Cin'Dar Senate

Overview

The Republic of Cin’Dar is analogous to the Roman republic during the Roman empire (27 BC to 476 AD).

The Cin'Dar Senate is the highest legislative body in the Republic, consisting of the 👑Decimus (patricians) from the ten most influential families. The Senate operates on a republican model, where elected senators deliberate and vote on matters, in principle guided by the Cin'Darian constitution, but often by the longstanding traditions, prejudices and rivalries of their respective houses.

The senate has no single ruler, all senators are equal within the debating chambers of the senate.

Activities

The senate serves as the primary governing and decision-making body, responsible for the constitution, approving budgets, and overseeing both domestic and foreign affairs.

As the governing body for the republic, it's influence spreads globally. It is said when the Cin'Dar senate gathers to votes, the world holds its breath.

While the Decimus have residences across the Republic, when the Senate gathers, it does so in 🗺️Ezdin - high above the city - in the floating halls of Artan’s Haven.

Society

Members

In the current year (3898 PR), the Decimus are:

Beliefs

The senate's primary responsibility is to govern, control and dictate the Republic Constitution. Although the constitution is a complex and evolving set of guidelines and principles, primarily passed down through precedent and tradition, there were several core tenants:

• Senate: The Senate is an advisory body composed of the republic's elite. It holds influence over the constitution and public policy, but may not hold formal legislative power.
• Plutocracy: The ultimate source of power in the republic is that of wealth. The wealthy have influence over political decisions, the poor do not.
• Balanced Power: The plutocratic power of the senate is shared between exactly 10 of the wealthiest families. This enforced split ensures that economic and political power is always balanced.
• Assemblies: The republic is administered by several administrative assemblies, including the Comitia Magus and the Comitia Tributa, which are responsible for electing magistrates, enacting laws, and making key decisions.
• Magistrates: Officials elected by the senate, including consuls, praetors, and tribunes, may hold various religious, military, and judicial powers. They are responsible for presiding over the assemblies and implementing laws.
• Checks and Balances: The constitution includes mechanisms to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. For example, senators hold equal power, magistrates could veto each other's decisions, etc.
• Primacy of the Republic: The constitution establishes the primacy of the Republic of Cin'Dar over all other nations and peoples in the word.
• Benevolence of the Republic: The constitution establishes the benevolence of the Republic, as a foundational and secular force for ethical rule, racial equality and economic growth.

These elements combine to create a system that balanced power among different branches of government, ensuring no single entity could dominate the Republic.

Culture

The senate is the primary cultural force of the republic, its laws dictate how the republic acts and how its culture manifests.

In addition the great houses of the senate are the principle patrons for art and culture within the republic. The vast majority of arts, music, sculpture, architecture and secular events are funded by the great houses.

Religion

The senate is a secular body, ordained by a the historic Kan’Tahri monarchy. However the senate has significant connection with religion in the republic:

• The senate governs religious practice in the republic, including laws which establish religious tolerance. Like most nations, the senate recognises the pantheon of 🗺️Sordane, with equality for all deities.
• The senate centrally funds temples and other places of worship within the republic.
• House Celestia is the patron house of all religious groups, and leads both senatorial debate and the day-to-day administration of religion within the republic.

Possessions

Although the senate itself has no possessions, however because the republic is a Plutocracy with its senators elected based on their share of the overall wealth of the nation, the great houses effectively own everything within the Republic of Cin'Dar.

History

The senate was established in the year 650 PR:

• Myth has it that the Cin'Dar was originally formed alongside the other nations of Bordair more than 10,000 years ago by Kan’Tahri, one the seven brothers of the Kanthu family, an ancient Aurian elf clan.
• Some 5,000 years after the founding of the kingdom of Cin’Dar (approx. 650 PR), during a routine excavation a crystal larger than any other found was discovered. By comparison, this massive crystal was larger than almost any full sized airship model at the time. The greatest sordalite refiners were brought in from every corner of Sordane, and no expense was spared to make sure the crystal received the best refining possible. It took the better part of a decade to safely claim, refine, and finally transport this gargantuan crystal that was named Liladan’s Heart. During the time of its discovery, many wars and skirmishes emerged due the importance and political implications of this magnificent treasure. After many hard-fought wars with their neighbours and even kingdoms from afar, Cin’dar won out and claimed victory, in the end solidifying Cin’dar’s command of Bordair’s economy and political landscape for millennia. Due to the discovery of Liladan’s Heart, the mass wars and territorial disputes that plagued the continent ended all at once and a time of peace was quickly achieved.
• Realising that such political power should not be held by a single family, the Kan’Tahri monarchy was reshaped in to a plutocratic republic.
• The senate has ruled over the Republic of Cin'Dar ever since (nearly 3,300 years).

