Since E-day was for a story and not a proper entry, I'm dedicating this day of rest to The Empire of Gold and Jade. Consider it giving tyranny equal time.
The Empire of Gold and Jade is more of a corporation than
anything these days, but keeps the name and aesthetics for impressions. It is
the first successful human empire in recorded history. It was founded 280 years
ago after the Apocalypse of Demons, when the Golden Emperor and Jade Empress merged
their tribes to fight off the fiery invasion. From the smoking remains of the
east, the mighty newlyweds carried culture. It was hard to stop them from
taking over after that, what with all the demons having devastated the populations
of more powerful or established species.
The Empire of Gold and Jade has an immaculate history. It
is deeply progressive, seeking rational explanation for most phenomena in the
world, and it is that approach for which its citizens believe they have successfully
staved off any apocalypses. They regulate most enterprise and banned religion,
though critics question if the Empire, its rulers and founders have not taken
on divine status. It presently rules the eastern half of the world’s known
continent, up to the Uncanny
Valley, which blocks passage
to the west. They are working on that.
They have noteworthy achievements in architecture,
including the invention of “whitestone,” a self-cleaning building block that
makes for very tidy houses. They also invented golems, which have
revolutionized industry with free labor that never needs to consume anything
like some automatons we might mention. They even have a very humane prison
where they keep any captured monsters. The tales those imprisoned monsters have
to tell about how humane the prison really is makes up the plot of The House That Nobody Built.
They are the perfect ruling class for this world,
according to government documentation. Government invented and controls the
printing press. According to government documentation, they are sure they will
never be hit an apocalypse. One hasn’t come in 280 years.
Counter est. March 2, 2008
I like the ending of that post. It's one of those lines where you know they are going to eat those words!
ReplyDeleteHow very 1984ish of them
ReplyDeleteSadly not only will the Government eat those words so to will the deluded citizens of their Empire. I would like some 'whitestone' though.
ReplyDeleteDon't the appocalypses come around every 300 years? It sounds like they're about due for one. ;)
ReplyDeleteRinelle Grey
They're perfect indeed! It's nice to know that whatever world you're building there is always a more rational, more acculturate part!
ReplyDeleteThe previous entries- specifically the tale of the PR ninjas- makes this that much more hysterical.
ReplyDelete