Celestial Kingdom Factbook 2.0 [Civilian Aspects][FT Nation]

[Azhuru]

First factbook and work in progress. Alert me to anything that would help develop my nation that I overlooked or something I could flesh out more. Criticisms are appreciated

The Celestial Kingdom operates much like it's name suggests. Altogether it is a Feudal Kingdom headed by the celestial High King who dictates and directs through various orders and edicts to the populace. His rule is absolute and control is complete. However, he doesn't dictate daily life, the burden of directing every citizen of the empire would be a complete and total burden that would simply press the system into an immovable mass of bureaucracy. He forms the majority of the edicts with minor assistance from the Department of Justice and governs the capitol planet with a court of advisers who also fulfill their roles on the planet while directing their subsequent departments. Events that are capable of engulfing the entire kingdom are relayed to him as they warrant his interest. Across the Celestial Kingdom are various governors from the Sector, System and planetary level who serve as the King's avatars in their various realms. They follow his orders and enforce his will for him.

The Sector Level is hand-picked by the King when the previous governor dies. The Sector governor chooses his own system governors who then pick their planetary. Each enforce grand laws from the king while also developing their own more specific and environment tailored laws and taxes. However, as per the Monarchy, titles of nobility are given as well as plots of land. These individuals have almost complete autonomy over their individual properties as long as they pay their tithes and taxes. The various lords are allowed to develop and change their land as they see fit, leaving it as a lush forest or building sprawling factories. More than likely the more profitable avenue will be chosen.

For this level autonomy the the Lords are expected to give a mandatory tithe of .1% population to the planetary defense forces. These forces serve as the peacekeeping and policing force while also serving as an emergency response team. Added to this Lords are expected to serve at least fifteen years of service in the military whether its in the marines, navy or army. These lords can also be selected for governor or department roles as per their station of course.

High King
Varius Ar (Married to Vyra Ar (deceased))

Princes

Val Ar (1st Heir, married to Ely Ar)
Rorick Ar (3rd Heir, married to Veln Ar)
Erun Ar (6th Heir)
Dar Ar (7th Heir)

Princesses

Nilaya Ar (2nd Heir, married to Vers Ar)
Endolyn Ar (4th Heir)
Betrice Ar (5th Heir)

Department of the Kingdom

The Department of the Kingdom has the most work to accomplish in terms of understanding and directing the flow and stability of civilian assets. They handle disputes and settlements between nobles as well as approving and dealing with things such as construction permits and land grants. The top of the Department deals with the acquisition, labeling and parceling out of newly acquired territory while giving light checks on his subordinates and appointing individuals to their stations. Sector heads do much the same as well, as well as system heads dealing directly with large scales projects. The only ones who get directly into the mess of parceling out land and dealing with various issues are the planetary heads. They do this with a cabinet of secretaries and lawyers to investigate and certify grants.

Department Head: Omni-Grand Duke Marfarious Dal
Vishead: Duke Erin Vase

Sector Odal Head: Omni-Archduke Osi Kelr
Odal Sector Vishead: Ironduke Pesl Helgal
Adar System Representative: Ironcount Varda Ra



Velal System Representative: Civilduke Cawul Lars


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke Junta Opan


Rydar Sector Head: Iron-Archduke Oregar Rydar
Rydar Sector Vishead: Civilduke Delad Veor
Ophel System Representative: Wildduke Qulas Oeds

Kendal System Representative: Ironcount Marfarus Hegar

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount Deoseus Geodu


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke Ferengal Jeral
Elna System: Ironcount Varl Meneran

Llenos System: Wildduke Jus Pewas

Aya System: Civilcount Wos Eosi

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Madrigar Lesna
Vishead: Fiefduke Reginald Teas
Agrava System: Ironcount Legirad Pelora

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Derid Verl
Vishead: Duke Cerla Overan
Yuwan System Representative: Ironcount Medau Lesa

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Weland Ophrea


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Cephla Metallas


Department of War

The Department of war directly handles it's namesake in a very straightforward fashion. The purpose of the is to oversee the tithe of manpower or the planetary PDFs as well as doing inspections on Baron, (Or other nobility) sponsored soldier regiments. They also set the standard of training for which both sponsored regiments and PDF forces are to held accountable. During Wartime the Department serves as a liaison between the military and civilian assets such as propaganda delivery, evacuation of civilians and the allotment of wartime resources. Dignitaries from the DoW drill soldiers as well, ensuring that they handle themselves accordingly for hostile nation and friendly civilian populaces. Evacuations and theater movements are also conducted by the system level department. As such the Department is almost completely staffed with military personnel of noble birth or gain as well as upper to fleet officer ranks.

