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In Chapter 4, Rezanii had the option to dress as a small lizard native to Edria and here it is! This is a florel. They're small, friendly lizards with minor magical abilities that allow them to improve the health of plants. They love living in gardens and will happily help tend to the garden of anyone who is kind to them.
Credit to @galactickit for the art!!
Religions of the World: the Mizari
Theology
The Mizari religion came about in part due to syncretism between the Zimari faith and the faiths of sankara fleeing their home universes.
The Mizari are polytheistic but don't believe strongly in a hierarhcy of gods, instead believing in groups or families of gods that commune with one another or oppose one another. This means that someone might pray to one god to ask for something or give thanks for something, but pray to a opposing god to prevent something from happening or to ask them to intervene on their behalf. No gods are evil and no gods are fully good, they simply are.
Mizari take this belief in nothing being fully good or evil into daily life as well. Debates are an important part of Mizari religious practice and scholars and teachers are well respected within Mizari societies.
Like the Zimari, the Mizari believe in reincarnation. Unlike the Zimari, though, they don't believe that one is reincarnated depending on their deeds in their past life but rather relatively randomly until their soul has reached a state of comprehensive knowledge and enlightenment.
Practices
The Mizari largely believe in worship by action and so pay respect to gods by engaging in the realm or domain that the god presides over. Temples are similarly dedicated to worship by action, so someone could go to the temple of the god of young children for childcare, baby and me classes, or to get support for an infant in need. The temple of the god of music would similarly have performances, music lessons, and other opportunities to practice the art.
Social Norms
The Mizari lean strongly towards community and communal living to a degree, often living in close-knit communities. The urbanization of Mizari-majority countries changed that to a degree but there are still norms around finding and integrating one's self into the community one lives in. They deprioritize biological ties for chosen community (biological or not) and place a lot of importance in helping one's community when someone else is struggling.
One practice that is controversial is the perspective of the Mizari towards violence. The Mizari believe strongly in the pursuit of justice and the elimination of systemic violence. It leads to them being very engaged politically and supportive of marginalized groups, but in some circumstances has led to a lot of political violence. Mizari groups in Kortapolis currently lead the violent resistance against Wastorian occupation, which has led to the religion being banned in Wastoria itself. Mizari also do not always agree on what justice looks like, which combined with the importance placed on debate in the faith, can lead to conflict.
Hmm, I have a variety of questions across several different fields.
What is the currency of Edria? And what is its value?
Does Edria have conscription? If so, how long is the conscription period? Is there conscription for women?
How are officers in the Edrian military trained? For example, what connections or exams are required to enter military academies? Are there programs to train general university graduates or non-commissioned officers to become officers? What is the curriculum like at military academies, and what are the grading criteria?
What is the financial sector like in Edria? For example, what are the major stock exchanges, commodity exchanges, commercial banks, and investment banks?
What are the legal regulations governing the financial sector?
Are there any powerful individuals, perhaps the Edrian equivalent of Rockefeller or Morgan?
What is the educational system like in Edria? For example, is it a dual-track or single-track system, what are the durations of each course, and what is the curriculum like? What roles do private and public schools play? What are some well-known schools and universities in Edria?
OOOH thank you for the asks!!!!
The currency is the ryn! The exchange rate is a bit rough right now. You'd need about RY500 for a cup of coffee, rent in Alzome is RY70,000 for a one bedroom apartment, double for a two bedroom. Rent outside the city and in smaller cities is maybe RY30,000. Kortapolis used to be Alzome prices with beachfront property being way more expensive. Minimum wage is RY100,000 a month.
In border regions (along the border with Rom and Estance, at least, not Wastoria) foreign currency is also often accepted just for ease of things.
Edria does not currently have conscription but they've had it in the past! All genders and species are conscripted when it's in effect. Conscription goes into effect at the Edrian age of majority, which is 20, and deferment is possible for those in university or in essential positions (usually doctors, teachers, though wealthier Edrians have found ways to avoid conscription).
There are three main avenues through which someone becomes an officer: going to one of the military academies, getting selected for officer candidate school as a member of the military, or going directly to officer candidate school. Going directly to OCS requires you to already have a degree. Under the monarchy, there were pretty strict requirements as to the historiography taught at the military academies but other than that, they function pretty much like normal colleges.
Edria's financial sector is highly influenced by bigger players in the world economy. Edria has its own, small, stock exchange and some companies that operate in Edria are multinational and are listed on other markets.
One big thing is also that currently there aren't many campaign finance laws in Edria. That means money from foreign donors, corporations, and others isn't particularly regulated.
