Saralot
The Holy Empire of Saralot is a massive theocracy that dominates North-Eastern Amethgare. Largely seperated from the New Kingdoms and the other lands of the South by the Dragon Desert, Saralot has steadily and often aggresivley expanded its holdings over the last few centuries and has faced little real external oposition in that time.
Religion lies at the core of Saralonian culture, with the entirity of its legal and political system being based heavily on the famous Saralot Thesis and most particularly on the legend of the Amma. Saralonians believe that Humanity are the Amma reborn and forced to live mortal lives as punishment for their betrayal of the creator Menkharra. Only by atoning for this sin through worship of those entities that they term 'The True Gods' will they be returned to their immortal lives alongside the Gods, failing to achieve this forgiveness within one's lifetime brings reincarnation to the mortal world. Indeed worship of any entity not strictly considered amongst the True Gods is outlawed in Saralot.
The principle branch of Saralonian government is a hugely complicated religious beauracracy known as the Order of the New Dawn. Almost every aspect of Saralonian life is governed by the order, which makes up the empire's armies as well as dictacting social standing, political power and controlling all religious matters. The only other government body with any real power is the Order of Shadow's Fall, a much smaller and less public body that functions as the nation's intelligence service and, to a degree, as an external monitor of the New Dawn.
In recent years Saralot has provoked a number of serious political incidents with its Southern neighbour Antalon over the worship of Alas - an extremely popular religion in the Empire that is forbidden by its smaller rival. There is some concern in Antalon and its allies amongst the New Kingdoms that Saralot may be planning war, but at present it seems to be paralysed by internal squabbling.
The territories that make up the empire are Saralot, Velan, Collis, Demeren, Ironia, Treluris, Keleot and Keydarn.
Saralot is one of the three great powers of Amethgare, the others being The New Kingdoms and Thalas.
