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Difference between revisions of "Final Empire"

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* [[Tremredare]] - The capital city of the [[Western Dominance]].{{map ref|final empire 1021|the Final Empire (1021)}}
  
* [[Tremredare]] - The capital city of the [[Western Dominance]].{{map ref|final empire 1021|the Final Empire (1021)}}
   
−
== Culture ==
  
−
The Lord Ruler suppressed most technological advances, killing everyone who discovered gunpowder and the knowledge associated with it.{{epigraph ref|mb3|28}} He did allow some advances such as the implementation of canneries, allowing for the easy storage of food.{{book ref|mb2|13}} The currency includes [[Currency|Boxings]] and Clips.{{book ref|mb2|13}}{{book ref|mb3|51}}
  
   
  ⚫
== Government and Politics ==
−
The Final Empire had somewhere around a hundred million citizens. A couple million of those lived in [[Luthadel]].{{wob ref|3466}}
  
  ⚫
=== Lord Ruler ===
  +
The Final Empire is ruled by the [[Lord Ruler]]. This man is a fullborn, a full feruchemist and a mistborn.{{book ref|mb1|38}} Some [[Skaa]] view him as eternal, like the sun and the mists.{{book ref|mb1|1}} The Lord Ruler has a lot of influence on the culture of both nobles and Skaa.
   
  +
The Lord Ruler plays a large role in Steel Ministry doctrine. They view him as a god, calling him the ‘sliver of infinity’.{{book ref|mb1|8}} He is revered for saving the world from the deepness.{{book ref |mb2|56}}
⚫
=== Military ===
  
−
The empire had a standing army around [[Luthadel]] including a number of garrisons. The [[Luthadel]] Garrison consisted of twenty thousand troops, mostly skaa, and many of the smaller towns in the [[Central Dominance]] had smaller Garrisons of their own, such as [[Valtroux]] and [[Holstep]].{{book ref|mb1|24}} There is also a substantial army of koloss who can be under the control of the [[Lord Ruler]] or a remote [[Inquisitor]]. The [[Canton of Inquisition]] itself is trained to have formidable warriors, each member more than capable of overcoming any target. The Noble houses operate guardsmen, militias and armies when necessary.
  
   
  +
He has absolute authority in the Final Empire. It must be noted however that he doesn’t make many decisions himself, instead letting the various cantons of the [[Steel Ministry]] rule.
−
The Lord Ruler used the [[kandra]] as spies with the ability to accurately imitate and replace anyone whose skeleton is available.{{epigraph ref|mb3|80}}
  
   
−
=== Social Caste ===
 +
=== Noble Houses ===
  +
The noble houses effectively rule the empire, although they are policed heavily by the Steel Ministry. The houses control imperial trade and also enslave the majority of the Empire’s Skaa population.{{book ref|mb1|6}}
−
The descendants of the people who originally supported the Lord Ruler during his rise to power are now the nobility of the Final Empire.{{book ref|mb2|14}} The Lord Ruler and his allies had access to beads of [[lerasium]], and gained Allomantic powers. Because of this, certain nobles gain the use of Allomancy. There is a wide range of nobles, from the high houses to the impoverished.
 
   
  +
Most noblemen are provincial lords, owning plantations that produce food or other products.{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} Most of these lords seem to live on their plantations, although a lot of them also live in nearby cities, controlling their plantations from a distance away.
−
Skaa descend from people who did not support the Lord Ruler. When he ascended, the skaa were changed so they were more fertile. Skaa cannot become Allomancers unless they have noble blood recently in their lineage. Skaa are essentially slaves, property for nobles to exchange between them, although they are ultimately owned by the Lord Ruler.{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} The best-off skaa will be craftsmen or tradesmen. They and their families will live in relative comfort, but this happens very rarely for skaa.{{book ref|mb1|6}} Normally, even the highest skaa are subject to the whims of the nobility{{book ref|mb1|6}}. However, far from the center of the empire, skaa can own land and achieve wealth{{wob ref|10052}}.
  
