Bushos
"I've been shot at by Aegovan rangers, chased through chasms by rangers in Anun, chastised in Agrium by that pious lot of bowed bastards. The rangers in Bushos worry me the most. They simply appear. And they know things. Know death. As you would know a lover."
- an experienced bandit
Structure
Organizational Philosophy
The political scene of Bushos is anything but lively. The government has enough to worry about caring for its citizens and ensuring trade routes to the capital of Shellbury stay open. The lack of courtly intrigue does not represent the strength of streamlined bureaucracy. Quick decisions lead to decisive actions. The federal government is arranged in a true federal government. Bushos is broken into counties that are each governed by the nearest city or village. Villages in turn are required to make their own laws so as best to govern the people within them. With local business staying local, the federal government is free to gather tithes that each village feels they can afford, and deal with matters of state and protection. To further streamline the decision making process, the federal government is broken down into three independent branches: The Leaf, The Skull, and The Cloak. Each branch is apportioned a piece of the duties that befall the government at large with each branch making unilateral decisions regarding what is in their purview. These decisions are not often done in a vacuum but with discussion with and encouragement from the other branches to better coordinate actions. Indeed, these decisions are often made in Ibreothan, the large public forum where any citizen may sit and listen to the discourse and see how their laws are being made. Checks and balances do not exist between the branches, but within the branches, to balance a streamlined policy process with judicious regulation. These branches are not deaf to the ears of the people. Indeed, they take most of their policies directly from them, believing firmly that being in Shellbury has removed them too far from the problem to be fit to make these decisions. Each branch has its own policy on how it hears petitions but no branch refuses to listen to even the lowliest of petitioners. These branches each follow their own hierarchy, not regulated by a constitution but an understanding between the branches that cooperation is in the interest for the nation. No one admits it, but Spearleaf's Code is likely the culprit for this understanding. The cooperation between branches and between policy makers and the people the govern may appear to be ripe for the right silver tongue to take advantage of. Be forewarned friend; those who seek to upset Spearleaf's Code are not often long to live in Bushos.The Branches
The Leaf The leaf is the branch concerned with the forest, its preservation, the Bushosian duty to steward the needs of the people against the health of the wild. Matters of infrastructure, public welfare, trade and education fall within this branch's domain. Its most notable duty is protecting the river that runs the length of the nation. Stanfil Run is the largest commercial route to Shellbury from the outside world. As such, protecting it's banks from byrgegs and other monsters is paramount to maintain a functioning economy. Riverboat operators are the bulwarks against these demons, commanding shallow drafted juggernauts that double as freight barges and mercenary transports. If rangers are the most famed part of Bushos, these riverboats are not far behind. The Leaf is ran by a skeleton crew of merchants, electing a central executive who maintains the post for 3-5 years. Although this post comes with much honor, it's not often sought after due to the distance it puts between these merchants and their beloved riverboats. The seat of The Leaf, is also the merchant guild's headquarters in Shellbury, Autumnhall Mansion. Petitioners need only give their claims to any of the representatives that man the quays and docks that jut into the river from each village. Those petitions will reach the The Leaf on the next barge to Shellbury. The Skull Matters of foreign policy, war, and espionage are given to The Skull. Bushos does not have a standing army per se, regarding the creatures in the forest protection enough for its people. The few times foreign powers have sought to claim Bushos have ended in a bloody guerilla war, winning by attrition rather than superior numbers or equipment. Foreign policy is a brusque affair with The Skull. Unskilled with eloquence, having neither the time nor patience to deal with those who practice the unnecessary skill, The Skull generally seeks to maintain its alliances with the nearby human nations and tease apart the agendas others hide behind veiled threats. What The Skull lacks in diplomacy they make up for in spy-craft. They values hard evidence over words. Their spies have become adapt at intercepting messages, gathering war maps, and coercing information before a diplomatic meeting occurs. This allows them to deal with the other nation accurately and quickly. Leadership within The Skull falls to those too long in the tooth to lead counties on hit and run battles against enemy supply lines or sabotage foreign affairs on cloak and dagger missions. Having lived long enough in those haunted woods is invaluable in war time though. They often know how to win in lopsided battles using the forests' dangers against the enemy. Petitioners often don't have to wait to give their complaints or information to spy network; one of their agents usually finds the informant well before they think to come The Skull. The delicate nature of their work has placed the seat of The Skull in the town's dungeons, below Ibreothan. The Cloak Domestic law, city protection, and festivals are controlled by The Cloak. The famed rangers of Bushos don't have a formally recognized guild, most simply work as mercenaries for The Cloak to protect counties from monster incursions. The methods these rangers use is up to their discretion. Trials are overseen by these rangers, whenever one is necessary, typically held in the inn of the village in question. Festivals began as a means for a census, gathering all the people with the one thing no one could turn down during the founding of the nation: food. Now these censuses have become larger celebrations, coordinated by rangers of those districts once a year. Leadership in The Cloak is a reviled position. No ranger wants to leave their district; too many monsters still lurk just beyond the edges of any village or hamlet. A governing body is also uncomfortable for most rangers. These are the Bushosians that feel the largest need for independence. Having someone set policy for them seems redundant at best, dangerous at worst. Leadership is tolerated though at of the understanding that someone must coordinate with the other branches of government. This position is held for a meager six months by any one ranger; not many last longer than that, needing to get back to the people they serve. The rapid turnover has led to the seat of The Cloak being the banquet hall of Yeatthall, a large inn found in Shellbury.Public Agenda
The public agenda of Bushos vacillates quickly. With such a high turnover rate for leadership positions, it's hard to keep a consistent list of goals since leadership naturally views different goals of different import. Thus far, the three branches have only ever unanimously supported two goals for any meaningful length of time: supporting allies and protecting the people.
