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Overview
New Azura maintains a rather unique government style, more custom in antiquity than today. The Azuran Government is based on a Timocracy, where wealth and honor dictate a person's political and cultural standing in society. Honor is the most important virtue to the Azuran. Honor defines who that Azuran is, and what he has done, and will do, in his lifetime. All members of society, regardless of their social status, are respected and reverenced for their role in the ultimate sacrifice: to make New Azura strong and free.
The Caste System
From a young age, all children are placed in one of four classes: Guerrier, Femme, Faible, or Triste. At birth, male and female children are pegged for different roles. Male children are raised by their birth mother until they reach their fourth birthday. Male children who meet certain physical and intellectual criteria are deemed members of the Guerrier, or Warrior Caste. They will be trained for the rest of their adolescence to become warriors of New Azura. Those male children who are deemed to weak to survive as a soldier are placed in the Faible (or Lesser) Caste. These children will be educated in a variety of fields, including the arts, medicine, science, engineering, and technology. They will be the fundamental backbone of the nation's economy, whilst maintaining a less prestigious cultural standing because of their lack of military experience.
Female children are reverenced as the "centerpiece" of New Azura, because of their importance in propagating the heritage. All female children are nursed and raised by their birth mother until they reach four years of age, when they are educated alongside male children in the Faible Caste. Once a girl reaches fourteen years of age, those that are capable of bearing children become part of the Femme Caste. Women of the Femme Caste are expected to have at least twenty children in their lifetime. Upon having their twentieth child, the woman is allowed the choice to continue in her role as a child-bearer for New Azura, or may retire from her service to the country. Members of the Femme Caste may also be chosen by esteemed members of the Guerrier Caste as wives, at which point they are allowed to retire. Women of the Femme Caste are reverenced as the matriarchs of New Azura. They are honored equally with soldiers who have fallen or are injured in the line of duty. If a female child is unable to reproduce, she continues on in the Faible Caste with the men.
If a child is deemed to have a serious enough genetic defect or learning disability that will prohibit them from service either as a Guerrier or as a Faible, they are placed in the Triste Caste. The Triste of New Azura are those whom must be cared for from birth. They are pitied and reverenced as the "gentle" of society that were never given the chance to stand in service to Azuran Nation. As such, they are treated with great care and compassion by members of the Faible Caste who are specifically trained to care for them.
A fifth class, the Honoré Caste, is comprised of soldiers of the Guerrier Caste who were injured whilst serving their country with honor and distinction. This designation applies to soldiers who were injured in combat, or in training for service. Soldiers who self-inflict themselves with wounds are considered anathema, and are essentially excommunicated from all facets of life in New Azura.
The sixth and final designation, the Serviteur Caste, is comprised of bonded servants (or slaves) who are purchased by esteemed members of the Guerrier Caste. A slave in New Azura is almost never an Azuran by birth, but rather a reward given to a retiring soldier for his service to the country. Despite their designation as slaves, however, they are among the most respected members of the Azuran social hierarchy for their service to the country.
The Guerrier & Honoré Castes
Azuran society is ordered by the strict adherence to the importance of honor. An Azuran, regardless of their social caste, is esteemed for performing the task that they are chosen for from a young age. Discipline and devotion to the country are considered paragon virtues in Azuran culture, while insubordination, cowardice, and disrespect are viewed with disdain. Azurans, regardless of their position in society, are looked upon and treated with respect and dignity. Each successive Caste is honored with week-long holidays devoted to those particular individuals. However, the Azuran man who is chosen to fill out the Guerrier Caste is by far the most influential and powerful caste in Azuran society. As the defenders of the homeland, soldiers lead both the hardest lives, and are also rewarded the most. From the age of four, worthy males are trained for combat. During the period between their fourth and tenth birthday, the young soldiers are trained in a variety of martial arts and combat techniques. They are also schooled in how to use a variety of weapons, vehicles, and equipment. Physical conditioning and mental acuity is developed rapidly during this period. From the period between ages ten and sixteen, the prospective soldier is groomed for a specific role within the military. Stronger and more disciplined students may be selected for more honorable roles, such as Combat Infantry, service aboard warships, or as pilots. Less seasoned students may be trained as field medics, members of the Logistical Corps, or as Combat Engineers.
At the age of sixteen, a soldier is shipped out to an indoctrination center, where he is formally placed in the Azuran Military to begin his service. During his career in the military, a soldier may distinguish himself by exemplary service, bravery under fire, courage in the face of adversity, and other commendable virtues. Decorations are awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves in such manners, with each successive decoration being harder to earn, albeit commiserate with more distinguished feats of service. Likewise, a soldier at any point who is derelict of duty, or self-inflicts a wound to avoid service is considered Anathema.
