election according to diffuse rules not known to the lower castes.

Also included in the Tricapita were the supreme commanders of the army known as Praetors, priests, wise men, magicians appointed by the government known as Flamines, a number of Consuls & Quaestors, select representatives of the Alis, as well as the Praetorian guard of the Imperator.

Except for the Imperator and his closest kin it was not possible to be born into the Tricapita. The titles were instead appointed within the Theurgy or the Nobilitas.

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As far as historical documents reveal, the Tindremic Empire had always been governed by a Tricapita in various forms. As the name implies, the Tricapita consisted of three heads or Capitas—the Emperor, representatives of the Theurgy, and representatives of the Nobilitas. The major part of the army is under direct control of the emperor’s Capita, while influential members of the other Capitas were allowed control of their own legions.

In the times of the old empire before The Conflux, the ruling Tricapita maintained discipline and control by means of spiritual and physical power in a strict hierarchical system. This according to most scholars of the time formed the basis of the once large and thriving empire.

The Tricapita after The Conflux was merely a shadow of its former self, and even though no one could deny that it ruled supreme, the manner of how it acquired power was very different compared to days past. It is difficult, almost impossible to say if the decline of the caste system is a result of the corruption within the ruling caste or vice versa. A number of theologians even claim that a certain deity ruled over the caste system before The Conflux, but as it had been forgotten its domain had withered.

What was clear was the fact that only a fragment of the former army and its legions remained. The government-supported religions and their representatives found themselves in competition with new gods and deities who celebrated independence, profit and individual happiness, and a large number of new temples were constructed to honor those challengers by their followers.

During this period, the Emperor was rarely seen in public except from some appearances on festivals and gladiator games, and there were people who believed that he and his predecessors had been marionettes of the elite for a long time.

In the wake of The Irruption, the Empire's army and legions were no longer, and a new generation of Nobilitas emerged after a period of significant disorder in the capital city of Tindrem. These Nobilitas chose to acknowledge the surviving members of the Tricapita, and life in the Empire resumed, albeit with a devastating loss of cultural and religious knowledge.

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The combination of former glory and pride as well as the decline of the caste system resulted in a new kind of morality to be developed in Tindrem. A true Tindremene, regardless of caste lived by the principle “the strong shall prevail” and “what’s gained is earned”, and praised what many regarded as outright swindling.

This perspective was used in trade negotiations, as well as in discussions or in power struggles. It was the norm to always be prepared for an intellectual or—in the worst case—a real stab in the back. First time visitors to the city of Tindrem were often appalled by “the lack of honor” amongst the native population.

A Tindremene on the other hand found plenty of naive and easily duped visitors in the city, and considered it awkward when a visitor made a scene or called a guard. “Not only is the foreigner incompetent in negotiations, he doesn’t even have the wits to keep quiet about it.”, as a Tindremene would have said.

The prevailing mentality which has emerged since The Conflux has been summarized adequately by the acclaimed and respected philosopher Levai Cham:

"A man should always seem to have virtues, even if he does not actually have them. Not having virtues
is in fact preferable than having them, since such a man is not tied by the bonds of morality; a mind
not feeling the constraints of virtue is able to adapt itself according to the wind. However, a man
able to scheme on the inside should be mercy, faith, integrity, humanity and religion on the outside."

Way of the Fox, Levai Cham, Majus Philosophicus

Prior to The Conflux, the law of Tindrem went through a revolutionary change. During a rebellion the Tricapita yielded to a demand for publicizing the law to the lower castes beneath the Theurgy as well.

This happened as a result of the imprisonment of an influential Plebeian who later campaigned for making the law public so that every citizen could learn it and therefore not be taken by surprise when arrested. In the negotiation which followed the rebellion, the Tricapita agreed to publicize the law in exchange that some castes would still be exempted from it.

This arrangement created Lexus Tredecim Tabula (Law of the Thirteen Tablets), or as it is generally known The Golden Means. During a grand ceremony the laws were placed in the arms of a majestic statue on Forum Iudico so that every citizen, at least those who were literate, could read and memorize the laws. The law had a varied degree of penalty depending on castes (and some were, as mentioned before, fully exempted from it.) However, the law recognized every citizen’s right to a fair trial before conviction.

Whether the Golden Means actually were made of pure gold or another material such as stone or plaster, is still up for debate since all traces of them as well as the statue they rested upon disappeared in The Great Washout. Regardless, the Golden Means still applied within the borders of the Tindremic Provinces. A problem with the law was partly that it had never been made public in its whole format since the last time it was made public, and partly because of the abundance of later interpretations and exceptions made for new castes.

