Holy State of Drinika

The Holy State of Drinika is ruled by the Perpetual Conclave - the religious authority that presides over all of Orthodox Desmianism. The State exists to support this authority first and foremost- its lords, councils, and armies exist to provide a safe and prosperous meeting place first and foremost. The valley of Drinika, the state's core territory, is a prosperous breadbasket of abundant farmland. Its towns are rich and populous, its countryside well-irrigated, and its roads well kept. The Holy State is made as a sanctified land, without war, bloodshed, or hunger- a realm that is a temple unto itself. In practice, it is just a peaceful, prosperous country with a lot of holy symbols and fancy architecture. For most people, that's close enough.
Drinika serves as an example to other Orthodox states, a shining light of what could be.

Structure

The hierarchy of government functions goes as such:

• The Perpetual Conclave, led by the First Speaker
• The Duke or Duchess of Drinika- a hereditary position confirmed by the Conclave
• The Tripartite Council- a legislative body that manages the Ederum lake area, composed of the Priest-Mayor of Ederum and the two lord mayors of Tasinata and Kosobal.
• The Counts of Drinika, who report directly to the Duke
• The lower aristocracy

History

Before the Perpetual Conclave

The valley of Drinika was always rather densely populated and abundant. Initially a refuge for Dryads, the valley converted quickly to proto-Orthodoxy following their departure. In the Divine and early Modern eras, the inhabitants were known as the Drinikan peoples or Drinikan League. This league came to be dominated by two cities- Arastock in the far South and Ederum  in the center. The early Drinikan League was the heartlands of the region of Hadara, the most populated and urbanized realm of the Southwest. Gradually, Arastock became dominant, and reformed the league into a confederation of 5 city-states. Over the centuries, feuding and power struggles saw the unification of the league formally in 630ME into the Kingdom of Drinika. Migrations in the early 800s during a civil war saw the kingdom collapse into petty fiefdoms.
The ascent of the Koshikar dynasty, which united Kalmana to the East and used diplomacy and shrewd marriage arrangements to take control of the ascendant kingdom of Odvin, proved calamitous for some of these petty kings. The Koshikar Empire (also known as the Empire of Kalmana-Odvin) swept through the valley in 1240 and placed it under foreign leadership. From 1240-1390 the valley was a site of regular rebellion until a Koshikar-dynasty duke was given control of Drinika along with significant autonomy. Drinika became prosperous again, a content subkingdom of glorious Kalmana-Odvin.

The Consecration of Ederum

To understand what happens next, its important to understand where Desmia was in the 1400s. There was a feeling of panic, that the Orthodox kingdoms had become decadent and allowed the world to fall to the forces of evil. Samvara fleets had begun invading Izekra in the 1390's with the explicit purpose of invading and destroying Southern Desmia. The Feywilds Empire of Nefka was returning to life and unleashed a wave of mass destruction in the Northwest starting in 1420. The legendary moon druid "Kamdra the Stormbreaker" had unleashed a wave of panic across Desmia and opened up the way for massive organized Stildanian invasions from Boram  that were sweeping across Traya. The Mathari Empire was pushing hard. The Holy Republic of Pakray was taken over by extremist heretics in 1390 when finally expelled in 1455 they met up with other heretics in the islands of Seruv to create a brand new even more extreme heresy under the heretic priest Videva. Videva and these extreme heretics seized the Seruvian government during a civil war in 1460, and proceeded to utilize the early printing technology of the time and widespread Desmian literacy to mass produce heretic propaganda. In the face of outside threats, Desmianism was beginning a dangerous radicalization. And as more threats began heading towards Desmia from the East (the Kivishta Exalted Path invasion), priests needed to choose: the old ways or a new, bloodier path.
Priests concerned with this breakdown of authority rallied together. Small ecclesiastical meetings and conclaves came together to try and counter heresy and demonic invasions and a consensus slowly grew that Orthodoxy needed a permanent authority to organize the Ecclesia and remove heretical priests or rulers. In 1478, the united Ecclesia began searching for a host location for this new planned religious authority. Pakray was too recently heretical, Avana too complacent, and Ralev too unstable. The Koshikars agreed to host- they were rich, prestigious, and had emerged as champions on the frontlines against Borim invasions from the North. The duchy of Drinika, centrally located, autonomous, secure, and luxurious proved to be the ideal location. In 1480, the Speakers of the Ecclesia met in Ederum to define Orthodoxy and enforce that definition. They voted to make themselves a permanent governing body, and were given co-control of the Duchy as a gesture of goodwill. Drinika became a center for Orthodox propaganda, crusade coordination, trials for heretic priests, and higher education. This brought trade, riches, influence. Drinika became the Holy State, jewel in the Koshikari crown. Most importantly, it succeeded in containing the Seruvian Heresy and organizing rapid responses to outside invasions.

