Levant Diarchy

**The Levant Diarchy,**also more commonly called the Levant Regency or the Regency, is a region of land covering Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. In the 2015 power struggle with the Visarians, Israel lost significant support from the American government and, unable to sustain it's massive defense force to keep Muslim Palestinian groups at bay, a second October War broke out between the states surrounding it, all nations intent on securing Jerusalem for themselves.

After 3 months of bush wars, flash sieges and hour long battles, Jerusalem and the greater Levant area was secured by Saudi Arabian interests. They couldn't hold the region by themselves so the Palestinian area was vassalized into a diarchy, run by a Crown Prince, Pasil Muf'Addei, and a corporate spokesman who adopted the position of Chair, Amber Muf'Addei.

During the spellplague incident, Amber became mentally unstable, and endowed all of Palestine with "her sight". She was removed from power and Pasil would later remarry to another replacement regent named Shasil Muf'Addei. At the moment of the spell plague, Pasil blitzkreiged the Saudi Arabian country and absorbed it into the Levant Diarchy vassal, making it a whole nation once more and making the Levant Diarchy independant.

Pasil, now elderly, seeks to surrender his kingdom to a suitable heir.

## Geography

The Levant Diarchy is made of different geographical regions throughout it's large statehood. In the north, the land is very fertile and gives way to many basic resources such as food and water. This area is often called the breadbasket of the kingdom, and is where most of it's people actually reside.

In the south, most of the land gives way to the Syrian desert, and becomes less a source of value based on food and water and more for industrial purposes. As much of the land here contains a large portion of the world's oil, most of the Diarchy is now financed through this region. It is also sparsely populated. Only those who are desperate or too poor to live anywhere else work and live in this region.

It is also unique in that it makes up the mouth of the Mediterranean, and as such, a large amount of trade from Europe can be seen along the Israel region.

## Political Structure

The Levant Regency is a Diarchy, meaning it's main central government is run by two figures. The Crown Prince or Crown, who is the "King" and is a male, and the Chair who is the "Queen" and is traditionally female.

The Crown Prince is responsible for all things domestic. All inner politics and domestic issues are solved through his hand. This can be tricky because the inner politics is made immensely more complicated through it's tribal foundations (see below.) He also has the power to waive and create laws within the Regency.

Traditionally, if both the Crown Prince and Chair are dead or resign or cannot serve, then the tribes are to elect a new Crown and that Crown marries the woman he'd like to see Chair.

The Chair is responsible for all foreign relations. Her duties are to lead the country's armies and to also be diplomatic when negotiating with foreign bodies. It is often considered the hardest job of the two, since the Chair has to be well informed of all types of cultures, diplomacy and must be a proficient tactician where the Crown Prince on the other hand only has to keep the peace.

### The Levant tribes

Despite the Levant Diarchy claiming itself to be a binary led government between the Crown Prince and the Chair, a more accurate depiction of the Levant Diarchy's political situation would be to say it is a binary led government between the Crown/Chair and the local tribes of the Diarchy. This is because decisions often rely on the partnership and participation of the tribes. For instance, if the Chair declares a war, his or her army is only as large as the tribes that take part. Another way of thinking about it is that it's the Crown/Chair's responsibility to make decisions but only the tribes can carry them out.

The diarchy is made up of 11 independent tribes, not including the central diarchal forces, that relate to different regions and zones within the diarchy, and each one is led by a different member of Pasil's immediate offspring. Each member of a tribe is gifted a piece of cloth called a Rayad, created from a cloth or polymer material depending on the person's preferance, that's around 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet and can be used for various things.

Most members of the tribe use the Rayad as wear, such as scarves, armbands, etc. Others sometimes use it as house decoration such as a small flag or hang it up on walls or on structures. Others sew the Rayad onto existing clothes, some just carry it around and a few burn Rayad in a honorable, ritualistic way called "التنفس من المنزل" or "Breath of the Home", where members burn the Rayad and inhale the smoke, and symbolically serves to represent carrying the essence of your tribe within your chest forever.

A few of the more taboo ways this cloth has been used is by using it as a rag or cloth to clean, which is seen as disrespectful, as well as using the cloth as a cushion or towel to sit on and giving it to someone not within the tribe. This is because by tradition a Rayad should only be touched and handled by the members of their tribe, and a Rayad from one tribe should never be used in the hands of another.

