Vavax RP

The Princedom of Vavax is a militaristic state centered around its large capital city Vakara. Its contains approximately 82,100 Vavaxians, with 35,000, almost half of the population, being found in Vakara itself. Its borders extend from the eastern border of Merni to the western lands of Ashtie, with the outer reaches of its territory in the north extending into the unclaimed mountains of central Akaran (as it is known in Vavaxian) and southern colonies on the island of Vishara (also as known in Vavaxian).

History
Historians of Vavax often peg the beginning of the founding of the Princedom of Vavax over a millenia ago, when a small warrior tribe known as the Vaxals migrated from their home in central Akaran to settle in a hilly area by the sea. It was there that the tribe abandoned their nomadic ways and began building the first huts and breathing the first breath of civilization into the city that would later be known as Vakara.

The modern state of Vavax under its Princedom and Council of Magisters did not come into existence until 600 years after the founding, often referred to as the Beginning of the Second Cycle of the World and therefore 1 SC. Prior to that day the state of Vavax had been mired in civil war. A succession war had broken out when the last King of the Vaxals, a man named Zhevlen the Weak, died without any trueborn heirs. Factions supporting various figures across the realm found candidates to support for the throne and entered into open combat with one another. This created a war that would last for nearly two decades, until the candidates of the various factions had all long given up their claims, or died, often violently. A combination of the supporters of various factions, as well as powerful figures of the Church of the Two-Faced God, military commanders, and trade guildsmen, united in what later came to be known as the First Council of the Magisters. There they drew up a truce and created a new state. The oligarchs of Vavax would serve in a Council of Magisters, while a Prince, elected for life, would serve as the head of state and sovereign monarch of the new Princedom of Vavax.

Their first elected Prince of Vavax, Drahv the Great, was the last remaining member of the noble family Cyral, which held land in the western portions of the country. Drahv the Great was celebrated as the great uniter and the great statesbuilder, as he effectively unified the country under one flag and imbued in them a sense of great national pride. Under Drahv and various different rulers across history, the Vavaxians grew their sense of nationalism and pride. Overtime, this developed the Princedom of Vavax from a fledgling city state with warrior traditions and no sense of nationality, to a militaristic local power driving its strength from the fierce patriotism and national pride of its people.

In the year 386 SC, the Prince Marak died of a coughing fit, leaving the Council of Magisters to choose a new Prince that would lead the realm to victory as its isolationist ways were being challenged by trade and the voracious appetite for expansion filled the hearts and minds of the Vavaxian people. After a long and contentious period, the Magisters settled on a man from a small military minded family named Karras. Educated among the people and having fought in some of Vavax's frequent internal conflicts and revolts, Karras was a career soldier with lucky political connections and a knowledge on how to capture the hearts and minds of the people of Vavax. 63 years later, in the year 449, Karras the Wise still sits as the Prince for Life of the state of Vavax, having brought the country into a time of relative peace and prosperity even as his mortality begins taking over. Recently, he has challenged his country's isolationist ways and attempted to make diplomatic contact with the nearby nations of the region, attempting to make friends and allies for the trying times to come. On the other side of the door though, the Council of Magisters is already scheming over who will replace the old Prince, and the a question has arisen. That of will the Wise Prince's successor continue his legacy of greatness? Or will they send the realm into another age of darkness and war?

Government
The government of Vavax is composed primarily of two entities, the Council of Magisters and the Prince for Life, often shortened to simply the Prince. The Council of Magisters nominally is the highest entity of power in the realm, tasked with making the decisions of state and deciding the fate of the Vavaxian people. In practice however, if a Prince manages to create a strong following and be a strong ruler, they often times become the true power in Vavax, with the Council of Magisters sitting as more of an advisory council and rubber stamp to the rulings of the Prince.

The Council of Magisters itself has a varying number of seats, depending on who holds the base of power within the realm. In most cases though, membership on the Council is hereditary, with the sons and daughters of powerful nobles and trade guildsmen taking over for their mothers and fathers when they pass. Otherwise, certain factions in the Vavaxian military and navy make their own decisions for who sits on the Council of Magisters for the seats they are allotted. They often decide based on merit and ability as a leader. Finally the other large faction is the priests of the Two-Faced God, who decide their leadership on the divine wisdom of their faith. Currently, the council has 54 members sitting in its golden chambers. 18 of which come from noble landowning families, 14 from trading guilds, 11 from the military and navy, 9 from the church, and 2 from other places of power.

The Prince is chosen by the Council of Magisters upon the death of the ruling Prince. Oftentimes the chosen Prince originates from the Council itself, with its most powerful members currying favor with their fellow Magisters to easily be chosen for the position. In other cases though, such as with Prince Karras, they are chosen from lower levels of nobility and power that don't sit on the council, but have merit in other areas. As to their powers as Prince, officially they are only to act in states of emergency and to manage affairs of the state in between sessions of the Council of Magisters (that occur twice per year). But as previously mentioned, if they are able to gather enough power and present strong enough leadership, they often take over as the semi-absolute monarch of the realm.

People of Vavax

List of Princes of Vavax