Lathcheirach Covenant
The Lathcheirach Covenant was founded in opposition to the small folk joining the Imperium. They viewed it as a violation of their cultures--both individually and and collectively--and a betrayal of their identity. This resulted in hostile relations between the Covenant and the Imperium. Eventually, however, relations cooled to a begrudged neutrality. The dwarves on both sides are the ones primarily keeping the rivalry alive, though it could be argued that the gnomes of the Covenant also contribute to it with their sense of superiority over other species, even their northern siblings.
Structure
The Covenant is resided over by two senates, that of the dwarves and gnomes. They represent their peoples and, in theory, attempt to reach mutually satisfying compromise. This is far from practice with either body being a den of intrigue, ever shifting alliances, and even death, both within and without. That does not mean nothing is done with the senates working together if for no other reason than maintaining the Covenant and its wellbeing.
Ironically, the Covenant itself has guilds of a sort, not unlike those in the Imperium, with the key difference being that the guilds of the Covenant are centered around craft, coinage, and trade only, and no distinction is made between guilds and their functions. To the guilds, craftsmen lineages are highly important and form a large basis of their prestige and reputation.
Culture
Lotherans are a hardy people, even the gnomes. They value three things; quality crafts, wealth, and survival. Honor and status are determined by merit and contribution to society. Anyone who takes advantage of the system or lets their greed overpower their duty to the Covenant is shamed, and in some cases, imprisoned and even exiled.
Public Agenda
Strength and unity. Their surface territory is small in comparison to their neighbors, and their xenophobic tendencies have alienated most nations as any form of ally. This has pushed them to dig into their beliefs and traditions. They make no secret that they are fortifying and preparing for what they perceive as some future inevitable war the likes of which haven't been seen since the Era of War.
Demography and Population
The Covenant is almost entirely composed of gnomes and dwarves. These two races form the central power, vision, and very soul of the Covenant. They are the only ones permitted full citizenship and rights. What outsiders are permitted are either labor forces or merchants, both being given limited access. In some areas of the nation, goblins and kobolds are bound servants. While these bound servants have rights, such as access to proper food, shelter, protection, and the like, that does not always mean they are looked kindly upon or that these laws are even followed.
Military
The backbone of Lothcheirach's military is the Silver Guard, an elite force of the most skilled warriors, forming the first and last lines of defense against enemies foreign and domestic. One would be hard pressed to find a member of the Guard who didn't live up to the expectations and legends that have spread throughout the continent. This is not to say that the rest of the army is lesser. They are fearsome in their own right, and few relish the chance to face them in combat.
Technological Level
The dwarves and gnomes utilize both magic in science in their industrial advancement to such an extent that countless rumors state various outrageous feats such as turning a man into a construct or flying to the moons inside ships of metal.
Surely most of these rumors must be tall tales... right?
Foreign Relations
They trade with some neighboring lands, though refuse to even look at their siblings to the north or the loathed elves to the east. While their primary trade partner is the Imperium, they are the 'friendliest' with the Orcs of Rao.
Agriculture & Industry
Their trades are almost entirely banking, mining, and artificing, though being a warrior stands alongside each. While the orcs have been industrializing with formidable technology, the Covenant has been industrial for centuries. Initially this was seen as competition, but there have been elements within the senates that have been pushing for cooperation in mutual goals; though this has been, at best, a rocky journey.
Trade & Transport
The Covenant trades in raw resources, precious gems and metals, technology, and crafts. They are eager to "economically raid" foreigners, but foreign trading access inside the nation itself is limited to a comparatively scarce few.
Infrastructure
Many Lotheiran cities have portions protruding from the earth, but the true city always lies within deep within the stone of the earth. Just about everything is made out of stone, even their beds.
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Alternative Names
Loth, Cheirach, the Covenant
Demonym
Lothan(s)/Lotheiran(s)
Government System
Timocracy
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Legislative Body
The Covenant is made up of two senates, one for the dwarves and the other for the gnomes. In order for laws to be passed, they must have a majority vote in both senates. There can be as many votes on a piece of proposed legislation as either senate wishes, however, it also has a given time limit depending on the type of law and the level it takes affect. Once that time limit is reached and exceeded, there must be at least a full century before it is proposed again, though it often takes much longer.
Judicial Body
Each and every senator must perform judicial duties for various reasons, partially to give citizens direct access to those deciding their fates and laws alike and partially to consolidate power for efficiency and power's sake, as politicians are prone to do. These decisions tend to be unilateral, though there are countless cases in which multiple judges participated in a given case or trial.
Executive Body
The Silver Guard operates both as a security force and a military force in and of itself. Rotations are given so that every member serves civil and military duties alike as needed. It's not uncommon for there to be an auxiliary guard force that handles general public order and street crime while the Guard takes higher profile issues, but it's equally common that the Silver Guard takes care of it entirely--and they often prefer it that way.
Neighboring Nations
Comments