Celestial Hegemony

The Lord's Most Glorious and Celestial Hegemony of Eternal Peace and Prosperity
General
Motto	Light Within, Light Without
Capital	Jannah
Largest City	Iskra
Government
Government Type	Federal Authoritarian Dominant-Party Theocracy
Prophet	Azar-Akhir
Hegemon	Kharon Vizirov
Legislature	Heavenly Aid Council Asharan Consultative Assembly
Demographics
Demonym	Celestial
Population	306.2 Million
Spoken Language(s)	Tovak
Ethnic Groups	Tovak, Khoryak, Scalveni, Venethi, Korchak
State religious body	Celestial Temple of Ashar's Enlightened Path
Other Religions	Temple Asharism, Heresiantism
History
The First Hegemony	665-278 BC
The Second Hegemony	614-627 AC
The Third Hegemony	1618 AC

"In the midst of the fanatical masses, and under the eyes of the Eternal, the Hegemon pronounced the inviolable oath which assures the integrity of the hegemony, the security of property, the perpetuity of institutions, the respect for law, and the happiness of the nation. The oath of the Hegemon shall be forever the terror of the enemies of the Hegemony. If our borders are attacked, it will be repeated at the head of our armies, and our frontiers shall never more fear foreign invasion!"

— Apostle Khargdan, at the proclamation of the Hegemony

The Celestial Hegemony, officially the The Lord's Most Glorious and Celestial Hegemony of Eternal Peace and Prosperity, is an Asharan state in Occiden established in 1618. Also known as the Third Hegemony, the first two being the First Hegemony (665–278 BC) and the Second Hegemony (614–627 AC), is nominally a union of multiple Asharan states, however, its government and economy are highly centralized. The Hegemony is a theocratic one-party military state governed by Heavenly Asharan Temple of the Enlightened Path and their political arm, the Hashaf, an ultra-zealous Asharan religious group in Tovazar under the ideology of Heavordism. The Hegemony is currently led by Hegemon Ayatashar Kharon Vizirov, who is the head of state and the church with Jannah as its capital. Other major urban centers are Iskra, Cychis, Ghalmek, Angarash, and Marashida. It is the largest known state in the world and has five climate zones: humid continental, tropical, steppes, desert, and mountains.

The Hegemony has become an industrial and technological giant following a series of government economic plans to increase the development of the once mainly agricultural nation. Due to these changes, the Dominion has become a great power, boasting a rapidly growing rail network, the world's largest and potentially strongest army, and a fast-growing industrial base. In less than a decade, its navy became third best in Seres, behind Wellestria and Ashkal.

The Celestial Hegemony has its roots in the Celestial Revolution of 1610, when the Hashafs, led by Prophet Arkhan Vissari, a man who claimed to the be the fourth incarnation of the Asharist god, overthrew the constitutional monarchy which had won the War of Tovazaric Succession 14 years earlier. In 1618, after a civil war and the War Of The First Coalition, the Celestial Hegemony was formed with the unification of the Tovakan, Khanduran, Astrakhan and Saratov states.

Since its founding, a series of wars, known as the Holy Wars in the Hegemony, have extended the Hegemony's influence over much of Western Seres. Due to the Heavenly Asharan Co-Prosperity Sphere, the Dominion rules over 200 million subjects, maintains an extensive military and political presence in Severus, Rurikov, Sileska, the Duchy of Krovotsky and parts of Cedronia and is considered a Great Power of Seres. Early Hegemony victories exported many ideological features of the Heavenly Revolution throughout Seres: the spreading of Asharanism throughout the continent limited government corruption, increased legal equality between all races and both sexes, promoted monogamy and family planning, outlawed opium, gambling, polygamy (including concubinage), slavery, and prostitution. Largest and most important to much of the population was wealth and land redistribution that limited the power and influence of the privileged aristocracy and politicians.

Cardinal Apostles

Etymology

The Hegemony's theology’s beliefs are based on Azar 1:28, which says, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the world, and subdue it: and have hegemony over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth"

History

Taruq Vandire (1620-1625)

The Hegemon immediately following the death of Vissari, Vandire oversaw the Great Commission which saw the death of up to a million people in a four year period.

Politics

The Celestial Hegemony is separated into provinces, with each province having an elected Civilian governor and an appointed military governor. The civilian governor runs the judicial system and the only troops under his direct control are the law enforcement during peacetime. In addition, he has the authority to call militia.

Additionally the province would have military bases, where the civilian governor has no authority. Military bases in the province would be under control of the military governor, who receives their funding and orders directly from the emperor.

Government

The Hegemony Government is composed of the following branches:

Eternal Prophet: The preamble of the Constitution of the Celestial Hegemony reads:

Under the leadership of the Heavenly Asharan Society of Harmonious and Ascended Followers, the Lord's Most Glorious and Celestial Hegemony of Eternal Peace and Prosperity and the Celestial people will hold the divine leader, Ayatashar Arkhan Vissari in high esteem as the eternal Prophet of the Hegemony...