There are a few powerful Edrian individuals!!! Most powerful, wealthy Edrians have a foot in the political realm because of the current political situation, but there are also a few Edrians that left the country and made a lot of money or gained influence abroad. Some will show up next chapter (or have already shown up but will get some more time soon!).
Education was seen as pretty important under the monarchy as a way to create a cohesive social identity that would then uplift and support the monarchy. But it also served as a way to give people the tools to question the monarchy, so there was a tension there. There's no private option in Edrian education but wealthy parents supplement their kids' education with tutors.
The naval academy was pretty well respected before the invasion!! The University of Alzome is also really well regarded, especially for the arts.
Alzome
The art of Alzome above was done by Neur over at VGen!
Check out the uncompressed version on Patreon!
Intro
The city of Alzome rests at the confluence of the Mirriquibo and Paquembe rivers, an urban metropolis in the heart of the jungle. Supporting close to four million people, it is the largest city in Edria, and represents a significant percentage of the population of Edria as a whole. The total population of inner Edria is closer to eight million people, meaning that half of all citizens of inner Edria live in Alzome; this is because the interior—the jungle, the mountains, and the desert on the other side of the mountains—is sparsely populated and poorly developed.
Geography
Alzome is located in the heart of inner Edria, deep in the Adurama Rainforest, the rainforest that makes up most of Edria and stretches into neighboring Estance and Wastoria. Alzome is surrounded by the Adurama, and dozens of creeks lead into the two rivers that form the center of Alzome. There are small hills in the surrounding area, but no major mountains.
Due to all the creeks, swamps, and marshes, along with other waterbodies in and around the city, Alzome is known as the City of a Thousand Bridges. Some streets are actually canals where people can use boats or jetskis for transportation.
Climate
Koppen Climate Classification: Am (Equatorial monsoon)
Alzome’s climate is hot and humid. It has two seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season lasts from mid-spring to mid-fall, and summers are hot and very humid. The dry season lasts from mid-fall to mid-spring, and it provides a mild, though still warm, climate during that half of the year.
Buildings and Infrastructure
Alzome could be described as a solarpunk city—it gets most of its energy from solar power, with solar panels covering most roofs. Buildings without solar roofs often have green roofs, with trees, vegetable gardens, small orchards, and other plantings reaching up towards a blazing tropical sky. Nature is interwoven into almost every street and building, making Alzome look almost as green as the surrounding Adurama.
Public transportation in Alzome is variable. While Alzome has a metro system, it operates aboveground due to the high water table making underground development inadvisable. Trains connect large parts of the city, but other neighborhoods lack good transit connections. Some areas are connected by streets and accessible by car or motorcycle; others are connected by canal and accessible by boat or jetski. While other countries with climate hazards, such as Langostia and Kalendra, have hovercars, they are very rare in Edria due to their high cost.
Demographics
Alzome is more diverse than the rest of Edria. While Edria overall is around 70% yadukari, Alzome is closer to 40% yadukari. 37% of the population of Alzome identifies as human, and 18% identifies as sankara. The remaining 5% belongs to a minority species or refuses to identify as one of the three main groups (either due to being mixed or for political reasons). Unlike countries such as Frindria, the Edrian government does not have an official policy on classifying species and instead relies on self-identification.
Most Alzomi are non-religious, though a substantial number of non-religious Alzomi are culturally Zimari. The next largest group is practicing Zimari, followed by Mizari, and then the smaller religious minorities.
Culture
Alzome trends more progressive than the rest of Edria, in part due to the influence of the university and the strong presence of the arts. Residents of Alzome are very proud of their role in the pro-democracy movement. This sentiment has led opponents of the movement to move out of the city and supporters to move in, further cementing the political leanings of the city. The city council has been at the center of multiple controversies as it too trends more progressive than the national parliament, which is also located in Alzome, and which has overridden local Alzome legislation on more than one occasion.
Neighborhoods
Alzome has a variety of neighborhoods. Some, such as the arts district (Metalaila), have vibrant nightlife and culture; others, such as Ganzaruna, are more known for their dangerous streets and criminal activity. However, Alzome is not any more dangerous than most other cities in this world; like all cities, it has safe neighborhoods and dangerous ones.
Metalaila is where the University of Edria is located, and is home to Alzome’s opera house, theaters, nightclubs, and many museums. The pro-democracy movement started here both in the classrooms of the university and in the dressing rooms and stages of the theaters. It is also known for its thriving and delicious food scene.
Ganzaruna is where less affluent residents of Alzome live and has a majority human and sankara population. It has a reputation for danger as well as being a place where one could find banned or prohibited items. The reputation for danger is overstated, though the reputation of its marketplaces is well deserved.
