Liberata

The People

Outsiders may tell you that the people of Liberata have chips on their shoulders, or that they are overly defensive given their nation’s dark past and while this may be true for some, many Liberatans have come to terms with the fact that their history cannot be undone or overwritten. Many people have had a hard time overcoming or reconciling with that past, but almost all are taking steps to improve the public perception of Liberata. This can come across as overcompensation.  

The new systems put in place have been doing well at ensuring the people of Liberata are slowly and steadily improving. This improvement is supported by the system of meritocracy, where growth and strength are rewarded. The nation is highly competitive and this competition is what drives them- striving to be the best at whatever works for them. this could be strength of the body, mind or soul. 

It is common for Liberatans to pick one of the three branches of their society to focus on. There are three branches; The Military, The Assembly and the College. 

Those who choose military focus foremost on physical strength, but also mental fortitude in the face of danger and spiritual strength as Liberata now stands as the primary fighting force against the Demons they once used as weapons. 

The Assembly branch is for crafters and tradespeople, those who focus their strength into the physical skills of crafting and the mental skills of creativity and also bartering. These people follow market trends, keep their ears to the ground and carry a wealth of street knowledge. 

The College is those who choose academia, be they scholars, mages or priests, this branch prizes the mental skills used to draft essay, craft spells, speak with the gods or translate their will. 

Ultimately, the people of Liberata are on a trajectory for improvement of both their country and themselves and they’re not going to let anything get in their way. 

Popular Clothing 

Fashion and practicality mix in Liberatan dress. Most wear long tunics, ending around the knee, made of wool or cotton. These are usually cinched at the waist with bejewelled belts or hero belts, giving them a striking figure. 

Dresses are high-waisted, usually with long draping or billowing sleeves- though it is common for these to be contained to allow for the citizen to engage in their activities or work. 

Fur trims, as well as fur-lined cloaks and jackets are common, especially in the Northern-most parts of Liberata as it gets incredibly cold up there and remains so for much of the year. 

Decoration is key to a Liberatan outfit, with bright colours featuring heavily in the outfits - red, yellow and blue are common. These are often embellished with trims, embroidery or sashes. Statement jewellery is common, worn to almost gaudy extremes. 

Culture and Customs 

A mainstay of the Liberatan culture is the personal rivalries, these are mostly friendly but in Liberata everything is a competition, everything is a chance to prove yourself. It is common for there to be duels in the streets, or crafting competitions- be it art, furniture, baking or some other craft, or for there to be multiple groups of people working on similar or opposing thesis, all trying to outdo each other. Competition is cut-throat, but not usually literally. Accepting loss is part and parcel of self-improvement. 

There has been a shift towards perfectionism within the nation. Everyone wants to be perfect and everyone wants to appear perfect to the outside. This can lead to tensions in towns, households or workplaces. Everyone wants to excel in their chosen branch, or chosen career and they want to be seen doing it. Getting noticed is foremost on most people’s minds. 

Fortune-telling or other such methods of seeing into a child’s future has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, with those who claim to be able to see the future being a common feature at baby showers, or first birthdays. Parents want to know their children will succeed and where they will end up so that they can prepare them for it. 

The Liberatan culture, perhaps unsurprisingly, is hugely anti-demon, with everyone worried about trying to make up for their pro-demonic past. Demonology is outlawed and anyone caught doing demonology is likely to face vigilante justice before ever facing a real court of law. 

History

After the cataclysm, Liberata was a country under the rulership of elves, particularly Cloud Elves who had encroached on the area from their homeland of Ilarin. These elves believed themselves superior to everyone and the best nature had to offer so subjugated and enslaved the human population of Liberata. 

This lasted for over a century, until some of the humans were approached by beings from the Pit, aka Demons, who offered them to the power to ride up against their oppressors. Many Liberatans took this deal and after a swift rebellion, the power balance flipped on its head. 

The newly powerful human populace began using their demonic powers to instead enslave the elves that had been their oppressors. Any elves who did not flee were turned into slaves. This was later extended to include any non ‘pure’ human. 

This continued for centuries, with Liberata becoming more involved with demonology as time went on, even creating the Black Inquisition. Until the Demon War of 1117AC, where the Pit Emperor Eblis attempted to take over the mortal plane. The Liberatan capital of Freetown is destroyed and tens of thousands of their citizens are killed. The Inquisition pledge their allegiance to the Emperor. The armies of Liberata, however, rise up against him. 

After the war, the death of Eblis and the destruction of their government, Liberata start again. Opening their borders and freeing their slaves. They pledge to work against demonology, dedicating themselves to the study of the Pit in order to protect the mortal plane from an incursion like that ever again. 

Leadership

Liberata is a meritocracy, ruled by a Council of Three - the top brass from each of the three branches of Frisian Government - Military, Assembly and College. The Military deals with all warfare and military matters, The Assembly is made up of all the tradespeople and deals with trade and crafting, and The College focuses on knowledge, learning and magic.  

Access to positions in these branches are gained via The Trials - something put in place after the demon war to check future potential leaders and to make sure they could prove their worth. These tests can be undertaken by anybody regardless of age, race, gender, wealth or class and then the individual can rise through the ranks of their chosen branch by proving themselves to their subordinates as well as their superiors. 

Religious Beliefs 

All Gods are permitted within Liberata, and controversially, Keesoth is one of the more popular deities due to the tenet of power at any cost. 

Worship of the Aesthetics is spreading among the people, due to the rise of perfectionism within the populace and because there is a popular belief that three branches of the Liberatan government mirror the branches of the aesthetics. 

Waarheid and Arioch are common amongst members of The College branch.