Marabon

Marabon is one of the Five Great Nations of Aryth

Land

Next to Rodan, Marabon is the largest nation of the Five Great Nations. It spans over much of the northwestern territory of western Aryth, some if its more distant cities even reaching the coast. It actually takes up far more land than most Arythian nations, over 3500 miles square, but most of that is set aside as cattlelands and pastures.

Population

An accurate census of the Five Great Nations has never been attempted, but estimates made after the Arythian introduction into the Web of Worlds put the population in the ballpark of 490,000 to a 520,000 people. The population of West Aryth is entirely human, with not a single other race of species to be found, outside of variants of human species within Aryth. The people of Marabon are actually something else in their own right -- they have slightly darker skin than most Arythians, and slightly slanted eyes, giving them an exotic appearance.

Culture

The people of Marabon are a very stern sort. The civilization of Marabon is based around a search for prestige, honor, and material wealth, known collectively as Pura. Pura also includes land and cattle, two of the more prized possessions of Marabonians. Pura can also be attained through public service or specialized trades. Marabon is a very class based society, where the more Pura you have, the more highly you are regarded. A majority of Marabonians are ranchers, and as such, they will grant their children one male and three females of their animal of choice when they come of age, and they must do what they can with that livestock to make an empire of Pura. For other trades, including blacksmithing, public service, and architechture, parents are responsible for preparing their own children for quests of Pura.

However, the only people capable of ownership in Marabon are men. Women are not restrained or chaistained, but Marabonian custom seems to more or less disregard women who seek Pura. The only way for a woman to attain Pura is through marriage. Upon marriage, a bridge`s parents will offer a dowry, often of cattle or trade, for the groom. A woman from a more prestigous family will be more rigorously sought out than one from a woman of less standing. Larger families are also a source of greater Pura, and in Marabon, a married couple take on the woman`s name. As such, it is often preferable that Marbonian couples have more daughters than men, so that their daughters will be sought and their family names handed down.

Perhaps one of the more frowned upon practices of Marabon is one of the newest methods of gaining Pura. Marriage is not the only means of gaining Pura for a woman -- bedding with someone of notable prestige is another means that has become more highly practiced thanks to the urging of some of the people of power in Marabon. Wives will often seek the attentions of a particularly important man in order to increase their own Pura. Sometimes, a husband will even offer his wife to an official in an attempt to increase Pura for the family name.

Marabonians are not a festive bunch either. They generally only have celebrations during the new year, and even those are a rather conservative affair. Marbonian parties tend to be relatively dry, as most Marbonians are more concerned about preserving Pura, which would be lost if they were to ever disgrace themselves.

Marabonian garb varies depending on a man or woman`s status. Men of high Pura who run entire farms will often be seen in clothes of fine cut that are rarely dirties, usually breeches, blouse, and jacket. Men of lower standing generally are seen without jackets. Other trades, like blacksmithing and carpenters, tend to wear clothes more suitable to their station. Formal wear for Marabonians is entirely different, putting men in kilt-like dresses, and women in long, often overly flamboyant dresses.

Another interesting subculture of Marabonian are unmarried women of average or lower status, who are unable to attract men through Pura and dowry alone. As a result, these women often train themselves in the art of seduction and love, in order to (hopefully) put a man of higher Pura under their power. In many ways, they are largely successful, as Marabonian women are some of the most desired, if not most feared, in all of Aryth, if not the entire Web of Worlds.

Marabon, like all the other Great Nations, was policed by the Glory Tower. However, they are located further from the Tower than any other nation, and as such they have grown rather detached from the Tower. Indeed, under the rule of their newest Panarch, whom despises the use of mana, magic use has become something of a forbidden art in the nation. Those who are discovered to have talents in magic are rushed from the nation and into the Glory Tower as quickly as possible. Given the current Panarch`s more maniacal outlook on Tanes, however, these forgiveable policy might soon change to something a bit more ugly.

Marabon is also the largest proponent of the modernization of Aryth into the Web of Worlds.

Government & Law

The nation of Marabon was one of the first established in Aryth`s written history, actually originally not a nation at all, but a united group of ranching estates who had made one central community, named Marabon, for them to share and converse in. It was officially enstated as a nation, however, after other nations began to grow through international trade. The people of Marabon had developed a means to represent themselves by deciding upon an elected official, called a Panarch, whom would represent Marabon to other nations and the Glory Tower, which had grown from becoming a center of knowledge and magic to an overseer of all the Five Great Nations.

Unlike Camoore, whose elected official has little real power, the Panarch of Marabon exercises more power over his nation than even the Monarch of Rodan. He is seen as the man of highest Pura, and as such his word becomes absolute to those who steadfastly follow the ways of Pura. The responsibilities or limitations of the Panarch of Marabon are written nowhere, but it is simply assumed that what he says and does is law. However, if he were ever to step out of the of lines that Pura had set up, he would fall quickly and violently from his position.

