Free Djinndarra
Along the western coasts of northern Varethys lie some of the best coastline in the known world. The sand is fine, but not dusty; the water is cold, but not frigid; and the waves are perfectly suited for surfing. The weather is always either warm and sunny, or warm and rainy, with the occasional nighttime chill settling in every once in a while...some would call it perfect sleeping weather.
This idyllic stretch of beach is anomalous. Not simply for the rarity of various circumstances that needed to come together for this perfect place to manifest. No. This string of sandy, ocean access points is attached to the most savage desert known to scholars; the Sunrathe Wastes.
Most of the western part of the desert is comprised of Djinndarra, led by a duly elected Sultan who serves a lifetime term. This is a position of great power; so much so, that the holder must take many protracted vacations in the space of the year. Usually, to a private beach villa, so they can surf in peace.
Structure
The duly elected sultan is the head of the government. He or she heads up the Aeryn Court, which governs the day to day affairs of the realm.
The Aeryn Court has seven ministers. These ministers are voted on by the populace every eleven years. In true Djinndarri fashion, public debates are held at the city Forum once per week. Often, people are put forth who do not necessarily want the job, based solely on their performance at a single debate. This is why the Aeryn Court's ministers are referred to by title.
In descending hierarchical order starting with the sultan:
Sultan→Whispering Veil→Gale Chancellor→Keeper of Stillness→Cyclone Regent→Breathwright→Murmuring Sage→Cloudbearer
Culture
The overall culture is one of philosophical justice. The rights of all beings should be taken into account when crafting statutes and laws, for one example. Every creature has a right to breathe under the sun, for another.
But there is always an undertone of inequality in Djinndarra, and nowhere is this more starkly illustrated than in their political theater. Only full blooded Djinni are eligible for all but the lowliest of cabinet positions, and only members of the djinni nobility are eligible to vote on the sultanship.
While ostensibly the djinni coexist with Djinndarri humanity equally, there is a distinct sense that the djinni in the population see themselves as more gifted than humanoids in general. This has pervaded every level of society, to the point where the djinni live apart from the other sapient races that abide within the realm.
Public Agenda
The country publicly embraces different cultures and new people, willing to fold any being into their midst.
Assets
Several small towns and a capital city; there are tin and iron mines in the mountains to the north and west. Precious stones and metals are mined in the range of mountains acting as the realm's southeast border. The many beaches of the country's western border are a tourist draw year round, and this industry rakes in quite a lot of gold for Djinndarra as a whole.
Djinndarra also boast some of the world's best glass workers and glass products, and their steel is folded in on itself many times before being forged into objects that then boast unique patterns. Pottery work is another of Djinndarra's exports, the human tribes that wander the desert having developed a unique technique to clay vessel making that creates strong, waterproof containers. Sisal rope and twine are a lucrative export for the desert country as well, as is macrame. A rough fabric they call gaff-cloth was invented in Djinndarra by a human named, coincidentally, Tophor Weaver; it is used throughout the continent as tent cloth, packing blankets, and awning material. Anywhere a tough, flexible covering is called for, gaff-cloth will fit the bill.
But it is music and art that Djinndarra is truly known for. The airy, orchestral strains of string quintets can often be heard by passersby as they walk along well groomed park trails. Buskers are encouraged to ply their trade, and improvisational jam sessions are the go-to first date solution for any romance-minded individuals. Coffee and tea shops have become famous, just for hosting a celebrated musician when they were young-and-hungry.
History
The three-hundred-or-so year history of Djinndarra is a direct result of the founding of the Theocracy of Rhô. Ignazz had to be resisted, as he had instructed his disciple Fusa Grilla to overwhelm the entire Sunrathe Wastes. The arch-djinni Figniss took the variegate human and elven tribes under his wing, offering them protection from the efreeti and his forces. It was Figniss that first negotiated the borders with Ignazz, and Figniss that raised and trained the army to beat back Fusa and his Etched warriors.
To this day, Rhô contests Djinndarra's autonomy, although they have no real power to do anything about it. Djinndarra is far mightier, militarily, and Rhô's generals are aware that Rhô's inherent isolationism has severely impacted their awareness of outside advancements in waging war. Still. Rhô will take any opportunity to eke away at the border between them and Djinndarra.
The sky does not bow
Founding Date
607
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Alternative Names
Darra
Demonym
Djinndarri
Leader
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Founders
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments