Striceland

Striceland is named for Kath Strice, the legendary explorer. It was her epic adventures west along the Arbiter Mountains that led to the discovery of both Ironton and Jarome. It was her visionary leadership that established Striceland as a major power in Empyria.

Striceland is run by a corrupt oligarchy of five ruling families. They have a handshake agreement to trade off “elections” every ten years. These elections are for a president who appoints a cabinet.

The government pervades all aspects of daily life. Food is rationed, clothing is provided, alcohol is in abundance and religion is mandated. This means that Stricers have little reason to be proactive or overachieving. They wait for the government to provide. In fact, ambition can be frowned upon. The unofficial state motto is, “Sit down, stand up, get in line, repeat.” It has become a commonly heard toast in taverns around Striceland

Striceland’s infrastructure is old and crumbling despite its lucrative mining assets.

Striceland has options other than metal ores for export but they are not plentiful enough for the government to invest in their infrastructure. The Arbiter Mountains of northern Striceland are home to deep veins of metals. These ores are mined and shipped downriver to Bowery where they are smelted and refined. Striceland sells these metals for a healthy profit.

Striceland requires a four year commitment to a decrepit navy and worn down army. Obviously, this is not compulsory for the oligarchs friends and family.

Striceland has a history of land grabs. This includes sending large numbers of citizens to immigrate to foreign lands and then annexing that land under the guise of protecting Stricer citizens, who are now the majority population.

Stricers worship Metalon and have little tolerance for any other religions.

• Stricers have ore colored eyes
• They are natural diviners, easily able to locate underground water, metals and minerals
• They are a hardened people who work and drink (not necessarily in that order). 
• The people work and the oligarchs profit.

Structure

Striceland is a capitalist republic. It has executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The Executive Branch consists of a President, Vice President, and the President's Assembly. The Judicial Branch consists of a Prime Court, Appeals Courts, and Local Courts. The Legislative Branch consists of two committees, the Consuls and the Magistrates. All of these government officials are elected on a rotating five year schedule.

Culture

Stricers, like their founder Kath Strice, are explorers and adventurers. They are fiercely independent and vote actively in elections to keep government officials from becoming too powerful and government too intrusive. Mining, smelting, and refining are highly valued skills and occupations.

Public Agenda

The government of Striceland exists to provide essential services to the people. These services include law and order, justice, and defense.

Assets

Striceland is rich in mineable ores. It also has lumber and farmland but the major assets come from copper, iron, tin, mercury, lead, saltpeter, and sulphur.

History

Striceland is a frontier country. Kath Strice discovered, explored, and charted the land west of the Green and Muddy Rivers. To the west of Striceland is the still unexplored and uncharted Squalid Plateau.

Demography and Population

Striceland has large swaths of uninhabited range land.

Populations gather in the mining towns of Jarome, Ironton, and Boring; in the frontier town of Hope Springs ; and, of course, in the city of Bowery.

There are also small communities along the Crystal River and Muddy River. The Striceland shore of Fish Lake was too marshy for inhabitation.

Territories

Striceland has a hard border to the east with Carvasia . The border runs along the Muddy River, the shore of Fish Lake, and along the Green River. To the north, Striceland shares a soft border along the Arbiter Mountains with Alyeska . To the south is the ocean and the west is The Squalid Plateau. None of Striceland's borders are truly contested, although the country could claim the plateau if it offered any worth.

Military

Due to its friendly relations with its neighbors, Striceland's military is not considered essential. Striceland has a small navy for Bowery port security and escort services to protect ships from piracy. Its army is very informal and consists of many local militias. The local militias are expected to meet for muster, inspection, and drill nine months a year. In the event the militias are needed by the Stricer government, they are required to march immediately. This structure makes for soldiers with a much older average age and with military and civilian types of training and experience.

Technological Level

The relatively new mining town of Boring has recently discovered a new element, Mallium. This element has the potential for creating instantaneous portals across Empyria. It is expected to revolutionize trade. Currently, the discovery is being held close to the chest.

Religion

Virtually all Stricers practice Depsilon as their religion. However, the government has never proclaimed an official state religion.

Foreign Relations

Striceland had good relations with Carvasia, as everyone did. However, they are not particularly fond of East Bijou. Most Stricers find Bijouans to be soft and pompous. They also disdain their gem mining techniques as not true mining. Stricers see kindred spirits with Alyeskans, no doubt due to the fierce independence fostered in each country.

Agriculture & Industry

Striceland thrives due to its natural ore resources. The country has a world monopoly on raw ores, smelting, and refining.

Trade & Transport

Striceland protects its monopoly by shipping refined and smelted ores only. No raw ore is ever to leave Striceland. Ores are sent downstream, or overland, via the Crystal River through Fish Lake and the down the Muddy River to Bowery . The only authorized stopover point is Lake Shore in Carvasia. Once received in Bowery, ores are smelted or refined before being exported via ship.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of Striceland is poor by design. Stricers are suspicious of government involvement in the lives of the citizenry. Roads are worn down by travel, not created and maintained by the government. Sanitation is an individual concern with outhouses being predominant. Even the government buildings are simple log structures.

Independence and the Republic!

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Capital

Bowery

Training Level

Semi-trained

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Stricer

Currency

The weights and purities of coins are standard across Empyria. However, the local terminology differs as well as the true purity. Striceland coins are most valuable because of their purity. In Striceland the terminology is as follows: 10 Copper Dusts to a Silver Flake; 10 Silver Flakes to a Silver Nug; 10 Silver Nug to a Gold Bar.

Major Imports

Striceland imports lumber from Alyeska as it is cheaper and easier to acquire. Striceland also receives agricultural imports from Carvasia  and gemstones from East Bijou . There is little value in education for Stricers. Therefore, healers and academics are imported from East Bijou.

Legislative Body

Striceland's government consists of a legislative branch with two committees, the Consuls and the Magistrates. These two committees created and passed laws for the country. The president of the executive branch retained veto powers.

Judicial Body

The judicial system in Striceland begins with local law enforcement and courts. A local court's ruling can be appealed to the appeals court system and that ruling can be appealed to the final arbiters, the Prime Court and its five judges.

Controlled Territories

• Boring
• Bowery
• Hope Springs
• Ironton
• Jarome

Neighboring Nations

• Alyeska
• Carvasia

Notable Members

• Andru “Dru” Collier