Rumours and Legends

• Rumour has it that the bastard son of 🚹Decimus Valerian Antonius Drusus was forced in to exile by his father.
• Rumour has it that House Drusus has fallen on hard times since the influx of non-Odarii aligned shard-forged gladiators and workers.

Other Notes

• It is common for the Great Houses to sponsor, factor and be the patrons for all manner of events, endeavours and undertakings; musical, artistic, magical, industrial and otherwise. It is said that "a river of gold powers the cogwheels of the nation, and that gold flows from Great House to Great House through the hands of artists, artisans and inventors".
• House Marcellus
  • Hironimus Marcellus was the First Grand Navarch of the ⚔️Legionius Nauticus (navy), his statue stands in the senate chamber, alongside the statues of the founding Decimus and the ⚔️First Prime Marshall of the ⚔️Legionius Aurelius (army).
  • 🚹Decimus Caelius Marcellus has significant interests in the 🏢Orhaz region, where he has a villa on the outskirts of the city, and significant influence over the guilds and politics of the region.
  • 🚹Decimus Caelius Marcellus sponsored the gladiatorial games in 🏢Orhaz during the month of Greenleaf this year (3898 PR), an annual event.
  • House Marcellus cornered the market on 💎sordalite imports from 🗺️Keshtine this year (3898 PR) and dominates 💎sordalite ore shipping mostly through the port city of 🏢Parta in north-western ⚖️Cin'Dar
  • House Marcellus exclusively leased the Landon family business when it collapsed following the bombing of the port of 🏢Ir'Dan (👑Hiln)
• House Draconus
  • Often wins construction contracts for civilian and naval shy ships - due to its prowess in large scale production and ownership of numerous shipyards.
• House Drusus
  • Has interests in gladiators, which extend to slaves. Most legal (and illegal) slave ownership in the republic can be traced back to House Drusus in one form or another.
  • 🚹Decimus Valerian Antonius Drusus is one of the two patrons of the 🏅Ezdin Jubilee Cup race this year (3898 PR).
• House Aquilis
  • The Decimus of House Aquilis personally appoints the Legatus of the 1st Legion to become the Prime Marshal of the ⚔️Legionius Aurelius, who is approved by senatorial vote to be the overall military leader of the republic.
  • Cassian Aquilis, a favoured son of the house, is the Legatus (General) of the 17th Legionius Centurion of the ⚔️Legionius Aurelius
  • Navarch Primus (Rear Admiral) Lucullus Aquilis is the naval leader of the Academy Primilitus, responsible for training its captains and officers.

• House Aventius
  • 🚹Decimus Nerva Lentulus Aventius is one of the two patrons of the🏅Ezdin Jubilee Cup race this year (3898 PR).
  • House Aventius has an ancestral castle home (domus) at Aetherwatch Keep in the city of 🏢Sylestri, in south-central Cin'Dar on the continent of 🗺️Bordair.
• House Cordius
  • Decimus Junius Cordius has an ancestral home (domus) in 🏢Lowatch, in south-central Cin'Dar on the continent of 🗺️Bordair.
  • Edmund Wheatfellow, race sponsor for the Arrodan syndicate, hails from a beer brewing family in 🏢Lowatch, the second son of the Wheatfellow dynasty, with close ties to House Cordius.
  • Our heroes spent several months as a team training and working on the ⚓The Crystal Maiden racing skiff, which is stashed in a barn west of the city, with a well paid wine making family led by their patrician Thomas Caskbow, who was a member of the Orhaz Vintner's Confederation (guild) and ultimately allied with House Cordius.

• House Ignatius
  • Despite its enormous wealth and industrial reach, Decimus Proculus Ignatius has an ancestral home (domus) in the quaint village of 🏘️Bashkor (smoke-haven) on the continent of 🗺️Bordair.

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