Mapetra

The nation of Mapetra is a completely sea based nation located in the very westmost of Eldham with Aristios and Florandia to its west and Andor, Lechja, Anglunia, and Bagrat to its east. It’s capital is Pespetri located in the very middle of the sea.

Forgotten period
Long ago, time so ancient that history has turned to myth, there once was a great island empire. It was a grand kingdom with lands stretching far and its coffers full, but its people soon took to decentness and arrogance. So proud and foolish they had become they spat at the gods and only spoke of their greatness. As their evil grew the waves soon threatened to destroy them, only the still faithful, the still pure foresaw this great catastrophe. When the sea came to swallow them all, their once great cities were left to ruin, the waves scraping what left. Only those still faithful were saved, huddled in a temple made for their God.

The survivors of the catastrophe became the Mer, and took up residence of what was left of their great empire. Instead of water surrounding the temple, the sea just suddenly stopped, leaving great water walls on the edge of the area. Sea floor was all that could be found in the place they know called home, only the temple itself and the tiny ruins dotting the area to mix up the landscape. Without any real access to any resources and the knowledge to make most technology lost, with the death of so many people, the Mer devolved into a hunter gather group jumping into the sea to hunt for food and making the great rift in the sea their home. They lived a happy and peaceful existence for a untold time.

This period would eventually end however. With the discovery of Eldham many explores came from Rathnir, coming in hopes to find new land to claim for their father state or simply to explore its unknown reaches. One such explorer group was a group of men hailing from haven managed by sheer chance to find the home of the Mer. With only one lost vessel, the explorers made contact with the Mer. The Mer treated the explores as great quests out of mix of fear and excitement caused by there presence. They talked with and feasted of them telling stories of their travels but quickly enough the explores realized all they desired to hear was there homeland. They told stories, of great wars between great empires and the life of its people. They eventually left, saying farewell to the Mer. And in their wake a once dead empire was reborn.

Reconstruction Period
This time period would be defined by a flurry of decisions, conflicts, and development. For many of the Mer, the reestablishment of contact with the outside world brought many mixed feelings. So long had they lived in peace, playing in the sand and hunting for sport, safe from all the worries and tribulations that contact with other civilizations brought. Yet here they were, spending thousands of untold years doing nothing. The outsiders, the land dwellers, they were goliaths to them, capable of such beauty and destruction they can had only imagined in tales of old. They felt shame, here they were, the chosen of Angility and yet they were mere children to these people. Fear, they could destroy their way of live in a instant if they so desired. Hope, so long they have been left to their devices, now they could finally proves themselves. Maybe this is what She had planned? Already had she gifted them wisdom, could this be a sign that She deemed the ready? Glory, oh so great glory, lost so long ago could be gifted once again. For days the only thing on the mind of the Mer were what was to be.

A conference was eventually held by no one else the Queen of the Mer. Long ago when the Mer had crawled out of the remains of temple to remains of their once great kingdom, they had appointed one amongst them to lead them. But everyone knew the king had only been a formality, having no much more authority then any Mer, at best acting as a peace keeper. But she first led to the discussion and the leaders of Mer gathered agued and discussed for hours, even days. Legends say that one speaker dropped dead on the spot after being at one meeting for three days straight without sleep or break. Though through all the talking it was deemed most important first to make a government to lead their people. The Queen at the time had led the discussion and did a admirable coordinating the event, and so speakers made a plan. Those who had spoke at the meeting and won the hearts of the people would run the government. The Queen would then be challenged with coordinating the meetings where they would discuss matters and handle any other responsibilities like appointing other roles in government. On the final of these lengthy talks, they all came together and created the Constitution of Mapetra, finally birthing the nation seen today.

After the government was figured out, its growth and development took center stage. This is when the reconstruction really began, as Mer explorers were sent out to establish formal contact with any civilization nearby. When contact was made, either deals were struck and either resourced or men were acquired or volunteers came willingly came to help, usually in hopes of starting a new life in the fledgling nation. When enough iron was gained with the little gold they still held from the olden days, they immediately got to work mining for more resources to pay for more workers and resources or to directly be used for the nations development. A untold variety of specialties were needed and acquired, from farmers to governors, architects to generals, teachers to bankers. Everyone was needed and instrumental. And to make sure Mer culture still stayed in tact and any newcomers didn't get any funny ideas, a bit more work and funding then all else was put into the military, training native Mer and equipping them. While a mostly peaceful time conflicts did arise, pirate attacks, revolts and a failed coup. But through all the turmoil Mapetra grew. A culture with almost nothing to its name became so much more, with industry, culture, and power. They had done it. They had found Glory.

History on the server
Mapetra was created 6/4/2021 by Crescent_Moth though plans were already laid since the very beginning of eldham. Mapetra (named Alterra at the time) was made on an ocean monument they had found in the ocean. Moth then enlisted the help of JoshuaTLincoln and snek, who would then work together over the time of around two weeks draining the inside of the temple and the land around it. Afterwards they began officially getting members and the nation developed, making the town Novum_Momont and further expanding. No wars have occurred yet.

