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The Elder Imperial Dominion of Eothasia, also alternatively referred to as the Elder Dominion, the Dominion, or Eothasia, is a meritocratic hierarchy composed of seven territorial divisions named Teyrnirs, as well as one federal district (the capital city of Palaven). The Elder Dominion is a large nation at over eleven million square kilometers and with a population numbering over five hundred million residents. It occupies the entirety of its continent, known locally as Mélamandor, Eothasian for “Homeland.” The continent is surrounded by vast oceans on all sides, including the Driesh Sea to the south and east, Auriel’s Sea to the west, and the Elder Sea to the north, separating Eothasia from the Waldzer continent.

Apart from its territorial holdings on the continent of Mélamandor, it also has a number of lesser colonial holdings and protected territories. As of 2035, these included 217 different locations, most of which are small islands or atolls, though the largest of these holdings (Mythenas) is roughly thirty thousand square kilometers in size.

Historically, the Elder Dominion has been characterized by a very potent isolationism in all things foreign, from trade to political relations. This isolationism prevailed for many centuries after the creation of the Elder Dominion, and was only curbed following Duvaineth’s ascension to the Essedia.

It is presently unclear from where the inhabitants of the continent of Mélamandor hail, as the Ethos, as they are known, are biologically peculiar in comparison to the inhabitants of the surrounding continents, most notably in the lifespan of the Ethos (who are able to live for several centuries) as well as extremely limited supernatural powers.

Etymology

Elder Imperial Dominion of Eothasia
Elder Imperial Dominion of Eothasia Eothasia
	Motto: “Oialë eb!”
	Anthem: Stand Together
	Eothasian Continent
	Cities in the Dominion
Capital	Palaven
Largest	Lithandril
National Language	Eothasian, English
Demonym	Eothasian
Government	Hierarchical Meritocracy
Legislature	Elder Congress
Establishment
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2037 estimate
Gini	24; low
HDI	0.946; very high
Currency	Eothasian Orën (₰) (EDO)
Date format	dd.mm.age:year
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+7
Internet TLD	.eot, .eid

It is unclear where the term “Eothasia” first emerges, although it has been found that it appears several hundred years prior to the creation of the first continental country, the High Eothasian Empire. The first registered appearance of name is from 0:-844, in an epic written by famous classical novelist and poet Fidena en Anailin. However, historical accounts of her works and their popularity within Eothasian societies at the time indicate that it was unlikely she was the first to coin the name, rather implying she utilized a common phrase to refer to those inhabiting Mélamandor.

Some scholarly studies have (inconclusively) concluded that the term Eothasia originates from the island of Epyrus, today one of the seven teyrns of the Dominion. It is believed that Epyrus named the continent this way after its leader, Eothomas, who first led Epyrussian armies onto the mainland and began conquering what would eventually become the First Epyrussian Empire. This is uncertain, as it is believed that certain texts found prior to the ascension of Eothomas to the Epyrussian crown already mention this continent, despite their authenticity having been brought into question multiple times.

Alternatively, it is noted at which point the name Mélamandor came into common use. It was not at all present prior to the creation of the High Eothasian Empire in 0:0, as it was the name established precisely by the High Empire to refer to the continent itself, as opposed to the nation.

History

Eothasia enters recorded history as a land populated by the Ethos, a subspecies of humanity prevalent to only this continent and only seen elsewhere in those locations to where the Ethos have since migrated. Though modern science has permitted the discovery of the differences that lead to the current Ethos subspecies, it is unclear when or why this occurred. Most importantly, it is unknown when the Ethos first occupied the continent, as it is believed that they are not inherently natives of their land.

The recorded history of the dozens of kingdoms and empires that spanned Mélamandor is rich most notably in war and violence. Tales of glorious conquests of national foes are explicitly depicted in elaborate monuments erected in a variety of different locations, such as those in Aertys, the capital of Epyrus, which vividly show the conquests of the First, Second, and Third Epyrussin Empires, or the ruins of ancient cities in modern-day Nirand, carefully preserved as national landmarks. Though the Second Epyrussian Empire was the first to span from the eastern coast to the western coast (and the Edessan Empire the first from north to south), to date the entirety of the continent has been in control of a single nation only twice, in the High Eothasian Empire and its successor, the Elder Imperial Dominion of Eothasia.

