Divine Chiefdom Of Tīkoke

Following the Years of Shadow, Clan Akatowai was forever transformed, far more than it would have been by the Wars of Fire and Smoke alone. The ancient traditions were simultaneously reinforced and chipped away at by the "Constitution of the Divine Chiefdom of Tīkoke", more commonly known as the Otikoro Constitution, as it was officially granted to the nation by the perfectly benevolent Chieftain Otikoro, although in private, Otikoro despised the new Constitution and only implemented it out of necessity. The Otikoro Constitution begins like most do, laying out the rights that have been granted to the citizenry by the Divine Chieftain. These include the rights of equality before the law, private property, protection against unjust imprisonment, a speedy trial, assembly, association, petition, that of bearing arms, and speech (although the crime of lèse-majesté, offenses of speech against the Divine Chieftain, are punishable by death).   In accordance with Goblinoid philosophy and culture, and in truth, their entire condition, the Divine Chieftain of Tīkoke retains a great deal of power even though Tīkoke is a (vaguely) parliamentary and democratic state. Indeed, even as the other constitutional monarchies of the world, such as Dyffryu, Qadjik, and even New Kopran cite sovereignty as coming from the citizenry, the Otikoro Constitution makes it incredibly clear that sovereignty rests in the hands of the Divine Chieftain, and that the nation and the Divine Chieftain are indistinguishable from one another. Because of this, His Majesty the Divine Chieftain, Chosen of the Heavens is not only the executive power of government but combines the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government within himself. His and his alone are the powers to declare war, make peace, approve or veto treaties and legislation already passed by Te Kotahitanga, dismiss Te Kotahitanga and call new elections thereafter, and appoint judges. Furthermore, the Divine Chieftain is allowed to maintain a Privy Council, a group of advisors to the crown outside of the confines of parliament, and he remains the Supreme Leader of the Divine Military, with the Army and Navy not responding to parliamentary government, but the Divine Chieftain alone. Of course, the Divine Chieftain is permitted to write executive orders that hold absolute authority.   The current and first Divine Chieftain of the united Goblinoid state is Otikoro. He is the great-grandson of Mirama te Aho, the Chieftain of Akatowai who began the Rupture, and is a man of great contradictions. Simultaneously an arrogant dictator and a devoted servant of the people, Otikoro's greatest dream since his youth was to unite the Goblins under his unchallengeable rule, and while he would succeed in such a thing, the end product was not what he dreamed of. Instead, his rule would be diluted by a military coup to establish parliamentary government and to destroy their ideological opposition in the bureaucracy. While Otikoro would accept the new situation, he would not forgive the military for their actions (which they saw as saving the Chieftain from the wiles of a treasonous civil service). This grudge would extend to the "democratic" government over which he now presides, which he often obstructs when they dare to not do as he exactly desires. While incredibly bitter, Otikoro still rules justly, but even if he did not, he would receive no criticism from his people. The devotion the Akatowaiians (and a growing number of other Goblins) have for Otikoro and the position of Divine Chieftain as a whole has almost crossed the border into religiosity, with the people at large truly seeing their monarch as infallible and directly chosen by the Trinity to rule over them.   Of course, though, Tīkoke is a parliamentary nation. The parliament is known as Te Kotahitanga, a unicameral legislature made up of 98 representatives (25 from the former lands of Clan Akatowai, 15 from the rest of Tokotuke and the island of Puoku, 5 from the former lands of Clan Haruwera, 20 from the rest of Haskati, 9 from Palehulia, 1 from Ohatika, 8 from Makepehi, 9 from Dartangata and 6 from the smaller islands across Tīkoke's territory) elected from electoral districts in a first-past-the-post system. All male Goblins at or over the age of 20 are permitted to vote with a secret ballot. Elections are held every three years (though the Divine Chieftain may call special elections at his leisure), after which a government must be formed. This civilian government consists of the Kaitiriwā (Prime Minister) and his Cabinet, all of whom must also be approved by the Divine Chieftain who may also officially request that his own chosen individuals be appointed into Cabinet positions. The government that presides over Te Kotahitanga, beyond the lofty job of governing the nation itself through the Ministerial organs of state, must present a yearly budget to said legislature for approval (this not requiring the assent of the Chieftain). The current Kaitiriwā is Taneti Imua of the Homeland Club, of which he is a more moderate member. Having made his career in the Gendarmerie prior to entering politics, he was known primarily for his major role in exposing the tyranny Captain-General Ruhi had over Puoku. After the first elections resulted in victory for the Homeland Club, Taneti, a moderate among his radical comrades, was made Kaitiriwā to appease the less extreme members of Te Kotahitanga (but mostly to serve as a tool for party bosses).   