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Hallandren (edit)

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→‎Government and Religion: government rework
(→‎Geography and Ecology: removal Pahn Kahl in geography)
(→‎Government and Religion: government rework)
The Hallandren people have access to fine wines, sweet potatoes, figs, nuts, and garlic, among other foods; it is unknown, however, how much grows in the area and how much is imported.{{book ref|wb|14}}{{book ref|wb|26}} The Bright Sea is full of life, including many sorts of mussels, fish, and tentacled creatures.{{book ref|wb|22}}{{book ref|wb|40}}{{book ref|wb|53}}
 
== Government and Religion ==
{{quote
|The Hallandren theocracy is a top-heavy structure laden with bureaucratic foolishness and inertia.
}}
 
=== MilitaryTheocracy ===▼
Hallandren is a theocracy ruled by the Pantheon of the [[Returned]], headed by the [[God King]]. The '''Iridescent Tones''', which grew out of the [[Cult of the Returned]], is the religion behind this theocracy, and is responsible for the worship and care of the Hallandren Returned. Each Returned is given a palace in the '''Court of Gods''' in T'Telir, and served by a group of attendants and priests. The priests organize the interactions between the Returned and the citizens, including the weekly offering of [[Breath]] that the Returned require to survive and the daily hearing of petitions.
Hallandren is a theocracy ruled by the [[Court of Gods|Pantheon]] of the [[Returned]], headed by the [[God King]]{{book ref|wb|3}} The religion behind this theocracy is the Iridescent Tones. A religion that worships the Returned as gods,{{book ref|wb|3}} and believes they returned to guide and bless their people.{{book ref|wb|3}}
 
The [[Returned]] have duties and votes on specific matters in the city and the empire.{{book ref|wb|16}} The task of the priesthood is generally to inform the gods of the people’s opinions.{{book ref|wb|16}} The Returned can then make informed decisions, which the priests enforce. In reality the priests handle most of the minor decisions, so that the Returned only vote on the major decisions.{{book ref|wb|50}} This method of government, waiting on debates that must be brought to the gods (who cannot leave the court to be among the people of the city) by the priests, operates notoriously slowly.
As part of the government, each Returned is assigned specific administrative duties, such as maintaining the city sewers or commanding part of the army. The God King can nominally make any decision he pleases, but in reality much of the day-to-day government decisions are made by the priests of the various gods.
 
The government loans out [[Lifeless]] to help citizens with menial labor such as clearing land of trees in order to create farmland. Terms of such a loan stipulate that in war time any food produced on the landowner's land will be seized by the Returned. While this is specific to the policy for lending out the Lifeless, the government retains the right to seize any land during war time regardless.{{book ref|wb|22}}▼
A new God King is selected when an infant Returns.{{book ref|wb|55}} The God King’s priests take an infant Returning as a sign that it’s time to change God Kings. They then choose a wife for the God King and hope she has a child, as they would rather have the God King's literal child.{{wob ref|7344}} Retired God King's are proclaimed dead from healing those in need and are taken to one of the isles in the middle of the Inner Sea.{{book ref|wb|27}} They maintain a lavish lifestyle until they die.{{wob ref|7400}}▼
 
====Main Court Assembly ====▼
There is a holiday known as Gods Feast, on which people take the evening off and feast.{{book ref|wb|22}}
The Court Assembly is a standing commission of the Court of Gods that provides decisions to Hallandren's citizens.{{book ref|wb|8}} It meets daily to make small judgments, but important discussions are reserved for weekly meetings of the full Assembly.{{book ref|wb|8}} The Assembly is made up primarily of priests and priestesses, and meetings are held in a large arena at the back of the Court of Gods.{{book ref|wb|8}}{{book ref|wb|14}} The Returned do not sit on the Assembly,{{book ref|wb|8}} but many of them regularly attend the weekly meetings to watch from ornate stone observation boxes,{{book ref|wb|14}} including Susebron.{{book ref|wb|44}} Some Returned do not concern themselves with politics and rarely attend,{{book ref|wb|47}} while others find the meetings boring because they believe their opinions do not matter.{{book ref|wb|30}} During Assembly meetings, arguments are brought forth regarding various topics such as relations with Idris; [[Siri]] was also presented to the Court at the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}} The Assembly's discussions are often full of rhetoric{{book ref|wb|17}} and politically savvy Returned try to influence the direction of the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|16}} Attending the Court Assembly is thought of as a privilege by the people of Hallandren; there are only four benches in the arena for citizens to attend, so only people who are rich, influential, favored by a god, or have at least fifty Breaths attend regularly.{{book ref|wb|15}} Average citizens may enter a lottery to win a token to attend the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}}{{book ref|wb|50}}▼
 
