ZB1996

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the account of the mighty nation of Idorica.

Kingdom of Idorica

Kingdom of Idorica

Nation Overview

The Kingdom of Idorica is a new state, established a little over a century ago. It was formed from the ashes of the collection of cultural connected but politically independent kingdoms. In the previous centuries, they steadily reconquered the territory which had previously been conquered by the Timluks in the 8th century. Emerging larger and stronger than ever, the Idoricans, now unified, now have taken their place among the great and modern powers of Antova.

Feudalism has declined, although the trappings of nobles and limited social mobility remain. In place of the old system emerges the monarchy, more powerful than ever before. Meanwhile, a wave of modernism spreads across Idorica. The age of chivalry has dawned, and in the place of plate-armored knights are Idorican pikemen and arquebusiers. The arts and sciences continue to flourish in Idorica.

With the help of the Idorican Inquisition, Idorica has emerged as a homogenous state both religiously and ethnically. Following centuries of holy war, the Idoricans have emerged as notably pious, with a good amount of bishops, archbishops, and cardinals hailing from Idorica. However pious they may be, however, they are not without their own ambition. Idorica has its own plots, aiming to hold a firm influence on Ambrusian Church, so that the High Pontiff may not be too bothersome to the King’s policies abroad.

Geography

Map Claim

Choose a color and draw your borders on the map. You are also at liberty to describe the geography, weather, flora and fauna of your nation here. Also to be mentioned are important cities or locations within your nation.

WIP

History

Self-explanatory. This doesn't need to be long; just informative. I encourage players to collaborate and create shared history.

Society

WIP
Although the medieval period of feudalism may have ended, the trappings of feudalism for the most part remain, with one major difference. In the countryside, most people remain peasants, below the nobles. From the local nobles, taxes are collected from money that is gained from the peasant. The peasants, in turn, gain their income through the trading of their goods or crops at local marketplaces. It is not only from traditional sources, however, where goods come from. With the growth of commerce, the cities have grown larger, and the bourgeoisie more powerful.

The Cortes is the parliamentary body of Idorica. Initially founded by the most powerful nobles in the kingdom as an advisory council to the King in the 9th century, it developed into one of the first parliaments in Antova. During the centuries of the Reconquista, the nobles came under economic duress and stress, leading to the rise of the burghers of the city. This led to the entrance of the bourgeoisie into the Cortes. Today, however, the power of the King has increased, and the nobility once again dominates the Cortes, which now is little more than a rubberstamp organization. They at least have the right to resist the raising of taxation, but they’ve yet to carry out this right.

Idorica, especially following unification, has gone through a cultural renaissance. Influenced by a rediscovery of the ancient classic works, a style known as classicalism arose. In Idorica, however, classicalism was combined with both the styles of traditional Idorican and Timluk styles to create a unique style of architecture known as Mudeja. Painting and literature saw the beginning of a golden age. Painting was done in the style of oil paintings, while literature was divided into poetry and prose, and both were heavily under the influence of humanism.

The scholastic period developed during the medieval period continues to develop and thrive. The Universities of Idorica have steadily increased in quality, and now the universities of Idorica can rival those of Mille-Sassau. The Scholastics, as always, have discussed theology, natural theology, natural law, and ethics, but have rejuvenated by the renaissance, and now extend their philosophy to new topics as well, like political philosophy and economics.

The people of Idorica are noticeable pious. This is as a result of both their centuries as holy warriors and because they are not very close, geographically, to the High Pontiff. The Church occupies, as it does in other countries, a unique position in Idorican society. They are considered a class wholly separate from the commoners and nobles. They are in possession of a considerable wealth and political power. With their support, the Kings of Idorica have gained a reputation as defenders of the faith.

Theologically, both the people and the Church are completely orthodox. However, the crown of Idorica has its eye on influence in the College of Cardinals, and aims to keep it there. The Idoricans hopes that a pro-Idorican monarch will be crowned. The King has a considerable influence over Idorican bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, so the Idorican cardinals shall try to ensure the King has his way.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the souls of brave and powerful heroes who slew monsters and evil men alike.

Ezra

_{Ezra Malchut
◆ 23 ◆ January 14◆ 5’4 ◆ Guardian}

Casual Theme

Battle Theme

_{◆ A P P E A R A N C E}

Ezra has angelic face and lithe body, with an androgynous appearance. His hair is black, his face and lips are soft, and his figure is quite thin. His eyes always have a deep, penetrating stare. He tends to wear dark colors, either being outright black or blue. His attire is less formal than suits but more formal than normal attire.

_{◆ I D E O L O G Y}

Ezra has made few friends in his life. He is generally quiet and rarely smiles. He has always felt a world apart from those around them, as in his view they have failed to understand. He has not exactly avoided friendship, yet neither has he made any strong bonds. He is far from shy, but he is generally quiet, and his diligence in his schoolwork sapped away much of his free time. Generally, in regards to other people he is quite cynical, and does not believe that they are of any help to them. Either they mess up, or they don’t really care.

Ezra regards himself as fiercely independent. His past has led him to hate the feeling of being controlled. Time and time again he has been controlled, and like a ragdoll he has been thrown around with no thought given to his own feelings and opinions. Never again, Ezra had decided, would that happen to him. Nothing enrages him more than the feeling of being trapped and controlled. He may at times adamantly refuse to compromise on his position, his obstinacy sometimes bordering on immaturity.

He is greatly focused on himself and on his own goals. He understands that he has a duty to his school, to his companions, and to the world to fulfill his new role as a guardian, but nonetheless wishes to see his unfinished familial business completed on his own terms. He also has a strong urge to live, and wants to see his missions as a guardian completed without having to put himself at risk. Yet should push come to shove, he shall do what is necessary.

_{◆ B A C K G R O U N D}

Ezra is the son of Aeon and Maia Melchet. He knows this much, but little else. All his memories from before he was ten years old were apparently wiped away from his mind. He then woke up in the mansion of Elijah Melchet. Elijah told Ezra that he was his father, and commented that he seemed to be suffering from amnesia. Ezra bought it, and believed every word of it.

Elijah put Ezra through intense training in order to make him strong, to discipline, to put him under control, and to forcefully make his abilities manifest. After his abilities became manifest, he was sent to Oakridge Academy. Elijah visited often, ostensibly checking on Ezra, although he was truly coming to ensure that he remembered who was in control, and to remind him what his goal was. That was goal was to the pride of the Academy, Oakridge’s greatest student. He became diligent in his studies, withdrawing from his peers, virtually never seeing them outside of class.

However, the more he studied the more Ezra grew enthralled with the subjects he was studying, Gaia and spirits, and cared less about simply excelling. His grades did not drop and his diligence did not decrease, but he cared less about the mission Elijah had given him. Then he was visited by a mysterious stranger, who turned out not to be a stranger at all. It was Maia Melchet, his mother, a woman who had been erased from his mind. She told him that she was his mother, and his father was named Aeon, not Elijah. His supposed father, Elijah, had simply deceived him. However, they were soon interrupted and had to part ways, as Elijah was approaching towards them, before she was able to tell him more information. It explained the visions that Ezra would have of things he had never seen before.

Ezra had a mental breakdown and nearly went insane from the revelation, but he recovered. It was through his sole friend, Jaina, that he was able to soldier onwards. He looked through some archives, and discovered another portion of the truth. During the great war known as the Calamity twenty years ago, the Melchet siblings Aeon, Elijah, and Augusta fought side by side, all of them becoming war heroes. During the Calamity, Augusta died fighting the Mordrem, but the brothers survived. Soon after the war they had a falling out. That, however, was all the information he could figure out.

Ezra wanted to know more. He wanted to know why Elijah had taken him from his father, and where his mother and father were. He no longer obeyed Elijah, and he hadn’t seen him in quite a long time. Family matters were not the only thing he could worry about now, however. He had graduated and become a guardian, and he now a duty to carry out. However, he also had unfinished family business. He had received a note, telling him that if he wanted to know, he should go to Doral. Fortunately, it’s on the way.

_{◆ W A R F A R E}

Ezra’s weapon is a gunblade with a trap mechanic. Its default form is a sword with a steel blade. Its secondary form is a scopeless sniper rifle. Ezra has spent time becoming skilled in both forms of the weapon.

_{◇ Mot [ Dark ] [ -Curse ] A tentacle of dark matter emerges from Ezra’s hand, which Ezra can control at will. In addition to damaging his enemies, Ezra uses it for utilitarian purposes.
◇ Orcus [ Dark ] [ -Poison ] [ -Terror ] A wave of blackness washes over an opponent, and they are cursed with afflictions, their lifeforce slowly drained from any movement or action.
◇ Paimon [ Dark ] [ -Lightning ] An unnatural black lightning emerges from Ezra’s fingertips, which he controls at will.}

_{◆ A S P E K T S}

_{◇ Ravager
◇ Vicar
◇ Synergist
◇ Lucky}

Jaina

_{Jaina Madison
◆ 22 ◆ December 4 ◆ 5’8 ◆ Army}

_{◆ A P P E A R A N C E}

Jaina prefers to dress casual when she can, and feels more comfortable in clothes of those kind than with her military uniform. She tends to prefer lighter colors, especially blue. She also tends to avoid dresses, the exception being during formal events, and tends to prefer blue jeans.

_{◆ I D E O L O G Y}

Jaina prefers to take things with a cheerful attitude, and with a bright smile. She doesn’t give thoughts to the “big things” like if the world will get better, or whether optimism or pessimism is the correct path. Instead she prefers to take in stride the belief that she must continue to look, in a sense, upward, and always move forward happily.

Jaina cares about how she appears to others, and to the world. It is important for her to always put a smile for others. She has an image of herself that others have of her, and it is something that must be upheld. She does not want that image of herself shattered, as she’s worked very hard to maintain it. So she keeps up her smile, even when things get hard, and things have started to become very hard, emotionally at least. She will not compromise on this, and she will keep her own issues kept inside of her.

_{◆ B A C K G R O U N D}

Jaina was only a babe when both her parents were killed. It was during the Calamity twenty years, when the Mordrem overran the greater part of eastern Tenebra that Elijah Malchut found her in a dark corner, crying not far from where her parents had been killed. He took her off the streets of war-torn and devastated Tenebra and with him. He welcomed her, treating her as if she were his own daughter. At the same time, however, he put her through a strict regimen. Jaina was taught how to fight, and become a warrior. She was taught to obey Elijah without reservation.

When she was young a new person came into her life. Ezra came under the same roof as her. She knew that Ezra that was being deceived by Elijah, yet she kept quiet. She still obeyed Elijah’s words without question. In time, she saw herself drawn to him. Ezra was very distant and always busy, but the pair of them became inseparable friends nonetheless. She felt terrible for deceiving him, but her loyalty to her friend was not enough to overturn her conditioned loyalty.

Under orders from Elijah, Jaina followed Ezra to Oakridge Academy. No matter how hard she had trained, not even a spark of the power necessary to traverse to the path to guardianship appeared. Fortunately, Oakridge also trains normal soldiers, and Jaina would be joining the army. She kept up her friendship with Ezra, but he steadily grew more distant.

When Ezra had discovered the truth, he confronted Jaina. Jaina admitted that she had known that Elijah was lying about their familial ties, and that Ezra wasn’t really Elijah’s son. Ezra became incensed, and demanded to know more. Jaina declared that she knew nothing other than what he had already learned. Ezra has all but broken off their friendship, and rarely speaks to her now. Jaina, however, intends to get close to him once again.

_{◆ W A R F A R E}

Jain’s main weapon is a specialized assault rifle, equipped with a scope and a silencer. At her side is a heavy pistol and a shortsword meant for close encounters.

Rowena

_{Rowena Malchut the Sidian
◆ 28 ◆ December 31 ◆ 5’11 ◆ Adventurer}

_{◆ A P P E A R A N C E}

Rowen’s hair is long, spiraling downward until the near end of her back, its appearance wild and unkempt but far from scruffy or dirty, its color is brown. Her lifestyle has endowed her with a slim and muscular figure throughout her body. For a woman, she is tall.

_{◆ I D E O L O G Y}

Raised in the wastelands of the Dark Lands filled with destruction, Modrem, and depravity since she was abandoned as a child, Rowena has developed apart from what is called the acceptable, the proper, or the norm. In this respect she has developed into something of an enigma, or perhaps that is only true when compared to areas outside of the Darklands.

She is boisterous and animated, with a personality that is filled with energy. She is not afraid to shout, but there is the need, and tends to keep the volume of her voice at a medium level. In general personality she is very forthcoming and direct, never shying away from her true opinion on things in spite of societal sensitivities. Thus she can come off of overbearing and rude, although in the less civilized Darklands this hasn’t stopped her from making friends.

She holds strongly to the personal doctrine of individualism and individual freedom. In doing so, she declares that she shall never have her life surrendered to another, unless it is in the heat of battle. In her hatred of rules and controls, she despises the rules of the lands beyond the Darklands, as their aim is to force people like herself into surrender and subjugation. The only good part of civilization is the riches it offers, which Rowena appreciates very much.

Her reason for fighting is mostly for material gains and for her very survival, although she prefers it to the normalized life of regular civilization. Violence and adventure gives her a kind of thrill which a schedule and job cannot.

_{◆ B A C K G R O U N D}

Rowena is the daughter of Aeon Malchut, the man who became a hero and one of the greatest Guardians, and Margaret Robins, the woman he once loved. She is of mixed ethnicity. Her childhood was happy enough, but it was soon enough destroyed by the Calamity. The first memory Margaret still has is of her father abandoning her and her mother, leaving them to die at the hands of Mordrem. Her mother died, but she did not, and with solely her instinct, natural intellect, and a humble kitchen knife she slew her first Mordrem.

On that day her life had changed forever, and never again would peace be known to her, and soon she would no longer wish for it. She survived the Calamity, yet her world was plunged into darkness. She lived in the Dark Zone, and that being no place for children, her childhood ended. She was forced to adapt to her environment, and she learned how to fight and how to scavenge. Years spent inside the Dark Zone away from the remnants of civilization irrevocably changed her.

She became an adventurer who had a contempt for rules. She visited many places, and managed to survive out in the Dark Lands, slaying all who would seek to kill her, whether they be Mordrem, gangs, aggressors, fanatics, or husks. Although she prefers the wild and lawless lands to that of the cities ruled by government, she visits both, and has spent her life traveling, fighting, and learning various languages. As a youth she realized she had control over the power of spirits, and she uses aspekts to augment her strength, but she remains an almost exclusively physical fighter, and uses her single spirit, Timaeus, in only dire emergencies.

_{◆ W A R F A R E}

Rowena wields a rather plain sword with a handle of leather and blade of normal yet firm steel. Nothing fancier is thought to be needed. [◇]

_{◇ Timaeus [ Holy ] A bright wave of light appears from Rowena’s palms and lunges forth wherever she targets, dealing heavy damage..}

_{◆ A S P E K T S}

_{◇ Lancer
◇ Sentinel
◇ Adept
◇ Fanatic}

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the account of ancient Ashkar, home to the Edimmu people, great men and women of culture and invention who bowed to no army, no matter how mighty they be.