Department Head: Irongrandduke-Adjutant-General Vendic Telarus Oferac III
Vishead: Fiefcount-Major General Tulius Veniua

Sector Odal Head: Archduke-Major General Yuens Qepl
Odal Sector Vishead: Civilduke-General Mortarion Legindar
Adar System Representative: Wildcount-Colonel Hegrand Phelis

Velal System Representative: Civilduke-Colonel Keliran Vertas


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke-General Opheron Telras


Rydar Sector Head: Ironarchduke-Brigadier General Olivaran Rydar
Rydar Sector Vishead: Fiefduke-Junior Colonel Terl Werdran
Ophel System Representative: Wildduke-Colonel Kialas Ertgal

Kendal System Representative: Ironcount-Major Wertland Hegar

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount-Colonel Leverat Obteri


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke-General Oliver West
Elna System: Ironcount-General Pentra Defater

Llenos System: Wildduke-Colonel Doceu Woc

Aya System: Civilcount-Junior Colonel Wartan Eod

Agrava Sector Head: Irongrandduke-Adjutant-General Vendic Telarus Oferac III
Vishead: Fiefduke-Quartermaster General Ertguard Philistes
Agrava System: Irongrandduke-Adjutant-General Vendic Telarus Oferac III

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke-General Qulas Wedray
Vishead: Duke-General Elayn Helafric
Yuwan System Representative: Grandduke-Colonel Retan Tarsius

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke-Colonel Yulan Undgal


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke-Vice General Idrick Oderan

Department of Diplomacy

The Department of Diplomacy is the front and acceptance of foreign affairs, dipomats and even possible treaties. The employees of the DoD attend delegations and commit opening discussions as well as trade meetings with outsider empires. They cannot sign or ratify a treaty however, that final step needed by the King's seal and signature, but they handle the tasks leading up to that monumental occasion. The DoD also handles propaganda leaked to outside the Kingdom creating false stories or modifying events to prevent the Kingdom from being cast in a weak or negative light especially during wartime. They also handle what the general populace sees of outsiders and if needed creates propaganda to dehumanize and damage the foe.

Department Head: Fief-Grand Duke Fierverus Carron
Vishead: Duke Phelistas

Sector Odal Head: Wild-Archduke Qulas Weudla
Odal Sector Vishead: Civilduke Eranter Regrlia
Adar System Representative: Ironcount Turgard Yulias



Velal System Representative: Civilcount Larson Cars


Tarses System Representative: Ironduke Uligyr Irtivar


Rydar Sector Head: Omni-Archduke Ophera Persa
Rydar Sector Vishead: Fiefduke Arsurs Sertrand
Ophel System Representative: Wildcount Daedalus Andalusia

Kendal System Representative: Ironduke Hertrand Ferthering

Quius System Representative: Civilcount Gebrant Julisus


Dahuq Sector Head: Omni-Archduke Kert Lars
Elna System: Wildcount Zetlan Certad

Llenos System: Civilduke Vivian Belan

Aya System: Civilcount Nelsdue Meidune

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Qoeud Wutsue
Vishead: Fiefduke Ertlas Rodeus
Agrava System: Ironcount Tedieus Yul

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Ueopsoe Ilan
Vishead: Duke Oedipus Pedlas Aleus
Yuwan System Representative: Ironduke Sertan Delius

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Fodaw Gertran


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Helif Jertans

Department of Justice

The Department of Justice handles criminal activities throughout the empire and are in direct control of all law enforcement agencies, directing and controlling officer allocation and criminal detainment. The Department is different than most others as they have three representatives at each level than just a single individual. This is in part due to their duty of preside over courts and rule over individuals accused of a crime. A majority vote finds the defendant guilty or innocent. A Sector level court presides over crimes that endanger the sector or various high-level cases that have been appealed again and again up to that level. The court system itself is inquisitorial in nature, the prosecution seeking out evidence that places the accused at the time and place of the crime as well as having perpetrated it themselves. The defendant though is not entirely defenseless as he can appeal to a higher court or ask for a retrial on certain proven conditions such as if the prosecution fabricated evidence or made simply too many conjectures.

Department Head: Omni-Grand Duke Kelan Lerast


Sector Odal Head: Omni-Archduke Certad Verta
Grand Duke Belaris Neals
Civil-Archduke Melas Ophea

Adar System Representative: Ironcount Elan Westan
Civilcount Reginald Terlas
Ironduke Yulta Urin



Velal System Representative: Civilduke Itrigar Olan
Wildcount Peter Alantri
Fiefduke Sedtria Denaris


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke Feither Galan
Count Kerta Lurna
Ironduke Hector Jula


Rydar Sector Head: Iron-Archduke Zezez Xerta
Civil-Archduke Blan Netras
Archduke Certlan Vuy

Ophel System Representative: Wildduke Nutal Marseas


Kendal System Representative: Ironcount

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke Ferengal Jeral
Elna System: Ironcount Varl Meneran

Llenos System: Wildduke Jus Pewas

Aya System: Civilcount Wos Eosi

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Madrigar Lesna

Agrava System: Ironcount Legirad Pelora

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Derid Verl

Yuwan System Representative:

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Weland Ophrea


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Cephla Metallas

Department of Education

The Department of Education follows it's namesake in an obvious pattern. The Department ensures that individual planetary lords have some sort of scholastic program to teach children of any class to at least a kingdom level standard. This composes of a Introductory program around age 5-6, an elementary school, a middle school and a final occupational school. The last school takes up the last four years of a child's education specializing in the chosen field of the individual. The Department in turns ensures each of these programs are fully up to standards and insures the continuity of each school.