This resulted in farce-like trials where bribes in the form of money, goods or influence appeared frequently, and the corruption was hard to make public since the trials were often conducted behind closed doors. The trials and public punishments that were held openly at Forum Tindrem for the general public seemed to be carried out only to make examples.

Something which remains unchanged to this day is that a visitor to Tindrem should be aware of Lictors and their unique role within the legal system. One or a number of Lictors always accompany members of the Tricapita, but can also be appointed to temporarily protect certain citizens, often those belonging to an eminent caste. A Lictor possesses the right to defend his master at any time with the use of violence, and might even kill in order to protect his master from real or imaginary threats.

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The Tindremenes eventually developed their own architectural style using sandstone, plaster, marble, and Cuprum.

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In the wake of The Irruption, two very different groups warily entered the streets of Tindrem after the first few years of hiding. Climbing out of the sewers were the Eeta, Slaves, and lower Plebeians, who had survived on goodness knows what down in the dark.

Out of Arx Primoris came a procession of the remaining Tricapita, formally dressed in Sarducaan Papyrus, and a few of the Theurgy and Nobilitas who had been allowed protection in the great fortress.

Very soon it stood clear that the higher castes had no way of ordering or controlling the lower without the help of a city guard or an army, of which there were none left, and complete civil disorder ensued. That the enormous city gates were locked didn’t help the fact as the only way to escape the city was by sea, and for a few years the gated community of Tindrem was probably the most dangerous place in the whole of Myrland.

The chaos only lasted for a period, as most of the fighting reflected a king of the hill race for the best villas in Vica Despectus—the highest and finest district of the city. However, as fortune would bestow, there were plenty of villas and fewer people. One would have thought that this juxtaposition of the various castes might have resulted in the abolishment of the old caste system and giving rise to a new social order, but in fact the opposite happened as the temporary disorganization somehow strengthened it further.

These new Nobilitas rather quickly assimilated into their new roles and a plethora of new caste marks saw the light of day, each one larger and more elaborate than the other. When the storm inside of the city walls had finally settled, the Tricapita yet again emerged from Arx Primoris on their palanquins, only this time to be met by posh clapping and courteous fawning by a new upper class, and that was that.

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The reunion with the other towns and villages in the Tindremic Provinces of Myrland—most importantly Fabernum, Meduli, and Kranesh—should have been jubilant, but instead became quite problematic for the remaining Tricapita. After the Arx Primoris disaster of 44 A:eD, the Empire was without an Emperor and headed by just the remaining two Ephors from the Theurgy and Nobilitas.

The almost-desolate but stubborn village of Kranesh chased the emissaries away with pitchforks. The other provinces were more talkative, but first condemned how little help they had received both during The Irruption and afterwards, as several years had now passed. Secondly, they were critical of the demands to now themselves send help, including new citizens, to the capital. Thirdly, they had managed to get on their feet on their own accord and had no desire to welcome interfering Procurators, tax collectors or political intrigue into their presently self-sustaining communities.

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Various attempts were made to come to terms with the Provincial leaders, including both cajolery and empty threats—there was after all, at this time, no army to make real threats. As a final resort, the Tricapita hatched the idea to entice the leaders of the provinces with the tantalizing chance at becoming the new Emperor.

The stratagem worked, and in effect led to nearly half a century of drawn-out discussions where an Emperor-less temporary constitution was formed: The Dicapita, consisting of only the two cunning Ephors. During this time the Constitutio Mundanus Tindrem was promulgated, granting Tindremic citizenship to all free people living in Myrland who migrated into the mostly empty city of Tindrem, instituting various rewards for for instance childbearing, and set in operation a complicated reverse tax for importing and exporting goods.

Slowly but surely during the endless bickering, the Dicapita tightened its grip on the Provinces, mobilized a new army and city guard, and secured the sovereignty of the capital. The new soldiers were sent on “hunting missions” to the steppe and came back with both meat and valuable trinkets to the great joy of the citizens.

These “hunting missions” on the steppe would later be revealed to be both acts of poaching as well as the frequent sacking Khurite settlements and transports, leading to extreme tensions between both recovering peoples.

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Among the Nobilitas, now strengthened by the growing population, a new bloodline of particularly sharp talents in political chicanery grew, and—as is customary in Tindrem—this era ended with gamesmanship and backstabbing.

