Isn't it something to be proud of? A thousand year old organisation dedicated to co-operation and peace, as well as the preservation of life as we know it in the face of the yawning abyss! I for one think something so precious should be preserved, such that future generations can know we cared about them as much as ourselves.— Areh Dawndraft, Representative of
Cideci
The Laslin Union is a loose confederation of sovereign city states throughout the
Finuhit Ocean. While its primary purpose is to keep peace between cities and co-ordinate relief efforts and resettlement of those outside the Union who are lost to the
World's Edge, the Union has been known to heavily influence city policy on a number of other subjects such as commerce.
Structure
The Union is comprised of seven members:
Each member is entitled to send 5 representatives to each meeting of the Union, though only 1 is required to be present at any occasion. Each city can select their representatives in whatever manner they like - some simply send their political leaders, such as Balkehir, while others send dedicated diplomats, as in Vilaen.
Meetings are typically held by the Union once a year, with the venue for the meeting rotating between the different cities. These meetings take the form of informal and formal discussions, with votes held about serious matters. The Union can also convene emergency meetings at any time during the year when an event requires immediate response, such as after the collapse of Taufa into the ocean.
History
The Laslin Union's origins are somewhat murky due to the loss of many primary records over the years. What is known concretely is that it was founded in the year 2225 by its 7 constituent members, apparently having been inspired by the destruction of most of Cideci some decades prior. In these early days, the Union was little more than an alliance between the extant cities and an agreement to cooperate in times of strife.
For the majority of its existence the Union has been officially headquartered in Taufa, as a result of an apparent concession to Stadeben and Cideci that the organisation not be located on the "other end of the ocean" from them. This ceased to be the case in 3256 when the city collapsed, leading to the organisation no longer having an "official" headquarters, though nearby Balkehir has taken on the majority of the associated duties.
The most difficult periods of the Union's existence have been those surrounding the collapses of two of its member cities. When Gotri was due to collapse in 2635, the Union aided in evacuating and resettling the city's residents in the years and weeks leading up to its inevitable destruction at the hands of the
Current of the World.
However, they faced criticism for the slowness and sloppiness of their response, with a lack of coordination between states leaving families separated and accomodation sparse. For a time this even seemed set to spark into all-out
conflict between some of the members, before careful political manoeuvering kept the organisation intact.
With the recent collapse of Taufa, the Union again faces turmoil, as debate rages over whether the event could have been foreseen and prevented, and whether more should be done to help those displaced by the disaster. Additionally, with the loss of its headquarters, further arguments are had over where should be its official home, subject once again to the displeasure of Stadeben. A handful of Union meetings have been "skipped" due to a lack of attendance, and some fear the confederation may fracture.
Comments