Solidome

Government

Solidome is governed by three groups of elected officials. The candidates are generally drawn from the established political class. This familial accumalation of power has caused many in the village to regard the government positions of Solidome to be hereditary. In truth, there is a great deal of back-room dealings that has led to power being concentrated in the hands of but a handful of families.

Judges

The Judges are elected to oversee the disputes of a section of the village. The most senior of the Judges is charged with incidents that happen on the highway itself. They are also responsible for serving as the final authority on matters appealed to them from either the West side or the East side.
The West and East sides of the village are divided into the care of three Judges each. Any disagreements between those within the boundaries of Solidome must eventually find its way before a Judge for resolution. Because of this, the Judges make it a point to limit full trials as much as possible, as they simply do not have the luxury of forming a trial for each and every dispute. Instead, the Judges rely on the judgement of the Constables and the judgement of the Benchmen beneath them to filter out disputes that do not warrant the full attention of the Judges themselves.

Constables

The Constables are charged with enforcing order throughout the entirety of Solidome. They all report to the Chief Constable and are led by a small hierarchy of supervisors. While this policing force is not excessively large; it is excessively forceful. Many citizens fear the Constables, as they are prone to dispensing shakedowns and beatings in the name of "enforcing the law". Truthfully, the Constables have taken advantage of a lack of oversight and higher powers to keep them accountable. For the village of Solidome, the police are little more than a group of thugs made nearly immune to the very laws they are flaunting.

Elders and Mayor

The sides of Solidome elect three Elders and send them to counsel with the Mayor. This Council is responsible for making laws and running the village as a whole. The Mayor themselves is elected by both a populous vote and the blessing of the Elders. Between these two votes, Mayors are occasionally selected by the Elders over the more popular candidate. Mayors serve for ten years, and Elders serve for twelve years. Elders are expected to serve for life, as it is difficult to unseat a successful and well-liked Elder. The incumbent Elder also has the advantage of twelve years of experience and reputation to build on.

Elections

Judges, the Chief Constable, the Elders, and the Mayor are all elected by a popular vote. In the case of Judges, they must be confirmed by a vote between the Elders. The Elders also vote on the Mayor, but their vote can be nullified if the popular candidate received a large majority of the populous' votes. The Chief Constable is elected solely by popular vote, with the votes of the other members of the government carrying the same weight as a normal citizen. Visitors are barred from voting, although the bar does not stop outsiders from trying to influence votes.

Impeachment

Impeachment is a rare thing in Solidome. The people are generally resigned to be governed by whatever crooked individual chooses to run for office. While there have been and will be many who are upstanding individuals, the majority of office seekers are corrupt and power-hungry. Should the depravity of candidate reach a point where the people are completely fed up with them, a popular vote triggers a call for impeachment. Someone who gets impeached will face an investigation by an independent board of auditors. The results of the investigation will determine if the accused will be sent to trial or not. Ultimately, the results of the trial before a tribunal court will determine if the target of the impeachment is removed from office. Those three Judges will also determine the conditions of the removal.

Districts

Solidome is bisected by the highway it was built to service. On the Eastern side is all the assorted farms, ranches, and even a handful of orchards and vineyards. On the West side, the accommodations of the village have been built up. The East side provides all the resources the West side needs in order to provide its services. Generally, the two districts get along extremely well, but there are squabbles over building rights and resource quotas every now and again.
One the West side, there is a wide array of services available in Solidome. The village serves as a waygate between what was once two kingdoms, but is now wild land on both sides. Travelers moving through Solidome are able to find smiths, tailors, and enchanters. They can find lodging and provisions, and they can even find wagons to hire for the next leg of their journey. All these options can be found on the West side of the highway.

History

Solidome was founded along a major highway to serve as a resting spot for travelers. The highway in question runs North to South and served as the main thoroughfare for the whole continent. Solidome is well situated to serve as a trade hub and a collection point of gossip. Eventually, Solidome became an eclectic amalgamation of various peoples. The village is situated in a climate suitable for almost all races, and the desirability of the climate led travelers to become residents. These migrant families grew the village up to a population that hovers around four hundred citizens with just as many (if not more) visitors.
Solidome experienced a massive loss in revenue when the Wrath of Vitcoona destroyed the kingdom of Men directly to its South. Over time, traffic has built back up as traders come in from the coast, and adventurers come in from the North. There are a great many treasures lost in The Blightlands , and treasure hunters are drawn to the allure of loot.

Founding Date

Circa 800

Alternative Name(s)

Last Oasis, Final Stop, Blightville

Type

Village

Population

400

Inhabitant Demonym

Solitants