Scuttle Buttin'
Demons at bay
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Posts
- 15,882
Ma'arav Nineveh
History
Things happened slowly, and then happened quickly. The seeds of the theocracy that overthrew the secular democratic government of the United States of America began in the era of McCarthy. By the time "Under God" was added to the Pledge, pockets of resistance had already begun to form in six states across the south, and counting.
The young NSA caught wind of the growing religious resistance, but already inundated by the widespread opposition to the Vietnam War, they underestimated both the size and the scope of the threat to the government. What amounted to a series of bureaucratic mistakes led to the fall of the United States.
It began on a day that was special in no other way, with a rebellion that was far larger and more organized than anyone could've guessed. Local governments fell in minutes and hours, a few managing to last day or two. The Vietnam opposition movement joined in before they fully realized what it was they were supporting, and before the federal government knew what happened, fully two thirds of their citizens were in some form of revolt. The fight ranged from the simple, people refusing to go to work or small instances of civil disobedience, to the far more violent. Public executions of mayors and city councils and state legislators and executives became almost commonplace, and with each one the government's hold on the country grew weaker.
National Guard ranks were decimated by desertion, and the casualties suffered in Vietnam only further weakened the U.S.'s ability to fight back. Battles were fought across the countryside and down city streets, and heavy losses were felt on both sides. The country's population, nearly 200 million at the start of the war, had been reduced by nearly half.
American's second Civil War was not fought by a Union and Confederate Army, and there was no Lincoln to hold the country together. In the end, the President fled the country a mere three nights before the capital was overrun. 18 Senators, 103 Congressmen, and the Vice President and his family were all summarily executed on the steps of the Capitol Building, in a bloodbath that was broadcast live to every home in the country that had the electricity to watch it. The bodies were burned on the National Mall, blanketing the city in a stink that lingered for days, and the steps of the Capitol Building were left unwashed, the blood stains deemed a reminder to any that sought to oppose the newly forming government.
The following years were tumultuous, as is to be expected when a world superpower falls and is replaced by a theocratic government. The fact that most infrastructure was still intact helped in the recovery efforts, and by the mid-80's the country was mostly up and running smoothly again.
The Government
After the overthrow, the founding documents of the former United States were locked away, and a new country was established. The individual states were abolished, and five regional districts were set up: The North and South Pacific, the Central, and the North and South Atlantic.
At the smallest level, each city is ruled by an Elder and a Council of Brothers, typically made up of three to five people. While there is some variation throughout the country, typically the Council act as advisors to the Elder, with his decision being final. A powerful and united Council, however, can have great influence over the decisions of the town Elder.
Each regional district is ruled by three Archons, who set the regional laws that all citizens must follow, as well as settle selected disputes that are referred to them by town Elders. All fifteen Archons are under the direct authority of the singular national ruler, and often serve him in an advisory capacity as well.
The nation is ruled by one man, given the title of Saint or, when speaking to him, called His Holiness, with every man over the age of 25 eligible to be appointed Saint of Absalom. He is chosen by secret ballot of the Archons, and has thus far always come from the ranks of the Archons themselves. Each Saint is appointed to a lifetime term, though he can choose to step down at any time.
His word, on all issues, is final.
Women cannot serve in positions of government, and it is illegal in the entirety of the country for women to hold positions of power over men.
Similarly, women are to attend school until the age of 16, at which point they go into service. Daughters of lower-class families work in shops, as seamstresses and work the fields, growing and harvesting crops and feeding livestock. Those from the upper-classes work in schools as assistant teachers, or as house maids, nurse maids, or nannies.
Women are eligible to be married once they reach 21 years of age. It is not strictly illegal, but instead culturally frowned upon for women to approach men romantically, and instead it is up to the men to approach the women as suitors. Between the ages of 21 and 23, a woman may go with any suitor who desires her. Once she reaches the age of 23, she must go with a suitor she is given over to by the Council or the Elder, or return to work, and remain single.
A woman who has a child out of wedlock will have the child taken, and be sent to work a menial job in a different part of the country. Returning to the city or attempting to contact the child at any point is grounds for execution.
Polygamy is not strictly legal, and a woman caught sleeping with someone other than her husband is subject to a lengthy jail sentence, separation from her husband and child/children if the husband so desires, and banishment to another region. A repeat offense is punishable by death.
Men are not barred from laying with the women that work in their house, so long as they are past the marrying age. Being open about such relationships, however, is frowned upon, and could lead to an official reprimand on his record if such behavior becomes a source of gossip and attention.
Our City
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