Delinaza is where the richest residents of Alzome live and is also home to the Presidential Palace and the embassy district. It is located on the river and traffic flows through on water as well as on land.
Berbitque is the business district, home to skyscrapers, apartments, and some delicious restaurants. It’s one of the fastest growing districts of Alzome, though growth has slowed in recent years due to a lack of foreign direct investment due to Edria’s instability.
Biting Jaguars
Alzome is the home of the main campus of the University of Edria, Edria’s premier liberal arts university, with a second campus located in Kortapolis (which, post-invasion, has been absorbed into the University of Wastoria). The university is well known for its Edrian history curriculum and considered one of the main centers of academic life within Edria.
The University of Edria has always been a progressive space compared to the rest of the country, even under the monarchy where academics were known to use their research and statements to skirt the boundaries of what the monarchy would tolerate. Those who went too far would end up imprisoned, but that was only if they got caught. The university became a hub of pro-democracy, seditious activity over time with discussions hosted in basements at night and within study groups. The sentiment spread, resulting in different outbreaks of protests, finally culminating with the protests that began the civil war.
Parts of the university were destroyed during the conflict but have been partially rebuilt. For most of its history, the university didn’t have a mascot, but the students made one shortly after the fall of the monarchy. His name is Plip Plip, he’s a jaguar who is remarkably bad at all sports, created to honor a semester where not a single U of Edria team won a game in any sport at all. The students started calling themselves the Fighting Jaguars, then changed to the Biting Jaguars because Plip Plip cannot win a fight.
It was mentioned briefly in the side story, but what is the energy supply system in Edria like? (What kind of companies exist, the ratio of energy sources, energy usage by industry, government, and households, the state of the power grid and gas grid, whether it is liberalized, etc.)
Oooh this is a fun question!!!
Edria has a decently diversified energy sector. At least it used to. There used to be undersea connections between Edria and a few other countries but the loss of Kortapolis severed that connection. There's a government-owned hydroelectric power company as well as extensive solar power use by households during the dry season. For the most part, the government owns and controls energy companies with some support for liberalization among the population but not too much.
Rom exports renewable and non-renewable energy to Edria and to other neighboring countries, which supplements domestic production.
There's also some new energy sources that may be explored in the future and the usage of which is pretty controversial in-universe. Certain yadukari and sankara can also use magic to generate electricity. There are also growing written/learned magic ways to generate electricity but there's pushback from some yadukari who have historically worked in these roles.
Due to the loss of Kortapolis and the connections there, Edria has occasional blackouts but as Edria has begun importing more energy those have lessened. Blackouts were also used as a coercive tool during the monarchy era so the population is pretty sensitive about it.
Power usage is growing as the economy also grows in Edria. There's some growing pushes to explore the jungle/interior to seek more ways to increase domestic energy production, which is also deeply controversial within the population.
Technology of Edria
Another day another worldbuilding post! This time on the kinds of technology present in Edria (and a little bit beyond Edria itself).
Cybernetics
Cybernetics are relatively accessible throughout Edria, though not as much as other countries where the government pays for certain cybernetics.
Cybernetic enhancements are divided into a few categories.
At the most basic (for cybernetics), there are cybernetics designed to mimic the function of humanoid body parts. Some are designed to interface with the brain, others are designed to respond to certain movements or gestures coming from other body parts without connecting to the brain.
The more advanced cybernetics are considered enhancements rather than replacements. They might be stronger or have something built in that an organic body part wouldn't have. This category also includes implants that allow access to the internet or extranet, communication, analysis, things like that.
Magic and Technology
So, magic is considered another science in most of Edria so there's not a big 'magic and technology' divide. There *is* a divide about what kind of a science it is (and thus what kind of funding research on magic can get) but that's more academic than actually meaningful.
There are ways that what we'd consider technological developments have affected magic. One is the development of AOE magic suppressors. They can be expensive, at their most powerful can be incredibly painful to innate magic users, but they're useful for things like discussing classified information or while working at a bank, clinic, domestic violence shelter, or somewhere else where confidentiality is vital. They can also be used to prevent accidental fires in gardens or similar accidental uses of magic that can cause issues.
Space?
Are there countries in this world that have gone to space? Yes. Are there countries that have established settlements off-world? Yes.
Is Edria one of them?
No.
Historically, Edria has piggybacked on Langostia's space program but Langostia has never had an incentive to help Edria develop their own. New technological partnerships (or rekindling the old one) will be possible!
