Al-Marila

"Infima ad Astra Prospectamus"

A utopian worker project founded by the President of the Cleaners & Keepers Union, Fae Faolan and her council of advisers. The settlement project is founded on the fundamental rights set aside in The Keeper's Constitution, chief among which are respecting women, and the personal rights to liberty, self determination, and ownership of one's own labor.

> **"***Welcome to the Consulary Republic of Al-Marila, the Hearth of Ithel. In this laboratory of democracy, a utopian worker's project drives the growing nation's diverse and flourishing population to build their community with the ideals of collectivism and individual expression in close concert.***"**
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> ~**Welcome Flyer at Ghilaya's Port District**
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## History

The Consulary Republic of Al-Marila originally began as a settlement project in Year 4 of the Age of Might shortly after the founding of the Cleaners & Keepers Union (CKU), whose members agreed that while Khaldun was a nation full of people who needed the support of community and solidarity that a Union provides, the political climate would prove hostile to organizing activities. Thus, starting in Year 4, the CKU began gathering popular support and resources from across the old world as part of the Ithel and Vaniya settlement drive.

Using their connections within Ashsuru, the CKU assembled a cabinet and popular support to propose a sponsorship deal with the rising Clan Maskini to fund the project in exchange for a trade deal once the colony was established.

### Founding of Ghilaya

The capitol city and first settlement of Al-Marila, Ghilaya, was founded in Year 5 of the Age of Might, with the formal charter of founding signed on Desnus 5th, the Fifth day of the Fifth month of the Fifth year, marking the beginning of the Republic of Al-Marila's nascent history, on the shore of Ithel's Northern Central landmass. The first year of its development was marked by the growing pains of establishing a republic with such a diverse set of inhabitants, and problems with smugglers arose to threaten the reputation of the Port of Ghilaya, but swift and decisive action by the nation's unified front of organized labor and a cadre of *diversely educated* vigilantes nipped the issue in the bud.

### Athreyan Transitionary Government

Following the collapse of the Ithel-Vaniya Allied Coalition's talks in Ghilaya in Rova Year 7, the Faolan Consulate began to dissemble, with Al-Marila fading into the background soon after for a while as an agreement came into place to settle unrest by installing Athreyan governors. The Consulate reorganized and found its way back to public light with new elections finally being held in mid Year 9 to restore the Faolans to sovereignty.

### Relations with Esica

The Principality of Esica is a next door neighbor to the burgeoning nation of Al-Marila, and the prognosis is grim for relations between the two. Starting in Year 9, after probing by adventurers and intelligence networks, it was discovered that beside the Red Prince's imperious attitude toward the Chosen as rivals he seeks to bring under his heel, Esica is fond of forced servitude and labor, which runs counter to Al-Marila's ideals, and the official stance of the Consulate toward Esica is cold silence as all sides prepare for the inevitable joint conflict.

## Government

The Consulary Republic consists of a two-tiered governmental system which places two popularly elected Consuls who serve four year terms, and their Cabinet, hereafter referred to as the Consulate, at the top of the governing body. Among the Consulate, there are two popularly elected positions: the Speaker of the Senate, who serves a two-year term, and the Vice Consul, who serves a four year term.

The two Consuls, the "Broom" and the "Hammer," are divided in their duties. The Broom performs primarily administrative, legislative, and Logistical duties, while the Hammer handles the military and general industry with economic policy. Both Consuls may help each other with these duties, but ultimately they act as equals with distributed responsibility. At the founding of the nation, the two Consuls were Fae Faolan as the Broom, and Edith as the Hammer, as leaders of the colonial expedition.

Below the Consulate is the Senate, consisting of a body of 50 popularly elected Senators, who remain in office for 6 years.

Beneath the Senate serves the popularly elected Mayor of Ghilaya, who serves a four year term.

