FrivYeti/RanavirSociety
Back to Ranavir
Ranavir is, by its nature, a monarchy with a small oligarchy beneath it. Traditionally, the monarch was a horrifying monstrosity and the oligarchs did their best to avoid drawing his attention. Now, he is a god-king and they're still in the process of rallying to his side. The ruler of the nation is considered to have more or less absolute power. In theory, he can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. In practice, the population accepts the concept but rebels if the execution looks set to seriously harm them - the people are loyal but generally independant-minded, as their original creator wished.
Below the king lies the titular nobility. Nobility in Ranavir is not entirely inherited; instead, in order to be considered a nobleman, the law states that one must be a proper landowner. This does not mean just owning a house in the city; instead, the character must own land on the farms, or in the quarries. No matter how rich someone becomes, if they do not own land, they cannot become a nobleman (although some still live in the Lakeside). On the other hand, if a formerly noble family loses its grip on the last of its lands, they lose their claim to a noble title, and being left out of an inheritance means forsaking your noble status. Because of this, inheritance is considered very seriously among the nobility, who usually try to marry with other nobles if possible. In all, however, there are around five hundred nobles (in fifty different noble families) meaning that there is a steady influx of non-noble blood into the mix, along with the shifting fortunes of fate raising a new house or consigning one to peasantry.
Below the nobility are the peasants. In theory, everyone in this class is identical. In practice, they are not. Rich merchants who are not beholden to the nobility form a half-class, hovering between their social superiors and inferiors; usually, they attempt to either marry into a noble family, bringing a fresh infusion of blood and money, or attempt to buy land from nobles who are down on their luck, becoming nobles themselves. This land is often sold out of proportion to its actual value, due to its added social influence. Artisans also fill this half-strata, as do many of the city's bureaucrats and guards; in short, anyone who does not depend on the nobility for jobs.
The true peasantry are generally the farmers and miners, and they are considered to be true social inferiors by most nobles. While some will spend time with or even befriend peasants, most are too conscious of the wealth gap, and the two operate in two social classes for the time being. Ranavir never reached the point where nobles consider peasants to be less than human, but it is easy enough to ignore suffering in those one doesn't have to meet.
Finally, there are the slaves. Under law, non-nobles may own at most one slave, and nobles may own up to four. Slaves are protected from severe beatings or mistreatment by their owners; they may marry, and their children will not be slaves. However, they may not own property, and they may be sold as property. Slaves can be freed by an owner at any time, provided the King or his Chancellor approves it and with no other restrictions; many who are remain with their former owners as servants (given that any owner kind enough to free them is likely to be a better employer than uncertain prospects elsewhere). Slavery remains uncommon in Ranavir; the laws are hardly necessary, as few nobles own more than one slave, and few non-nobles own any. There are perhaps six or seven hundred slaves in the city at any given time. Slaves are purchased from caravans or captured in wars; there is no system in the city itself to force people into slavery (aside from the whim of the King, who can technically do so - the Tyrant did this with some frequency, but Bastion has, again, shown no such inclination.)
Ranavir has no standing army. Originally, this was because the Tyrant trusted in his own power to rule him. Now, the Sun-King plans to enable everyone in the city to defend themselves as needed, making the entire population an army that can be drawn upon in times of danger.
Laws
Ranavir is a fairly traditional nation. All of the standard laws are in place; murder, theft, bribery, graft, and the like are all illegal, with punishments ranging from fines and public humiliation for lighter crimes up to the death penalty for repeated murder or high treason. The King may also, if he so chooses, alter a punishment as he sees fit - of course, doing so can have unpleasant reactions from the populace if it is not seen as just. Anyone accused of a crime is taken before a magistrate, who hears evidence and opinions and then passes judgement. There are no appeals, although if a magistrate is proven wrong later he must make restitution. Any indication of a magistrate taking bribes or acting with bias are considered to be treasonous crimes, and magistrates are strongly encouraged to remove themselves from a case if they cannot judge it impartially.
Most drugs are legal in Ranavir, although they are taxed enough that they are only available to the wealthy. Thaumaturgy may be used freely with only a few exceptions, and any religion may be practiced so long as its practice does not violate other laws, and so long as it does not attempt to claim that the god in question is superior to the Unconquered Sun. Immaculates are not particularly welcome, as their faith clashes with that of the city's past and current rulers, but they are not explicitly banned from the city. No one may summon demons within Ranavir without explicit permission from the King or his Chancellor; summoning gods or ghosts is allowed, provided that they are not coerced.
Religion
The people of Ranavir currently worship the Unconquered Sun, as well as their god-king Glorious Bastion (who is considered the Sun's emissary to the city). Because of this, they do not generally spend much time worshipping lesser gods, although there remain a number of smaller festivals and prayer days dedicated to such.
Every Sunday, on the two and a half hours on either side of noon, the entire population gathers for weekly prayers and meditation, during which time they learn to work as one and think of each other as a brotherhood. This is a new tradition put into place by the King, and he is always present if able. During this time, he uses his Charms to forge the entire city's populace into a single group, each feeling their place in the whole, and he and the Grand Priest each train them in skills both martial and spiritual. This is rapidly increasing the skill of everyone in the city, resulting in a potentially devastating force.
