Nova Speranza
A protectorate of the Bysian Realms, the Nova Speranza Commonwealth is regardless a highly-autonomous city-state that is home to the largest population of magicians in the entirety of Sera besides the elven lands.
Public Agenda
Due to the concentration of magical capital in its population, Nova Speranza is home to some of the most fantastical scientific works made in the modern world, pioneering fields of research in its schools and laboratories at a pace unmatched anywhere else.
Although these studies are typically quite esoteric and difficult to translate to real-world applications, it is still remarkable that the scientists of Nova Speranza can do so without the extremely sophisticated industrial base of, say, the Savoi Nations or the Appachian Strongholds. Its reputation is ironically marred by whispers of vivisections and whatnot conducted on non-mages, but considering the oversight of Speranza's High Council and the Elves such tall tales are utterly absurd.
History
Founded by the Mages fleeing persecution during the height of Decian anti-magician paranoia, the region has maintained its status as a safe haven for those running from the bloody witch hunts and pogroms that have marred even the societies of the Fourth Age.
The protectorate was founded to provide a place for mages to develop their powers under the tutelage of more experienced mentors, without fear of reprisal or execution. In the time that passed since its formation, Nova Speranza has grown to become a full-fledged society, generations living and dying under the combined protection of its Guardians and elven warriors. Bordering the Utar Confederacy, the two groups have frequently come into conflict, usually at the Confederacy's provocation.
Parsing the truth from the propaganda can be difficult, and the Commonwealth has been accused of harboring fugitive mages who committed heinous crimes before or during their stay under the protection of Commonwealth mages. The most infamous was a well-disguised former disciple of the Enemy, whose cruel experiments had been unwittingly (or perhaps intentionally) been allowed to continue with Nova Speranza's supervision. Such high-profile incidents have reduced significantly with time, but remain a stain on their reputation.
And in a once harmonious land, the social fabric has begun to tear under the stress of the Fourth Age. The number of non-magical individuals has significantly increased over the generations, and in a deeply ironic twist are publicly questioning their status as "equal citizens" in a land built on magical ability. Worries about the Realms' priorities, and whether they may be left to fend for themselves against a rebuilding Utar military, have arisen in the face of the bloody fighting between the Elves and the Decian Remnant.
Military
Considering the substantial military presence of the elves in the protectorate, it should come as no surprise that Speranza's forces are rather limited in scope relative to full-fledged nations. Its small militias fulfill a defensive role, and deal with disorderly conduct and bodyguard duties far more often than said militias fight enemies who always at the very least outnumber them. For direct confrontations such as those with the Utar Confederacy, Speranza relies instead on appointed Guardians, individuals of strong character and great might. Leveraging its vast number of skilled witches and wizards, many Guardians are mages, but a fair amount are simply very skilled warriors or dragon-riders. Teams of Guardians are assigned to repelling enemy incursions, with their finely-wrought equipment and esoteric knowledge having served the safe haven well in several wars.
Without a massive industrial base to call upon, Speranza has neither the heavy armor of the Vulkan Republic nor the mechanized airfleet of the Kuran Empire and Savoi Nations. Instead, their Guardians utilize weapons such as the A149 "Airship," one of the finest designs of mass-produced single-seat Brooms in history, and a great number of well-equipped war dragons serve this defense force. With the additional support of the armies of the Bysian Realm, as well as the maritime fleets anchored at Speranza's ports, the protectorate's citizens are safe under the guidance of the Commonwealth Council.
Type
Geopolitical, Protectorate
Alternative Names
The Damned, New Hope
Demonym
Witches, Novans
Government System
Democracy, Direct
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Barter system
Parent Organization
Neighboring Nations