Department Head: Omni-Grand Duke Marfarious Dal
Vishead: Duke Erin Vase

Sector Odal Head: Omni-Archduke Osi Kelr
Odal Sector Vishead: Ironduke Pesl Helgal
Adar System Representative: Ironcount Varda Ra



Velal System Representative: Civilduke Cawul Lars


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke Junta Opan


Rydar Sector Head: Iron-Archduke Oregar Rydar
Rydar Sector Vishead: Civilduke Delad Veor
Ophel System Representative: Wildduke Qulas Oeds

Kendal System Representative: Ironcount Marfarus Hegar

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount Deoseus Geodu


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke Ferengal Jeral
Elna System: Ironcount Varl Meneran

Llenos System: Wildduke Jus Pewas

Aya System: Civilcount Wos Eosi

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Madrigar Lesna
Vishead: Fiefduke Reginald Teas
Agrava System: Ironcount Legirad Pelora

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Derid Verl
Vishead: Duke Cerla Overan
Yuwan System Representative:

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Weland Ophrea


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Cephla Metallas

Department of Labor

The Department of Labor or DoL (Which has become a slang term for the manpower tithe owed by each Lord) handles the placement of manpower throughout the Kingdom ensuring each lord has the necessary population to run his developments while also ensuring the proper placement of workers. The Department also deals with the man tithe owed by each lord for the PDF and military as well as that for the various labor complexes of the realm. Inspections are also carried out by this department ensuring the job sites are up to par and do not present a more than unnecessary risk to the workers.

Department Head: Omni-Grand Duke Marfarious Dal
Vishead: Duke Erin Vase

Sector Odal Head: Omni-Archduke Osi Kelr
Odal Sector Vishead: Ironduke Pesl Helgal
Adar System Representative: Ironcount Varda Ra



Velal System Representative: Civilduke Cawul Lars


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke Junta Opan


Rydar Sector Head: Iron-Archduke Oregar Rydar
Rydar Sector Vishead: Civilduke Delad Veor
Ophel System Representative: Wildduke Qulas Oeds

Kendal System Representative: Ironcount Marfarus Hegar

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount Deoseus Geodu


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke Ferengal Jeral
Elna System: Ironcount Varl Meneran

Llenos System: Wildduke Jus Pewas

Aya System: Civilcount Wos Eosi

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Madrigar Lesna
Vishead: Fiefduke Reginald Teas
Agrava System: Ironcount Legirad Pelora

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Derid Verl
Vishead: Duke Cerla Overan
Yuwan System Representative:

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Weland Ophrea


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Cephla Metallas

Department of Honor

The Department of Honor, or as it is sometimes comically referred to as DoH!, serves as a higher court for the entirety of the Kingdom tailoring especially to the nobility. However, the court is still accessible by peasantry provided they have a reasonable argument. The Department is meant to handle the scandals of the Nobility in a criminal court and ensure that they are acting as they ought by modern standards. The DoH also handles the pedigree records of the noble families, awarding titles of nobility to worthy individuals, awards of honor and bravery to soldiers and civilians as well as taking care of the various duels and vendettas of the families.

Department Head: Omni-Grand Duke Marfarious Dal
Vishead: Duke Erin Vase

Sector Odal Head: Omni-Archduke Osi Kelr
Odal Sector Vishead: Ironduke Pesl Helgal
Adar System Representative: Ironcount Varda Ra



Velal System Representative: Civilduke Cawul Lars


Tarses System Representative: Fiefduke Junta Opan


Rydar Sector Head: Iron-Archduke Oregar Rydar
Rydar Sector Vishead: Civilduke Delad Veor
Ophel System Representative: Wildduke Qulas Oeds

Kendal System Representative: Ironcount Marfarus Hegar

Quius System Representative: Fiefcount Deoseus Geodu


Dahuq Sector Head: Wild-Archduke Ferengal Jeral
Elna System: Ironcount Varl Meneran

Llenos System: Wildduke Jus Pewas

Aya System: Civilcount Wos Eosi

Agrava Sector Head: Omni-Grandduke Madrigar Lesna
Vishead: Fiefduke Reginald Teas
Agrava System: Ironcount Legirad Pelora

Yuwan Sector Head: Grandduke Derid Verl
Vishead: Duke Cerla Overan
Yuwan System Representative:

Oputes System Representative: Civilduke Weland Ophrea


Hiqh Sector Head: Civilduke Cephla Metallas

The Inquisitorial Department

The Inquisition, as it is otherwise known as, is the group most often handed the task of dealing with inner threats. They deal with the traitors, terrorists and the spies, located within the Kingdom's borders. Its agents are relentless and ruthless in their dealings, only pushing forward to accomplish their task until either it, or they, are dead.

