The Kingdom of Cudea
The Kingdom of Cudea is one that looks inwards. The Kingdom has the smallest landmass of the Eight Empires and has a culture shaped by their sworn duty of remembrance.
Structure
Cudea is run completely by a class of knowledge-keepers and historians called Archivists. These Archivists are separated into different factions called schools that vie for power over the flow of information and the ways in which history is remembered. Political issues are argued over by citing different interpretations of different events and bringing up old systems of economics or government. Cudea's position of kingship is an elected position, voted on by a Council of Scholars who represent different schools. In order to prevent one school from getting too much power over another, restrictions are in place that protect the jobs of government officials from being reassigned by the king. The Coucil of Scholars drafts laws, while the king interprets and enforces them. Cudea's does not having a professional standing army. Cudea rarely ever gets involved expeditions into the wilderness and when it does, each School usually has a number of militia men, levies and mercenaries on their payrolls to cover for their lack of a standing army.
Culture
Cudean culture takes the idea of "God fearing" to a whole other level. Cudeans, like many kingdoms on Moravia, view the Gods they worshipped in the Age of Wildness as traitors. The Cudeans worship the God Themostes by spitting on his relics and cursing his name, for they fear him most of all the Wild Gods. Cudeans believe that they are entrenched in a constant battle with Themostes over the dominion of time. If forgotten, a Cudean would argue that history would be doomed to inevitably repeat itself, leaving the world an unchanging and static nightmare. So Cudeans instead choose to remember and remind everyone about history. They are the only kingdom with mandatory education and have the best kept records. The government even sends at least one envoy to every new kingdom to help set up a record archive. This naturally trickles down to the everyday life of the populous. Mind-altering drugs like alcohol are seen as taboo and journaling is not mandatory, but highly encouraged by social pressure. Scholars from all over the world come to Cudea's universities to study literature, archaeology, and history. Cudeans also celebrate far more holidays than any other kingdom, as they celebrate the founding day of most kingdoms.
Because so many Cudean citizens are well-read, there is a popular sentiment of intellectual superiority among the lower classes towards the lower classes of other nations. Cudea also has a burgeoning middle class, as they rely on a lot of trade for their food supplies. Cultures from other kingdoms also end up making homes for themselves in many Cudean cities, due to a largely cosmopolitan attitude towards other nations.
However, Cudea is not all multi-culturalism and scholarship. Cudean culture has harsh demands of its people, as scholarship is considered the only real way in which one is to rise to the top in society. Cudeans tend to care little for creativity or innovation and often demand their children prioritize their ability to memorize. This results in long bloodlines of famous scholar after famous scholar. Ironically, this system of value undermines the very purpose of the Cudean vow to remember. Artists and idealists have very little chance of prospering in Cudea. Even engineers and mathematicians have a hard time. As such, a counter culture has emerged in recent years which encourages more Sazoneti sentiments of progress and evolution called Neo-Sazonists. The integration of inherently Cudean culture has caused the movement to also take root in Sazonet itself.
Public Agenda
The first oath of the King of Cudea is to ensure prosperity to its people. However the second and more memorable oath is the Oath of Remembrance, which casts the Cudean King as an archivist for the other kingdoms in order to allow change.
Demography and Population
Cudea has a large immigrant population in comparison to other kingdoms. Native Cudeans are part of the Kuudic ethnic group, along with Gozars, and share many similar cultural traits with them. They make up the majority of people, at about 64%. Gozars and Sazonetis make up the two next largest groups at 14% and 11% respectively. The remaining 11% of the population is made up of people from other kingdoms from further out.
Territories
Cudea only maintains its capital city and enough land around it to nearly be able to sustain itself and maintain control over the many rivers that are nearby. Cudea has never made an attempt to conquer more territory or pick a real fight with another kingdom, nor does any kingdom, save Alazar, try to threaten the economic titan that is Cudea.
Military
Cudea has no military, as they don't often participate in expeditions to the wilderness. Order is maintained by a very unrefined force of guardsman while expeditions for archaeological purposes are monitored by mercenaries or standing militias for a particular School.
Technological Level
Cudea is not exactly at the forefront of scientific development, however they are constantly updating the efficiency of their record keeping systems. Cudea is also the first Kingdom to have invented and made use of locks for canal travel.
Religion
All Cudeans, like many other people throughout Moravia, practice Misotheism: the hatred of gods. The official state religion is Themostic Misotheism, which centers around the scorn and cursing of Themostes, who was once known as the Time-Turner. It is thought that Themostes will continuously force humanity to repeat its mistakes unless humans learn by studying the past and actively deviate from the past. There are many religious extremists who claim modern Cudean society stands in stark opposition of their oath to defy the god. Most people somewhat agree witht his sentiment, but ultimately only stick to the religion for ritual and superstitious purposes.
Foreign Relations
Cudea, like all kingdoms, is bound to the way of the Arena. But the Cudean monarchy tends to pick economic fights with its competitor, Alazar. The people of Cudea have a complex relationship with the people of Sazonet, as many Cudean conservatives dislike them and many Cudean liberals have adopted much of their culture.
Agriculture & Industry
Cudea has no significant agricultural or industrial power, as their limited space doesn't allow for massive fields and technology has not advanced enough for mass production to be feasible. However, Cudea is a powerhouse when it comes to occupational guilds, as most guilds have large headquarters in Cudea where they can access archives on their craft and trade for the raw materials they need.
Trade & Transport
Cudeans travel their city by way of the complex canal system Cudea has built into their infrastructure and connects to the river that runs through their territory. Cudea has relatively lax borders, save when it comes to Alazar. Gozar has a special trade and immigration pact with Cudea that allows for essentially free movement between the two nations.
Education
All children are required to enter the mandatory education system until they turn 14. However, Schools can own private establishments to send higher class children to. What is taught is often dictated by the king in power but usually includes basic mathematics, writing and practical sciences as well as extended study of literature and history. Private institutions have more control over their curriculum, especially when it comes to history.
Infrastructure
Cudea as a city is filled with canals carved out for irrigation and travel from the river that runs through the city. Ferries act as public transport and ran through the entire day. Sewage systems, locks and bridges are also in place along these canals.
Never Forget, Never Repeat
Founding Date
0
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
The Empire of Cudea, The Kingdom of Remembrance, The Archivist Empire
Demonym
Cudean
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Barter system
Currency
Cudeans have no official currency, as they trade in all currency, though they are often the ones to determine value and exchange rates of other currencies.
Major Exports
Books, scrolls, paper, ink, clothing, jewelry, armor, weapons, furniture, and other manufactured products.
Major Imports
Grain, vegetables, meat, spices, textiles, precious metals, iron, steel, lumber, and other raw materials.
Legislative Body
The Legislative body is made up of the Council of Scholars. The Council is approximately 30 officials from Archivist schools who are put into office by the king and remain in power for life. Councilmen can be voted off if over 75% of the council agrees they should be forced out.
Judicial Body
The law is interpreted by the king, or more accurately, whichever School is ruling at the time. This really only matters for certain trade laws and laws that affect the upper classes, as local law enforcement is carried out by guardsmen who usually go with general public sentiment about how a law should be interpreted.
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
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