Salus Nova

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We as humans can never fully understand how we came to be, what we do know is that at some point in the far distant past there were creatures more powerful than us. These creatures are far beyond human comprehension however those who know the truth of our existence simply call them the Starborn. It is true that these begins were perfect, they were beautiful, intelligent, strong and perpetual. The Universe was filled with them as they each created worlds of their own. They would travel between each others worlds seeking companionship, knowledge and pleasure. They each sought perfection in their own way, some wanted to become the perfect artist, some the perfect warrior and others the perfect engineer. Along the way some of their experiments in perfection failed, often at the cost of their own lives but being perpetual they simply remerged from a star still blessed with the knowledge and experience of their previous existence. As a result of these experiments other life-forms came into reality, mainly as those seeking to become perfect engineers began to tinker with the very building blocks of life. As such the Starborn controlled everything and then on some distant rock one of the Starborn created a planet we today call Mundus. He sought to make the most perfect world and allowed the various species he created to interact with each other and become whatever their potential would permit them to be. Seeing humans grow to dominate the planet he was ashamed at what he had created and turned his back upon his creation in the same way an artist may throw a canvas into the trash. Humanity however refused to accept that we were not worthy of the Starborn and as such a small group of humans began seeking knowledge and understanding that would one day make the Starborn proud of us once more and thus return to reunite with us. Sadly not all of Mundus have accepted this universal and neccessary aim and as such in the 10th Century, keen to avoid religious hatred elsewhere they sought out a homeland where they would be free to practice their own faith, seek knowledge and pursue human perfection. That land became known eventually as Salus Nova. The nation has still remained a relatively small nation, mainly due to the way the ruling elite have maintained the mission of trying to redeem us in the eyes of the Starborn. Throughout history the nation has followed a monarch who it believed has descended from what the faithful call "Dreamweavers" , these individuals are thought to receive a psychic link to the Starborn during sleep and as such are believed to be a guide to help us understand the route back into the good graces. While we are sure to find our Starborn returning to us once we have shown ourselves to be worthy until then the Dreamweavers descendants are left to guide us. This has been done via a royal family believed to descend from a "Dreamweaver" by the name of Lyra the Harmonious who it is believed has come the closest to guiding us back to humanity. She is believed to have created a region dedicated to creating a generation of "artist warriors" who dedicated themselves to perfection in terms of artistic and combat endeavours. Other "Dreamweavers" have seen their descendants form a "Sacred Council" that acts as a check and balance to the monarch.

The modern day nation of Salus Nova is not the native homeland of the faith and thus many of the faiths original places or worship and ritual are no longer under their control. The current monarch is Queen Lavinia Giunta who it is believed is a descendant of Lyra the Harmonious and a regular human follower. She governs a nation of around  62million individuals who have for many decades been rather inward looking and seeking out the perfection of arts, music, scholarship and science.


Pop - 62million
GDP per capita $51,000

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THE STARBORN GUILD

While it is true there are countless Starborn out there in the Universe not all receive the devotion or faith that those who belong to the Starborn Guild do. This prestigious body was formed sometime shortly after the dawn of the universe and was made up of those Starborn most dedicated to creating life. There are thought to be thousands of members of this guild and in some cases their creations have risen to such esteem that they too have been invited into its membership. Mundus is yet to reach this lofty goal however the faithful of Salus Nova see this as the ultimate goal. To achieve this they dedicate their life to three endeavours, known by the faithful as "The Starborn Triad" this is pursuit to bring about a perfect body, mind and spirit into a single individual. To do this the faithful follow strict rules designed to keep their body healthy, develop knowledge and become close to the Starborn. It is hoped that the Starborn who created Mundus will one day see one of us reach perfection in these three fields and as such will return to forgive his creation and raise all of humanity into the Starborn Guild. To date no human has reached this lofty ambition. It is believed however that when we die the very atoms that make us return to the cosmos and become the building blocks for future endeavours by the Starborn.

To aid us in our attempts at completing the "Starborn Triad" there are individuals known as "Dreamweavers" these are people who it is believed have psychic links with members of the Starborn. This link is not a two way means of communication instead it is merely a case that the "Dreamweaver" is shown visions either on purpose by the Starborn they are linked with or by having glimpses and experiences that need interpretation. With dedication, meditation and perseverance it is believed that a "Dreamweaver" can eventually make this a two way process however this has not happened in a very long period of time and the last person with the ability to do so was Lyra the Harmonious. It is believed that she came extremely close to completing the Starborn Triad having completed the body and spirit parts of the process. It is believed that she produced a child who was also a Dreamweaver and that this child was the first Queen of the people. Studies carried out by the faithful on Mundus have shown that 72% of Dreamweavers are female and thus the monarchy, unlike many in other nations, descends down the female line even if the heir is not considered a Dreamweaver.

