[GOSS 3] Wastreu

[Ky]

The State of Wastreu

Formerly known as the Kingdom of Wastreu, this desert country has a culture and history as rich as its arid climate.

Government: (Click to View)

Description:
Constitutional monarchy; king has limited executive power
Bicameral parliamentary legislature; members of the two Houses (Lords and Commons) serve as both legislators and enforcers
Three-tiered court system; magistrates handle municipal disputes, district courts handle judicial matters in major cities, Holy Court of Salireth is highest court of appeals

Leaders:
King Benjamin XII, Reigning Monarch
Reuben Valarius, Speaker of the House of Lords

State Religion: Old God worship

National Anthem:


Watch on YouTube

Geography: (Click to View)

Description: Nutrient-rich desert farmland to the east, sandy desert to the west - dry climate all around

Population: 501,500 as of last census, as many as 62,000 living/wandering outside the borders at any one time

Cities:
Salireth, capital city on the central coast, home to the Temple of the Old Gods
Jabba, port town on the eastern coast, no relation to the Hutt
Doran, town just south of the lake, home to lakeside retreats for the rich
Hedrinx, port town on the far southwestern coast, launching point for desert expeditions

Culture: (Click to View)

Religion: Old God worship is predominant (especially among the rich), but there are also many Luvanists, atheists, and tribal nomads

Magic: In wartime, used defensively, and in peacetime, geomancy and hydromancy are encouraged for mundane tasks such as farming

Language: Upper class almost exclusively speaks the secular tongue, though Wastese is common among the middle and lower classes

Architecture: Almost all buildings crafted from genuine Wastrean sandstone

Dress: Light (in both color and weight) tanned hide robes common, goggles and masks becoming more prominent, silk items are sought-after

Economy: (Click to View)

Description:
Stratified social classes
Members of lower class are either farmers, construction workers, or unemployed
Members of middle class tend to be landowners, business owners, or both
Members of upper class are seemingly capable of working in any trade their hearts desire

Exports: Barrel cacti, prickly pears, dates, various citrus fruits, copper, quartz, jade, and gold

Imports: Silk, magic equipment, livestock, lumber, seeds, farming tools, alcoholic beverages, and silver

Crime:
Enormous criminal element, especially below the poverty line; petty theft common
Courts generally lax in regards to piracy, smuggling, and manslaughter charges
Premeditated murder discouraged due to existence of death penalty

News (Archived): (Click to View)

Top Story:
Three more deaths have been reported at the Coy Coyote Cantina in the center of the country's capital, clearly caused by alcohol poisoning. This is not the first scandal to take place in what officials are calling "a den of iniquity", and it will likely not be the last; the owner and proprietor has insisted that he will continue to serve his most potent culinary concoctions as long as there is public demand, even if it "may be dangerous to someone who can't hold his liquor." At press time, this reporter is determined to sample the Burning Death Rum and party it up down at the Coy Coyote.

Politics:
The streets of Salireth were ablaze with rioting this morning as protesters demanded immediate political change. "The rich have had it too good for too long," one activist said. "The church needs to get out of our government," another chimed in. Despite increasing pressure to release a statement on these and other demands, officials have declined to comment.

Science:
Gandorf the Black, Arch-Mage of the Aeromancers' Guild, has approved a public demonstration of a functional flying machine sometime in the next week. This hang glider, as its inventors call it, is designed to use latent wind energy to lift people above the ground and propel them through the air. "It's only a proof of concept, though," one scientist warns. "This invention won't grant us the flight power of a dragon - let alone survive very long in combat with one - and should not be used near hills or bodies of water."

(OOC: This country is the American Southwest, Israel, Morrowind, the Mojave Wasteland, and Tatooine all rolled into one.)

[Ky]

(OOC: Hmm, I think I've inadvertently taken a page out of Subb's book. It appears to me that this nation has many parallels to the second game's Capitalistian: A divided populace with two leaders, who represent a sort of duality.

King Benjamin - who is influential, but not politically powerful - and Speaker Valarius - who is technically the highest authority, but is neither experienced nor revered - illustrate the difference between influence and power; the former is important in terms of thoughts and conceptions, while the latter is more practical and has more to do with action.

Though it's notable that they're both on the same team - unfortunately, that team is a religious elite, the kind resented by much of the lower class...)

[Ky]

King Benjamin and Speaker Valarius return to the capital of Salireth, portions of which are currently plagued by rioting. The outskirts, in particular, have seen their fair share of looting and civil disobedience. Luckily, the two leaders are not impeded as they make their way back to the government sector of the city.

