Anax

> It is the call to arms! The call to fury! The call to blood! Together we stand! Together we fight! And together we prevail! - Anaxian Motto
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## Vital Statistics

**Location**: The Anaxian Archipelago

**Size**: Covers the entire Anaxian Archipelago

**Official Language**: Anaxian

**Currency**: silver Minims

**Airship Tower**: N/A

**Majority race**: Humans

**Imports**: Steel and Foodstuffs

**Exports**: Fish, olives, wine, grapes, mercenary units, iron, bronze, art, foodstuffs

**Guilds allowed**: Mariner Cartel, the Order, and the Hand of Inarias.

**Allies**: N/A

**Enemies**: N/A

**Stance on magic**: Prefers supportive magics.

**Current leader**: Queen Cyme of Setess

## Information

### Physical Description

The entire nation resides in the Anaxian Archipelao, a series of large and small islands that can be either connected or separated by water depending on the tide. Being a coastal biome, the archipelago is a rather pleasant region of the world, albeit isolated. The archipelago resides in the middle of the Central Sea, requiring waterships to reach it, traversing over deep, treacherous water. However, due to the central location, Anax has become a major hub for cargo and passengers moving between continental areas too far to take land or airship routes through Baptiase. Because of this, the port city of Melis, also the largest and capital city, is the only place friendly to foreigners and acts as a headquarters for the Mariner Cartel. The Anaxian Archipelago is home to a handful of dormant volcanoes, as well as one active one, Mount Amis.

Terrain in the Archipelago is rather varied. Fertile soil from volcanic ash results in lush grasslands, as well as large swaths of barren rock. Large, dense forests exist, one of which hides the city-state of Setess. Some islands are nothing more than barren rocks, while others might be a paradise. As a whole, the island is dry, outside of the forests, as most of the water not used for irrigation and found in the forests, is saltwater. As such, most native Anaxians have adapted to safely drink salt water, seeing fresh water as a luxury item, rather than the source of life.

### History

Anax was founded by a group of soldiers, mostly humans and goliaths, who were traveling with their families when Raoa Formaelandi fell. Instead of going back to the probable chaos, the group chose to settle on the Anaxian Archipelago, which the old government had deemed a nature preserve, with the only existing structures being buildings for researchers. From there, they set about crafting a new, safe home, focused on martial discipline. Everyone worked, no one got a free ride. Eventually, more refugees arrived, having spotted the watchtowers and the beginnings of the great Guardians of Anax, a pair of massive fortresses flanked by rugged mountains, which can raise a chain over the waterway, preventing easy passage to the melisian Harbor. It was then that a new law was put in place, requiring any that wanted to take refuge in Anax serve five years in the military. Today, though the military is still a volunteer force, foreigners can still be found trying to attain citizenship and military service is still recommended. Because the Central Sea provides a great natural barrier, as well as the barren rocks that protect from harsh seas and invaders, most of the defenses are focused on a Navy and coastal fortresses, such as the powerful Arcadian Citadel and the capital city of Melis, as well as city-specific units, skilled at using the terrain of that area to their advantage. The Port of Melis is the only legal port of entry for all outsiders and contains an Order Temple, as the oceans are considered Untamable Hinterlands.

### Politics

Anax is a collection of independent city-states, allied together for the common good and defense of the people. The Monarch of Anax is selected through a popular vote, rules for a one time reign of 20 years, and is tasked with the defense of the nation and enforcement of laws. Any citizen can become Monarch, provided they have served at least one year in the military, at least one city-state nominates them, and the Anaxian people vote for them. The current monarch is Cyme of Setess, Queen of Anaxians.

To counter the Monarch, the Boule is a group of common people that ensure the needs and issues of the individual city-states are heard. Each city-state may send two representatives, elected from their number. The Boule debates laws amongst themselves and choose what to change, sending it to the Monarch for approval or denial. If denied, the Boule is usually informed of why and sets out to alter the law. While the monarch has nigh absolute power, the Boule has the power to hold elections to oust them if they deem the Monarch is abusing their power. Since the founding of Anax, only once has this occurred, and the Monarch chose to step down peacefully, to avoid military action.

Anaxian Nobility is unusual in that it is not hereditary, nor would anyone consider them aristocrats. Anaxian Nobility consists of Military Officers in command of a unit or vessel and who have decided to stay in the service of the nation for their entire lives. While they are given land, it's usually just large enough for a modest house and usually located near where their troops are garrisoned or ship is docked.

#### Citizenship

To become an Anaxian citizen, one must join the military for a period of normally five years, as the military allows any and all races and genders. After those five years are complete, you are treated the same as a natural born citizen. Your spouse and children are extended citizenship as well. If you are wounded badly enough in legitimate combat and unable to finish your service, or you are killed, you are automatically granted citizenship, as "you have spilled your blood for Anax."