The Watchers

The Watchers is a form of intelligence agency that deals with the outer public. They serve as the Kingdom's CIA, collecting information on foreign threats and governments. They typically deal with outer radical heretics and those willing to do harm to the Kingdom. They work quietly and quickly but are not afraid to destabilize a government.

The Nothing

Or the Know-nothing, is the most shadowy and hidden section of the government. They deal with only the largest threats, those that could potentially wipe out entire sectors or even foreign empires. They have an unlimited budget and have the utmost power when dealing with any other legal system. They could, if they needed to, commandeer entire Corps, Fleets and even the agents of the other departments.

Statistics:

Total Population:
About 643,435,541,213 Throughout Kingdom

Agrava Sector: 143,751,456,241

Rydar Sector: 275,243,673,741

Dahuq Sector: 132,874,234,785

Odal Sector: 34,654,278,247

Yuwan Sector: 26,405,020,457

Hiqh Sector: 30,506,877,742

[Azhuru]

Culture

The culture of the Azhurun Kingdom actually depends on the planet and section of the giant empire. The various personnel customs and traditions vary especially to the population of the planet and the way they conducted themselves before the assimilation by the Kingdom. However, generally the same ideals and ideologies have been pressed and brought to the forefront of society as the Kingdom made itself present. The singular man is roughly the same, with minor changes, in his behavior.

Generally attitude centers around personal honor and the way one carries themselves as well as the enlightenment of the individual through personal success and mastery in not only all physical fields such as art, sports and swordsmanship but also in the mental arts of philosophy and science. A great man is one who's achieved himself in all areas. Society expects this from individuals in the way of benevolent actions, personal valor and courage on or off the battlefield. Whether its the soldier who finds himself midst the enemy to save his comrades or the worker who presses back the oppressive taskmaster, courage and valor is expected in many forms.

These ideals are not expected out of just the Lords but also the peasantry although there are exceptions by the lesser born due to their raising and birthrights. The ideologies expected from an individual also finds itself pressed onto the real world in very real results such as duels and engagements to clear a stain on personal glory or family honor (Which is actually seen as much more important and by extension the peasant's Lord's honor, the Kingdom's as well as a regiment or corps' honor.).

Architecture

Azhurun architecture is dependent upon the idea of overplayed elegance almost to the point of creating a disgusting morass of gold and jeweled reliefs. The main form of it involves creating flowing edges and arches, removing sharp corners and edges and replacing it with a curled or slightly swirled edge for form a slightly curved and almost shell like building. Buttresses find themselves used often but so much in structural design but more in an aesthetic sense to create lofty angled towers. Reliefs depicting various heroes and lords are carved to fit the building as well, occasionally forming seas of stone soldiers and citizens along the walls and ceiling.

The building itself is seen as a way to proclaim the magnificence of man as a whole, the lord who funded it and the architect who designed it. As such gilding and gold inlaying sees itself used considerable on the outside and inside to form a giant golden shell in the ground, dazzling any around. However, seeing as the peasants cannot afford or design such things, they generally have structures built out of wood, stone and tar to form a curved structure similar to the bottom of a boat unless they live within a civil district provided by a Lord. Then the urban districts are designed by a hired council of architects and surveyors.

Social Structure

High King
Grand Duke
Arch Duke
Duke
Count
Viscount
Baron
Knight
Peasant

The above chart denotes the various castes and ranks that exist within the Celestial Kingdom in descending order. The various ranks are not set in stone however, and their powers can vary depending on the Lord and his resources. Even more so but ranks can be climbed or descended by whatever rank. The nobles and such of course also have to follow the various edicts from the High King and laws passed by the DoJ but standards do not exist for them other than their land ownership. A Baron for example can have the same power as a Grand Duke through intelligent procurement of resources and development without ever actually ascending the ladder. The only social rank with just about no power in most sense is the peasants who own no land and thus no developments or resources. Each however will be discussed in further detail.

Peasants

Peasants make up the majority of the population but have the least power out of all classes having about no civil rights save for minor defenses against abuse of the law or noble abuse. Peasants also experience the most varied population and a capable of more growth than any other rank. A peasant can b a poor farmer with just about nothing or a well-to-do merchant with riches to rival a Baron. Peasants can also advance towards another class by acts of valor or monumental changes they spearheaded. This generally assigns them a plot of land equivalent to a Knight. With a brave enough act a Peasant can in theory progress to the rank of Grand Duke and possibly even ascend to High King and turn their family into royalty.

Knights

Knight is a title immediately assigned to any man or woman within the military unless they are of a higher rank such as a count. Generally after retirement a knight is assigned five acres of land undeveloped generally but can possibly by a piece of a industrial or civil or agricultural complex given to them by a lord of a any class. From there they are free to do as they please, perhaps even purchase further land to advance in rank and develop their land in multitudes of manners. However, the aforementioned tithe is not granted to Barons and greater ranks.