The Edimmu

A female Edimmu

Name of Species Edimmu
Genetic Compatibility humans and regulli
Physical Characteristics of Males: They are an average of seven feet tall, and have blue or, rarely, green hair. They have white skin, pink lips, and blue or green eyes. The hair on their head grows quickly, so that it is normal for them to have hair down to the bottom of their back. However, they do not grow hair outside form on their head.
Physical Characteristics of Females: They are about eight inches on average shorter than males, and their appearance is feminine as opposed to masculine. However, many of their features, such as skin color, eye color, and things concerning hair are the same as their male equivalent.
Lifespan: 100 – 120 years
Diet: Omnivore
Racial Attributes: Their intelligence and strength is comparable to that of humans. They do not do well in cold environments, and tend to avoid them altogether, as extended contact with the harsh cold will kill them.
Age: 200,000
Differences from Human Biology: The Edimmu lack breasts, and likewise Edimmu females do not produced milk, nor do Edimmu children need milk. This lack of the necessity of milk and the lack of breasts also carry over to interspecies children. The reproductive system and sexual organs are noticeably different yet very similar to that of humans, but the full repercussions of this are not known. Their pale skin and light colored hair points to an even greater divergence.

Ashkar - Old Profile

The flag of Ashkar, symbolizing the unity and division of the gods

Name of City: Ashkar
Population
250,000

• Males: 125,000
• Females: 125,000

Known For: Their civilization came into existence completely independent of the Prometheans. They focus on building on an advanced society through the sciences, and have a spiritual society very focused on religion.
Culture: Society is divided between the ruling class and the lower Class. Edimmu society is patriarchal, but there is a greater deal of equality than in other patriarchies. Women can run their own businesses, hold professions, and there is no-fault divorce. They wear simple attire, at least for now, which consist of light brown robes, and similar for both sexes. The ruling class uses dyes to color their robes in order to differentiate themselves from the commoners; the nobles use blue, and the priests use white.

There is a complex society consisting of many professions, including pottermen, fishermen, and weavers, healers, diviners, artisans, warriors, hunters, teachers, academics, nobles, and priests. The battle between order and chaos is considered very important, and each man and woman sees their profession as their own part in the battle of order against chaos. The ruling class consists of the nobles and the priests, while the rest belong to the ruling class.

Concubinage is practiced, but it is only allowed for men. There are no prejudices against homosexuality, and in fact the heterosexual-homosexual binary does not exist within Edimmu society. When someone’s spouse does not satisfy them, it is common for them to gain a homosexual lover if they do not want to divorce.
Religion Overview: Edimmu religion is polytheistic. At the very head of the pantheon is Eliyahu, who rules as King of the gods. According to traditional Edimmu cosmology, Eliyahu forged the world by the bodies of the primordial gods, and thus order triumphed over chaos. The gods are seen as physical beings, not transcendent forces. There are also daemons, some good and some bad. The burial of the dead is a religious ceremony. Priests oversee all religious ceremonies, and divination is a religious practice overseen by people called diviners.
Government Type:Despotism
Calendar The Edimmu Calendar – current year 85

Ashkar

Politics

The Monarchy

The head of state is known as King of Ashkar, Shepherd of the Edimmu people. The title refers to his rulership over the city of Ashkar. This very city would later expand over a relatively vast Kingdom, and the monarch’s power by extensions includes also the places the citizens of Ashkar and their descendants founded. He is known as Shepherd of the Edimmu as, being the King over their territory and monarch over them, he must take care of them as shepherd takes care of his flock. The King is responsible for the welfare of his people and ruled in accordance with divine will. The dynasty is claimed to be have divine blood, the first King claiming and is recognized accordingly to have been the son of Iyanna.

The monarchy has tried as much as it can to keep the whole of political power within its own hands without needlessly micromanaging. The priesthood, while intimately tied to the state, has its political power limited by the monarchy. The nobility has the same problem, and the monarchy sees the nobles as the greater threat. They cannot to be destroyed entirely, so the monarchy relies on them as administrators, but makes it so that they cannot become anything more.

List of Monarchs

Early Mar-Tu Dynasty

Mar-Tu “The Conquerer”-75 – 15 E.C. (-159 - -69 A.E.) 1 – 15 E.C. (-83 - -69 A.E.)
Alaraem II -46 – 22 E.C. (-130 - -62 A.E.) 15 – 22 E.C. (-69 - -62 A.E.)
Sarru-Kinu -23 – 40 E.C. (-107 - -44 A.E.) 22 – 40 E.C. (-62 - -44 A.E.)
Sumu-abum -2 – 85 E.C. (-86 – 1 A.E.) 40 – 85 E.C. (-44 – 1 A.E.)
Sumu-Abum 24 – 85 E.C. (-60 – 1 A.E.) 63 – 85 E.C. ( -25 – 1 A.E.)
Anvor 45 – 88 E.C. (-39 – 4 A,E.) 85 – 88 E.C. ( 1 – 4 A.E.)
Samu-Sumu 80 E – 89 E.C. (-4 – 5 A.E.) 88 – 89 E.C. (4 – 5 A.E.)
Sumarael I “the Great”52 – 131 E.C. (- 32 – 47 A.E.) 89 – 131 E.C. (5 – 47 A.E.)
Sumu-abil 82 – 163 E.C. (-2 – 79 A.E.) 131 – 163 E.C. (47 – 79 A.E.)
Illedrazki “The Wise” 100 – 194 E.C. (16 – 110 A.E.) 163 – 194 E.C (79 – 110 A.E)

Middle Mar-Tu Dynasty
Akhar 137 – 215 E.C. (53 – 131 A.E.) 212 – 215 E.C. (128 – 131 A.E.)
Ettrewahu 157 – 229 E.C. (73 – 145 A.E.) 215 – 229 E.C. (131 A.E. – 145 A.E.)
Sumarael II 176 – 240 E.C. (92 – 156 A.E.) 229 – 240 E.C. (145 – 156 A.E.)
Akhaku 198 – 283 E.C. (156 – 199 A.E.) 240 – 283 E.C. (156 – 199 A.E.) Iyannaabu 223 – 313 E.C. (139 – 205 A.E.) 283 – 289 E.C. (199 – 205 A.E.)
Illedrazki II 247 – 315 E.C. (163 – 231 A.E.) 289 – 315 E.C. (205 – 231 A.E.)
Sumarael III 267 – 318 E.C. (183 – 234 A.E.) 315 – 318 E.C. (231 – 234 A.E.)
Akaku 288 – 335 E.C. (204 – 251 A.E.) 318 – 334 E.C. (234 – 251 A.E.)
Samu-Sumu II 311 – 407 E.C. (227 – 325 A.E.) 334 – 407 E.C. (250 – 325 A.E.)
Sumarael IV 332 – 420 E.C. (248 – 336 A.E.) 407 – 420 E.C. (325 – 336 A.E.)
Yamu 350 – 445 E.C. (266 – 361 A.E.) 420 – 445 E.C. (336 – 361 A.E.)
Anvor II 374 – 445 E.C. (290 - 361 A.E.) 445 E.C. (361 A.E.)

Late Mar-Tu Dynasty
Itu 401 – 489 E.C. (361 – 405 A.E.) 445 – 489 E.C. (361 – 405 A.E.)
Abatu 452 – 500 E.C. (368 – 416 A.E.) 489 – 496 E.C. (405 – 412 A.E.)
Akhar II “The Great” 473 – 555 E.C. (389 – 471 A.E.) 496 – 555 E.C. (412 – 471 A.E.)
Anvor III 532 – 571 E.C. (448 – 487 A.E.) 564 – 571 E.C. (480 – 487 A.E.)
Girbranu 554 – 615 E.C. (487 – 531 A.E.) 571 – 615 E.C. (487 – 531 A.E.)

Note 1: Samu-Sumu II is the longest-reigning King so far, who reigned seventy-three years.

Satrapies

The Satrapies are the provinces into which the Kingdom is divided. There are currently twenty-four Satrapies. Its overseers are the Satraps, the highest-ranking nobles in the country, whose role is synonymous with governor. They oversee the administration of the satrapy, and their duties were collecting taxes, overseeing local administrators, and retaining control and stability of the area. They ruled entirely through the authority of the King, not their own authority. Their position, however, was hereditary.


The Satrapies

Law

The first collection of laws was organized under Sumarael the Great in 99 E.C. (15 A.E.). As the centuries wore on the educated so them they were seen as increasingly out of touch and superstitious. A newer and more modern code was created by Akhar the Great in 530 E.C. (430 A.E.), although in truth the core of it was kept.

The law is overseen by a judge. When a case is brought forth towards him, both sides, the accuser and the accused, present the judge with the evidence. The judge will then decide, with the evidence given to him, what is the proper ruling. As always, Sumarael’s maxim “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is the prevailing principle of the law. A faulty ruling by the judge, if proven, will result in his disbarring, the ultimate shame.

Culture

Society

Ashkarian society is split between the High Class and the Low Class, and no concept of a middle class exists in Ashkar. This is because the distinction High Class and Low Class is not truly based on wealth, although the High Class tend to be wealthy and the Low Class tend not to be. The true distinction was around power. The High Class consisted of those who ruled, and the Low Class consisted of those who were ruled over.

In recent times, the merchant profession has seen itself become steadily more profitable. In the mercantile and trading hub of Argilo, the Kingdom’s second largest city, the merchants have become so powerful they have effectively usurped the traditional nobility of their power in the city. They have subsequently acted little better or worse towards the populace.

Ashkar is a patriarchy, and males are in control of the political, social, religious, and military institutions of the civilization. In regards to families, fathers have power over the mothers. Inheritence is settled along the lines of primogeniture, with sons being given precedence over daughters in inheritance even in cases of seniority by the females. Women are not allowed to serve in the military at all.

Nonetheless, Ashkar has a given women a considerable (for a patriarchy) number of liberties. Traditional customs and written laws are clear that women have rights, although women are not equal to men. Women have the right to own businesses, make contracts in trade, and own property. Women can divorce their husbands without a reason given, and must simply bring forth their desire before a judge.

Although children are not considered property per say, they must obey an arranged marriage organized by their father. Divorce laws, however, make it so that the marriages could end as soon as that child turns sixteen. However, this is not a problem, as loyalty to the family as well as the tendency to gain an attachment to one’s spouse as time passes negates the desire.

Every man and woman’s profession is considered important for theological reasons. A profession is stated not to be merely a job, but each person’s small part in preserving the force of Order and fighting against the force of Chaos. Ashkarian society tends to lean towards collectivism and the greater good. The exception, of course, is with the King. No matter how tyrannical he is, his word is law.

The Edimmu are, in general, monogamous moderate polyamorists, and this is not so much of a contradiction. Marriage is strictly between a man and a woman, and its primary focus is on procreation and the proper raising of the young. Despite this, romance in marriage is seen as the ideal state, and idealists say it is actually the norm.

Concubinage is allowed only for the nobles and the royalty, and it is only allowed for men. For the royal family, it is expected that the princes and, above all, the King will take a good many number of concubines; at least a dozen. The men often have their favorite among their various concubines. The nobles have much stricter rules. Noble men may only take on a maximum of four concubines.

Outside of official business is the business of lovers. Lovers are by tradition of the same sex and have no legal connections, only emotional, romantic, and physical relations. Often these relationships are formed between a wealthy patron and an attractive youth from the Low Class, although there are no strict traditions regarding it.

Despite all this, some Edimmu may be completely monogamous, and may have sexual relations with only their spouse. Some take lovers when they are sexually unsatisfied, but many do not. The Edimmu generally try to keep the whole thing low-key, and are upset by how loud the Reguli are about it.

Or’Rouzi Culture

Contrary to popular Ashkarian mythology, the Or’Rouzi were not backward savages in need of civilization before their unwelcome arrival. Gemeti, founded three centuries prior to Ashkar, was once Sahba, and Hamusi, founded five centuries prior to Ashkar, was once Dil’miyun.

Muslidheen mn Hassayn, Histories of the Or’Rouzi, Section 2, Chapter 1, Page 1

The Or’Rouzi are the indigenous of the northern territories beyond the Sea of Ashkar, and continue to make up a clear majority of those lands. Prior to being conquered by Ashkar, the Or’Rouzi lived in villages, towns, and cities, the largest cities becoming the cities of Hamusi and Gemeti. If the Ashkarians did not to utterly decimate the population, they would continue to do so.

Religion played a large part in Or’Rouzi society. The shamans were both the political leaders of their settlement as well as the religious leaders. Settlements were built out of wood, and were often walled by a collection of tall wooden spikes side by side. Warfare between city-states was common, so a type of defense was necessary. It did not, however, help during the Ashkarian takeover.

The Or’Rouzi, however, did not base their entire life on religion, and had an eclectic lifestyle. Their favorite sport and pastime is a type of association football, known as Ilihaus. Or’Rouzi also enjoy hearing the tales of professional storytellers and folklorists, and eventually wrote these down. Similar to their imperialist overlords, the Or’Rouzi formed a society made up of varied professions including builders, merchants, farmers, warriors, and shamans, among others.

Currently, Or’Rouzi is in a period of upheaval and disruption due to the Ashkarian invasion and their subsequent subjugation under the Rosians. Many Or’Rouzi from outside Ashkar proper are taken from their homes and sold as slaves to the rich and powerful. Many of the others have had their standard of living plummet in comparison to their ancestors, working as unskilled laborers in contruction projects for little money.

Rosian Culture

I am neither Edimmu nor Or’Rouzi, your majesty. I am of the Rosian line.

Lord Addu to King Ezpiru

The Rosians originally were the result of the relations between Ashkarian soldiers and the indigenous Or’Rouzi, but today the origins of the Rosians are far more varied. The Rosians are the feudal lords of the northern territories, known as the Rosian Lands in their honor, instead of the Or’Rouzi majority. Despite their genetic ties with the Or’Rouzi, the Rosians elite are seldom beneficial to the Or’Rouzi majority. The Rosian nobility enjoys lavishness, wealth, and power, often building great architectural structures to expand their own glory.

The elite make up about a tenth of all Rosians. The rest serve as merchant and artisans, forming a type of proto-middle class. They are kinder and more beneficial to the Or’Rouzi, although their own interests are rarely the same as those of the Or’Rouzi, and their thoughts on their ruling brethren tend to be kinder.

The pride of the Rosians is Lord Addu ibn Baraku (508 – 596 E.C., 424 – 512 A.E.), who is the first major figure of Rosian intellectual thought. A philologist, social theorist, and philosopher, he was one of the major early figures Esagilianism. A rare philosopher to ultimately ignore metaphysics, he analyzed society and was a great influence on Dammu. As a philologist, he studied etymology and the meanings of texts, taking a critical outlook even on religious texts.

