Kingdom of Meridia

Structure

The kingdom of Meridia is ruled by a constitutional monarchy that tends to separate itself from religious power; the king (or queen) is elected by direct universal suffrage, for life, or until his abdication. The sun of Heleoz is printed on all the gold coins of the kingdom, called the aureate, Salinéa at its head on the silver coins, the argentic, and a model of the city of Alia on the copper coins, the cupric. Except in times of war, the king has little legislative authority and has judicial power only in the case of very serious or complex crimes. Politics is dealt with by two chambers. The first is called the House of Commons; it is made up of representatives of the people from each of the country's major communes, elected by suffrage from promotional lists renewed by one-third every three years. The second is the chamber of nobles; it is made up partly of people recruited by the king, and the other part of people with acquired titles, essentially the Onirem family, the grand pontiff of the church and its departments, the director of the academy of magic and other archmages, and the grand masters of the merchants' guilds; in practice their role is purely consultative. In meridian life, every citizen is treated as equal to the others, from the age of majority, 20 years old, anyone, provided they are known and charismatic, can become a local councillor; elections are mostly by universal suffrage, or by proportional representation.

Culture

Culturally, humans have always adapted to the problems they have faced. Taking back and improving what their enemies brought them. From the dwarves' gun technologies, my magic from the Athrians, to religion, some of whose gods came from other peoples. However, they often show initiative and improve or even merge concepts taken from others, such as firearms infused with magic. In architecture, clay, and brick, very quickly became the basic material for human buildings, since they are found in profusion in the marshland as well as slate on the edge of the mountains. Architecture mixes geometric forms, between the perfect symmetry of religious temples with triangular roofs and these colonnades, the giant domes of the college of magic, and the mushroom-shaped towers of the royal family's castle.

Public Agenda

Make peace with the Empire of Oriaka, share technologies of Alkalia

Assets

The kingdom of Meridia prospered thanks to the impassable but highly fertile marshland surrounding the capital; the entire southern coast of the continent, bathed in fish, notably with one of the largest harbours of the kingdom, Loreif; and the wine-growing territory of Aridion, taking advantage of the fertility of the soil, and the border with the Elf Empire.

Religion

In the past, Meridia was a divine monarchy, where the temple were setting the rules and was atop of the political circles. Nowadays, the church is really just a reserve of people with great power that await for conflict of grave importance to show their might. Most of the traditional cult is mostly just a floklore; and the gods are now more of consultants (not to say some sort of friendly elevated race) than just absolute divine power.

Education

The school is obligatory and mostly free, at least between six and sixteen. There are two special schooling in parallel of the main one: for magic and military.

Worship

Each month is dedicated to a deity. Town halls are sanctified by Kilisin. The tribunal is seen as an extension of Mashanak's will. Marriage, birth and burials are rites given in the name of Tanaos. The three last days of the week are given off. Solstice's nights are a moment of dancing and magic tournaments.

Priesthood

The leaders are the Herald of the ten, holder of the saint relics, a war commander. The matriarch of silence, named by Salinea, who direct the churches and monastic orders. And the light pontiff, who is the cult master, the one who show in front of people and guide them officially.

Granted Divine Powers

The priest have low powers from gods, but the ten orders of paladin obtain powers from the chosen deity.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Meridia was once an absolute theocratic Monarchy, and now, after a revolution, the king and the temple separated, as the population became more and more Atheist. The fact that the gods really exist and have a visible influence on the world made the human adopt their presence as a simple fact of life; and the gods decided to avoid influence the world on big level.

May the winds guide us towards the light of freedom.

Founding Date

-150

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Alia

Demonym

Meridian

Government System

Monarchy, Constitutional

Power Structure

Dependent territory

Economic System

Traditional

Currency

The meridian currency is the nadir: base ten, four levels; copper (compass rose), silver (model of Alia), gold (symbol of Kilisin), platinum (the magisterial tower).

Major Imports

Iron, and new technologies from Alkalia. Some magic artefacts and spices from Oriaka. Linen and fish products from Akeidre.

Legislative Body

The council of citizen, an assembly of peoples who are elected by region.

Judicial Body

the great tribunal, once part of the religious body under the worship of Mashanak now becoming a neutral non-religious institution.

Executive Body

The council of the noble, made up of high noble family (like the Arthima), the Onirem family to represent the Athrian, the archmages and the rays cardinals of the Astral aurora

Official State Religion

Astral aurora

Deities