Marinians

General

---

History

Descendants of great minds

Marinians owe their existence to the splinter faction of the World spanning meritocratic magocracy the existed in the centuries leading up to the Deluge, who in anticipation of the Great Exodus ahead, began to modify their souls and physiology to better fit their new environment. This initial tinkering gave way to an inherent interest and affinity for Soulcraft, or as it is known in the wider world, Necromancy. As such, one could say they are descendants of humans, but very little of their incorporeal make-up would show any signs of this being the case.

Forgotten History

Like most of the world's peoples, the ancient heritage of the Marinians is considered lost. Only in ancient ruins might one find such knowledge, and Marinians have many dedicated individuals who scour Antedelluvian cities and ruins for knowledge of their history. Until the Great Ahl began his reign, the reclamation of their past was the greatest mission of their people.

---

The past will not lead us to the future, for its failures are already well known. The floods were the result of mankinds folly, this much I tell you. My beloved people, you must seek to go beneath the notice of the Gods, gain neither their favour nor their disdain; such is the way to live a free life. So therefore, my dear folk, I shall become the blinding beacon to outshine you all, and force the gods sight to stay on me, so that you may be free. Give to me, what you would give them, and I shall grant upon you blessings like the gods of the writings, rather than the callous beings of reality!
 - The Alsiyadat 'Ahl, On his inaugoration day: First Skycrack First, 1355 P.D.

---

Not all are following the wishes of their sovereign, however, and keeps to the searching like it's a sacred mission.

Society

Equal Beneath the Great

Marinians live in what could be considered the most egalitarian society on Vericia; no real class divides besides the one between the royal family and the people. There are of course a lesser schism between the soulcrafters and the more mundane populace, but even then you will find that the most skilled osteomancers and the most average masons might share a glass of Hulm at a tavern, sitting with equal deference to the portrait of the Great Sovereign which is no doubt on display.

The Magical Elite

Osteomancers and Soulcrafters are the unique professions of the marinians. While other peoples might dabble with what they consider necromancy, in the eyes of the Marinian, it would be a crude attempt at what they would know to be a beautiful and incredibly utilitarian art. A skilled soulcrafter can create artificial souls that can understand and perform very complex tasks, while a skilled osteomancer has skills and knowledge with the usage of bones, capable of creating delicate and deadly constructs. Most osteomancers know some soulcrafting as a matter of necessity, and vice-versa. When they apply their specialities in tandem, however, you get some truly useful and terrifying beings. The Royal Guard consists of nothing but these incredibly deadly constructs, whose creator is suspected to be Ahl themself.

The Sins and Virtues of Marinian Life

The good marinian pays homage to the Great Sovereign in life, and lets their bones work past it for the good of their people. They allow not for thoughts of frivolty when working, and does not bring the day's labour to the dining table. They greet Sovereign first, then their children, then their mate, and then their day and pay respect to each in turn. They turn not to gods when they seek aid, but to their contry men, to the hard working Scholars patrolling the street with their mighty constructs. So lives a good marinian.

Unknown

The marinian society places importance on the communal spirit and the sanctity of their leader. Those who shirk their duty, by way of laziness or by way of superiority, are ostracised until they gather their peers before them and publicly apologize by kneeling and allowing the public condemnation of their sins. This is usually enough, and smaller matters are taken care of between people rather than get the law involved, as that can be tedious and the marinians are a very pragmatic people.

Beware the Bureaucracy

While the Sovereign's word is law, he doesn't really involve himself with the actual ruling of the people. Other than the public punishing of a corrupt, high-ranking official here and there, he keeps mostly to himself. Instead, there is a vast bureaucracy that governs everything. This efficient, though painfully convoluted system is made so that it should be impossible to influence. This does keep the misuse of power within the system to a minimal degree, but does little to keep people from working around and outside it, which makes the marinian society a sort of dualistic psuedo-anarchy; on one side, you have the perfect order of Ahl and his bureaucrats, and on the other, you have the officials who cannot be bothered and does things their own way.  The only real exception to this is the School of the dead, known simply as the Madrasat in Turwahjer. The Madrasat has their own sphere of influence, and is under the direct control of the sovereign himself, who acts as principal; though the school administrator is the one who actually manages the day to day.