Republic of Marnain
A magocratic republic that controls a large swathe of Haralie . It is well known for its tumultuous history and its reclusiveness, as well as its extreme emphasis on personal merit in success rather then hereditary roles. A strong emphasis is place on magical talent and practice, but it rarely the sole art studied and practiced by the members of its governing class.
It is made up of 10 provinces, each of which has a large hub city, and rapidly decreasing developement and influence beyond those cities. Large swathes of the land abandoned, with only small villages and old outposts dotting them.
Marnain is much diminished in size and influence, a smaller power than its predecesor, and reduced even in the last few centuries by the collapse of its colonial ambitions in Talioche during the Night of the Unchained.
Marnain has a long history, but much of it is now viewed with embarassment if not outright shame.
Structure
Marnain has done almost entirely away with hereditary ranks and rulership, though nobles do control small towns on the borders. Otherwise, rulership of each province is determined by a combination of election, examination and recommendation. From each of the provinces, a leader is selected to represent it at the Council of Eleven, and make national decisions.
Public Agenda
Currently, Marnain is more withdrawn and protective than it has been in years. It's only overseas territories are either besieged or diplomatic in nature, and it's closest ally, Tourmia, is now also diminished after the its own diastarous expansion. It is now concerned with shoring up what it has, and maintaining its dignity and borders where they lie.
History
Founded during the dawn war, shortly after the fall of the Drow and the retreat of the moon, Marnain was where the largest population of High Elves settled, joined by Wood Elves in a the centuries that followed. At least two of the ancient Elemental Lords met their end here, in the bight of Tharanhil and Howling Mesa.
Demography and Population
Marnain is the only Elvish majority country, with more than 80% of its citizens being Elvish, or having elvish decent. The remaining 20% is human (10%), gnomish (4%), halfling (2%). All other races fall somewhere into the remainig 3%.
Provinces have a majority elvish ethnicity, usually sitting at around 50% of the total population.
Marnain's demographics are relatively young as Elvish populations go, with the average age of around 150. Smaller, outlying settlements tend to be a little older.
Territories
For detail on Marnain geography and layout, please see Marnain. Marnain now holds almost no overseas territory, although it still claims Ly'tel Amma on Talioche, although that too may have been lost by the invasion of the Gravedirt Alliance. Marnain formally controls a singel island in the north west of Tormia, a gift for their long standing support of that nation.
Military
Each province maintains its own military force, and is required to contribute to the national army. Due to a quite small population and tendency for long service times, the military forces tend towards elite, largely independent soldiers. Though deadly alone and when operating in small groups, large unit cohesion does suffer, and when forced to field large numbers of soldiers, they tend are placed in small squads at significant locations.
A surprising proportion of the military force of the capital, Tharanhil, is composed knights-errant or similar adventurers from Lareena or the Camoreyt Sea.
Foreign Relations
While reclusive, Marnain remains a close ally of the Tormic Empire, and exchanges of students and information between those two powers centres of learning is common.
Marnain also has friendly, if distant relations between itself and the Kingdom of Lareena, trading freely and frequently exchanging diplomats. It is not unusual for the banished, the disgraced or simply the errant to uproot themselves and move from one to another.
Only the Blessed Kingdom of Tyrus is on even midly friendly terms with Marnain, and even then "civil" best descibes the relationship. In comparison, Marnain has been at war with the Confederacy of Gelock an Melegan for most of their history, and even in times of relative peace, is often forced to defend against cross boarder raids by those groups.
Laws
Marnain's most notable laws concern foreign travellers.
Travellers tend to be majorly restricted from travelling the country, and usually need to go through lengthy application process from province to province, and are assigned an escort for a time, somtimes the full duration of their stay. Breaking these restrictions doesn't usually result in jail time, but it does usually mean explusion and typically bans them from returining to Marnain again.
Long term, visitors to Marnain are slowly have these restrictions lifted, once they have proved they can take care of themselves and are not deemed at risk of tresspassing into any of the areas they have been told not to go. Full freedom of movement being bestowed on an outlander is quite a privledge.
From wisdom come authority
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
The Empire of Iron (Formerly)
Predecessor Organization
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Marnainan
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Government System
Meritocracy
Power Structure
Federation
Gazetteer
Kaikas
Currency
The Livra is the official coinage, though other equivalent amounts of gold are generally accepted.
Legislative Body
Legistlation at a national level is performed by the Council of Eleven, while each of the provinces have their own systems of rulership, from single figures to large councils of delegates.
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Comments