Prehistoric Periods

Historical data for the continent of Mélamandor goes back as far as -359:91, of which the standardized equivalent is 35,191 years Before the Common Era. This is when the first anatomical Ethos first emerged. Evidence appears to indicate that, during this period, anatomical humans coexisted on Mélamandor with the Ethos, although it is unclear if cross-species mating occurred. In any event, by -271:74, humans had all but evaporated from the continent. The exact reasons for this disappearance are still unknown, although it is theorized that they were either annihilated by the Ethos themselves or failed to mate and match the long life spans and endurance of the Ethos.

The prehistoric Ethos were largely a nomadic species, with intense organizational structures amongst their tribes based on the merits of the individuals. Hunters, gatherers, and foragers were not separated by gender or other arbitrary features, but rather, but the individual skills young Ethos demonstrated. This level of meritocratic organizational structure is key to understanding prehistoric Ethos, as it was from this that they managed to gather, hunt, and feed the large populations that their tribes usually entailed.

There was very little technological progress recorded on the continent throughout this period until roughly -37:00, or 2900 years Before the Common Era. It is in this period that the Neolithic Revolution first arrived Mélamandor, and radically changed the way in which the Ethos lived. The widespread discovery of agriculture on the continent allowed the tribes to settle in key locations with fertile soil and brought about the increased meritocratic specialization of the Eothasian populations, which grew exponentially.

The Neolithic Revolution not only increased Eothasian populations and trade, creating communities where there had previously been hunting groups roaming the land, but it also brought about the first inklings of written language and the first known civilization, settled near the modern city of Lithyr, in Edessan, known only as the Essë. Finally, the Neolithic brought about the beginning of what is known today as the Bronze Age.

Bronze Age

The first well-known civilization in Mélamandor was that of the Essë. They occupied lands in the central northern portion of the nation, near the modern city of Lithyr. The Essën civilization expanded from the vast green plains that surrounded them, flourishing under the new agricultural techniques discovered in the Neolithic Revolution. It is believed that the Essë first arose in the 25th Ialë B.U., and it is suggested that they lasted several hundred years, at least until the 19th Ialë B.U. They were first discovered in the early 11th Ialë by famed archaeologist Marolen en Ennorath. Evidence suggests that the Essë’s collapse was brought about by the conquest of other, more powerful civilizations.

After the fall of the Essë, dozens of civilizations began to emerge across the continent. Some, much like their earlier counterparts, settled and became traders and promoted the first commercial partnerships on the continent. Others were far more violent and established their dominance over other civilizations through war and conquest. The most important civilization to emerge following the fall of the Essë was the Tatamolan civilization, in the 17th Ialë B.U., settled in the desert plains of Eothasia, with their capital erected slightly over two hundred kilometers east of the modern city of Viladell. They wrested control over much of Eothasia from other, smaller groups through force, wielding notable military strength against them. They were the first civilization of somewhat notable size, spanning from their capital in the desert to the shores of Newdell to their north, as far west as Viladell and as far east as the Linórë Rift, which today forms the border between Linórë and Lossoré. Despite their strength and size, however, by the 15th Ialë B.U. the civilization began a steep decline until it was finally conquered by smaller groups in the early 14th Ialë B.U. This new Ialë was characterized by the appearance of the first large imperial civilization, the First Epyrussian Empire.

Antiquity

The Era of Antiquity, as it is commonly referred to, was intricately marked by a number of important civilizations as well as the continents first imperial powers. These include civilizations such as the First Epyrussian Empire, which was the first imperial power, the Edessan Empire, which spanned from the northern coast to the southern coast, the Second Epyrussian Empire, which spanned from west to east, and lastly, the Aephusite Empire, which became the longest lasting empire in Eothasian history. Other notable powers include the Third Epyrussian Empire (which was the shortest lived of the three), the Empire of Nirand, and the various republics that confederated in Caellad.

First Epyrussian Empire

The First Epyrussian Empire originated in the city of Aertys, the capital of the Empire and the modern capital of the Teyrnir of Epyrus. The civilization first emerged in the mid-to-late 14th Ialë B.U., although the cities that incorporated the empire had existed for at least another hundred years prior. Under the rule of Empress Arnola, these cities were bound together in the continent’s first empire.

