Medira

Subject: Medira Sun Mar 09, 2014 9:23 pm

"At first glance, Medira is as much a paradise as you could ever hope for. You needn't look much further to find the truth."

Quote :: The southernmost nation situated on the eastern continent, the Republic of Medira sits in its own place in the sun. With a hot climate closer to its border with the deserts of El Deya, the land is warm all year round and seldom experiences much of a winter save for where the air cools amidst the humid mountains of Gedan. The land is mostly flatlands transitioning with the increasing temperature of the east, though subtle hills lie to the north and concentrations of trees populate the western coast. Palm trees and other exotic ferns are an incredibly common sight throughout the country, alongside a wide and varied range of other kinds of foliage native to the land, and are a natural retreat from the often intense sunlight projected during the daytime.

Medira retains its heat even after the sun sets, with the air warm until the earliest hours of the morning. Only for around two hours does the land grow cold before the sunrise, one of many reasons the country is famed for its weather.

Its people reflect the nature of the climate, wearing darkened skin and sun-streaked hair from lives spent under a fierce sun. They speak Medilla, the country's official language, with some basic education as far as the Common brought by foreign sailors allows. They are a jolly and charismatic sort, making skillful merchants and even better liars, and in no small part contribute to the seedy nature of the cities and towns they inhabit. It is often said that though a Mediran will treat you with the utmost warmth and pleasantry, his true thoughts may not be so kind. The same can easily be said of the entire country.

Medira has no standing army to speak of, but rather a collection of mercenaries and some formally trained soldiers and officers to accompany them. With only minor civil conflicts in their past, the country has never needed a fully mobilised force to fight for them, though it would certainly be possible to summon one given the rapidly growing population.

Only recently named as the capital, the city of Ámbar sits atop a steep series of inclines that cause it to rise up to its citadel.

Quote :: Ámbar is the capital city of Medira and the seat of the senate, protected by both impressively fortified walls and an equally grand citadel situated higher than anything else within them. It features semi-whitewashed architecture much like all buildings in Medira, but as one of the more recently developed settlements it lends itself more to a modern, western style heavily influenced by the introduction of new religion to the country. The pantheon that had been widely acknowledged throughout the world had been brought along with new foreign languages some centuries ago, and with it elements of style unmistakably reflected in newer cities such as Ámbar and Valicia. The city sits on the coast, but has no access to the sea due to towering cliff faces dominating the landscape until the ports further along the coastline to both the east and west.

It houses a relatively modest population within its walls, living below the citadel in expensive and luxurious conditions not all find themselves able to afford. Cheaper placement exists outside the central walls as the city transitions into the empty land to the north, though these are still far from poor conditions. A guard force closely maintains the city at all times, and have a strict eviction policy with regards to the impoverished.

The Mediran Senate convenes in Ámbar to rule over the nation, with the popular opinion of the people largely deciding the general direction of any policies and regulations through yearly votes. Though the system of democracy is well established, and considerably representative considering the illicit reputation of most of the senators, there is no small deal of underhandedness and corruption in the air especially when elections and votes are fast approaching.

The head of the Republic is named the cabezar, and he holds the ultimate authority over his senators. It is, however, common practice to accept their judgement even if it would mean the rejection of a key policy, and very rarely does a cabezar overturn that decision. Doing so, if the past is to believed, would result in an overwhelmingly negative reaction by both the public and the higher up members of the governing body.

The current cabezar is Elías Mendria, a former merchant and politician.

The largest port city in Medira, Ágria sits at a sharp contrast to the capital only miles away.

Quote :: If Ámbar is the seat of Mediran government and civilisation, then Ágria is the largest bastion of disorder working to preserve the days before the firm rule of the senate. It has resisted change long since the first days of the senate and its legislation, relying on its significance as the centre of trade in Medira to hold both a powerful economic sway and an independence of sorts guaranteed by its own makeshift militia.

Whilst it is by no means lawless, crime is rife in every street and very loosely enforced, with most of the city's guard willing to turn a cheek to all but the most severe misconduct. Street children run rampant where they can, often stealing from passing merchants as they leave their ships to search for a place to sell goods. Gambling rings and other such illicit establishments such as the ever popular brothel are easy to find in every district, even in the central territory the governor himself resides within. When visiting, it is highly advised to be on guard.

There are positives to the city's unruly nature, of course, as travel is significantly cheaper than anywhere else and the large ships that come and go for an equally meager price are more than willing to accept passengers. A less than perfect past, too, is easily forgiven in Ágria, and it is possible to gain such a name for yourself that you are left alone by most.

Borrowing much from the neighbouring desert architecture of El Deya, Medira has a diverse and unique appearance.