LittleBoots
The Bloody Banner
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2006
- Messages
- 1,979
Okay, here goes a story. However, I expect Farow to recognize this as I probably broke some rule of NESing and pretty much used the same orders with very little change over again in his NES. The nations have pretty much the same basis, I must confess, but I am doing so intending to take them different directions and see how they fare. To break even more rules, I am going to reuse the first part of the other story simply because it applies here and I am very tired and overworked from the load of work this week.
However, feel good Hq, I wrote the orders first for your NES, even if the story came first in Farow's. As penance for this crime, I shall include a bit at the end about the Krypteia.
I. Basileus
The Basileus is the most powerful single man in the land, although he is balanced by the Ephorate, the Gerousia, and the Apella. He is the general of the armies and generally has free reign in regards to foreign policy, as well as religious matters. He also serves as a magistrate in court cases wherein the crime is a grevious religious offense, almost all universally punishable by death. The Basileus was not a hereditary position - candidates were chosen from male citizens of more than 40 years of age with proven martial ability (both strategic/tactical and personal combat) and wit. The Ephorate approved the Candidates and the Apella voted on their appointment. Each Basileus ruled until death and were essentially above all law, though the Ephorate could submit a motion to the Gerousia for the execution of the King for treason against the state.
II. Gerousia
Literally, "the Old Ones," the Gerousia is a council of all citizens above the age of 60. Their main responsibility is approving measures by the Ephorate for submission to the Apella, though they also oversee court cases involving murder, although in general Laconian judicial law is not terribly developed due to the extraordinarily low rate of crime, almost to the point where it is non-existant. Almost 100% of cases are between Perioikoi living within Laconia, and even those are few and far between. The Gerousia serves as highly respected adivsory body as well.
III. The Ephorate
Composed of nine members of male citizens aged 40 years and up, the Ephorate typically consists of men between 50 and 70. These are some of the most intelligent men in the whole of Laconia, as they are selected for life terms by the Gerousia (and as such are removed from petty politics by the certainty of their position). The Ephorate provides the majority of domestic policy, although the Basileus technically has a veto on motions deemed outrageous, though this has been used less than five times in recorded history.
IV. The Apella
All of the citizens of Laconia, aged 30 and up are members of the Apella (Assembly) and simultaneously members of the Army (as military service is a prerequisite for Citizen status - those who live outside the walls and are descended from weaklings are classed as perioikoi). They ratify domestic laws proposed by the Ephorate and endorsed by the Gerousia. They also organize various committees overseeing various aspects of life in Laconia, such as the Committee of Irrigation, etc.
I. Citizens
Citizens are all those descended from the strong and intelligent. They live within the city walls and their entire lives are dedicated to the army, philosophy, oratory, and government. They are the smallest minority of Laconia's population, but see themselve as the only true people of Laconia. They are the only ones who can hold government position. They are not allowed to freely pick who they marry (although they can select from candidates), the women raise the children until age 7 and then the children, both male and female, are placed in separate barracks until age 30, in which case they are allowed to move in with their wives. Their entire lives are focused around merit/status/honour, and as such are extremely competitive. They (and all classes) own no individual property and as such they focus on honour through skills rather than prestige through wealth. Also, one's birth has no affect on one's place in society (apart form being a citizen, that is very hard to lose) - a child is the State's property, his parents are merely caring for it until it is ready to begin its training.
II. Perioikoi
The Nearby Dwellers are all those descended from weaklings, but proved to be somewhat resilient and function as the middle class in Laconian society. They can be be pressed into military service and perform decently, but that is not their forte. They serve as Laconia's artisan culture, and are treated relatively well, their lives are slightly less regimented by the government, but they still view themselves as the property of the State. They form approximately 40% of Laconians. There are many levels of Perioikoi, and the structure is very fluid and very based on talent and skill. Particularly pathetic Perioikoi can drop down to slave status. Perioikoi cannot hold any governmental position.
III. Slaves
Slaves are conquered peoples or those who can do little else but farm. They are the largest group of people in Laconia, forming approximately 50% of the population. They largely subservient, weak, and afraid, although the occasional unorganized uprising is brutally suppressed. They are sometimes forced into military service as a cheap form of skirmishers and bravery or excellence in the field is rewarded with elevation to Perioikoi status. Despite being the lowest of society, they can still compete amongst each other to be the best and as such they are typically in conflict with each other to prove that they deserve Perioikoi status and too divided to rebel.