  +
==== Great Houses ====
  +
The Great Houses are the most prominent noble families in the Final Empire, notable for their ability to build a keep and maintain a high-profile presence in Luthadel.{{book ref|mb1|2}} This is made difficult by the Lord Ruler's keep tax.{{book ref|mb1|24}} Country nobility resent the Great Houses for their control of the canal systems.{{book ref|mb1|23}} The Great Houses get to buy a monthly stipend of atium, one of the main ways that the Lord Ruler controls them.{{book ref|mb1|13}}
   
  +
A major house war between the Great Houses tends to happen every couple of centuries or so.{{book ref|mb1|6}} House Wars are primarily political.{{book ref|mb1|24}} The last House War was devastating.{{book ref|mb1|6}}
⚫
=== Government ===
  
  +
  ⚫
=== Steel Ministry ===
 
{{for|Steel Ministry}}
  
{{for|Steel Ministry}}
−
The Steel Ministry and its obligators are the main bureaucracy for the Final Empire. Despite officially being a religious institution, in reality the Steel Ministry was based on the bureaucratic mercantile system of the Hallant.{{epigraph ref|mb3|27}} The main purpose of this bureaucracy was to monitor the noble houses who engaged in financial activity under this system.{{book ref|mb1|27}}{{book ref|mb1|23}} The noble houses themselves were primarily financial organizations in nature. They also maintained the Lord Ruler's empire from their keeps.{{book ref|mb1|27}} The Great Houses control most trade and enslave most of the Empire's skaa population{{book ref|mb1|6}}.
 +
The Steel Ministry and its obligators are the main bureaucracy for the Final Empire.{{book ref|mb1|1}} Despite officially being a religious institution, the main purpose of the Steel Ministry is to keep the empire running.
−  
⚫
The structure of Dominances, in [[Vin]]'s time, involves provincial lords each with command of, and responsibility for, their own skaa. This organization has been in place for two hundred years and grants the nobility greater freedom than previous systems. The [[Lord Ruler]] seems to be uncomfortable with this and counteracts it with increased obligator activity {{book ref|mb1|18}}.
  
−  
−
Many of these noblemen live in the cities as well, controlling their plantations, if they have any, from far away.{{cite}}
  
   
  +
One of the functions of the Ministry is to witness a myriad of contracts and agreements, even something as simple as promise to come to a game of [[shelldry]].{{book ref|mb1|23}} The nobility pay the [[Lord Ruler]] for their services in a manner similar to that of renting [[skaa]].{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} As the authority in bureaucratic matters, any mercantile contracts, divorces, weddings, land purchases, inheritances, or any other important dealings could only be authorized by obligators. If one of the Ministry’s members hasn't witnessed an event or sealed a document, it might as well not have happened or have been written.{{book ref|mb1|23}}
⚫
=== Economy ===
  
−
Most of the labour is done by [[Skaa]]. Skaa work on plantations, providing the empire with food, they also work jobs as builders, and clear ash from the city streets. Skaa also work as craftsmen and also operate canal boats.{{cite}}
  
   
  +
The Ministry is split up into multiple cantons. These Cantons are responsible for their own area, for example finances or orthodoxy. The known Cantons are:
⚫
=== Atium control ===
  
  +
{{Columns|
−
The atium economy acts as one of the many ways the [[Lord Ruler]] takes a firm hold on the Final Empire. Its scarcity, along with its godly Allomantic use, makes atium an extremely valuable currency; a small bead being valuable enough to cover the cost of living for a skaa for several years.{{cite}}
  
  +
* Canton of Finance
  +
* Canton of Resource
  +
* Canton of Inquisition
  +
* Canton of Orthodoxy
  +
}}
   