Valarius: My servants have found some deserters that can take on the dragon quest. We just have to throw a few empty military honors their way and wipe their criminal records, and they'll be committed to their little crown hunt without question.

Benjamin: I'd hoped we could send more experienced explorers, but I suppose it is not a great concern. What news of the riots?

Valarius: You saw the large one last week before we left. Though that crowd has been forced to disperse, we still have protesters all over the city - our military can't round them up fast enough to put a stop to it.

Benjamin: The conditions my people are under are lamentable. Perhaps you could convince the House of Lords to...

Valarius: Hmm? Oh, yes, yes, lamentable indeed. My heart goes out to them, but if we were to cave into their demands, wouldn't we be the worse for it? It's a shame, but we shouldn't have to suffer a decline in our nation's power - instead, we could appease them. It's in their best interest. Conquer more land, build new cities, distract the poor with new opportunities to join in our expansion as Wastreu becomes a world power. They'll forget all about any perceived slights in how they're being ruled, I assure you.

Benjamin: ...Very well. You're the Speaker.

[Ky]

Members of Parliament quickly address the public with the news that Wastreu will be attempting to expand its borders for the first time in hundreds of years. Despite Speaker Valarius's predictions, however, the reaction from those below the poverty line is lukewarm at best.

This promise of territorial expansion, however, is quickly overshadowed by news from the League - an assassin has killed an upper-class member of the delegation for the sake of an as-of-yet unseen revolution. Word of this audacious murder quickly becomes gossip; some speculate that Free Isle marauders are attempting to sow discord within Wastrean borders, whereas others link the killing to the recent protests.

To the surprise of much of the country, the King, normally forthright with information concerning his countrymen, instead chooses not to comment.

[Ky]

News: (Click to View)

Top Story:
In a rare show of concordance between the upper and lower classes, the quincentennial celebration of the Aholatawata River Festival is now underway. For 500 years now, the people of Wastreu (as well as a few residents of Sonar Hills) have gathered at the camps and hamlets along the river separating the two nations in celebration of the naming of this body of fresh water amidst an otherwise arid desert and unforgiving salty sea. For those not familiar with the tale, legend has it that the ancestral settlers of Northern Wastreu met the early citizens of Sonar Hills at this bountiful stream, and these settlers asked their neighbors for the name of the river. A child replied, "Aholatawata." In addition, it is rumored that this child (having long since grown up, now presumed dead after an extraordinarily long life ending less than 300 years ago) revealed at the bicentennial celebration that what they meant was that the river had "a whole lot of water" in it. Regardless, the name stuck, and the Aholatawata River is now the site of great revelry and entertainment.

Politics:
The Aeromancers' Guild was home to a large protest shortly after the first demonstration of its new flying machine. Guildmaster Gandorf the Black has declined the chance to comment, but critics of the guild have been very vocal in their protests. "Aeromancy is a throwaway degree," one man said, "and the rich should be ashamed for squandering their educations and making our system worse." "Man was not meant to soar the skies!" another woman said, and added, "This guild could very well be attracting dragons to our great nation, when it should have its feet firmly planted on the ground!" At press time, many of the Adept Wizards who have graduated from the guild are raising a public support movement for air magic majors in need of employment.

Intrigue:
It has been nearly a week since the King has distanced himself from his people, and rumors are spreading like a sandstorm. Public officials insist that he has retreated to his manor to study and reflect on recent policy decisions and will return to politics when he is ready. Some citizens suspect, however, that he has gone missing. "The figurehead has fallen off the mast," one pundit quipped. Whatever the case, the nation eagerly waits for his return. "I think, whatever he's doing, that he'll be alright," an unkempt, bearded hobo said, "and I wouldn't worry too much about it."

[Ky]

Breaking News: Wastreu has made its first conquest of uncharted territory in many years, stretching out to the southwest to claim as much of the desert coast as possible. Furthermore, two new towns - Doran and Hedrinx - have been built to accommodate a recent population boom as well. Despite the Speaker's promises of job creation, however, members of the lower class have been accusing the Wastrean government of further improving the standard of living for the rich at their expense. "Lavish homes on Lake Aholatawata? Really?" one protester asked. "It's unthinkable that the waltecites would rather flee to their new mansions than face the burden of helping those less fortunate!" The government, however, has other concerns - the House of Lords is putting significant pressure on the League of Nations to turn in the assassin they imprisoned earlier this week to Wastrean custody. "I'm headed to the League myself to see to it that this murderer faces justice," House Speaker Reuben Valarius said before his departure.