Caerdicca Unitas
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Overview
Caerdicca Unitas is a loose coalition of city-states that occupy the peninsula south of Skaldia and southeast of Terre d'Ange. It was originally the early nation that would become the great Tiberium Empire, a nation stretching from sea to sea. However, civil war, revolution, and the sacking of the capital by foreign raiders over the years reduced the nation's size bit by bit, until it was but a shadow of its former self, hemmed in by powerful neighbours. The Caerdicci still hold a considerable influence in world affairs, though they're nowhere near the grandness of the past.
Caerdicca Unitas is, as mentioned, only a loose coalition - it is not a truly unified country in the strict sense of the word. There is no central government and no particular money, fashion, or laws that are required. Instead, each province is considered a seperate, autonomous region in itself, ruled by the Doge and the Senate and protected by a standing army gathered from the surrounding villages and towns. Each city is incredibly important for the province's growth and defense -- they serve as hubs of learning, enlightenment, art, trade, and news for their region. However, this also means it's much easier for enemies such as the Skaldi to focus on their city as potential targets.
Fashion and culture in Caerdicca Unitas are quite similar to Terre d'Ange, their main trade partner. The style of wearing a flintlock pistol originated from this city as well, though gunpowder being as rare and expensive as it is the actual firing of pistols - or any gunpowder weapon - is prohibited unless for wartime defensive use. The CU is a generally free, liberal culture, with definite remnants of the old Tiberian Empire lingering; homosexuality and bisexuality are quite common, for example. The Caerdicci are renowned as great thinkers and architects, and frequently Caerdicci builders are found directing the larger projects around the globe.
Physically, the Caerdicci share many traits in common with D'Angelines, except for, of course, their divine heritage.250px-Stemma_AMI.svg.png Caerdicci are generally tall, with dark hair; they tend to be in good shape and even the lowliest commoner is typically very well-educated; the schools are largely free. The people also have the most progressive society in terms of land ownership - the common folk can own their own tracts of land and their income is taxed by the Doges to pay for military protection and insurance against drought or plague. The addition of voting ability for registered Citizens makes for a generally attractive place to live.
While technologically superior to the rest of the surrounding nations, CU is reluctant to share any of its secrets with its neighbours; they are much more likely to protect their own interests than come to the help of a neighbour in crisis. They have a deep, abiding respect and appreciation for technology and innovation, which is the only buffer they have between themselves and a quick, brutal conquest by the much larger, fiercer Skaldi tribes to the north.
Geography
La Serenissima
La Serenissima ('The Serene') is one of the largest and most influential cities in Caerdicca Unitas. It was built by settlers in the Tiberium Empire desiring an easily-defended location against invading barbarians; the swamp and marshland nearby, along with a series of tiny islands was the place they decided on. In addition it afforded a prime location at the head of the Adrian Sea, giving a perfect trade route to the Far East as well as the rest of Caerdicca itself. The lagoon eventually became the main part of the city, while 'Terraferma', the section on the mainland marsh, became an important trade center for transport into the main lagoon city. The islands of the lagoon city itself are connected via a series of wood and metal bridges that span the narrow walkways between buildings; the buildings are supported below by thick layers of waterproof wood, then alternating layers of clay and sand.
La Serenissima and its surrounding province is an important part of Caerdicci culture; ever since the collapse of the Tiberian Empire it's been5393073-sm.jpg a largely autonomous Republic, governed by the Duc (the Doge), and has remained self-sustaining, a feat in itself. The other city-states have since emulated the city's methods of rule; the Doge is elected by the people and the Senate is a small assembly of nobles from the city. La Serenissima holds the dubious honor of being the closest to Skaldi territory, though the city is largely quite safe thanks to its strong military force and excellent technological advances in weaponry and steelworking.
Milazza
Milazza is a large and important city-state in Caerdicca Unitas; it and its province sit at the northernmost section of the nation, connected to Skaldia to the north and Terre d'Ange to the west. This allows the city, which sits on a large, grassy plain, to acquire trade from either nation. However, it also means it would likely be the first city targeted by a Skaldi invasion, though the mountains bordering both countries are a formidable barrier in themselves. Much of the countryside is farmland and grassland, though a variety of smaller ports add a bustling merchant trade where the province meets the sea.
Like La Serenissima, Milazza is ruled by a Doge, though in this city they prefer the term Duc. Like all Caerdicci cities, the day-to-day tasks and duties, military in particular, are given to the Legate of the city (akin to a mayor) to deal with while the Duc makes the important decisions and represents the Citizens. Milazza is one of the few places where the old Tiberian pagan gods are worshipped alongside patrons such as Blessed Elua and the One God; the Basilica of Elua sits only a short distance, for example, from the Great Shrine to Odhinn One-Eye, a Skaldi god. Many wonderful inventions come from Milazza - it's here where gunpowder was introduced to the rest of the nations and steel-forging was turned into an industry. The Milazzans, like all Caerdicci, have a deep respect for the technology that keeps them safe.
Tiberium
Old Tiberium (also simply called Tiberium) is one of the oldest and most populated cities on the continent. It sits at the very center of Caerdicci Unitas, on a broad, flat plains; the province of Old Tiberium also includes the surrounding countryside stretching from the west of the nation to the east. Like the other cities of the Caerdicci City-States, it is ruled by an elected Doge along with apantheon-rome-italy.jpg Senate of nobles and a Legate for the day-to-day tasks of keeping the city running.
