Belavaer

"Belavaer doesn't execute criminals. They execute their reputation."

―Belavaerian outcast that escaped to Arguros

Belavaer is supposedly a direct democracy located on Arguros' western border. It is a land of posh architecture funded by wealthy merchants and tailors. The capital is the city of Samhain, where there are festivals and masquerades taking place nearly every day of the year.

Belavaer flaunts itself with an extensive noble class. Within Belavaer, nobility is not limited to bloodlines, and anyone can join it if they have the skills. Becoming part of this nobility requires knowledge of shrewd politics and adherence to an everchanging game of fashions, mannerisms and conduct.

Belavaer is largely isolationist when it comes to accepting new citizens, but they engage in trade with other nations.

Government

The prime minister, if ever, makes any executive decisions on their own. While they entertain and speak with the public as figureheads, the real power lies within a hidden cabal that manipulates the relations between Belavaer's various nobles.

Belavaer stands out from other nations in Emsius for not engaging in capital punishment. The arguably more insidious alternative they opt for is public humiliation and shaming. The criminal's face is posted on large posters throughout urban areas and their crimes are made known to everyone no matter how small, and very often, these crimes are highly exaggerated for slanderous effect. Those who do not conform are often exiled or sold as slaves to other nations.

Belavaer makes use of slaves themselves who are often brainwashed with enchantment spells to be absolutely willing to do anything for their masters. While under the effect of this spell, they feel no pain and will endlessly work in rigorous conditions even until physical exhaustion and sometimes death.

Culture

Citizens are rewarded with material goods such as jewelry and food when they praise the government and speak highly of them. Speaking negatively of the government is illegal and is considered deviant, making them susceptible for being shamed.

Religion

Belavaer is irreligious despite the majority of other neighboring nations being Asmosian. While a variety of religions may sometimes be practiced, to the government, worship of the gods is considered unimportant and to an extent - outdated.

Military

Attempts by other nations to convert Belavaer to Asmosianism have failed as Belavaer boasts a surprisingly powerful army of mages, led by a group known as the Enchanted Ones. These mages often stop wars before they even start by simply using mind tricks against their enemies. However, Belavaer themselves do not possess a large enough military to actively conquer other nations, and thus, any attempt at fighting them generally results in a stalemate.

The tactics used by these mages are best described as unorthodox. Mages do not actually use any standard military equipment and rely entirely on both their physical appearance and magical skills to confuse and deceive the enemy. For example, these mages have control over luck and probability, and they can bewitch an enemy into having their weapons more likely to malfunction so that they never attack in the first place. These mages, however, do not possess much in the ways of offensive equipment, opting to ward off invaders as opposed to killing them outright.

History

Belavaer used to be a province of the New Leir Empire until they broke off to form their own nation when they began to reject the god Asmos. This resulted in a civil war between the two nations, but it eventually ended in stalemate when Belavaer's mages continuously used mind enchantments to convince New Leir soldiers from pushing the offensive.

Though they were devastated by the war, they recovered virtually overnight when a wealthy merchants guild moved into the area and offered jobs to those affected by the war. The economy boomed, but at the cost of the guild eventually monopolizing all trade within Belavaer. Eventually, made the prime minister into a puppet and began to run it themselves.

During the Mage Ethics War, Belavaer supported Arguros by providing a few of their Enchanted Ones to put an end to a battle of attrition by Shale. Since then, Belavaer has remained neutral in the affairs of other nations.