Of course, beyond his numerous official roles, the Kaitiriwā, by virtue of being elected to the position, has a great deal of power over the legislative process. Te Kotahitanga's primary role is that of introducing and passing legislation, primarily having to do with the concerns of different local areas across the Chiefdom, but very often covering topics of greater importance. Before anything can pass through Te Kotahitanga, it needs the approval of the Divine Chieftain. The veto of the monarch is absolute. Beyond legislative powers, Te Kotahitanga must accept treaties (which also need monarchical approval) and generally advise His Majesty on matters of state.   There is no Supreme Court within the nation, as the Divine Chieftain himself, in his infinite wisdom, shall regulate Te Kotahitanga and ensure that democracy is held sacred. His Majesty does, however, have the sole authority to appoint judges to courts across the nation, and in the event of a crime within government or a case being appealed all the way to the top, the Divine Chieftain will head a panel of handpicked judges chosen to preside over the case.   On the local level, Tīkoke is divided into Urban and Rural Administrations. Both are simply advisory, being little more than elected bodies of 10 or 20 people whose part-time job it is to occasionally write to Te Kotahitanga to inform them of the local situation and, if needed, request a bill be passed to build a bridge or offer some economic relief. However, the Rural Administrations have an additional job. Legally speaking, all farmland in the nation is owned by the Divine Chieftain, who then rents it out to individual families or communities in exchange for a tax. As His Majesty cannot govern every rice paddy in the Archipelago, the Rural Administrations both collect the local farm taxes (which are then sent to the national Treasury) and manage land grants in the Divine Chieftain's name (though they are under heavy oversight by officials from the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry which oversees agriculture in the country, to ensure that everything is being done as it is supposed to be).

In the 1280s, Clan Akatowai (the nation which would evolve into Tīkoke) evolved from one of the smallest countries on Ecumene into one larger than Tellus. However, not all of the realm is created equally. We shall begin our tour of the isles in the former lands of Clan Akatowai, the most populated and prosperous part of the Divine Chiefdom for obvious reasons. Across the board, this region has the highest standard of living and the highest amount of economic activity due to the sole fact of having started its modernization almost a century before anyone else.   The capital city of Manawarere sits in this region, formerly known as the City of Akatowai. While still smaller than many foreign cities, it has grown exponentially since the end of the Unification Campaigns, with the port being expanded after the infamous Port Attack and the government having begun to slowly build up an industrial economy with the expansion of the rice mill industry and other such things in the area, an expansion that has drawn the ire of Dourado. Unique among metropolitan areas, Manawarere is primarily made of the traditional Goblinoid materials of wood and bamboo, its narrow streets and brick pagoda buildings that serve as administrative centers for both government offices and businesses keeping Goblinoid culture front and center even as the world becomes much more connected.   Other regions of Tokotuke, as well as the nearby island of Puoku (despite having formerly been ruled by a tyrannical Akatowaiian who was removed right before the climax of the Years of Shadow), have also begun to bask in the same prosperity as the former lands of Akatowai. They are nothing truly special, mostly being an expanse of rice paddies, but they are mechanized, modernized, and healthy, and that is all that matters.   Palehulia, which sits right on top of the Suntouched Current, is an incredibly agriculturally productive and populous island. An ally of Akatowai during the first stage of the Wars of Fire and Smoke, it would accept annexation into the realm with grace, and therefore, it would be spared the destruction that always came before the modernization. It is a major center for cash crop production within the Archipelago, growing citrus and soybeans, but what really brings in the money are the tea and tobacco crops. While grown across the Jade Archipelago since Unification, giving the economy a much-needed boost after the costly wars, none grow it better than the island of Palehulia.   The island of Haskati, once made up of backwater rivals to Akatowaiian power, is now transforming into a new center of Goblinoid industry. While the Northwest coast is incredibly perceptive to the cultivation of many subtropical cash crops, and the interior is host to great fields of rice, Haskati is mostly known on the international stage for being host to two burgeoning cities: Taone-Uru and Tumanakomoana. The former is found in the former lands of Clan Milgotea, the primary rival of Akatowai at the beginning of the Wars of Fire and Smoke, and was actually built on the ashes of their old capital city. The "Phoenix City" as it is sometimes known is notable for its heavy Union State inspiration (the culture of this nation being deeply appreciated by the Goblin who approved the plan, Tomo Taurekareka), being built around a central administrative complex ringed by a large park and being dotted by pagado high-rise complexes connected by sky bridges. Furthermore, Taone-Uru is primarily made of brick rather than traditional materials. The other of Tīkoke's fastest-growing cities is Tumanakomoana, found on the Northern coast of the island, the construction of which was prompted by the nation's need for a second port city. While primarily based around the large port that sits within the bay, the city is a sight of its own, its architecture being of a much more traditional bend.   