The Consulate manages the overall operation of the nation, proposing bills, laws, and actions which are voted on by the Senate to be implemented. As of yet, the majority of the workforce is currently employed by the government, and the government workforce is responsible for building and maintaining infrastructure.

The Keeper's Constitution guarantees the protection of women and other traditionally disadvantaged groups among its highest ideals, as well as the maintenance of worker ownership of the means of production. The Constitution also guarantees the popular right to initiate a referendum against the sitting members of any position with a 2/3 supermajority vote in favor.

## Geography & Weather

Most of Al-Marila's territory is arid desert, dominated by vast windy desert plains that follows the curve of the River Ouroburos in Ithel. The original founding centered on a well-watered grassland forest where rain is rather heavy, located on the west side of Horizon's Ken on the eastern edge of Ithel. Having migrated to the continent originally from Khaldun, the original settlers found this place easy, and rather preferable, to settle.

### Ghurfat ul-Khadima

The southeastern first territory of Al-Marila. The region's name means, literally, The Maid's Chambers, and is dominated by warm, wet tropical weather that encourages abundant growth of trees and crops in the bread basket of Al-Marila, stretching from the shimmering Lake Edie in the west to the Faeport Peninsula at the eastern edge. Here the tremendously long River Ouroburos snakes its way through its northern end with a large oasis lake, Hammam al-Kemat (Kemat's Bath) pooling naturally for flora and fauna to grow. To the southeastern region lies the mysterious forest, Memento Mori, whose boughs contain secrets the locals simply will not elaborate on if pressed, with many sacred or taboo places yet to be uncovered.

The region's main exports are lumber, grain, coal, with industrial and rare minerals in the Masani basin to its northwest corner, home to tea fields of the famous Saviorleaf Tea, whose leaves can be brewed to create a strong and universally recognizable punch-like alcohol that reminds one of halcyon days of youth. The substance Flametar was discovered in mines along the basin, a black, oily substance that can be processed into highly flammable oils, lubricants, and weatherproof sealants and rubbers with involved alchemical processes. It has numerous industrial applications and is a closely guarded resource for the nation.

Of note, Ghurfat ul-Khadima is home to the ominous Pit [wiki page soon], a 100 foot by 100 foot perfect geometrically square vertical hole in the middle of the Khadima plains, which serves as a religious destination for pilgrims all around the tribes of north-central Ithel. What is thrown into the hole is never seen or heard from again. Attempts to discover the event horizon of its abyssal properties have resulted in casualties and have proven abortive. Current estimates are in the ballpark of "whenever it is too far to hope for return." Research into the Pit has been halted after several researchers began developing the irrational urge to cast themselves into its depths, citing the fact that "it hungers," or "it whispers to me in my thoughts."

### Mawqid Basin

Beneath Ghurfat ul-Khadima is an expansive network of underground caverns named the Mawqid, or "Stove," atop which Ghilaya, the "kettle" sits. The cavern's entrance in Ghilaya is kept under strict surveillance, though in general people freely travel to the depths to make use of their mineral rich mines, among which can be found the beautiful red crystal Rosemite. This red crystalline mineral that produces a vivid red metal useful for its innate filth-repellant properties; it can be used in ceramics or silverware alloyed with steel to create dinnerware that cleans itself.

Notably, a section of the basin hides the beautiful and mysterious Blueblood Grotto, a leyline node where, when blood is spilled onto the rocks, luminous blue crystal veins light up along its tunnels and caverns for a short while proportional to the amount of blood it is fed. Current estimates are that the cave will light up for about 1 minute per Constitution damage from bleeding. Certain local religious devotees come to this place as a meditative spot, used for certain benign blood rituals. However, it is cautioned against overfeeding the cave, because in its deepest recesses, where no one has ever survived long enough to explore clearly, there is something that eternally feeds on that blood, waiting to hatch.

