Irregeros

A far-western country of Mediterranean climate, currently in a state of tight peace. From irrigare meaning irrigate/water in Italian.
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Economy
Irregeros is most known for its exports of animal pelts and personal goods (silks, thin jewelry metals, etc) in the north and generally more wealthy areas, whereas the south has recently begun to capitalize on their fertile soils and have begun farming root vegetables and vine plants. The far west tends to survive on its tourism industry being by the sea, especially in the north west, but the fluctuations in weather, temperature and rumors of dangers rising from the deep have started polarizing sales making the area into a spot for adventurers and those wanting to test their ego, rather than the relaxing family holiday spot the area was much more accustomed to being associated with in the past.
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Government
Irregeros is run by a government of three main houses, divided into many smaller sectors, who meet in the capital to debate on ideas to do with the country’s future. The members of the houses are not voted on by civilians, but instead decided by those already in house, and spaces are given and taken away based on ‘merit to the country’. Small groups have formed in opposition to this, but currently the general populace tends to believe in the houses` decisions so one real anti-government sentiment has yet to spread.
There are taxes that pay for children’s educations until 13, the army, and a national health service ran by the church, but they’re all very bare bones and have been used for a short period of time, being brought in during the most recent peak of Irregeros’ economy 10 years ago. Citizens get a choice in their census to pay taxes via gold or produce for the year, which was received kindly due to the country’s culture valuing freedom and individuality. Due to a growing economic instability, there has been a rise in unsettling tensions toward more local houses and governments, but those at the top have generally remained in public favor by constantly putting out new laws and supposedly keeping transparent on all they are doing to keep the country afloat.
Each prominent house tends to have a tied family of private bodyguards, with the highest houses having sectors of magic users who employ divination to stop dissent before it begins. To be a part of these families is even more exclusive than being a member of a house itself, though they are often shadow workers who don’t enter public view because acts against the government tend to be hidden, rather than used as an example. Some people question why the houses even need bodyguards if they are so popular. They need them.
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Law
Magic is used in the law system, but to use a spell on another during any process of a case requires a license given by the highest court judges or the local house ruler. Spells are used in policing to track down criminals and recreate scenes, and during interrogations spells such as zone of truth have become a staple of Elevated lawyers (licensed lawyers) tool kits. No physical harm is allowed to come to any suspects, witnesses or otherwise, and law states that irreparable mental damage cannot occur either, after a war crime case where a terrorist was permanently changed by use of many spells, such as feeblemind, during their interrogation. What ‘irreparable’ means is often debated case by case, and can be different per judicial interpretation.
Appeals go straight to the local house, where house members and employed legal personnel will look over the case and come to an opinion. Important matters can go up to government, just like in the UK legal system, but those cases will be few and far in between and concern full country matters, often ending in changes in law.
Crimes against honor, whether person or property, tend to be seen as the most egregious in Irregeros. A crime that somehow lowers the status or reputation of another, or otherwise leaves them in an unfair lower position, are highly frowned upon, whereas crimes against property that do not tend to effect the person are seen as less of an issue, and will more likely get you alternative forms of punishment than being locked up; most usually communal service. There is no legal death penalty, but smaller villages in the south sometimes are known to take retribution into their own hands and kill their worst criminals, and this tends to be overlooked by law enforcement.
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Foreign relations
Irregeros and Nui-Lonthan have had more positive relations starting the last 50 years, with both sides putting extra effort into maintaining their pacts and trades together within the last 10 years due to the new ruling over the latter country. There are currently trade agreements being passed about magic enhanced produce being traded across to areas that cannot grow in the different climates. Irregerian merchants tend to pop up all over the world and ignore political tensions, as there is a great belief that the economy should come before politics. Most Irregarian espionage is done by merchants and other such travelers to keep the country from looking too militaristic. Political marriages don`t go through the government or those in high status because of honor, as it is seen as as lacking freedom, but nobles engage more in it, and arranged marriages between countries for trade and relationships have been growing as a result of economic instability and a focus on foreign relations making many think they can make that their duty to the country to join a house.
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Politics
Irregeros is middle of the road in terms of technological advancements, but is seen as quite a socially and politically forward country, though it isn’t a global superpower. The three main houses are (enter their info here lol). The will of merchants and families that provide the most exports have become more influential toward the government as their ideas are often pushed forward to show progress in the economy.
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War
In the recent past, there was a societal disrupt as gold and produce began to grow different in value, polarizing with gold becoming more valuable while produce lost value. People began to fear it was becoming a caste system, like the one recently abolished in Nui-Lonthan, and responded by stopping working, which is one major cause of economic unrest at the moment. The houses came together and managed to balance the value of both again 23 years ago, but many citizens living during the 7 years of revolution and in the years following mellowly remember it as a time of such lack of life quality not seen in Irregeros in many decades.
