[hider=Sacrosanctia] [center][hr][h1]Illuminated Dominion of Sacrosanctia[/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/wb7MWho.png[/img] [hr][/center] [center]The Illuminated Dominion of Sacrosanctia is the very centre of the Justinian world, being the holy city of Justinianism and the seat of power of The Justinian itself. Sacrosanctia was the first nation to embrace Justinianism, Justinian’s first avatar descending upon the city shortly after the War In Heaven, the human majority and slaves converting willingly en masse while their elven rulers were forced to bend the knee. Today Sacrosanctia is ruled by an ceaseless bureaucracy of clerical clerks, theologians and beancounters ever watched by the great Solar Eye of The Justinian itself, as are all those who live within the borders of the most holy land in the universe.[/center] [h3]NATIONAL INFORMATION[/h3] [b]Population:[/b] [i]40 million (Exact 100% accurate census however rounded down, also fluctuates give or take a few million due to the passage of pilgrims)[/i] [b]Faction:[/b] [i]Justinian[/i] [b]Capital:[/b] [i]The Holy City of Sacrosanctium[/i] [b]Government Type:[/b] [i]Theocratic Bureaucracy under Divine Rule[/i] [b]Government Description:[/b] [i]The Illuminated Dominion is a totalitarian state ruled essentially by the direct absolute authority of The Justinian itself. There is no succession, as The Justinian will rule until the Great Reconvergence. That said, there is a government system, being a vast theocratic bureaucracy of various clerics, scholars and religiously-trained administrative staff that carry out The Justinian’s decrees. When The Justinian assumed direct control of Sacrosanctia, the Elven aristocracy was mostly abolished, with only a few aristocratic families ruling the Dominions distant border provinces. The theobureaucracy is a ruthlessly meritocratic system, with constant examinations to test competence as well as the default passive surveillance of anyone's thoughts and memories as expected with the holy city of Sacrosanctium, constantly checking for treason, heresy and corruption. An enormously stressful job, it is often asked ‘who in their right mind would want to be a Sacro Cleric?. Theobureaucrats usually come from the ranks of the Clerisy, holy universities or carefully trained and filtered applicants usually from administrative middle-class backgrounds. The highest ranking members of this theobureaucracy are known as the Delegates, being essentially The Justinian's “Cabinet” ministers, they are appointed by The Justinian for as long as The Justinian deems them useful in their position or till death.[/i] [b]Head of State:[/b] [i]The Justinian, True God of the Universe and Potentate of the Illuminated Dominion[/i] [b]Currency:[/b] [i]Aequint Coin[/i] [b]Languages:[/b] Aemerine(Human majority) and Sancthiyin Elvish(Elven majority and Theo-Bureaucrats) [h3]UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE INFORMATION[/h3] [list] [*][b]Divine Mandate[/b] - [i]The Illuminated Dominion is a nation not ruled in its gods name. It is ruled directly by its god. There can be no questioning the states will for its will is god’s will, one which The Justinian is very willing to make clear to all its subjects, be through divine intervention, telepathy, miracles or direct confrontation by its own avatar. [/i][/list] [list] [*][b]City On a Hill[/b] - [i]The Holy City of Sacrosanctium and to a lesser degree to whole Dominion is considered the closest thing in the material plane to what could be considered the Empyrean Plane, a seemingly perfect city - the prototype Utopia of Justinianism. A shining, perfectly clean city of white stone and marble. Ever-watched by its god, absent of any crime or corruption from the highest Theobureaucrat to the lowest street musician. Where material wants are washed away by pure water, bounty of divinely blessed food and the epiphany of a perfect world. Where evil, as Justinianism defines it, is truly impossible. Sacrosanctium is considered one of Justinianism’s most vital pilgrim sites, with millions venturing to the holy city to be blessed, supported, allowed to take part in the epiphanies, to confess, to take comfort in having their god see their troubles in their mind and, for the very few… An audience with The Justinian itself. [/i][/list] [list] [*][b]Imperial Examinations[/b] - [i]The Illuminated Dominion is a place of higher learning and fierce meritocratic standards, Justinian demanding purity of mind and soul, competence and subservience all at