Acris
More than anywhere else in Arstadt, the Catharate rules Acris. While other nations of Arstadt have some right to self-governance with Cathar sovereignty only extending areas of ‘Imperial Immediacy’ — fortresses, inquisitories, numenous hazard zones and the like— Acris is exclusively under Catharate control, with virtually no pretense of autonomy anywhere within it. If the Catharate makes a demand, Acris is the first to answer.
Structure
Most municipalities are operated directly by a Rector, a Cathar that is appointed as leader, usually by the previous Rector upon their retirement or relocation, or directly from Downfall’s Ministry of Governance (in the case of newly incorporated settlements, or the previous rector dying suddenly or being ousted.)
While still a Cathar, and therefore possessing military and officerial training, The Rector’s duties are generally exclusively administrative, with a majordomo handling mobilization of the inquisitory and police. In the case of larger cities like Hamalemel, a number of rectors, each with appointed administrative functions such as firefighting, infrastructure, or security. However, some remote or longstanding municipalities are permitted to be administered by democratically elected mayors or keep in the tribal tradition with a Gadaa — a rotating, democratically elected council of elders with a term limit of 8 years — in which case, the Rector serves in an advisory role, though their connections mean their suggestions seldom fall on deaf ears.
Territories
Acris’ ecology is as delicate as it is prosperous. Most notably, it has always been utterly at the mercy of its' rivers. Without them, the entire basin would be a desert. Totally flanked by mountains which thoroughly block oceanborne weather systems, Acris is lucky to receive the pitiful amount of rainfall it does, as evidenced by the massive desert that forms its heart, so pretty much all water comes from its’ four rivers: The Laaj, Nuj, Lemma and Welden, all of which are exploited thoroughly for everything from manufacturing to transport. Civilization clusters tightly along their banks, and the rivers’ many cataracts are thoroughly dammed to extract the greatest value from their descent into the central basin, as well as stabilize their flow for flood control.
All four rivers flood at least once annually (usually in the summer), with the Laaj being known as the most temperamental and deadly. Despite their greatest efforts and some truly monumental displays of construction, the flooding still serves as a annual cause of mass death and destruction, even in quiet years. However, this, combined with the rich volcanic ash spewed from the mountains that surround it makes Acristan soil monstrously efficient. Acris harvests twice in a year in the spring and autumn, and despite the undulations of the desert that lies in the center of their territory-- the Schrade-- and the temperamental nature of the rivers, Acris produces more than half of Arstadt’s food, particularly grains.
While far from as mystical about it as the Deepsmen, Acristan sentimentalities quietly revere the water as a force of destruction and rebirth. Customary rituals and holidays to placate the rivers persist, with offerings — usually dried, smoke-producing incense, being shipped downriver in little boats set aflame during the equinoxes. The Catharate tried with almost pathetic enthusiasm to secularize the holidays or present nationalistic alternatives, but such superstition and ritual looks to remain entrenched long as the rivers keep flooding.
Some have even speculated that the rivers do empirically have spirits (perhaps just of the Severing), and have proposed connections between ‘good’ offerings and lax flooding. It's possible some such spirits would likely predate even the Demiorgos. While the Catharate flatly denies such suggestions and has intimidated scholars who propose it into silence, overcurious observers insist they’ve seen Cathars in diving dress digging around in creekbeds and cliff-caves.
The dams themselves are of crucial importance, and each hosts a heavily and enthusiastically fortified Cathar citadel atop and around it, the largest being the very capital of Arstadt itself — Downfall. They were captured by the Martyr’s army during the Severing, and remain a crucial deterrent to rebellion from within: If a civil unrest ever becomes too widespread down in the basin, the Catharate can always shut off the water, effectively putting thousands of square miles under siege. While the Catharate has twice threatened to do so, they’ve never actually cut the water supply, but the concept remains a discouraging notion against organized revolt.