The Rise of the Holy State

Drinika remained an autonomous subunit of the Koshikar Empire for centuries afterwards. Even the brutal imperial civil war from 1630-1650 that shattered the empire into pieces did not dislodge Drinika from its respective corner of Imperial power. The Imperial Vestige that hung onto Drinika slowly lost its grip over time due to war and plague, finally dissolving completely during the Year of Storms in 1710- when a series of nightmarish hurricanes pummeled the Southern coastline of Desmia.
In 1711, the Conclave voted itself independent of all kings and established the Holy State of Drinika formally. It has since been quite prosperous- building universities, absorbing nearby independent counties, developing its urban centers. Small tax rebellions have broken out on occasion, but those have targeted the nobility more than the Conclave itself.

Demography and Population

1,000,000 humanoids, 90,000 cats. Humanoids are 94% human, 2% Vesper, 2% Haltia, and 2% Kobold with very small numbers of Pearl Pangolin and Selkie.

Territories

The Drinika Valley is 134 miles long and goes 72 miles inland, not counting its small extended vassal counties. It is cut off from the rest of the region of Hadara by the Kopatep Hills, which encircle the entire area. At its heart lies Lake Ardika, a 12 by 7 mile freshwater lake 14 miles from the coast on which the city of Ederum is built. A smaller lake (still sizeable, at 6 by 3 miles), Lake Esgrin, sits to the Southeast- 6 miles from Ardika and 8 miles from the shore. 2 even smaller likes sit east of that- Ederek and Imanik.
This central lake system hosts the largest urban center- Ederum- as well as feeder ports and several towns. Much of the rest of the valley is fertile breadbasket farmland dotted with towns and estates. Near the Southern border sits the smaller city of Arastock. Surrounding the main valley are small autonomous feudal areas that lend their support and protection to the Holy State- borders can be hard to define with these. In the Northeast, there are the Korvikar Mountains, a small range claimed by multiple states but controlled by none. Small independent cantons run things there- some of which are rumored to be Ishkibite. These cantons pay primary tribute to the Holy State and have a very friendly relationship with the Priest-Mayors.

Military

The Crimson Guard and Golden Guard operate as the largest standing force for the Conclave. The Crimson Guard are priest-warriors that operate as the elite fighters of the Orthodox Inquisition and the religious police of Drinika. When not in deployment elsewhere, they act as a reserve force for the city guard. The Golden Guard are crusader veterans selected for their skill and piety to act as personal defenders of the Conclave.
Bolstering this are the city guards, who are often crusading veterans themselves, as well as aristocratic men-at-arms from the countryside who can be summoned in times of emergency.
Also in operation is the Star Legion, a group of military-trained cats that act as warriors and assassins. These holy warriors may have originated in Ezanay (now part of Avana), but their administrative headquarters is in Ederum.
Lastly, the Conclave's Holy Dhampire Guard, which act as support troops for the Orthodox Inquisition, are trained in Drinika and stationed here as auxiliary troops when not deployed. Given Desmian stigma towards Dhampirism as a foreign corruption, Dhampires are shipped from across the Orthodox world for training or destruction.

Religion

Orthodox Desmianism is the only religion tolerated for landholders or soldiers in the Holy State. Outside religions or even heretics can usually travel and practice privately without fear in ports such as Kosobal, Tasinata, or Arastock, though they may face scrutiny or persecution during periods of outside attacks on Desmia. The city of Ederum is particularly strict in its enforcement, legally requiring any non-Orthodox traveler to acquire explicit permission and escort to enter the city limits. This is not particularly enforceable, but any discovered non-Orthodox worship or religious material could result in imprisonment or worse.
The priests of urban areas benefit the most from the Conclave, as they are given significant state stipends and free university education for select shrinekeepers or novice priests. Priests are expected to do more social work in return, providing food doles, housing, and medical care for residents. They also have higher chances of being promoted directly into the service of the Conclave. Rural priests can petition for University training as well, but are less of the state's focus.
Like anywhere else in Desmia, priests run most of the education system and low-level courts of Drinika. The University and Conclave administration is also staffed by former-priests or former-shrinekeepers. These Conclave employees are known as Conclave Priests, and wear yellow bands or sashes to denote their position. Conclave priests are professors, school administrators, clerks, analysts, intelligence officers, and accountants- a large bureaucracy that allows the Conclave to function efficiently. Conclave priests are usually drawn from both university-graduated priests from Drinika and retired crusader-priests who don't want to return to their home-precint.