The Starborn Triad forms the foundation of the faith. For those of us wishing to complete the Triad we must strive for perfection in mind, body and spirit. To complete the body aspect of the triad an individual must attempt to live a healthy life and this is demonstrated through both fitness and beauty. This had lead to some strict rules about diet for example alcohol is considered only permissable for ritualistic purposes, smoking is prohibited as damaging. The mind part of the Triad places a great emphasis on education as a life long process and each persons duty is to try and gain more everyday. As a result teachers and researchers are considered an honoured profession in the nation. The Triad of the Spirit is much harder as you would expect. This means that an individual must mediate daily, learn the names and deeds of as many Starborn as possible and take care of their creations.

Those of us attempting to complete the Triad are guided by The Luminescents. These are what other faiths may consider Priests. They can be male or female and are thought to be either a Dreamweaver themselves or the son or daughter of one. Their task is to help guide people towards completing the Triad and keeping to the rituals and requirements. They maintain a network of Luminaries which can be thought of as both places or worship and education. To become a member of the Luminescents as well as being a Dreamweaver or their direct descendant you must complete ten years of specialised education and show dedication towards completing the Triad. The entire faith is overseen by the Monarch of Salus Nova who is our head of faith in a similar way Catholics have the Pope. Guiding them however is Sacred Council which is made up of elected members of the Luminescents who can wield enough influence to prevent the monarch ruling autocratically.

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Coronation Portrait of Queen Lavinia Giunta

The Monarchs of Salus Nova are believed to be entirely human but with a deep connection to the Starborn. There are some who follow the faith who believe that the first Queen of Salus Nova, Madelina, was the product of a union between Lyra the Harmonious and a Starborn meaning that the bloodline is semi-divine. Others simply believe that Lyra the Harmonious conceived a child with a fellow Dreamweaver and that the bloodline has extended from there. What we all agree upon though is that it is both the political and sacred duty of the monarch to lead us back to our creator. As such the powers of the monarchy are extremely strong. They are responsible for using decrees to guide the nation in the correct direction. While they have free reign to issue these decrees these are not necessarily automatically followed. A Decree only becomes valid once a copy has been placed on the Palace gates for five nights. If during that time any member of the Sacred Council affixed to the Palace gates a "Refutation", which is a document outlining why on either legal or spiritual grounds the Decree is unjust, a further step is required. Here the Sacred Council and monarch meet and debate the matter. Should at the end of the debate the monarch still wish to go ahead with the Decree then there shall be a vote among the Sacred Council members. There are always an even number of members meaning that a draw is possible. In most cases a simple majority is required to determine whether the Decree is accepted and becomes law or is rejected. If there is a draw then since 1997 a national referendum has been called.

The monarch is expected to embody all three parts of the Triad. In 1686 King Ulfra was faced with a rebellion because he had grown grossly overweight and the people feared that he was setting a poor example, when it then transpired he was spending huge sums of money on lavish parties including vast quantities of wine this was the final straw and around 4,000 people stormed the Royal Palace where he was thrown from a balcony. It is therefore considered important that the monarch be seen to be living a healthy lifestyle so sporting pastimes are seen as a significant part of their life. In addition promotion of beauty is considered good. A monarch considered ugly is not likely to face a backlash like Ulfra did but would be considered unlucky. There have been cases where a monarch has passed over one of their children for the crown as they did not appear as beautiful as another. In terms of the mind part of the Triad it is important the monarch seem well educated. Since 1789 all monarchs have been educated at University level and many have held numerous degrees. Even once graduated many have promoted education by establishing schools and universities. One such monarch that was held as being close to completing this part of the Triad was King Atilavus who was said to be fluent in ten languages, and was considered a skilled poet, historian and had an impressive knowledge of the stars, he passed in 1709. Finally in terms of the Spirit aspect of the Triad a monarch is expected to ensure rituals and traditions are upheld.

Portrait of Queen Lavinia Giunta prior to her ascending the throne

HER MAJESTY QUEEN LAVINA GIUNTA
HEAD OF THE SACRED COUNCIL

As of 2024 the monarch of Salus Nova is Queen Lavina Guinta who is widely loved by the nation. She has been Queen since April 5th 2018 following the death of her Mother Queen Sylviana. At the time of her coronation Lavina was 33 years of age and in the six years of her reign she has sought to use science and technology to help support the advancement of the Starborn Triad and while some of the measures are likely to be poorly received by some nations her actions have helped create a new approach to the faith.

Lavina was the second child of her mother and her father, Duke Aelanus. The Queen's elder brother, named Aelanus after his father, is currently a Professor of Economics at a prestigious University as he was left largely free to pursue a career path of his own choosing as it was clear he wouldn't sit on the throne. Lavina also has a younger sister called Apollina who is eight years younger than her and is currently undertaking a PhD in Biology. The three children received strict upbringings at the Luminary School meaning she was well versed in both the faith and instilled with a dogmatic desire to achieve the Triad. At the age of 18 she felt it her duty as possibly the future monarch to join the Armed Forces and she joined the Army Aviation Corps where she served as a helicopter pilot. She undertook several counter-terrorism operations acting as air support for special forces as well as taking duties as a search and rescue pilot both at land and at sea. She meet fellow aviator Graccus Belstian while undertaking a rotation for the nations civilian air ambulance service. Graccus is the son of a member of the Sacred Council and a keen rower. After two years of courtship the pair were married in 2010.

