Nation Name: The Ravinkra Commonwealth
What do you call the denizens: Ravriens
Government type: On the outside the city is officially ruled by five High Captains, all former pirate lords and each of which lead a smaller faction, or gang, called a "flagship" named after its respective captain: Ship Sadeir, Ship Kaydro, Ship Therrick, Ship Kinden and Ship Roderdon. The true power in the city, however, resides within The Celestial Circle. A brotherhood of powerful wizards oversee many of the cities more domestic and commercial ventures making the Commonwealth in true a Magocracy. The most powerful among them is named ‘High Lord Regent’ and acts as the official mouth of the circle when meeting with the leaders or diplomats of other nations and is seen as a first among equals.
Leader/Leaders:
High Captain Sadeir
High Captain Kaydro Tlast'kern
High Captain Therrick Saarhtt
High Captain Kinden Dhirht'kern
High Captain Roderdon M'ejfa
Lord Regent Baibars Kyel No-Shira
Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: T/D
Other Important political figures: T/D
Currency: T/D
State Religion(If applicable): Theou Ilinucism
Demographics and Geography
The Ravinkra Isles is an important group of tropical islands off the southern coast of Illyrica. Ravinkra only has one major city, which bears the name of the island. It holds the Palace, the Temple of Aketa and the famous statue of Sinbad Shrard-I. Though the most eye-catching building of all is the Emerald Tower of Sorcery wherein lies the Celestial Circle. Underneath the town lies the Catacombs, which serve as both a prison and a treasury. The small settlement of Wakeport is found at the southern island. The climate in Ravinkra is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some islands on the south coast, such as the Wake isles and the Anchor Isles, are relatively dry rain-shadow areas.
World map location:
Isles map:
http://img07.deviantart.net/d747/i/2010/083/8/8/archipelago_world_map_by_torstan.jpgMajor cities: Ravencroft, The City of Sails
Major military installments:
Important locations and buildings: Smugglers Haven,
Capital: Ravencroft
Population: 250,000
Race and Ethnic demographic: The majority are dark skinned humans, with a mix of others who have come to seek their fortune in the city of sails. Ravriens are known for their tall, gaunt frames and finely toned physiques. They possess above average human strength and agility, and show a remarkable capacity for surviving in hot, tropical climates. They generally possess dark skin, ranging from light brown in hue, to nearly black, and often with a significant red tint. They possess very curly, wiry hair, and their degree of body hair varies with dreads being predominant. Tattoos and body piercings are common.
Economy: The Commonwealth holds a surprisingly strong economy thanks to their carefully established overseas trade and ties with privateers and pirates in the southern seas.
Wealth balance: Most of the wealth is split between the High Captains and their most trusted men. The Circle uses both magic and intimidation to keep the captains in line along with the promise of more wealth through the use of their ties in the other nations.
Major exports: Salt, gold, slaves, sugar
Major Imports: Silver, ore, food stuffs, timber, weapons, armor
Staple agricultural crops: Corn, bananas, sugar canes
Trade partners:
Culture
Ravrien society since its inception has been divided into three rigid hereditary castes: the magistrates, the aristocracy or middle caste, and the peasant caste. The aristocracy caste is much diminished in the modern age. The High Captains, previously simple pirate lords in their younger days, have since established themselves firmly in the political sphere of the Commonwealth. Keeping the ‘official’ mayors of Ravinkra’s smaller districts in their pockets and thus giving them free reign. This situation has changed little in how Ravinkra openly governs itself. Though the growing influence of criminal elements has actually kept the more lawless of the isles in line. As their efforts have been focused outward more than ever before.
The Magistrates still hold the true power in the realm, however. Unlike the lower castes, whose blood has been increasingly intermingled with foreigners for generations, the Ravriens magistrate caste is tall and dark-haired, with bright, ebony-colored skin. They are rarely seen outside of Ravencroft, and are never known to travel abroad, preferring to spend lives of indolence and contemplation in their lotus-perfumed estates. The hierarchy of the social classes of the Commonwealth were long ago decided primarily by one's bloodlines capacity to produce those inclined toward magic. The current magistrates having descended from clan's long since proven to be most often blessed with magical ability have become the the most powerful social group in the commonwealth. Even those born outside of the Magistrates caste are often adopted into one of the seven clans that each holds a seat in the Celestial Circle.
