Cactsia

The structure of Cactsia comes, as one might expect, through its military. But it has its solons, or elected officials from amongst the population, that make the legislative decisions for the population.

Solons can only be elected after they have completed their military service, and are more likely to be elected after they receive their Ivory (see "Military").

One might expect traditionalism to disenfranchise those of marginalized groups within the power structure - and you would be right, but that group is not who you would think.

Race, gender, sexuality, even age are not discriminatory factors within Cactsia. They treat all with an almost dogged pursuit of equality.

The ones who do experience some level of prejudice within the ranks of the Cactsian population are those who study or practice magic - particularly arcane magic. Magic that comes from the gods is largely welcomed, of course, as Cactsia is perhaps the most religious country on the continent. But intellectual pursuits of experimentation and arcane sorcery are looked down upon if not illegal within most districts of the major cities (exceptions can be made for research into weapons of war, of course).

Funeral Customs

Death is not unknown to the Cactsians, and those who live honorably in live are honored by those left behind in death. Large processions are common, with the Black Roses organizing the parade and burial. For those of the family, donning imagines (masks of gods, legendary heroes, or ancestors) that they hoped would guide the deceased through the afterlife is common.

Some funerary processions were accompanied by mourners who would wail loudly and literally rip out their hair and scratch their faces in mourning. This is considered rather impolite and unbecoming, but tolerated by family members and friends - those who pay actors to join in on the mourning (an unfortunately common practice) are looked down upon.

Cremation is the most common method of burial, with the ashes spread in spaces just outside the city walls known as Ash Fields, Dust Fields, or Valleys of the Dead (depending on how respectful the individual is feeling). Burning incense and other items, such as dried plants or meat, and spreading the ashes in the field is the normal way to honor the dead, rather than leaving flowers - and the family is allowed to scoop a small amount of ashes from the field to mark their chest and neck with (but never the face) when they visit as a sign of respect to the deceased and to show that they have continued to mourn and honor them.

Racial Breakdown

Cactsia is:

• 16% Dragonborn
• 15% Orc
• 15% Tiefling
• 13% Half-orc
• 9% Dwarf
• 32% Other Races

Religious Breakdown

The most common deities of worship in Cactsia are:

• Bellatan - 47%
• Kanai - 14%
• Laravelle - 12%
• Syria - 9%
• Zelentium - 8%
• Politia - 6%
• Silencia - 3%

Cactsia comes from the south west, slowly swallowing up every kingdom and city and village that could not stand against them. In recent centuries, their encroachment has stopped, as the groan of their supply chains, stretched to the limit by the demands of the population, reached the ears of their leaders.

Now Cactsia is the largest by land and population, looming large over the rest of the continent from its jungles and rivers.

The military of Cactsia is literally all of Cactsia. Of course, there is an active vs. reserve roster, but most serve beyond the mandatory seven years, as it is seen as a great honor to do so.

Those who choose to leave the service are still kept on the reserve roster until they age out (at around 60% of their total lifespan - e.g. 55 years for humans). Those who leave at the end of that time receive an ivory badge carved in the shape of an elephant, with their years of active and reserved duty separately notated as well as their rank and division. This is a treasured family heirloom, and decorated Cactsia families will have honor walls of these badges from deceased family members.