  +
=== Administrative Districts ===
−
The only place atium can be mined is at the [[Pits of Hathsin]], where skaa criminals are sent to work as punishment for their crimes until death. A [[noble]] house is in charge of the profitable mining camp, with [[House Venture]] being the last House to oversee the operation before the destruction of the mine. The fact that atium is mined here is kept top-secret. Not a single prisoner has escaped before [[Kelsier]], hence his nickname "the Survivor of Hathsin".{{book ref|mb1|4}}
  
  ⚫
The Final Empire consisted of ten [[Dominance]]s.{{map ref|final empire 1021|the Final Empire (1021)}} Each dominance is ruled by provincial lords each with command of, and responsibility for, their own skaa.{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} This organization has been in place for two hundred years and grants the nobility greater freedom than previous systems. The [[Lord Ruler]] seems to be uncomfortable with this and counteracts it with increased obligator activity {{book ref|mb1|18}}.
   
  +
The ten dominances are:{{map ref|final empire 1021|the Final Empire (1021)}}
−
A portion of the [[atium]] mined at the Pits of Hathsin is secretly transported to [[Luthadel]] by the [[Canton of Resource]], mixed into and disguised as Ministry funds. Since metal coins radiate powerful light in the [[Cognitive Realm]], the atium beads, when mixed with other coins, can be transported safely without being discovered by [[Ruin]].{{book ref|mb3|79}}
  
  +
{{columns|
  +
* [[Central Dominance]]
  +
* [[Northern Dominance]]
  +
* [[Western Dominance]]
  +
* [[Eastern Dominance]]
  +
* [[Southern Dominance]]
  +
* [[Crescent Dominance]]
  +
* [[Farmost Dominance]]
  +
* [[Southern Islands]]
  +
* [[Remote Dominance]]
  +
* The [[Terris Dominance]]
  +
}}
   
  ⚫
=== Luthadel ===
−
[[Kandra]] are known to only accept atium for their service. Their "contract", purchased with steep prices, provides the [[Kandra]]'s absolute loyalty and their powerful imitating skills. However, the fulfilling of Contracts actually has another purpose. All the atium they earn is brought to their Homeland where it is stockpiled in a metal vault, the Trust. They do this on account of their [[First Contract]] with the [[Lord Ruler]]. For atium is condensed power of Ruin, by storing it in a place where Ruin has no influence, they deny him access to a part of his power.{{cite}}
  
  +
[[Luthadel]] is the capital city of the Final Empire.{{book ref|mb1|2}} It is located in the [[Dominance|central dominance]], southwest of [[lake Luthadel]] and east of [[lake Tyrian]].{{map ref|final empire 1021|the Final Empire (1021)}}
   
  +
[[Luthadel]] is the economic center of the Empire. Many [[Noble]] Houses, including the Great Houses, are located in [[Luthadel]].{{book ref|mb1|2}} As these Houses control the trade routes and canals, as well as much of the actual trade itself, Luthadel is very important for the Empire’s trade and welfare.{{book ref|mb1|6}}
−
With enough atium, a Mistborn with its future-seeing ability is almost invincible. At the time of the Final Empire, the only known way to counter it is to have more atium than your opponent. The result of an atium match is almost always fatal for the one with less amount of atium. Therefore, it is essential for the Noble Houses, especially the Great Houses with one or more Mistborn, to maintain a steady supply of atium. The atium has to be bought from the [[Lord Ruler]] with very high prices. Usually, the uncertainty of who has the more atium forms a balance of terror, making none of the sides dare to start burning atium.{{cite}}
  
   
  +
Luthadel is also the seat of the Lord Ruler. This upon itself makes it very important to the people’s culture.{{book ref|mb1|34}} Luthadel is also located at the magnetic North Pole. This makes all compasses point toward it.{{wob ref|8042}}
−
The Lord Ruler [[Compound]]s [[atium]] to gain access to near-infinite amount of youthfulness. As he ages, he needs more and more atium to remain youthful.{{wob ref|3923}} It is unknown how much atium he eventually needs to consume at the last years of the Final Empire.
  