As the realm grows, multiple Assemblies are set up, as well as multiple Gerousia and sub-Ephorates (as the main Ephorate has ultimate power), though each city elects its own representative to sit at a special Council of the Cities in Laconia. There is only one Basileus. Each city is largely self-sufficient, but they are bound together through their complete and total indoctrination and belief in the State Above All and right of the Strong to rule over the Weak.
The Laconian social structure produces certain levels of what could be labelled discontent from time to time, most often among those who benefit the least from the system - namely, the slaves. These slaves, however, are not slaves for no reason. Having proven themselves worthy of little other than farming, the slaves arenot particularly bright, nor are they strong, nor agile, nor rebellious. In fact, their relatively docile nature and relationship to Laconian agriculture has led to the widespread view that these creatures are little more than autonomous livestock.
To bring them to this level of sober mediocrity, the Laconians engaged in a rather primitive form of eugenics. All those who displayed talent were incorporated into the Perioikoi, provided they submitted to Laconian rule. Bloody execution awaited those who refused. Due to this partitioning of talent and association with social class, the lower orders rarely, if ever, mixed with their betters and, as such, had little to work with in the way of heredity.
Life finds a way, however, and there exists the odd occasion whereby a particularly salient specimen is produced by the Slave gene pool and there is a possibility that this specimen could conceivably advance himself to Perioikoi service by accomplishing some great deed for the State. More likely, though, was that such an individual would have a run-in with the Krypteia - literally, the Secrets.
The Krypteia were volunteers from the Citizen class who went outside the city walls, past the Perioikoi districts, and into Slave Country. He would live off the land, either alone or in a small group, through a combination of hunting, foraging, and stealing. The chief purpose of this outing was to murder any Slave judged to be a threat, whether through brute strength or rebellious mutterings, in horrifying ways, typically without witnesses. If such a victim could not be found, random murders were meted out as a way to terrify the Slaves, keeping them firmly under the Laconian boot. Their armour is highly stylized, enhancing the demonic aspect, empowering the wearer with a sense of otherworldly power, and birthing (on the odd chance a witness was allowed to escape) the myriad wild tales of Hellish minions slaughtering those who disobey the Laconians.
However, feel good Hq, I wrote the orders first for your NES, even if the story came first in Farow's. As penance for this crime, I shall include a bit at the end about the Krypteia.
Government of the Realm of Laconia
I. Basileus
The Basileus is the most powerful single man in the land, although he is balanced by the Ephorate, the Gerousia, and the Apella. He is the general of the armies and generally has free reign in regards to foreign policy, as well as religious matters. He also serves as a magistrate in court cases wherein the crime is a grevious religious offense, almost all universally punishable by death. The Basileus was not a hereditary position - candidates were chosen from male citizens of more than 40 years of age with proven martial ability (both strategic/tactical and personal combat) and wit. The Ephorate approved the Candidates and the Apella voted on their appointment. Each Basileus ruled until death and were essentially above all law, though the Ephorate could submit a motion to the Gerousia for the execution of the King for treason against the state.
II. Gerousia
Literally, "the Old Ones," the Gerousia is a council of all citizens above the age of 60. Their main responsibility is approving measures by the Ephorate for submission to the Apella, though they also oversee court cases involving murder, although in general Laconian judicial law is not terribly developed due to the extraordinarily low rate of crime, almost to the point where it is non-existant. Almost 100% of cases are between Perioikoi living within Laconia, and even those are few and far between. The Gerousia serves as highly respected adivsory body as well.
III. The Ephorate
Composed of nine members of male citizens aged 40 years and up, the Ephorate typically consists of men between 50 and 70. These are some of the most intelligent men in the whole of Laconia, as they are selected for life terms by the Gerousia (and as such are removed from petty politics by the certainty of their position). The Ephorate provides the majority of domestic policy, although the Basileus technically has a veto on motions deemed outrageous, though this has been used less than five times in recorded history.
IV. The Apella
All of the citizens of Laconia, aged 30 and up are members of the Apella (Assembly) and simultaneously members of the Army (as military service is a prerequisite for Citizen status - those who live outside the walls and are descended from weaklings are classed as perioikoi). They ratify domestic laws proposed by the Ephorate and endorsed by the Gerousia. They also organize various committees overseeing various aspects of life in Laconia, such as the Committee of Irrigation, etc.