At the age of thirty, a soldier is considered to have "completed his service to his country", and is given one of two options. A soldier may choose to retire from active service (at which point he is awarded at a rate commiserate with his service to the country) or he may continue in the service. A soldier who chooses to retire at the age of thirty is not looked upon as a coward or deserter, but as an honored member of the warrior elite who has honored his country with his service. The "rewards" for a retiring soldier are typically commiserate with his service record. All soldiers are awarded various tracts of land for their service (with more land earned by more distinguished service). Only soldiers may own land in New Azura; the rest of society rents property owned by retired soldiers or by the military. The more distinguished soldiers are given larger land grants, which often includes slaves purchased by the military for that retiring soldier. The most exemplary of soldiers are also allowed, if they should so choose, to select an unmarried woman from the Femme Caste to be his wife, should she consent to do so. It is not considered Anathema to refuse to become the spouse of a soldier, though the practice of refusing a soldier's proposal is practically obsolete. A large degree of interaction is permitted between the Guerrier and the Femme prior to the proposal of marriage. Regardless of their rewards, all retiring soldiers share three common rewards. First, every soldier owns some amount of land. Secondly, every soldier is given the right to attend and vote in the General Assembly. Thirdly, every soldier is guaranteed a pension for the rest of his life.
A soldier that decides to remain in the service is esteemed highly amongst his colleagues, and earns greater rewards upon his eventual retirement. Along with the obvious chance for advancement in the military hierarchy of New Azura, a career serviceman has the opportunity to earn tracts of land within a city, or even proprietorship of a city itself upon their retirement. Proprietorship of a city is not based on heredity - upon the death of the soldier, the city is awarded to a newly retired soldier. The more esteemed a soldier's reputation is, the more prized possession a soldier is awarded. For the career serviceman who exemplifies all of the most cherished and sought-after virtues of an Azuran soldier, his reward is commiserate with his honorable nature. These special soldiers are chosen as the vanguard of the Azuran country, selected by a group of their peers to serve as the political guardians of New Azura. They meet to uphold the customs and traditions of the country, honor the next generation who builds and protects New Azura with their lives, and ensure that the country makes an exemplary transition with the times.
An offshoot of the Guerrier Caste is the Honoré Caste. The Honoré Caste is comprised of servicemen who were injured in the line of duty and were unable to fulfill their obligated length of service (or, in the case of career servicemen, to continue serving) because of their injuries. A member of this caste is honored in the same manner as a retired soldier, with their own achievements and accolades earning commiserate rewards. If physicians or psychologists view the wound or injury as not being serious enough for discharge, than the soldier will be rehabilitated until he is deemed fit and ready to resume service. No distinction is made between soldiers who were wounded in combat or those who were injured in non-combat situations such as training exercises or drills, at least in terms of their admittance into the caste. The more distinguished soldiers who enter this caste are given greater rewards than a younger or less distinguished soldier, however. A young soldier in training who is injured while learning how to become a soldier is given a lifetime pension and identified as a member of this caste, though they are not automatically given land grants without having distinguished themselves greatly.
The Femme Caste
Members of the Femme Caste are esteemed as highly as soldiers for their service to the country, as well as their personal sacrifices. Though no woman is forcibly made to serve in this Caste, most able-bodied women readily accept the honorable call both as a way to serve their country, and as a way to ensure a better life for themselves. Women placed in this caste are taught from the age of fourteen how to care for their infants. They are taught how to show love and affection, while at the same time learn the difficult struggle to let their child go at the age of four. For this sacrifice, they are highly esteemed above all other women. Historically, soldiers were called upon to impregnate women, though this process has now been rendered obsolete. Artificial insemination is performed to allow the utmost dignity to the participating woman. After twenty successful childbirths, a woman is eligible to retire from service if she so chooses, or may continue to serve in her current role. These women are given the right to vote and are also given tracts of land upon their retirement, with longer service being commiserate with larger land grants. Those deemed most exemplary are given the option of owning slaves, should they so choose. All women in the Femme Caste earn a lifetime pension for their service. One continuing practice sees the courtship of a member of the Femme Caste by a soldier. Because of the heroic sacrifices that soldiers make, any woman who chooses to accept the marriage proposal of a man is excused from the completion of her service, without any slight against her personal honor.
The Faible & Triste Castes
The men who are deemed unfit to serve in the military from the age of four (or are otherwise expelled from service because of their inability to perform) or women who are either infertile or elect not to be placed in the Femme Caste comprise the Faible Caste. Men and women of the Faible Caste are respected and honored as the backbone of the Azuran economy, as well as the fundamental bridge between the more esteemed castes (Guerrier, Femme) and the more lowly castes (Triste, Serviteur). Members of the Faible Caste are trained for specific purposes from an early age. Typically, the occupation of a man or woman is commiserate with their mental acuity, their physical makeup, and the general need of the country at any given time. More educated individuals are trained as physicians, educators, and scientists. Less educated individuals may be trained for service-based industries or versed in various manners of structural engineering and craftsmanship. Each person is specifically monitored by trained instructors (themselves members of the Faible Caste) so that every man and woman is best applied to their optimal performance capabilities. A member of this caste may give their instructor a list of desired occupations, which may assist in their job placement, though this is not always the case. Each member of the Faible Caste is educated and trained for their specific role until the age of eighteen, when they are placed in the work force.
Members of the Faible Caste are not allowed to vote, nor to own property, including slaves. However, they are allowed to apply for a marriage license, purchase luxury items, and basically enjoy a reasonable standard of living in accordance with their tastes. Finances are not necessarily dictated by job occupation in New Azura. A first year physician and a first year construction worker will earn roughly the same amount of money. Advancement in the Faible Caste comes with hard and diligent work, respect, and exemplary performance. The better worker you are, the more money that you earn. Eventually, the most exemplary members of this caste earn enough money to purchase businesses from other members of their caste, though land ownership is still forbidden. All members of the Faible Caste are allowed to live their lives as they see fit outside of the workplace. Choices of recreation, companionship, and the pursuit of material possessions are viewed as unessential, though acceptable personal freedoms that the members of this caste are allotted.