First Circle

Heavenly Hegemon The Heavenly Hegemon, commonly known simply as the Hegemon is the head of state and the leader of the First Circle, the highest level of the Celestial government. The Hegemon is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations and is solely responsible for declarations of war, peace, and signing of treaties. The heads of the judiciary, the state vox, the commanders of the police and military forces, and six of the twelve members of the Guardians Council are directly appointed by the Hegemon. The Hegemon is directly advised by the Apotles, the inner circle of the Celestial Hegemony. In addition, during times of national crisis, the Hegemon may dissolve the Legislature and rule by decree.

Apostles: The inner circle of the Celestial Hegemony, the Apostles is composed of the closet and most ardent followers of the Hegemon and his will. The Apostles are the only people allowed to call the Hegemon by their first name and said to be the last line between the Hegemon and their enemies.

Electoral Quorum of Senior Scholars: The Electoral Quorum, which meets five times every year, consists of 88 of the most eminent and learned scholars of Asharism from across the Asharan world, replaced sequentially as each member dies. They have the ability to create and amend laws for Asharism just as the Hegemon, but they also have the ability to overrule the Hegemon by a super-majority vote. The Electoral Quorum determines who can run for a seat in the assembly and elects the Hegemon and periodically reconfirm him.

Second Circle

Premier: The Premier is the leader of the State Council. The Premier serves as the highest rank in Celestial civil service and the head of government. The Premier is elected directly every 5 years by all registered party and temple members and must be approved by the Heavenly Hegemon before running. The Premier holds other positions in the state, such as the 2nd-ranked member of the Heavenly Aid Council, and 2nd vice chairman of the Central Military Committee. The Premier is responsible for organizing and administering the Celestial civil bureaucracy. This includes overseeing the various ministries, departments, commissions, and statutory agencies that make up the executive branch.

Heavenly Rule Assistance Association: The Heavenly Association is a triumvirate of the three most powerful positions within the Hegemony below the Supreme Leader himself. These three positions; the High Apostle, Warmaster, Grand Chancellor are said to represent the three parts of a human, the Soul, the Body, and the Heart. The High Apostle is the second highest religious position within the nation and it is generally assumed, although not ensured, that whoever holds this position when the current Supreme Leader either passes or steps down, becomes the next Supreme Leader. The Supreme Commander is the highest military position, represents the military, controls the armed forces of the dominion, save for the Eternal Guards. Lastly, the Grand Chancellor is the highest political position and is the representative of the common people. The Grand Chancellor is elected by limited suffrage for a term of four years, however, the chancellor is still required to gain the Supreme Leader’s official approval before being sworn in before the Assembly. The Supreme Leader also has the power to dismiss the elected president anytime.

Supreme Guardian Court of Justice: The Guardian Council comprises twelve jurists, six appointed by the Supreme Leader and the other six appointed by the Assembly. The Council interprets the constitution and may veto the Assembly. If a law is deemed incompatible with the constitution or Asharan law, it is referred back to the Assembly for revision. Local city councils are elected by public vote to four-year terms in all cities and villages of the Asharan Dominion.

Asharan Consultive Assembly: The Asharan Consultive Assembly is the is bicameral and made up of two houses: the 224-seat upper house House of Archons and the 440-seat lower house House of Representatives. The upper house consists of 224 members 24 of whom consisting of the most senior members of the Heavenly Temple, and the remainder being appointed by the Supreme Leader. The lower house consists of 440 members, of whom 330 are directly elected and 110 are appointed by the Supreme Leader. Members are elected every four years by limited suffrage and all candidates and legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Guardian Council.

Law

MOIS

Military and paramilitary

The unified armed forces of the Celestial Hegemony is called the Defence Mantle Forces. The Celestial Hegemony has three types of armed forces: the regular forces known as the Heavenly Armed Mantle of the Hegemony, the Enlightened Guard who are the religious military, and the unified police force the Heavenly Armed Police totaling about 1.6 million active troops. The Hegemony also has around 860,000 Reserve Force during peacetime however during wartime that number could rise up to 2 million. Since the reorganization during and after the Heavenly Revolution, members of the armed forces were required to pledge an oath of unconditional obedience to the Hegemon personally.

Internal security and law enforcement

The internal security and law enforcement in the Celestial Hegemony is managed by the Secretariat for Celestial Security, headed by Khalgo, is the responsible for the administration and management of the National Police Force, the Criminal Investigation Police, the Border Troops, and the National Gendarmerie.

Demographics

Population

Acheisa is a nation of deep national heritage. Many of its population are very loyal to their national identity but with ensuing generations this has lessened since the fall of the feudal realm. Society and culture is mainly centered around the family which are on average around six persons in size. These families are patriarchy in nature with the man being at the head of the household. However, the matron within the household is highly respected and often revered highly by almost all within the family. Typically family units live together within a homestead, making populations within individual family properties rather large and clan like.