Social Classes of Laconia
I. Citizens
Citizens are all those descended from the strong and intelligent. They live within the city walls and their entire lives are dedicated to the army, philosophy, oratory, and government. They are the smallest minority of Laconia's population, but see themselve as the only true people of Laconia. They are the only ones who can hold government position. They are not allowed to freely pick who they marry (although they can select from candidates), the women raise the children until age 7 and then the children, both male and female, are placed in separate barracks until age 30, in which case they are allowed to move in with their wives. Their entire lives are focused around merit/status/honour, and as such are extremely competitive. They (and all classes) own no individual property and as such they focus on honour through skills rather than prestige through wealth. Also, one's birth has no affect on one's place in society (apart form being a citizen, that is very hard to lose) - a child is the State's property, his parents are merely caring for it until it is ready to begin its training.
II. Perioikoi
The Nearby Dwellers are all those descended from weaklings, but proved to be somewhat resilient and function as the middle class in Laconian society. They can be be pressed into military service and perform decently, but that is not their forte. They serve as Laconia's artisan culture, and are treated relatively well, their lives are slightly less regimented by the government, but they still view themselves as the property of the State. They form approximately 40% of Laconians. There are many levels of Perioikoi, and the structure is very fluid and very based on talent and skill. Particularly pathetic Perioikoi can drop down to slave status. Perioikoi cannot hold any governmental position.
III. Slaves
Slaves are conquered peoples or those who can do little else but farm. They are the largest group of people in Laconia, forming approximately 50% of the population. They largely subservient, weak, and afraid, although the occasional unorganized uprising is brutally suppressed. They are sometimes forced into military service as a cheap form of skirmishers and bravery or excellence in the field is rewarded with elevation to Perioikoi status. Despite being the lowest of society, they can still compete amongst each other to be the best and as such they are typically in conflict with each other to prove that they deserve Perioikoi status and too divided to rebel.
As the realm grows, multiple Assemblies are set up, as well as multiple Gerousia and sub-Ephorates (as the main Ephorate has ultimate power), though each city elects its own representative to sit at a special Council of the Cities in Laconia. There is only one Basileus. Each city is largely self-sufficient, but they are bound together through their complete and total indoctrination and belief in the State Above All and right of the Strong to rule over the Weak.
Krypteia: Knives in the Dark
The Laconian social structure produces certain levels of what could be labelled discontent from time to time, most often among those who benefit the least from the system - namely, the slaves. These slaves, however, are not slaves for no reason. Having proven themselves worthy of little other than farming, the slaves arenot particularly bright, nor are they strong, nor agile, nor rebellious. In fact, their relatively docile nature and relationship to Laconian agriculture has led to the widespread view that these creatures are little more than autonomous livestock.
To bring them to this level of sober mediocrity, the Laconians engaged in a rather primitive form of eugenics. All those who displayed talent were incorporated into the Perioikoi, provided they submitted to Laconian rule. Bloody execution awaited those who refused. Due to this partitioning of talent and association with social class, the lower orders rarely, if ever, mixed with their betters and, as such, had little to work with in the way of heredity.
Life finds a way, however, and there exists the odd occasion whereby a particularly salient specimen is produced by the Slave gene pool and there is a possibility that this specimen could conceivably advance himself to Perioikoi service by accomplishing some great deed for the State. More likely, though, was that such an individual would have a run-in with the Krypteia - literally, the Secrets.
The Krypteia were volunteers from the Citizen class who went outside the city walls, past the Perioikoi districts, and into Slave Country. He would live off the land, either alone or in a small group, through a combination of hunting, foraging, and stealing. The chief purpose of this outing was to murder any Slave judged to be a threat, whether through brute strength or rebellious mutterings, in horrifying ways, typically without witnesses. If such a victim could not be found, random murders were meted out as a way to terrify the Slaves, keeping them firmly under the Laconian boot. Their armour is highly stylized, enhancing the demonic aspect, empowering the wearer with a sense of otherworldly power, and birthing (on the odd chance a witness was allowed to escape) the myriad wild tales of Hellish minions slaughtering those who disobey the Laconians.
Example... Denmark signed a NAP with Germany before the second world war despite knowing that with Hitler it wouldn't really matter one way or the other... but you can always hope 
Whatever happened to the good, old tradition of poison and daggers?