Reguli Culture

The Reguli immigrated to Ashkar first starting in 334 E.C. (250 A.E.), after their home was destroyed. They were in shambles after the destruction of Ilitscium, and a great many of them migrated to Ashkar. Poverty-stricken and depressed, things likely would have been quite different had it not been for the leadership of Philon the Great (69 – 290 A.E., 153 – 374 A.E.). They were disorganized and poor, but Philon made them an organized force, and gave them hope with his talk of divine providence.

The Reguli arrived in Gemeti, and while a few stayed most left further south, mainly to the cities of Ashkar and Argilu. They proved unpopular with the Edimmu natives at large, and Race Riots occurred in Ashkar against them, but King Samu-Sumu II was sympathetic to them, and such uprisings were quickly crushed through force of arms.

The Reguli tried to carry on as they once had before. Their standard of living had been greatly reduced, and now their home was a slum, and they were segregated away from the Edimmu majority. They found themselves barred from most professions. Prostitution, always a cultural landmark, thrived just as it had in their homeland, although now the prostitutes were destitute. Many Reguli turned to the mercantile professions, becoming merchants and financiers, while others worked inside their own community to improve the situation of the slums. The situation was better in Argilu than in Ashkar, as the mercantile rulers of Argilu were more accommodating to willing merchants, even though they were hostile to competition.

The Reguli brought forth a unique philosophy to Ashkar. They were hedonists in the absolute sense, and had a love of sensual pleasure. The Edimmu were not adverse to sensual pleasure, but they were unused to someone being so barefaced about it, and proclaiming wanton sex was a virtue rather a vice. Reguli thought was made clear by Philon the Great, who wrote plenty after arriving in Ashkar for the purpose of making clear Reguli thought and making it defensible. Philon wrote of the intrinsic value of life, and the purpose of pleasure in life as something that ought to be fulfilled. He made clear a monotheist doctrine completely foreign to the Ashkarians as well. Then he wrote the Praevian (283 A.E., 367 E.C.), a collection of five books that would soon become holy to the Reguli.

Antonia (500 – 698 E.C., 416 – 614 A.E.) brought philosophy further still with her own philosophy. Drawing from Inakkya, Edimmu defender of sex and sacred prostitution, and from the logician Zu-lum-ra, she sought to show Reguli religion was logically true. Those urges, for one thing, were not so bad, and were merely the attempts of the potentiality to reach its actuality, or the x to reach to y. Then there was the deal of the Divinitus, the Great Divine, also known as God, which she also calls the Demiurge or Great Architect, who she sees as a logical necessity for the creation of the world. She lived life as a mystic, focusing on meditation, the Divinitus, and the life of roving traveler.

Calendar

The current calendar was created by Adauya 460 E.C. (376 A.E.), who fine-tuned the earlier calendar by Apil-Seun in 160 E.C. (76 A.E.). There are four seasons, Elu-Karulla (Summer), Ahisthu, Ramman, and Aramma. Months are divided by the season they are in.

Elu-Karulla 1 (June)

Elu-Karulla 2 (July)

Elu-Karulla 3 (August)

Ahisthu 1 (September)

Ahisthu 2 (October)

Ahisthu 3 (November)

Ramman 1 (December)

Ramman 2 (January)

Ramman 3 (February)

Aramma 1 (March)

Aramma 2 (April)

Armma 3 (May)

Religion

Edimmu Polytheism

Main Deities

Eliyahu – Allfather and King of the gods and god of the heavens
Ashrata – Consort of Eliyahu and goddess of motherhood and fertility
Iyanna – goddess of love, fertility, and warfare; the most popular deity
Ramman – god of rain, weather, storms, hurricanes, and thunder
Enka – goddess of crafts, skill, art, law and justice, civilization, mathematics, wisdom, and water
Anshur – god of the wind
Iluta – goddess of social justice and prophecy
Elu-Karulla – the sun goddess, and Khatalul’s consort
Khatalul – the moon god
Ninurta – champion of the gods and god of agriculture and manliness
Imkhas – god of war and destruction
Tummazi – god of food and vegetation
Arzigal – god of death
Nuu – goddess of darkness
Gabalu – the god of strength, heroes, athleticism, health, and beauty

The Holy Texts

The Abada (55 E.C., -29 A.E.)
Ekagony (186 E.C., 102 A.E.)
The Epic of Marduk (204 E.C., 120 A.E.)
The Epic of Urshum (414 E.C., 330 A.E.)
Isu’s Folktales (578 E.C., 494 A.E.)

Theology

According to the religion, there is a constant battle between order and chaos. The strongest force of Order is civilization and the layout of an orderly society. Each man, woman, and child is expected to do their duty to order and not become disorderly. Consequently, there is a strong focus on duty and rituals. Criminals, delinquents, and other malcontents help the forces of chaos through their disorderliness.

The world is cyclic. Although currently the forces of Order are in control, they will only be in control for so long, as things deteriorate over time. The forces of Chaos will once again rise and overtake the world, and it will descend into nothingness once again. However, the forces of Order shall once again rise and overtake chaos. This will happen forever.

The gods are the highest being and the objects of worship. They have interacted personally with mortals and gone among them on a number of occasions. One of the prominent features about them is a terrifying brightness around them known as “melammu,” which brought a feeling of awe and reverence to others who saw them. The gods are anthropomorphic and often acted like humans, but are thought to be more powerful, more knowledgeable, and above all immortal.

The afterlife is comparatively bleak compared to other religion such as Ilaism. The afterlife occurred in a land below the Earth called Suwala, and all go to here in death, regardless of their deeds in life, with the exception of Gabalu, who became a god. The souls are given no reward here, where they are surrounded in all-encompassing darkness and become meek and powerless ghosts.

The Myths

The traditional religion of Edimmu holds that there are many gods which are all worthy of worship, although some are more important than others. There are for instant the main deities and then dozens of named deities below them.

In the beginning there existed nothing except the primordial Chaos, and her name was Ghena, primordial goddess of Chaos. Then out of nothing came Eliyahu, whose very nature was the opposite of Ghena. Eliyahu confronted Ghena and defeated her, and from the bodies of chaos create the world.

However, Ghena had not truly disappeared. Chaos remained, and it was destined that one day Ghena would return to end the world and Chaos would once again reign. Even so, Order would not be vanquished completely either, and would once again triumph. This cycle will continue forever. Whether this is the first cycle is unclear and unknowable to mortals, and admitted by theologians to be statistically unlikely.

Eliyahu, upon creating the world, created his spouse Ashrata. They had children, and their children had offspring. Soon an entire pantheon of gods was born. The world, chaotic and unorganized, soon would become orderly. The world was infected with demons, creatures that were dedicated to the forces of chaos, led by the monstrous-looking winged Urlil, the demonic and ethereal vampiric spirit Lamashtu, who would suck the soul out of someone, and Zavreg, the first dragon.

With Eliyahu (Iyanna) as the general, the gods led the gods to fight against the demons. with Ninurta serving at the head of the army. Ninurta slew Urlil and Zavreg, but Lamashtu proved unassailable. The demons were driven to the edges of the world, and the world began to sprout as we would recognize it. The gods created plants, animals, and men.

The greatest gift of the gods to men was civilization. With the aid of the gods, the first kingdom was established under the rule of Alu-men-shar, the holiest of wise men to have ever lived. He was blessed and lived for millennia, and was consort to Iyanna. He eventually died, and his descendants were even more godlike. During this mythic period, the capital was moved several times, as the cities simply collapsed with age.

List of Antediluvian Kings

Alu-men-shar ruled 25,000 years
Abi-yanna-hu ruled 84,000 years
La-mun-sha-rum ruled 49,400 years
En-rim-shipar ruled 23,100 years
Dramizid ruled 36,000 years
En-shi-pra-ir ruled 66,000 years
Iralibashur ruled 35,000 years
Uti-zi-mashur ruled 17,000 years

The most famous of these clearly mythological kings was Dramizid. He was a shepherd, but he also became Iyanna’s lover, as she adored him. In one of the myths, Iyanna descends to the underworld, but is only allowed to return if an entourage of demons follow her. The myth originally went that the demons see Dramizid sitting peacefully alone and seize him immediately, and Iyanna slays Lamashtu for revenge. Later accounts say that the demons only attempted to seize Dramizid, and Iyanna saved him by slaying the demons. Then Dramizid ruled as the consort of Iyanna.

After Uti-zi-mashur’s death, a great flood came that covered over the entire world. The flood had come by divine intervention, as the world was not as it should be. Despite being an important event, the reasoning for the flood is not clear, although it seems the sins of mankind was responsible. Of the survivors, Noachanu is made king, as he is the most virtuous of men, and he reestablishes civilization.

List of Early Kings

Noachanu ruled 350 years
Qaradarqu ruled 225 years
Gabalu ruled 300 years
Darashqu ruled 240 years
Bira-itui ruled 280 years
Albo-hubur ruled 210 years
Dinuyashtur ruled 290 years
Marduk ruled 800 years
Makurahhu ruled 250 years
Ellulalahhu ruled 150 years
Mesh-ne ruled 70 years

Gabalu, who served as the third king, is the greatest of all the Epic Heroes of the Edimmu. He was born a sheepherder, and was said to be the most beautiful and pleasant of all the mortals. Eliyahu went down to the world and tried to abduct him, but Gabalu outran him. Eliyahu agreed to leave him alone if he could defeat Ninurta, and he did so. He promptly became a hero, doing a number of impossible things and becoming King of the land. He is fated to die a heroes death, and he does not try to escape his death. For Edimmu warriors, he is the ideal, an impossible perfect hero impossible to emulate. After death he was elevated as the god of strength, heroes, health, athleticism, and beauty.

Marduk, the eighth of the post-flood kings and a demi-god, and subject of the eponymous Epic, was initially a cruel king. When Kamesh went to stop him, both of them became distracted and travel to the abode of the gods and slay the monstrous Humbraaba, but Kamesh is killed after Marduk refuses the advances of Iyanna. Marduk mourns his best friend and fears for his own death, and mourns as he comes in grasp of achieving immortality but it is stolen from him.

After the death of Mesh-ne, Noachanu the city was destroyed by the new forces lead by the great conqueror Mar-Tu. Mar-Tu claimed to be the son of Iyanna, and is the first King to be known to be historical.

Or’Rouzi Folk Religion

The Or’Rouzi folk religion has been practiced by the Or’Rouzi for as long as it has been known, since time immemorial. As anthropology is yet to exist, no detailed studies on the roots of the religion has been done.

The Or’Rouzi folk religion is widely animist. It holds that it is not humans, Edimmu, Zaqiri, et cetera alone that have a spiritual essence or soul. Animals, plants, rocks, and inanimate objects also possess a soul. All things which have a soul are said to possess personhood and all things, in essence, are equal.

Worship takes the form of veneration of ancestors. The dead are buried in large burial grounds, each person having a mound which has their name carved in. After they die, their spirits are said to live on and watch over their descendants. As time passes, their essence slowly ascends, and they are said to become “divine.” They remain watchers, but they are no longer truly human. The ancestors are venerated in order that they may continue to watch over them even in death and bless them, and so that they will not become angry due to neglect.

The world was created by the first being and trickster spirit Siwa, who is said to still enjoy tricking the men, animals, and spirits of the world. The earth was at first only water, but then from the water earth sprouted, and then came the plants and animals.

There is said to be a world separate from the physical world, which is called the spiritual realm. Although things there are not said to be reversed, it is said to be the “other side” of existence. This is where spirits, divine beings, and demons dwell. The spirits and divine have already been dealt with. The demons are similar to the divine, but they are malevolent spiritual beings who were corrupted through negative emotion, and are believed to mostly consist of ancestral spirits who were neglected.

Religious worship is led by the shamans, who lead the religious ceremonies of the Or’Rouzi. When someone is born, a shaman blesses them. The shaman blesses both the husband and wife in a wedding, sanctifying the marriage. Burials and funerals as well are led by the shamans. In the religious ceremony, the Chanting of the Sun, which occurs at sundown at the end of every month, the chant is led by the shaman.

Shamans reach altered states of consciousness through forms of religious ecstasy. During these trances, they are said to wander around the spiritual realm and converse with spirits. It is for this reason they are revered.

Divinitism in Ashkar

Divinitism was introduced into Ashkar during the great Reguli Exodus of the 4th century E.C., as Ilitscium had been destroyed in the war with Zaqir. Ashkar blames it all on Zaqir. An influx of Divinitist Reguli entered Ashkar, and since then they have been about eight percent of Ashkar’s population.

The Divinitists believe in the "Divinitus" or "Grand Divine", an omnipotent being who takes on different forms depending on who see them and is the ruler of their Nobililis, the hivemind the Reguli. Their creation myth is that the Divinitus had created the world and then summoned life out of the sea. The Regulii will often change the Divinitus's gender at will as they believe it does not matter and worship the Divinitus by way of prayer, meditation and what can only be called "holy orgies".

The Divinitists found themselves in slums, and were unable to build the larger temples that they were used to. Instead, they were forced to found the smaller houses of worship known as Churches. The churches were often the center of the communities, and priests often served as community leaders. Many Edimmu (erroneously) view Divinitists as immoral sex worshippers.

Illaism in Ashkar

Illaism declares there is only one God, the omnipotent Illa. There are no holy figures and prophets, only Illa, who spread the faith among the Ayels. When the faithful die, their service is reward in death, as their souls go to the moon. The Ayels are the chosen people of Illa, who generally hide from the public eye, communicating only with the Prophet of Yossod.

Illaism is a rapidly growing movement in Ashkar. It was first spread by missionaries from Yossod who had went to the Or’Rouzi colonies to spread the faith. It struck a chord with many of the Or’Rouzi. Having lived in serfdom and slavery and their old shamans being unable to give any reprieve, many of the Or’Rouzi have seen hope in Illaism and converted. About a tenth of all the Or’Rouzi have converted after the faith having been active for a century. The Ashkarians have not interfered in the spread of Or’Rouzi.

According to religious legend, the first convert was Sulay ibn Asyir (444 – 512 E.C., 360 – 428 A.E.). Sulay subsequently was one of the key missionaries of the early period. Many missionaries were driven away by the power of the shamans, and some were martyred. However, many were not, as the Or’Rouzi were looking for something new. This new faith brought them hope.

In the next century, the key figure of Illaism in Ashkar was the holy man Jabrir ibn Bakr (326 – 487 E.C., 400 – 471 A.E.). Converted to Illaism by Sulay ibn Asyir, followed him until his death, and then spent ten years in the desert. He reemerged from the desert in 522 E.C. (438 A.E.) and rapidly became the leader of the Illaist community. By 500 A.E., a tenth of the Or’Rouzi and a smaller portion of Rosians were converted to Illaism.