The most esteemed members of the Faible Caste are those who are chosen to care for members of the Triste Caste. Members of the Triste Caste are typically inflicted with severe physical and mental handicaps that prohibit them from being able to survive either in the workplace or on the battlefield. As such, they are viewed with great distinction and held in reverence, for they were robbed by nature of their ability to serve the country. As such, great emphasis is placed on the care of the mentally and physically handicapped. Instead of ridiculed as the weakest of society, they are honored for their innocence and for their own sacrifices. Members of the Triste Caste are distinguished from those of the Honoré Caste by their lack of military service. Though a member of the Honoré Caste may be severely handicapped (mentally or physically), they still retain the basic rights of a retired soldier, should they be physically and mentally capable of using them.
Serviteur Caste
As mentioned previously, members of the Serviteur Caste are generally not naturally-born Azurans, but are rather naturalized Azurans who are brought into the country as bonded servants. While some may apply the distinction of these men and women as slaves, this is not necessarily the correct term or proper identification. While they are purchased from slave holders, these men and women are best identified today in modern jargon as bonded servants. Specific laws and regulations are kept in place to prevent the members of this caste from being overworked or abused by proxy. The typical role of a Serviteur in New Azura is to handle the agricultural and service-based industries of the country, though some may serve as assistants to a particular owner. The practice of polygamy or the use of Serviteurs for sexual purposes was abolished in 1761 by the Edict of Oak Hill. Members of this caste, once brought to New Azura, are given two options: they may be assigned to a landowner, where they will be given a designated role to fulfill, or they may choose to be sent back to where they came. Slaves are paid an hourly wage by their owners, which transfers into a lifetime stipend fund for their work. After twenty years of bonded service, a Serviteur is freed from his obligations to the landowner and becomes part of the Faible Caste. Serviteurs are allowed to maintain their own customs and cultures, and are allowed to marry within their own Caste and have children. Children of the slaves are considered Azuran by birth, and are thus subjugated to the same caste requirements as non-slave children. No child born to a slave remains a slave. In addition, it is a long-standing tradition to free at least one bonded servant a year. This takes place during the holiday week of Vacances. For seven days, slaves are excused from their obligations to be honored for their service to the country.
The Anathema
Though not a formal caste in and of itself, there are a number of men and women who are considered Anathema to the rest of Azuran society. These people are considered the "plague" of New Azura, and are looked upon neither with honor, nor respect. These include criminals, deserters or those who would injure oneself to escape from military service, and those rare landowners who abuse (physically or sexually) their slaves. Those that are considered Anathema are prohibited from buying or selling in New Azura, are stripped (if they maintain property) of all material wealth and honor, and are essentially left to fend for themselves. Most end up in prison, where they will serve in hard labor and agony for the rest of their lives. One who is considered Anathema has the ability, however, for redemption. By becoming a Serviteur, they who were Anathema are eligible for the same opportunities as other slaves.
Typically, a man or woman who is considered anathema will choose to become a member of the Serviteur Caste in order to pay off their debt to society. However, repeat offenders and dangerous criminals are typically refuted this right by an Adjudicator (if they are a military deserter or charged with attempting to avoid service by self-inflicting a wound) or by a Judge. The loss of this privilege is considered a basic condemnation to life imprisonment, for an individual that is deemed too dangerous to be placed as a Serviteur is generally too dangerous to be freed ever again. Though rare, a select few members of this dubious group are eligible to be executed by the state. Criminal offenses that may warrant capital punishment include high treason, espionage, and murder.
Government
New Azura does not maintain a static government like most developed nations. Azuran Governance is best understood as a blend of tribal and democratic facets which are placed in a timocratic meritocracy. Only soldiers are eligible to participate in the governance of New Azura, though they share the right to vote with members of the Femme Caste. Greater positions of power and prestige are earned, not awarded, by a soldier's exemplary service to the country. The higher the rank a soldier achieved during his career, the better man he was by comparison to others. Thus, while soldiers who are married, have large tracts of land, and own Serviteurs may be identified by their possessions and wealth as being more powerful, their true power lies in their character. Highly esteemed honor and dignity is commiserate with more political power.
All members of the Guerrier, Honoré, and Femme Castes are given the right to vote. However, the influence of their vote is commiserate with the amount of wealth that each individual person possesses. Therefore, the vote of a member of the Femme Caste is inherently weaker than that of a soldier in most cases, though not always. The influence factor of a person's vote increases with the amount of land that a person owns, the person's marriage status, and the amount of bonded servants that a soldier possesses. These factors are logged into a national registry maintained by the highest strata of the Azuran military command, who consequently assign a rating to the soldiers and members of the Femme Caste. This Electorate Index is a determining factor in the political weight of a particular person. The Index operates on a scale of one to ten, with one being the least and ten being the greatest. Again, a person's Electorate Index rating can be easily ascertained by the position of a man or woman in society.
