L'Imperium de l'Union Céleste

Description
The inheritor of the old Elven empire, and by far the richest, most cultural beautiful and most powerful nation in the Tamed Realms, the Union Céleste is widely considered to be the centre of the world. However, internally, it is wracked by divisions. Nominally ruled over by Impératrice Madeleine Gyvergne, it is in reality a disparete and poorly-united series of Princedoms, Duchies and Fiefs wracked by cultural divisions and controlled by the seven, powerful Elector-Princes. The Imperium is not to be under-estimated, however; the Impératrice easily has the strongest army in the Tame Realms, heavily discouraging expansion by outside powers even as internal warfare threatens her Empire's stability. The Electors are, in many ways, incredibly powerful and checked only by their rivalries between one-another. The Imperium does, however, bring great prosperity; many of the smaller duchies and fiefs are stable and rich with a growing population, and the Eight Free Cities, nominally under the Impératrice's personal control but in reality ruled by Plutocratic councils, are hubs of commerce and rapidly growing influence. While the Electors can elect any nobility to the throne, be they foreign, from their own ranks, or even the most lowly of Count in the Imperiums borders, they have for nearly 400 years elected members of the House Gyvergne, rulers of a large amount of land and, more importantly, holders of the centre of the Empire and the cultural hub of the world, Pari.

Regions and Electors
L'Imperium contains a pre-dominantly Elven region, an agrarian region where Halflings dwell, a large cosmopolitan region where the licensed Mages Guild are based, a couple of represented human regions and several that largely lack representation, and a Dwarven Hold located in the middle of L'Imperium, separated from the rest of their kind. Most of L'Imperium's regions are represented by electors who can vote on various matters.

Military
The Imperium uses mercenaries for guarding cities, putting down banditry and small rebellions, and keeping the peace. Others are called upon at the start of a war, professional soldiers who work for a large amount of pay.

Then, there are the knightly orders such as the Order of the Burning Rose and the Order of the Clarion Call, who act as the empire's shock forces. They are often the children of nobility and are well trained and well equipped. Some Orders vary; for instance, the Order of the Burning Rose is comprised of paladins who fight while dismounted and with the blessings of saints. The Clarion Call are mostly armoured rangers and horse archers.

Finally there are the peasant levy; young men and women levied into the service of their local lords to fight for L'Imperium. Poorly trained and barely paid, they use whatever they have on hand. Middle-class citizens can afford proper weapons, but most peasants make do with aged ones belonging to their ancestors, or with pitchforks and scythes if the situation requires. When the peasant levies are called upon, it is typically as a last resort and signifies that L'Imperium is desperate for soldiers.