Demographics, Circa 500 A.E.

Demographics

Total Population: 9,804,000

Species/Ethnicities
Edimmu: 8,275,500 (84.65%)
Reguli: 800,000 (8.19%)
Or’Rouzi: 610,500 (6.24%)
Rosians: 118,000 (0.92%)

Religion
Edimmu Polytheism: 8,388,250 (85.56%)
Divinitism: 800,000 (8.19%)
Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 549,450 (5.6%)
Illaism: 65,800 (0.65%)

Religions by Species/Ethnicity
Edimmu: 8,275,500

• Edimmu Polytheism: 8,275,500 (100%)

Reguli: 800,000

• Divinitism: 800,000

Or’Rouzi: 610,500

• Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 549,450 (90%)
• Illaism: 60,550 (10%)

Rosians: 118,000

• Edimmu Polytheism: 112,750 (95.55%)
• Illaism: 5,250 (4.45%)

Rosian Lands

Gemeti: 400,000

• 208,000 Or’Rouzi (52%)
  Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 187,200 (90%)
  Illaism: 20,800 (10%)
• 140,000 Edimmu (35%)
• 40,000 Rosians (10%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 38,400 (96%)
  Illaism: 1,600 (4%)
• 12,000 Reguli (2%)

Ibbi-Sin: 150,000

• 100,000 Or’Rouzi (60%)
  Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 90,000 (90%)
  Illaism: 10,000 (10%)
• 30,500 Edimmu (27%)
• 19,500 Rosians (13%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 19,110 (98%)
  Illaism: 390 (2%)

Kamasi: 100,000

• 65,000 Or’Rouzi (65%)
  Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 58,500 (90%)
  Illaism: 6,500 (10%)
• 23,000 Edimmu (23%)
• 12,000 Rosians (12%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 11,760 (98%)
  Illaism: 240 (2%)

Lenaza: 100,000

• 75,000 Or’Rouzi (75%)
  Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 67,500 (90%)
  Illaism: 7,500 (10%)
• 14,000 Rosians (14%)
  Eddimu Polytheism: 13,580 (97%)
  Illaism: 420 (3%)
• 11,000 Edimmu (11%)

Hamusi: 250,000

• 162,500 Or’Rouzi (60%)
  Or’Rouzi Folk Religion: 146,250 (90%)
  Illaism: 16,250 (10%)
• 32,500 Rosians (13%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 29,900 (92%)
  Illaism: 2,600 (8%)
• 47,500 Edimmu (19%)
• 7,500 Reguli (3%)

The Heart of the Kingdom

Ashkar: 1,300,000

• 969,500 Edimmu (74.6%)
  Divinitism: 969,500 (100%)
• 330,500 Reguli (25.4%)
  Divinitism: 330,500 (100%)

Layahu: 400,000

• 360,000 Edimmu (90%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 360,000 (100%)
• 40,000 Reguli (10%)
  Divinitism: 40,000 (100%)

Enkidu: 300,000

• 98,000 Edimmu (98%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 98,000 (100%)
• 6,000 Reguli (2%)
  Divinitism: 6,000 (100%)

Yaz: 300,000

• 297,000 Edimmu (99%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 297,000 (100%)
• 3,000 Reguli (1%)
  Divinitism: 3,000 (100%)

Dyena: 800,000

• 760,000 Edimmu (95%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 760,000 (100%)
• 40,000 Reguli (5%)
  Divinitism: 40,000 (100%)

Iliung: 800,000

• 728,000 Edimmu (91%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 728,000 (100%)
• 72,000 Reguli (9%)
  Divinitism: 72,000 (100%)

Hegal: 300,000

• 300,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 300,000 (100%)

The East
Anvor: 500,000

• 475,000 Edimmu (95%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 475,000 (100%)
• 25,000 Reguli (5%)
  Divinitism: 25,000 (100%)

Sumarael: 300,000

• 297,000 Edimmu (99%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 297,000 (100%)
• 3,000 Reguli (1%)
  Divinitism: 3,000 (100%)

Argilu: 1,000,000

• 779,000 Edimmu (77.9%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 779,000 (100%)
• 221,000 Reguli (22.1%)
  Divinitism: 221,000 (100%)

Dipatsu: 200,000

• 184,000 Edimmu (92%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 184,000 (100%)
• 16,000 Reguli (8%)
  Divinitism: 16,000 (100%)

Edigu: 300,000

• 292,000 Edimmu (98%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 292,000 (100%)
• 8,000 Reguli (2%)
  Divinitism: 8,000 (100%)

Uzubar: 400,000

• 384,000 Edimmu (96%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 384,000 (100%)
• 16,000 Reguli (4%)
  Divinitism: 16,000 (100%)

The Frontier
Gan-Sannu: 400,000

• 400,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 400,000 (100%)

Allumana: 350,000

• 350,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 350,000 (100%)

Dumuzi: 350,000

• 350,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 350,000 (100%)

Eridug: 300,000

• 300,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 300,000 (100%)

Marlishtar: 300,000

• 300,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 300,000 (100%)

Lana: 400,000

• 400,000 Edimmu (100%)
  Edimmu Polytheism: 400,000 (100%)

Summary

States of Evolution

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Late Ancient Era Nation Summary

The flag of Ashkar, symbolizing the unity and division of the gods.

The Kingdom of Ashkar

Lightning Summary: Often described as a mystical and esotic land, Ashkar is a land where the King is said to be of divine blood and he rules with absolute power. Here, the humanities and sciences have always flourished. Religion and the gods take a central role, and each individual wishes to contribute in the eternal struggle between order and chaos. The people may look soft, but they are not. No matter how many crises occur, the people will endure.

Population: 10,000,000

• Edimmu: 8,520,000 (85.2%)
• Reguli: 800,000 (8%)
• Or’Rouzi: 600,000 (6%)
• Rosians: 80,000 (0.8%)

Religions:

• Edimmu Polytheism (state religion): 8,600,000 (86%)
  99.07% Edimmu
  0.93% Rosian
• Divinitism : 800,000 (8%)
  100% Reguli
• Or’Rouzi Folk Religion 540,000 (5.4%)
  100% Or'Rouzi
• Ilaism: 60,000 (0.6%)
  100% Or'Rouzi

• Edimmu
  100% Edimmu Polytheism
• Reguli
  100% Divinitism
• Or'Rouzi
  90% Or'Rouzi Folk Religion
  10% Ilaism

Famous Technological Developments:

• Philosophy – 3 A.E.
• Sophisticated Astronomy – 281 A.E.
• Catapult – 408 A.E.

State Government:

• Name: Despotism
• Type: Monarchy
• Girbranu – King of Ashkar
• Sumarael – Crown-Prince of Ashkar
• Dimtu – minister of counsel concerning “special cases” (spymaster)
• Hamsu – minister of counsel for diplomatic matters
• Elurmu – minister of counsel the treasury
• Tegal – Chaplain of the Royal Court
  
  

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  Infrastructure Summary
  
  
  
  
  Capital City:
  
  
  • Ashkar
    • Known For: Center of Culture, the Arts, Sciences, and Religion
  
  
  Other Major Cities:
  
  
  • Argilo
    • Known For: Trade Hub
  
  
  • Gabala-du
    • Known For: Metal and Jewels Production
  
  
  • Iliung
    • Known For: Marble Production and Engineering

Transportation Network Summary: There is a system of roads of stone that create a path to all the cities, and they are always a top priority. They are a consistent public work project which the King ensures is in good condition. As a steed, people use unicorns to travel. They are used either alone or to carry a carriage or caravan. Fezagh, large and brutish but loyal animals, are often used as large, moving caravans. Fezagh, due to their strength, lessen the need for bodyguard mercenaries. Fezaghs are also occasionally used to travel, which are far slower but their incredible strength guarantees safety.

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Military Summary

Standing Army Size: 100,000

Crisis Army Size: 400,000

Outline of Military Tactics and Doctrine: Ashkar has held a professional army since Sumarael the Great organized it into one almost five-hundred years ago. Its core is the heavy infantry, covered in armor of leather and iron, whose main weapon is an iron spear along with their iron shields. The infantry is supported by arches, who shoot bows with iron tips with wooden bows, which can kill enemies from far away. Light infantry consists of men in leather armor, who are armed with javelins and swords. Unicorns are used as cavalry, and will carry a cavalryman wielding a long spear. Their horns are used to great effectiveness. Chariots were drawn by a pair of unicorn and holding a spearman and a pair of archers, and are used to break the enemy’s formation. The Fezagh are used as a type of heavy cavalry, and are used to break enemy formation.

Ashkar has a sense of military tactics. The army generally stands in an organized formation, although this does not extend to the light infantry, whose chief strength is mobility. The heavy infantry can engage in a shield wall formation, which will block any from breaking their formation.

Navy Size: 350

• Heavy Ships - 50
• Medium Ships - 230
• Light Ships – 70

Crisis Navy Size: 800

Outline of Naval Tactics and Doctrine: Once the Ashkarian navy had been built and designed solely to counter Zaqir’s raiding-base naval forces, the end of the raids and wars between the two have led to a complete restructuring of the navy. Heavy ships serve as the center of the navy as the powerful vanguard supported by the medium ships, while the light ships serve an auxiliary role. Consisting of galleys, the method of destroying enemy ships consists of ramming them to pieces. This does not cause real damage to the ship which is engaging in the ramming. In regards to many things, it is clear that the navy is modeled on Zaqir’s.

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Industry and Trade Summary

Nation's Natural Resources: iron, bronze, obsidian, livestock, wheat, barley, grapes, olives, papyrus, stone, marble, clay, jade, silk, gold

Goods Available for Trade: raw natural resources listed above, weapons of iron and bronze, jewelry, wine

Trade Pacts: Zaqir and the Scalethein Empire

Estimated National Income Through Trade: 20%

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Through Their Eyes...

Characters

Leaders

Character Name: Girbranu Mar-tu

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 30

Character Appearance: Girbranu is short. His hair is fine and others have called him “pretty,” his eyes gushing with innocence.

Character's Role Within Nation: King of Ashkar, Shepherd of the Edimmu People

Character Background Info: The son of a cruel and egotistical tyrant, he thankfully did not take after his father. He is unable to excel in anything, and has a fragile soul and reserved nature. It is precisely for this reason that he became beloved by the people. As a youth he would try to impress his domineering and tyrannical father. He never would. When he was seventeen, he became King. He always preferred men to women but, in typical Edimmu fashion, he still took a slept with a wife. Her name was Misira. In the plague, Misira died, and Girbranu wept and mourned bitterly. He was soon pressured into marrying again, this time to a young noble woman named Karalia. Girbranu was surprised by her spirited attitude, and she helped him get through the mourning process. About a year ago he first encountered Hugu, and felt as if he had been swept off the floor. The two are lovers today.

Other: Insulting his father, no matter how well-warranted, is the only thing that can make him angry.

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Character Name: Karalia

Character Gender: Female

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 23

Character Appearance: Karalia has above-average physical attractiveness, a clean complexion and an unusually thin figure even after pregnancy.

Character's Role Within Nation: The Royal Consort

Character Background Info: She was born into the high nobility, being the son of a Duke. She was a woman with both a strong heart and strong personality, her animated yet polite personality made it so she was able to thrive in the political arena of noble courts. She was glad to do so, as being a passive woman never interested her. She was the candidate for marriage to the King that eventually went through, marrying King Girbranu. She surprised the timid King, and she helped him get through his mourning crisis.

Other: She is a fearsome woman who will always stand up for her husband, as he has a problem doing this himself.

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Character Name: Sumarael

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 12

Character Appearance: Sumarael is still a child, small but growing. His features are strong, and his hair is long.

Character’s Role Within Nation: The Crown Prince

Character Background Info: Sumarael is the son of King Girbranu and his former consort Misira. He was born with a fraternal twin, and her name Assiriya. The two were extraordinarily close, but during the Plague Assiriya died along with his mother, and his father mourned them bitterly. Sumarael as well would be haunted by the very memory. He always had a tense relationship with his mother-in-law Karalia. When he five, he began to be tutored by the famed Sophist Gishru. However, the teacher’s thoughts on virtue and goodness seemed to fall flat. He has been spending some time with Atu instead…

Others: Everyday he seems more and more like his grandfather, although only time will tell what the result will be.

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Character Name: Edu

Character Gender: Male

Character Age: 5

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Appearance: Edu is small and growing. He tends to stare, and has a spacey look in his eyes.

Character’s Role Within Nation: Prince

Character Background Info: Edu is a young child, who is in many ways still developing. He is constantly curious, always asking questions.

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Character Name: Atu

Character Gender: male

Character Age: 86

Character Appearance: Atu looks every bit his age. His hair has the characteristic longness (down below his waist), but has grayed. He has a stern, serious, and noble expression and a thin figure. He wears the flowing brown robes of the magistrates.

Character’s Role Within Nation: Minister of Counsel concerning “special matters”

Character Background Info: An austere man with an incredible intellect, he has served in the government palace for seventy years, serving with distinction. He knows everything there is to know about plotting and counterplotting there is. He is cold and calculating along with being a realist. However, he has no real ambitions, and has utter loyalty to the King, and intends on having the King keep all of his power.

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Character Name: Assuritu

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 20

Character Appearance: Assuritu has a sharp appearance, and well-groomed hair.

Character's Role Within Nation: Court Noble; Count of Salimat

Character Background Info: Assuritu is a young and ambitious noble hailing from eastern Ashkar, best known for their rebellion. His family was among the nobles who were disgraced by King Anvor III. Assuritu would like to see his family once again become prominent and to increase his own personal power.

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Government Officials

Character Name: Gishru

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 64

Character Appearance: His hair is long, but slightly short for an Edimmu, and his appearance is youthful. His expression is always emotionless.

Character's Role Within Nation: The Royal Tutor

Character Background Info: Previously the greatest of the living public teachers of morals. Born into the middle nobility, at the age of fifteen he began to read Amartu and his path in life was chosen. At the age of nineteen he left to join the Academy, but soon became dissatisfied, seeing the Academicians as arrogant agnostics. What really bothered him was that they discussed metaphysical skepticism, and not virtues and ethics. He became a Sophist, who became famous for speaking virtue among the people for money. Gishru was hired as the royal tutor for King Girbranu’s two sons.

Other: Along with his career as an eminent orator on morality, he wrote a number of tracts, treatises, and essays; Essays on Morality (565 E.C., 481 A.E.), On Morality (558 E.C., 474 A.E.), The Realization of Virtue (563 E.C., 479 A.E.) and Ethics (572 E.C., 488 A.E.).

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Character Name: Hugu

Character Gender: male

Character Age: 29

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Appearance: Hugu is noted for his great physical attractiveness, which was what drew the eye of the King. He is thin and tall yet also quite muscular.

Character’s Role Within Nation: Chief personal aide and bodyguard to the King.