For instance, a soldier who is unmarried, retired with few decorations at the age of thirty, and owns no Serviteurs is likely to be assigned an index rating of two. That means that for every vote that he casts, his vote will count as two votes. A young soldier who was injured prior to being able to be placed in the military properly will almost always have an index rating of one. The general ceiling level for a member of the Femme Caste is an index rating of three by comparison. In the case of a career serviceman who logged twelve additional years of service, retired as a Colonel from service, and was decorated numerous times for bravery and dedication to the country, that soldier would be rewarded with large tracts of land, the ability to marry a member of the Femme Caste, and potentially be given bonded servants for possession. This man's rating index is likely to fall between five and seven on the scale. At this range, a person most likely has proprietorship over several tracts of land possessing the businesses of a Faible Caste member, thus increasing his own monetary wealth.
If a soldier is distinguished and decorated enough, he may be granted the proprietorship of entire cities, or parts thereof. In this case, a soldier who earns the proprietorship of a portion of a larger, more distinguished city will fall into the eight or nine index range. With this ranking, an individual may be elected to serve in the General Assembly of New Azura as Assemblymen, debating policies and crafting legislature. If a soldier retires with a high rank, and is thus esteemed highly above his peers, then that person may be given an index rating of ten. Those who rank ten on the index scale are generally given proprietorship over entire Prefectures, administrative districts of New Azura that are identified as such for military and economic purposes. Only the most distinguished and honorable of soldiers manage to obtain this level of influence. Soldiers with this rating are automatically given the honor of serving on the High Council of the General Assembly, where they are granted the title of "Lord Proprietor" or simply "Councilor". From these select few, the entire voting population of New Azura will elect a Chancellor, who serves as the virtual chief executive of New Azura. The Chancellor serves as the figurehead of both the Azuran Government, the Azuran Military, and the Azuran way of life. He is eligible to serve as many four year terms as he wishes to serve.
The structure of the General Assembly, the High Council, and the Chancellery is comprised as follows. The General Assembly is made up of retired soldiers who possess an index rating of either eight or nine, with their influence increasing with their rating. These retired soldiers are elected by the voting population of New Azura to a two year term. Being among the most honorable and distinguished soldiers of New Azura, there is no term limit placed upon Assemblymen. Those elected to the General Assembly move to Capodimonte, the national capital, to participate in the business of governing New Azura. An Assemblyman's voting influence in the General Assembly is commiserate with his voting influence as part of the general voting populace. Whereas his vote in the national elections counts either eight or nine times, his vote in the Assembly will also count eight or nine times. Except through a loss in an election, the only way an Assemblyman can be forced out of his office by means other than death or resignation is to be impeached from office by a general vote of the General Assembly. If an Assemblyman is found to have perpetrated some type of crime, he may be expelled from office by a majority vote. However, such a case must first be reviewed by a Military Adjudicator, who will determine the validity of the claim made against the Assemblyman. If the infraction is severe enough, the Assemblyman may be classified as Anathema, or even placed into prison.
The High Council of the General Assembly wields great influence over the rest of the congregation. Members of the council dictate the order of business in the General Assembly, may personally call for an investigation into the practices of an Assemblyman, and can make diplomatic appointments both domestically and abroad. Examples of such appointments include forming special committees comprised of Assemblymen, selecting a nominee proposed by the General Assembly to serve on the Superior Court bench of New Azura, or appoint Ambassadors to other nations. Councilors are not capped on the number of terms that they may serve, and complete three year terms before coming back up for reelection. For a Councilor to be removed from his position by means other than losing his election, resigning from office, or dying while serving, a Military Adjudicator must determine that sufficient grounds for his impeachment exists. Should this be the case, a majority vote of the High Council must be obtained to remove him from office. As with Assemblymen, a Councilor may be considered anathema or even thrown into prison for the severity of his crimes.
The position of the Chancellery is the most virtuous and esteemed office in all of New Azura. The Chancellor serves as the head of the High Council, and thus by default the General Assembly. The Chancellor is charged with the defense of New Azura both domestically and abroad. He has the right to negotiate treaties with other countries for the General Assembly's ratification, make declarations of war against other nations, and speak openly without restrain on the floor of the General Assembly. Because the Chancellor is inherently an exceptionally honorable man amongst other honorable men, the policy for his removal from office by means other than losing in an election, resigning or dying while serving are a bit more specific. First, a Military Adjudicator must determine if there are sufficient grounds for the Chancellor to be removed from office. Secondly, a unanimous vote of the Lord Proprietors on the High Council must be obtained in order to continue the process. Finally, if a Chancellor has been unanimously given a vote of no confidence by the members of the High Council, his case is brought before the General Assembly. After both sides of the argument have been heard, the General Assembly must then vote. If a simple majority finds the Chancellor guilty, he will be impeached from office. As with other impeached officials, the infraction that warranted a Chancellor's dismissal from office may be punishable by imprisonment.
There is only one elected Chancellor and ten other seats on the High Council at any one time, while the makeup of the General Assembly is determined by Prefecture Population. With every fifty thousand people, each Prefecture earns another seat in the General Assembly. Thus, the number of seats in the General Assembly will expand over time. However, the General Assembly does have the authority to change the admittance standard for new seats in the General Assembly over time according to the will of the Electorate. The voting populace of a Prefecture votes specifically for Assembly Candidates running for seats in their Prefecture, though the members of the High Council and the Chancellor himself is elected nationally.