Records show that these cities first established a confederation and, initially, maintained their own governance and internal security forces, as well as their own treasuries. However, they all made contributions to a united military, agreed trade with one another, and became intrinsically linked. However, Aertys—because of its considerable size in comparison to the rest of the cities prior to the confederation—was viewed as the strongest. This was most fervently realized under Empress Arnola, who imprisoned the entirety of the united army and marched her own into each of the city states, conquering them all swiftly. Within just a short set of years, she had conquered the entirety of the island of Epyrus. Though it is implied she had plans to eventually begin conquering the surrounding islands and invade the island of Aephus, she was killed by her son, Eothomas, before she was able to realize her plans.

Within the first year of being ascended as emperor, Epyrussian military forces began conquering new lands, most notably the islands to the north and east of Epyrus. Over the following decade, the Epyrussian military continued its military campaigns, conquering much of southern Aephus and the southern tips of the continent (modern day Nirand). The Epyrussian conquests were swift, and before the end of the 13th Ialë B.U., controlled most of Nirand, the southern half of Aephus and all its surrounding islands, and had made inroads into Linórë.

The First Epyrussian Empire collapsed after the death of Eothomas, who was felled in battle during the First Siege of Ansari in -12:03. Though there had been much tension on the island of Epyrus since the late 14th Ialë, it had largely been suppressed by Eothomas and his armies, whilst others were silenced by the riches arriving from the eastern conquests. His death was followed by a marked increase in insurrectionist activity, which culminated in the murder of Eothomas’ heir apparent, Duinenor, during his coronation. This event sparked a civil war on the island, and troops were recalled from Epyrussian holdings, leaving behind only token garrisons, which were then themselves conquered by liberationists in the occupied territories.

The civil war continued for at least two decades, and at its end, all cities lay in ruin, most intensely of which was Aertys, the first imperial capital, which had been under siege for nearly four years before the war ended.

Edessan Empire

The Edessan Empire emerged following the collapse of the First Epyrussian Empire from the Kingdom of Edessan. Prior to its expansionist period, it spanned from the Aephusite channel in the east across to the Norcrestan Peninsula; all of this would be maintained in the Edessan Empire, as would a path through the center of Eothasia to the Driesh Sea in Nirand. It was the first empire in the history of the continent to span from north to south.

To its south, the weakened states that had been occupied by the First Epyrussian Empire were left in ruin by the revolutionary conflict that sprout from the death of Emperor Eothomas. Even before the public murder of Duinenor, the Kingdom of Edessan began minor conquests into Linórë. When civil war broke on the island of Epyrus, a full invasion began and swept down the entire continent. The conquest was brisk, and before the end of the decade, Edessan territory had been almost doubled.

The Edessan Empire achieved its maximum extension under Empress Allethia. By then, the nation had become the single-most powerful empire on the continent and was unrivalled in military project, economic strength and political influence. Its courts held dignitaries from dozens of smaller kingdoms seeking clemency from their strongest neighbor. Its strategic geographical location made it impossible for continental trade to flow without coming into contact with the Edessan tariff authorities, whether it be through land or at sea.

It was the Edessan Empire that beat down the rebellious republics in Caellad and established puppet states, and threatened Aephus with invasion if it did not withdraw military forces from the Aephusite channel and permitted free travel for all Edessan warships. In every sense of the word, the Edessan Empire became the continental hegemony.

And so, it is especially shocking to historical scholars that the Edessan Empire’s downfall came in less than five years. Very little data exists on the exact circumstances that led to the weakening of the Edessan border, but what is known for certain is that the city of Norcrest was ransacked and by-then-abdicated Empress Allethia and her successor, Empress Vestelle, were beheaded in the city plaza, as per the tales collected in various poets’ works in the following decades.

Current theories on the fall of the Edessan Empire center on its military. Given the size of the empire, the Edessan population was alarmingly small; as such, the military was also of reduced proportions. The Edessan Empire attempted to circumvent this issue by the conscription of young children from occupied cities of their empire, but even then their military was unable to cope with the large military demands of a country of their size.

