Cavana
Cavana occupies enormous tunnels expertly dug out underneath the Onyx Veil, a mountain range to the south bordering Rusterov, Auroma, and Aciaroma. Above are treacherous peaks and cliffs, with massive fortress-like hill cities near the foothills. Below lies an intricate network of massive tunnels, spreading underneath and throughout the mountains and offshoots that make it into other territories.
As a member of the Royal Hexagon Alliance, the Cavanans quickly used the open borders. They expanded their tunnel systems throughout the allied states and built Hill Cities within their territories. These checkpoints act as Cavana's embassies and entry points for quick travel below the surface.
History
Origins
Cavana is one of the oldest nations within the Royal Hexagon. Its foundation can be traced back to the year 43 AO, when the champion of Chitas, armed with her god's knowledge and the Manual of Civilization, went on a pilgrimage throughout the Onyx Veil to unite all formicoids under one banner. Unification came with little resistance; the logical-thinking formicoids only saw strength in numbers and felt safest in structure. The Manual of Civilization, the Gift of Order received from Chitas, set the groundwork for Cavana's political structures.
The Tunnel War
The early years of the Tunnel War were disastrous for Cavana. As the Detrinian Empire used the underground tunnels to quickly attack the Royal Hexagon, Cavana was the first nation to feel the wrath of the White Flood. In 313 AH, the hill city of Krith fell first, opening up the rest of Cavana for invasion. However, Cavana's strategic prowess and resilience shone through. Within a year, the Detrinian armies took over half of the Cavanan territory but thinned out their armies. After four years of war, Cavana, aided by the Royal Hexagon, could finally start retaking its land, and in 322 AH was victorious over the necrites.
In the wake of the Tunnel War, while Cavana was victorious its land was in rubble. Many of the once bustling cities now lay silent, their streets choked with debris and the remnants of shattered lives. However, formicoids are nothing if not determined. Rebuilding efforts started immeaditely, and now, 30 years after the devistating war, their Hill Cities stand reconstructed and more fortified than ever.
Governance
Cavana stands as a technocratic oligarchy, a unique societal structure where decision-makers are chosen based on their expertise in a specific craft. The Assembly of Structure, the nation's highest governing body, is a council of the most skilled individuals, all under the leadership of Cavana's monarch.
Assembly of Structure
The Assembly of Structure is the highest legislative body in Cavana. It is further segmented into fields of occupation. Each field is headed by a Grandmaster, an exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individual chosen to represent opinions of their field within the High Assembly.
Any citizen of Cavana can apply to give a speech at the Assembly of Structure, voicing their concerns or thoughts on a topic of interest. The High Assembly then discusses such issues and decides on the outcome. Decisions are always made by vote of the Grandmasters, and each Grandmaster within the High Assembly has the same voting power.
The Positions within the High Assembly are:- Grandmaster of Architecture: The Archbishop of Chitas always holds the position of the Grandmaster of Architecture. They represent the clergy and masonry guilds of Cavana and are the foremost expert on city and tunnel development.
- Grandmaster of Agriculture: The Grandmaster of Agriculture is not only the foremost expert on farming crops and herding aphids but also handles most of the nation's food production and distribution.
- Grandmaster of Public Health: As the most skilled in mundane and magical healing, the Grandmaster of Health is responsible for the physical well-being of Cavana's citizens.
- Grandmaster of Leisure: Tasked with ensuring the mental well-being of Cavana's populace, the Grandmaster of Leisure oversees recreational activities and cultural events. They play a crucial role in providing avenues for relaxation and entertainment.
- Grandmaster of Production: The Grandmaster of Production is responsible for optimizing manufacturing processes and industrial output. They oversee the nation's crafting and smithing guilds, ensuring efficiency and quality in manufacturing goods.
- Grandmaster of Commerce: The Grandmaster of Commerce manages trade relations and oversees import-export activities. They facilitate economic exchanges with other nations, ensure favourable trade agreements, and promote Cavana's financial interests. They are also the head of Cavana's treasury and decide how many leisure tokens a citizen receives for their job.
- Grandmaster of Education: They oversee the nation's basic educational system, curriculum development, and knowledge dissemination. Furthermore, the Grandmaster of Education ensures that Cavana's citizens are placed into the correct training facilities after their primary education to ensure that each person's abilities are used to their full potential.
- Grandmaster of Mining: They oversee mining operations and resource extraction. The Grandmaster of Mining also works closely with the Grandmaster of Architecture to expand Cavana's tunnel systems steadily.
- Grandmaster of Defense: They oversee all aspects of Cavana's military forces during times of peace. They play a pivotal role in safeguarding Cavana's borders and coordinating military operations.