   
 
== Notes ==
  
== Notes ==

Revision as of 11:50, 19 January 2024

Final Empire
Final Empire.png
by Isaac Stewart
Capital Luthadel
World Scadrial
Universe Cosmere
This article is about the Lord Ruler's empire. For the first book in the first Mistborn series, see The Final Empire.

The Final Empire was the major state on Scadrial for over 1000 years.[1]


Geography and Ecology

by Isaac Stewart
Map of the Final Empire

Geography

Location

The Final Empire was located in the northern hemisphere. It was bordered on all sides by the burnlands, inhospitable deserts with temperatures to hot for survival.[2] The border areas between the Final Empire and the burnlands were sometimes referred to as the "wastes".[3]

Notable lakes and seas inside the Final Empire include the Tyrian Sea, Lake Luthadel, the Black Lake and North Seran.[4] There are a number of large mountains in the Final Empire called Ashmounts. The Empire also contains a number of mountain ranges, the most notable of which is called the Terris range.[4]

The Final Empire also included multiple islands like the Southern Islands and The Shrouded Isles.[4]

Climate and Weather

The Final Empire experienced mild winters, with snowfall every few years.

The Final Empire also experienced ashfalls, the raining down of the ash in the scadrian atmosphere.[5] The ash was released into the atmosphere by eruptions of the Ashmounts. There were seven of these Ashmounts; Tyrian, Zerinah, Faleast, Doriel, Morag, Kalling and Torinost. These seven mountains spewed ash into Scadrial's atmosphere, cooling the world down. This was the Lord Ruler's solution to his alterations of the planet's orbit.[6]

Every night, shortly after sunset, the Mists appeared.[5] These Mists seem natural, but are in fact Preservation’s gaseous investiture.[7] The Mist is important to the cultures of both the Skaa and the noblemen.

Ecology

Flora

The Final Empire contains many different types of Flora. Most of the Flora was created and designed to survive the Ashfalls.[8]

The Lord Ruler designed new plants that could break down the falling ash in order to prevent the ashfalls from covering the world. The plants in the Final Empire are usually brown.[9] This was due to the Lord Ruler altering their physiology to be able to use more wavelengths of light (such as green light, which is normally reflected) to compensate for the loss of light caused by the ash. Since the plants' light absorption still wasn't fully efficient, the plants became brown instead of black.[10]

Fauna

The Final Empire has many different types of animals. Most of these animals were created after Rashek’s Ascension, and were designed to survive and thrive in the ash.[8] Some species from before the ashfalls are still around however, such as horses and some types of dogs.[11]

The most notable animal in the Final Empire was the mistwraith, a creature made of mostly muscle, which uses the bones of deceased animals to create unique skeletal structures for itself.[12] They were created from all the living Feruchemists at the time of the Lord Ruler's Ascension.[13] The Lord Ruler also created microbes that broke down the ash as part of their biological processes, in order to prevent the ashfalls from covering the world.[14]

The Final Empire also contains multiple species made through Hemalurgy. These species are the kandra, koloss, and Inquisitors.

Notable places


Government and Politics

Lord Ruler

The Final Empire is ruled by the Lord Ruler. This man is a fullborn, a full feruchemist and a mistborn.[15] Some Skaa view him as eternal, like the sun and the mists.[16] The Lord Ruler has a lot of influence on the culture of both nobles and Skaa.

The Lord Ruler plays a large role in Steel Ministry doctrine. They view him as a god, calling him the ‘sliver of infinity’.[12] He is revered for saving the world from the deepness.[17]

He has absolute authority in the Final Empire. It must be noted however that he doesn’t make many decisions himself, instead letting the various cantons of the Steel Ministry rule.

Noble Houses

The noble houses effectively rule the empire, although they are policed heavily by the Steel Ministry. The houses control imperial trade and also enslave the majority of the Empire’s Skaa population.[18]

Most noblemen are provincial lords, owning plantations that produce food or other products.[5] Most of these lords seem to live on their plantations, although a lot of them also live in nearby cities, controlling their plantations from a distance away.

