Cochel
A place where it rains, constantly. When I arrived it was a heavy drizzle, and now it's almost a mist it's so light. I've been told that it gets much worse and this is quite fair weather I've found myself in. The government here is strict; I have an Enforcer escort with me at all times, and I stay in a government apartment building. They had to approve every item I brought for trading, and have my cart under surveillance. I am not allowed to take anything out of it not approved. My andial is taken care of in the stables of a kind upper class family nearby the apartments I am staying in. They don't have regular stables, as it's difficult to keep everything dry from the rain at all times. There are things called dehumidifiers that make the air feel less wet. I haven't seen many lower-class areas yet, as I'm not supposed to travel far, but they are morbid-looking and flood often, I'm told. I will admit, I will be glad when I can leave and feel the sun on my face again.
Demographics
Most of Cochel's population resides in its middle class, which have professions such as medical workers, farmers, teachers, personal assistants, most office workers, skilled servers, and low rank Enforcers. The next largest demographic is the lower class taking up 12% of the population, which are people who cannot or do not work, and include professions such as most physical laborers, servers, office assistants, and retail workers. The upper class is 2% of the population, including professions such as surgical doctors, company managers, government officials, most Incidence Officers, the rare business owner, and high-ranked Enforcers.
Government
Cochel's government is an authoritarian oligarchy, run by a group of 13 panelists as the head. They elect officials in charge of other things such as defense, agriculture, housing, money, Enforcers, and the Office of Incidents. The government is structured and strict with its citizens. Things such as where money earned is spent, if citizens leave their home for more than a night, when citizens move, and what relationships citizens have with others are reported to the government.
Cochel's government and many public services are paid for by taxes, which are high at 45% of one's income no matter how much one makes. These taxes are used to pay for free housing, agriculture, medical services, education, public safety, and other government services.
All businesses must be approved by Cochel's government, as well as pricing. Jobs are adjusted for a certain number needed per year, and once those are filled, no one can enter that job until the next year. Enforcers keep the peace and enforce the laws while Incidence Officers investigate when the law is broken, or anything out of the ordinary happens in Cochel. All cities have an Office of Incidents and an Enforcer base, which are kept running with taxes.
Defences
Being the only country in the province, Cochel's defenses are mostly against the constant rain and any civil unrest. This is done by having tiered cities with drainage systems that encourage draining all the way to the ocean or the Pragar River Chasm. Emergency vehicles made for pumping water out of areas and into drainage areas are deployed during large floods, and all buildings are made to withstand flooding. Government buildings are defended with towers that house snipers, thick walls, and high security.
Industry & Trade
Inside Cochel, large industries include energy and power, drainage, agriculture, and fishing. The rare Borderless will come and will usually trade for technology, as Cochel is one of the more advanced provinces. These Borderless usually bring in luxuries that are traded to the upper class, such as paper books, traditional art, and real furs.
Infrastructure
Cochel's roads are made of permeable pavement to absorb as much of the water and rain as it can and let it pass through quickly and easily, draining into the dirt below. Inside of the cities, trolleys run along tracks in the center of the roads, while trains travel outside of cities on rails. Individual transport is restricted to government officials. Watermills, boat docks, shipyards, and bridges are a common occurrence in Cochel due to the amount of rivers, lakes, and the shoreline that stretches across the province. There are only two bridges that pass over Cochel's famous Pragar River Chasm, at either ends where the chasm becomes narrow enough for bridges to be safely constructed.
Alternative Name(s)
Province of Rain
Type
National Territory
Population
18 million
Inhabitant Demonym
Cochelian
Included Locations
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