Character Background Info: Born into the warrior class, he entered into the Ashkarian Ring of Valor as a gladiator. He was incredibly unpopular with the organizers, and he would only fight in fair duels. Then he won the Almurzani and became famous. Although Girbranu does not like the arena, that was where he caught he first saw Girbranu. After a number of chance and picturesque encounters, the two of them become lovers, and Hugu became the chief personal aide to the King.

other: He is definitely the dominant half of the relationship.

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Character Name: Dammu

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 26

Character Appearance: Dammu is a young Edimmu. He is plain-looking and does not stand out.

Character's Role Within Nation: Royal Aide

Character Background Info: Dammu is a commoner who went to work into the Palace in order to help support his family, struggling from the loss of income that came with the death of half of his extended family. Now he works as the Royal Aide, conducting business people have the King as a third party.

Other: Despite being a commoner, he is extraordinarily concerned with intellectual matters. He went in to the streets and talked with the teachers and sophists in order to learn philosophy and history, and his role as Royal Aide has made his quest much easier.

Generals

Character Name: Pelim

Character Gender: Female

Character Race: Elan

Character Age: 38

Character Appearance: Covered always in an array of garments befitting a great alchemist, his features are fair but fragile, and are rarely seen. Like other Elan, his skin is extremely pale and white in color.

Character’s Role within Nation: A rising star of the army of Ela’Susam; former alchemist

Character Background Info: A talented and famed alchemist, he eventually revealed his prowess at combat while commandeering a band of mercenaries his father had hire while overthrowing the old King Mekh. Since then, he has been steadily rising the ranks, but the old military brass is distrustful.

Scientists/Inventors

Character Name: Amanu

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 45

Character Appearance: Amanu is a reasonable good-looking Edimmu, although he has a number of average flaws with his complexion. He generally seems to neglect his grooming, especially his hair.

Character's Role Within Nation: Doctor and Biologist

Character Background Info: Amanu is the son of a history teacher who taught philosophy. Amanu would go down a different path, although his father’s love of philosophy was passed down. He became a doctor. Influenced by Esagilio’s confidence in scientific experimentation and impressed by his biological methodology, he sought to continue where he left off in biology. He has a reputation as an elite doctor, and he is trying to promote his own studies in biology.

Other: Amanu is an enthusiastic Esagilian, and he has eclectic interests that include philosophy and poetry. He never engages in the latter, having no skill in it.

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Character Name: Ellapu

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Edimmu

Character Age: 81

Character Appearance: He is now beginning to look older, although he doesn’t tend to care of such things. In recent years he has put on considerable weight.

Character's Role Within Nation: Botanist, Biologist, and Anatomist; former Doctor

Character Background Info: Born into a long family of doctors, he took up the family position. Gaining fame for his skill, he once was the personal physician to a number of wealthy and powerful patrons but, as he himself as said, “that was a long time ago.” Now, he is mostly interested in physiology, having since retired from the medical profession after having acquired a large sum of money.

Other: His wife, Abalya, has always been very supportive. He is estranged from his son, who disapproves vehemently of his dissection of human corpses.

Explorers

< E M P T Y >

Soldiers

< E M P T Y >

Common Folk

Character Name: Idris

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Or’Rouzi

Character Age: 20

Character Appearance: He has a youthful appearance, yet appears waifish and thin. His clothes is ragged and well-worn.

Character’s Role Within Nation: stoneworker

Character Background Info: Born into a family of Or’Rouzi workers, he was little higher than those fellow Or’Rouzi who worked as chattel slavery. Since he was ten years old, Idris has been engaged in wage slavery, working for very little under the Lord of the Manor.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the soul of a young lord, whose quiet expression hide both the ferocity and gentleness that laid within.

Genseric Cerdicson

“Two things are necessary to remember: your duty and your mortality.”

Genseric has two notable general features about him, his dark features and his handsomeness. He has dark brown eyes, which are matched by his dark hair. In contrast, his skin is, if not pale, noticeably light. His face is clean-shaven, he has a fine complexion, and his physical beauty has been described as striking.

He wears a well-crafted wooden Monarchist Cross over his neck at all times except when he is bathing or sleeping. Although he is of high noble stock, he does not intend to flaunt his wealth, and does not dress regally or lavishly, although he does use his wealth to allow himself to have the best possible equipment available.

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【Full Name】

Genseric Cerdicson

【Aliases】

“The Black Aristocrat, The Lord of Silence”

【Age】

22

【Sex】

Male

【Sexuality】

Straight

【Religion】

Monarchist with Ketter inclinations

【Family】

Genseric’s father is Aeldric, the Count of Rossex, and a war hero. His has four siblings, three younger and one older. His older sister, Ariana, aged 25, was married off to high nobility. His brother Marcus, aged 20, joined the Servants. His brother Johannes, aged 17, is set to join the priesthood. His younger sister Ana, aged 15, is a naïve and free spirit, and is planned by her family to marry into the high nobility, like her older sister.

【Birthplace】

Weylen Keep, Weylen Village, County of Rossex, Grosswick, Kingdom of Broacien

【Societal standing】

High Nobility

【Former employment】

Administrator, Commander, County Advisor

【Rank and role】

Lieutenant

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【Personality】

Genseric is quiet enough so that many of those around him have taken notice of it. He usually wears a neutral expression on his face, and exceptions to this are exceptional. Nobles would quip that while his father was the Count of Rossex, Genseric was the Lord of Silence. He tended not to be good with small talk, and even when his boyish shyness was eventually tutored out of him he still remained no good at it. Hence he remained very quiet, since this is the bulk of what nobles tended to talk about, and even in the things he did speak of he tended to a man of few words. This type of distant behavior is one thing which has always set the Cedricsons apart from other nobles, the other being their strangely powerful, some might say slavish, loyalty.

Later in life he tended to become more of a stoic individual. His quietness morphed from simply quietness into a philosophy. He showed no signs of emotions, whether they be anger, sadness, happiness, or fear. Although he has accepted this development in his psyche, it would be an exaggeration to say he cultivated this. The ways of the world help turn him towards this attitude.

Nonetheless, it is not as if he doesn’t have a soul. He never asks much from others, and while this is partly from his stoicism it is not wholly from that. He does genuinely care for others, and wants everything to go well. Considering he has seen how the world operates, this would make him an idealist. Also, he has a desire to do good, and possess a strong sense of morality, although it is the morality of his time. His sense of morality, however, is allowed to take a back seat when it goes against the wishes of the king. Duty is a virtue that has been passed through Genseric’s lineage, and it is just as strong in Genseric as it is in his father, and those that came before them. Although he is stoic and come off as cold, he has a strong desire to do good, and to fulfill his familial tradition of undying duty to the King.

Although he is considered a man who would not ever associate with frivolities, this does not extend to art. Genseric has a love from the arts, whether they be music, paintings, poetry, or philosophy, and has even dabbled in them himself. He has commissioned a number of paintings, and has small collections of both pottery and books. Genseric is highly literate and well-read for his age, due to receiving a high education and his appreciation of the humanities.

【History】

Genseric Cerdicson was born in 105, in Weylen Keep, the capital of the County Rossex. He was the second child and first son, and thus heir, of Aeldric, the Count of Rossex and head of the Cerdicson Dynasty, and one day he would inherit the County of Rossex if all went well. His father became a warrior hero, and it was expected that the same thing would happen to Genseric eventually. The Cerdicson Dynasty had always fought alongside the king loyally in his many wars, even when they were defeated and their strongholds plundered, and would always return with victory was once again in their grasp. He had a fraternal twin, and her name was Adela. Genseric was very close to her, more so than any other sibling he had.

As a child, Genseric didn’t have much of note happen to him. Childhood for him was a time of leisure and idleness. However, his father was often away fighting in wars. His older sister Ariana would often dote on him, and Genseric also had a close relationship with his mother. In personality, Genseric was very shy and soft-spoken.

At the age eleven, when his father was away fighting in the Cherwin War, his uncle Genwulf attempted to usurp the county by storming Weylen Keep and massacring the Count’s family. He managed to successfully storm the keep, but most of the Count’s family was able to get away. The exceptions, however, would prove scarring.

Genseric’s father Count Aeldric was able to regain the Keep through a siege which lasted two-hundred and fifty-six days. When he returned, he discovered that his wife and his daughter Adela had been killed, and their corpses dumped. Their corpses have never been found. The experience of losing both his mother and his fraternal twin, both of whom he was very close with, was very scarring for Genseric. Even today Genseric considers Adela as his better half that was lost.

Not soon afterwards, when the shock had yet to escape from Genseric, his father Aeldric assigned a tutor. It was Haakon Rikanus, who was one the preeminent, although not quite most preeminent, theologians of the movement who had rebuked and surpressed what they saw as Ketter-inclined, or heretical, movements in philosophy and theology. Rikanus had run into some political trouble, and Genseric’s father, Count Aeldric gave him shelter. In return, Rikanus had had to teach his son the humanities, and Rikanus reluctantly agreed.
Genseric showed surprising skill in the matter, and of all the subjects he seemed most enamored with philosophy. This was surprising and refreshing to Rikanus, although Rikanus made sure to teach him in all the humanities. Despite his teacher’s rigidly orthodox approach to theology and philosophy, Genseric was an independent thinker and, while maintaining utmost loyalty to the Church, became Ketter-inclined. At age sixteen Genseric wrote an essay, which when Rikanus read he beat Genseric hard with a stick and rebuke him with a treatise. Nonetheless, Genseric was unpersuaded, but kept his thoughts to himself.

Also during his youth, he was taught in the ways of the sword by the head of his father’s forces, Captain Asmund. Genseric showed much skill, and was thoroughly trained. By the time he came of age, he was well-versed in the martial art of swordfighting.

At age sixteen, he was considered to have come of age, and for a time served as his father’s regent. His father at the time was fighting the desert lords, so was away. While the Count was away, a large peasant uprising occurred. Genseric proved his competence by taking what had remained of his father’s garrison and crushed a peasant army that was aggressive but poorly organized. Although outnumbered four-to-one, Genseric won decisively, and impaled the rebels on spikes to deter further rebellion. Then Genseric reformed local taxation, which was horribly mismanaged, further deterring rebellion.

His father returned and praised Genseric, awarding him the position of County Advisor. He was in this position for two years, but then resigned. He would continue to aid his father, but did not wish to keep the work that came with the position of County Advisor. He continued his studies and practiced his swordplay. This era was not idle for him, as events conspired to keep him busy.

Not long ago, he married a girl named Adelaide. Like himself, she was very quiet, and she was very distant from Genseric. It was an arranged marriage, to cement ties between the two of their families, and it was clear to Genseric that it wasn’t a marriage that she had wanted, and that she wanted freedom. Genseric’s has already fallen in love with her, and hoped that perhaps time would change her mind. He would never force himself on her, an action which he thought of as abominable.

The time, however, had come for Genseric to do something else. He signed up for the Black Shields, and was given an officer’s rank, as was normal for the nobility, especially the high nobility.

【Dreams, short term goals, and fears.】

Genseric has a humble dream, yet one people are surprised he would hold, as people commonly view him as cold. He wishes nothing more than to have a stable life, and have a loving family, however there are a number of very large obstacles in the way of his dream. At the same time he wishes to prove himself through accomplishments of his own, in order to separate himself from his father and his ancestors, although his two goals may contradict too much.

As far as short-term goals go, Genseric has the desire to move up in the ranks of the Black Shields, although he does not intend to replace Terryn Hoffman.
He has a fear of loss. No fear for Genseric is greater than the thought of once again losing someone close to him.

---

【Skills】

Genseric is highly literate, and versed as well in the humanties as well as someone who is barely over twenty can be, meaning he is versed in at least the basics of philosophy, art, and literature. He knows the liturgical language along with the native language of Broacien. He is a mediocre musician, a subpar poet (but a far better prose writer), a poor musician, a dreadful singer, and a talented philosopher.

【Martial prowess】

Although Genseric has a thin physique, he is a skilled fighter. He is nimble and well-trained in sword-fighting. Although he lacks the experience of older veterans, he is not without any experience of his own.

【Combat style】

Genseric’s fighting style is offensive-leaning, focusing on strikes and slashes while not abandoning the necessity of defense. His fighting style does not rely on any tricks, and would be considered honorable style of fighting.

【Weaponry】

Genseric wields a light, for a sword, one-handed steel knightly sword of the highest quality that money can hope to buy.

【Armor】

He wears relatively light steel armor designed to give mobility to the wearer. Its mobility is greater than plate armor but less than leather armor.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the indomitable soul of a roguish fighter, nimble and beautiful, eager to return to the fray.

Juna

Name: Juna Hakallerva
Age: Physically 25
Gender: Female
Race: Elven

Appearance: Juna has in possession great natural beauty, and many men have fallen for her for this reason in the past. She is about 5’2 in height, with green eyes, and not very muscular, with gentle and graceful features. She has fair and clear skin, with golden blonde hair. She usually wears a set of brown leather armor, but in times of comfort she will wear lighter cloth or wool clothing.

Brief Character Concept: Juna, despite her gentle appearances, is far from gentle. She is quick in combat, and surprisingly strong as well. She skillfully wields her sword, and uses her many knives as further support in battle. Her personality, at least on the surface, is that of a carefree, if snarky, individual. She lives a life full of independence, and is known to be loyal to no one except Lothren. She has two true goals in life, and that is to kill Amon Serona and see that Alonso lives out his life peacefully.

History: Juna was born to a pair of normal Elven parents on the border of Areta. She had a normal youth, where she lived as a carefree, youthful spirit, with her childhood friend Ilias. Then she met greatest love of her life, Hadrian, a young human man. They would often play the harp together, and he taught her how to sing. Yet when they had finally grown close, Hadrian succumbed to a sickness that he had long held secret. Hadrian passed away from Juno seemingly as quickly as he had come, and although her heart healed in time, a deep scar would remain in her heart.

She grew close yet again to Ilias, and in time the two of them were to be married. Yet it was not to be, for on the day her wedding was to be held, the Aretan Knights came. Illias and Juna’s parents were killed, and only Juna survived. She cried, mourned, and cursed her fate. She remembered the face and the name of the one she saw as most responsible, Amon Serona, and Juna swore to herself that every future day of hers would be dedicated to hunting him down until one of them was dead. Juna, over the years honed her skill in fighting mostly through experience.

She does not hesitate to speak of how she has murdered. Before she was among the Mummers, she was caught in a human village while chasing down Amon. She found herself having a hard time escaping, and she slew a few knights, and a few people who shouldn’t have died did die as well. Juna never refers to this event in any detail, only saying that it makes her a murderer. She would not have gotten out alive were it not for Lothren, and for this Juna offered him unflinching loyalty. When she met Lothren, and he offered her a place as one of the Ytharien, Juna was hesitant, but accepted. With her impeccable skill at both the harp and her beautiful singing voice, as well as her personality, Juna was a natural performer, and as the years passed she grew into the role.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the soul of a simple man.

