Nere

From Zok

Nere is a medium-sized nation surrounded by mountains on all sides except for its eastern shore (which borders the sea). These mountains separate it from Pallon to the north and from Dakzan to the south, providing much-needed protection to the second most-hated country in the East.

Nere is named for its founder, Neru, the first living creature to forge a phylactery. Nere was an elven noble of Salturni, a powerful mage who fought long and hard against the Cerneen and their Bantling allies during the Expulsion. After decades of war, his hatred for his enemies had hardened into a frozen knife, and Hirzek slowly began to creep into his nightmares. He studied darker and darker arts in an effort to defeat the encroaching armies of his enemies, and defeat them he did once he learned to animate the fallen forms of his foes to attack their former comrades. When the Expulsion ended and Gulzek appointed a Bantling to rule all the lands of what is now Pallon, Nere rebelled against the fledgeling government, hurling all his necromantic might against the new Heiron as she was constructing her fortress west of Godsgate. He was defeated by Dimitri Greeneye, the Heiron's most loyal warlord, and went into hiding in the mountains of Salturni for thirty years with his followers. When he emerged, he wore a symbol of Hirzek upon his pale brow, and carried his own heart in his right hand. He set about the construction of his nation of the dead. He claimed to have forgiven the Bantlings and the Cerneen, and invited them to join him in the eternal utopia he would build in the east. Few trusted him, but those few who did were not disappointed. They live on in undeath in Nere.

Contents

System of Government

Nere is a benevolent necrocracy, founded by the archlich Neru four hundred and forty seven years ago. The country has two classes, the lower class comprising the majority of the population. Lower class citizens have all the same rights as upper class citizens, but they have one additional responsibility: they are obligated to serve the government for four days out of every month, providing nourishment to the upper class. Any lower class citizen may join the upper class posthumously if they can demonstrate continued capacity to reason after their death. Decisions regarding nationwide law are made by the Council of Seven, with five consenting votes required for a major change to take effect. Due to the ability of individuals to amass power over several centuries, the most powerful organizations in Nere are the families of citizens who were alive (or undead) at the nation's founding.

Rulers

Nere is ruled by the Council of Seven, whose members are elected by the populace and hold office until they choose to resign their positions or die the Final Death.

Current Councillors:

Laws of Note

  • It is illegal for any citizen to kill any other citizen.
    • The living may destroy the undead in self-defense.
    • The undead may not kill the living in self-defense unless sorely outnumbered. They are expected to use non-lethal force.
  • All citizens must spend four days out of every month serving as food for their ancestors.
    • Any undead citizen who kills a living citizen by feeding too heavily will be destroyed.
  • It is illegal for any citizen to enter another's home without permission from the owner.
    • This may be superceded if a warrant is obtained.
  • Weather-control magic is illegal unless express written permission is obtained from the Council of Seven. They like to keep it cloudy.
  • Most drugs are legal, but poisons are not.
  • The penalty for murder, treason, grand theft, or arson is execution followed by zombification (if applicable).
  • Nere does not tax its citizens.
  • Destruction of zombies or skeletons counts as destruction of the property of their owner. It is punishable by a fine equal to twice their market value (prior to destruction) paid to the owner. Inability to pay the fine requires the offenders to serve in the same capacity as the former zombies until their debt is worked off, for a term of not longer than a decade.
  • Don't pick your nose in public. It's rude.
  • Using clerical or paladin powers to turn or rebuke sentient undead is illegal, and punishable by exile.
    • Same goes for enchantment magic used on living citizens, or magic used to control sentient undead.
  • Dueling is legal, usually to the blood. The parties must obtain seconds and avoid damaging anyone's property. Spell-duels are somewhat common, but they must be held outside of city boundaries.
  • Theft is punishable by fines. If fines can't be paid, indentured servitude or zombification will pay them off.
  • The slave trade (selling sentient creatures) is illegal.

Current State

Organizations

Significant Locations

Significant NPCs

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