A huge part of Achesian culture that stems from the aboriginal Achesians is the honor code in which all still live buy. This is largely a Militaristic code of honor in which a sense of face is often defended through combat. Ritualistic suicide is often part of this honor code when a man has lost face, however this practice is no longer as popular in the eyes of society as it once was, creating a modern stigma of honor killings/deaths that have paved the way for some cultural reforms.

Ancestor worship is also an important part of Achesian family culture as one's family past is highly regarded in their social standing. Often shrines of various sizes appear on family lands where families often visit to pay their respects to their past. Family members are typically buried on family grounds, but for the less fortunate in society who do not own land this is often hard. The richest often have grand spectacles for their shrines where statues and glyphs adorn the walls and grounds.

Culture

Values within Achesia center around education, which is a recent trend since the Concord and education being available to the masses and not just the aristocracy. Many families fund community schools that they send their children to make them of higher quality than the local government can provide. This is something that most provinces ruling over Achesia have embraced and have created programs much similar to a 401k where local governments match the communities contributions into their schools. Families often save large amounts of money to send their children to secondary education as well to give their children a better start on life than they had. Many of the older generation have some reservations about this, preferring to keep their families centralized observing an agrarian form of life like is tradition for much of Achesia.

Religion

Religion in Acheisa is held in high regards within society. Achaeans practice Achari Grecian which is the monotheistic worship of the God of Summer (He is also known by the Dread Lord, The Lazy One, and the Defender). The focus of the religion is sacredness of the family and of the people of Achesia. The purity of Achesian blood is important in Achari Gregian. This is partially why foreigners are unliked and distrusted in Achesia as they are seen as defilers of Achesian purity.

In the history of Achari Gregian there has been little divine interaction besides the great purge which occurred when the Achari Gregian champion with the aid of the God of Summer drove out the god of the underworld: Silva from the land in ancient times. It is widely believed Dread Lord speaks to the Ackular in his fortress tower in Imperium. There he appears to them in dream form giving those blurry hints as to what he has intended for them. As such the Ackular is the leader of the Achari Gregian faith.

The afterlife in Achari Gregian is one that is sought after by many. It is a joyous place where the dead can reunite with their ancestors or loved ones and live on for eternity. To reach the afterlife however one must be a true servant of the God of Summer and not wane in the face of other influences.

The supernatural in Achesia is greatly feared and respected. To that end it is very rare to find "magic" users in Acheisa outside of the clergy of Achari Gregian. Most people leave anything considered remotely magic at the door and do not play in what they do not understand. Spirits are also respected within Acheisan society. It is a belief that all settlements or villages are home to a spirit which guards them from harm. Many make sacrifices to the spirits of their villages.

Worship is primarily an individual ritual that happens on a personal basis involving incense and meditation. Many travel or make pilgrimages to shrines of the Summer God throughout the Realm. Many villages have village shrines for its inhabitants. There are many holidays in the Achesian culture, most like King's day are to celebrate important Achesian figures including heroes, martyrs, and clergy. Other holidays are meant to celebrate harvest, new moons, or the changing of the seasons.

The commandments and teachings of the Summer God are passed down orally by the Clergy of Achari Gregian. While some written text exists it is only kept in the vaults of Pactguard. Praetors travel around Achesia teaching the word of the summer god to the people. Mortals are said to be the children of the God of Summer and thus he looks down on them with love from his fortress in heaven. To represent our path to the afterlife the symbol of the labyrinth is often seen in Achesian culture. The dragon also is often seeing as it is the harbinger of death in Achari Gregian.

The deadly sins of Achari Gregian are: cowardice, lust, recklessness, and dishonesty. While the high virtues are: responsibility, thoughtfulness, honesty, humility, strength, diligence, and piety.

= Notable Towns & Cities

Jannah

Cychis

Ghalmek

Azdihar

Angarash

Marashida

Clans of the Celestial Hegemony

Names

Sor Gholesh Kar Gholesh Kor Phaeron Sar Kol-Saresk Taruq Toren Mar For Geran Kanan Raam Sor Tagrus Arven Kar Kor Gahal Khur Vharadesh Kor Naberus Kor Andromalius Kor Marbas Kor Byleth Kor Kazadai Kor Vassago Kor Vefar Kor Krinolas Kor Acheron Gannon Vul Nabukad Ussar Malek the Summoner Esharhaddon Akem Manah Borkhal Kol Soph Kor Megron Kol Jainin Algroth Corrath Kul Varnak Zafarkhel Ard Vadoth Kariel Kol Zakar Kal Tor Panarl Gar Ferron Mar Felan Ahazian Kel Ibashin Havakar Sor Gharax Annunake Seria Nal'theris Naltherion Xachariah Kor Bataal Khar'loth Urlock Gaur