Kelmet

South of Thornbound lies Kelmet, another Renkari-descended nation.

Kelmet places greater emphasis on:

• oral tradition
• kinship
• local autonomy
• ancestral rites
• communal identity

Many Kelmeti view Thornbound as overly imperial and believe the Empire transformed the lessons of the Crossing into state ideology rather than spiritual guidance.

Despite political tensions, the two nations remain culturally intertwined.

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Foreign Policy

Officially, Thornbound presents itself as a stabilizing power focused on law, infrastructure, and regional order.

The Empire expands its influence through:

• military presence
• diplomacy
• trade agreements
• infrastructure projects
• political alliances

Within some imperial circles — particularly supporters of the Crimson Doctrine — there is also a growing belief that historical wrongs against the Renkari were never fully answered for.

How seriously that belief should be taken remains a matter of debate, both inside and outside the Empire.