One day the two Ephors were found without their heads, and from the shadows stepped Livi Avitus Decollator to take the throne as Imperator in 3 A:eD. The reinstated Tricapita tore up the Constitutio Mundanus Tindrem and dispatched the rule of the Dicapita into the history books—henceforth jocularly called the “Decapita” in popular parlance.

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As the government came together and the wheels of bureaucracy started spinning, it became more and more apparent that there was plenty of confusion regarding chronology and time. The years in the annals from just before The Irruption didn’t make sense, and neither did the documents written after it had happened.

The current Novo Tindrem (NT) calendar year was supposed to be around 400 NT, but the scholars arrived at anything within fifty years from that date in their calculations when trying to pinpoint the precise year. This predicament brought the whole Theurgy to a deadlock that lasted for far too long, until the Tricapita finally stepped in and ordered the slate wiped clean by starting a new epoch.

The new calendar era would use Anno Decollator (A:oD or simply AD) in honor of the new Imperator, and all previous years would use Ante Decollator (A:eD) and be approximations. The royal Auspices foresaw bad omens in starting the count at zero, or even having a year zero, but voted in favor for continuing the tradition of turning the year at the winter solstice.

All said and done, when the start of winter came the year went from Unknown to One and the government could finally move on, but—for any historian or scholar in need of a sensible chronology—this was a nightmare. The previous Novo Tindrem calendar had once been put in place under similar circumstances—the confusion surrounding The Conflux—and there were now three arbitrary calendars and six different labels to keep track of, not counting the alternative calendars in circulation.

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The tensions between the Empire and the Khurites as a result of the Empire's “hunting trips” culminated in 9 AD when a small group of what were allegedly Tindremic Draconigena Knights managed to skulk their way into Morin Khur and massacre the entire Tribunal of the Khurite Allied Tribes, who were all heavily drunk on airag and bathing in a sweat ger.

Whether the Empire knew it or not, one of these Tribunes were a representative of the Anam Sith—the “Alvarin Nation”—and the act would not go unforgotten. Regardless, after this exemplary Tindremic stratagemma, the gates to the Khurite capital were swung open, letting in a cohort led by a triumphant Livi Avitus Decollator himself.

This “battle” went down in the Tindremic history books as the Heroic Conquest of Morin Khur, and to this day the city has been occupied, currently under the Procurator Gnaeus Avitus Tesqua. Khurites still living in the city are allegedly treated with partial respect, although control is strict and there is much suspicion from the Tindremenes in regards to outsiders.

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In 11 AD, the conflict between the Empire and the Khurite Allied Tribes would take another turn when two Alvarin assassins allegedly took the life of Imperator Livi Avitus Decollator. This act of retaliation ironically weakened the Khurite Allied Tribes, as the Anam Sith considered the death of their Tribune properly avenged and the matter settled, officially withdrawing from the conflict the same year.

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The imperial Tindremic idea was not extinguished with the Irruption. It lived in the heart of the
generations, and the great spirits testify to its existence. From Tindrem, restored capital of the united
Empire, colonial expansion was initiated and achieved the glory of the Heroic Conquest of Morin Khur with the
destruction of the forces that had opposed the unification of Myrland. With Tindremic Rule, by the will of
the Emperor, every ideal, every institution, every Tindremic work returns to shine in the new Empire, and
after the soldiers' epic enterprise in the inland steppe, the Tindremic Empire rises again on the ruins of a
barbaric nation.

Benedictus Lanarius, Exhibition "Mostra Augustea de la Tindremicá", Opus CDXXXIV

Ever since the annexation of Morin Khur, the Tricapita has argued on the next steps to expand the Empire. Following the unfortunate death of Imperator Livi Avitus Decollator—who was officially and publicly reported as to have died of heart failure—his son Isaios Avitus ascended the throne in 12 AD at the modest age of 13.

Although quite popular among the Tindremic citizens during his first decades as emperor, very little happened on the national or political fronts as his areas of interest during the time seemingly revolved around spectacles, music and games. While this led to a slightly increased autonomy for the provincial towns, the situation with Morin Khur and the Khurite Allied Tribes remained turbulent.

Later events involving the Kallards from Nordveld have turned the tides, and rumor has it that recently the Emperor—aside from still putting a lot of effort into extravagant festivities—seems focused on building a new war fleet. Whether for conquests into the northwestern continent of Nordveld or as a defence against the rearming Sarducaan Empire is not known.

Meanwhile, his brother the Procurator Gnaeus Tesqua continues to call for troops to break the pesky Khurens of the steppe and keep the unruly Morin Khur under control, which has grown more difficult year by year.

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