Barons

Barons are the lowest of noble land-owners controlling only fifty acres of land. This land can be undeveloped or a piece of an urban metropolis. Barons have often little interaction with the higher ranks or various departments or even courts of their planet, instead dealing with the work of the peasants and their land, acquiring taxes and income to be sent up the economic food chain. Income is granted as a percentage of all sales and dealings within their territory that involves currency changing hands. For example if a Baron owns a factory, every piece of equipment it sells he receives a portion of the profits. Barons are often valorous peasants or knights who've ascended rank or even a distant descendant of the original colonial families.

Viscount

Viscounts are the step up from a baron controlling around a hundred hectares of land which can be anywhere from a wild forest to a sprawling industrial complex. The Viscount rank is also the first use of rank prefixes. The prefixes are such, Wild- which denotes that the lord controls an undeveloped plot or a realm holding less than five thousand in population, Iron- which denotes that the lord controls an industrial development such as a mine or factory, Civil- which indicates the lord controls a sizable portion of a city or an entire urban sprawl, and finally Fief- which shows that the lord has developed his land into an agricultural asset. These prefixes do not give an additional rank or step up from others but those such as Ironlords often have much more sway over the others since they affect the businesses and such intimately. The prefixes apply to a Viscount or any further rank except for the High King. A Viscount is often employed as a department's planetary representative although Counts fill those roles more often than the Viscounts. Viscounts are expected to protect and develop their people, as well as ensuring any nearby or even landed Barons pay and deal their tithes and taxes. Viscounts are what supply and maintain the PDF as well, sending up their population to support the defense of the planet.

Count

Counts are lords landed with about fifty square miles of land. Counts make up the main power on the planet merely because of a combination of their numbers and potential influence. Within the courts they also have a ranking system such as Wildcounts often being the lowest as they have the least potential impact upon the other lords. Fiefcounts step up slightly from their directly influencing the food supplies of others, but other lords often have their own food sources in at least a supplementary role. Civilcounts follow than by Ironcounts. Counts direct and regulate often serving as the core recruitment pool for Departments on the system level and work the most with the planetary representative. Counts also handle the shipment and regulation of planetary armies funding and supplying them as well as hosting their training camps and garrisons.

Dukes

Dukes are lords landed with two hundred to five hundred square miles of land. Dukes make up the majority of Sector heads or visheads but have the least impact or importance upon the rest of the world.

Archdukes

Archdukes are landed lords of about five hundred to a thousand square miles of land. Archdukes make up the majority of Department sector heads and in their entire grouping rule most of the planet, almost becoming kings of the planets they rule. The amount of land they control also opens up the possiblity of a fifth prefix, Omni-, as they can have aspects and even fully develop into all four of the previous areas. Archduke lands often run themselves as miniature countries.

Granddukes

Grand Dukes are lords that control anything more than a thousand square miles and have no real cap on the total amount of land they can amass. They are the highest of all non-Royal nobles. Grand dukes are the least numerous as per their prestigious position causing a smaller percent than .00001% controlling the majority of the land of a planet. They hold the most power in any discussion but hardly find themselves involved in the squabbles of smaller lords.

High King

The High King is a singular title and can only be held by one individual at a time. He controls the entirety of Agrava and by extension the entire Kingdom and placed as the head of the entire government. His real title would be The Celestial Omni-High King of the Twelve Sectors, but its generally shortened to the High King or Celestial King. The High King and only come from a Royal family either from blood or marriage but has no discrimination on gender or orientation. For example if Varius died and Val shall become king. If Varius' wife however was still alive she would become king. As such a High King's spouse will always be the second choice for succession falling behind even the last son or daughter of the original king. The same applies for any descendant of the High King as well.

As such succession would be as such (Granted all members were still alive.

1st] Vyra Ar - Queen of Varius Ar
2nd] Val Ar - 1st Child, 1st son
3rd] Nilaya Ar - 2nd Child, 1st Daughter
4th] Rorick Ar- 3rd Child, 2nd Son
5th] Endolyn Ar- 4th Child, 2nd Daughter
6th] Betrice Ar- 5th Child, 3rd Daughter
7th] Erun Ar - 6th Child, 4th Daughter
8th] Dar Ar - 7th Child, 3rd Son
9th] Ely Ar - Wife of Val Ar
10th] Vers Ar - Husband of Nilaya Ar
11th] Veln Ar - Husband of Rorick Ar

Language

The main language of the Azhurun Kingdom is known as Kez'Rak. It is composed of harsh syllables and sounds most notably at the back of the throat and in recent years those that can't even be pronounced by human lips. Those few words and syllables that find themselves mostly within the non-human Cinkaid Corps in the Military as well as civilians generally as slang. Kez'Rak was the original language of a centrally located empire on Agrava. As the empire expanded and seized the surrounding areas the language saw several changes and additions to itself until becoming the dominant dialect of the entire Kingdom.