Some Returned do not concern themselves with politics and rarely attend,{{book ref|wb|47}} while others find the meetings boring because they believe their opinions do not matter.{{book ref|wb|30}} During Assembly meetings, arguments are brought forth regarding various topics such as relations with Idris; [[Siri]] was also presented to the Court at the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}} The Assembly's discussions are often full of rhetoric{{book ref|wb|17}} and politically savvy Returned try to influence the direction of the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|16}} Attending the Court Assembly is thought of as a privilege by the people of Hallandren; there are only four benches in the arena for citizens to attend, so only people who are rich, influential, favored by a god, or have at least fifty Breaths attend regularly.{{book ref|wb|15}} Average citizens may enter a lottery to win a token to attend the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}}{{book ref|wb|50}}
When Siri first meets Treledees she describes him as wearing a deep robe with massive peaked shoulders, making it look like armour, and a matching headdress. This may be the general clothing for a Hallandren priest, however it is more likely he wears it due to his function as high priest of the God king rather then it being a standard for priests.{{book ref|wb|4}}
 
====Main Assembly====
▲The government loans out [[Lifeless]] to help citizens with menial labor such as clearing land of trees in order to create farmland. Terms of such a loan stipulate that in war time any food produced on the landowner's land will be seized by the Returned. While this is specific to the policy for lending out the Lifeless, the government retains the right to seize any land during war time regardless.{{book ref|wb|22}}
The regular Court Assembly is not empowered to make major decisions such as a declaration of war; instead, all of the Returned must attend a gathering known as a "main" or "general" assembly so they can all cast a vote.{{book ref|wb|34}}{{book ref|wb|48}} The outcome of a Main Assembly becomes the Will of the Pantheon. All the gods have the right to refuse the Will of the Pantheon, although it is frowned upon. These special assemblies are rare and often very crowded, as citizens who win lottery tokens to attend an Assembly often save them for a main assembly so they can see all of the gods together.{{book ref|wb|50}} ▼
 
==== The Iridescent TonesTerritories ====
Hallandren controls the entire jungle valley, and is bordered by [[Idris|mountains]] to the north{{book ref|wb|5}} and east.{{book ref|wb|55}} It is also bordered by the [[Bright Sea]]{{book ref|wb|4}} and controls about one third of it’s coastline. They also control multiple islands in the Bright Sea.{{wob ref|7344}}
When people die, they go across something called the Iridescent Wave, going into the afterlife. The Iridescent Tones are multiple entities. Each god represents an ideal.The Iridescent Tones teach that the [[Returned]] are people who have died, then seen some event or have knowledge about the afterlife, and then decided to come back, blessing the People and giving knowledge about the future. The Returned come back with a goal, although they forget it; leaping over the Iridescent Wave leaves the mind fragmented. The petitions are meant to help the gods remember why they came back. Not everyone can return, only those who died in a way that is courageous, honest, brave, etc. can return.{{book ref|wb|12}}
 
