Named after its chief city, the nation of Malatesta is founded primarily on a peninsula to the south of the Iri-Thunin** Steppes on the north side of the Silver Sea**.
Contents |
The country is nominally governed by a triumvirate of consuls who are elected by various factions of the people: one by the nobility, one by the citizenry, and another by the country's merchant guilds. Active military leaders are forbidden to hold the office of consul, although it is not uncommon for retired generals of great influence to pursue politics.
The population of Malatesta pays homage to many of the same gods that the elves do. This is not surprising given the close proximity of their country to the Silver Sea** where the gods' earthly paradise once stood. What is interesting, however, is that they know the gods by different names than do the elves.
Unlike many other nations, however, the pantheons of Malatesta include showing respect for even those deities that are detested by elven and half-elven nations such as Dagon**, Daedelhach** (in both her aspects), and Mephistopheles**. The general reason behind such practices is that by showing respect to all of the gods, they might not offend any and risk drawing the anger of the destructive ones. While the evil ones are not held in high esteem by the populace at large, that doesn't change the fact that their temples are respected and allowed to operate. This is a courtesy not extended to the gods of foreign lands — at least not in Malatesta proper anyway.
While the church does not have a hand in actively running the government, they are in charge of the courts. As such, no politician may be confirmed to office without their blessing. Furthermore, it is possible for the head of the church to suspend or revoke a politician's right of rulership if they see fit. As such, the church is a very powerful political body in its own right. It is more common than not for members of the nobility and politically minded merchants to display a great deal of piety thru their gracious contributions to the church.
Each vernal equinox, leadership of the church passes from the high priest of one church to the next so that time in this position is shared equally amongst all of the pantheon's factions. The order of this rotation roughly follows the reverse of the understood order in which the deities were born into the world. Control returns to the Tabernacle of Glory (Stëora**, Lüne**, and Alita**) following the leadership of the Cathedral of Khoros (Miralnas**) — essentially the old passing on leadership to the young. The notable exception to this order is the Church of the Lightbringers.
Malatesta boasts a formidable navy, but most of her citizens will tell you that the purpose of the navy is merely to get their land troops to where they are needed. The Malatestan army is widely feared and respected about the region and is responsible for Malatesta's imperial expansion throughout the lands bordering the Silver Sea**.
While military enlistment is not mandatory, the rights of citizenship are granted only to those who have served.