Merka (Weutiship of)

The Weutiship of Merka is an East Wean state which is noteworthy for being the first major Wean colony on the Oppi Mainland. During a mere two generations, Merka has grown from a small fortified Wean settlement on the northern banks of the river Suvala to the largest city in Oppiland, and a regional state which controls lots of arable (but dry) land and several stone quarries.
==Government==
Merka is governed not by an elder council, but by a consultation of merchants. There are 1000 votes, simplified by white stones marked with squid ink by the quilt of a porcupine, which are under the hand of seven public accessors, who are citizens noted for their upright character and for their ability to read and write. They must be above 60 years of age, and can only be sacked due to death, corruption or voluntary retirement. These vote stones can be bought by merchants in return for resources to the state coffers. The merchants do not need to personally partake in meetings, but can vest their trust in envoys who they can withdraw. However, they might only nominate three envoys before their stones are moot. No merchant can buy more than 300 of the stones. The merchants do not need to live in Merka itself. Foreign states are not allowed to buy stones.
The consultation is responsible for electing a weuti, but the Weuti must be residing in Merka and take a Merkan as his spouse (no female has yet been the weuti of Merka). The weuti is responsible for leading the Merkan army.
This system was introduced when Merka was a young state and badly in need of mercenaries and resources.
==History==
Merka was found by the exiled trickster prince Merka. He tricked a piece of land from an Oppi chief, and founded the city of Merka there. Later on, he tricked himself into gaining more land. As he died, his successors continued the colonisation policies.
==Culture==
Merkan culture is heavily emphasising gambling and betting as a way of life. Thieves are not punished if they can be proven to be responsible for over a hundred successful thefts or forgeries. Instead they are encouraged to seek employment amongst the traders and artisans to spot thieves. Those who are living outside the city barriers are referred to as Oppi-wala, or Wannabe Oppis, no matter their original ethnic origin. Oppi prostitutes are however highly priced. The Merkans are making snake skin pouches and garments, and snake stew is the main luxury cuisine, especially from poisonous snakes.
A very dangerous sport is "snake dueling", when two Merkan youths take poisonous snakes in the tails and then start to use the snakes as whips to fence with one another, often over real or imagined insults or girls. It is considered an extra point if all involved parties are drunk during this.
The Merkans are seeing their founder, Prince Merka, as a trickster god, and he has a temple near the harbour, next to the Weuti palace.