In the far Southwest of Haskati, the former lands of Clan Haruwera are found. Haruwera was once an ally of Clan Akatowai, but after being razed by Milgotea, they chose to break the Great Silence on their own. After not accepting Akatowai's demand that they submit, they were razed once again and their Chieftain killed, but to this day, Haruwera is not dead. While far weaker and smaller in numbers than they were before, insurgents continue to harass the Divine Army there, refusing to submit to the government in Manawarere. Even the civilians continue the struggle, many of them refusing to pay their taxes, cooperate with the Gendarmerie on matters of criminal justice, and even once attempting to secede (though this pitiful attempt by a handful of villages to establish a government was crushed within days).   While taken into the fold much more recently, due to their size, the islands of Ohatika and Makepehi (as well as the several smaller islands that surround them) have been completely modernized quite quickly. However, they still only have small populations and are overwhelmingly rural, growing rice, citrus, and soybeans. However, the value of these islands to Tīkoke's Divine Navy is undeniable.   Dartangata was the last island of the Jade Archipelago to be conquered by the Divine Military, and what they found shocked them. When it still existed, Clan Haruwera (and by extension, the Commonwealth of Meridie), had sought to ally with Clan Tolalan (which owned half of the island), giving them guns in hopes of building a sort of Anti-Akatowai Front. However, the Tolans were mostly motivated by the promise of unbeatable weapons which they could turn against their ancient rivals in Clan Elgaroa, nearly genociding them. Ignoring the vague irony of the situation, the Tīkokeans connected with Elgaroan insurgent groups to beat back the Tolans, their handful of riflemen not holding a candle to the modern military force that was the Divine Army. While the Tolans attempted to form a resistance similar to that in Haruwera, this was easily crushed, and while the Tolans remain more hostile to the Tīkokean government than most (with almost every other conquered Clan accepting Tīkokean rule, the younger generations even coming to appreciate it and buy into Pan-Goblinoid ideology), the island as a whole is doing pretty well for itself, perhaps partly due to the very high number of Akatowaiians who settled here post-war, looking for a new life after both Elgaroa and Tolalan were decimated.

While small, the Divine Military of Tīkoke is one of the most well-trained and perhaps the most well-motivated out of any force on Ecumene. Despite the fact that the modern Divine Army was formulated in a fight against tribesmen, it was able to develop an effective system of command and was even able to pioneer some tactics, with the officer corp being especially enthusiastic about the doctrine of maneuver warfare developed by Parata Whetu (whose political ideals they also deeply admire), in contrast with the much more static doctrines championed by most other nations. The Divine Army also wields a great amount of power over law enforcement. Once upon a time, the Gendarmerie (a branch of the Divine Army) was the sole law enforcement arm in the nation, but after the Constitution was written, local police forces would be created. However, the Gendarmerie remains an incredibly well-funded and armed formation, now primarily tasked with policing areas with a known rebel presence, protecting government offices, and performing during times of high threat, such as during a hostage situation or during a terrorist attack. During times of war, the Gendarmerie will also act as a military police force.   Both the Divine Army and Divine Navy are volunteer services, although conscription can be fairly easily implemented in the event of a war. While the Goblinoid Army has always been funded and treated very well, it was only after Unification that the Navy was given attention, for an island nation without a powerful navy might as well just surrender the moment they are engaged in a war. Somewhat controversially, Tīkoke has put a stop to its practice of buying foreign ships, and while it is still necessary to buy the supplies to build these ships, all construction is done natively. The current goal is to build a green-water navy that is able to both defend the coasts of Tīkoke's various islands and strike against their most likely enemies, all of which are practically next door.   However, all this being said, the military suffers from a very fatal flaw. Before they even issued the Whakapuakanga, the politicization of the military had become a permanent problem, and now, they are titled within the Constitution itself as the defends of the Chieftain's authority and of democratic government alike. As it stands, the officer corp is made up of incredibly devout (and often incredibly radical) followers of the Homeland Club, the current ruling party and the only party to ever rule Tīkoke thus far. Some are even Representatives in Te Kotahitanga for the party, others being known advisors to or even members of the senior party staff, sparking very real concern over whether or not the military would ever overthrow the civil government again to ensure that they stay on top of all things.

