Editing Gloria-Etalia (section)

=====Culture=====
Much of the Belaran cultural identity is based on regaining the glory of the old empire. This manifests as a superiority complex and they often appear arrogant and vain to outsiders. They fashion themselves in elaborate clothes which resemble the garb of the old imperial royals and the architecture, even peasant homes, are made to evoke the old royal palace. This also manifests in an expansionist mindset, believing that all Belarans should seek to expand the land and Influence of the kingdom no matter the cost and this philosophy is the uniting principle of all Belarans. That’s not to say that they lack behind. With their new maritime empire, the changing political landscape in Westrasi and scientific, technological and magical advancements, many nobles have chosen to embrace these modern changes, going from tyrants, schemers, warriors and warlords to thinkers, tinkerers, traders and explorers with a few even looking to their rival cousins to the south. Despite this modernisation, Belara remains firmly rooted in their history and many other more traditionalist nobles reject all but the advancements in arms and warfare. While much rarer than in the past, feuds and skirmishes between the nobles is still not entirely uncommon though it's more prevalent among traditionalists.

Another aspect central to Belaran culture is the feudal ranks. These ranks are extremely strict and families tend to stay in their ranks for centuries. Gaining or losing ranks is extremely rare, despite great achievements or losses. This has led to strange situations where some people of lower ranks end up achieving more wealth and influence than some of higher ranks yet officially being lower than them, for example some individual knights have amassed greater lands and armies than many nobles and even some peasant merchants are wealthier than some of the poorer nobles. The ranks in descending order are king, nobles, clergy, knights, peasants, serfs and slaves (Although the last two are for all practical purposes the same and only exist to differentiate between native Belarans and foreign slaves). Someone of higher rank could murder someone lower and face few consequences while one of lower rank could face death penalty for addressing a higher rank improperly.