Please keep all OOC comments, opinions, and reviews here. Gracias!
Overview
New Azura maintains a rather unique government style, more custom in antiquity than today. The Azuran Government is based on a Timocracy, where wealth and honor dictate a person's political and cultural standing in society. Honor is the most important virtue to the Azuran. Honor defines who that Azuran is, and what he has done, and will do, in his lifetime. All members of society, regardless of their social status, are respected and reverenced for their role in the ultimate sacrifice: to make New Azura strong and free.
The Caste System
From a young age, all children are placed in one of four classes: Guerrier, Femme, Faible, or Triste. At birth, male and female children are pegged for different roles. Male children are raised by their birth mother until they reach their fourth birthday. Male children who meet certain physical and intellectual criteria are deemed members of the Guerrier, or Warrior Caste. They will be trained for the rest of their adolescence to become warriors of New Azura. Those male children who are deemed to weak to survive as a soldier are placed in the Faible (or Lesser) Caste. These children will be educated in a variety of fields, including the arts, medicine, science, engineering, and technology. They will be the fundamental backbone of the nation's economy, whilst maintaining a less prestigious cultural standing because of their lack of military experience.
Female children are reverenced as the "centerpiece" of New Azura, because of their importance in propagating the heritage. All female children are nursed and raised by their birth mother until they reach four years of age, when they are educated alongside male children in the Faible Caste. Once a girl reaches fourteen years of age, those that are capable of bearing children become part of the Femme Caste. Women of the Femme Caste are expected to have at least twenty children in their lifetime. Upon having their twentieth child, the woman is allowed the choice to continue in her role as a child-bearer for New Azura, or may retire from her service to the country. Members of the Femme Caste may also be chosen by esteemed members of the Guerrier Caste as wives, at which point they are allowed to retire. Women of the Femme Caste are reverenced as the matriarchs of New Azura. They are honored equally with soldiers who have fallen or are injured in the line of duty. If a female child is unable to reproduce, she continues on in the Faible Caste with the men.
If a child is deemed to have a serious enough genetic defect or learning disability that will prohibit them from service either as a Guerrier or as a Faible, they are placed in the Triste Caste. The Triste of New Azura are those whom must be cared for from birth. They are pitied and reverenced as the "gentle" of society that were never given the chance to stand in service to Azuran Nation. As such, they are treated with great care and compassion by members of the Faible Caste who are specifically trained to care for them.
A fifth class, the Honoré Caste, is comprised of soldiers of the Guerrier Caste who were injured whilst serving their country with honor and distinction. This designation applies to soldiers who were injured in combat, or in training for service. Soldiers who self-inflict themselves with wounds are considered anathema, and are essentially excommunicated from all facets of life in New Azura.
The sixth and final designation, the Serviteur Caste, is comprised of bonded servants (or slaves) who are purchased by esteemed members of the Guerrier Caste. A slave in New Azura is almost never an Azuran by birth, but rather a reward given to a retiring soldier for his service to the country. Despite their designation as slaves, however, they are among the most respected members of the Azuran social hierarchy for their service to the country.
The Guerrier & Honoré Castes
Azuran society is ordered by the strict adherence to the importance of honor. An Azuran, regardless of their social caste, is esteemed for performing the task that they are chosen for from a young age. Discipline and devotion to the country are considered paragon virtues in Azuran culture, while insubordination, cowardice, and disrespect are viewed with disdain. Azurans, regardless of their position in society, are looked upon and treated with respect and dignity. Each successive Caste is honored with week-long holidays devoted to those particular individuals. However, the Azuran man who is chosen to fill out the Guerrier Caste is by far the most influential and powerful caste in Azuran society. As the defenders of the homeland, soldiers lead both the hardest lives, and are also rewarded the most. From the age of four, worthy males are trained for combat. During the period between their fourth and tenth birthday, the young soldiers are trained in a variety of martial arts and combat techniques. They are also schooled in how to use a variety of weapons, vehicles, and equipment. Physical conditioning and mental acuity is developed rapidly during this period. From the period between ages ten and sixteen, the prospective soldier is groomed for a specific role within the military. Stronger and more disciplined students may be selected for more honorable roles, such as Combat Infantry, service aboard warships, or as pilots. Less seasoned students may be trained as field medics, members of the Logistical Corps, or as Combat Engineers.
At the age of sixteen, a soldier is shipped out to an indoctrination center, where he is formally placed in the Azuran Military to begin his service. During his career in the military, a soldier may distinguish himself by exemplary service, bravery under fire, courage in the face of adversity, and other commendable virtues. Decorations are awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves in such manners, with each successive decoration being harder to earn, albeit commiserate with more distinguished feats of service. Likewise, a soldier at any point who is derelict of duty, or self-inflicts a wound to avoid service is considered Anathema.