once, all wrapped up in a mercilessly utilitarian package. Constantly tested, weighed, measured and defined. While Justinian despises the material world, to destroy it Justinian feels one must understand it. While unyielding and leading to a highly stressed and anxious people in the upper echelons of society, one with high suicide rates, the turnout is one with high accomplishments, rigorous standards of education and extensive knowledge of their craft, ranging from administration to the natural sciences. While often understated despite its great significance, Sacrosanctia is one of the few if only nations in the world that has public education and has the highest literacy rate on the planet - though this public education system is significantly limited and mostly dominated by basic theological studies. [/i][/list] [list] [*][b]Everwatching Solar Eye[/b] - [i]The Justinian is everywhere in Sacrosanctia. A small oasis of true omniscience, here Justinian’s eyes SEE ALL. In the holy city… Even your thoughts and memories. The undeniable truth of The Justinian’s sight in the holy lands leads equally to bliss, awe and terror at the prospect that all your being is laid bare before a god that actively rules over you. Those pilgrims who come filled with either true belief in their innocence (or fanatical delusions otherwise) enter the holy city just as many pilgrims instead enter Pseudononium, the False City, a holy site for those Justinians who would not dare be judged. While crime and corruption are nigh non-existent in Sacrosanctia, this is paid in for by the incredibly high stress, over-cautiousness and high suicide rates of its people, always watching themselves, always knowing that THE JUSTINIAN watches, listens and judges. It also paid for in dependency and alienness to foreign lands. Many Sacrosanctian people have great difficulty living in lands beyond Sacrosanctia, with usually only those well trained living outside the Everwatching Eyes gaze daring to try for long periods of time.[/i][/list] [list] [*][b]The Illuminated Man[/b] - [i]Sacrosanctia was once the very centre of revolutionary thought and zealous initiative. While renown still for its incredible single-mindedness towards achieving the Great Reconvergence, many consider Sacrosanctia to be the ‘powers that be’ of the Justinian World, a force maintaining a 300 year old philosophy and crushing any heresy. This however, is not entirely true, as there is a recent social development in Sacrosanctia, a new philosophy and school of thought. That philosophy is that of The ‘Illuminated Man’, a social, political and religious concept associated with radical/extreme Canonical Justinianism. A mortal that has become ‘as The Justinian’, releasing themselves of all mortal fetters and attachments, denouncing the root of all material desires, being emotion. Members of this movement live strict austere and ascetic lifestyles, practicing intense meditation, celibacy, rationalism, stoicism and self-discipline. Through the abandonment of personal desires, they can focus themselves entirely to the greatest desire of all beings. They also tend to be highly militant, many of their members joining the Sacrilege War, believing that through waging the final war, they release themselves from petty rivalries, familial bonds, petty desires and other distractions. They call themselves the Illuminati, the closest to The Justinian, beings already ready for the end of this world.[/i][/list] [list] [*][b]Army On Wings[/b] - [i]In The Illuminated Dominion, there exists a higher number of Saints; Transcendental Justinians than anywhere else in the world combined. These mortals have embraced the Empyrean Joy entirely, forsaking their born forms to be changed by The Justinian itself. An arduous and painstaking process, these beings have since become physically inhuman, angelic beings of magic. Many are also Illuminati, having abandoned all mortal fetters and their emotions. Those who still have their emotions are often fanatical. Either way,Sacrosanctia’s army of uplifted mortals are often seen flying in aerial formations, teaching holy terror to pegasi riders, airships and dragons.[/i][/list] [list] [*][b]Supranational Hegemon[/b] - [i]Sacrosanctia, being the seat of the god, The Justinian, has influence that far outreaches it's actual border or physical military might. Its Justicarti Oratorium is the parent organisation of all other Justinian Oratoriums across the world to which they answer to. Its theological edicts, oft proclaimed by The Justinian itself, are heeded across the Canonical and Orthodox Justinian world. Its diplomatic missions and embassies stretch across the Justinian World, its operatives maintaining a global network of faith and war. While Archonnen may claim to be the greatest of all Justinian nations, it is Sacrosanctia from which the shadow that is the Justinian World is cast from. [/i][/list] [list] [*][b]Great Northern Reconstruction[/b] - [i]Notable for being one of Sacrosanctia’s most persistent and active endeavours, the Great Northern Reconstruction begun twenty years ago, following the conclusion that the conversion rate in Excelsiorum had fallen flat, both theurgia generation and epiphany generation being significantly less than projected by their total population. The Great Northern Reconstruction has been a number of actions that Sacrosanctia and The Justinian have undergone to rectify this, as well as crush heresy and Red Pantheonism in those lands. This includes organising mass immigration from Archonnen and the Middle Kingdoms to Norumeau and other regions (to change the demographic composition from Heterodox and Anathema to Canonical and Orthodox followers), Epiphany registration and analysis, Magi registration (as used in West Ouroborasia), Temple inspections and other regulatory actions taken by the Justicarti Oratorium.[/i][/list] [list] [*][b]The Uncanny Lands[/b] - [i]To many outsiders and pilgrims who stay too long, there is something deeply disturbing about Sacrosanctia. Similarly, to Sacrosanctians the world outside of Sacrosanctia is not only alien but also deeply wrong on a fundamental level, physically wrong. Spiritually wrong. Perhaps it is the too perfect air of Sacrosanctia, perhaps the eternally watching solar eye and its absence elsewhere. Perhaps it is the illuminated minds of the Sacrosanctians or the unending bounty of the true god. Perhaps the trees and grass fields and winds that whisper its name. Or the eyes - too many eyes. Sacrosanctia is like a dreamland, filled with mystical epiphanies and miracles, strange feelings and sensations unlike anywhere else in the material plane. To those who have lived their whole lives in this unworldly world, the outside is a harsh place that is physically and spiritually draining. Those Sacrosanctians who are untrained and unprepared for such lengthy stays beyond may find themselves lost. Conversely, those pilgrims who stay too long but do not truly adapt to this new world may lose themselves entirely…. Falling into a dreaming trance or paranoid schizophrenia. [/i][/list] [h3]GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION[/h3] [list] [*] [b]Sacrosanctium[/b] - [i] #1, the Holy City of the West and seat of The Justinian. A gleaming city of white stone and marble, considered a prototype of the Empyrean paradise that awaits.[/i][/list] [list][*][b]Pseudononium[/b] - [i]#2, Pseudononium, the False City or the City of False Confession. A secondary holy place popular among the majority of pilgrims who do not want to enter Sacrosanctium out of fear of being judged based on their thoughts and memories. Pseudononium has very large foreign and trade quarters. It is also the diplomatic hub of Sacrosanctia here most embassies are located (with the notable exception of Archonnen), as while all ambassadors to Sacrosanctia must go to Sacrosanctium for an audience with the The Justinian, the actual foreign dignitaries usually prefer living outside the holy cities absolute surveillance. Particularly those of Heterodoxist regions. [/i][/list] [h3]RACIAL INFORMATION[/h3] [b]Majority race:[/b] [i]Humanity: The majority of Sacrosanctia, either as descendants of the emancipated slaves of the former elven kingdoms or as immigrants from the Aemos Imperium successor states (and later Archonnen). Humanity was quick to adopt Justinianism, eager and more than willing to take up the revolutionary god following the War In Heaven, a god that slaughtered the evil deities of their slaver elf masters. Filled with zeal, they marched out and declared war on the whole world. Since then, Sacrosanctian humans have lost the highest institutional positions of powers. Many humans take solace however in knowing at least the army remains mostly under their control as well as the cultural posturing that the successes of Archonnen provides them.[/i] [b]Ruling Minority race:[/b] [i]Elves: The Elves during the Old Pantheon days once ruled the lands that now make up the Illuminated Dominion until Justinian descended, forcing them to bend the knee while also emancipating the human slaves. While the vast majority of elves lost their titles of nobility and their land, they did not lose their intent skills, knowledge and century-long lifespans… which would become invaluable in succeeding in The Justinian’s new meritocratic system. Elves despite being now outnumbered by their former human slaves still hold power in Sacrosanctia, monopolising the upper theobureaucratic hierarchy by virtue of centuries of experience and other advantages in passing the examinations and stresses of the Dominions government. The Sancrosancti Elves like their eastern cousins are as haughty as ever, though on top of this are usually stereotyped as takers of the condescending ‘holier-than-thou’ moral high ground. It seems, no matter the god, some things never change. [/i] [b]Other Minority races [i](Including pilgrims and immigrants)[/i]:[/b] [i]Centaurs, Giants, Fae, Dwarves, Kobolds, Pygmies, Goblins, Drimor, Satyrs, Scaven, Kuo-Toa, Kenku, Gnolls, Bainlinger[/i] [h3]RELIGIOUS INFORMATION[/h3] [b]State Religion:[/b] [i]Canonical Justinianism[/i] Patron Deity: [list][*] [b]The Justinian[/b] - [i]The Justinian, The True God of the Universe, The Nascent God born of Mortal Heroes, The Empyrean Lord, Justice, etc. The Justinian’s rule of the Illuminated Dominion is absolute, being both its god and head of state simultaneously. From here The Justinian has made its headquarters known to all mortals and from here too does the god’s sphere of influence and divine miracles emanate out from. The Justinian sees all in Sacrosanctia. It is in the minds and souls of its mortal inhabitants. The Holy Cities people's thoughts and memories are open to their patron god. The weather and animals bend to Its Divine Will.[/i][/list] [b]Religion Demographics:[/b] [i]100% Justinianism (70% Canonical, 30% Orthodox, excluding Heterodox foreigners)[/i] [b]Holy Relics in Possession:[/b] [list][*] [b]The Hallowed Simulacrum[/b] - [i]A pure, chrome ball atop a pedestal within the deepest chambers of the Sacrosanctium High Abode. It is where the entirety of The Justinian channels a representation of itself into, using the relic as a host, a permanent full avatar present within the High Abode of Sacrosanctium. It is one of the most powerful non-weapon objects in existence, being the direct channeling device of a god. The Hallowed Simulacrum is always guarded by Demi-Avatars, who are also technically The Justinian in another form. [/i][/list] [b]Holy Sites under Control: [/b] [list][*][b]The Holy City of Sacrosanctium[/b] - [i]the nexus point of all Justinian theurgical influence as well as the administrative and theological centre of the Justinian World. From here, Justinian keeps constant contact with its mortal subjects through the Hallowed Simulacrum, Demi-avatar and various performed miracles. It is the most holy city in all of Justinianism.[/i][/list] [list][*][b]Pseudononium[/b] - [i]The Holy City of False Confession, Pseudononium: An inferior yet more popular alternative to Sacrosanctium in terms of pilgrimage due to the complexities involved concerning Sacrosanctium and the fact that many would avoid these… complexities. [/i][/list] [list][*][b]The High Abode of The Justinian[/b] - [i]the palace or house of The Justinian within Sacrosanctium. It is essentially more of a cathedral than an actual palace, being mostly a religious, governmental and scholarly building besides a massive ‘throne room’, really a hall leading up to the Hallowed Simulacrum, sitting upon a pedestal. Much of the High Abode is actually used by Clerics and administrative staff and is often a meeting place for The Justinian’s Delegates as well as where audiences with The Justinian take place, particularly with foreign dignitaries. [/i][/list] [b]Notable Magical Institutions: [/b] -The Justicarti Oratorium: - [h3]MILITARY INFORMATION[/h3] [b]Total Military:[/b] [i]200,000 standing soldiers plus a raisable force of 400,000[/i] [b]Listed Heroes:[/b] [i]-Avatar of The Justinian[/i] [b]Military Doctrine:[/b] [b]Military Units:[/b] [hider=units] Precinct Foot Regiment Precinct Arms Regiment Ascetic Guard Regiment Exemplar Ascetics Beholders of the Solar Eye Ascetic Knights Exemplar Ascetic Knights Orator-Guard of the Peace Orator-Knights of the Peace Paladins of the Rite of Sagittarius Paladins of the Rite of Canon Saint-Soldiers of the Empyrean Joy Throne-Charioteers Miraculous Heavenly-Fortress [/hider] [h3]DRAMATIS PERSONAE[/h3] -Avatar of The Justinian:: -??? (Justicar Orator-General) -??? (Justicar-Marshal) [/hider]