Name: Pecaria
Flag/emblem/symbolism: A deep purple pair of bird wings
Demonym: Pecarian
Description:
The Pecarians are a relatively mysterious race that have lived isolated in the north of Albion since they came into existance. Their only interaction up until about 200 years ago was some trading with nearby races or defending their homes from other races. However something changed in the last 200 years, pecarian merchants have began to take in interest in trade with the outside world and the rise of the commonwealth across the sea has not gone unnoticed, many of the upper class see the empire across the sea as a threat and wish to make allies before any invasion occurs.
While there are no castes in the pecarian society, generally the black feathered, red eyed race makes up the upper class (Ravens) , the white feathered and blu eyed race makes up the middle class (Eagles), and the grey feathered and green eyed race makes up the lower class and slaves (Pigeons). These roles aren't exacly set in stone but it is unlikely to see a wealthy pigeon or a poor raven. Eagles tend to be the race that can be anywhere on the social and economic ladder.
Interest in the outside world is generally believed to be the cause of the recession that has gripped the country and caused the average wealth to drop. With many merchants investing in new ideas to attract the other races to them, most of the ideas have been met with failure and the nations economy has been significantly damaged. The government has now advised against trying to attract the new races to the country and instead to continue trading as traders usually did while the government establishes connections in the surrounding world.
In terms of traditions, the pecarians generally believe the higher someones home is,the more well off they are. Dying feathers is also a popular tradition that has carried on since the tribal days of the species.
The pecarian are also capable of flight , the flight time can vary depending on the strength of the wind in the direction they are flying. At maximum they can fly for about 1 hour.
Government: The Pecarian Republic is a democracy, allowing members of influential organisations and powerful indivdiuals (such as land lords) have their say in meetings that occur every month or so. While the public is allowed to vote as long as they are not a slave, a landlords vote is worth 10 times the amount of the population of precarians on their property. This has lead to several powerful landlords to pass Chancellorship between their families and friends for several decades. Despite this, there has generally been a focus on keeping the entire nation wealthy and stable.
Economy: Originally Pecarian economy consisted mining the nitre deposits from the ground around them and refining the sand on the coasts and hauling it from the ocean to create a variety of glassware, this was then used for trade to acquire other rarer materials and currency. Recently the pecarian economy has become more and more reliant on trade so when many traders aimed to began trade with the other races around the world and failed, the economy fell into a state of disarray.
Religion: The pecarian people worship the wind itself, believing to to be a spirit which gives them good fortune on their flights. Due to the unpredictable nature of the winds they also associate the wind spirit with chance and luck. Generally worship is usually kept to a simple before a flight or before taking a gamble, but there are several monasteries at the highest and most isolated points in the nation, so that most would not dare to go to them for fear of freezing or starving to death.
Geography:
The main landmass of Pecaria is relatively flat with some hills (which are all owned by large companies and the upper-class)and a few rivers running out into the ocean provide good transport for food and trade, the island however, is extremely flat although it's high cliffs make it safe from flooding.
Population: 6 million
Demographics:
30% Raven (black feathers red eyes)
20% Eagle (white feathers blue eyes)
50% Pigeon (grey feathers green eyes)
All races speak pecaran which is essentially a combination of squawks and growls, although most traders and upper class individuals can speak the common tongue.
10% of the population is enslaved, this is primarily pigeons although eagles are also present in the population.
Notable Locations
The Feathertop Monastery- The largest monastery in the nation and in the far north of it, it is home to many Windspeakers and monks.
The Winged Port- The Pecarian Union's largest trading port, it not only contains boats and trading caravans but hot air balloons used by merchants to transport the most valuable goods long distances safely, although this can be expensive as it requires either oil or a mage to operate the balloons. It is located on the island in the south.
Personalities of Note
Vava Sower- Current Chancellor of the Pecarian Union, he is a wealthy male raven with sharp curiosity about the outside world but is also fearful of the newly discovered Commonwealth and is pushing for alliances to be made. His family grew to fame and fortune due to their ownership of most,if not all, of the farmland in the nation.
Wentava Bardworth- Owner of the Percarian Grand Bank and Traders Market , a greedy male raven with a knack for trade and bargaining. Quietly supportive of the enslavement of pigeons and publicly supportive of slavery in general.
Reteg Taileon- The only high-ranking military leader in the Pecarian military that is not one of the recently hired foreign generals. Ruthless and a user of guerrilla warfare, Reteg sees the newly hired generals as unneeded and a threat to the nation.
Institutions:
Pecarian Grand Bank and Traders Market
The Wind Speaker Monks
Military:
Organization: Military is organised into V shaped rows similar to that of seagulls, they generally use hit and run strategies with steel talons and glasses full of poisonous quicksilver or sometimes ignited gunpowder.
Troop Total: 300,000 active on border and trade guards
Army: Swift but lightly armoured, the Pecarian military is highly reliant on hit and run tactics in battle,the land guard numbers about 150,000 active men that patrols the border and taxes anyone travelling into the nation.
Navy: The Navy numbers about 200 military ships which each hold about 12-20 men. There is about 50,000 total men serving in the navy, with the majority serving as guards for any trading vessels in the nations territory, although they must return to their port after leaving the nations sea borders.
Other: Many percarians have taken up roles as Scouts, Spies and assassins for higher, many have even recently became interested in other nations and have moved abroad in the hope of new opportunities.
Other: Precarians are naturally nimble and capable of flight for up to 1 hour in the best possible conditions, despite this they are fragile due to their light bones and are generally greedy to a unhealthy degree.