Little Mickey

Name: Michael “Little Mickey” Bauer

Age: 38

Ethnicity: German

Occupation/Place in the Combination: Saloon Owner

Personal History

Michael Bauer is the son of Otto and Felicie Bauer, the owner of a saloon he inherited his from his father, and the oldest of seven siblings. He was born in Germany, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. His family participated in the Baden Revolution, one of the uprising that was part of the greater Revolutions of 1848, and Michael was ten years old at the time. After the uprising was crushed, his family, like many other German revolutionaries, immigrated to the United States, making him one of the Forty-Eighters.

After living a while in New York, his family moved westward to lands they deemed more attractive. They ended up in Central City. Michael’s father Otto ended up opening a saloon with the aid of the Combination. Michael fought in the American Civil War, first under Fremont then under Grant, returning with the rank of master sergeant. His father died in 1866, and Michael, as the eldest son, took over his father’s position as owner of the saloon.

In 1859, he married Carolin Hirsch, a fellow German Catholic Forty-Eighter. With her, he’s begun to raise a family. She gave birth to a son, Gerold, in 1860, a daughter, Adelheid, in 1867, a son, Fritz, in 1869, another daughter, Georgina, in 1872, and is currently pregnant with their fifth child. He has been a loyal low-ranking member of the Combination, using his position as Saloon Owner to induce people, especially poor immigrants, to vote in line with the political machine.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

Here lies the account of the great Kingdom of Zenovia, descendants of warriors and keepers of the religion of the prophetess Ilezebeta.

Kingdom of Zenovia

Government and Economy

Type of Government

Zenovia is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Established forty years, under the new type of government the monarch is only a symbolic head of state. The Parliament of Zenovia is the ruling body, and its members are chosen from among the provinces. There are two houses in parliament. The House of Commons is the branch that governs, and are made up of officials. The other is the House of Lords, which is made up of landed nobles, who are appointed by the sovereign under the recommendation of the Head of the House of Lords, and are not elected. They can serve as prime minister or cabinet ministers, and although there have been those who have done the latter, none have done the former yet. They do not vote on policy, but can technically veto it, although doing such an act with major legislation would create a constitutional crisis. The number of members of parliament sent is dependent on the population. Each member of parliament is from a district, and each district has its own election to select their member of parliament. The head of government is chosen by a majority vote among the members of parliament, and he is popular known as prime minister. He forms a government by recommending a number of fellow parliamentary members to the sovereign, and the sovereign will then officially appoint them.

His Majesty, The King of the Zenovii, Mircea II

His Majesty Mircea II, the King of the Zenovii, in his trademark simple attire

Capital: Ilezabeta City

-Head of State: His Majesty the King of the Zenovii Mircea II (born 1898) since 1934

-Head of Government: The Honorable Nikolas Cinsti (born 1885) since 1935

-Head of the House of Lords: Inclestare Lewin (born 1892) since 1936

-Minister of Foreign Affairs: Lord Boris Perigord, 1st Count of Focregiune (born 1866) since 1925

-Minister of War: Adrian Brasab (born 1886) since in 1935

-Minister of Finance: Lord Alexandru Gheata, 35th Baron of Morte (born 1899) since 1938

-Minister of Law: Lord Dragomir Fierfa, 27th Count of Damizir (born 1888) since 1935

-Minister of the Interior: Sir Vali Radmridreu (born 1882) since 1937

-Leader of the Opposition: Frideric Checescu ( born 1868) since 1935

-Head of the High Court: Lord Mikel Danesti, 11th Duke of Strantivist (born 1870) since 1925

Political Lexicon
Conservative - referring to the now defunct Conservative Party.
conservative - Along with the usual meaning, it often can mean support things at odds with the Liberal establishment.
Liberal - referring to the policy or supporters of representative democracy, as supported in the Liberal Constitution of 1900.
Radical - Referring to the left-wing anti-revolutionary political party, who advocate sweeping yet gradual and democratic changes in society.
Patriot/Patriotic - referring to the political party that supports military build-up and tariffs.
Centrist - referring to the free-market right-wing Liberal political party.

Division of Parliament
His Majesties Government
Zenovii Patriotic Party: 262

The Loyal Opposition
Centrist Democratic Party: 181
Radical Party: 60

List of Prime Ministers since 1900
Boris Perigord 1866 - present 1900 Conservative Party
Radu Popescu 1837 - 1917 1900 - 1917 Liberal Party
Frideric Checescu 1868 - present 1917 - 1919 Liberal Party
Boris Perigord 1866 - present 1919 - 1925 Independent
Frideric Checescu 1868 - present 1925 - 1935 Centrist Democracy Party
Nikolas Cinsti 1885 - present 1935 - present Zenovii Patriotic Party

Political Parties of Zenovia
The ruling party is the Zenovii Patriotic Party. They stress support of the nation, traditionalism, building a stable economy, and espouses political organism (aka One Nation Toryism), as well as building up to protect again outside threats (i.e. Moravia). The Centrist Democracy Party stresses pragmatism and fewer economic regulations. The Centrist Democracy Party was formed after the Liberals split following the establishment of the Liberal Constitution of 1925, and were far more traditional, and controlled parliament from 1925 to 1935. The Radical Party was founded by the more radical part of the Liberals, who felt the constitution did not go far enough. The radicals support disarmament, establishing relations with the PRK, the disbandment of the House of Lords, the establishment of radical change to industrial regulations, and redistribution of wealth, but not socialism. The fourth largest party is the Zenovii Radical Nationalist Party, which is fascist, and has no representation. The closest it ever got was in the 1933 election, when they were 3 points away from winning a seat. The Zenovii Party of the Left, a united front sort of radical leftist party of socialists, anarchists, and communists, would be the fourth largest party, but is outlawed and remains underground.

Economy of Zenovia
The gold standard still remains in Zenovia. Economic policy leans towards demand-side economics. Zenovia institutes a relatively free-market economy, although there are tariffs and moderate protectionism to protect homegrown industry. Imports to the urban areas is essential for the still-incomplete industrialization process. The economy is dependent on imports, and the collapse of foreign economies would be disastrous for the economy of Zenovia.

History and Demographics

Race and Species
Most of the population are Zenovii, who are light-skinned, dark-haired humans who have settled this land since circa 700. However, there are number of the peoples from the south who have moved north into Zenovia. However, the largest and most prolific minority are the trolls from Setra, who immigrated to Zenovia for better working conditions, treatment, and to escape the social conditions of Setra. Although they faced many similar conditions, the higher pay and travel fatigue made most unwilling to move back or further. With nearly 80 years of immigration, discrimination has lessened to the level of life being noticeably better than in Setra, but there are still glaring issues with speciesism and discrimination.
93% Zenovii: 61,558,269
5% Troll: 3,309,584
2% Southern Peoples: 1,323,834

Population
66,191,687
Demographics
61% peasants: 40,336,592
27% urban workers: 17,853,901
6% independent farmers: 3,967,534
5% burghers: 3,372,404
1% Soldiers: 661,256

Culture
Ioan Sforarza (1840 - 1900), the premier Zenovii romanticist, said "Zenovii have two qualities: peace and vibrancy." What is meant is not the normal definition of peace, but that Zenovii love the peace that stability brings. They are generally conservative, but they are not puritanical, and their conservatism did not stop them from revolution in the 1920s. Zenovii society is still fiercely traditional and patriarchal, although women have achieved suffrage in recent times. Zenovii fashion has always been marked by vibrant colors, and even modern fashion is so. Zenovii politicians, even though they wear normal polite official fashion, will have suits which seem upbeat. There is a strong folklore tradition, and oral traditions are strong in Zenovia. Bards still exist in the Zenovian countryside. There is a strong music tradition in Zenovia of upbeat music and emotional music, and the latter is especially treasured. With the coming of the Trolls, a major cultural influence from Setra came. Modern, foreign musical styles have yet to dent Zenovia. There is a strong literary tradition in Zenovii, which started when the national epic of The Song of Zeno was written. The literary eras are generally broken into the eras of Epic (700 - 1000), Medieval (1000 - 1500), Renaissance (1500 - 1600) Early Modern (1600 - 1720) Gothic (1720 - 1800) Romantic (1890 - 1900), Realist (1900 - 1930) Modern (1930 - present). Modern has turned its back on the radical realist literature of the recent past and returned to the fantastical. Modern plays have existed in Zenovia since the 17th century with the advent of Gavril Nestarontic (1600 - 1643) and Liviu Sulita (1610 - 1678), and have existed ever since, generally following the literary trends. The 17th century is considered the Golden Age of Zenovii Theatre.

Life in Zenovia
Zenovii are stereotyped by other nations as being backwards, as a nation full of peasants, and unnecessarily aristocratic. The social classes are split between the rich, the burghers, and the lower classes. The rich are split between the established aristocrats and the newly rich industrialists. The burghers are divided by the old traditional classes, such as the merchant class, and the newer class that came from urbanization. The peasants of the countryside, who still labor under the employment of lords, are still a majority of the country, but their conditions have improved since the abolition of feudalism. About a third of the population lives in the cities. Working conditions are relatively good, but very poor nonetheless. The safety laws are holdovers from the 1890s, themselves only a reform of an 1855. About 70% of factory machines are approved to have fundamental safety features, but there are no reparations for injuries or any safety doors. Child labor is common, but is on the decline, with only 35% of urbanite children working, although it is 78% among Trolls. The work-hour limit for adults is 12 hours, and 8-hours for children. Trolls make up 18% of urban areas. Due to the demand for labor, industrialists rarely attempt to give trolls discriminatory labor, as this would only aid a rival who does not do so, and because labor in Zenovia is still quite valuable. The Trolls still face discrimination, as large portions of Zenovii society ostracizes and discriminates against them. The most open-minded section of society, paticularly the Radicals (as in the political party) engaging in interaction with the Troll community.The literacy rate is on average 51%. Literacy among men is 42% greater than women due to disparities in education. Among children literacy is greater in boys than girls, but the divide is far smaller, 10%, than their adult counterparts, and girls are more literate than men on average. Trolls in general have a literacy rate of 15%, with females in general having a literacy rate of 2%. A divergent study shows that this is misleading, as the literacy rate in Troll is 25% in Trollish, with Trollish women having s literacy rate of 8%.

History

Medieval Era
In 694, facing plague, a poor harvest, and an incoming Elven invasion, the tribal Zenovii people moved south. Despite tribal legends claiming they either displaced or exterminated the natives, geneticists and archeologists have proven they merely slowly merged to create a single culture. As far as the 12th century, two different cultures could be found in Zenovia. 699, when what is now Northern Zenovia was conquered. In 725, the religion of the natives, Aeonism, was adopted by the Zenovii. In 1078, Zenovia adopted a more stable for of government, feudalism. From 1224 to 1237 the Zenovii moved south, conquering what is now Southern Zenovia. Carol I, King of Zenovia from 1240 to 1276, known as Carol the Conqueror, brought Zenovia to its largest extent it had ever seen. When he died in 1276 his son, Sfaditor, kept a tight fist of the empire until his death in 1287. However, the empire was simply too big to sustain, and Sfaditor's son split the empire in three, with the foreign kings, the Zenovii who ruled abroad, having their dynasties fall in 1374 and 1409, respectively. The remaining kingdom was reduced to the current borders of Zenovia by 1467. However, it remained a sizable empire.

Early Modern Era
In 1425, a new royal dynasty began in Zenovia, which rules to this day. This new dynasty saw the rise of a sophisticated culture. From about 1500 to 1600, an era of unprecedented cultural sophistication, known as the Zenovian Renaissance. However, during the era Zenovia gained its reputation as an undeveloped peasant nation. Although a vibrant cultural tradition continues, a reputation of a peasant nation an era behind except in the arts was established. In 1767, with changing economic and social attitudes, as well as the influence of enlightenment philosophy, serfdom was abolished. In 1773, the monarch, wanting to organize his advisors in a more orderly fashion, organized a group of ministers to advise him, which in turn lead to the creation of bureaucracy.

Modern Era
In 1836, the first factory was built. Industrialization, however, was slow until the 1870s. Trolls, wishing to escape the virtual wage slavery in Setra, immigrated to Zenovia. Eager for willing manpower, Zenovii industrialists were willing to pay higher prices for labor than was available in Setra. Under Radu IV, Zenovia instituted a series of trade and military reforms which helped bring Zenovia into the modern world. In 1874, the Diet of Zenovia met for the first time. However, the sovereignty still held great powers, and parliament merely aid in governance and gathered taxes. The 19th century brought in nationalism and liberalism as well. For the most part, liberalism was not answered, and royal decrees in 1855 and 1875 declared the continuation of the traditional powers of the monarch. However, nationalism became a strong force, influencing society from politics to literature. The 1860s are considered when Zenovian nationalism finally met its height, coinciding not coincidentally with the height of speciesism against trolls. Nationalism unfortunately turned deadly in the 1870s, when the heir apparent of the throne of Zenovia, was assassinated while on a diplomatic visit to the kingdom of Qualia. During these years, Carol XV was King. He was assassinated by Zenovii radicals who had followed him to Qualia. Zenovia blamed Qualia, and demanded strong monetary reparations and demanded the proper Qualian culprits be found. When Qualia did not, Zenova declared war. The war ended inconclusively, destabilizing the region and proving politically disastrous for both nations. Carol XV died before the end of the war. While Qualia was overthrown by a fascist coup, transforming into the Commonwealth of Moravia. The process was slower in Zenovia, thanks to the abdication of King Radu X in 1891, a political masterstroke by the parliament and the Bishop of Campulung, Boris Perigord, then only 25. However, it only delayed the inevitable. Clamor for change in the political system shot up as liberalism replaced nationalism. Facing the possibility of a stronger reaction and the rebellion of parliament, a liberal constitution was created in 1900, and the king abdicated in favor of his son, Carol XVI, who still lives as King Emeritus Carol Andronicus, and serves now as an agent of goodwill at home and abroad, and is now more popular than he was in 1900. The leader of the liberals, Radu Popescu, the man they said even Kings feared, was made prime minister. Popescu, however, was surprising traditional after taking power, much to the ire of his former peers. The old regime had saw that their was actually a major ideological split between the Liberals between classical and social liberalism, and hoped they could split the Liberals and have an aristocratic party dominate parliament. However, the Liberals retained party unity under Popescu until his death in 1917. The Conservative Party, a purely agrarian and aristocratic party, serves as the Official Opposition. His successor, Frideric Checescu, was prime minister for two years, but did not have the same trust among the Liberals as Popescu and in 1919 the Liberals split into two parties. The free-market classical liberals became the Centrist Democracy Party, who had the support of the leader of the liberals, Popescu, and thus became the majority faction. The Social Liberals, wanting a radical change in society in the form of the end of a politically powerful aristocracy and aid to the poor, became the Radical Party. From 1919 to 1925, Boris Perigord led a bi-partisan coalition, where he depended on the Conservatives more than the Liberals, but could not join the Conservative Party since he knew it would eventually limit his political career. 1928, forming from a coalition of aristocrats, economic protectionists, and anti-Moravians, the Zenovii Patriots Party is formed. It replaced the Conservative Party as the Official Opposition, and in 1929 the Conservatives merged completely. Despite forming a powerful political machine, Checescu was voted out of power in 1935 due to the Opposition focusing on protection against Moravia and promises of an ambitious overhaul of the sluggish economy. Perhaps most instrumental was a number of MPs defecting to the Zenovii Patriotic Party. In 1933 it was discovered that King Dragomir VI had stomach cancer, and no doctor was able to treat him successfully, and he died in 1934. He was succeeded by the current king, Mircea II. Women's suffrage was the biggest domestic issue of the 1930s behind the economy, and had not been granted by the Liberal Constitution of 1900. The supposedly symbolic figurehead, seeing that the world was no longer the way it was when he had grown up, and Zenovia needed to accept change in order to preserve itself. In 1937, Mircea II came out in support of women's suffrage. The prime minister tried to have this create a constitutional crisis, so he could have the monarch discredited, but found himself out maneuvered, and in 1939 women's suffrage was achieved. A new, increasingly hot social issue is inter-species romance between Zenovii and Trolls, with a burgeoning civil rights movement led by the renowned Throgg Magog, President of the National Trollish League (NTL).