Assets
Bushos is a relatively poor country. Beset by byrgegs from within, it has been hard to establish any form of true economy outside of those industries that directly support survival. In this, though, Bushos excels. Ranger equipment is far superior to anything outside of Icebreak Peaks, and rivals even the finest armor and weapons from the wealthier nations within that region. Riverboats protect the banks of Stanfil Run, outfitted with enough armaments and men to protect the villages that dot its shores at a moments notice. Of most interest to the outside world would be the rangers and druids that protect the people. They have an uncanny knack for communing with the fallen, as if the dead had let their secrets fall from their lips.
Demography and Population
Humans make up the largest portion of Bushos. Outsiders are welcome though for they often have valuable information that may help people survive the forest. Despite the welcoming air of the population, it is hard to attract other races to Bushos due to the hard lifestyle the land affords.
Military
Bushosian Rangers
Each county within Bushos has a cohort of rangers. How many rangers are within a country depends on the current level of local threat. Rangers are often strong enough to face most threats. In dire situations, the rangers will rally the locals in a well trained militia.
Riverboats
River boats a much larger than their names imply. Loaded with all the armaments that are needed to protect the shores of Stanfil Run to keep trade routes open to Shellbury. They often carry mercenaries or guards hired by The Leaf and cargo that is being ferried to Shellbury, for those that can afford it naturally.
Each county within Bushos has a cohort of rangers. How many rangers are within a country depends on the current level of local threat. Rangers are often strong enough to face most threats. In dire situations, the rangers will rally the locals in a well trained militia.
Riverboats
River boats a much larger than their names imply. Loaded with all the armaments that are needed to protect the shores of Stanfil Run to keep trade routes open to Shellbury. They often carry mercenaries or guards hired by The Leaf and cargo that is being ferried to Shellbury, for those that can afford it naturally.
Religion
All humans in the region have a steadfast belief in Gundrinn Spearleaf. His sacrifice did not come without strings attached. To keep the old masters at bay, he must retain his position as a deity. Humans pray to him 2-3 times a day. These prayers are not organized or overly fervent. Spearleaf gave the people back their freedom from gods and monsters; humans being forced to pray rankles the teachings he gave.
Outsiders are not forced to pray to Gundrinn, but are allowed, even asked to worship their own gods. Any new tactic or belief that could help the humans survive is explored. If that means a better way of life through a new god, Spearleaf would laud the adaptability of the people.
Foreign Relations
Diplomatic relations with Bushos is pragmatic. Bushos wants to support their allies and protect their people; anyone who shares those goals will find help in Bushos. Veiled threats are often inept when dealing with The Skull. They know what information the nation in question has through thorough espionage. Violence is a daily occurrence for a Bushosian. Threatening war simply changes which target the rangers focus.
Education
Druids of The Leaf are responsible for teaching the population. Education is a serious business in Bushos. Learning new skills and ideas just may keep someone alive. No one is too old to be taught either. It is often the punishment for minor, petty crimes that the perpetrator is sent back to the druids. It's thought that the perpetrator didn't fully understand their actions; instead of making them rot in a dungeon, they can learn to correct their ways and return to society and contribute to their village.
How people are taught is up to the individual druid. They may have an established school, as they do in the larger cities and villages, or they could visit the smaller hamlets and hold court in an empty field for any who want to listen. In either case, they don't typically stay in the cities, preferring the darkness of nature in the forests that litter Bushos.
Bury me shallow, I'll be back
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Bushosian
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
The common coinage of the world is generally accepted throughout Bushos, but often goods themselves are traded between people in the smaller villages. Gold and silver have little value when you can't feed your children or protect them from what lurks in the dark.
Controlled Territories
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