At the age of thirty, a soldier is considered to have "completed his service to his country", and is given one of two options. A soldier may choose to retire from active service (at which point he is awarded at a rate commiserate with his service to the country) or he may continue in the service. A soldier who chooses to retire at the age of thirty is not looked upon as a coward or deserter, but as an honored member of the warrior elite who has honored his country with his service. The "rewards" for a retiring soldier are typically commiserate with his service record. All soldiers are awarded various tracts of land for their service (with more land earned by more distinguished service). Only soldiers may own land in New Azura; the rest of society rents property owned by retired soldiers or by the military. The more distinguished soldiers are given larger land grants, which often includes slaves purchased by the military for that retiring soldier. The most exemplary of soldiers are also allowed, if they should so choose, to select an unmarried woman from the Femme Caste to be his wife, should she consent to do so. It is not considered Anathema to refuse to become the spouse of a soldier, though the practice of refusing a soldier's proposal is practically obsolete. A large degree of interaction is permitted between the Guerrier and the Femme prior to the proposal of marriage. Regardless of their rewards, all retiring soldiers share three common rewards. First, every soldier owns some amount of land. Secondly, every soldier is given the right to attend and vote in the General Assembly. Thirdly, every soldier is guaranteed a pension for the rest of his life.
A soldier that decides to remain in the service is esteemed highly amongst his colleagues, and earns greater rewards upon his eventual retirement. Along with the obvious chance for advancement in the military hierarchy of New Azura, a career serviceman has the opportunity to earn tracts of land within a city, or even proprietorship of a city itself upon their retirement. Proprietorship of a city is not based on heredity - upon the death of the soldier, the city is awarded to a newly retired soldier. The more esteemed a soldier's reputation is, the more prized possession a soldier is awarded. For the career serviceman who exemplifies all of the most cherished and sought-after virtues of an Azuran soldier, his reward is commiserate with his honorable nature. These special soldiers are chosen as the vanguard of the Azuran country, selected by a group of their peers to serve as the political guardians of New Azura. They meet to uphold the customs and traditions of the country, honor the next generation who builds and protects New Azura with their lives, and ensure that the country makes an exemplary transition with the times.
An offshoot of the Guerrier Caste is the Honoré Caste. The Honoré Caste is comprised of servicemen who were injured in the line of duty and were unable to fulfill their obligated length of service (or, in the case of career servicemen, to continue serving) because of their injuries. A member of this caste is honored in the same manner as a retired soldier, with their own achievements and accolades earning commiserate rewards. If physicians or psychologists view the wound or injury as not being serious enough for discharge, than the soldier will be rehabilitated until he is deemed fit and ready to resume service. No distinction is made between soldiers who were wounded in combat or those who were injured in non-combat situations such as training exercises or drills, at least in terms of their admittance into the caste. The more distinguished soldiers who enter this caste are given greater rewards than a younger or less distinguished soldier, however. A young soldier in training who is injured while learning how to become a soldier is given a lifetime pension and identified as a member of this caste, though they are not automatically given land grants without having distinguished themselves greatly.
The Femme Caste
Members of the Femme Caste are esteemed as highly as soldiers for their service to the country, as well as their personal sacrifices. Though no woman is forcibly made to serve in this Caste, most able-bodied women readily accept the honorable call both as a way to serve their country, and as a way to ensure a better life for themselves. Women placed in this caste are taught from the age of fourteen how to care for their infants. They are taught how to show love and affection, while at the same time learn the difficult struggle to let their child go at the age of four. For this sacrifice, they are highly esteemed above all other women. Historically, soldiers were called upon to impregnate women, though this process has now been rendered obsolete. Artificial insemination is performed to allow the utmost dignity to the participating woman. After twenty successful childbirths, a woman is eligible to retire from service if she so chooses, or may continue to serve in her current role. These women are given the right to vote and are also given tracts of land upon their retirement, with longer service being commiserate with larger land grants. Those deemed most exemplary are given the option of owning slaves, should they so choose. All women in the Femme Caste earn a lifetime pension for their service. One continuing practice sees the courtship of a member of the Femme Caste by a soldier. Because of the heroic sacrifices that soldiers make, any woman who chooses to accept the marriage proposal of a man is excused from the completion of her service, without any slight against her personal honor.
The Faible & Triste Castes
The men who are deemed unfit to serve in the military from the age of four (or are otherwise expelled from service because of their inability to perform) or women who are either infertile or elect not to be placed in the Femme Caste comprise the Faible Caste. Men and women of the Faible Caste are respected and honored as the backbone of the Azuran economy, as well as the fundamental bridge between the more esteemed castes (Guerrier, Femme) and the more lowly castes (Triste, Serviteur). Members of the Faible Caste are trained for specific purposes from an early age. Typically, the occupation of a man or woman is commiserate with their mental acuity, their physical makeup, and the general need of the country at any given time. More educated individuals are trained as physicians, educators, and scientists. Less educated individuals may be trained for service-based industries or versed in various manners of structural engineering and craftsmanship. Each person is specifically monitored by trained instructors (themselves members of the Faible Caste) so that every man and woman is best applied to their optimal performance capabilities. A member of this caste may give their instructor a list of desired occupations, which may assist in their job placement, though this is not always the case. Each member of the Faible Caste is educated and trained for their specific role until the age of eighteen, when they are placed in the work force.
Members of the Faible Caste are not allowed to vote, nor to own property, including slaves. However, they are allowed to apply for a marriage license, purchase luxury items, and basically enjoy a reasonable standard of living in accordance with their tastes. Finances are not necessarily dictated by job occupation in New Azura. A first year physician and a first year construction worker will earn roughly the same amount of money. Advancement in the Faible Caste comes with hard and diligent work, respect, and exemplary performance. The better worker you are, the more money that you earn. Eventually, the most exemplary members of this caste earn enough money to purchase businesses from other members of their caste, though land ownership is still forbidden. All members of the Faible Caste are allowed to live their lives as they see fit outside of the workplace. Choices of recreation, companionship, and the pursuit of material possessions are viewed as unessential, though acceptable personal freedoms that the members of this caste are allotted.
