Lohwand: The Tharkallan Empire - a First Look

The Tharkallan Empire 

(in red)

The Tharkallan Empire is meant to be the main evil protagonist in the Lohwand campaign. In my Mind's Eye it is a mix of Early Imperial Rome, spliced with the Lunar Empire (from Greg Stafford's Glorantha), and Michael Moorcock's Melnibone. You can see that reflected partly in the naming of the provinces. The capitol city, Thark, is located in the province of Jharkor. Where did I steal that name I wonder? ;-)  

I was initially tempted to call the provinces Satraps or Sultanates, but decided that I am going to have enough of those elsewhere in Lohwand, so I went with boring old "Provinces". Each province is ruled by a Provincial Governor. I'm thinking that they will be subdivided into Prefectures, ruled by Prefects. 

Borrowing again from Glorantha, I decided that six of the provinces are considered the "Heartland Provinces", that is, where the so-styled Tharkallan peoples originate from. I've worked out a bit of background to the empire. For example, I know that the provinces, in order of incorporation into the Empire are:

1) Jharkor;*

2) Dharjiin;*

3) Dharijor;*

4) Doblian;*

5) Dorel;

6) Bisset;

7) Voria;

8) Kostaddi;*

9) Karasal;*

10) Nemedia;**

11) Filkhar;

12) Granbreton;

13) Arolanit.

* considered “Heartland Provinces”. Originally consisting of just the first four regions; Kostaddi and Karasal were added after they were taken in consideration of those regions being part of the “Ancient Homeland” of the Tharkallan peoples.

** First of the Ilmioran city states to come under the Tharkallan yoke. The province is completely absorbed into the Empire and the citizens little or no memory of their former independence.

Arolanit is the last province to be incorporated into the Empire; I mean, of course, "most recent" as the Empire has a voracious appetite for conquest and is continually seeking new territories to conquer. The province held out so long in no small part due to the powerful sorcerers who reside there. Now, the survivors serve in The College of Magic, part of the Tharkallan order of battle. That, or they are languishing in the dungeons far beneath the Imperial Palace. Some might have escaped of course, but that hasn't been determined yet.