Though there is no data—neither from the Edessan Empire nor from Epyrus—it is unlikely to be a coincidence that the fall of the Edessan Empire coincided with the rapid emergence of the Second Epyrussian Empire. Some theories, working in conjunction with how thinly spread the Edessan Empire’s military forces truly were, state that it is likely that the Second Epyrussian Empire funded and equipped revolutionary forces in Edessan hoping to weaken their forces enough to conquer the remains with ease. This then explains that not a decade after the fall of Norcrest, Epyrussian forces occupied the city.

Despite this, the Edessan Empire is the third longest-lasting empire in the history of Eothasia, after the Second Epyrussian Empire and the Aephusite Empire. Today, it is said that the rise of the Edessan Empire began in -12:01, with the first wave of invasions all across Linórë, and ended with the fall of Norcrest in -9:97.

Geography

Demographics

Government

The Imperial government is the national government of the Elder Imperial Dominion of Eothasia. It is composed of seven teyrnirs, a realm encompassing all colonial holdings, and a federal district in which the nation’s capital of Palaven resides. It has a clear division of power in legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with power vested by the Imperial Constitution in the Elder Congress, the Elerína, and the Elder Courts, respectively. Additionally, each branch can create a number of committees, departments, and sub-courts to carry out their duties. Although the single individual with the most power in the Imperial government is the Hierarch, at the head of the Elerína, the most powerful branch of government is the Elder Congress.

Apart from the federal government in Palaven, the government is also partitioned into more local levels: the Vexians and the Teyrns.

Vexians

Vexian Councils are the first governmental step within the Elder Imperial Dominion, centered around the governance of individual cities. There are no prior requirements to ascend to Vexian; however, in order to become one, one of the members of the Senate (or the Citadel) for the Teyrn to which they belong must nominate them to the Vexian Council. This is usually done by holding elections in the city to see who of the available candidates most aptly represents the citizens; these individuals then get nominated by the members of Congress to their city’s Vexian councils.

From here, members of the Vexian Council will choose members among themselves (in the event that a new seat is left vacant by a previous member of Congress) to represent their teyrn at Congress. This is usually done at a collective level from metropolitan areas to adequately represent the population whilst avoiding an overpopulation of candidates or an awkward distribution of candidates to cities.

The Vexian Councils themselves are the representatives of the citizens of a city. It is their duty to undertake actions that reflect the desires of the populace and implement the measures they find most appropriate to achieve those desires. Furthermore, all the Vexians of a teyrn (which can vary radically, from just 80 in Epyrus to over 700 in Nirand) form what is known as the Vexian Congress, which is the equivalent of the Elder Congress at teyrniral level.

It is paramount that the Vexian Council be active in communication with its citizens, as bi-annual elections have been known to destroy the political careers of many aspiring Vexians.

Teyrnirs

The entirety of the Elder Imperial Dominion is divided into seven teyrnirs, in addition to the Colonial Realms. As such, this is one of the most important offices to hold in the Elder Imperial Dominion. The members presiding over the teyrnirs, be they teyrn or teyrna, are selected jointly by the Primarch and Hierarch from the available Speakers of Congress. Because it is infrequent to switch teyrns at the teyrnirs, this is sufficient to occupy all offices. In the event of a catastrophic event in which more than two teyrns were to perish, however, the Primarch and Hierarch are simply to choose from the set of available members of Congress.

The teyrnirs are the largest divisions into which the Elder Imperial Dominion is organized. They have their own set of judges and courts, police forces, investigative units, budgetary accounts, with their own congresses and semi-autonomous governments. By all accounts, they are essentially nations, autonomous in many ways, but still under the jurisdiction and leadership of the federal government in Palaven.

Elder Congress

The Elder Congress is, itself, a bicameral legislative branch. It comprises of the Elder Senate, as the lower house, whilst the upper house is occupied by the Elder Citadel. The members are elected by popular vote of all Imperial citizens, domestic and abroad. It should be noted that both chambers of the Elder Congress are elected not by the population, but by their appropriate Vexians, selected from other worthy Vexians.