The language itself is more synthetic and connotative than it is analytically which can actually cause words to change in meaning from generation to generation. Word order is highly needed and maintained because of this as any small change to placement can alter its understanding especially as the word nears the end or beginning of a sentence. Affixes of both types can also drastically change a word and even cause it to mean something completely different but it is seen a lot less than other forms of word change. The letters themselves are based upon a combination of scratches in clay or rock as well as runes standing fro a word or syllable.

The complete alphabet of Kez'Rak

However much Kez'Rak is the main dialect Galactic common is still well known among the populace but more so among land owners and military personnel. In fact each soldier is taught Galactic Common to simplify outsider actions and remove the need for a translator in most scenarios. Kez'Rak also comes in two different forms. A more refined and softer version with the harsher sounds removed and replaced by softer and smoother sounding syllables is specially used by the merchant and noble class. This form also finds itself specially used when in the company of a higher ranking noble or the King.

As their is a refined form their is a cruder form as well, used by the peasantry and military as well even seeing use among nobles in everyday situations. The sounds produced can form a much more guttural and distinctive sound to it that to outsiders can sound like the speaker was gargling nails and rocks. The harsh form finds itself used in everyday situations and is the much more common form of Kez'Rak.

Arts

Art of the Azhurun sees a very specialized and narrow representation especially among the visual arts. The visual arts is more often limited to displays of valor and heroism as a way to represent the fighting and honorable spirit of the people and even providing a way to visualize ancient legends and texts. Generally these focus upon the realism of the subject and display of dynamic action, seeking to strike an emotional chord with the viewer and inspire a sense of pride and love. Paintings and murals are common but reliefs and statues are a much more favored medium, with building being decorated almost exclusively with the works of art. The visual arts however, don't just provide an aesthetic feast for the eye but to those within the kingdom it also provides a moral and historical lesson of the Kingdom, and can even detail the Ar family's rise to power, the advent of gunpowder and the honorable triumph of blades over the shameful weapon.

Auditory art is currently experiencing a transformation and shift of its own changing from a previous way of thinking and style to a more modern and prevalent manner. The music of the people used to be that of giant bands and orchestras work in concerto to produce dramatic pieces that are much closer to marches. However, in recent years the music industry is playing more upbeat and faster music with less focus on bombastic melodies but a smooth and easy melody. Chants and oral ballads are still prevalent and widely used by the peasantry but especially by the military who still enjoy ballads and tails of legendary figures in poetic form, singers practically being on every corner of a city and in undeveloped areas roving bards that make their fill by providing a day's entertainment.

Example of a Military Chant

Example of Old style of music

The newer kind of music

Plays are in a decline as movies and holographic films replace them but the stage performances still experience enjoyment by the nobles and upper class peasantry especially as the industry adapts to include solid-state holograms into their stage and scenery. Plays and Cinema have varied on subject and actually experience more variety than any other subject, shifting from nationalistic performances to simple but grandly scaled Tragedies and Romances. The only subject that experiences minor decline among the peasantry are the comedies.

Literature has also seen a massive decline to almost near non-existence, crushed by the cinema and holograph industries. Generally books and such are written in the High Kez'Rak which has served to only hinder the art's growth among the peasantry and lesser born. The nobles still look to it to pass the time and introduce themselves to new topics, often having large libraries within their manors that can vary on subject from the philosophical debates and theories of Teraris (Famous philosopher of ancient Agrava), to comedic books that simply serve to entertain. Generally the Literature was merely about building a believable story for the reader, creating characters that could be met on the street with little attention towards symbolism. Histories also were the main focus with Oral Legends to be marked down as notes and intriguing interpretations of events. Recently a movement has come about to shift away from the straight realism and legends to widely varied and much more symbolic writings providing stories while also providing an address to social issues such as the plight of peasants in Iron lands to the militaristic and violent nature of the nobles. Attempts at censoring this new movement have been called for but the Ar family has so far protected the freedom of the press and literature.

Religion

The faith of the people has typically a belief in nature spirits with an animus taste upon the world. Explanations were forged to indicate the various events of the world and form order out of the chaos. Generally this belief wasn't held in a dogmatic and intensely faithful way but closer to a business deal with the supernatural spirits in a quid pro quo format. Even now it sees itself held in that manner. However faith used to dominate life in the previous centuries, Science's progress has pushed back the shadows of the dark and the supernatural replacing it with cold logic and understanding.

However that is though, the urge to venerate and direct the chaos into an ordered form has found itself into four main formats of the Kingdom. There is of course the humanistic urges that have cropped up, seeking meaning in the manner in which man survives and interacts with his world, a light in the darkness of chaos that is the world. This generally also incorporates a sense of ancestral worship and reincarnation of knowledge.

A second one is the formation of 'Machine Cults' which believe that the human spirit is within his creations and have expanded in their power and scope to become divine in a sense. They are not omnipotent or all powerful but things to be held in a respectful and revered manner, clinging to the practicality of the previous pagan beliefs. However, this form of faith can be held in a variety of manners which have complete and fanatical devotion to machines to those that simply have a respectful nod to the machine spirits. Regardless things such as AI or cores that replicate human consciousness and achievement are seen in the most highly regarded sense, a mechanical avatar of the human spirit.

