Ispentine
Structure
The government is lead by the Supreme Council of Ispentine, a member of which is called a Suchaer (or Suchaes) a group of five nobles who represent their house (and in theory the interests of the people who live on their lands). On a staggered rotation, one chair is up for election. Only land-holding citizens are allowed to vote -- and only humans may own a deed to land itself. In this way, the Council is kept "pure", much to the dissatisfaction of all non-humans in the country.
Usually, each sitting Suchaer has further divided their lands through awards in their service, to various Marcar (or Marcas) who are responsible for rule, which may be further divided on down to the local Holmaer (or Holmaes) who owns the land of one or more villages. Locals, including non-humans who have obtained limited citizenship, are able to purchase a lease to the land to work or build upon it.
1 Ending in -r for masculine, -s for feminine, and -z (as in the 'dg' in 'partridge') for gender neutral.
2 Roughly meaning Patriarch, Matriarch, and gender neutral parent-leader.
| Ispentine Noble Title | British Noble Title |
| Suchaer/s/z1 | Duke / Duchess |
| Vidaer/s/z | Marquis / Marchioness |
| Kailoar/s/z | Earl / Countess |
| Jevaer / Karries / Jaikaez2 | Viscount / Viscountess |
| Holmaer/s/z | Baron / Baroness |
| Jansjaer/s/z | Baronet |
Culture
The culture throughout Maridan is quite diverse, thanks to the presence of many non-human races who were either original residents, or have immigrated since.
Public Agenda
In general, the government encourages trade and religious observances. Through this there is a lot of travel within and into the country, with a healthy movement of goods and pilgrims.
History
The land was once full of smaller tribes of a variety of races -- notably elves, dwarves, kobolds, halflings, and various beastkin. Through several years of violent conquest, tense negotiations, and shifting alliances, the land from mountain to sea was brought under the rule of a fierce human warlord.
This warlord founded Ispentine, with himself as the First and Only King Thaddeus Linnaeus. The capital of Maridan was established at the fork of the central river. Due to complications around an heir, before he died he placed into power five noble families and abdicated the throne to cement their political power. These families were each given jurisdiction over one of five provinces, and rule over the entirety of the country as a voting council. They have changed hands several times through the vote of the aristocracy.
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