Phoena
 | |
| Phoena | |
|---|---|
| State religion | Saphorism |
| Other religions | Lucianus Mazdana Elsia |
| Government | Monarchy |
| King | Jassar |
| Legislature | Madrassa |
Phoena ("FEE-nuh") is a large imperial state in Rhys in Teresis. Phoena is one of the great powers of Teresis. It is an old, wealthy, and powerful country, controlling a large portion of northern Rhys and many overseas colonies in Aluray. Phoena is a famed seafaring and mercantile empire, with a powerful navy that rivals even Alicante's.
Meta
Phoena is inspired by the real-world Maghreb, Arabia, and the Levant.
Provinces
Some of the Phoenic provinces are:
- Central Phoena
- Ghidia
- Habad, in northwestern mainland Phoena
- High Phoena, AKA the Crownlands
- Nohan, west of Central Phoena
- Mizran, encompassing most of southern Phoena
- Zokkan
Major cities
Some cities in Phoena, grouped by region, include:
- Aluray:
- Anjat, a former Mhawari city
- Sorpura, a former Mhawari city
- Tambara, a former Mhawari city
- Troyosha, a former Mhawari city
- Central Phoena:
- Jardin, the capital of Phoena
- Lozanre
- Marnova, recently annexed by Alicante
- Rodessa
- Habad:
- Runya
- Shahasta
- Mizran:
- Akaam
- Hasuur
- Naraad
- Ramas
- Nohan:
- Astan
Religion
The state religion of Phoena is Saphorism, specifically the cult of Ra.
The extent of religious freedoms in Phoena is well known. Although Phoena has a state religion, religious affiliation is considered a protected class, and Phoena does not permit persecution or forced conversion. As such, Phoena is extremely religiously diverse and has historically served as a hub for refugees fleeing religious persecution. Among the many, many, many faithful in Phoena are Lucians, Mazdanists, Shassaiins, Mikalans, Dracaryns, and Elsians.
Among the more popular Saphorist gods are Vaisha, Ossur, Mishra, Ra, Quethe, and Ahsu. There are many large enclaves of Lucians, and many Casirists.
Culture
Phoena is a highly populous multi-ethnic, multi-special[1] empire, composed of mostly humans, but also chshakas, tieflings, aasimar, genasi, vangles, gnomes, feytouched, spellscales, dragonborn, and other peoples.
Ethnic Phoenics range from being relatively pale, to having olive-ish skin, to being quite tanned. Other ethnicities in Phoena include Kimmarabis, Riyanians, many Vittorians and Astorians, and many Aeneans such as Genovans, Ozarans, and Vallyrans.
Policies
- Politics. Although Phoena is a de jure monarchy, in practice the monarch's powers are severely limited by the nation's powerful noble, priest, and merchant classes—and, to a certain extent, even the peasant class. The chief governmental body under the king is the Madrassa, composed of various competing factions.
- Race (among humans). Humans in Phoena are very ethnically diverse and it's pretty common to see people of all sorts of colors walking around, owning property, voting, holding public office, holding slaves, being slaves, fighting in armies, being servants, etc.
- Species. Phoena is quite accepting of other species. There are some tensions (for instance, even in Phoena do humans have a disdain for Himralda) but nothing even remotely close to the open genocide of nonhumans in Alicante.
- Religion. Phoena is one of the most religiously free places in the world. You're free to practice whatever religion you wish and worship whichever god you like. You can even worship demons, if you want.
- Slavery. Slavery is legal in Phoena. Captured enemy soldiers are often forced into slavery for a period of time, typically 2-4 years. Slaves can be bought and sold in markets. There is much regulation on the industry; for instance, slaves cannot be killed. The slavery of Phoena is not race-based or species-based, but class-based.
- Gender politics. Definitely nowhere near as feminist as Alicante. Phoena is for sure patriarchal—but during the time of Queen Khalila (about 90 years ago), there were reforms in divorce law and property rights in favor of women. Royal and noble succession favors male heirs, but doesn't exclude females—the current heir presumptive[2] of Phoena is a girl.
