Watching the onslaught of the Snake Cult on the Baccus Empire from a relatively safe distance, the Melitine rulers are of two minds. Some sections of the clergy have denounced the portrayal of Gods in paintings and statues as blasphemous, which may lead to serious internal strife in the future. There was increased tolerance to cruel punishments like cutting off various limbs and appendages for fairly minor crimes. Other Jatu influences also slowly crept in the mainstream of the Melitine society. These small units hold the enemy up allowing the main Melitine army to position itself and deliver the killing blow.
Frontier garrisons are made of solid infantry who have to hold the line until the large standing cavalry forces can be alerted and deployed. The size of this land to defend has forced the Melitines to develop their own defensive network based on the principle of defense in depth. Compounding this a brilliant general led to the Melitine Empire managing to conquer a number of their neighbors and turn them into tributary states, many of them formerly numbering themselves with the restless Jatu who consider the vast plains stretching out to the north as home.
The periodic invasions from various Northern tribes with their excellent archers and heavy cavalry forced the Melitine military to develop similar skills in their armies, moving away from the traditional heavy infantry army. The old Empire was a fertile ground for new sects and cults, and trying to protect the cohesion of their Empire, the Melitines became fairly dogmatic and uncompromising about their true gods, treating any other beliefs as heretical - burning alleged heretics at the stake on public holidays is a common sight in the Melitine lands. The national character of the Melitines was developed over the centuries by external threats. It is from this position that it can control the trade flowing up the rivers, along the coast and the major road which runs from east to west and passes through Melitine lands.
The city of Melitine is the largest and most prosperous in Amala, dominating the southern coastline and the twin rivers in the fork of which it is built. Especially the Melitines were adept at avoiding wars and their devastation, frequently relying on bribes from their coffers filled with taxes and custom duties on trade, this income largely due to the well situated capital, placed as it is on a prominent trade route. The Melitine and Baccus Empires largely avoided coming to serious blows by vigorous diplomacy and the unwillingness of the military and the populace to fight their former brothers. This resulted in minor border skirmishes and full-scale proxy wars in overseas colonies, largely by client kingdoms. Hundreds of years ago, the rich and decadent Baccus Empire was overrun by an alliance of barbarian tribes - the Melitines were largely spared and used the opportunity to secede and proclaim themselves the true heir of the once proud Empire under Amorion I the Defender, who stopped the barbarian invasion at the Melitine borders.Įventually the Baccus Empire was restored, although with diminished size and prosperity, competing with its Melitine siblings for trade routes and military prestige. The Melitine Empire is an old offshoot of the Baccus Empire.