When a citizen arrives on a foreign ship, and the customs official greets them, Anaxians recite the following, in Anaxian: "Blood for Blood, Blood for Dust, This Child of Anax Returns from His/Her/Their Wanderlust." It signifies you're a citizen and also gives the official your pronouns.

##### Player Benefit

Players that choose Anaxian origin gain the Anaxian Language as a free language, as well as the follow feature:

**Anaxian Citizenship**

"You have either been born into Anax, or shed blood in the name of Anax, and considered an Anaxian Citizen by law. This citizenship cannot be taken away, and no matter how long you are away from Anax, you are always Anaxian.

Other Anaxians show comradery and kinship toward you, giving you shelter and food if outside of the Archipelago. You are automatically granted passage back to the Archipelago if requested, with the Anaxian Government covering the cost."

### Defense

Defense of Anax is provided by the all volunteer military, in three distinct branches: Infantry, Cavalry, and Navy. Service in the military is mandatory only for foreigners that wish to gain citizenship, or for any that wish to hold any form of elected office.

#### Infantry

The single largest military branch in Anax, the Infantry, is also the easiest to join, especially for foreigners, due to the simple nature of their fighting.

##### Phalanx

The Phalanx are the Heavy Infantry, the more common of the two types of infantry fielded by Anax. While Phalanx is also the formation used by the heavy infantry, it has become synonymous with the fighters in question. Because of the size and nature of Phalanx units, it is not uncommon to see a Cleric, usually of the War Domain, or an Oath of the Crown or Glory Paladin, as part of the unit, if not in command. A Hoplite is the generic name for an individual soldier in a Phalanx. More than one raider or enemy has landed on Anaxian soil and found a Phalanx shieldwall advancing toward them.

##### Peltas

The Peltas are the Light Infantry and are usually acting in a skirmish or supporting role for the Phalanx. Their role is to harass the enemy from a distance and to keep enemies away from the flank of the Phalanx. Each Peltas carries a pike to use to form a pike wall for the sole purpose of halting a cavalry charge, as well as a collection of spears or javelins for ranged combat. Peltas are the only infantry unit fielded by Setess and the smaller villages in their influence, as a Phalanx is hard-pressed to advance through the forest and the Peltas are easier to equip and maintain.

#### Cavalry

The smallest of the branches, and also the hardest to get in to, the Cavalry is designed to either break enemy formations, or to scout and raid, running down those that flee. Entry into the Cavalry requires ownership of a horse, as horses are hard to raise on the Archipelago and therefore too valuable.

##### Ippiki

The Ippiki are the light cavalry, the more common of the two types of cavalry. Ippiki act as scouts, messengers, and raiders, hitting behind the enemy's lines to cut off supplies, as well as take out archers. Daily duties for Ippiki include patrols of the shores in areas not covered by a fortress. In the forest city of Setess, Ippiki are more common, as the lighter cavalry is better suited for trees.

##### Hetair

The Hetair are the Anaxian heavy cavalry and the smallest of all unit types in Anax. Only six units of Hetair exist and one is used to guard the Monarch when they travel. In combat, Hetair are used solely to break enemy infantry formations, especially once they've engaged the Phalanx. Because that sometimes means riding into a wall of pikes, Hetair horses wear armored chest pieces and the discipline required is almost that of the Phalanx. Aside from the unit in Melis, one unit resides in the Arcadian Citadel, where the small amount of land outside the walls allow for the Hetair charge to be crushing.

#### Navy

The Navy, or Carcinos in the Anaxian tongue, consists of heavy Triremes and light Pentokonters, and is used entirely for coastal defense, as well as defending Melis Harbor, with the occasional foray out into deeper waters to head off an invasion force or handle a sighting of a sea monster. Due to the relative ease of service in the Carcinos, the requirement for citizenship is raised to seven years, though individuals that retired from the Mariner Cartel may be given a reduced requirement, if they spent a lot of their time in and around Anax.

## Trivia

* Anax is the only nation to date that has neither fought a war of aggression, nor been successfully invaded, mostly due to isolation and the varying terrain, though not for lack of trying.
* Anaxian culture deems surnames as something to hide, to avoid connection with family and potential nepotism. As such, Anaxians refer to themselves as "[name] of [city]". If on official business for the Monarch that takes them outside of the Archipelago, or the join the Order, they use "of Anax" instead.

## References

1. ↑ Airships can only travel over water for short distances. The open ocean has winds too powerful for airships.
2. ↑ Due to the safety and culture of Anax, human majority is incredibly marginal.