Lzesh
Lzesh is a nation most known for its vast mineral holdings and its frequent wars with Umela over those minerals.
Structure
The nation of Lzesh is led by a Presider and their council, which is made of representatives elected from each town with a population greater than 5,000. While the council members are elected by town residents, the Presider is elected by the members of the council. The Presider has near complete authority in running the country and making decisions, and serves a single ten year term. The council exists to assist the Presider in decision-making and to promote the needs of the people who elected each member throughout their five year terms.
There has been talk of changing this structure over the last few years. Those hoping for change wish to increase the size and power of the council by adding representatives for smaller towns and adding additional representatives from larger cities. There has also been a push to allow the council to counter actions of the Presider if those actions are deemed detrimental to Lzesh as a whole. Whether these changes will ever be made or not is unclear.
Culture
A long history of seemingly endless warfare has led to a general culture of pleasure-seeking and enjoying the small things in life. Because one never knows when an invading army from Umela may sweep into the area, citizens tend to live their lives to the fullest from the time they are young. Even the smallest towns have taverns and parties are held for just about every occasion. Though it is illegal to partake in mind-altering substances while working, especially in the mines, nearly everyone does so at the end of their workday.
Communities also strive to keep conflict to a minimum so that community members will fight for and with each other should the need ever arise. For conflicts that can't be handled privately, local courts move swiftly to make decisions that will satisfy the most people with the least amount of harm.
Public Agenda
Lzesh has always positioned itself to be a dominant supplier of all kinds of minerals, ores, and gemstones found in the hills it claims as its territory. It has been helped in this regard by the construction of a Core Anchor production facility in those hills.
History
Lzesh was founded by a population of mostly Dwarves living and mining in the Mineral Hills. After a long history of conflict with Umela over the rights to the hills that produced important materials, including what was used to create Core Anchors, the early founders chose to band together and formalize a country as a means of protecting their stakes in the mines throughout the Mineral Hills.
These conflicts with Umela, known as the Mineral Wars, continued on for centuries and even threatened to break apart the newly-formed nation. Lzesh, however, endured. The border between Lzesh and Umela has fluctuated significantly over time, and has only been at its current location for just over a decade. The threat of further attempts by Umela to take control of Lzeshian mines looms ever-present in Lzesh.
Demography and Population
A large percentage of the population of Lzesh, especially in the mining regions, is comprised of Dwarves.
Military
While Lzesh maintains a standing volunteer army and often stations troops near the border with Umela as a defensive strategy, all citizens receive some form of military training. This is because it is expected that all citizens will defend their homes and communities against any invasion from Umela, especially near the mines and the hills. This training is typically given by traveling officers or retired soldiers in the community.
Technological Level
Lzesh has made many advances in developing mining equipment and methods, some of which it claims have been stolen by Umela.
Foreign Relations
Aside from its uneasy and periodically hostile relations with Umela, Lzesh maintains relatively good relations with all other neighboring nations.
Laws
One of the most unique laws in Lzesh is one which does not allow citizens to be intoxicated or otherwise impaired while working their daily job. This is due to the danger it presents when miners are not properly aware of their surroundings. This law needed to be made thanks to the culture throughout Lzesh which promotes pursuing all the pleasures of life, even the use of alcohol and other mind-altering substances in a responsible way. To be in an altered state at work is not considered responsible use of these substances and puts the lives of others at risk.
Education
Basic education is free for all those residing in Lzesh. Teachers receive a certificate by attending the university in Shassen, which then allows them to take teaching positions in any city, town, or village in the country. Local communities are responsible for establishing and maintaining a schoolhouse for all residents, though limited government assistance is given on an annual basis to help with this.
- Minerals
- Various ores
- Gemstones
- Precious metals
- Household goods
- Lumber
- Fabric
- Various forms of intoxicants
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