Irregeros tends to stay out of wars, with the last proper war being a trade support effort against a far away tyranny where very few soldiers were actually sent, but the food and technical support efforts are, in Irregeros, said to have turned the tides and won the war for their side. It was still seen as a very distant war that didn’t really concern the nation, however.
The Irregarian army is known to be small but ferocious, making up for their smaller numbers with tenacity and squadrons of great trained beasts. The highest in the army are those in control of great beasts, or those able to turn into them. The west is said to be protected by great sea monsters, while the east is watched over by legions of flying beasts.
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Climate and geography
Further west becomes wetter and hotter, though in recent years there have been unusual floods and downpours that previously were unheard of. The south, colder and previously thought barren, has been found to contain special magic-laden soil that inhibits the growth of normal crops but creates all sorts of fantastical plants and hardy life. Leafy forests tend to appear in the north and east, while more pine forests and taiga biomes begin to appear very far south.
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Arts, entertainment and recreation
The arts are viewed highly, especially the more personalized and multi-media an artist is, though those in the business are often viewed in the same way civil servants are; even though they may be earning amazing salaries and working with highly influential people, they are still serving. Artists are often commissioned for the integration of a new member of a house, with a tapestry that displays the honorable act the individual did to get into the government. Irregeros tends to favor less practical pieces of artwork in the present, believing the best art should be showing a message and be for enjoyment rather than practicality, especially in the capital and North province area. In the past year, an art movement in the South province including art being made from magical produce grown has taken hold in the area as a subtle defiance to the capital’s desire to strictly categorize needs and wants as never overlapping.
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Daily life
Irregeros is, on the whole, quite a liberal country, only becoming more welcoming to foreign citizens in the last decade to better foreign relations. People are often excited to try new cultural foods and are trying to bring over holidays and festivals, so long as they stay within the cultures general focus on honor, hard work and individualism. Some elder members of society see this as pandering to other countries, and fear a ‘culture takeover’, but these beliefs only really shine in out of the way, smaller towns. There is a high amount of social mobility in Irregeros, but this goes both ways; it is easy to climb the ranks, but just as easy to fall in them, and there’s very little in terms of government support for those who suddenly find they’re in hard times, as a complete meritocracy is followed across the land. Those in need of support have to go to friends, family or face suffering, which is why community is very valued, even in large metropolitan cities. People who try and keep to themselves are often seen as suspicious, or a drain on the community if they aren’t providing in some way. Many people choose not to leave their home towns, despite possible higher opportunities, because of the sense of community they’ve been exposed to their whole lives. Those who find themselves unable to provide for the community may struggle to truly be accepted, and face isolation and discrimination. There is a heavy tax on relationships of those a community considers ‘lazy’ or ‘other’, though exact traits change between regions. The government have stayed neutral so far on these matters, neither making life easier or harder for those falling between the gaps, as if hoping the public will deal with it themselves.
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Education
Education until 13 is free, and focuses entirely on life skills. Any magical training is paid for via tutoring or, for some richer families, sending children off to magical summer schools. These academies do cost a high amount of money, but they are of incredible quality and are often checked up on to make sure they provide only the highest level education. The general public has a high literacy level, with only families of farmers and poorer towns seeing drops in levels of education. Most of the population completes their free education, but afterwards there is a big drop in the amount of people going into further education, rather than it tapering off slowly. This has led to some areas where there is almost societal segregation between those with high education, and those without. Those who do go into higher education are virtually certain to complete it, and there is a more natural slope of people who become sages and take on highly valued jobs of the people who do manage to get higher education.
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History
Generally, history of Irregeros is taught from the formation of the houses, when two major families from across the seas settled and divided the country into north and south. The families were amicable, and generally ruled similarly, though there was a period of espionage and spying where one house tried to take over the whole country. There was a war, and the spying family’s ruler was killed, but both countries decided to join together to stop future wars, and the new rulers grew to be great friends. Minor spats happened between houses and courts, but never enough to cause another civil war.
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Religion and Philosophy
The gods show up in everyday life, but generally aren’t big parts of the lives of those who do not make it their job to devote hours to them. Shrines exist along paths and temples are a staple of cities, though they often serve as community hubs for parties and get-togethers as well as actual holy events. Depending on the area, different gods are seen as watching over inactively, providing a passive protection to those inside. People tend to view the gods like lucky charms to carry about, and it would not be uncommon for people to switch who they pray to depending on the situation. No gods are inherently seen as malicious, as their jobs are to protect and look after the land, though devotees of one specific god may be prejudiced against those praying to another. Highly religious cities are greatly unusual in the most built-up areas of Irregeros, but smaller towns in the south and east tend to rely on the gods guidance more.
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