The third is the formation of a belief in the King's family and the Royal bloodline as that of the nature spirits combined into the human flesh, forming something better than the feeble and flawed man. This is generally held by members of the military especially the Serpentine Corps.

The fourth is a combination of all such ideas but within a atheist and practical framework.

[Azhuru]

Technology

The technology of the Azhurun Kingdom is highly and well advanced pushing aside the barriers and superstitions of the past with the logic and fact science brings, explaining phenomena never before seen and spreading the Kingdom all across the galaxy despite the seemingly archaic style over their government or the style of the technology.

Civil Engineering

Engineering of the Azhurun Kingdom as discussed before is highly dependent upon the creation and formation of arches and domes. In part of this they are almost forced to use stronger and stronger materials to reinforce the gradually enlarging structures, the pressure exerted on the keystone of a massive arch becoming strong enough to ultimately crack stone given time. Generally this material is a blend of concrete materials that are created from heavy stones and bonding agents then reinforced with a wire mesh of nanotubes of crystalline carbon. This is combined also with plating and bolting of stronger plates and braces of steel alloys to further support or simply to show off in a bit fancier way.

Medicine

Medicine within the Kingdom is highly advanced and is capable of monitoring the condition of each individual whether a peasant or noble lord of the highest order, and spotting the moment when a cancerous tumor begins to develop, a virus invades the body or a serious injury affects the physical person of the individual. This is most part due to a magnificent feat of engineering that partially was a complete accident and unforeseen effect producing a universal healthcare system among the best in galaxy. Nanorobotics are in huge part responsible for this. Nanobots are small machines the size of viruses with enough encoding on their processors and transistors measuring nanometers to identify and destroy a cancerous cell or virus.

Originally these devices were intended to preserve and protect the Royal family from disease and harm while also prolonging their life and thus rule. The hope was to create a powerful family of rulers that would have centuries of experience and understanding to better lead the people and state into a brighter future. However, an unforeseen consequence of the machines using destroyed cells and viruses to replicate caused the nannites to in a way become viruses. The nanobots infected every surface of the Royal family and everything they touched or breathed on or happened to leave some sort of bodily fluid left a mass of nannites that would transfer to some other individual and from their to another, and another spreading faster than a wildfire.

Every bodily fluid was full to the brim of the small machines. Every ounce of blood, sperm, digestive fluid, bile, spit, everything chock full of them. As such it's no wonder they spread so rapidly from person to person before spreading out to reintroduce themselves to every individual and improving their health and life. Today there's still a very real chance of nannite transfer from physical contact with an Azhurun. This has had some issues with aliens as they machines get confused and see the entire body as an invading entity, tearing it apart cell by cell. Within the Kingdom though, nannites are spread through the mother's womb and bloodstream and who could have quite possibly been handed over by the father.

The introduction of nannites has had a profound effect on every man, woman and child. Disease and cancer are non-existent, and the threat of a new virus or bacteria almost nil. Genetic defects are eradicated as well, corrected in the womb by the machinery as they re-engineer the strands of life into a more perfect copy. Life is prolonged to a possibly immortal state as the machines rebuild and replace parts of the body that age or fail causing the body to reuse its lost resources to rebuild itself. Wounds heal faster as the nanobots cleanse and sterilize the wound, promoting growth at a faster rate. Even limbs can regrow as the machines rebuild lost cells and portions or reattach limbs to near perfect states.

The introduction of the nano-machine also saw a bit of a cosmetic change in the populace. The ability of the nanobots to eradicate genetic diseases and rewrite DNA into a more perfect form caused a few to take this as a chance to make themselves as they wanted themselves. A simple haptic user interface enabled an individual with this little wonders to recreate their DNA into a cosmetic form that suited them more. Cinkaids, Kez'Rak for a race within a race, were born. Plentiful and miraculous in their build, pulled from the bottom of the human mind to the highest flight of fancy. Angelic beings, demonic entities, anthropomorphic animals, animals themselves with a human mind. Anything and everything is possible.

For every other kind of physical malady that can not be treated with the micro-machines is done in hospitals by skilled surgeons who use robotic assistants and machines to restitch and replace an individual, assisting in the regeneration and hand in hand with the miracles of science floating in every citizen's blood stream.

Military Technology

Almost all civilizations or culture at one point found the use of gunpowder. The chemical propellant that had been known for ages as a form of entertainment now forged into a newly created weapon of war, using that stored energy to hurl massive projectiles forward. It enabled a barely trained man to kill someone who had years of experience with a single trigger pull. A man didn't need to be strong or skilled enough to use a sword accurately and well, did not need to worry about his tired arm, merely on the science that was provided in the chemical. Armor was void, skill didn't matter, merely the volume of fire.