Religion

Religious Beliefs
The Zenovii believe in Aeonism. According to the Enneads of Aeons, Ilezabeta was a prophetess who was dictated the history of God, his general nature, and the true moral lessons. God's name to mankind was Aeon. It's holy books are collected in a holy text known as the Holy Scriptures of Aeon.

Ilezabeta

Ilezabeta (225 - 150 bce) is the prophetess of Aeonism according to the Holy Scriptures of Aeon. Practically nothing is known about her life before landing in the land of Celes. Ilezabeta in scripture claims "from afar, I came by the sail. [advenientia 1:3]. It was generally believed by the Celians that she came from beyond the Ceresian, from the Ceresian Empire. However, this is unlikely, as her sermons reveal a mind highly trained in the philosophical tradition of Moravia. While the Ceresians had a strong philosophical tradition as well, it was quite unlike that of the Moravians, and of Ilezabeta. Whatever the case, Scripture details Ilezabeta coming to Celes. She claimed herself as a prophet, as well as the last there ever will be. She organized a ministry and quickly developed a local following of loyal worshippers. During the first six years of her ministries, she wrote the six holy books of Aeonism, as collected in the Holy Scriptures of Aeon. No other historical records other than the scriptures themselves detail her ministry when she wrote the Holy Scriptures of Aeon, but a plethora of historical records exist, detailing her rise to national fame and her claim to prophethood. In fact, it is by historians and not her own writing that details of her later life are known. Her later sermons are summarized and abridged in the last book of the Holy Scriptures of Aeon, Maxims. She married a former soldier, Saint Andros, and bore children. According to legend, her line existed until the Zenovii invaded, and the last of her holy lineage, Saint Cerberus Maximus, fought in against the heathenish Zenovii, ten thousand against himself. This is false; her line died out 123 CE when Remus Ilezabetianus died. He was finally accepted as a mythical saint in 1878 by the Church of Aeon. All her descendants had acquired the title of Blessed until 678, when the Council of Cassander ruled this was a type of unique nepotism. However, some of her descendants, such as Saint Lucidius Ilezabetianus and Saint Ruinus Ilezabetianus, kept their sainthood due to their own accomplishments. Later in life, Ilezabeta's religion of Aeonism became a national phenomenon. She was not an ascetic, but did not live a lavish lifestyle. She once met the King of Celes. Eventually, she died a natural death, surrounded by her closest devotees. Many biographies have been written about Ilezabeta, most hagiography, which have been mainly focused on analyzing what is seen as the saintly, holy, and perfect character of the prophetess rather than real biography. Several atheistic and agnostic biographies of her, which are more critical, have been suppressed in Zenovia.

The Holy Scriptures of Aeon

The Holy Scriptures of Aeon were written from 195 to 189 bce and organized by Ilezabeta herself in 187 bce.

Advenientia
Historia
Theologica
Annalis
Ethicae
Maxims

Advenientia
The Book of Advenientia is the first book of the Holy Scriptures of Aeon. It is written in the first person, and is written in Ilezabeta's usual dispassionate style. It details Ilezabeta first six years of her ministry. A number of encounters, with men and women who becomes disciples, are written in detail, as well as a number of government officials. Discussion in these encounters are dealt with in the form of a Socratic dialogue. Ilezabeta speaks of hearing the voice of Aeon, and recites the words of Aeon from memory. Ilezabeta draws on Moravian philosophy uses philosophy (Aristotelianism) to support and explain the words of Aeon. Aeon's speeches imply Ilezabeta's philosophy, but it would take one versed in philosophy to make the connection. To prove she not merely a philosopher and sage, she performs many miracles, at least according to scripture.

Historia
Historia is the first of four Sermon-Books. These sermon books are supposedly Ilezabeta's recalling of her sermons. They resemble philosophical lectures and books of that ancient era. Historia deals with a few things. First and foremost, the nature of God is made clear. His name is Aeon, and God is referred to as Aeon, but referring to the deity as God is also common, and both are used interchangeably. God is omniscient, but he is not omnipotent. Thus, the problem of evil is avoided. Despite having only one prophet in all of history, Aeon is a personal God. However, to mortals, Aeon's power is awe-inspiring and incredible. The cause of evil is Monad. Aeon is not responsible for Monad, and good and evil once existed in different realms. Aeon existed first, but he did not create Monad. Monad, like Aeon, possesses aseity, meaning he created himself. Monad's influence came later, and is referred to as a "piercing cloud of evil darkness." This book is concerned with theology. It very clearly uses monotheistic rhetoric and terms to describe Monad, and opposes polytheism and any possible attempts to characterize Aeonism as pagan or partly pagan.

Theologica
Theologica is the third book in the Holy Scriptures of Aeon, and appears to have been written much latter. Religious scholars, especially more liberal ones, speculate that this was the last written. However, the scarcity of historical records make it impossible to prove. Like historia, it discusses theology, but it is far more detailed. It delves into metaphysics as well. Ilezabeta writes that humans have complete free will, and decide whether they will follow Aeon or Monad. Most humans lean towards Aeon, but none have been able to follow him completely. Some lean towards Monad, but they are a minority. Unlike its opposite, some extremely wicked individuals have followed Monad completely. Ilezabeta confirms illuminationism, saying that thoughts, at least the good ones and especially the intellectual ones, are cause by Aeon and are his greatest daily gift to mortals. Angels are mentioned for the first time. Angelogy is mentioned in detail. There are nine orders of angels, who each has an assigned task, and is led by a certain angel. The fallen angels are mentioned for the first time, and are goven a similiar angelogy. The servants of Monad, the Monadii, are mentioned for the first time and are given their own demonology.

Annalis
In Annalis Ilezabeta goes into detail on the divine history. Aeon was the first being to be in existence, and is called the prime mover. His first creations are called the Angels, which are far more powerful than his later creation, and do not age. They exist along with Aeon in a higher plane of existence. Then he created the world, the animals, and the first man and woman, in that order. At first, Aeon created a paradise on the world, where there was no sin, hardship, pain, et cetera. It is declared that Aeon said that the mortals were the prize of creation. However, they are not the pinnacle of creation, as the angels are greater. This was the Era of the Patriarchs of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. At the end of the life of Gamma, Monad entered the world, and with his corruption came sin, hardship, pain, et cetera. Moral corruption seeps in, and by the time of the death of Gamma, paradise on Earth ends. However, while Monad was powerful enough to end paradise, he was never strong enough to turn the tide of the divine battle, and would always be on the losing side. This means that the good in the world has always been greater than the evil. However, Monad briefly being on the winning side is not impossible, but will be brief. Then Aeon commanded the angels to serve as guides to the mortals, and fight in a holy war against Monad. In a symbolic gesture of their new position as guides, Aeon commands the angels to bow before the mortals. One angel, named Lux, who is described by Ilezabeta as being "quite noteworthy in his position in heaven, due to his high standing with Aeon and for heading the command of angels who did not subscribe to the divine army," defiantly refuses. He takes with him a third of the angels and rebels. Ilezabeta states that Aeon declared the doctrine of free will, stating that all the angels were free to choose their paths, just like the mortals. This is followed by the remaining 2/3rds of the angels, lead by the archangel Archon, throwing down the rebelling angels to Monad's realm, who are henceforth called fallen angels. Monad is described as welcoming them to his fold, and they accept. Monad is then described as possessing, like Aeon, the power of creation, albeit in a more limited degree. Monad creates legions of demonic creatures, known simply as the Monadii, who are made to counter the angels but are inferior to them. Then Aeon is described as having lead a siege to Monad's realm soon after, with Archon and his loyal angels turning it into a scorching lake of fire which lights up the darkness, which is known as hell. Ilezabeta does not speak much of hell, but calls it a place for the wicked, and it appears unpleasant for them. Then Ilezabeta speaks of the situation of the angels. While she speaks of how the rebellion in heaven changed it, her description of the angels mainly details the divisions of the angels, and who is notable among them. In regards to history, Ilezabeta continues. Gamma had two prominent sons, Delta and Epsilon. Epsilon is called "the false prophet, father of paganism," and forms the root of other religions, which the sons of Epsilon follows. The root of other religious traditions are attributed to Epsilon. Delta follows the true religion, but his descendants adopt the religions of the sons of Epsilon. Ilezabeta ties back to the ancient Kingdom of Om, a monotheist kingdom that existed from 1700 to 1300 bce. Ilezabeta claimed the Om followed the true religion. She details a long history, it is not history but appears to over a thousand years. Aeon revealed himself to a righteous descendant of Delta, Unum. Aeon tells him that he will grant him a nation. The descendant of Unum, Michus, is a beautiful man full of virtue, but his only vice is pride. Angry at his prideful manner and jealous of their father's favoritism towards him, they sell him into slavery to the King of Celes. In Celes, Michus has a son named Om. Om's descendant Jerome is taken as a boy as a slave for the King of Celes. As a prophet, Jerome is able to create a prosperous kingdom for the King. However, his people remain enslaved. Jerome's descendant Axxos lived like a brother to the prince of Celes until he heard the voice of Aeon. Axxos leads his people on an exodus, and forges a kingdom. The wisest and greatest of the Kings of Om is said to be Aran the Wise (1556 - 1490 BCE). However, after his death, the kingdom goes astray and eventually is conquered by an eastern kingdom. It was under the spiritual leadership of Anaseus that the Om receive genocide, and the religion of the one true god is lost. However, God is not erased from the world, and eventually Aeon chooses a prophet from a worthy woman from another people. This is of course Ilezabeta herself. This is the epic tale Ilezabeta said. As very little knowledge is known about the Om and its kingdom, next to nothing can be verified or disproven about Ilezabeta's tale. The kings she mentions in Om historically existed, and their reign lengths are almost completely accurate. Her kings of Celes have counterparts in historical record.

Ethicae
Ethicae is the last of the so-called sermon books. It details with the moral or ethical lessons of Aeon. Ilezabeta states that ethics is not an abstract thought, but a practical philosophy. This is the only book where Ilezabeta specifically uses the word "philosophy." Things that are approved of are called "good" and things that are disapproved of are called "bad." Charity is good, and the Church is to be a force of charity. The golden rule of doing unto others as you would want done unto yourself is mentioned, but it is also said that going further is an even greater good. However, it is acknowledged that men cannot be expected to do so always, as no man is perfect. Monasticism is forbidden. The best way to fight against evil is with what Ilezabeta calls good works. Retreat from the world is thus called a surrender to Monad. As the world is dualistic, no action is neutral. Therefore, Ilezabeta says that, monasticism being a surrender to Monad, is an evil action, as it does not aim towards good works.

Maxims
The last book in the Holy Scriptures of Aeon is called Maxims. Unlike the other books, it was not contained in the holy book Ilezabeta organized. It was organized after the prophetess' death, and contains the excerpts from her later sermons. Each quote is called a maxim, and are often less than twenty words. The quotes generally consist of quote-worthy words of wisdom. This book shows Ilezabeta's message remained the same throughout her life. Early in the religion's history, some Aeonists regarded the book as superfluous and invalid. After the clergy was properly organized, these views were declared heretical.
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Other Religions

It was only until 1900 that true religious tolerance was established. The Church still includes disapproval of "heathen" religions in its official doctrine.
The trolls follow their folk relion from Setra. The Church put pressure on the Trolls as a result. The capitalists and industrialists were opposed to the Church's medieval views on toleration. The industrialists, already disproportionately coming from non-High Church denominations, entered a conflict with the Church. This was seen as yet another extensions of the battle between the bourgeoisie and the traditional aristocrats. The Church called on their power as the ordained right hand of God, but like all traditionalist elements in society, they could not long resist against the growing forces of capitalism. The Church continued to rally against capitalism, however. In the end, it resulted in greater toleration for the animist, polytheist, trolls and a Church opposed to the excesses of capitalism. While the Church certainly did not have altruistic goals when they began their opposition of capitalism, some venerable bishops pushed the Church towards that direction.

Geography, Agriculture, and Industry

Territory


Climate
The climate is fairly moderate. Zenovia is ideal for farmland, and is filled with green pastures, hills, and prairies. The Vladistok River is the largest river in Zenovia, running almost entirely through it, and there are other rivers and lakes, such as Lake Visare. It rains often enough to make farmland across the country.

Agriculture
About 2/3rds of the population lives in rural areas. Although modern agricultural techniques cause the shrinking of farms, and many start to move to the city, farming is still done by a majority of the population. Sustenance farming still is the most common technique, so it isn't exactly a large export.

Industry
Zenovia has several large exports. There has always been a market for Zenovian tobacco and cotton, and although they no longer warrant the prestige they once did, they continue to have a market. Steel is both exported and used in the industries, although Zenovia does not have capacity to be a top exporter in steel in the quantitative sense. Other metals, such as iron and copper, as well as coal, can also be found. Silver and gold can be found in Zenovia and are essential to the economy, but if overseas economies collapse, Zenovia's economy will go with it.

Main Exports: Tobacco, Grain, Cotton, Steel, Iron, Copper, Coal, precious metals, Alcohol
Main Imports: Luxury Goods, Gas, Military parts, Industrial Parts, Foodstuff

The Press
Unlike the other sections of Zenovii business and industry, the press is competitive and monopoly has been avoided. This is likely because all the newspapers and magazines of Zenovia are politically motivated, and rich party supporters, interest groups, and the parties themselves pour money into the press.