Elder Senate

The Elder Senate consists of 435 members, separated amongst the different districts of the Elder Imperial Dominion. The number of representatives that each district is permitted within the Senate is proportional to the district’s population, as calculated by the nation’s most recent census. These representatives serve two-year terms in the Senate and can be elected for an unlimited number of non-consecutive terms (with a maximum of ten consecutive terms and a rest period of one term). In order to form a part of the Elder Senate, the individual must be of Eothasian birth and citizenship and must have obtained, at minimum, the Vexian citizenship tier.

It should be noted that the Colonial Realms are represented in the Senate, albeit by only five representatives, regardless of the size of the population of these realms. The city of Palaven is represented by two members.

Elder Citadel

The Elder Citadel is the upper house of the Elder Congress and is an integral part of the Imperial government. It is formed by 200 members at present, with each of the seven teyrnirs being represented by twenty-five members regardless of their populations. The Colonial Realms are presented by fifteen members, and Palaven by ten. The members of the Citadel are elected for eight-year terms, of which half are voted on every four years (Palaven and the Colonial Realms must necessarily coincide).

In order to form a part of the Elder Citadel, the representative must necessarily be of Eothasian birth and citizenship and must have obtained, at minimum, the Vexian citizenship tier.

Powers of the Elder Congress

The Elder Congress has a number of important powers, with each house operating with different roles in these procedures. These are detailed in the following:

Legislature. The Elder Congress is the key branch for the creation and passing of new laws in the Elder Imperial Dominion. Proposed laws are made and submitted into the Elder Senate first and then proceed into the Elder Citadel. They must be approved by a simple majority in both chambers in order for the law to be approved, requiring the Hierarch’s signature. Should they veto the bill, the Elder Congress can choose to ratify the bill, requiring 75% majority in both chambers.
Approval of Elder Council Members. Though it is not explicitly necessary (and, indeed, members can be appointed to the Elder Council without approval), it is tradition for the Elder Citadel to vote and approve the appointments made by the Hierarch for Elder Council members. However, it is absolutely necessary that they approve the appointment of the Primarch.
Centralization. Though theoretically an article exists within the Imperial Constitution under which the Elder Congress assumes control of all similar powers in all teyrnirs, habitually this is not undertaken; each teyrnir is able to exercise their own powers over their jurisdiction (insofar as it does not contradict federal laws issued by the Congress).
Appointment and Impeachment. The Elder Congress is the body that ratifies the ascension of a new Hierarch to the Elerína. Furthermore, it retains the right to impeach and remove any and all federal officers from government. The two chambers serve different functions for this process; the Senate must first initiate and impeach the officer in question, and the Citadel must then undergo a trial process under which the individual is removed from office if it so demands. The impeachment requires majority in the Senate, whilst removal from office requires 60% majority in the Citadel. In the existence of the Elder Imperial Dominion, no federal officer has been impeached or removed by the Elder Congress.
Committees. The Elder Congress retains the right to create and establish committees and subcommittees for the undertaking of its duties, such as drafting legislation and policies, conducting investigations into national matters, etc. As of 12:36 A.U. (2036 C.E.), the number of committees operating under congress supersedes two hundred.

Elerína

The Elerína has been the executive branch of the Elder Imperial Dominion since its establishment. It recognizes a number of officials with specific unisex titles: the Hierarch—Eothasian equivalent for Emperor or Empress—and the Varni—the spouse of the Hierarch, although their power is limited to awareness and visibility issues—, as well as the Primarch, which is the second in command of the Elder Imperial Dominion and first in line to succeed the Hierarch. Apart from this, the Elder Council is also recognized, being a selection of secretaries specialized in their fields in order to provide the Hierarch with the most accurate information and programs at their disposal.

Hierarch

Incumbent Hierarch Valerius Eäron

Incumbent Varni Syrilla Eäron

The Hierarch is the highest executive officer of the Elder Imperial Dominion. The executive branch of government consists of the Hierarch and those to whom they choose to delegate their powers. The Hierarch is both of the head of state and of government for the Elder Imperial Dominion, as well as chief diplomat and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The duty of the Hierarch is to ensure that the laws are executed in a faithful manner, as well as protect and preserve the integrity of the Imperial Constitution.

The Hierarch is elected not by the people, but by hierarchical and meritocratic ascension in the Elder Imperial Dominion. As per the culture of the incorporated citizenship tiers, the successor to the Hierarch is, at all times, the Primarch, and thus, it is the Primarch that will always be the new Hierarch of the Elder Dominion during a shift in order.

