Rheo (ray-oh)
One of the major Kossic poleis, Rheo prides itself on being a bastion of democracy and order. While this is true in theory—Rheo is beautiful, prosperous, and it exerts its influence over most of the Kossic islands as well as the Tersonis peninsula on which it is located—it is not without problems of its own. While the upper echelons of Rheon society walk on marbled tiles and listen to the words of some of the greatest philosophers in Koss, those without coin or influence scrape out a meager existence in wooden houses and on dirt roads.
Rheon Democracy
Democracy is the pride of Rheo. Laws, other than those decreed by the gods, are presented to and voted on by the Ecclesia, a group which consists of all citizens of Rheo of good moral and legal standing (or having received a legal or divine pardon) who have completed their Promatho. All members of the Ecclesia are of equal standing and each receive exactly one vote when matters are put before them. Matters upon which the Ecclesia vote on are wide ranging and include the laws that Rheo and its citizens must abide by, whether the polis will officially declare war (though the Polemarch decides when a war is concluded), whether someone is ostracized or pardoned from an ostracism, exceptions to the Promantho, and much more. While this is theoretically perfect equality, in reality things are rarely so smooth. First, poorer members of Rheon society must often choose between feeding their families and engaging in the democratic process, leading to the agendas of the wealthier classes often having proportionally more support. Additionally, particularly charismatic speakers are often able to sway the Ecclesia with their words, and given the cost of a proper training in rhetoric this again often leads to the powerful pushing their own agendas.Archons
Archons are the leaders of Rheo, as elected by the Ecclesia every nine years. There are nine archons, the number and duration chosen in reference to but not to reflect the nine gods of the Theonínta. The three major archons consist of the Eponymous, the chief magistrate of the polis after whom the Rheon Calendar year is named, the Polemarch, the leader of the polis’s military, and the Basileus, leader of religious affairs in the polis. The remaining six of these archons are thesmothetai (pl. of thesmothetes), two of whom assist each of the major archons. The Eponymous is the most sought after role in Rheon political society. It may not officially make any laws, but it is through the Eponymous that laws in Rheo are interpreted, giving incredible power to whoever holds the seat. It is also a position of great social clout, as their name is attached to the calendar year and their name and face of the Eponymous are printed on the polis’s coinage. Popular former Eponymous often live the rest of their days in luxury, while unpopular Eponymous seldom survive their tenure. The Polemarch is typically a veteran of military service, often a successful military general or war hero, though given that anyone can theoretically be elected as Polemarch it has happened once or twice that a less than qualified candidate gained the position. These social climbers are typically crushed by the immense responsibility of the handling of all of the military affairs in the polis, however, and this method of gaining clout in the city is becoming increasingly rare, especially given the recent military turmoil wracking the polis. The Basileus is a contentious position within the polis. While standing in any of the religious cults in the polis typically requiring some actual connection to a deity or in the very least service in their respective cults, the role of Basileus requires nothing more than a popular vote. Issues arise when, like the Polemarch, individuals unaffiliated with the cults are elected, but also when they are. Cults, like their respective deities, do not often agree, and when their clerics are elected one cult will tend to receive special treatment over the others. Typically the position of Basileus is filled by someone affiliated with the cult of Pola, but during times of war adherents of Zole regularly supplant them.Promatho
Promatho is the key to Rheon citizenship, based loosely on the Vassic concept of Sklirotikos. In order to complete one’s Promatho, nine years of state-sanctioned labor or education must be completed. It can be completed at any time in an individual’s life, though is typically completed during or after adolescence depending on the nature of the undertaking. It is understood that the Promatho is both preparation for the duties and responsibilities of citizenship (such as participation in the Ecclesia), as well as to give something back to the city of Promatho. As such, there are no official funds put in place for those undergoing their Promatho, although certain lines of work do provide compensation. The first of these compensated works is, of course, military service. A living wage is provided for those who enlist with the Rheon military, and thus is a popular choice among the poorer residents of the Polis. It is dangerous in times of war, but comes with the potential for advancement given exemplary service, and many of Rheo’s greatest generals came from common folk performing their Promatho. Another paid option for those who would avoid combat is labor. This can include aiding in some of the polis’s many construction works, rowing a penteconter, mining, farming, or any other work perceived as “menial”. This is often the method undertaken by those living in the outlying villages of the polis who may never come to the forum to cast their vote, though if they do their status must be verified. For wealthier individuals and those who do not need compensation to ensure their continued survival, the Promatho looks very different. Scholarly pursuits are the most acceptable among the high society of Promatho, and learning under acclaimed philosophers is a great way to both learn and raise one’s social standing by proximity. Apprenticing to artists or architects is also popular as the polis is ever eager to add another prolific artist to its ranks as a golden age of art and culture is at its peak. In certain circumstances the Promatho requirement may be waved or completed honorarily. This is usually the case for those with a particular affinity for the divine or arcane, but also for prominent military personnel defecting to Rheos and philosophers of great renown. An exception or honorary completion may be conferred through a majority vote of the Ecclesia or by agreement between two of the three major archons.
Type
Large city
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