==== CourtAdministrative AssemblyDistricts ====
Hallandren is made up of a number of provinces. The only known province is [[Pahn Kahl]], a quiet and peaceful province in the south of Hallandren.{{book ref|wb|55}} This province is home to an ethnic group called [[Pahn Kahl#Culture|Pahn Kahl]],{{book ref|wb|55}} although this isn’t the only place in Hallandren where these people can be found.{{book ref|wb|32}}
▲The Court Assembly is a standing commission of the Court of Gods that provides decisions to Hallandren's citizens.{{book ref|wb|8}} It meets daily to make small judgments, but important discussions are reserved for weekly meetings of the full Assembly.{{book ref|wb|8}} The Assembly is made up primarily of priests and priestesses, and meetings are held in a large arena at the back of the Court of Gods.{{book ref|wb|8}}{{book ref|wb|14}} The Returned do not sit on the Assembly,{{book ref|wb|8}} but many of them regularly attend the weekly meetings to watch from ornate stone observation boxes,{{book ref|wb|14}} including Susebron.{{book ref|wb|44}} Some Returned do not concern themselves with politics and rarely attend,{{book ref|wb|47}} while others find the meetings boring because they believe their opinions do not matter.{{book ref|wb|30}} During Assembly meetings, arguments are brought forth regarding various topics such as relations with Idris; [[Siri]] was also presented to the Court at the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}} The Assembly's discussions are often full of rhetoric{{book ref|wb|17}} and politically savvy Returned try to influence the direction of the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|16}} Attending the Court Assembly is thought of as a privilege by the people of Hallandren; there are only four benches in the arena for citizens to attend, so only people who are rich, influential, favored by a god, or have at least fifty Breaths attend regularly.{{book ref|wb|15}} Average citizens may enter a lottery to win a token to attend the Assembly.{{book ref|wb|15}}{{book ref|wb|50}}
 
▲====Main Assembly====
=== The Monarchy ===
▲The regular Court Assembly is not empowered to make major decisions such as a declaration of war; instead, all of the Returned must attend a gathering known as a "main" or "general" assembly so they can all cast a vote.{{book ref|wb|34}}{{book ref|wb|48}} These special assemblies are rare and often very crowded, as citizens who win lottery tokens to attend an Assembly often save them for a main assembly so they can see all of the gods together.{{book ref|wb|50}}
==== The God King ====
Hallandren has had a monarchy for its entire history,{{book ref|wb|32}} some three hundred years. All of their kings have been [[Returned]], and all of them are named Susebron, with the current king being [[Susebron]] the fifth.{{book ref|wb|32}} Due to their nature as Returned they carry the title of God King.
 
The God King has absolute power in Hallandren,{{book ref|eb|2}} although in reality he acts more like a figurehead for the priesthood.{{book ref|wb|20}} The priests also cut out his tongue to prevent him from using his [[Light of Peace|Breaths]],{{book ref|wb|20}} as their god [[Peacegiver]] commanded them to do.{{book ref|wb|40}} The God King resides in a [[Court of Gods#God king’s palace|large black palace]] in the [[Court of Gods]].{{book ref|wb|4}} He can also veto any decision made by the Pantheon of Gods.{{book ref|wb|50}}
 
Some people consider [[Peacegiver]] to have been the first God King,{{book ref|wb|32}} while others don’t think so, and instead consider Susebron the first as the first king.{{book ref|wb|32}} At least one of the God Kings ruled for a century. The God Kings are believed to have received life themselves from Peacegiver.{{book ref|wb|32}}
 
==== The Queen ====
For most of a God King’s rule the Hallandren are without a queen.{{book ref|wb|2}} This is because a queen is only selected after an infant Returns.{{wob ref|7344}}
 
The Queen is formally addressed with ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Your Excellency’.{{book ref|wb|32}}{{book ref|wb|55}} She is also sometimes addressed as ‘Vessel’ as she is considered to be a Vessel for the God King.{{book ref|wb|55}}
 
The Queen has only one duty, to provide the kingdom with an heir.{{book ref|wb|8}} She spends the rest of her time being idle, enjoying the same luxuries as the Returned.{{book ref|wb|8}} She is not allowed to leave the [[Court of Gods]].{{book ref|wb|8}} She is also one of the few people in the Court of Gods who are allowed to touch the God King.{{book ref|wb|6}}
 
==== Succession ====
▲A new God King is selected when an infant Returns.{{book ref|wb|55}} The God King’s priests take an infant Returning as a sign that it’s time to change God Kings.{{book ref|wb|55}} They then choose a wife for the God King and hope she has a child, as they would rather have the God King's literal child.{{wob ref|7344}} Sometimes the queen is the actual mother of the child, while other times a marriage is arranged. Retired God King's are proclaimed dead from healing those in need and are taken to one of the isles in the middle of the Inner Sea.{{book ref|wb|27}} They maintain a lavish lifestyle until they die.{{wob ref|7400}}
 