The **Zion** tribe, named after mount Zion, is a war like tribe controlling the mountain ranges bordering Israel and Jordan. The Tribe is the most warlike, as the mountains they inhabit are too rocky for crops and too difficult to navigate for trade, most of the inhabitants either make up the bulk of the Diarchy's military forces and in times where none is needed many members of the Zion tribe become roving mercenaries and bandits. It's Rayad is a bright red, meaning to symbolize the hot-blooded passion of Zion tribal nature, with a white hunting bow in the center. This tribe is led by Ruthi Muf'Addei.

The **Bethlehem** tribe, named after the city of the same name, is a tribe that mostly focuses on religion and piety. Their seen as the ancient tradition holders and often they are looked to as the spiritual leaders of the country. Their Rayad is white to symbolize the marble used in many of their buildings and features a black tower. This tribe is led by Crassid Muf'Addei.

The **Tripoli** tribe, named after the shores of Tripoli and the city near-by, is a tribe that is the prime merchant and trading tribe in the country. They are the wealthiest tribe in the diarchy and finance the crown most of the diarchy's tariffs and taxes. Their Rayad is a sand color to symbolize their golden shores and their emblem is an orange flame. This tribe is led by Abbid Muf'Addei.

The **Cradle** tribe, located along western Lebanon, is a tribe that focuses on hunting and selling wild game and furs. The occupants of the tribe, the Cradles, usually live very solitary and lonely lives shacked up in distant cabins and villages, separated by miles and miles of vast forest and ceder that surround them. They are often referred to as hermits and quiet, and they do not get along with the Zion tribe some ways away. Their Rayad is light brown to symbolize the bark of cedar trees and their emblem is a white pair of deer horns. This tribe is led by Zani Muff'Addei

The **Galilee** tribe near the Sea of Galilee is usually fisherman and relies on a constant game of fish and sea creatures. They are also known in the diarchy as the best sailors and boatmen in the nation. Galilites are also exporters of liqueur, ironically despite it is illegal to consume it in the diarchy, and are often seen as rambunctious and lively. Their Rayad is a deep sea green and a jumping fish, and they are lead by Bayer Muff'Addei.

The **Salted** tribe, near the Dead Sea, is a secluded tribe that focus on mining and smithing the finest metal materials in the land. Many of their members are strong but do not live very long, and as a result, much of their membership is usually seen as macabre or morbid. They are also the poorest tribe, and struggle to make up. The Salts' Rayad is a iron gray with a white square perched on it's corner. The Salts are lead by Peter Muff'Addei.

The **Dragon** tribe is located on the high peaks around Mt. Hermon. They specialize in flight, and use gliders often as a means of valid travel. They usually are the best pilots in the diarchy and they are also the smallest tribes. Dragons are seen as, perhaps ironically, as very mellow or laid back individuals. Partly due to the fact that they also have the most amount of heroin and drug addicts. The Dragon Rayad is a dark maroon with a white chinese dragon, and they are lead by Drogon Muff'Addei.

The **Sands** tribe is the largest tribe by geographic land mass, and take up most of Saudi Arabia. Their lands are almost all desert and they themselves are very nomadic and there is no central village to their name. Their largest caravan stretches for miles, made up from junkers and abandoned vehicles, and they are seen as the fastest and most observant scouts. Their Rayad is a bright orange color for the heat of the desert and their emblem is a white spoke of a carriage wheel. They are lead by Draden Muff'Addei.

The **Mecca** tribe, named after the holy city of Mecca, are the scientific tribals. They are responsible for the construction of the diarchy's biggest technological innovations and most brilliant scientific accomplishments. They are most known for being eccentric, and have turned Mecca into a veritable utopia. One of their largest accomplishments was the constructing of Wrath Pass, a large scale military defense system whose nature is kept as a high secret and purposefully built with the NRY in mind. Their Rayad is a blue neon with a white goblet, and they are headed by Stacy Muff'Addei.

The **Jericho** tribe are seen as cultural savants and artists, located right outside the capital of Jerusalem. They make and have made most of the culture of the diarchy including it's music, poetry and writings. They are also the largest record keepers and have been creating the largest collection of original historic writings and scripts, which is slated to be completed sometime in 2077. Most of their members are seen as the most passionate, and their Rayad is a royal purple with a white vitruvian man as an emblem. They are lead by Henry Muff'Addei

The **Jerusalem** tribe are around the area of Jerusalem, the ancient city. They are seen as the most charismatic leaders and mostly create the diarchy's politicians and diplomats. Their membership is the most varied, since they are the only tribe that is joinable and does not necessarily have to be born into. They also are supported and kept afloat by all of the other tribes. Their Rayad is a gold banner with a white crown emblem. They are led by Molly Muf'Addei.