The most esteemed members of the Faible Caste are those who are chosen to care for members of the Triste Caste. Members of the Triste Caste are typically inflicted with severe physical and mental handicaps that prohibit them from being able to survive either in the workplace or on the battlefield. As such, they are viewed with great distinction and held in reverence, for they were robbed by nature of their ability to serve the country. As such, great emphasis is placed on the care of the mentally and physically handicapped. Instead of ridiculed as the weakest of society, they are honored for their innocence and for their own sacrifices. Members of the Triste Caste are distinguished from those of the Honoré Caste by their lack of military service. Though a member of the Honoré Caste may be severely handicapped (mentally or physically), they still retain the basic rights of a retired soldier, should they be physically and mentally capable of using them.
Serviteur Caste
As mentioned previously, members of the Serviteur Caste are generally not naturally-born Azurans, but are rather naturalized Azurans who are brought into the country as bonded servants. While some may apply the distinction of these men and women as slaves, this is not necessarily the correct term or proper identification. While they are purchased from slave holders, these men and women are best identified today in modern jargon as bonded servants. Specific laws and regulations are kept in place to prevent the members of this caste from being overworked or abused by proxy. The typical role of a Serviteur in New Azura is to handle the agricultural and service-based industries of the country, though some may serve as assistants to a particular owner. The practice of polygamy or the use of Serviteurs for sexual purposes was abolished in 1761 by the Edict of Oak Hill. Members of this caste, once brought to New Azura, are given two options: they may be assigned to a landowner, where they will be given a designated role to fulfill, or they may choose to be sent back to where they came. Slaves are paid an hourly wage by their owners, which transfers into a lifetime stipend fund for their work. After twenty years of bonded service, a Serviteur is freed from his obligations to the landowner and becomes part of the Faible Caste. Serviteurs are allowed to maintain their own customs and cultures, and are allowed to marry within their own Caste and have children. Children of the slaves are considered Azuran by birth, and are thus subjugated to the same caste requirements as non-slave children. No child born to a slave remains a slave. In addition, it is a long-standing tradition to free at least one bonded servant a year. This takes place during the holiday week of Vacances. For seven days, slaves are excused from their obligations to be honored for their service to the country.
The Anathema
Though not a formal caste in and of itself, there are a number of men and women who are considered Anathema to the rest of Azuran society. These people are considered the "plague" of New Azura, and are looked upon neither with honor, nor respect. These include criminals, deserters or those who would injure oneself to escape from military service, and those rare landowners who abuse (physically or sexually) their slaves. Those that are considered Anathema are prohibited from buying or selling in New Azura, are stripped (if they maintain property) of all material wealth and honor, and are essentially left to fend for themselves. Most end up in prison, where they will serve in hard labor and agony for the rest of their lives. One who is considered Anathema has the ability, however, for redemption. By becoming a Serviteur, they who were Anathema are eligible for the same opportunities as other slaves.
Typically, a man or woman who is considered anathema will choose to become a member of the Serviteur Caste in order to pay off their debt to society. However, repeat offenders and dangerous criminals are typically refuted this right by an Adjudicator (if they are a military deserter or charged with attempting to avoid service by self-inflicting a wound) or by a Judge. The loss of this privilege is considered a basic condemnation to life imprisonment, for an individual that is deemed too dangerous to be placed as a Serviteur is generally too dangerous to be freed ever again. Though rare, a select few members of this dubious group are eligible to be executed by the state. Criminal offenses that may warrant capital punishment include high treason, espionage, and murder.
Government
New Azura does not maintain a static government like most developed nations. Azuran Governance is best understood as a blend of tribal and democratic facets which are placed in a timocratic meritocracy. Only soldiers are eligible to participate in the governance of New Azura, though they share the right to vote with members of the Femme Caste. Greater positions of power and prestige are earned, not awarded, by a soldier's exemplary service to the country. The higher the rank a soldier achieved during his career, the better man he was by comparison to others. Thus, while soldiers who are married, have large tracts of land, and own Serviteurs may be identified by their possessions and wealth as being more powerful, their true power lies in their character. Highly esteemed honor and dignity is commiserate with more political power.
All members of the Guerrier, Honoré, and Femme Castes are given the right to vote. However, the influence of their vote is commiserate with the amount of wealth that each individual person possesses. Therefore, the vote of a member of the Femme Caste is inherently weaker than that of a soldier in most cases, though not always. The influence factor of a person's vote increases with the amount of land that a person owns, the person's marriage status, and the amount of bonded servants that a soldier possesses. These factors are logged into a national registry maintained by the highest strata of the Azuran military command, who consequently assign a rating to the soldiers and members of the Femme Caste. This Electorate Index is a determining factor in the political weight of a particular person. The Index operates on a scale of one to ten, with one being the least and ten being the greatest. Again, a person's Electorate Index rating can be easily ascertained by the position of a man or woman in society.
