Thalamian Autocracy (Contributed by Kleomenes)
The Western Wasteland is a harsh and unforgiving territory. Much of the soil is poor and the interior is overrun with nomadic tribes of goblins. Furthermore, upland areas are infested with warlike orc tribes. The “Ramparts”, the mountains that cut the peninsula off from the rest of the midlands, are notoriously treacherous to cross thanks both to the terrain and the orcs who dominate their western slopes. Civilisation in the Wasteland is concentrated in a number of coastal towns and cities, well defended by walls and able to supplement their meagre agriculture with the produce of the sea. Each city has traditionally been ruled by a council of Magistrates elected from among the wealthy of the city.
In x204 a vast horde of orcs swept down from the Ramparts and attacked the human cities of the Wasteland. As the largest city in the Wasteland the city of Thalamia led an alliance to oppose the orcs. The Wasteland is not well populated, however, and so Thalamia was forced to raise mercenaries from various ruffians and exiles from all over the Midlands. A young citizen of Thalamia, Konos, was placed in command of these mercenaries. During the campaign that followed, the Thalamian alliance was defeated and all its senior generals killed. Only Konos remained to assume command, but unluckily for the orcs he was a ruthless and brilliant military commander. He let the orcs sack the town of Asin and then fell upon them with his mercenaries after they were laden down with booty and slaves, defeating them in a great battle.
Unfortunately for the Wasteland Konos had more in mind than just victory over the orcs. He took the booty that the orcs had seized from Asin and gave it to his mercenaries, winning their loyalty. He then marched back to Thalamia and used his army to depose the Magistrates in a bloody coup. Konos’ mercenaries murdered many of the most prominent citizens of Thalamia, and many others fled into exile. Either way, Konos used their wealth to secure his position by giving out money to the poor.
A great Iron Throne was placed on a dias in the doorway of the Council Chamber, from which Konos declared to the people of Thalamia that he had been given a dream vision from Saint Theobald on the eve of his great battle outside of Asin. The Saint had declared that the incompetence of the Magistrates ruling the cities of the Wasteland had nearly led to the destruction of human civilisation in the region. Konos asserted that Saint Theobald had told him to take action to overthrow the Magistrates and bring order to the Wasteland by ruling as Autocrat.
Konos began a war against the other cities of the Wasteland, who were still weak after the battles against the orc horde. Over the last fifteen years he has systematically built an empire, capturing some towns, and bullying others into submission. The purple and black colours of the Thalamian field army are now a familiar sight throughout the Wasteland. After each conquest wealth floods back into Thalamia, helping to transform the modest city into an imperial capital, full of victory monuments, temples and other grand public buildings. Its population has grown rapidly, as the victorious armies of Konos bring back captives and other Wastelanders travel to the city voluntarily to share in the regular cash handouts that Konos distributes to cement his position.
Half-orcs are treated abominably by Konos’ regime and are by law slaves with no individual rights. Nevertheless, the number of half-orcs is rising, and Konos employs thousands of publically owned half-orc slaves in agricultural plantations, mines, stone quarries and land reclamation initiatives in order to support the growth of his new empire. It is rumoured that there are captives from the orc horde he defeated among the work gangs, placed there in order to breed half-orcs that are stronger and well suited for battle. Whether this is true or not, it is certain that the strongest half-orcs born are commandeered by Konos’ men to be raised at a secret location. It is rumoured that the mysterious and powerful armoured warriors that in the last year have begun to serve as Konos’ personal bodyguards and enforcers are in some way connected to this.
Despite Konos’ efforts, all is not well in Thalamia and the Wasteland. Despite the repeated bribes, the people still remember the freedom they once enjoyed, and some now openly suggest that the only divinity that Konos respects is that of Cyanthus, despite his public veneration for Saint Theobald. Any discontent has to be whispered quietly, however, as dissenters are arrested and executed as traitors, unless they can flee into exile first.
Most worrying for the Midlands at large, however, is the fact that Konos’ regime is based on conquest. When he runs out of places to conquer in the Wasteland, he may be forced to turn his eye elsewhere.