Bi'tsng'ot Delta

Of the large cities of North-East M'dia, Bi'tsng'ot Delta is one of the least diverse. The vast majority of the population are Espirion, many from Nangkap from which there is considerable migration. The city is a sink for the wealthy from all over Nangkap, Gi'kh'en and A'ot.   Living in the city holds great prestige amongst the aristocrats of its neighbours. The city is famous for its fine clothes, jewellery, ceramics and glass. It is common for craftsmen who make a name for themselves in the smaller cities of the Bi'tsng'ot Provinces to save up and move to Bi'tsng'ot Delta to cement their reputation.    The city's populus is divided loosely between servants, craftsmen, aristocrats and clergy. The cities see a great many pilgrims: it is the heart of the Ancient Voyage, the largest Polyarchist sect with followers spread across much of North-East M'dia.

The City State is independent of the surrounding province of North Bi'tsng'ot which is part of the Nangkap Empire. The Delta is an absolute monarchy, and somewhat theocratic. Power in the city is complexly divided between the Queen, the Merchants' Guild, and the Grand Cathedral of Our Lady of the Golden Citadel, respectively nicknamed the Rudder, the Sails and the Anchor.   The government of the city is often described using the metaphor of a ship. The city are the Hull. The Queen is the Rudder because she steers the policy of the city. The merchants are the Sails because their money keeps the city moving. The Grand Cathedral is the Anchor as it maintains the proper governing and morality of the city. These elements of the government are sometimes called the Quarters.   Under the founding declaration of the free city, the Queen and her council are essentially the supreme court of city, with the power to rule on disputes and to decide to legality of the tenets of the Grand Cathedral or the acts of the merchants guild. The Queen also commands a large militia, the Royal Guard, and a fleet of ships, the Royal Fleet. The Queen has the power to make decrees but these relate only to ceremonial regulations and the bestowing of titles and honours.   Much of the Queen's judicial responsibility is delegated to her highest ranking courtier, the Lord Chancellor. The Queen also appoints a number of magistrates who each have a portfolio relating the running of the city. Importantly, the Grand Magistrate of the Key is empowered by the Queen to raise taxes for the royal treasury.   The monarchy follows a system of female-only primogeniture. Gender roles in Bi'tsng'ot Delta are complicated but the system of female monarchs is based on the importance of Saint Daralena in the Ancient Voyage.   The Esteemed Guild of Merchants and Craftsman, or simply the Merchants' Guild have their own legislative powers, in particular to govern trading and education, although the monarch can veto their laws. The guild has a complicated internal working. It is governed by its members (who are merchants and craftsmen who pay an annual membership fee). The members elect officers, the most important of whom is the Guildmaster, the de facto head of the Merchants Guild. The merchants guild also has it's own militia, called the Protectors of Truth who enforce their acts. The merchants guild does not raise taxes however and is funded by its membership fees.   Finally, the Grand Cathedral of Our Lady of the Golden Citadel, or the Grand Cathedral, has the power to make laws, called tenets, regarding morality and ritual. Much of what might be called 'criminal law' is found in the Cathedral's tenets. The Grand Cathedral is led by the Glory of the Faith, sometimes called the Grand Cleric or the Grand Priestess who's rule is based on the model of Saint Daralena. The Cathedral extracts a tithe from residents of the city and funds some charitable projects.