The United Cities (A.K.A. "The Empire" or "The Desert Empire") is an expansionistic and feudalistic slaver society that is the largest faction by land area with towns of drastically varying population sizes dotted and dispersed throughout the continent, encompassing the entirety of The Great Desert & Heng, the southern enclave at The Hook & Bonefields, and the frontiers of Stormgap Coast.
Their northern population is heavily concentrated on the towns of Stoat[1], Heng[2], and Heft[3][4], while their southern population is concentrated on Drifter's Last[5]. They are comparitively much smaller in population compared to their neighboring major power known as The Holy Nation[6][7]
Ruled by Tengu and his inner circle, they are an empire plagued with endemic corruption, and monetary worth is the prime measure of a person in their culture. Those suffering extreme poverty are considered to be potentially dangerous criminal elements and are often enslaved as a result.
Slavery and serfdom are important pillars of their empire filled up by the bottom of their society such as the vagrants and other types of bandits, providing food and material. Another pillar is the Traders Guild. The guild brings their cities great wealth and prosperity. They have advanced technologies, higher quality equipment, and valuable luxuries imported from distant lands. Anti-slavery ideologies are considered extremist perspectives and treated as a form of terrorism.
In recent times after Tengu came into power, simmering tensions between them and The Holy Nation have broken out into open conflict at the border of Okran's Valley - Bast. It is unclear whether this marked the start of hostilities or was merely a part of an ongoing conflict[8]. The UC suffered a tremendous defeat at Bast where they were pushed back by HN forces and lost the hold on the region in a single day[9]. The borders have since become conflict zones with constant skirmishes between the 2 giants[10].
The drug Hashish is highly illegal, and the samurai guards are obsessed with purging it from their streets to such an extent that even the material used to produce it, Hemp, is also outlawed.
The United Cities does not tolerate Hemp and Hemp-related goods and production facilities. Owning any building such as Biofuel Distillery (Hemp), Hemp Farm, Hemp Processor or a Hydroponic Hemp will result in a Drug Bust raid against the player if this building is discovered by the authorities. It is likewise illegal to possess or import Bloodrum, Hashish or Hemp into the Empire, despite evidence of use and possession of said substances by the priveleged Nobles. "Rules for thee, not for me" is very much what the Empire stands on.
Members of this faction can colour armour and clothing due to a colour scheme attached.