Great Houses

The Great Houses are the most prominent noble families in the Final Empire, notable for their ability to build a keep and maintain a high-profile presence in Luthadel.[19] This is made difficult by the Lord Ruler's keep tax.[20] Country nobility resent the Great Houses for their control of the canal systems.[21] The Great Houses get to buy a monthly stipend of atium, one of the main ways that the Lord Ruler controls them.[11]

A major house war between the Great Houses tends to happen every couple of centuries or so.[18] House Wars are primarily political.[20] The last House War was devastating.[18]

Steel Ministry

For more information, see Steel Ministry.

The Steel Ministry and its obligators are the main bureaucracy for the Final Empire.[16] Despite officially being a religious institution, the main purpose of the Steel Ministry is to keep the empire running.

One of the functions of the Ministry is to witness a myriad of contracts and agreements, even something as simple as promise to come to a game of shelldry.[21] The nobility pay the Lord Ruler for their services in a manner similar to that of renting skaa.[5] As the authority in bureaucratic matters, any mercantile contracts, divorces, weddings, land purchases, inheritances, or any other important dealings could only be authorized by obligators. If one of the Ministry’s members hasn't witnessed an event or sealed a document, it might as well not have happened or have been written.[21]

The Ministry is split up into multiple cantons. These Cantons are responsible for their own area, for example finances or orthodoxy. The known Cantons are:

  • Canton of Finance
  • Canton of Resource
  • Canton of Inquisition
  • Canton of Orthodoxy

Administrative Districts

The Final Empire consisted of ten Dominances.[4] Each dominance is ruled by provincial lords each with command of, and responsibility for, their own skaa.[5] This organization has been in place for two hundred years and grants the nobility greater freedom than previous systems. The Lord Ruler seems to be uncomfortable with this and counteracts it with increased obligator activity [22].

The ten dominances are:[4]

Luthadel

Luthadel is the capital city of the Final Empire.[19] It is located in the central dominance, southwest of lake Luthadel and east of lake Tyrian.[4]

Luthadel is the economic center of the Empire. Many Noble Houses, including the Great Houses, are located in Luthadel.[19] As these Houses control the trade routes and canals, as well as much of the actual trade itself, Luthadel is very important for the Empire’s trade and welfare.[18]

Luthadel is also the seat of the Lord Ruler. This upon itself makes it very important to the people’s culture.[23] Luthadel is also located at the magnetic North Pole. This makes all compasses point toward it.[24]

Notes

History of Scadrial
Ascension of the Lord Ruler Final Empire Collapse
  1. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 72 epigraph#
  2. ↑ Idaho Falls Signing
    — Arcanum - 2009-06-20#
  3. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 26#
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Map of the Final Empire (1021)
  5. ↑ a b c d e The Final Empire prologue#
  6. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 76#
  7. ↑ Idaho Falls Signing
    — Arcanum - 2009-06-20#
  8. ↑ a b The Hero of Ages chapter 5 epigraph#
  9. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 6 epigraph#
  10. ↑ General Reddit 2016
    — Arcanum - 2016-03-22#
  11. ↑ a b The Final Empire chapter 13#
  12. ↑ a b The Final Empire chapter 8#
  13. ↑ The Final Empire chapter 38 epigraph#
  14. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 15 epigraph#
  15. ↑ The Final Empire chapter 38#
  16. ↑ a b The Final Empire chapter 1#
  17. ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 56#
  18. ↑ a b c d The Final Empire chapter 6#
  19. ↑ a b c The Final Empire chapter 2#
  20. ↑ a b The Final Empire chapter 24#
  21. ↑ a b c The Final Empire chapter 23#
  22. ↑ The Final Empire chapter 18#
  23. ↑ The Final Empire chapter 34#
  24. ↑ The Hero of Ages Annotations
    — Arcanum - 2010-05-04#
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