Government
The government is split into three powers with varying authority. (this a repeat of information from the constitution, if you would like more information you can read it here.

The royalty are two important positions given out by the King. There is the Lord commander who controls the military and has the responsibility of heading any military conflicts and managing the military. Their job is to protect the nation of Mapetra and do whatever to ensure that (within reason). The head architect will act as head builder having jurisdictions over any constructions in any city, planning cities, and creating new constructions. Their job is trying to make the city of Mapetra as beautiful and functional as possible.

The odigia are the elected politicians of the people and handle law making. Odigia get their position only through the consent of the people and their voting in. Every two month a election will be held and if they get majority support a politician will get the position on the Odigia council. Any citizen can become an Odigia by becoming a candidate and running for office. The odigia control all law making and have regular meetings to decide on matters of importance. Meetings will end when 2/3 of the assembly agree on a matter or a timer of one hour ends

The king is the face of the government and is only passed down through succession. The king acts as a mediator during meetings and as the face of the country. During meetings the king will act like the speaker of the house. They will direct the discussion and try to make sure the meetings runs smoothly and arguments are kept to a minimum. If the Odigia cant decided on a matter before the timer ends, the king will put in their own vote to end a tie. If the decision cant still be made then whatever point the king agreed with is the decision.

Culture
While not totally dominated by one race almost all of Mapetren culture is dominated by Mer tradition and ideas. Mer culture is the epidemy of the old becoming new. Mer clothes is dominated with blues of all types usually mixed with a variety colors taking inspiration from old garbs where ancestors would were skinned fish pelts. The most popular form of entertainment in Mapetra is theater and novels, the love originating from old Mer ancestors telling stories and tall tales after sun down. The usual Mer is very kind and polite with other Mapetren even non Mer, but usually act apathetic to outsiders, especially when outside their home. This comes from a few things, a cognitive disconnect due to be isolated from the outside world for so long and the outside almost being unreal in their mind and a arrogance gained from the belief as a chosen people and being wiser and greater then other cultures. This leads to confounding a infuriating trait that gives Mer a terrible reputation with other culture. While no official name, many just call it "Mer arrogance." Unlike other prideful species in the world of Stoneworks, Mer dont directly look down on other cultures. What instead happens is that Mer will act coordinal and polite and will act without a hint of malice. But they will always somehow find a way to leave a little comment about their apparent superiority. Example: "Oh I respect all beliefs, arguing who is who is right and wrong we all believe in same idea of making a better life for everyone. Just cause someone mistakes Beseth for a sun god doesn't matter, they still spread his message so the name of the god or if they really understand the world correctly doesnt matter. Not everyone is as blessed as the Mapetren." This as many would guess, does not win them popularity scores in Eldham.

Races
Mer make the dominant group of Mapetra, making up over 93% being Mer, 5% mapetren humans and the last 2% being made up other ethnic groups hailing from nearby nations. The mer are a species of near humans, the difference being made by webbed feet and hands. Being able to breath underwater as long as dolphins, sharp teeth, and being able to digest uncooked meat. Mer also sometimes get ‘kisses of Angility” marks on the body, usually fish scales but sometimes they appear as gills or eyes like a fish. Mer can also be born with multiple of these “kisses.” These are usually deemed highly attractive in Mer culture and celebrated as gifts from Anglity. Mapetren humans are usually humans that had helped with Mapetren modernization and chose to settle in.

Religion
Almost all Mapetrens believe in Bathysian being the state religion. Bathys believe in a patheonic religion where the head god is Angilty the omnipotent creator and mother of all of life. The other gods are her offspring all playing different roles in the grand cosmos. All the gods represent different aspects of life and ideas with the greatest of them representing over encompassing concepts of existence.

Cities
Pespetri: The capital of the nation and birthplace of its people. The city holds a special place in the hearts of the mapetren people. The cities architecture is mix of what is known as traditional and modern. Traditional architecture is usually used for places of importance and is usually fashioned to resemble to the Temple, the first real structure of mapetren culture. Modern is usually divorced from trying to resemble older architecture and wouldn't look out of place if put anywhere else. The main attraction of city being the temple, a ancient structure that dominates the landscape and the great cavern, a natural wonder found during mining expedition and now fashioned into a beautiful living space.

Novum_Momont: Novum_Momont is a wonderfully built artificial cityscape built into the ocean. Instead of being made by some goddess, Novum Momont was created by a architect Cream hailing from a far gone land. When the home city of Pespetri was getting close to be considered cramp, the strange green abomination of nature that frightened many onlookers, offered to build a new city if offered ownership of the city. The government agreed and managed to create the architectural wonder of Novum Momont. The city is made up of different rooms and building all connected through stone tubes with glass windows, allowing citizens to watch sea life move around them.