Politics
As said, Phoena is a de jure monarchy that is de facto limited by a powerful upper class of nobles, clerics, and merchants. Phoenic politics is a complex power game between the monarch and the Madrassa, and within the Madrassa itself. Occasionally, a king will arise who rules with autocratic power; and sometimes the king is nothing more than a puppet of the elites, to be disposed of once his usefulness has passed.
Phoena holds elections, unlike Riyan (which otherwise has a somewhat similar form of government). Only members of the upper class (ajranis) can vote, however, and ajrani status is purely blood-related—so not much democracy here, folks.
Phoena is known for being a bit of a powder keg. It's not all that uncommon for the competing factions in Phoena to break into all-out civil war. When the monarchy is weak, rogue generals have been known to make bids for the throne, marshaling their armies against the royal family and seizing the throne by force. Phoena has numerous merchant families with massive mercenary armies and fleets which rival the militaries of entire foreign countries — and when these merchant princes are angered, they aren't unwilling to use them.
Royal family
Lazik --+-- Morosa
|
+-----+----------------+---------------------+
| | |
Jassar --+-- Kadira Hakir --+-- Arella Rasina --+-- Raysh
| | |
+----+--------+ | |
| | | |
Avaria Yerra Sehina Mayley
Some notes:
- Jassar is the current king of Phoena.
- Raysh is part of the royal family by marriage, having married Rasina, King Jassar's sister. She and their daughter, Mayley, are dead: they were killed by Alicante during the Eighth Occaria.
- Avaria, Yerra, and Sehina are all girls, aged 21, 20, and 19, respectively. Avaria is the crown princess: the heir presumptive to the throne.
Diplomacy
Phoena is imperialistic, with many colonies in Aluray.
Phoena is one of Alicante's chief geopolitical adversaries, and was one of the principal opposition powers in the Eighth Occaria. Phoena has fought in five out of the eight occarias, fighting against Alicante in all but one (that one is a long story).
Phoena has not-unfriendly relations with her large southern neighbor, Riyan. Both powers oppose Alicantian hegemony, and thus they agree on many things. It's a bit of a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" kind of thing, but they do share much culturally. They consider each other geopolitical allies and close trade partners.
Phoena has a similar but less warm relationship with Vallyra. Phoena and Vallyra have teamed up many times to face Alicante, but Vallyra is a little too Aenean and way too Lucian for Phoena's tastes.
Slavery
As mentioned, slavery in Phoena is not race- or species-based, but class-based.
There are three classes of slaves in Phoena. They are:
- Ramluks, the highest-ranking slaves. These slaves dress well, sleep in beds, eat what they wish, and generally just live much better than other slaves. Ramluks are typically noblemen who were captured during a war. They'll serve their captors for a relatively short period of time (2-4 years) and are then ransomed. During their enslavement, they usually do things like tutor their master's children, take charge of renovations or finances at their master's estate, teach some of the younger recruits swordplay, and so on.
- Zattas. Zattas are mid-ranking slaves. Zattas eat decently, can own money, and sometimes even sleep in beds. Zattas often do things like help their master run their shop, shepherd their flocks, milk the cows, etc. Many low-status families become zattas to get protection and a roof over their head. They have contracts with their masters, and their are many laws protecting the rights of zattas. Zatta status is hereditary, but if you were born a zatta, once you reach 15 years of age you must voluntarily agree to remain a zatta, otherwise you're freed.
- Yamayas. Yamayas are the lowest slaves in the hierarchy and sit at the bottom of Phoenic society. They work in the fields, serve in armies, scrub the floors, etc. Any children a yamaya has are also yamayas, but yamaya status only lasts for three generations — i.e., a yamaya's children and grandchildren will be yamayas, but their great-grandchildren are required by law to be freed.[3]
Magical societies
Since Phoena does not openly exterminate magi, unlike some people, there are many magical societies operating within her borders.
The two most prominent are the Burja and the Reshiga. There's also the Seranevo, a secretive magical society working directly for the king.
The preeminent magical authority in Phoena is the Saparo Forta, a council of mages who determine magical laws and regulations.
