Technology Level: Late Renaissance, Particularly Ren-era Ottomon and Italy.

Government Type: Metriocratic Constitutional Monarchy. The Council of 13 are Lords and Ladies who are appointed by the High Lord (a Lord regardless of the gender of the actual person holding the position) - generally based on notable achievements, and they hold the position for life. In practice, there is some seats that are kept in the same noble family for generations - The Seat of War for example is held by the Salieri family for the last hundred years, while others have even seen commoners in position - generally the Seat of Religious Affairs or the Seat of Agriculture.

Historically there used to be 4 seats, but as the population grew and more skilled people appear, the Council Lords created more seats, with the 13th being added 75 years ago. It is highly unlikely that another seat will be added anytime soon.

Laws generally start as either petitions from the people or created by a Lord, the 13 will debate on the merits of the potential law, and can choose to vote on it or reject it. During the voting period, amendments can be suggested or stricken. Petitions can be used to repeal or modified established laws, but it's extremely rare for that to happen.

The High Lord - or the Seat of the Empire - is the only seat that is purely dynastic in nature, and is passed to the oldest capable child (as to avoid a repeat of the disastrous rule of Nazar the Ill-mind). They are granted one absolute veto on votes each year, and the ability to pardon anyone - unless all twelve members of the council object.

The current High Lord is Minthe, an albino woman twenty-three years of age. While she's nearly blind due to her condition, she is very sharp-minded and clever, willing to make under the table deals. She is very sympathetic to the treatment of slaves due to a meeting with Eleuseus when he was still a slave.

Religion There is a Polytheistic traditional religion, and a small, but growing Monotheistic religion gaining popularity in the rural areas. This will be covered in a religious info-post.

Love & Marriage:

Among land-owning and noble families, marriage is an arranged contract of political, economic, and social alliances. The people of Eber know that love does not always result from such arrangements or that the couples would always be capable of producing a child (especially if one of the spouses is a half-elf). So it has become socially acceptable for legalized concubinage - long as both spouses agreed to the arrangement, one or both partners can take an extramarital partner (of any sex), who is to be given legal protections and any child that might come from the union is officially recognized as a child of the married couple when it comes inheritance and other legal matters.

However, adultery laws do exist, and affairs that aren't legally sanctioned are prosecuted - mostly fines, and such children aren't recognized as legal heirs.

Among commoners, love matches are more common, and usually means there's no need for legal concubinage (though illegal affairs and their consequences do happen).

Names:
Names are taken from Greece, Turkey, and Arabic. Elven names tend to be Roma and Italian.
Noble names are in the form of Given Name then a descriptive Surname Then their Noble House. Commoner names are Given Name Ibn/Bint Name of same-sex grandparent then optionally their occupation. Common Elves do not use Ibn/Bint connectors but instead they use given name, father's name modified with a 'ic' or 'ova' depending on gender then occupation.

With Elf/Human offspring, the dominant parent decides the naming convention, and often results in mixed names. Beastspawn that aren't killed at birth use the name conventions of their mothers.

Example: Lord Iason Nadya of The Salieri (noble male), Simza Besnikova Weaver (traditional elven woman), Damiano Ibn Koray (Eleusues's birth name)

Example Male Names: Iason, Ahmed, Koray, Onur, Sol, Hyder, Sakhr.
Example Female Names: Amethea, Rahat, Laila, Despoine, Malika, Turay
Example Elven Male Names: Amato, Nicu, Orso, Yanko, Tamas, Gudada
Example Elven Female Names: Tsura, Alessa, Cosima, Fiore, Noemi, Aishe

Have a question? Ask away and I'll answer.

In Eber - it is believed that confinement that one would find a Prison system to be inhuman, trapping people like they were beasts, and solitary confinement is viewed with the same horror as others would see extreme torture. The people of Eber as a rule are VERY sociable people with a tendency to travel frequently so isolation and confinement is antithetic to the Eberran's mindset.

So Slavery is the regular form of punishment in Eber for while they are restricted by a set of rules they are allowed to be out with other people, and they view the tasks they have to perform as a mixture of penitence and training in skills to keep them out of trouble when they are freed.

