Terramis (Tehr-ahm-ihs)
Etymology
Terramis's name was originally inspired by the word 'Terra' meaning 'Earth'. As Terramis has a lot of affinity towards earth and nature, it was fitting. The 'mis' that came after was because it needed to be distinct from Dessiara and Opirium, and it seemed to flow the best.
History
Geography
The capital city of Terramis is located on the north-eastern part of Terramis. The nearby northern valley on occasion floods from the rivers and the ocean, and trappers use this to their benefit to catch fish that come in with the water. The whole of Terramis is filled with trade and people.
The city is very large and is separated into four sections, those of lower class, middle class, higher class, and royalty. Those of the lower class encompass the outer ring of the city, much like a crescent moon shape. This area is filled with travellers and adventurers, and has a bustling trade market and cheaper food and housing. This ring is also home of the @slum area, where people who struggle to live reside. These people are taken care of by the city to provide housing and food, in return for labor, however they generally can't afford a better situation or better clothes. A wall surrounds the lower class on both sides, the outer wall to protect the city, and the inner wall to separate lower and middle class. There is no restrictions for access between lower and middle classes, and people can travel between the two freely. The only difference between the two classes is the buildings are taken care of more and the price of goods is more expensive. You can see higher class people visit often, however. It's not as busy as the lower class area, but it is still bustling. Housing is generally on the sides of the city in that area, which is again crescent shaped. A wall separates it and higher class as well. Higher class is mainly nobles area, there is much more housing than shops, and the shops there are all high class and expensive.
In order for anyone to get into the high class area, there is guards positioned at the entrance-ways that go through people's identification and let people through at their discretion. Lower class people are rarely if ever seen in higher class area, unless visiting a friend or being taken to dinner by someone with money, as most people can't afford the places there. There is no wall that separates the higher class from the castle, but there is a large fence and gate that leads to a large garden, with the castle at the highest point on the hill. All the walls connect on either side of the castle to the fence, then continues a singular wall around the castle backyard. There is a backdoor exit out of the castle wall. The inside of the castle is rather homely and more like a mansion than a castle, though it does have towers. There is a dungeon under the castle that leads out to the higher class as well.
Government and Politics
Taxes in Terramis vary between provinces. The province leaders set their own taxes the cities must follow. Taxes are generally low, but there's a lot of them; Country Tax, Province Tax, City Tax, and other taxes on certain products. Not all products have higher taxes though, for example exported goods are higher taxed than imported ones. A province leader might set their province tax very high or low, the same with the city taxes. City taxes go to helping the city, while province taxes go to the province leader for government-related duties. Private businesses or stalls are not usually taxed, however public businesses are taxed. Food and drink is taxed more in general, however even with all the different types of taxes Terramis has the lowest tax rate in general of the three countries. Most of the countries finances are in the capital in the royal vault, however the royal family does have hidden stashes of money in places only they know of in case of emergency. In the off-chance the royal vault was to be looted, nobles would be asked to help ease the financial distress of the country by providing their own finances to support the country. These loans are considered a duty of being nobility, but are oftentimes paid back in some way or another later on, or even by increasing the noble's rank if the support was noteworthy enough. The ruler of Terramis is chosen from the sons of the ruling family. A female is never given the throne, however her son might if there are no other heirs. The firstborn son is generally the heir, but in some cases the current rulers might decide to make a younger son the heir if they are more suited or the older child is incompetent. If they happen to have no heirs, they may even adopt a son into the royal family as the heir from either a branch family or if they are married to their daughter. After the heir becomes king, the others may stay as royalty or simply become nobility, working as a branch family.Economy
Demographics
Culture and Society
In Terramis, if someone has a dispute with another buisness or property owner, people go to the mayor or leader of the city they are in. If the mayor deems the issue more serious than just the person, but involves more than one city having the same issue, the mayor will likely forward it to the province leader. If the province leader finds it bigger than just the single province than it is sent to the nobility to solve in their noble court. The only reason the royals themselves would step in, is if it is a country wide issue, or it was an issue between the higher nobles themselves. Slavery is allowed in some parts of Terramis, however is frowned upon by most people. Being LGBT is perfectly legal in Terramis, however unlike Dessiara's normalizing of it it is somewhat seen as separate. People of Terramis are more accepting of it, though, and no special restrictions are put on people of that demographic. Trans nobles are the only area of concern, as they are generally frowned upon by their families in often cases, especially female to male. Though the common public doesn't look at or treat them any differently in most cases, its the noble families that are more harsh on other trans nobles.Notes
See Also
Structure
King - The king holds authority over the kingdom, though the queen and other nobles help take care of the majority of issues. The King is the hands of Terramis and supports it in practical issues and dealing with external conflicts.
Queen - The queen holds next to no authority over the kingdom, but does hold a lot of respect. The queen is the face of Terramis and supports it internally and keeping citizens happy and cared for.
Prince - Princes have only slight authority in politics when they are older, and when their parents trust them to help out. Most tasks are given to the firstborn prince to prepare him for becoming king, however might be given to a younger prince instead if the older prince has abdicated the throne or died.
Princess - Princesses have no authority in Terramis and no claim to the throne. Most princesses retain their title of princess their entire life and are married off to a duke.
Duke - Dukes are of higher nobility and help out with governmental affairs and run the noble court. They also are sometimes province leaders.
Viscount - Most viscounts are province leaders and help the dukes in the royal court. Also sometimes called counts they report to dukes and sometime royalty if important enough.
Baron - Barons are lesser nobility and are usually granted this honor by dukes or royals. They don't usually have authority, but sometimes can be small province leaders.
Royal Guards - The country's military and police force. Some are nobles, most are commoners.
Commoner - The common people.
Slum - Poor people who do not own land, are uneducated, and jump around job to job. Children are only slum if their parents are or if they are orphans/runaways without a guardian.
Iron - In abundance in Terramis and oft sells armor and weapons made from it to others.
Cotton - Grown mostly in Terramis, then exported.
Cheese - Lots of craftsman will make cheese from the milk in the country and sell it to other countries.
Clocks - Terramis has the most accurate time sense, so will export clocks to the other two countries for their use.