In the center of Acris lies the Schrade, a desert constantly constricting and expanding throughout the ages like the breaths of an arid tide, often taking outlying settlements with it. For this reason,the oldest and largest cities are rung by woods, formerly the hunting grounds and personal property of magistrates and lords, they are now maintained by Catharate fiat. Wisely so, as the bulwark of woods to the west and east are the only things preventing dust storms from burying the loamy soil of the floodplains and dooming the entire region. Some are stands are exploited as tree farms for firewood, charcoal and carpentry, but such activities are stringently regulated. Punishments for illegal logging are immediate, public, and brutal, usually death or permanent maiming. Such events are among the most tolerated and celebrated examples of Cathar justice, with even skeptics conceding them as reasonable; a half-day’s walk past their threshold, the buried rooftops of ancient settlements peek up from the dunes as an concrete reminder as to why.
Infrastructure
It is said among Acristans that the surest sign of Cathar arrival is the erection of an Inquisitory, and then the sign that they intend to stay is the guillotine. At its’ simplest, an Inquisitory is a fortified watchtower, typically containing the village armory, housing for resident and errant Cathars, and the headquarters of the Lay town guard. Beyond that, the Inquisitory’s services can vary depending on its’ staffing needs and strategic significance. In larger settlements, an Inquisitory can house scores of Cathars, with meeting rooms, drill yards, a commissary, larder, apothecary, smithy, prison, and even an inn. Large inquisitories can even serve as an embassy in times of peace and a stronghold in times of unrest. Almost all sell surplus product to the public— given the decent quality and high standardization of Cathar military goods, they generally want little for patronage, even driving local shops deliberately out of service.
While the Catharate does possess the power to simply commandeer local businesses, such overt behavior is considered (correctly) to promote antipathy towards the cause, so Inquisitories are often satisfied simply squeezing locals out with cheaper imported goods made to Cathar-spec, promoting utter reliance on the Catharate as well as spreading their branding and good faith. Cathars are particularly assertive about this when dealing with problematic merchants or artisans. It’s important to note here that ‘problematic’ to a Cathar precludes criminal (or close enough to be framed as criminal) activity; Cathars rarely bother playing economics with overtly seditious citizens. Such individuals are simply killed. Regarding the Guillotine, public execution is an everyday fact of Acristan life, and is perhaps the only form of diversion from daily work the Catharate doesn’t frown upon. Generally speaking, public executions tend to be well-attended, and in the case of high-profile or deeply reviled criminals, even theatrics. Public executions are typically conducted by guillotine, but hanging, firing squad or manual beheading are also common. The victim is permitted a final speech, and a selection of laymen are selected from by the Catharate as witnesses to verify proper procedure to the public. While this is ostensibly for the condemned to recant and restore their honor for posterity.
These are typically subdued apologies, but stories abound of dangerously sympathetic or inflammatory criminals being run through by the executioner mid-speech when they get snippy. Likewise, particularly sensitive criminals are never given the option to be killed publicly, and are typically quietly executed in the Inquisitory, or die “mysteriously” in jail after the public concern about their well-being abates. The Catharate favors arsenic in the food.
While the Catharate does possess the power to simply commandeer local businesses, such overt behavior is considered (correctly) to promote antipathy towards the cause, so Inquisitories are often satisfied simply squeezing locals out with cheaper imported goods made to Cathar-spec, promoting utter reliance on the Catharate as well as spreading their branding and good faith. Cathars are particularly assertive about this when dealing with problematic merchants or artisans. It’s important to note here that ‘problematic’ to a Cathar precludes criminal (or close enough to be framed as criminal) activity; Cathars rarely bother playing economics with overtly seditious citizens. Such individuals are simply killed. Regarding the Guillotine, public execution is an everyday fact of Acristan life, and is perhaps the only form of diversion from daily work the Catharate doesn’t frown upon. Generally speaking, public executions tend to be well-attended, and in the case of high-profile or deeply reviled criminals, even theatrics. Public executions are typically conducted by guillotine, but hanging, firing squad or manual beheading are also common. The victim is permitted a final speech, and a selection of laymen are selected from by the Catharate as witnesses to verify proper procedure to the public. While this is ostensibly for the condemned to recant and restore their honor for posterity.
These are typically subdued apologies, but stories abound of dangerously sympathetic or inflammatory criminals being run through by the executioner mid-speech when they get snippy. Likewise, particularly sensitive criminals are never given the option to be killed publicly, and are typically quietly executed in the Inquisitory, or die “mysteriously” in jail after the public concern about their well-being abates. The Catharate favors arsenic in the food.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Acristan
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Dictatorship
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Arstadtim Crown
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
