Government and Politics on the Zoasfier
Several of the races of the Zoasfier have organized together in soveriegn nations, embracing several ideologies and systems for governance. An age of discovery and exploration is emerging, and experiments in democracy and other forms of will of the people. Meanwhile, various form of monarchy and oligarchy remain firm. This list described the most significant nations to my stories.
Kingdom of Nivalla (Nivalla)
A mostly human kingdom along the southern coast of the Northern Lands. Immigrants of all races are allowed. Its three largest cities all lie along the Plytha River. The fertile prairie lands carved out by the river form the back-bone of the kingdom. Nivalla is a constitutional monarchy. The role of governing is split between the monarchy and a parliament made up of representatives appointed by regional nobles. In turn, the regional nobles carry out the instructions of the parliament and the monarchy within their regions.
The monarchy follows primogeniture. Upon the death or abdication of a sitting monarch, the next monarch is the first born child regardless of gender. If a monarch dies without children, the role passes to a surviving sibling or cousin.
Bordered to the north by Kellingswiggen, to the west by Wyndelm, to the south by the ocean, and to the east by the Great Swamp. The capital is Nivalla City, home to both the House of Parliament and the Royal Residence and Offices. Nivalla was founded approximately 1100 years ago, from the gradual union of small tribes.Soveriegnty of Wyndelm (Wyndelm)
Purely elven nation located on the south west corner of the Northern Lands. Each village, region, and the nation itself is governed by a council of elders. The size varies- the national High Council has 15 members. Each council member is selected for a fixed term by the other members, whenever another member's term expires or is vacated for other reasons. Terms are staggered so usually only a few council members are replaced per year. The councils enact laws, hire civil workers, and oversee the courts.
Bordered on the north by Kellingswiggen, to the south and west by the oceans, and to the east by the Kingdom of Nivalla. Elves do not normally name places. There is a large settlment surrounding location where the national Council of Elders meets, and this is the de facto capital city of Wyndelm, known in other nations as The Chamber of the High Council of Elders.
The history of Wyndelem is lost to the fog of memory. The High Council claims to have been functioning for tens of thousands of years. There is little doubt that the elves are an ancient race and Wyndelm an ancient nation.
Kellingswiggen
The brocca live completely within caves dug deep inside the Kellingswiggen Mountains, possibly miles below the peaks. Their system of government appears to be some form of distributed autocracy, but details are difficult for outsiders to ascertain. It is not clear whether the brocca have only one nation within the mountain, or several associated ones. What is known is that a clan leader is always female, and her position is not inherited. How the new matriarch is chosen when the old one dies is believed to be via ritual combat. However the fights seem to be symbolic and injuries are rare. Interestingly, the brocca claim their territory extends only "to the bottom of the roots of the weeds" and would not care if others settled on the surface. However, this has never been tried in recorded history.
Bordered on the south by Wyndelm and Nivalla, to the west by ocean, and on other sides by unoccupied land. If there is a capital, it must be deep underground beyond where any human or elf has ever been welcome. The brocca have lived in the mountains from ancient times.
Kingdom of Sindraland (Sindraland)
Sindraland is a human kingdom on the north-eastern coast of the Southern Lands. The government is an absolute monarchy. The king is always male. The order of succession does not change upon the birth of a potential heir, rather the newborn is placed at the bottom of the list of successors. The crown prince could be a child, sibling, or cousin of the king. The only way to move up is for someone above you to die or to abdicate. To aid in training for the role, all of the top ten successors hold ministerial offices.
Bordering states are to be determined. The capital city of Wolfe's Pointe is also the largest city on the Zoasfier. Date of founding is also to be determined.
United Confederacy of the Central Archipelago (The Archipelago)
In the past, many governments came and went on the individual islands within the Archipelago, and several wars were fought. Over time, the people saw the benefits of central control of military defense, foreign relations, and economy- while keeping local control of police, schools, and other essential services. The confederacy was formed to do that. The central government is a representative democracy, though how each island chooses its representatives varies. Individual islands choose thier own form of government, with some electing a local governing body, and others essentially being mini-kingdoms.
A note on terminolgy- the geographic region, to include Thanus and the surrounding oceans, is the Central Archipelago. The nation, when not referred to by its full name, is simply The Archipelago.
Bounded on all sides by oceans, save for a territorial water border with Thanus. The capital is Delok Harbor, on the island of Delok. The confederacy was founded in the year 877 U.N.
Thanusian Free Republic (Thanus)
One lone island of the Central Archipelago chose to not join the confederacy. Thanus is the second-largest island of the Central Archipelago, located near the eastern end. The government is fully democratic (similar to Earth's ancient Greece)
Thanus is named for an ancient sailor who founded the first settlement on the island. Shares a territorial water boundary with the confederacy, otherwise is surrounded by ocean. The capital city is Tenes. Some form of nation has existed on Thanus for about 2000 years, but the current republic was founded in 877 U.N.
Mayomi Clans
The mayom have no centralized government of any kind. Rather, individual semi-nomadic clans of between 20 and 100 individuals operate in complete independence, both from each other and from the human nations around them. These human nations give mayom the same legal status as wildlife, neither granting them citizenship nor restricting free passage over borders. A mayomi clan is typically led by whichever female in the clan has the most children, though she will seek the advise of all older mayom. When clans meet, some members may switch clans. Likewise, mayom returning from travel may not always be able to find their birth clan, and will join the nearest available clan.
Others?
Right now, the nations above are all that I really need for the stories I have in mind. Over time, I may create a handful of other nations in the Southern Lands, on the undiscovered continents, or even have someone settle the lands northeast of Kellingswiggen. Wait and see.