For instance, a soldier who is unmarried, retired with few decorations at the age of thirty, and owns no Serviteurs is likely to be assigned an index rating of two. That means that for every vote that he casts, his vote will count as two votes. A young soldier who was injured prior to being able to be placed in the military properly will almost always have an index rating of one. The general ceiling level for a member of the Femme Caste is an index rating of three by comparison. In the case of a career serviceman who logged twelve additional years of service, retired as a Colonel from service, and was decorated numerous times for bravery and dedication to the country, that soldier would be rewarded with large tracts of land, the ability to marry a member of the Femme Caste, and potentially be given bonded servants for possession. This man's rating index is likely to fall between five and seven on the scale. At this range, a person most likely has proprietorship over several tracts of land possessing the businesses of a Faible Caste member, thus increasing his own monetary wealth.
If a soldier is distinguished and decorated enough, he may be granted the proprietorship of entire cities, or parts thereof. In this case, a soldier who earns the proprietorship of a portion of a larger, more distinguished city will fall into the eight or nine index range. With this ranking, an individual may be elected to serve in the General Assembly of New Azura as Assemblymen, debating policies and crafting legislature. If a soldier retires with a high rank, and is thus esteemed highly above his peers, then that person may be given an index rating of ten. Those who rank ten on the index scale are generally given proprietorship over entire Prefectures, administrative districts of New Azura that are identified as such for military and economic purposes. Only the most distinguished and honorable of soldiers manage to obtain this level of influence. Soldiers with this rating are automatically given the honor of serving on the High Council of the General Assembly, where they are granted the title of "Lord Proprietor" or simply "Councilor". From these select few, the entire voting population of New Azura will elect a Chancellor, who serves as the virtual chief executive of New Azura. The Chancellor serves as the figurehead of both the Azuran Government, the Azuran Military, and the Azuran way of life. He is eligible to serve as many four year terms as he wishes to serve.
The structure of the General Assembly, the High Council, and the Chancellery is comprised as follows. The General Assembly is made up of retired soldiers who possess an index rating of either eight or nine, with their influence increasing with their rating. These retired soldiers are elected by the voting population of New Azura to a two year term. Being among the most honorable and distinguished soldiers of New Azura, there is no term limit placed upon Assemblymen. Those elected to the General Assembly move to Capodimonte, the national capital, to participate in the business of governing New Azura. An Assemblyman's voting influence in the General Assembly is commiserate with his voting influence as part of the general voting populace. Whereas his vote in the national elections counts either eight or nine times, his vote in the Assembly will also count eight or nine times. Except through a loss in an election, the only way an Assemblyman can be forced out of his office by means other than death or resignation is to be impeached from office by a general vote of the General Assembly. If an Assemblyman is found to have perpetrated some type of crime, he may be expelled from office by a majority vote. However, such a case must first be reviewed by a Military Adjudicator, who will determine the validity of the claim made against the Assemblyman. If the infraction is severe enough, the Assemblyman may be classified as Anathema, or even placed into prison.
The High Council of the General Assembly wields great influence over the rest of the congregation. Members of the council dictate the order of business in the General Assembly, may personally call for an investigation into the practices of an Assemblyman, and can make diplomatic appointments both domestically and abroad. Examples of such appointments include forming special committees comprised of Assemblymen, selecting a nominee proposed by the General Assembly to serve on the Superior Court bench of New Azura, or appoint Ambassadors to other nations. Councilors are not capped on the number of terms that they may serve, and complete three year terms before coming back up for reelection. For a Councilor to be removed from his position by means other than losing his election, resigning from office, or dying while serving, a Military Adjudicator must determine that sufficient grounds for his impeachment exists. Should this be the case, a majority vote of the High Council must be obtained to remove him from office. As with Assemblymen, a Councilor may be considered anathema or even thrown into prison for the severity of his crimes.
The position of the Chancellery is the most virtuous and esteemed office in all of New Azura. The Chancellor serves as the head of the High Council, and thus by default the General Assembly. The Chancellor is charged with the defense of New Azura both domestically and abroad. He has the right to negotiate treaties with other countries for the General Assembly's ratification, make declarations of war against other nations, and speak openly without restrain on the floor of the General Assembly. Because the Chancellor is inherently an exceptionally honorable man amongst other honorable men, the policy for his removal from office by means other than losing in an election, resigning or dying while serving are a bit more specific. First, a Military Adjudicator must determine if there are sufficient grounds for the Chancellor to be removed from office. Secondly, a unanimous vote of the Lord Proprietors on the High Council must be obtained in order to continue the process. Finally, if a Chancellor has been unanimously given a vote of no confidence by the members of the High Council, his case is brought before the General Assembly. After both sides of the argument have been heard, the General Assembly must then vote. If a simple majority finds the Chancellor guilty, he will be impeached from office. As with other impeached officials, the infraction that warranted a Chancellor's dismissal from office may be punishable by imprisonment.
There is only one elected Chancellor and ten other seats on the High Council at any one time, while the makeup of the General Assembly is determined by Prefecture Population. With every fifty thousand people, each Prefecture earns another seat in the General Assembly. Thus, the number of seats in the General Assembly will expand over time. However, the General Assembly does have the authority to change the admittance standard for new seats in the General Assembly over time according to the will of the Electorate. The voting populace of a Prefecture votes specifically for Assembly Candidates running for seats in their Prefecture, though the members of the High Council and the Chancellor himself is elected nationally.