Nation/Tarusma

The Second Tarusmic Empire
Motto: "There shall be no Divine King of Mortals bar me"
Region		Coalition of Democratic Nations
Capital		Tarusma
Membership		8 Member States Doratya Kavvos Laans Pennumbra Redorran Suvva Utrania Varenthal
Government		Monarchical International Union
-	Emperor	Hattini, High King of the Suvvan Kingdoms
-	Chair of the Imperial Court	Borion Evryl of the Federated Kingship of Laans
-	Commander on Land	Apalis Evryl, High King of the Federated Kingship of Laans
-	Commander on Sea	Helkis, Lord of the Seven Keeps of Varenthal
-	Commander of the Imperial Guard	Petyr, Dictator of the Federal Republic of Kavvos

The Second Tarusmic Empire is an international union between all the civilized nations of the Tarusmic Peninsular: a heavily forested and mountainous region that extends west into the Great Ocean, and connected to the mainland at the Great Hotan desert. Member states include the central states of Suvva, Laans and Varenthal, collectively known as the Three Kingdoms for their ancient history and vibrant culture; since these founding nations, Kovvas, a relatively sophisticated state on the west coast of the peninsular, and Doratya, a former colony of Varenthal, have also joined the Empire, as it is known locally. Additionally, the territories known as the Borderlands, including the recently founded Kingdom of Pennumbra, have been annexed by the Tarusmic Empire.

The Imperial court, the government of the Tarusmic Empire, on which the national leaders of the member states are reserved seats for them or their nominated regent, meets daily in the capital city of Tarusma.

Etymology

The word Tarusmic, used to describe the world, region, and empire, is the denonym of the slightly less common name, Tarusma, used by the Empire and the capital city, which is taken from the divine founder of the capital city and first empress of the First Empire: the goddess Tarusma. Much of Imperial culture revolves around the goddess, although she has since vanished, and her exploits; even court Decisions reflect her Stone Laws.

History

The First Empire

The precursor to the First Empire was established with Torys's treaty which took the important steps of pacifying the Varenthalen Keeps, creating economic links between the Three Kingdoms, and enforcing regular meetings with all three national leaders, as well as granting Doratya independence. The treaty had been signed after a period of unrest in Varenthal, in which Laanic and Suvvan troops were need to dispose the rebel leaders. After peace, through Torys's treaty, had been established, the Three Kingdoms were able to develop more co-dependently and eventually the meetings of the Three Monarchs became court hearings, as the need came to have equal industry, in particular industry quality, regulation. Ideas and culture spread faster in this new union, especially following the Open City Decision and the Sovereignty Decision by the Three Monarchs, which strengthened traveling merchants. However, it was during this peaceful time that Torys, Lady of the Seven Keeps of Varenthal, died. Her husband, Zeno, should have replaced her but discontent among the Warlords resulted in his death: a jealous admirer of Torys, Loged, son of Apalis of the Pyramid, chained Zeno to the hull of his warship and drowned the unfortunate lover; Torys's son, Igaris, studying in Tarusma, became the rightful heir to the Seven Keeps, yet no move was made by the Warlords to invite him to the throne, in fact rumors circulated that preparations were being made for an open tournament for the throne. With Varenthal escaping back into the anarchy that had traditionally gripped the nation, to the deprivement of its neighbors, Suvva and Laans convened campaigns to reinstate Igaris as Lord of the Seven Keeps. However, only the vanguards had crossed the border when the news arrived that the Silent Spears, normally enemies of Laans and Suvva, had captured the Woaden Keep and cordially invited Igaris to retake his seat on the throne. Although the collapse of the union had been avoided, the Court of the Three Monarchs found it necessary to grant monarchical powers to one of its members that he/she may rule over member states in emergencies such as the death of Torys; for this task, they chose the immortal goddess Tarusma, Queen of the Suvvan Kingdoms. Thus, Tarusma became the first empress of the First Empire.

Government and Politics

The Tarusmic Empire, and almost all the nations of the Tarusmic Empire, follow the same type of government known as legislature by jury. Essentially all powers are given to a central body, called a court, to which current issues are brought by witnesses or policy proposals are brought by bureaucrats; the court will hear all the evidence and then vote on a possible course of action, or inaction, this a Decision; the Emperor, as do many of the monarchs in the Empire, possesses a veto; the court's Decision is then implemented by Imperial Delegates. Furthermore, the precedent set by the court's Decision must be followed in similar cases in the lower courts, i.e. a Decision made by the Imperial court will be followed in all national courts and all regional courts, and a Decision made by a national court will be followed in all the regional courts in the country in question. In the Second Tarusmic Empire, at present, there are 6 national courts and 47 regional courts. In addition to this, courts can nominate Delegates to take executive decisions, while executing court orders, on the court's behalf.

There are two main political groupings in the Imperial court, and, indeed, all Tarusmic courts, known as the Shores and the Hills; the names derive from their seating in the Imperial court as members of the Shores sit along the frontbench, closer to the emperor, while the Hills sit on the tiered seating behind. In general, Shores advocate greater powers for the central government and increased regulation over industry; the Shores are seeking to implement a range of policies including a permanent military force, which the Empire lacks, and limited "market-zones", where free trade will flourish but only in designated areas. Most Shores are from the Three Kingdoms, although notable schools of political thought, such as Gutyan politics in Kavvos, have developed outside the core of the Empire. By comparison, the majority of Hills are from the Borderlands; their teachings include restrictions on executive power, competition regulation for the largest companies, lower taxes and a ban on compulsory military service. As a general rule, government posts are filled by Shores because their support of the central government is admired above the radical ideas of the Hills.

Important Decisions of the Court of Three Monarchs

• The Open City Decision ruled that all cities in the Three Kingdoms must, unless with just cause, allow citizens of the Three Kingdoms within the city walls. The hearing heard the testament of a Monothean merchantman who, after having been rejected entry to the Yew Keep by the regional court, took his matters to an open court of the Three Monarchs in Tarusma. Here the Three Monarchs, after also hearing from the chair of the Yew Keep's court, ruled that citizens of the Three Kingdoms would be given entry, unless with just cause, to all cities within the Three Kingdoms.
• The Sovereign Decision granted the Court of the Three Monarchs even greater power by self-proclaiming their Decisions can overrule contrary Decisions by regional courts. After the Open City Decision, the Yew Keep still refused the merchantman entry, claiming their Decision was paramount. The Court of the Three Monarchs ruled otherwise, and concluded that the Three Monarchs shall use their Monarchical powers to implement court Decisions.
• The Single Monarch Decision gave the powers of all the national leaders of the member states to a single ruler, Tarusma, Divine Queen of Suvva, for use in emergencies. The Decision was made after Torys, Lady of the Seven Keeps of Varenthal, died and her throne was contested, signalling the disintegration of the Three Kingdoms. Although the crises was adverted, in order to escape a second episode the right to rule as monarch of a member state was given to Tarusma, that she may rule as a monarch until a suitable heir is found; this power since been inherited by Tarusma's successors.

For more information, visit Tarusma's Nation States page, Official National Factbook, or the Tarusmic Peninsular where all the Member States are located.