Ceryx (SEER-ics)
For centuries, rival kingdoms, clans, and nations fought for dominion amongst the lush swath of savanna that cuts across Aotra's southern hemisphere. Many states unified, erupted back into conflict, and shattered once more; empires arose among the rich plains, only to fall in time to new empires. When the Circle of Nine was established, its founding members drew broad lines across the unclaimed and multi-claimed stretches of land, grouping the graveyard of former countries into one unified Nation of the Circle: Ceryx. For seven hundred years, Ceryx reckoned with its new established government; conflicts inevitably arose within as states vied for more total control over the areas they once ruled. With varying degrees of success, the appointed Ministers of Ceryx lorded over their dubiously-united nation, and slowly but surely, the population of newly-designated Ceryssians found their way into a tentative national identity.
The Severing destroyed any semblance of unity the nation ever had. The effects were not unique to Ceryx by any means, but the disruption of trade, infrastructure, and production struck the nation at its fundamentally unstable core, turning regions yet again against regions, and citizens against their hapless, helpless government. In the aftermath of the Severing, Ceryx stands as a nation by legal formalities alone. As communities turned inward to protect themselves, they pulled apart from each other, a terrible, faithless dance of many moving parts.
Structure
At the head of the Ceryssian government is the Minister, an elected monarchical role currently filled by Minister Esrana Nahlar. The Minister is the final arbiter of matters of the state, the Ceryssian representative on the Council of Nine, and the tiebreaker and leader of the Ceryssian Congress.
The Ceryssian Congress is the legislative and judicial body of Ceryx, established as part of the nation's government when it was founded under the Circle of Nine. The Congress is made up of the Minister and a council of six members, each appointed by the Minister from a specific segment of the population: a mage, a Dichotomist pastor, a merchant, an aristocrat, a soldier, and a commoner. The first five of those roles are selected from among the preeminent members of those groups within Ceryx, while the last is filled through a more complicated process involving local nominations, a screening, and a lottery system.
The Congress formerly met on nearly every working day, deliberating on the laws of the land and setting judicial standards for cases of justice raised to their attention from local courts. Though communication from Mereni has largely broken down since the Severing, it is known that at least two members of the Congress were killed in its immediate aftermath, and little has been heard of the current state of the Congress. It is not known if the Congress has met at all in the last three years.
Demography and Population
Ceryx is midsized by Aotran standards: a census from 710 YC estimated the population at roughly five million. Most of the population is concentrated on the northern side of the nation, in the savannas north of the Lake of the Chalice, though a non-insignificant number of people dwell in the southern jungles, and relatively few live in the far-northern desert regions.
Ceryx is slightly more racially diverse than Aotra in general: approximately 75% of Ceryssians are human. Among the remainder are more orcs than elves, making up 15% and 10% of the population respectively. The majority of Ceryssian elves are wood elves, dwelling in their isolated tribes among the jungles in Ceryx's south. As is true throughout Aotra, Otherborn make up a negligibly small portion of the population, less than a tenth of a percent.
The total loss of life caused by the Severing is still uncountable. Estimates suggest that anywhere from 5-30% of the population was lost through the cataclysm, so a truly current account of Aotran demography is impossible.
Prosperity, Justice, and Community
Founding Date
1 YC
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Alsion; Avilla; Miramaer; Setendar; Vassia (all regional and former).
Demonym
Ceryssians
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Transnational government
Economic System
Traditional
Legislative Body
The Ceryssian Congress
Judicial Body
The Ceryssian Congress
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
Strong alliance
Economically, politically, and culturally, Lar Aslaki and Ceryx are more enmeshed than pretty much any other pair of Circle of Nine nations.
Ambiguously allied
Oristhane's willingness to back Ceryx in Circle of Nine issues stems largely from Oristhane's alliance with Lar Aslaki; as long as Lar Aslaki continues to be tightly allied with Ceryx and supportive of Oristhane, the Oristhanian government does its best to maintain a relationship with Ceryx. As the Ceryssian government has developed a stronger and stronger Dichotomist bent over the last few decades, though, its antagonism towards Oristhane has grown.
Strong alliance
As Ceryx's government has moved further towards strict Dichotomist fervor in recent years, the nation has looked to Elasiril for guidance. Elasiril has been more than happy to to use this as an opportunity to gain another ally.
Allied
Ceryx depends on the Federation of Vay's continued good graces, as the Federation is a major buyer of the raw materials that make up a major part of Ceryx's economy.
Allied
Kassaan and Ceryx have little in common politically, culturally, or economically, but a history of amenable trading arrangements and their mutual bond with Lar Aslaki keep them on decent terms.
Allied
Tense but non-combatant
Tense but non-combatant
One of the few matters in which Norsivar differs from Solisvar is in its treatment of Ceryx. For reasons entirely unknown, the Norsivaran government has, for as long as the Circle of Nine has existed, regarded Ceryx with disdain. Ceryx largely returns the favor.
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