In addition to the Panarch, however, there are established guilds in Marabon, represented after the community of Marabon was established. That includes the Cattleman`s Guild, Blacksmith`s Guild, Architechture Guild, Trader`s Guild, and more recently, the Technology Guild and Military Guild. Each guild is headed by one man, named Guildsman, who is selected by the members of the occupation. It is the Guildsman`s job to make sure their respective guild is constantly well represented to the Panarch and in international politics. Their jobs may be easily more demanding than that of the Panarch.

Religion

The Religious breakdown of Marabon is as follows:

• Creationists: 22%
• Originists: 33%
• Finalists: 35%
• Other: 10%

Marabon actually lacks any main religious view, but they easily have the strongest showing of Finalists in the entire Five Great Nations. The cause of this is unknown, but given Marabonian`s sometimes stricter standards of living, this might be a side-effect.

Economy

To the Five Great Nations, Marabon offers the only organized livestock trade. Meat and meat products is their alma matter. Marabon is also home to some of the most talented metal workers and archetects in the Five Great Nations, but those services are often unnecessary to those who live closer to the Tanes.

Military

Because it is also quite a distance from ==Truklan==, Marabon has always had a rather small volunteer army to deal with any uprisals. The military has recently been expanded by the current Panarch, and even includes its own guild. The Panarch Terrance seems to expect war, and he wants men trained to deal with it.

Climate

For reasons even beyond the knowledge of the Highest among the Earth Tanes, Marabon suffers from acutely unpredicatble weather. One day can be severly cold, while the next can be unbelievably hot. However, the Marabonians, and even their livestock, seem accustomed to it.

People

Panarch De`Terrance

The current Panarch of Marabon, De`Terrance, or Terrance as he is called by those not of Marabon descent, is obsessed with the downfall of the Glory Tower and the modernization of Aryth. Perhaps the most passionate (if not maniacal) Panarch Marabon has ever had. He also thoroughly enjoys the company of women, which has boded well for him in his high position in Marabon.

Other Se` Regnold

De` Terrance`s prime advisor, Se` Regnold (officially titled "The Other") is good for anything but. Obsessed with stature and Pura, Se` Regnold spends more time determining how he will oust De` Terrance than he does offering De` Terrance good advice. Unfortunately, Se` Regnold is a coward by nature with absolutely no tact.

Legin Trakad

A man hailing from Baron who has managed to burrow himself into Se` Regnold`s side, he is now Se` Regnold`s most trusted man, and shares Se` Regnold`s ambition to oust De` Terrance. Unlike Se` Regnold, Legin has the means to do this: Legin is well versed in the Game of Houses, the art of manipulating people through word and action, an art that has never even been heard of in Aryth, where Legin he believes he can do anything.

Oun` Biatasta

The Guildsman of the Guild of Blacksmithing. Oun` Biatasta is a large man with a cheerful outward appearance who actually cares little for Pura, although he seems to be surrounded by it.

Le` Renarde

Head of the Guild of Archetecture, Le` Renarde is a devout follower of the ideals of Pura. He secretly finds the actions of De` Terrance shameful, and against the honest guidelines that Pura had setup.

Se` Villyan

Guildsman for the cattlemen. Se` Villyan is actually a quiet and reserved man who believes passinoately in preserving the importance of livestock in the Marabon lands. However, he also seems to be thoroughly enjoying the increased attentions of women seeking Pura -- Se` Villyan is not a handsome man, either.

Len` Lecrau

Guildsman of the Trader`s Guild. He too is in love with the new attentions of women, but he doesn`t seem to care for his guild as much.

De` Aarow

New Guildsman of the Technology, or advancement of nonmagic artifiacts Guild. De` Aarow, unlike the previous two mention, really has little to no interest in women whatsoever. He does have a deep fascination with mechanics and mechanizations, of science and how things work. It is for that reason that De` Terrance issued him to Guildsman of Technology.

Sharakk Nodsmad

Guildsman of Military. Sharakk is actually a native of Truklan, but was expelled because of his extreme prejudice against the Glory Tower. He found new employment in Marabon, of course, where his abilities as a competent military mind with the backing of Truklan education were more than well recieved.

Selected Major Cities

With the exception of Marabon, the central "capital" of the nation for which the nation was named, Marabon really has no cities. Most of the larger lands where people live are actually estates, ruled and owned by men of great Pura. Marabon remains the central area of activity in Marabon, where resides the Panarch and the Guildsman, and it is often attended by all citizens of Marabon, for reasons both political and Pura related. It is for this reason that Marabon is the largest city in western Aryth.