The middle caste comprises the Ravrien aristocracy, and is the waning force of the realm. Tall but dusky-skinned, black-haired and hawk-nosed, the aristocracy provides the scholars that run the kingdom’s many fabled libraries. Beneath their heel lies the peasant caste, marked by their shorter stature, swarthier skin and heavier build. The aristocrats once ruled the peasant caste with an iron grip, steeping them in a culture of absolute subservience and fear. Now with the raise of the High Captains, many now see it is possible to raise above your station with enough cunning gail and fortune. The Current high Captains rule with just as heavy a hand however, and if anything are even more feared for it.
Ravriens as a people favor cunning, intelligence and agility over brute strength. Swords and axes are the hallmarks of a barbarian, not a civilized person. For this reason, most Ravriens found outside the borders of their island realm are typically scholars or seekers of knowledge. This quest for knowledge or power can come in many forms, whether through the practice of sorcery, the study of the body and the healing arts, or the stealthy practice of assassination or thievery on the high seas. Each pursuit is equally valid in a Ravrien’s eyes, because they require intellect, education and discipline; qualities they believe to be lacking in the lesser realms of the age. Among the lowest caste are those both desperate enough and willing to turn to a life of pirating and thieving; of them are former soldiers, guardsmen, and mercenaries, were among the first to turn to the seas to better their lot in life and this tradition has survived for centuries.
Religion: 29% Orthodox Ilinucism, 71% Unorthodox Ilinucism
Denomination:
Religious heads:
Popular opinion on the volcano: The lowest caste either fear or are indifferent to the volcano.
Popular opinion on wars: Avoidance is typically seen as ideal
Popular opinion on magic: Seen as a source of power and a means to an end.
Popular opinion on religion: Given the fairly violent environment of Ravinkra slums, the realm has its fair share of devout though many simply pay lip service.
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: Mistrust
Pauper opinion on the Government: The people of Ravinkra have come to fear both the High Captains and the Circle, the latter more so.
Popular opinion on foreigners: Indifference
Popular opinion on other cultures: Indifferent.
Cultural name for the Volcano: (what do your people call it)
A look into the unique culture:
OVERVIEW
As a general overview of the Commonwealth it is important to note Ravinkra is home to one of the most unique and varied cultural mixes in all of Illyrica. Several things bind the peoples of Ravinkra together: independence, freedom, and a sense of pride that many feel for having earned their place by ability rather than birth for those who are willing to climb. One must struggle for any gains in such a strict hierarchy, and the riches are all the sweeter as a result.
At the same time, Ravinkra is a bastion of corruption: greed, bribery, and extortion shape policies and determine who benefits from the laws, or lack thereof. Bands of thieves and unscrupulous mercenaries rule certain districts with a heavy hand, and anyone looking to do business had better pay their dues or have them taken at knifepoint. Cutthroat pirates and wanted smugglers surround themselves with like-minded men and women and many walk openly in Ravinkra without fear of reprisal. It’s a place of seedy bars and cunning criminals whose connections and skills let them live like kings. The different islands have their own character and areas of interest. The larger islands are divided into distinct districts. Given limited land to develop, the city has grown upward instead of out, the upper reaches connected by treacherous rope bridges and improvised slats. Often the second or third story of a building is constructed with no heed to what rests below, making the densest neighborhoods hazardous to traverse, even without accounting for crime.
CRIME AND INDUSTRY
Despite what many think, Ravinkra is not lawless. By necessity it must operate under laws written and unwritten as well as the codes of its inhabitants. Here, coin is the ultimate authority, and even the law must bend or even break to the needs of commerce.
The city Ravencroft is governed by a sometimes-labyrinthine bureaucracy, sets of street laws, and a convoluted system of graft. The relationship between the lord regent and the high captains is uneasy but healthy and allows the city to prosper. Though unquestionably criminals of the highest order, the influence of the high captains keeps the baser elements among the city’s population in check, allowing the lord regent to focus on governing, They provide an authority to which gang leaders, privateers, and smugglers must answer, allowing the steady flow of illicit commerce. They also bring much money to Ravinkra, which is a large part of why they are allowed to persist.
