War. That is how history almost ended. The elders and old tombs tell of a land so deep in the clutch of war that everyone lost. Every race and kingdom killing one another for some dispute lost to even them at the end. So few left on any side to really say anyone won. In fact it was very clear no one did. Even this did not stop them, the land was so torn by the endless battle, scorched earth, and rot of death, it was clear nothing would remain.
It was the blessed mother that had the idea, she was the one that we all have to thank for this world, and our very lives. Her plan was one of desperation. To fully understand, she had lost her own children during the war, as did most. Like many, this drove her into a pit of sadness and depression. Unlike others she did not give up, or give in to the hate. Some say she went mad, but in an insane world, that may have been the only beacon of sanity. She saw there was no convening of the sides to stop the fighting (the hate was so deep in everyone) and every side felt so justified in themselves, that no voice or action would save them. However, she knew children could be taught different. Not teens, or even a toddler that has learned to understand hate, but infants were pure and without this drive to kill.
The exact method she used to complete her plan and even how she got away with it is lost to history; just like her name and her fate. What she did do, however, was to take all the babies, every race and every nation. She stole them all in a night. Then somehow blamed it on every other nation. The war came to a boil like it had never seen, and they finally killed each other off. Some say she even killed the victors. What we do know is after the end of the war, the first children were raised with Mother's Law.
That law we still hold true today. No people or nation may make war; for any people who do seek war become no people at all. In simple terms, there is a treaty among all nations. If any nation attacks another, all nations will unite to turn to dust the one. Now in truth, there is no actual recorded history of this happening in 1,000 years. Today we live in peace, every people has their own land not to be taken by another, though many races may be in that land most keep to just one. Monsters are, however, a different matter.
As new nations were being formed, it became commonplace to trade between them. History shows, at first, the idea of nations were more of a family and each treated the next as a neighbor. Trade was set up for survival, no one nation could thrive on what they made alone. So the second, the Law of Trade, was made by the nations of their own accord.
The Law of Trade states each capital opens its doors to titled tradesmen from other nations and treat them as protected guests.
This later adapted a bit as trade was less needed for survival and more for wants. Each capital formed a trade guild and each had one building, or in some cases a room, to represent their people. These locations are not only an embassy, but also fell into being diplomats for each nation. Because of this, being a licensed tradesman is a job of high prestige.
Over time, the Law of Trade added a standard money system for all nations.
As the nations grew, the need for the third law came about. the Law of Haven. This law split up the land into kingdom borders. No kingdom may take another's land without breaking Mother's Law, unless a trade or agreement is met.
Cities upon cities fallen into ruin. Machina long forgotten left to rot or rust. Magic items and scrolls buried under layers of debris. Such was the results of the centuries of war and its abrupt end at the hands of Mother.
As nations again arose newborn from the ashes, so did new roles and professions. No one profession had met as much approbation and ire initially as that of the Explorer. It was not long before a disagreement over ownership of discoveries grew into a conflict that came the closest to breaking Mother's Law since its foundation. In this particular event, two nations nearly found themselves at war over a single discovery. It has long since been forgotten what the discovery was, but the nation in which it was found declared that the discovery belonged to them. The nation in which the Explorer originated also laid claim to the discovery, which is what put them at odds.
Thankfully, an agreement was reached, news of which swept through all of the kingdoms. An Explorer may freely perform his profession in any land that is unimproved (neither city proper or worked farmland are considered unimproved) in ANY nation as an individual. If the Explorer is financed by a nation's government to perform such work outside of that nation, it must have the permission of the nation's government in which the discovery is being made.
The Explorer was soon found to be venerated as a hero by the wealth he brought with him to his nation and the technology and magic that improved the lives of the people, the safety of the nation or the security of the government.
Explorers brought fame and fortune to their country and its people and are the only other profession outside of tradesmen to interact with other nations and receive great respect from all.
The fifth law came up when larger boats were more common. The question came up of who owned the sea. The answer was the fastest law of all the others. No nation owns the sea past 10 miles from shore.
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