The Divine Chiefdom can best be described as modern, but not industrial. Even the most far-off parts of the nation are very quickly becoming mechanized, electrified, vaccinated, and connected by rail, the days of plague, famine, and isolation over. However, due to the situation with the Kamupene (explained in more detail below), Tīkoke is largely unable to build an industrial economy for itself and must buy almost all of that progress from other countries, leaving the nation almost entirely rural, though this may soon change.

The Mortuary Faith is more than a religion. It is Goblinoid philosophical and cultural beliefs condensed into prayer and ritual. One of these beliefs is deference to authority, especially that of the Divine Chieftain. As both his position and title of Chosen of the Heavens suggest, he is believed to be quite literally chosen by the Gods to rule, and because of it, he himself is treated as if he were a God. Due to the fact that the Mortuary Faith is so integral to Goblinoid culture, so as to not disrupt this culture, foreign missionaries have been completely banned from entering the Archipelago, drawing the ire of both Trinitists and Commonalists, their annoyance at this being the only thing they will ever (at least admit to) have in common.

As the newest nation on Ecumene, and recognized by all as a growing power, the Divine Chiefdom of Tīkoke is not unlike the prettiest girl at the dance. No nation is more eager to get with her than the Kingdom of Tellus, a pariah on the world stage that seeks to form a brotherhood between Men and Goblins, two races that have been trampled on by the world. As of current, the Divine Chiefdom wishes to maintain their neutrality on the world stage, at least until the situation at home is entirely cooled down, but they have been somewhat responsive to Tellus' overtures, participating in training exercises with one another and trading military experts.   All the while, though, Tīkoke has been somewhat friendly to the Spring Coalition (and, ironically, their old masters in the Imperial Union State), doing the same thing with them as they have been doing with Tellus. This has drawn the ire of another Spring Coalition-adjacent country: the Commonwealth of Meridie. During the Wars of Fire and Smoke, Meridie was an active opponent of Goblinoid Unification, doing all they could to stop it from being achieved due to fears of the Goblins stealing their monopoly on cash crops. As we now know, this fear was not completely unfounded (but definitely overblown, as the Archipelago has been seen to be unable to support a cotton industry, the heart and soul of Meridie), and animosity is still found between the two.   Perhaps the strangest relationship Tīkoke has on the international stage is that it maintains with the Republic of Dourado: its savior and slavemaster. Within the Divine Chiefdom, around 90% of all exports are shipped out not by native merchants but by various Patrician Companies from Dourado (joined by a handful of Sylvan corporations) who give the Goblins 17.5% of their yearly income they get from these exports in exchange for sole exportation rights over certain industrys. Referred to in the Goblinoid language as the "Kamupene", taken from the Nereid "Companhia", these companies completely dominate the Tīkokean economy, resulting in the nation being modern, but not industrial due to their machinations and desire to continue their control. Because of this, Tīkoke must put up a friendly front when dealing with the Golden Republic, all while planning to destroy their influence over the Archipelago in the background (though still debating on how exactly to do so).