The risks are many when conducting criminal enterprise in Ravencroft, but so are the rewards, and nowhere else can criminals enjoy such freedom. Extortion is a fact of life in Ravencroft. So much so that it has become expected: once any business begins to make a certain amount of profit, it will be targeted for extortion. Like anything else in Ravencroft, this extortion takes many forms: protection rackets, demand for favors or special services, simple cut of profits, or even forced entry into legally binding contracts.
This is not simply theft forced by intimidation, however. The protection offered by the high captains is real, and in poorer districts where the watch is undermanned or too corrupt, enforcers or gangs might be the only recourse for a businessman to be safe from independent thieves. Gang enforcers will enthusiastically ensure that payments are made in full and on time, but this isn’t often necessary. Most people would rather pay to ensure smooth operations and avoid broken bones. Most residents of Ravencroft despise taxation and would rather pay bribes to local gang enforcers than pay taxes or trade tariffs.
The punishments for lawbreakers vary in severity, as in any city, though the law in Ravencroft is more protean than most. Examples of minor crimes include assault on common citizens, minor theft, and the destruction of currency. Punishments range from flogging to fines and short stints of imprisonment. More serious offenses such as extortion, cheating, piracy, assaulting the watch or a person of distinction, or forging documents, can lead to severe fines, forced labor, or imprisonment. Assaulting foreign royals, tax evasion, and murder are punished more harshly still, with imprisonment and death by hanging or drowning being common sentences.
In almost all cases, the rule of law is subject to the power of coin. Judges can be bribed or threatened, as can authorities, so that a lawbreaker may never come to trial. Lighter sentences can be arranged, as can “accidents” that allow for escape. It’s even possible to be acquitted despite any eyewitnesses or a preponderance of evidence, with enough influence in the right areas. This is a double-edged sword, however, as enemies can also bribe judges to pass down the most severe sentences possible. Once arrested, a criminal has limited time in which the scales of justice can be tipped by bribes or threats. No one is completely exempt from punishment in Ravencroft.
COMMERCE, SHIPPING, AND THE COST OF BUSINESS
The most basic work in Ravencroft is in shipping and hauling. The city is a convenient resupply hub for goods coming in on the Southern Tradeway, as well as up tino the Dragon’s Gulf and ocean-based shipping. Ships from all over the southern seaboard stop in Ravencroft regularly. There are trade companies such as Dragon’s Tongue Trade, the East Empire Company, the Berek Imports House, the Grand Stevedore’s Union, and the Tradeway Caravaner’s Guild, among others. Many families and heads of companies make their fortunes on shipping.
Spices, exotic fabrics, and animals from across southern Illyrica. The city has much to export, as well, despite the commonwealth being poor in resources. The city’s principal exports come from its distilleries, alchemical workshops, and weaponsmiths. Not surprisingly, sugar is also a major commodity in Ravencroft, thanks to sugar cane processing.
Labor, construction, carpentry, and stone working are all vital to the expansion and maintenance of an island city. Other services see to fishing fleets, canning and local markets, and manufacturing, ensuring that things run properly and don’t fall into decay. It necessitates special services and jobs in order to draw people to Ravencroft and, more importantly, keep them there. Business has costs, however. Ravencroft is very accommodating to new enterprises, with few special licenses or authorizations needed to start new businesses. One exception is with the establishment of new mercenary companies, which do require approval by the city. The process for this is quite simple, easy, and cheap, however, with few turned away as the city values its reputation as a mercenary haven. Land and rent transactions are often done with a handshake seen by a single witness. There have been some attempts to provide systematic processes for lot ownership but they have not been embraced by most. None but the largest businesses pay full taxes; others rarely even pay annual taxes and non pay land ownership tax.
Cultural history:
Notable figures:
Military and History
Type of Military: Volunteer, conscripted, standing, semi professional, culture affects, levies etc. Go into detail.
Total Military fighting units:
Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training) (TBD)
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Past wars and notable events:
Past conflicts with other nations:
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Other
Artifacts and famous enchantments under control of the nation:
Anything else we should all know:
