The Realm
Technically called An Mortla Reimse de na Bunusach Anamacha or the Mortal Realm of the Primordial Soul, it is usually shortened to "The Realm" for short.
The largest nation in Efaanu, The Realm is a dominating force that makes up most of the mainland and has made a point of conquering and integrating all peoples and groups near its domain.
The Realm is well known for its widespread and culturally infused worship and following of the elements and spirits. While the nation is racially open to all, and incorporates many races under its banner, it is ultimately headed by Genasi. While Genasi can technically be any race, they tend to come from Olark, Humans, and Daoine an Domhain. These Genasi, no matter their parental heritage, are the ruling class of The Realm.
While Genasi rule the nation, they are also more tied to its laws and religion than any other member of the nation. When a Genasi is born, either to Genasi parents or non-Genasi parents, their fate has been decided. A young Genasi will be taken by their local Stuthoir (Augur) and raised in the Temple until they are sent off to the organization that their variation of Genasi is associated with. For example a Water Genasi will always join the temple to the Bealai Galahmora Biotalle, the primary religion of the realm, and become a priest or temple servant. Meanwhile, a Fire Genasi will always join the Staidear, the organization responsible for magical research and monitoring in The Realm. The only way out of this path is to either flee The Realm, die, or join the Caemon Haeori. While Genasi will always rise further than non-Genasi in the realm, they're also the most restricted by it compared to non-Genasi, who enjoy relative freedom when it comes to their destiny.
Structure
The Realm is split into a quasi-caste system that denotes what a persons role is and what they'll do, mostly based on whether or not they're a Genasi, or related to one.
At the very top of The Realm is the Bunusach Cainteior (Primordial Speaker). The Bunsach Cainteior, or as they're more commonly called The Cainteior (or Speaker), is at the top of The Realm. The Bunsach Cainteior is always a Storm Genasi, a person made of storm and thunder. Storm Genasi are exceedingly rare, and only one is alive at any one time. The Cainteior rules until either a new Storm Genasi emerges in The Realm, in which case the current Cainteior trains the new Storm Genasi for the post until the old Cainteior passes on the title voluntarily, or until the Caintaior dies. If the current Cainteior dies and there's no Storm Genasi to be found within The Realm the rule of the Realm Passes down to the Domhanda Council, which is the next level of governance.
The Domhanda Council oversees much of the day-to-day governance of The Realm. It is made up of four members and one advisor. The four primary members represent the four primary aspects of governance and the elements. There is a Councilor of Fire, Earth, Sky, and Water. There is also the Advisor of Spirit.
The four primary Councilors oversee important functions of society under their purview. But as a member of the Domhanda Council they help advise the Cainteior with important decisions and handle smaller decisions that don't need the Cainteior's direct attention. When there is no Cainteior they rule The Realm in its totality. When decisions are split a simple majority vote is held to make a final decision, with the Advisor of Spirit getting no vote. If there is a tie a second vote is held the next meeting of the Domhanda Council. If there is still a tie then the tie breaks in the direction of either the Earth Councilor in times of war, or the Water Councilor in times of peace.
The Four Councilors represent the following sections of society, and are responsible for the running of the Organizations under that purview:
The Councilor of Fire is responsible for the matters of magic and elements. They lead the Staidear, a council of the foremost mages of the Realm, and are the primary Master of the Colastile, the foremost university in the Realm. A new Councilor of Fire is chosen from among the Staidear, with the current longest tenured member automatically being named the new Councilor of Fire.
The Councilor of Earth is responsible for the defense of the realm, and by extension its military. Somewhat ironically this includes The Realm's navy. The Councilor is nominated from the generals of the Bunusach Trodai (Primordial Warriors), the term for the army of the Realm.
The Councilor of Sky is responsible for trade and diplomacy within and without the realm. They head the Culluccat, the primary organization responsible for monitoring and regulating trade within and without The Realm. They are also the chief diplomat to other nations. A new Councilor of Sky is chosen from the Tradail of the Culluccat, who lead the Culluccat.
The Councilor of Water is responsible for spiritual matters, and is the Primshelodah (Chief Conduit) of the Elements and the leader of the Bealai Galahmora Biotalle, or Way of the Wise Spirits (The primary religion of The Realm). They are chosen from among the Stuthoir, the primary Augurs and religious leaders.
The Advisor of Spirit is the only "member" of the council who does not need to be a Genasi. Though they do need to be a descendant of a Genasi somewhere in their heritage, whether that be their parents or someone 500 years removed from them. They do not get a vote on the council, and instead merely advise the council. They are, however, also the Curadach of the Caemon Haeori, the most prestigious and influential warrior order in the Realm.
Below the Domhanda Council local rule depends on the locality. In the heartland of The Realm local governance is often headed by Stuthoir, Augurs of the Elements. Meanwhile in the outer territories rule will often be handed to powerful Tradil of the Culluccat. In vassal kingdoms and lands rule is often left in the hands of local lords, councils, or whatever form of governance existed before they came under control of The Realm. As long as they don't worship "baseless spirits" and pay their taxes its ultimately not to the concern of the Domhanda Council.
History
The Realm was once the heartland of the Southern Imperium of the Atkorian Empire, and Kyvern Alcimicos ruled from this region. After the fall of the Atkorian Empire the region fell into petty warlords and wars until it was conquered by Carlegn during the formation of his Empire.