Following the end of Tiki's Rebellion and the establishment of Te Kotahitanga as an institution, the greater Whakapai (Leftist) faction that had come to rule the nation absolutely would fracture as they lost their common purpose. From the rubble came various sub-factions which fought not in the streets but in the halls of parliament.   One of the "big two" in Tīkoke's vaguely two-party system, though the two dominant parties must constantly court support from smaller clubs and associations, is the Karapu Ture Kāwanatanga (Constitution Club). Though both of the largest parties are considered to be left-wing by the standards of Goblinoid politics, though hardly by foreign standards, the KTK is the more moderate of the two. It was founded by more moderate Whakapai, many of them being business owners or otherwise members of the middle to upper class, joined by more moderate Rightists. Due to this, the KTK is well known for its deep ties to the Tīkokean capitalist class, ties that influence their politics. As a whole, the KTK is supportive of a state-guided or at the very least state-regulated capitalist economy, perhaps not as restrictive as the one found in Lievonija, but inspired by it in part. However, many of them do still support free trade on a global scale. Furthermore, they are of a more cosmopolitan bend, and while opposed to the Kamupene out of principle, they do not see cooperation and friendship with foreigners as anything to be scared of. In order to court rural voters, who are a majority of voters, the KTK has repeatedly pushed for making traction engines cheaper, with some of their Representatives in the legislature pushing to have a government company buy and distribute (or perhaps even make) traction engines and the other necessities of a modern farm instead of private actors, similar to how it was done during the modernization campaigns but done in perpetuity. Some have gone so far as to say that the government should do the same with electricity and rail, with more and more KTK Representatives pushing this as they are beaten back by the KK when it comes to the swinging rural vote. Aside from the rural voters they manage to swing to their side, the Karapu Ture Kāwanatanga is supported by the urban upper and middle class, a rising power bloc in the nation, and the intelligentsia.   The other is the Karapu Kōwhanga (Homeland Club), the more radical option. The KK was founded by the more radical of the Whakapai, many of them soldiers, but also representatives from the proletariat class. Economically, the KK is against the capitalist system, seeing it as anathema to Goblinoid culture in any form, instead supporting a system in which worker-owned guilds manage the economy for the good of the nation and the Divine Chieftain, not for any aristocratic, greedy master. Most define the KK as a Kin Civicist organization of the more radical school, which actively seeks to reform the Tīkokean economy into a Kinsmanite one. The KK is an incredibly nationalistic organization, fully against tying Tīkoke to any foreign power or even getting too close to any and entirely convinced of the supremacy of Goblinoid cultural values. Ironically, these radical Leftists would have totally looped back around into being radical Rightists were they not supportive (and the developers) of the current synthesis of parliamentary democracy and royal authority that the nation operates with. As it stands, the KK is holding on to the rural swing vote (which, again, is the majority of the nation) through good old nationalist demagoguery and a pinch of "back-to-the-land" rhetoric, although a majority of the party has no real issue with industrialization. This is partly due to the nationalist desire to see Tīkoke throw off the chains of the Kamupene and create its own industrial base, and partly because they get a great deal of support from the urban proletariat. Other voting groups loyal to the KK are career soldiers (especially the officer corps, whose past actions against the state that created democracy have caused some in the KTK and beyond to worry) and many of the young, zealously nationalist Goblins who are just beginning to grow up not knowing a divided Archipelago.   As stated before, while the aforementioned Clubs are the most powerful, they rely on supporters from other political parties across the nation. While most are almost indistinguishable from each other and the larger party they choose to orbit around, some of them are quite unique and bear mentioning. One of these is the Karapu Horomata (Natural Club), the remnant of the destroyed Rightist movement that still struggles against parliamentary government and in favor of a federal nation. While once a proper force, the Divine Chieftain's "support" for the formation of a parliament cemented its existence and permanently took the knees out of the Rightists, who are now relegated to the most rural regions of Tokotuke and Haskati, though they actually court no small part of the Milgotean vote due to Tomo Taurekareka, a Goblin the Milgoteans have great respect for, being a somewhat vocal supporter of the Karapu Horomata.   There are also several minor regionalist clubs, most of which either orbit around or will soon be absorbed by the KTK or the KK. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. As it stands, there are two regionalist parties in Dartangata, one for the Tolans and one for the Elgaroans, each with one or two seats, supported by those who oppose the widespread Akatowaiian settlement of the island, the perceived eagerness of many from both Clans to throw away the somewhat distinct Dartangatan culture, and, of course, as a way for the elders to continue the grudge match on the island. Unsurprisingly, each and every electoral district in Haruwera is completely dominated by a party simply known as Hapori (Community). While not publically supportive of the ongoing insurgency, the club is supportive of many buzzwords and phrases, chief among them "respect for local cultures", "autonomy for local cultures", and "self-determination for local cultures", all coming together to mean Haruwera's secession from the Divine Chiefdom.