Baum (Mihabu Laylat)

Baum visits his hometown.

Baum I. (born as Mihabu Laylat) is an Alokhradi politician, economist and former farmer. He is the former Minister of Trade of Alokhrad and was the Governor of the Province of Astrova. He has accompanied Alokhrad in its development for several decades. Presently he is an advisor to the government of his country.

## The life of Baum

### Early years

Mihabu was born the son of a wealthy businessman in a realm far to the west of the known map. His childhood was spent in incredible wealth, his father owning several shops, trading posts and mansions. After he became too greedy and tried to put his fellow traders out of business, they spread negative rumours about him. When these spread around the city, he and his family were exiled. Only by giving all his savings and possessions to the people of the town could his family survive. The family fled east, where his father took odd jobs to support the family. Trapped in his new poverty, his father fell into alcohol and was one day found dead in a dark alley in the city. Mihabu moved in with his uncle, who was never kind to his father. He was a middle-class farmer and provided for Mihabu and his mother. With the goal of clearing his family's name and his father's name, Mihabu eventually set out to make a life for himself as a farmer and later in higher positions.

### Arriving in Alokhrad

Arriving in Alokhrad, Mihabu first moved into a makeshift accommodation. With the support of the city, he finally built a house, which he lived in from then on. He kept his head above water by working on the nation's farms and in the mines. Later, on his own, he started a construction project for large farms in Astrova, a desert town that was not very self-sufficient. This project also made an impression on Alokhrad's government circles. When the election of the prime minister came up, Mihabu supported the candidate Weirdo I, who eventually won. Mihabu's father imparted economic knowledge to his son even before the fall of the family. With this, Mihabu worked out a plan for the stagnating Alokhradian economy. This was so convincing that Prime Minister Weirdo appointed him Minister of Trade. Since then, Mihabu has held the title of Baum I, a title that refers to his family's glorious past before the great calamity.

### His time as Minister of Trade

As Minister of Trade, Baum worked hard to build a national trade organisation that would bring glory, recognition and economic growth to Alokhrad in the Empire and beyond. More potatoes were produced than ever before, which Baum had stockpiled as an emergency reserve. But the general inactivity of the nation took hold of him too, and he kept an unexcited and concentrated life in Astrova for some time.

### Rebuilding Alokhrad

When the nation finally woke up, so did Baum as Minister of Trade. His place of residence, Astrova no longer had an active governor and in the government they were already preparing to leave the city to its own devices. Baum then offered himself as governor for the dying province and tried to save the city. While residents like Drarzetkoman worked to renovate the city, Baum tried to attract new residents. With a general upswing for Astrova, the population of Astrova rose again. Since his appointment as governor, Baum has lived in the governor's residence in Astrova, a villa with a large garden. The unfinished building projects were demolished, making room for new ideas. Baum did not run again in the next election of Minister of Trade and now confines himself to advisory work. He still lives in Astrova.

## Economic positions and politics

### Alokhrad

Baum stands loyally behind the Sultan of Alokhrad. He believes in the stability of the monarchy, which, coupled with democratic elements, strikes the necessary balance between participation as well as stability and dignity. Economically, Baum advocates in Alokhrad itself, an approach of state control of the economy coupled with incentives for self-performance through state investment. By his own admission, however, this is an economic form that is specifically adapted to the individual needs of a small, low-population state like Alokhrad.

### Haven

Since the collapse of the empire, Baum has been actively campaigning for a reconstruction of Uldarash. He believes that a united state is the only way to secure peace in Haven in the long term.