In 2016 Lavina left the armed forces having become pregnant and later giving birth to Princess Nymphia who is the current heir to the throne. In 2018 tragedy befell the family when Queen Sylvania died at the hands of a heretical religious sect. Three weeks later Lavina, who was pregnant at the time, was crowned and gave birth to a daughter who was named for her grand-mother, Sylvania. This coronation while pregnant has caused some members of the faith to insist that Sylvania should be the heir as she was inside her mother as she was crowned. This is however the view of a minority and thus many simply ignore this claim.

Lavina set about attempts to bring science and technology to act as a tool to help us obtain our place amongst the Starborn Guild. She has at times found human rights groups opposing some of her decrees but after debate with the Sacred Council has generally won her way.

In her private life she is a keen fencer and swimmer. She has learned several foreign languages and is currently learning the piano. She insists the family and all palace staff undertake a morning exercise routine and attend Luminary on a daily basis.

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THE CELESTIAL PARK AND PALACE

No historian has yet been able to work out when the location of the Celestial Park and Palace was chosen. One theory is that it marks the position where the Starborn who created humanity left Mundus. Others believe this spot is the birthplace of Lyra the Harmonious. Either way the spot has evidence of habitation of some kind of elite dating back to some point in the 13th Century. Various irrigation channels have been found that have shown that a large farming community could have existed centred around a large stone house. Over time these system have been moved, enlarged and modernised and by the 17th Century had created a massive network of canals that were large enough to take small pleasure vessels and rowing boats. In 1724 King Magnus the Engineer vacated the Park and Palace for ten years to allow a massive construction project to take place. During this a ornate looking palace with some 2,700 rooms was constructed and Magnus moved in officially in 1736. Since then the royal family expanded their personal property here until today the Palace has a huge private gardens area surrounded by private Forest. The Parkland is often thrown open for exhibitions, concerts, sporting events and religious ceremonies meaning it is now considered more a public resource.

In 2024 Queen Lavinia began the establishment of a University just outside the palace gardens which is hoped to become one of the greatest on Mundus. She has striven to make it highly competitive and attract the best students from around the world.

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LAWS OF THE EMPIRE

• Abortion: Only permitted on grounds of genetic defects or if mothers life in danger.

• Adultery: Grounds for divorce but no punishment.

• Affirmative action: No laws

• Age of consent: 16

• Age of majority: 18

• Artificial insemination: Permitted but only after genetic screening.

• Assisted suicide: Not permitted

• Bestiality: Illegal.

• Birth control: Permitted

• Childcare: All children given a voucher for 40 hours childcare a week until age four. 

• Concealed carry: Not permitted.

• Death penalty: Used for murder and treason

• Divorce: Permitted on grounds of adultery, abuse, separation of 12 months or genetic "incompatibility"

• Double jeopardy: Not permitted

• Drinking age: 18

• Driving age: 16

• Education: Compulsory until the age of 18

• Eminent domain: Permitted with appropriate compensation

• Equal pay for equal work: Yes

• Felony disenfranchisement: No one with a criminal record that includes an accumulation of 24 months in prison may never vote.

• Flag desecration: No laws

• Gambling age: 18

• Gun purchase age: Only possible with a permit and having completed six hours training every two years. Must be 18 years of age.

• Homosexuality in the military: Not laws

• Human cloning: Not permitted.

• In vitro fertilization: Permitted with genetic screening.

• Marriageable age: Strict laws on marriage licencing but can only apply after the age of 18.

• Military conscription: All voulenteer service. System for potential draft exists for all men and women aged between 18 and 40.

• Minimum wage: Set by Decree

• Parental leave: Parents had a combined 18 months that they may divide how they best believe.

• Polygamy: Illegal

• Pornography: Proof of age required for 18

• Prostitution: Permitted in licence venues. Sex workers must be over 21, be tested for STD/STI's every two weeks and complete a health review every 12 months.

• Same-sex marriage: Not permitted

• School leaving age: 18

• Sex reassignment surgery:Not offered nor recognised

• Sex toys: Permitted

• Sexually transmitted diseases: Knowingly infecting a person is classed as assault.

• Smoking age: 30

• Sodomy laws:- Illegal

• State ideology: None

• State religion: Starborn Cult

• Stem cell research: Permitted

• Taxation: Sliding scale tax based on income and property ownership. A range of indirect taxation exists.

• Torture: Not permitted

• Trial by jury: Used in cases where any jail sentence of longer than 2 years is expected.

• Universal healthcare: Both public and private health care exists. Public health care is funded via taxation.

• Voting age: 18

• Women's rights: Protected in law

• Working age: Must be aged over 16 to work more than 25 hours a week.

• Working week: Workers can not be forced to work more than 45 hours a week.