Novaneri
Government
Novaneri started out as nearly every settlement does; with a small group coming together in a time of hardship. For the first few hundred years, the settlement lived peacefully on their island in Whispering Tides, with no true leader(s). Even as the settlement grew into a small city, the syl kept government in the hands of the people; the surrounding forest reminded them of the necessity for peace and order, and discouraged any type of major conflict.
It was only after quite a few generations that a true government was established. Once the city had grown quite large and technology improved, the syl found themselves becoming a center of activity; the large amounts of energy harnessed by the city became an irresistible target for the hungry creatures within the tides. During this time, the syl banded together to protect their home and their people, and a leader rose from their ranks.
Many syl died during this time, and it was thanks to a certain innovator and explorer by the name of ____ that protective pylons were built around the outskirts of the city. After discovering energy pockets in oddly even increments at the base of the island, _____ worked quickly to harness the energy and shroud the city from the consciousness of both faunis and mortalis. The construction of the pylons was the most difficult and dangerous achievement in syl history, with timely attacks on the build sites by hungry faunis and dangerous tactics to get the pylons running as quickly as possible. Efficiency and stability would come later.
The syl are ruled by a single maire. Presently, the maire is equal to the people thanks to the current maire, Mikhyl Luphine.
The syl maire lives and works for the people, with the people. There is no throne room; no larger office, and no higher place of power. They are fully capable of protecting themself from any threat and as such do not have a personal guard of any kind. The only difference between the maire and the average citizen is the ability to make decisions for the country.
For as long as Novaneri has existed, outsiders have not been allowed within its walls. Mikhyl Luphine is the first maire to amend such a rule, making exceptions in specific cases. However, he still upholds the secretive nature of syl culture; the location of the city is still unknown to the majority of Alatheians.
Mikhyl has made an exception for those who have been lost or exiled from the syl culture. Unlike past maires that had exiled any syl that 'did not belong', Mikhyl put together a task force to find syl that live on their own in fear and suffering and right the wrongs of the past.
The syl justice system is the most advanced and successful on the planet, with 97% of perpetrators going through and graduating from rehabilitation centers. Incarceration rates are low, and those who have been returned to society are able to assimilate easily. The syl cities provide more than enough support, with very few struggling to survive.
Culture
Syl Shrines
Syl crystals are left behind when the syl passes. Once the syl has passed, the crystal begins to grow. If it is not removed before the end of the first day, the crystal will form a thin, preservative layer over the syl. It will continue to grow larger over time; the larger the crystal, the longer the syl has been dead for. After about a year, the syl will be encased in a crystal ‘sarcophagus’. These crystals amass large amounts of energy and power, despite the lack of a syl soul.
Those that die more gruesome deaths will often become encased much faster, with larger crystal growths around the wound both to hide the damage and keep the body together. The crystals preserve the memory of the syl as they were alive, rather than allowing their bodies to be seen maimed and destroyed.
Syl that have been preserved in crystals are brought to one of two places; the suline caverns or the memorial caverns. The suline caverns serve as transportation for all mortalis’ throughout Lyrae and Alatheia. It is known as Suline Airway to all, with the hub of activity beneath Novaneri. Other mortalis are oblivious of the city above, often assuming the suline naturally congregate in Whispering Tides due to the wilderness above.
Syl shrines are powerful enough that they are used around the hub to shield Novaneri from prying eyes; it is considered an honor for a syl body to protect the city in death, and syl will often make the decision to donate their body to the cause, much like organ donors. These tunnels are much like catacombs in that the walls are lined with syl shrines, often lighting the way for passengers and suline alike.
Syl are brought to the memorial caverns if they have died of unnatural causes and never specified their wishes for their physical forms after life. There are two major zones; the memorial grounds, where syl are honored for various deeds, or the memorial sectors, where syl may choose to have their body laid to rest.
Shrines are a thousand times harder than the syl crystals are during life. They last for hundreds of years and cannot be broken by natural means. Only the syl have the technology to remove a syl from their shrine. The shrines do eventually degrade and shatter, leaving the syl body to be reclaimed by the universe. This, however, only happens after millions of years. It is most common for shrines to break down in suline airway due to the site being the first syl burial ground and therefore containing generations upon generations of syl.
Secrets
Syl have a secretive yet prideful culture. They are hardly ever seen in their true forms by outsiders, and it is rare for an outsider to find themselves within the syl city walls. It is exceedingly rare for a syl to reveal themselves to the general public, and if they do so, they would sooner die than reveal much of their home.
Lustros
Lustros is revered throughout Novaneri. They are not, however, seen as a true deity; instead they are respected due to their connection to all energy and as a living force of the planet. The syl consider themselves to be equals with Lustros, as Lustros believes the same of the syl.
Celebration
Due to the fact that syl culture also revolves around energy, music and dance is a highly important aspect of their people. Each syl child is taught dances of celebration and rejuvenation in preparation for the yearly Lustric Solstice. Celebrations are designed to bring the syl people closer together and to promote loyalty.
Gladiator
The same values of loyalty and celebration also apply to the gladiator ring, which is much less violent than that of the Nixan Siyal. Gladiator fights are a large part of celebrations for the syl through friendly competition and a way of showing ones skills to a broader audience.
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