The Hierarch may pass a bill or they may veto it and prevent it from becoming law (insofar as 75% of both chambers agree to the ratification). They may unilaterally sign treaties with other countries or with international organizations without the ratification of either the Citadel or the Senate (although if 60% of both reject the treaty, it is denied).

The Hierarch may be impeached by the Elder Congress if it so deems it, and if all necessary procedures are adequately followed.

The Hierarch may dissolve the Congress and call elections if they enact a Decree of National Emergency that so necessitates it. They are able to pardon and release criminals convicted of offenses against the federal government, enact executive orders, appoint Supreme Court justices (with the support of the Congress) as well as federal judges.

Primarch

The Primarch is the second highest office in the Elder Imperial Dominion. Officially, the Primarch is designated in the Imperial Constitution as Head of the Citadel. In this capacity, the Primarch is permitted to vote in the Elder Citadel; however, this is only the case when it is necessary to break a tie.

As the Primarch is the first in the line of succession to replace the Hierarch in the event of their death, resignation, or removal, they often carry out similar tasks as the Hierarch, either in an assisting capacity or in a delegated capacity.

Elder Council

The daily enforcement and application of federal laws is in the hands of the federal departments, such as that of the Department of State or Department of Defense. These are created by the Elder Congress with specific jurisdictions, whether they be national or international. Currently, there are 24 departments in this council, each representative selected exclusively by the Hierarch (although frequently, there are recommendations by the Elder Congress).

Apart from these departments, there are also independent agencies, such as the Elder Stellar Initiative, the Strategic Intelligence Service, and others.

Elder Supreme Court

The Elder Supreme Court is the highest federal court in the Elder Imperial Dominion. Established by the Imperial Constitution, it has ultimate (and discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over federal and teyrniral court cases involving federal law. It is the final interpreter of federal law including the Imperial Constitution. However, it does not have the power to decide nonjusticiable political questions, and the enforcement arm of the judicial branch is, in fact, the executive branch of government.

According to the federal statutes, the Supreme Court consists of eight associate justices to the Chief Justice of the Elder Imperial Dominion, nominated by the reigning Hierarch and approved by the established Congress. Once appointed, these justices have lifetime tenure, unless they retire, resign, or are ultimately deemed unfit to serve by the Elder Congress. Each justice has one vote, and it is unlikely to witness any number of cases in which the decisions taken are not unanimous, in accordance with their interpretation of the law.

The Supreme Court meets in the Elder Supreme Courthouse in Palaven.

Law Enforcement

Economy

Education

Public education in the Elder Imperial Dominion is under the express control of the Department of Education of the Imperial government. Its main goal is to prepare the alumni professionally so that they may form an integral part of Eothasian society; a secondary goal is to integrate students into the societal behavioral patterns expected of them in Eothasia.

The curriculum for the public education system is controlled at a federal level in Palaven. This is then transmitted to the eight teyrnirs that form the Dominion, which may then adjust the curriculum with some flexibility; however, this flexibility is important, as students will rely on the efficacy of the system to achieve the necessary citizenship tier that grants access to university.

The public education system is divided into cycles. Each cycle represents a key moment of an Eothasian’s life; as such, it is important to note that foreigners cannot attend generalized public education centers, as these are adjusted for Eothasians’ longer lifespans. The government has taken steps to establish a decent amount of subsidized private institutes for foreign education.

The first cycle through which the student must pass is the Primary Cycle. This cycle encompasses the time span between a student’s arrival into the education system (necessarily having celebrated their fifth birthday) and the beginning of their adolescence (beginning roughly at the age of eighteen). This cycle is a generalized course to acustom students to mathematics, critical thinking, comprehension, analysis, and other key skills that will be used in future cycles and courses. In accordance with the citizenship tiers incorporated into Eothasian society, students frequently reach the tier of Attëyal, the third tier.

The second cycle through which the student must pass is the Secondary Cycle. This cycle encompasses some of the important formation years for the student, from the twelfth to the eighteenth year of education. These six years of education are largely a stepping stone to identify the student’s strongest points and lead them in that direction. It is not precisely professional specialization, but it is where the options begin to be narrowed down. By the end of this cycle, it is expected that students will have achieved the sixth citizenship tier of Attëyar.