=== Foreign Policy and International Relationships ===
==== Idris ====
Hallandren and [[Idris]] have a mostly antagonistic relationship. This is because of a number of reasons, most of which can find their way back to the [[Manywar]]. One of these reasons is the splintering of [[Hanald]], with both kingdoms claiming the other’s territories as their own.{{book ref|wb|16}} Another reason is the Idrian religion of Austrism. This religion, banished after the [[Manywar]], began teaching against everything that had to do with Hallandren, such as ostentation{{book ref|wb|2}} and awakening.{{book ref|wb|1}} Due to these reasons, along with the false stories told by ramblemen, the hatred of Hallandren became deeply rooted in the Idrian culture.
 
Many Idrians in the lower mountains were forced out of their homes through famine or lack of money,{{book ref|wb|28}} these Idrians, unwilling to make the long and hard journey to [[Bevalis]] to petition the king, traveled south into Hallandren and started working here.{{book ref|wb|28}} These people are looked down upon by both the Idrians and the Hallandren.
 
After the [[Pahn Kahl rebellion]] the God King [[Susebron]] the fifth, a friend of the Idrians, took more direct control of Hallandren politics and because of this the relations with Idris likely improved.
 
==== Tedradel ====
Since the [[Manywar]], which saw Hanald, the predecessor of Hallandren, and Tedradel go to war with each other{{book ref|wb|32}} Tedradel’s opinion of Hallandren hasn’t improved much.{{book ref|wb|1}} Their opinion of Hallandren is so low that [[Yarda]] considers it possible that Tedradel would go to war again, should Idris be attacked.{{book ref|wb|1}}
 
Tedradel still has many traders in T’Telir,{{book ref|wb|9}} and likely other Hallandren cities as well.
▲=== Military ===
The Hallandren Lifeless army was split into four sections of ten thousand troops, each commanded by a different Returned in the Pantheon.{{book ref|wb|34}} They are kept underground in darkness and have people to maintain and exercise them.{{book ref|wb|47}}
 
==== The Northern Kingdoms ====
The commanders prior to the [[Pahn Kahl rebellion]] were [[Lightsong]], [[Hopefinder]], [[Allmother]] and [[Mercystar]].{{book ref|wb|34}} Blushweaver convinced Mercystar to share her command phrase and traded her vote on the council of social ills to Hopefinder in exchange for his command phrase;{{book ref|wb|30}} she later changes both of their command phrases, thus giving her sole control over half of the nation's Lifeless.{{book ref|wb|34}} Blushweaver attempted to do the same with Allmother, but failed to persuade her.{{book ref|wb|34}}{{book ref|wb|38}} Lightsong, however, gained Allmother's trust based on their former association with [[Calmseer]], and they shared their command phrases with each other.{{book ref |wb|42}} Lightsong withheld these phrases from Blushweaver, and later changed both command phrases to one that only he knew, leaving him with sole control over half the total forces of Hallandren.{{book ref|wb|47}} During the Pahn Kahl rebellion, Blushweaver was tortured by the rebels until she gave them her command phrase. Upon seeing Blushweaver die, Lightsong despondently gave up his new command phrase out of fear for [[Llarimar]]'s life.{{book ref|wb|53}}
Hallandren doesn’t have a very great relationship with the Northern Kingdoms. If Hallandren had decided to attack Idris a number of these kingdoms would have aided Idris.{{book ref|wb|5}} Dozens of these kingdoms do not share Hallandren’s views of Idris as a rebel faction.{{book ref|wb|5}}
 
Hallandren trades extensively with the Northern kingdoms.{{book ref|wb|5}}
There are also human city guards, but the bulk of the army is still Lifeless.{{book ref|wb|47}} Additionally, the support structure for the army proper is composed of humans.{{book ref|wb|19}}
 
== History ==
Nightstar The Bright
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