Foreign Relations

The Holy State wields immense power in its ability to dissolve governments and excommunicate rulers. Few countries seek to actively antagonize it, especially as it is relatively isolationist in its foreign policy.

Agriculture & Industry

Drinika is primarily agricultural, producing rice, maize, lobsters, and above all amaranth. The ancient Drinikans were known for their multi-colored amaranth bread, and the tradition lives on to this day, with lavish rural festivals celebrated with sacred icons baked in purple or red. Noble estates often grow seasonal cash crops such as pepper, sugar, cotton, cinnamon, or cumin using tax-labor from peasant villages. Even the hills are agriculturally productive, with large terrace farms constructed along them.
Urban Drinika produces glasswork, textiles, dyes, and culture products (such as literature). Drinikan icons and holy texts are viewed by some as particularly sacred, generating a constant production of icons and holy texts as well as common literature and art for export. Perhaps the most important product of urban Drinika is personnel: priests, teachers, accountants, doctors, druids, wizards, inquisitors, and bards. While there is only one university in Drinika rather than the multiple of Pakray, Avana, or Inara, the University of Ederum is staffed by some of the most prestigious teachers and researchers and operates with some of the highest standards.

Trade & Transport

Trade Guilds meet in each city's respective Guild Halls to run most of local trade and professional production. Trade Halls interact most directly with the Tripartite Council- the assembly of the three Lord Mayors who control almost all trade in the urban lakes region.

Education

Like most Orthodox states, Drinika's basic education system is a one to two day per week religious school system for literacy, martial, and religious knowledge. Urban areas also have access to the University of Ederum - a massive academic complex that works directly under the Conclave. Graduates of the University are expected to work for reduced pay for the Conclave for a set number of years following graduation, but attendance is otherwise free. Not every urban citizen attends University, but all priests and shrinekeepers do. Given the large numbers of shrinekeepers and the ease of access being accepted in a minor shrine, this means that most neighborhood temples can more or less send their attendant children to University for free. Most only send a select few with the skill and ambition, but it is more meritocratic than other comparable university systems.

Infrastructure

Drinika's rural infrastructure, built originally in the 100's ME but expanded upon heavily in the 600's and 700's, includes massive terrace-farms carved into the hills, aqueduct systems, and irrigation systems. Given the region's tendency to flood during wet seasons, Drinika makes fantastic use of the provided rainwater. It has also historically innovated in drain and sewage systems for similar reasons. Drinika's relatively peaceful history and contained non-destructive wars have left these systems intact and functional.
Drinika's urban infrastructure has been quite impressively overhauled since the Conclave began in 1480. Grand Cathedrals, expansions of the sewer system, massive guild halls, temple restorations, and a constantly expanding university campus. There were even public gardens installed in the celebration for the defeat of the Kivish armies in 1841. Perhaps the most impressive structures are the Palace of the Speakers, the Grand Cathedral of Ederum, the Guild Hall of Kosobal, and the University of Ederum. All of these monumental structures are built from the loot of crusades, the gifts of pious monarchs, and the accumulation of 500 years worth of wealth and restorations.

Sacred Is Our War

Founding Date

1480/1711 ME

Type

Geopolitical, Theocracy

Capital

Ederum

Alternative Names

The Holy State, the Pontifate of Ederum

Demonym

Drinik

Head of State

First Speaker Ava of Anraketh

Government System

Theocracy

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Market economy

Currency

Asalayan Dungeon Currency: Gold Dragons, Silver Eagles, Copper Bulls

Major Exports

Lumber, food (sometimes), specialists, ricewine, spices, culture products

Major Imports

Luxury items, food (sometimes), iron, stone

Legislative Body

Tripartite Council

Judicial Body

The Crimson Court of Orthodoxy

Official State Religion

Orthodox Desmianism

Location

Desmia

Official Languages

• Desmian language

Controlled Territories

• Ederum

Neighboring Nations

• Kingdom of Inara
• The Platinum Order