However, Citizens who are convicted of rape, premeditated or extremely sadistic Murder, Treason, or had been convicted of Arson or Assault with Intend of Grievous Harm three times are not enslaved - they are deemed too dangerous to Society and executed.

Those of Noble houses who have been convicted will have their rank stripped from them as a work around an old law declaring that no nobles can be enslaved.

Sentences vary on the age of the convicted, their crime, and whether if it is a first offense. The Average first-time sentence is three years for lesser crimes such as theft or cheating in official tournaments. Generally sentences last no longer then ten years.

While up until ten years ago anything can be done to a slave in short of death, thanks to Wardens like Eleuseus who got the The High Lord to bend an ear to them the Slaves are given protection from their potential masters so while they are slaves still during their sentence they are not in constant fear.

After a period of training they are either put on auction, or given to a Master who specifically bought them at the time of their conviction.

The Basic Rules:

- No Slave can be handled sexually without their explicit consent (some less scrupulous Wardens use drugs or false promises of leniency to get consent). Rape is absolutely abhorred in Eberran society but they are not blind to that it happens. Masters and Disciplinarians who ignore this rule can find their heads on the chopping blocks.

- No Master may beat their slaves or whip them. Possession of a Scourge is now illegal in all of Eber. While a disciplinary spanking or other minor corporal punishment like a slap to the face is allowed and even seen as useful, anything that causes bleeding, or severe pain is abuse, and burning is right out forbidden. Disciplinarians who see signs of Abuse can revoke the Master's right to own slaves and take the abused slave in for the rest of their sentence.

- HOWEVER no Slave is allowed to strike their Master except under fear of immediate harm, death, or fear of rape. If an attack is proven to be unjustified their sentence is extended based on the severity of the attack.

- Running away only adds to the sentence that a slave serves unless they have undeniable proof that they have no choice but to flee. A day spent gone equals another month of servitude.

- As a precaution, a Slave will never be sold to the victim of their crime to avoid problems.

- The one who owns the slave must be able to afford his family's upkeep as well as the upkeep needed to keep the Slave fed and healthy. Neglect can get a master his right to the slave revoke.

What exactly does a Wardens do?

Wardens are as Eleuseus stated are not too different from Prison Wardens in that they guard the slaves from escaping, making sure they do time as well as watch for their well-fare but the similarities end there.

It is a semi-prestigious office that includes it's own Guild. While it is not the most glamorous, they are generally respected for the work they do for a functioning society.

While most slaves outside of the cities are sent directly to work on farms or mines with regular inspections, most Warden that work in towns and cities - which tends to mean they are in charge of a smaller number of slaves, giving them more hands on experience.

One of their first tasks is to get the slave to understand their position and show them that it is in their best interest to obey and serve their masters without trouble. Some try to teach them to love subservience (to where they will refuse freedom when the sentence is over), others instill fear of the master, still more teach that mutual respect and even love can flourish, then there's the ones who teach them how to bend their wills without breaking.

There's almost a dozen different methods and it is often a hotly debated topic at Guild meetings of which ones work the best.

Generally training periods last three to four months and during that time not only is the Warden responsible for obedience and well-being, they are to assess a slave's particular talents and train that for both their master's use and for when they are free to go they got something of use. This can range from Sexual servitude to Blacksmithing - usually with them hiring specialists to help. Those with no special skills are taught to be housekeepers and/or get trained to increase their physical prowess and endurance so they can be good laborers.

Teaching skills generally earn Warden higher fees from the Auction market, so there is the additional incentive.

As mentioned above, they are responsible for the well-being of slaves and have the right to confiscate a slave from any owner if they see signs of abuse or neglect and in extreme causes they can revoke the owner's right to ever own slaves. Eleuseus is especially aggressive in this matter and had earned himself some enemies (as well as gratitude from some now former slaves).

Eleuseus himself teaches slaves how to dance, sing, and generally to be elegant and well-mannered Courtesans. He does do sexual training if there is explicit consent.