Environmental Technology
Given that this is a post-post apocalypse society, a lot of tech within the world (including technology Edria may be interested in purchasing) revolves around reversing environmental damage. Most of Edria's arable land was in Kortapolis, but there's some uninhabited area that's undergone desertification that, with the right technology, could be used to make it arable.
Rom is a pioneer in this kind of technology. Frindria has also been trying to recruit scientists specializing in it, though as a tropical climate rather than a desert one, no one knows exactly why and Frindria isn't telling.
Tech and the Characters
Rezaniis with chronic pain or a limp will be able to use cybernetics as assistive devices to help with their conditions but they aren't cures for either thing, they just help. Rezaniis will also be able to use a cane instead or in addition to the cybernetics.
In terms of the other main characters, a few have some cybernetics. Priyanshi has the most, the vast majority of hers she did not agree to and were imposed on her while she was in Langostia. They're primarily to assist with combat. Junius has the second-most, all willingly implemented, and are a mix of things like implants that let him access the internet easily and things to enhance his physical abilities. Nura has a cybernetic knee to help after an injury. Michi has one for accessing the internet and especially for emails (a horrible mistake). Faustino has none.
Religions of the World: the Zimari
Theology
The Zimari are polytheistic, worshipping one god that rules over others and the numerous gods that serve beneath them. They believe social structures in the corporeal world should reflect those of the divine world, with the Langostian Emperor in the position of the ruling god, the monarchs of other nations beneath them, nobility beneath those monarchs, and the populace beneath those lesser gods. Gods aren't considered to have genders but they're often given physical depictions that shift to reflect the community creating said depictions.
The Zimari believe in reincarnation, with one's status in the corporeal world being based on their deeds during their last life. Because of this, those born to monarchs are seen as having been righteous and knowledgeable in their past life and thus equipped to lead in the next.
Practices
Gods are believed to have realms and praying to a specific god is a way to ask for assistance or give thanks for success in that specific realm. Farmers may have an altar to give offerings to the god of agriculture, for example, while hopeful parents might ask for a blessing from the god of fertility.
Most families have a few gods they regularly worship depending on their circumstances and needs. Noble families and monarchs are usually expected to fund and participate in the care of specific temples and churches. The majority of institutions focus their worship on a specific god or group of gods, but there are large churches that serve as pan-divine worship places.
Social Norms
Zimari are pushed to have large families and tend to live close to, if not with, their extended family. Obedience to one's superiors in whatever hierarchies one finds themself in (family, work, country) is expected. It's expected that people will move up in certain hierarchies (such as by becoming parents or grandparents) whereas in others, their position is determined from birth (such as one's social class). Social mobility is possible but rare and is often met with scorn.
Zimari and Langostian culture are strongly intertwined, though the practice of being Zimari does change if you live outside of Langostia.
The New Zimari
Majority-Zimari countries like Wastoria or Edria were often once owned by or closely aligned with Langostia. The Zimari religion was reinforced by the monarchies of those countries but with the fall of many monarchies, new versions of the Zimari religion have emerged. While no new Zimari sect has emerged as the core alternative to the traditional Zimari religion, many new sects have formed.
Thank you for answering my previous question. If you don't mind, can I ask just one more question? What is the state of nuclear technology in this world and how it is handled in society? I think it's an interesting topic in a post-nuclear war society.
My pleasure!! I love answering worldbuilding questions! And I'm sorry for missing your comment asking this but I'm very happy to answer it here (sorry for the delay)!
There's still a pretty intense nuclear taboo globally! There is a nuclear weapons treaty than bans their creation but the lack of enforcement means it really relies on norms and fear of retaliation to remain relevant. No country has admitted to building or investigating nuclear weapons. Does that mean no one is building them? Uncertain. But no one has successfully built a nuclear weapons program since the last war.
In terms of nuclear energy, it's controversial and has historically been avoided. But as non-renewable resources dwindle, there's a push for a reexamination of nuclear energy generation. Some countries have begun construction on nuclear power plants but others feel that anything involving enriching material that could be used to make a bomb should be prohibited.
The international legal environment is still pretty anarchic. There are a few global treaties, but there aren't any organizations like the IAEA as of yet, which only increases the suspicion of countries towards each other since there's no international regulator to verify facilities and what they're being used for.
Due to the nature of the weapons used during the nuclear war in the past, there are still some radioactive hot spots. Radiation can also interact strangely with magic during solstices, so keeping abreast of radiation levels in a certain area is still an ongoing concern.
Nuclear war, dirty bombs, and issues caused by radiation are still a big topic in popular culture and in many countries' national stories as well. That has little sign of changing even as the actual effects of the war fade.
