The Lunar Empire is divided into four administrative tiers:
Satrapies. The Lunar Heartlands are divided into nine satrapies, each ruled by a noble dynast who reports to the Red Emperor. The satraps are rulers with few restrictions beyond the following:
- Must acknowledge and serve the universal sovereignty of the Red Emperor and not trammel on his rights (command of the Lunar Army, religious status, etc.).
- Must not interfere in the temples overseen by the Red Emperor.
- Must protect the rights of Lunar worshipers.
- Must pay taxes of stuff, people, and magic as demanded by the Red Emperor and on time. Failure to make the assessed payment by the payment date triggers the Tax Demons.
- Must prevent civil disorder.
Of course within every satrapy there are temples, land, etc., that are reserved to the Red Emperor, but otherwise the cities, temples, villages, etc., are subject to the authority of the satrap. The satraps are closely associated with the Yelm Imperator cult – if they are not a Yelm Imperator initiate themself, they surround themselves with Yelm priests.
West Reaches. The former Carmanian heartland is divided into four small satrapies each ruled by a Carmanian noble clan, similar to the Heartlands. However, these satraps directly report to a Provincial Governor appointed by the Red Emperor and who serves at his pleasure.
Although some cities and temples follow Yelm, the Yelm Imperator cult is not as important a state cult in the West Reaches.
Lunar Provinces: The Orlanthi lands to the south of the Lunar Heartlands are ruled by provincial kings recognized by the Red Emperor and overseen by the Provincial Overseer in Mirin’s Cross. These were former strongholds of the Orlanth Rex cult although now are ruled by Lunar cultists.
Occupied Territories: Territories conquered in the last couple of decades have not been organized into formal provinces, but are placed under the control of a military governor appointed by the Red Emperor and subject to the Provincial Overseer. These territories include:
- Dragon Pass (1602-1625). There have been three governors appointed there. The first and last were Yelm Imperator initiates from the imperial nobility in Rabianth, the middle was a provincial aristocrat associated with the Tarshite Lunar dynasty. After a rebellion in 1613, the governors recognized a local Sartarite client king to mollify the local population.
- Prax (1610-1624). There have been two governors appointed there. The first was a member of the Eel-ariash satrapal clan (and kinsman of the mighty Jar-eel), the second was a petty Provincial noble appointed by the Provincial Overseer. There were half-hearted efforts to settle the territory with colonists from the Lunar Empire, but they failed to secure the province.
- Heortland (1619-1622). This area was under the oversight of the governor of Dragon Pass, and was never fully organized into a province.
Do the satraps have their own individual armies? Within the limitations described the satraps have tremendous freedom of action. If they want to squeeze their subjects, they can, as long as they pay the Red Emperor his due and as long as they don’t squeeze initiates or priests of Lunar cults. If they want to raise a private army they can, as long as they do not engage in rebellion and as long as that private army does not interfere with the regular Lunar Army. If they want to suppress the Orlanth cult, they can. If they want to authorize the Orlanth cult, they can. If they want to create brand new laws, they can. And so on.