The third cycle is the Tertiary Cycle, encompassing from the eighteenth to the twenty-fourth year of education. This cycle is arguably the most important cycle for the student, as it is where they are expected to progress the most. It is the cycle of professional specialization and where students most fervently search for their individual calling in life. This is also the first cycle from which students may decide to withdraw from further education if they so wish. This is unlikely in the first year of the Tertiary Cycle, however, as most students must at least reach the seventh tier of Dírnaith, upon which they can be enlisted into the Eothasian military. To pass the Tertiary Cycle, however, the students must have achieved Thalion citizenship tier.

After the Tertiary Cycle, students have two paths. They may accept the mandatory enlistment from the Eothasian military and serve their two obligatory service years, then returning to civilian life (or remaining if they so choose); or they may proceed to the next cycle of education.

This next cycle is known as the University Cycle. The number of years of education undertaken in the University Cycle varies greatly, although the average is roughly eight. These are significantly more specialized years than those of the first three cycles of education, as the student will have already chosen a major and will study subjects directly related to that major. Though there is no tier necessary to complete the University Cycle, the student must have reached the twelfth citizenship tier in order to enter the next cycle, known as the Doctoral Cycle. It is here where a student achieves the internationally standardized Doctor’s degree, once completing their thesis and achieving the fifteenth tier (after studying for at least another decade).

Culture

Citizenship Tiers

The Elder Imperial Dominion’s population is separated between a number of citizenship tiers. Though in the eyes of the government in terms of rights, all citizens are equal, this is not the case in the meritocratic structure of the Imperial government.

The citizenship tiers signify the prestige and place the individual holds within Eothasian society. The lower the tier, the less capable the person is viewed. Alternatively, the higher the tier, the more responsibilities are deposited in that person. Ascension through the tiers works in a similar fashion to military promotion: an individual (necessarily two ranks above you, except for the cases of Ciriáran and Lendë) must vouch for an ascension to a new citizenship tier following sufficient performance and display of skill and ability. Failure to adapt to a new citizenship tier, however, have dire consequences: the ascended individual loses their promotion, and the ascending individual loses one tier.

The Citizenship Tier system is introduced very early. Younglings entering their first years of education are already assigned their first citizenship tier; it is expected that before completing the Primary Cycle (the first twelve years of education), they must have reached the third citizenship tier. The end of the Secondary Cycle (from twelfth of eighteenth) usually marks the ascension of another three citizenship tiers. The completion of the Tertiary Cycle (eighteenth to twenty-fourth) necessitates the ascension to the eighth citizenship cycle; this also allows access to the University Cycle (which vary in years but average at eight) and leads to the Doctoral Cycle (minimum ten years). However, to undergo the Doctoral Cycle, the individual must have achieved the twelfth citizenship tier. To complete it, they must achieve the fifteenth.

Organized Citizenship Tiers

The military life of the individual runs parallel these tiers. Starting at the seventh citizenship tier, the individual may choose to enlist freely in the military, withdrawing from the Tertiary Cycle. Alternatively, if they do not achieve the seventh tier, they may withdraw from Tertiary education and live as civilians, though the jobs that accept such a tier are few.

In the military, those that enlist at tier seven or are drafted at tier eight after completing the Tertiary Cycle are ascended into the military as enlistees. Alternatively, those that complete the University or Doctoral Cycles then proceed to join a military academy of their choosing to create military officers. After their two-year terms are exhausted, unless they decide to continue their military careers, they are reintegrated into the civilian population as reservists. For enlistees, it is expected that in these two years they will have reached the ninth tier; for officers, they most often reach the sixteenth. Alternatively, for those that remain, officers will continue to ascend the tiers until the twentieth, whilst the soldiers are sent to academies at the fourteenth tier to become officers.

Access to the government is possible starting at the twentieth tier. This first simple introduction to government is the Vexian Councils. From here, they can progress through the ranks until reaching the highest citizenship tier in the Elder Imperial Dominion: the Hierarch, head of state and government.

It’s important to note that temporary and permanent residents are not included in the citizenship tiers, although permanent residents are able to join the military.

Nation/eothasia

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