The Newspapers
As a general rule, the newspapers contain less political analysis than the tabloids, but they are just as biased. They may be a little more subtle with their bias, or they may not. Yellow Journalism, sensationalist reporting with little regard for accuracy, is the norm. There had once been local newspapers, but they have all been fizzled out by the powerful publishing companies.

The Capital Journal: Founded by Cezar Sabie in 1895, and it is the most profitable of all the newspapers in Zenovia. It was pro-Liberal when it first premiered, but has always been pro-capitalist and anti-labor. Politically, it backs the Centrist Democracy Party. It is largely responsible for the rise of Yellow Journalism and helped sparked the Little War.

The Zenovii Tribunal: Founded in 1883 by Dragomir Vis, it currently plays second fiddle to the Capital Journal. It opposed the Liberal Revolution of 1900 as radical. Currently it supports the Zenovii Patriotic Party. It is anti-reform and protectionist, unless the Zenovii Patriotic Party is not anti-reform or protectionists. It is read by the Patriotic Party faithful regularly.

The Castelul Tribune: Found by Andrei Galca in 1870, it is based in Castelul, the second largest city in Zenovia. It has always been strongly pro-reform. After the Liberal split, it has supported the Radicals. However, they have always been the most neutral of the newspapers, and did not embrace Yellow Journalism.

The Daily Advent: Founded in 1904. The Daily Advent is often the go-to newspaper for clerics and the religious right, and was founded by a Cardinal of the Church.

The National Neutral Newspaper: Founded in 1901. Despite its name, it is far from neutral, and takes a pro-aristocratic viewpoint and worldview. It is widely appreciated for its promotion of the arts and has been praised by Radicals for its promotion of environmentalism. It supports the Zenovii Patriotic Party. It has the best writers.

The Times: Founded in 1911, the Times is politically moderate and supports the Centrist Democracy Party.

The Liberty Times: Founded in 1925. The Liberty Times in read by the left wing of the Radical Party and has been endorsed by the National Trollish League, with a strong focus on civil rights.

The Magazines
The Magazines, as well as focusing on gossip, society, and culture, offer a more honest and in-depth political analysis that the newspapers are unable to accomplish.

The Liberal Review: The mouth-piece of the Centrist Democracy Party. Formed in 1890 by Nikolai Cusa to help spread Liberal ideals, since the time of Checescu and Nikolai Cusa's retirment due to a stroke in 1918 (he died in 1921) it has since made a hard turn towards to the right, unless the Centrist Democracy Party wills it otherwise. Cusa himself actually joined the Radical Party, but was unable to regained his magazine.

The Dragoon: The magazine in support of the Zenovii Patriotic Party. It offers mainly political analysis, and often defends protectionism and militarization, along with eugenics and speciesism.

The Radical: A magazine which openly supports the Radical Party. It is anti-racist, both in practical speciesism and in scientific speciesism. Until its legalization, it was a strong supporter of female suffrage. Social Liberalism, of course, is a primary concern here.

Aeonism Today: A religious magazine which runs mainly religious articles supporting Aeonist Orthodoxy and reactionary political articles which oppose liberalism. Politically, it gushes on praise on the Zenovii Patriotic Party for being a party opposed to liberalism, which is at best 50% correct.

The National: Originally the official magazine of the National Trollish League, it has since then been adopted by others. It has been adopted by the non-Orthodox Aeonists as their magazine, as well as others who would challenge social conventions.

The Intellectual: A condescendingly-named magazine which is read by those interested in intellectual subjects. Politically, it will eloquently refute the policies of the main two parties, and supports the Radical Party. However, its main focus is the arts, science, philosophy, math, and education.

His Majesty's United Armed Forces

Commander in Chief: His Majesty Mircea (born 1898) since 1934

Minister of War: Adrian Brasab (born 1886) since in 1935

His Majesty's Army

Commander of the Army: General Adelbert Trimiscir

Commander of the Troll Legion: Brigadier General Dragos Focavis

By far the largest of the three branches. It was established in its current state during the reform of Vladim VII in 1604. Their uniforms have remained old fashioned. They fight in black and gray uniforms with a pinkelhaume helmet. The Zenovii Guards were originally meant to guard the King, but they grew in size, and served as elite troopers. In 1910, a section of the Guards was separated from them, and they became known as the Stormtroopers. The Stormtroopers served as shock troopers and special forces. A section of the army is the Troll Legion, not actually designed to be legion-sized, which is composed entirely of Trolls. The Troll Legion is composed of ferocious fighters who serve as shock troopers and the vanguard of the army, who are justifiably feared. Their uniform is identical to the main army.

M-90 Masin Rifle

The standard-issue rifle for most soldiers in the Zenovii military. It is issued to both army and navy soldiers. A solid bolt-action rifle, it led Zenovii through a war, and could lead them through another.

M-2 Vladem Bayonet

Infantrymen, elite or regular, are still issued a bayonet with the purpose of use in close combat.

M-09 Hector Shovel

An entrenching tool is still in wide-use, and given to all regular infantrymen. It is used both to dig in and as a melee weapon.

M-1921 Vladistok

Manufactured in Zenovia ever since 1921. It is the mainline sub-machine gun in the Zenovii army.

Spadfra Gun

The first machine-gun of Zenovia. Even with new, lighter designs being invented by innovative foreign competition, this gun still has great killing power.

Layewn Gun

A heavy, stationary machine gun. It is not mobile and requires a squadron to move. It has been used to great effectiveness in defending in trenches and forts.

M1904 Hedwig Pistol

A revolver containing six bullets, plus one in the chamber. It is small, but kills as easily as any of its larger cousins.

V1900 Ashok Pistol

The standard issue pistol for officers and the elite of the army.

M10 pistol

A fully automatic pistol issued to some higher ranking officers and used by the Special Forces Stormtroopers.

V-16 Grenade

The so-called stick grenade. It is an explosive grenade which has kept its effectiveness since its invention in 1916.

Cavalry

Although high casualties in the Great War led to the disbandment of the Zenovii Cavalry Corps, cavalry continue to be used extensively in reconnaissance and especially in moving heavy equipment.

M-NV Transporter

A truck that saw production mainly in the 1930s. It is used for transportation of cargo and infantry, as well as the dragging of artillery.

NV1928 Cernyt Tank

The mainline tank of the Zenovii army, as well as the newest of the designs that the Zenovii army commissions. It is a modern tank, transcending the rhomboid prototype tanks. It has thick armor and a heavy cannon.

V32 Hellveir Light Tank

This is a light tank, designed to help infantry. It is armed with a machine-gun and a light cannon.

RT-AL1920 Danliu Tank

This was the last of the rhomboid tanks that Zenovia adopted. It mostly bypassed the earlier tanks inability to traverse tough terrain, and has thick armor, but its cannon is not as strong as those in newer tanks.

419mm Alban Death Guns

The infamous death guns of Zenovia. It could only be moved by horses or vehicle, which is what is used now.

15cm V-98 Frautzinger Howitzer

The Frautzinger Howitzer is a light, mobile and destructive piece of artillery. It requires less to move than the Death Guns by a considerable amount.

His Majesty's Navy

Commander of the Navy: Admiral Laguna (born 1872)

The navy controls the battle-worthy ships, which are sworn to the sovereign. It was first created in its current state in 1714. The sailors of the navy are equipped with a uniform lighter than the army, and with no pickelhaube. They are equipped with the same infantry weapons.

Borcenau SK-13

The battleships of Zenovia. Although the era of battleships has ended, they are still touted as the pride of the Zenovii navy.

RT-25 Agensthesia

In 1925, hoping to modernize the navy to protect against an increasingly dangerous world, a new cruiser design was put into place to replace the old Katalina cruisers. However, in the 1930s production slowed as the growth of the military slowed and focus on the army increased.

Katalina Cruiser

Although old, Zenovia has many of these cruisers. While not state of the art, they are still useful and quick. They are mainly reserved for reinforcements at the time.

V-32 Aeon's Wrath

The aircraft carrier of Zenovia. Also known as Wraths. Named after the the Zenovii deity, it has the same effect as naming something wrath of God. Zenovia is in possession of two of these powerful aircraft carriers.

Z-3 Radu Destroyers

The destroyer-class of the Zenovii navy. It is designed to escort larger vessels and protect them from smaller powerful short-range attacks.

Alan N-22

These submarines are intended to discretely sink enemy vessels and then retreat undetected, and avoid enemy missiles while underwater.

His Majesty's Air Force

Commander of the Airforce: Air Marshal Ion Pritienmanie

Created only in 1917, when Zenovia first acquired aircraft, it is the smallest and newest of Zenovia's military branches, and Zenovia has a weak air force compared to its powerful northern neighbors.

RT-33 Arius Bomber

In 1933, the King made a comment on how the kingdom needed stronger bombers, which led to a commission of a modern Zenovii bomber. However, it wasn't until 1935, under the Zenovii Patriotic Party, that they were built in notable numbers. It is heavy bomber, intended to strategically bomb cities and fortifications.

V-2 Ricimer

The light bomber of the Zenovii Airforce. It is intended to attack lighter targets and to aid infantry on the battlefield. It is made of wood.

RCP-1 Legate

The first fighter plane in Zenovia built, it is still in wide use by the Zenovii Air Force. Developed in 1917, it was intended to tip the war in Zenovia's favor, but did not. It is armed with a single Spadfra gun. There are two versions of the Legate, the Mark I and Mark II. Mark I is the version developed in 1917 during the Great War, and Mark II is the improved upon version developed in the 1920s, and both are in wide use. It was briefly mass produced during the war, and many of them go unused.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

This is the soul of an aged adventurer and philanderer who would have become a time traveler.

Theodore Toussaint

Name: Theodore Toussaint

Age: 55

Gender: Male

Appearance: Theodore has a large mustache and beard that covers his face, but does not go beyond it. He is quite fit and strong. He has a handsome face that has won many people over to his side. He wears a black, brimmed hat with a red feather in it, which would have been fashionable at the time, and is similar to hats worn by some musketeers. As of the start of the story he wears a puffy red jacket lined with gold-colored threaded that is covered by a steel breastplate, and black pants, as well as steel-tipped boots. He is armed with a sword, and carries to rifles, one standard-issue, and one exotic.

Personality: Theodore is genial and boisterous, and vain. He is, or at least attempts to be, friendly and personable, all while dominating a conversation. He is very proud of his achievements, which often seem to amazing to actually be true. Theodore only considers two men, Zheng He and Marco Polo, as his equals as explorers. Unfortunately, few believe his tales, such as him claiming to have gone to the North Pole and claiming to have received one of his arquebuses from the master of Japan, who gifted it to him after he defeated his best "knight" in a duel. He believes that he is God's gift to women, literally, and has wooed a great many of people. He is courageous, but desires self-preservation above almost all else.

Other: From France

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

This is the soul of an Orc mage who yearns to find his lost sister once again.

Solomon

Name: Solomon
Age: 18
Race: Orc
Grade: High School Senior
Magic School: Fire Magic

Description: A full-blooded orc, Solomon's skin is a deep hue of green. He is tall, standing 6'1, yet slender,and possesses alarming bright blue eyes. His expression is often calm yet austere. He has a full head of beautiful jet black hair. Physically, he is handsome.

Personality: In brief, his personality is stoic. Solomon desires to remain unmoved by most actions which occur around him. He is single-minded, and only wants to find his sister. He never shares his feelings or emotions. Although he says only a few words, he never is purposefully rude and will do good where he can. His desire to find his sister is his sole drive in life, and could easily become an obsession.

Biography: He was born in the Orcish slums of Charleston. His Orcish birth-name is Urguz sibyn'Gurjak, although among non-orcs he uses an alias, Solomon. His real name is only listed in official records, and in all school records it is noted that he prefers to go by the name Solomon. Being born in the Orcish slums, he lived in poverty. He had a twin sister, who, like Solomon, was magical, and they were sent into the government-controlled zone. Although initially together, they became separated.

Solomon was traveling with his sister on train, and that train was attack. There was an explosion that derailed the train. When Solomon awoke, his sister was nowhere to be found. The recovery mission was considered to have been flaw, as there a number of people who went missing indefinitely. Solomon's sister was one such of these people. Solomon has since then made it his goal in life to find his missing sister. However, his movements have been restricted, and as a result he has had little luck in his search. Nonetheless, he had not been deterred, and intends to make the search more decisive and intense in the near future.

ZB's Vault of Men and Women

This is the soul of a man who became a god. This character was based on a character from a novel I wrote. I was dissatisfied by the gap between the two characters, so this character is unlikely to return.

Jonathan

Birth name: Jonathan Sylvester Adams
Divine Name: Monad

Personality: As a human, Jonathan was quiet and obedient. He did not go against anything he could not tackle, as he was afraid. He believed that everything had a certain place in the world. At first a romantic sense of belonging, this ideal soon developed into a sense of conformity. Jonathan himself was personal unsatisfied with his place in the world, but unless he could do anything about it, he was stuck where he was. According to his own thoughts, the highest person is one who has the power to turn against all established norms, but at the time such a thought was irrelevant to him, as he didn't have what it took to move up. He could not challenge the higher authorities, therefore he was where he belonged. However, this did not mean he had to enjoy it. Throughout the days he had been miserable. He had this feeling that he was not exactly where he belonged. He was cowardly, which was why he was quiet and unassuming. He found loyalty to be important, as well as love. He wanted to find love, and held to this faint romantic hope that there was someone special for him out there. In short, he was someone who was loyal and obedient, who never seemed to question his betters, yet very bitter about his lowly position in life, and held deeply unrealistic and romantic views about how the passions of the world worked.

Interests: While not exactly a voracious reader, he read as a hobby. He had a favorite genre, fantasy, as he found the concept of heroes intriguing. It was a started when he was introduced to fantasy as a child when he first read the hobbit, and it spun from there, as he discovered more books.His favorite authors were J.R.R. Tolkien and Michael Moorcock, who were to some extent diametrically opposed. However, they were far from the only thing he read. He read a mix of modern and classics, as well as more philosophical works. Aside from reading, he would also watch movies. They were rarely anything else other than dramas or romances, and usually foreign. He thought action don't make good movies, and that horror movies are seldom of good quality. He also played pool often with his friends. He was also a fan of poetry, and mainly as a writer of one. Usually, he would write in in-rhyming iambic pentameter. He doesn't use the Internet too often, but would use them to watch movies.

History: He lived in a middle-class family. He had an older brother, Josh, who could excel. After being beaten by his brother one too many times, he gave up on trying to surpass him. He only did mediocre in school. His older brother was better than him in essentially everything, which made Jonathan bitter. He was able to get into a local community college, but Jonathan couldn't handle the work and dropped out. After dropping out of college, Jonathan was forced to take an office job, which he hates. He saw no hope of ever getting into a higher position in life. Overall, he lived a normal, mundane life.

Appearance: He has short black hair, and slightly tanned skin, and blue eyes. He is skinny and is only 5'2 in height.