Nearly a million people live in the city proper. It's one of the few cities in any nation with a considerable industry in the creation of steel; raw iron is imported from as far away as Aragonia to be melted down into steel for weapons, tools, and even art. It's considered a seat of learning, fashion, and trade second only to the City of Elua in Terre d'Ange. Old Tiberium is also the home for two of the most prominent members of Caerdicci society - the Master Architect and the Master Artisan, both afforded more respect than even the Doge.
Nobility
Principe, Principessa (Prince, Princess)
Duca, Duchessa (Duke, Duchess)
Marchese, Marchesa (Marquess, Marchioness)
Conte, Contessa. (Count, Countess)
Visconte, Viscontessa (Viscount, Viscontess)
Barone, Baronessa. (Baron, Baroness)
Signore, Signora, Signorina (Seigneur)
Patrizio, Domina (Patricianm Noble Lady)
Nobile (Untitled Nobleman)
Cavaliere Ereditario (Hereditary Knight Bachelor)
The majority of feudatories were simply signori (from the French seigneur, a title introduced into Italy by the eleventh-century Normans), vassalli (vassals) or cavalieri (knights). Eventually, this class came to be known collectively as the baroni (barons), as in Italy barone was not always a title descriptive of a particular feudal rank. During the fourteenth century, most minor feudal lands became baronies, their holders barons. It must be observed that the use of these titles usually required some form of sovereign sanction or feudal tenure.
The Hundred Worthy Families
The creme de la creme of Caerdiccan society. Nobility who can trace their lineage to the beginning of recorded history (Or so they boast). Do you want to be a member of this most illustrious glitterati? Confused about a name? Refer to this page:
Heraldry Of Italy, a partial listing from the Libro d'Oro, or Il Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana (The Golden Book of the Nobility of Italy).
Religion
The current religious leanings are similar to those of Ancient Rome. The patron goddess of La Serenissima is Asherat (like Venus, but sad and not sexy, who make her priestesses be veiled). In ancient Ugaret texts, it speaks of (before 1200 BC) Athirat is three times calledʼaṯrt ym, ʼAṯirat yammi, 'Athirat of the Sea' or as more fully translated 'She who treads on the sea', the name understood by various translators and commentators to be from the Ugaritic root ʼaṯr 'stride' cognate with the Hebrew root ʼšr of the same meaning. The sacred sea (lake) upon which Asherah trod was known as Yam Kinneret and is now called Lake Galilee.
In those texts, Athirat is the consort of the god El and there is one reference to the 70 sons of Athirat, presumably the same as the 70 sons of El. She is not clearly distinguished from ʿAshtart (better known in English as Astarte), although Ashtart is clearly linked to the Mesopotamian Goddess Ishtar. She is also called Elat (the feminine form of El; compare Allat) and Qodesh 'Holiness'.
Among the Hittites this goddess appears as Asherdu(s) or Asertu(s), the consort of Elkunirsa and mother of either 77 or 88 sons.
Religion in ancient Rome combined several different cult practices and embraced more than a single set of beliefs. The Romans originally followed a rural animistic tradition, in which many spirits were each responsible for specific, limited aspects of the cosmos and human activities, such as ploughing. The early Romans referred to these as numina. Another aspect of this animistic belief was ancestor, or genius, worship, with each family honoring their own dead by their own rites. Rome had a strong belief in gods. When they took over Greece, they inherited the Greek gods but fused them with their Roman counterparts.
Based heavily in Greek and Etruscan mythology, Roman religion came to encompass and absorb hundreds of other religions, developing a rich and complex mythology. In addition, an Imperial cult supplemented the pantheon with Julius Caesar and some of the emperors. Religious practice
Before the rise of Christianity in most cults orthopraxy (doing the right things), was more important than orthodoxy (believing the right things). This is the case in Roman religion too. Daily life was impregnated with religious practice.
- Sacrifice/banquets
- Annual priesthoods
- Processions
- Oracles
- Votive inscriptions
- Calendar
Festivals
The Roman religious calendar reflected Rome's hospitality to the cults and deities of conquered territories. Roman religious festivals known from ancient times were few in number. Some of the oldest, however, survived to the very end of the pagan empire, preserving the memory of the fertility and propitiatory rites of a primitive agricultural people. New festivals were introduced, however, to mark the naturalization of new gods. So many festivals were adopted eventually that the work days on the calendar were outnumbered. Among the more important of the Roman religious festivals were the Saturnalia, the Lupercalia, the Equiria, and the Secular games.
Under the empire, the Saturnalia were celebrated for seven days, from December 17 to December 23, during the period in which the winter solstice occurred. All business was suspended, slaves were given temporary freedom, gifts were exchanged, and merriment prevailed. The Lupercalia was an ancient festival originally honoring Lupercus, a pastoral god of the Italians. The festival was celebrated on February 15 at the cave of the Lupercal on the Palatine Hill, where the legendary founders of Rome, the twins Romulus and Remus, were supposed to have been nursed by a wolf. Among the Roman legends connected with them is that of Faustulus, a shepherd who was supposed to have discovered the twins in the wolf's den and to have taken them to his home, in which they were brought up by his wife, Acca Larentia. See founding of Rome.
The Equiria, a festival in honor of Mars, was celebrated on February 27 and March 14, traditionally the time of year when new military campaigns were prepared. Horse races in the Campus Martius notably marked the celebration.
The Secular games, which included both athletic spectacles and sacrifices, were held at irregular intervals, traditionally once only in about every century, to mark the beginning of a new saeculum, or "era". They were supposed to be held when the last person who had witnessed the previous Secular games died, marking the beginning of a new era. The tradition, often neglected, was revived as a spectacle by Augustus and honoured by the poet Horace with a series of odes.
