The Unified Domain of Vortice
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The Unified Domain of Vortice is a nation located in the jungles nearby the southern ocean that directly evolved from the Sovereign State of Talon's Port. It is a densely populated port town that is typically characterized by the narrow dirt streets and tall brick buildings that have sprung up on the coastline. The city is a popular destination for merchants, and attempts to keep a neutral stance in politics whenever possible, worrying foremost for the safety and sovereignty of its' citizens.
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History
The Domain of Vortice is the successor state to Talon's Port, and was created in Year 26 of the Second Era after the Sovereign of Talon's Port, Vivian Maelstorm, officially decreed the creation of a Hereditary Monarchy with the Maelstorm Family at it's center. This decision was wildly unpopular amongst the people of Talon's Port, who had always had their leaders voted for by the stewardship and council.
Over the next years, Vivian's rule was a tumultuous and heavily unpopular one that saw Talon's Port fall from it's position of power within the South. While the exact dates are lost to time, these events took place between the formation of the Domain of Vortice and the death of Monarch Vivian Maelstorm.
In the early years of her reign, Monarch Vivian provided a band of mercenaries known as the Rustlers a fortress outside of the walls of Talon's Port. For a multitude of years, the Rustlers worked closely with the people of Vortice, though tensions soon frayed and the Rustlers attacked the city of Talon's Port in Year 30 of the Second Era, capturing Minister of Defense Saemos Hidone and holding him for a ransom of 1500 minas. This event was later resolved as the Holy Orenian Empire was sent word of the attacks, and the combined force of the Imperial State Army and the Vortice Militia counterattack retrieved the captured minister. Monarch Vivian dragged her feet over the eviction of the Rustler Keep, and the local council took matters into their own hands by burning the structure to the ground.
Monarch Vivian similarly evicted a vassal granted land by Sovereign Gail Cordius known as the County of Selestia after Count Jacob Casington and his people were wrongfully evicted and accused of not pay taxes to the Monarch. After this eviction, the group rebranded as the city of Ando Alur.
Culture
Despite Vortice being a city that accepts all cultures, citizens from the main city of Vortice are typically known as The Cophinus Invarius-- The Children of the Typhoon. Vortice is known for its informal and sociable peoples, and festivities are looked forward to with excitement.
While the Li-Ren people still made their home in Vortice, Tai Ping district had a very traditional Li-Ren culture built upon family and respect, and headed by Zhu Li Xiuying. Even after the Li-Ren people left Vortice in Year 14 of the Second Era, a multitude of Vortice citizens were still heavily influenced by the culture, and it still lived on within the city.
Religion
Similarly to the culture, Vortice is religiously tolerant of any worship citizens wish to perform, though it does have an official state religion known as Ziagonism which focuses upon the worship of a pantheon of Sixty-Four gods. The primary god within Ziagonism is known as Zoramus, the God of Dreams, who is said to dream all that is reality. It is heavily based on making offerings towards the pantheon in hopes of securing the blessing of one of the gods. The head of Ziagonism is known as the High Archon, and is traditionally a position held by the Minister of Culture.
Politics
Vortice has a simplistic political system, with there being a Sovereign, five members of the Vortice Council, and a small handful of stewards who handle minor politics within the city. The Sovereign and council are both elected officials. For more information, see Succession. All members of the council are heads of different ministries within the city that handle things such as foreign affairs, science, and legal matters.
The Sovereign and Vortice Council make up a group of six who are responsible for making any choices regarding Vortice. They do not need to consult with others outside these six about their decisions, though it is common for council members to ask opinions of stewards and citizens of the city.
Current Ruling Council
- Sovereign, Athri Belrose
- Ministers of Defense, Saemos Hidone, Paris Langren
- Minister of Health, Dr. Sana Medii'la
- Minster of Internal Affairs, Castiel Valaker
- Minister of Science, Lenora Jusmia
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vacant
- Minister of Wealth, Turri'ileia Maelstorm
Military
After the rapidly increasing population also brought a rapidly increasing crime rate to the city, the former passiveness that Vortice had towards military affairs had dissipated, and it supports a large standing militia who guard and perform investigations throughout the city. The militia ranking ladder is simple, with the Minister of Defense being the Praetor and the second-in-command being the Legate. Captains act as a mid-tier officer role, while Sergeants are the best of the enlisted class, with Guardsmen and Recruits ranking in just below them.
Succession
Council
The Vortice Council is made up of citizens that were put forward and voted upon by other members of the council. There are no requirements to be elected to the Vortice Council besides being in good legal standing within the city and being recommended to the council by one of the other members. Members of the Vortice Council are not elected in terms, and serve until they die, step down, or are voted off the council by a majority vote by the other members. Once these three events occur, council members put forward other citizens to take their place, and a new member is elected.
Sovereign
The Sovereign is not a hereditary position within Vortice. Much like other council members, the Sovereign serves until they die, step down, or are voted from the position by a majority of the council. If the Sovereign steps down as opposed to dying or being voted from the position, they are typically kept on the council unless they wish to step down away from the government completely. If one of these three events were to occur, the council would vote amongst themselves and elect one of the remaining six council members as the new Sovereign.
Demographics
With how close Elvenesse is, and considering many of the Li-Ren of Tai-Ping are elven, Vortice has been skewing towards a majority of their population being elves, though humans still make up a large portion of the city. Due to the similar proximity to Krugmar, orcs or goblins can also be found frequently visiting the city.
Geography
Vortice is located in a tropical jungle environment in the south of Almaris within a large jungle that is also home to the Crown of Elvenesse and the War Nation of Krugmar. Massive trees surround the city, the land around it swampy-- difficult to move through and build upon. The city is typically warm and humid, and anyone working under the sun for too long would quickly be worn out. The ocean takes up one entire side of the city, the port space there being shared between the Tai-Ping district and Vortice itself.