However, the Azhuruns rejected this. They never caught onto the idea of killing a man so far away, to never meet him honorably together and let the skill of his hand judge who was the survivor and the one fit to carry on. The mere idea of striking a man down merely because of his bad luck of placement not his skill or capability in the field revolted and disgusted the nobility who immediately destroyed any chance at discovering the magic powder until it became so instilled with the idea of honor to not fear the possible use of peasant muskets.

As such, as times progressed, steam harnessed, coal utilized, fossil fuels processed, blades progressed and developed alongside the new technology. For hundreds of years the blade's edge or hammer's weight was used again and again, perfected again and again. Monomolecular blades was the first advent and jump in weapon technology. The ability to slice through armor quickly and easily was readily accepted. Plasma sheath technology was the next great leap. The joint incorporation of these both saw a revolution.

Weapons today consist of two categories. There are the blades and the blunt. Each works similar but have different ways altogether to end at the same result. Blades are composed of two elements. The metal blade and the plasma sheath. The metal blade is built like a standard sword, forged together and pressed to form a sturdy and almost unbreakable weapon with a monomolecular edge. The plasma sheath is a coating of ionized gas heated to intense temperatures to melt through flesh, steel and bone. The gas itself is controlled through magnetic coils and computers using the ionized state of the plasma to wrap it around the blade but hover it just a little bit off to prevent warping or melting of the blade. Blades come in all shapes and sizes, from dirks to claymores, to spears and pikes.

Blunt weapons however work in a different manner. They consist of two components as well, the original being the metal object itself forming the handle and structure for the weapon. This can take the form of a gauntlet that works like a set of brass knuckles, a mace, a flail or a hammer. Inside the striking surface of the weapon are plasma batteries that explosively discharge their contents in bursts when a sensor on the hammer detects an impact. This causes a cloud of plasma to burst out from controlled sections of the hammer covering the target in an explosion of plasma.

Another thing that saw continual advancement with the Azhurun military and their set of armor harnesses, creating the now present Mark IX Kelsiad (The name refers to the Kelsiad, the shield the mountain spirits used to protect the earth from splintering apart during an earthquake). The current armor is composed of several layers and is designed to protect the user from all outer threats while also ensuring that his capabilities are further enhanced. The armor itself is composed of kinetic energy shielding, advanced ballistic predication computers, heavy alloy housing, synthetic muscle systems, hydrostatic gels, NBC equipment and a well fitting biolayer.

As much as the Azhurun military wanted to keep with ancient tradition of melee engagements and close quarter fighting, it became readily apparent that such things would not work for celestial navies or stellar combat. While a boarding can prove effective and given the proper screening cover absolutely devastating to an enemy navy, its difficult to cover when the enemy has clear lines of fire for several light seconds. As such lasers were developed, then xasers, then finally grasers. Grasers work like lasers but in the much higher electromagnetic range of gamma rays. The end result is a much more powerful weapon with more high energy particles with a beam about a meter in diameter. Generally a main line ship, a Crusader class cruiser, carries a compliment of one hundred forty broadside grasers.

Transportation and Communication

Considering the extensive size of the Kingdom communication and direction are imperative as an empire can only flourish as quickly as their communication speed. As such, communication is conducted through a series of buoys and networks that transmit information by transcribing the message or information onto a laser beam which it then creates a small tunnel of faster than light space, only large enough for the electrons to pass through, rapidly speeding the message to a nearby buoy which repeats the process until it reaches the destination. Messages can reach from the Kingdom's farthest reach to the other side with a few standard days.

Transportation is also important within the Kingdom and although the pinnacle of its art is only seen in space. The more terrestrial forms are vehicles powered through hydrogen fuel cells in a continuous loop of creating water, electrolyzing it into a new fuel source to be reused by the fuel cells. Ships today use the idea of the Heim Theory. Originally used by a German physicist as an attempt to unite all experimental data, it was eventually stumbled onto by Azhurun physicists on their own. It uses heavy magnetic drives to produce a very intense magnetic field around a ship causing it to ascend to a higher dimension of time-like and gravitational measures. The drives then slingshot the ship in a predicted parabolic arc to cause the ship to drop back into our dimension and what could be called 'real-space'. The result is a very fast and effective system, enabling higher speeds to be achieved in higher dimensions with less energy needs. So, to propel an object to 10 m/s in ours would take a certain amount of energy but in the highest possible dimension that needed energy is much less.

However, not everything can be done using FTL engines. Sublight engines are nescessary for a majority of things, and as such the current accepted Azhurun engine is an Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster. It utilizes massive cylinders where a gas is ionized and pumped into an acceleration chamber where it is then quickly propelled from strong magnetic fields within the chamber. The resulting interaction causes both the ship and the particles to blast away from each other under the Lorentz force.


Energy Production

Generally energy production is done or conducted through small scale hydrogen fuel cells or in larger conditions transuranium element batteries utilizing the bond energy within elements of the Island of Stability. For much larger things such as starships large fusion reactors, miniature hearts of suns, to power and drive the massive MPD engines, the grasers and shielding systems.