### Sahra Hayim

Sahra Hayim, lit. "Desert of the Wanderer" makes up the northeastern edge of Al-Marila, and is the source of the longest river in the world, the River Ouroburos, with a length estimated to measure about 2112 miles. Its climate is almost universally dominated by sandstorms and infrequent rains, and its place near the equator makes it eternally sweltering hot. To the western edge it is bordered by Arslany Soyu, the Lion's Fang mountains, a rough, craggy, tall desert mountain. The region is home to many different nomadic tribes of Ithelians who speak a gruff and guttural Ithelian dialect that takes some getting used to even for other Ithelians. The tribes of Sahra Hayim are known for their incredible hardiness and for their skill as riders and warriors.

Aside from the miraculous Source of the River Ouroburos at Edenspring, the most breathtaking natural feature of Sahra Hayim is the Khurukh Murun, the Soaring River, a section of the River Ouroburos where a planar rift to the plane of air billows forth from the earth to lift the entire river over the canyon created by the rift. The river itself aligns with a ley line of water-aspected mana that keeps its shape and flows smoothly despite the disturbance, creating a breathtaking natural display of a mile-long arch of flowing water, two miles wide from "bank to bank," over a quarter-mile wide canyon. While other marvels of the land carry deep, ominous meaning, the unrestrained beauty of Khurukh Murun inspires artists, bards, and chroniclers to the wonder to witness its majesty. As far as all tests have gone, the water is safe to drink, safe to travel, and safe to approach, save for the danger of being sucked up into the air flow and plunged into the river closer to the canyon's edge.

## Technology and Education

Al-Marila prides itself on progressive policy friendly toward scientific advancement and readily adopts and experiments with new technologies. Though not necessarily known to be inventors, Al-Marilans enjoy sophisticated civil engineering, well-planned cities with thoroughly modern plumbing and transportation systems, with plenty of magitech to help address efficiency concerns.

Education, however, is one of Al-Marila's great prides, and though many other nations would like to be at the cutting edge or pioneering new ground, Al-Marila's educational goal is to set the bar for professionalism in one's field, and to produce a highly sophisticated and educated workforce-- after all, the experimental form of government relies on the education of the workforce, as they ultimately have the final say on who gets to run the nation. It's a top priority therefore to make sure that the everyday person have access to all the tools they need to thrive, and all the tools they want, as well.

## Sitting Members of the Consulate (Leaders)

* **Fae Faolan, Ruler |** Consul of The Broom
* **Kimberly Mercer, Ruler |** Consul of The Hammer
* **Scamp, Heir** | Vice Consul
* **Alexis, Councilor** | Speaker of the Senate
* **Claire Saigneur De Luna, General** | Partisan General
* **Heidi Papillon, Grand Diplomat** | Secretary of State
* **Sophia Duscenia, High Priestess** | Secretary of Divinity
* **Horatia Lina, Magister** | Secretary of Education
* **Geneve Klaus** **, Marshal** | Secretary of the Interior
* **Kimi Khanna, Royal Enforcer** | Attorney General
* **Moroshi, Spymaster** | Secretary of Intelligence
* **Aquilo Vilaverde, Treasurer** | Secretary of Commerce
* **Cupreus Blacksalt, Warden** | Partisan Watch Commander

## Ranks of Elected Officials (Nobility)

* **Major:** Senator, Justice, Governor
* **Moderate:** Alderman, Burgess, Judge, Mayor
* **Minor:** Representative, Commissioner, Cadre Leader

## Laws

#### Misdemeanors:

* Trespass
* Petty theft
* Disturbing the peace
* Public drunkenness
* Destruction of property

#### Felonies:

* Assault
* Riot
* Inciting riot
* Piracy
* Theft
* Robbery
* Unlicensed practice of necromancy
* Unlicensed practice of medicine
* Bribery of government officials
* Impersonation of government officials

#### Capital Crimes:

* Murder
* Treason
* Rape
* Slavery

### Undead in Al-Marila

The practice of necromancy is not illegal in Al-Marila, but the way undead are handled is detailed in Al-Marila's Undead Policy Code.