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Confederacy of Sheinar

The Confederacy of Sheinar emerged in the aftermath of the DragonWars.  Prior to this cataclysm, the various city-states of the confederacy were completely independent and often engaged in petty skirmishes with each other over trade routes and colonies. With the changes brought on by the DragonWars and the Great Rise that followed in the aftermath, the desire  to unite was fought by only the most recalcitrant.  Although the need for unity was a driving force, it was not strong enough to quell the independent sensibilities of the city-states; thus, a compromise was reached.  The power lays in two hands:  the Dioed and the Daimendred.

Dioed and Daimendred

The legislative body of the confederacy is a council known as the Dioed that meets every two years.  The Dioed is composed of 5 representatives from each of the cities; in addition, the Dioed welcomes the participation of the Ar' Athån and the Thjadrir, but they often decline.  One of these representative is the High Seat and the other four are his advisors.  The manner in which the representatives are chosen and the length of their term varies based on the internal politics and power structure of each given city.  The Dioed is responsible for passing the various laws, civil and criminal, that govern the confederacy, without violating the sovereignty of each city-state.

The Daimendred is the executive power of the confederacy.  Although legally an elected position, it has become  hereditary by default.  Since the Great Rise, the Daimendred has been the oldest child, male or female, of House Stoneryfe.  Although originally of Conmaeir, the Daimendred, and in turn House Stoneryfe,  is considered to be of no city, and yet of all.   It is the responsibility of the Daimendred to enforce the laws of the confederacy and to protect it from internal and external enemies.

Generally, neither the Dioed nor the Daimendred interfere in the internal workings of any city-state, unless it impacts the entire confederacy.  In turn, most of the city-states have adopted laws that are equal to, or stricter than, those of the confederacy.  Thus, there is little dispute in terms of civil or criminal law and enforcement is left to the Diamendred and his or her agents.

However, there are a separate set of laws originated by the Dioed and enforced only by the Dioed - the Laws of Commerce.  Economics is the lifeblood of the confederacy and laws of internal and external trade are governed by the Dioed and all are bound to follow these laws on penalty of economic and politcal sanctions.

 

shan_con_e.jpg (21850 bytes)
Coreyl of House Stoneryfe, Daimendred of Sheinar
and her husband, High Lord Damon of House Vryce

The Ar' Athån

As tribal, people, some would consider the government of the Ar' Athån as primitive.   On the surface this may be true, with each tribe led by a Loremaster and a council of elders.  However, the true governance of the Ar' Athån rests not with the Loremaster and his advisors, but with the thousands of years of precedence that manifests in strict rules of culture. 

The Thjadrir

Little is known of the reticent Thjadrir, except that they government is a monarchy that has been in the hands of the descendants of  High Lord Kaenkord for as along as written history.

Economics

Money is the lifeblood of the confederacy and this is reflected in the the society.   There are no true nobles in Sheinar, this role being  supplanted by the those in the Major houses.  Power lies in the hands of those with wealth; laws are not passed which would hinder trade and profit takes precedence over all else.  Some argue that money is the Sheinari's true god.

The confederacy is economically very advanced, with systems in place for lending money and investing it in ventures and businesses in which the investor has little direct contact.  There are even a few Minor Houses emerging that are little more than groups of investors.    For some individuals with a reputation, the Guild of Coiners and Lenders provides Writs of Credit, paper monies in various denominations that can be used as if they were real coins.  Writs of Credit are more of a vanity item at this point, because they are often have the image of the user stamped onto them as a means of preventing fraud and theft. 

The coins of the confederacy, now the standard with even the Ar' Athån and Thjadrir traders, are as follows

Deam The lowest demonination, this is the common form of currency used for most transaction. Copper colored, it is equivalent to 1/100th of a Geold.  Once this coin was actually made of copper, but now it is made of an amalgam of baser metals and coated with a fine layer of copper.  On one side are six stars to represent the six cities of the confederacy; on the other, an image of the Dioedic Forum in Ethaech Yel.

Sealre Aside from the Dem, this is the only other coin in common circulation.  Silver in color, it is equivalent to 1/10th of  Geold; and, like the Deam, it is made of baser metals with a silver coating. On one side are the six stars, and on the other, an image of the Sanctity of Kendun.

Geold The standard of currency, the Geold is never used outside of major transactions.  As a means of maintaining a standard, the Geold is the only coin that is made of a pure metal, gold.  The six stars are agian embossed on one side; on the other, is an image of the Treasury House, guildhall of the Guild of Coiners and Lenders, in Ethaech Yel.

Orichal Rarely, if ever seen by anyone outside the merchant houses, the Orichal is used for transactions that few others can make.  Use of the Orichal often requires a visit to a local Treasury House.   Equivalent to 100 Geold, this coin is adorned with the six stars on one side, and the Fortress of the Diamendred of Sheinar, in Ethaech Yel, on the other.

 

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©1998. Laljit Sidhu.  All Rights Reserved. Except where noted, material on this site is the property of the author.  Propriety material is used with permission.  For more information, contact the author at Raensleyar@hotmail.com.