Towards the twilight years of the Carlegnian Empire vast regions of the Empire rose into open rebellion, and it was from this chaos that The Realm has its roots. The region had been home to abnormally large amounts of Genasi and had many followers of Bealai Galahmora Biotalle, The Way of the Wise Spirits, a religion that worshiped the spirits of the dead and the elements of the world. As the chaos of the dying empire enveloped the region the Stuthoir, the Augurs of the Elements and main leaders of the religion, sheltered the innocent and used their magic to wade off wandering bandit forces.
A few decades after the Fall of the Empire and into the chaos a Storm Genasi named Joaniala came from the east, from Abhailmid. She began to gather followers and relieving and protecting local Shrines and Temples from roving bandits.
The defining moment was when she protected the Tempspiroaid, the greatest Temple to followers of "The Way," from a local bandit king named Tuxis the Deplorable. The battle between her followers and the bandits seemed a suicidal mission until Joaniala managed to call upon a small army of elementals who willingly came to her aid and helped push back the bandits, whereupon she smote Tuxis and turned back the bandits. Following this display of harmony with the elemental spirits the Augurs of the Tempspiroaid declared her Bunusach Cainteior, or the Primordial Speaker.
Joaniala's fame soon grew and she began to spread her followers and safety throughout the region, carving out The Realm as we know it. When she had unified much of Southern Efaanu she named her kingdom An Mortla Reimse de na Bunusach Anamacha, or The Mortal Realm of the Primordial Soul. With the help of the Augurs and her closest followers she also laid down the legal system of The Realm, including Domhanda Council. Following the abuses of the Carlegnian Empire, an empire of "radiance" and "arcane power" Joaniala saw the elements as the true source of power and truth in the world, and pushed for the worshiping of them on her kingdom. Despite this it wouldn't become illegal to hold other religions until far after Joaniala's death.
The Realm has grown since the days of Joaniala, now encompassing most of mainland Efaanu. It has subjugated Wurinzama, incorporated Abhailmid, and recently conquered the Mernite Soverignty. It also has a rival in Lethennor, which its people and religion see as misguided worshipers of baseless spirits at best and a dangerous continuation of the Carlegnian Empire at worst.
Demography and Population
Like much of Efaanu the Realm is majority Human due to their ancestral tribes in the area before the Atkorian Empire arrived. It also has the worlds largest population of Genasi, which are often an anomaly in the rest of the world but in The Realm nearly 1 in 500 children born are Genasi. There are also Olark enclaves in small numbers throughout The Realm, though they tend to be insular at best. Some Elves from Palnoré have also settled in The Realm in small numbers.
When a Genasi is born (whether it be to Genasi or Non-Genasi parents) they are taken by the local Stuthoir (Augur) to the local Temple to be raised, or sent to a nearby Temple if the nearest Temple or Shrine isn't equipped to raise them. When they hit the age of 7 they are sent to the organization that represents their element on the Domhanda council, where they'll continue to be raised and trained to take their place in that organization when they come of age. (The Staidear for Fire Genasi, The Bealai for Water Genasi, The Culluccat for Air Genasi, and the Trodai for Earth Genasi).
Military
Under the Control of the Councilor of Earth, the military of The Realm is called the Bunusach Trodai (Primordial Warriors), sometimes shortened to The Trodai.
The Trodai operates a full-time professional army that is supplemented by vassal soldiers from places like Wurinzama and the Mernite Provinces as well as specialist soldiers from the Caemon Haeori.
The uniformity of uniforms, equipment, and training allows The Realm to maintain a professionally even army across its forces (levels of veterancy notwithstanding). The downside of this uniformity is that its rare for units of soldiers to truly excel or specialize, meaning that enemies that discover weaknesses in The Realm's military can exploit that weakness over and over again.
Religion
The state religion of The Realm is the Bealai Galahmora Biotalle, or Way of the Wise Spirits. Followers of the Bealai (or "Way") worship the spirits of the dead and the spirits of the world (or elements). Their core belief stems from the fact that the world that we live on is responsible for our creation, life, and eventual death. We never truly "leave" the world, even in death, and worshiping that which gives us life and the spirits of those past guide our future actions.
The religion centers around shrines (in small towns) and temples (in larger towns and cities) dedicated to The Spirits of the Earth and the Spirits of the Death. Stuthoir (or Augurs) are the primary religious leaders and oversee a local areas worship and spiritual matters. In some more remote regions Stuthoir will even act as mayors and governors to rule.
Among their number the Stuthoir choose a Primshelodah (Chief Conduit) of the Elements, who act as the leader of the overall religious organization and are The Councilor of Water on the Domhanda Council.
While any race, gender, or age can become a Stuthoir only a Water Genasi may be a Primshelodah. In addition any Water Genasi born are sent to their local temple to train as a future Stuthoir, and will serve the Bealai in one way or another.
The Bealai is based out of the Tempspiroaid, the greatest temple of the religion in The Realms capital.
Gach Beidh Freastal An Domhain (All Shall Serve the World)
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Alternative Names
The Realm, The Mortal Realm, The Primordial Realm, The Primordial Empire
Demonym
Realmer
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Realmer Saorstat's
Legislative Body
The Domhanda Council is responsible for most of the major laws and matters of governance. They will bring larger laws to bigger decisions to the Cainteior, if there is one.
Judicial Body
Most judgements are made either by groups of Local Augurs at Temples in the Heartland, in the outer territories judgement for crimes and disputes is in the hands of the military, and in vassal states the local lords or ruling bodies will take care of justice.
Subsidiary Organizations
Controlled Territories
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