Cavana's Monarch
Cavana's monarch holds a unique position compared to other nations. Cavanans do not see their leader as an actual royal figure. Within Cavana, the monarch is often called the Grandmaster of Diplomacy. Like all members of the High Assembly, the monarch ascends to their role based on merit rather than lineage. The Queen, often referred to as the Grandmaster of Diplomacy, plays a pivotal role in Cavana's governance. She serves as the nation's primary diplomat, representing Cavana's interests on the global stage. In addition, she oversees Cavana's intelligence network, strategically deploying spies and scouts to gather crucial information. The Queen fulfils an administrative role within the High Assembly, ensuring balanced discourse and facilitating the decision-making process. In instances of tied votes, the monarch's vote is decisive.
Economy
Thanks to its people's unwavering work ethic, Cavana has emerged as a major economic force in Varzzen. It is the largest exporter of aphid products, ores, and metals, and the fine craftsmanship of Cavana's artisans can be found throughout the Hexagon.
Leisure Tokens
The citizens of Cavana do not receive any monetary compensation for their work, as it is their duty to their country. However, each worker gets ample housing, medical service, food supplies, and Cavana-specific leisure tokens, which can be traded for recreational activities. These tokens must be spent by the end of the month, or they will receive less next month. The government reserves gold, silver, and copper coins for international trade. Only diplomats, scouts, or spies who spend extended time in foreign territory receive coins from the treasury. Any money found on a citizen is contraband.
However, this doesn't mean coin can't be spent within Cavana's borders. Many Cavanans don't follow the rigid structures set out by the government. As such, black markets have risen within the deepest recesses of the nation, where items can be purchased outside the government's restrictions.
Social Relations
Cavanans are mainly composed of bull ants. However, other races also live in Cavana and can even achieve a high standing in society if they follow the rules and work ethic correctly. Even the High Assembly shows racial diversity.
Furthermore, as part of the Royal Hexagon, Cavana has good relations with the vespoids of Auroma, as they have similar ways of assigning and maintaining jobs. As for Rusterov, even though they are close allies, many Cavanans are often baffled or show some disdain for their way of life since the beetlefolk are very free-spirited and follow their personal passions and paths in life.
Cultural Influences
A Duty to Fulfill
Cavanans take great pride in their commitment to their nation. There is no traditional familial unit within Cavana. When a cavanan reaches age 15, they are expected to register in the mating program. They are then assigned a compatible mate with whom to produce offspring.
A newly born formicoid is given into the care of nurseries. After becoming 5 years old, they are given primary school care. Here, a young citizen receives their primary education. At the end of basic education, when they reach adulthood at 10, Cavanans go through their determination exams. Based on their results, they are assigned a working sector. The varying institutions then handle further training and employment of the individual.
This also means that a Cavanan switching jobs is highly uncommon, but being promoted within your field (apprentice to master craftsman, for example) is standard practice. No matter the rank of the job, the worker must devote their life to this role, even prioritizing their work over any social relations they might have. As all of these roles are necessary, any class inequality is much less pronounced than it may be in other nations.
Due to the incredibly high importance of fulfilling one's duty to Cavana, there are strict punishments surrounding behaviour that would be anathema to this ideology. If a worker is absent without good reason or is significantly lacking in performance due to poor work ethic, they may be subject to extra work, discipline, jail time, and especially the scorn of the rest of the nation. A Cavanan who does not follow their duty is viewed as scum by their society.
Worship of Structure
In Cavana society, architecture plays a crucial role. It is one of the few things in Cavana considered art, as most artistic pieces are regarded as useless vanity. Any literature in Cavana is mostly non-fiction textbooks and blueprints. The structures these architects make are vital to the underground nation, building and maintaining the massive tunnels. The tunnel systems of Cavana are a keystone to their economic success, allowing for trade with the rest of the Hexagon.
Cavana worships the Order Pantheon, but no deity more so than Chitas, the goddess of architecture. Just as every building has a foundation, walls, and a roof, Chitas teaches that birth, life, and death are the interconnected parts of a grander structure, a masterpiece she continues to build through existence. It is believed that those who worship Chitas will be sent to help build her masterpiece in the afterlife. The clergy of Chitas blesses Cavana's structures and tunnels, raising their structural integrity with Chitas' holy magic. This prevents collapses and wards away creatures attempting to dig into the tunnels.
Present
Tensions between Cavana and Detrin are still high, as the Tunnel War ended only 30 years ago. Both the citizens and the leaders of these nations look at each other with distrust, many Cavanans believing that Detrinians are war-hungry and belligerent. Also, because Cavana took the heaviest casualties and territorial damage during the war, many Cavanans believe that the captured Detrinian land should have gone to them, not Auroma.
The Queendom Underground Type
Geopolitical, technocracy, queendom Population/Inhabitants
73% formicoids, 22% beetlefolk, 4% luni, 1% other Demonym
Cavanan Government System
Technocratic monarchy Official State Religion
The Order Pantheon Dates Active
43 AO to present Important Locations
Ïsa’leza Notable Members
Queen Anastasia Brinkrock, Archbishop Fraulinde Brenntring
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