Xha'dam
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The Dominion of Xha'dam
Xha'dam is an ancient and secretive nation in the heart of the Allied States of EuroIslanders. While not the most open people, Xha'dam has proven itself to be a valuable ally and close friend of those nations who earn its trust. The Dominion of Xha'dam is famed for their advanced technology, unique city design, and their ability to gather and protect information. On the other hand, in certain arenas Xha'dam has become infamous for their brash attitudes and short fuses in diplomatic situations, which has been known to inflame already volatile situations on more than one occasion, though some speculate Xha'dam's peculiar code of honor causes them to play this angle up to deflect attention from their comrades.
These topics and many more will be covered in greater depth as the Dominion of Xha'dam is explored in greater detail. This article is intended to provide a brief overview of the nation of Xha'dam with special focus being paid to issues of particular interest. Some of what is presented here is speculation, though, it will be clearly marked as such; the rest is as near as to the truth as can be determined from what historical manuscripts have survived through the ages and what information the Government of Xha'dam has allowed outside it's borders. This article is subject to review and may be expanded upon as new information develops or surfaces.
Contents
The People of Xha'dam
In the first section of this guide, we will examine the people of Xha'dam. In this we will talk about the national identity of the Dominion of Xha'dam. This will cover topics ranging from the historical record of the nation to political and religious beliefs and even down to what they do for sport and entertainment. This is an expansive subject and for the ease of the reader, it has been broken up into sections. While this guide is by no means complete, as indeed it would take many volumes to create a comprehensive guide of every aspect of a nation of well over three billion, it should give the reader of the guide a base of understanding in the people and culture.
The History of Xha'dam
Xha'dam is an ancient nation with a long and complicated history; having been at various points both conquerors and defenders, alone and intertwined to the fates of others, servants and masters, reactionary and revolutionary. The Dominion of Xha'dam seems to be a nation and people built out of paradoxes and at the same time it is hard to find things out of place in the records of their past. In order to truly understand these peculiarities, we must take a closer look at the past of Xha'dam, starting with it's very foundation. In this chapter we will cover in brief some of the events of note that surround the Dominion.
Early History
Xha'dam, as it is known today, was built on the ashes of a long departed civilization. The modern Xha'damians considered this civilization with the highest regard, accepting them as rulers, protectors, caretakers, and to some early Xha'damians they were held in a status of pseudo-religious awe. Eventually, without warning, the civilization the Xha'damians had depended on simply left in an event referred to by Xha'dam historians today as "Exodus". The details of this departure, even such basic things as cause and destination, remain unknown to this day, as do almost any credible accounts of the civilization itself. With their caretakers gone and their toys left behind, the Xha'damians moved into the cities of their departed masters and learned what they could from the vast array of advanced technologies which remained after Exodus. Much of the technology left behind in what is now the Xha'dam capital of Z'ha'dum is still not understood.
When the nation was young, as a means of gaining power beyond what little could be gathered from their departed masters, it sought out and allied with various nations with advanced levels of technology, joining them in research projects in which they were given equal access to the information gathered. By doing so, Xha'dam quickly climbed the technological ladder and in consequence has to this day ensured it a place among the most technologically advanced nations in the world. To further this end, early Xha'dam became well known as a trader of secrets and gadgets; selling them only in exchange for other technologies of interest which enabled them to acquire new technologies from other nations as well as hastening their progress in unlocking the enigmas of the ancient artifacts of the masters.
The primitive realm of Xha'dam stood as a solid rock in a sea of chaos as regions rose and fell around it, the most notable of these being the Delta Expanse, in which primitive Xha'dam took a leadership role until infighting turned the other major nations in the region against each other; at which point Xha'dam left the Delta Expanse in disgust. It was during this time that the Xha'damians had a mentality shift and became a more aggressive civilization. The primitive Xha'damians engaged in numerous wars of defense, seeking out allies who had things of interest and needed military aid. They also engaged in one noteworthy war of aggression which resulted in a brief conquest of another region before the Xha'damians left it again, having taken everything of interest. It was during this period too that the primitive Xha'damians established the penal colony of Vezkneia in which they sent large numbers of the mentally ill due to the oppressive legal code of the time. By luck all the mentally ill managed to find their way back to Xha'dam and were subsequently imprisoned.
Xha'dam in the Allied States of EuroIslanders
It was at this time, the departure from Delta Expanse, that Xha'dam shifted out of what we now refer to as the primitive age of Xha'dam due to the nation being invited to join the Allied States of EuroIslanders. With the sudden exposure to the new ideas of the much more culturally advanced ASE, a cultural revolution began within Xha'dam; destroying the centuries old hierarchical structure that had been in place and replacing it with a pseudo-Socialist model of government, characterized by severe division of governmental powers, complete government accountability, and a heavy emphasis on democracy and civic involvement; a model that lasts to this day. During this time period, the warrior kingdom idea of Xha'dam faded and their ancient caution emerged once more to temper their aggressive attitude. The entrance into the ASE marked the beginning of the current Golden Age of Xha'dam.
In something the Xha'damians had not before seen, they found that upon arriving the other members of the ASE were welcoming and friendly, providing the Xha'damians, who had long been in isolation or using the magic military grade helicopters that can move large land masses around, with a permanent home. In a show of trust by the leadership of the Allied States of EuroIslanders, in recognition of the Xha'damian abilities to gather and guard all thing secret, the Dominion of Xha'dam was made Deputy Director of the ASE Intelligence which it remained until the next government reorganization at which point the position became obsolete. Shortly after joining, representatives from Xha'dam were sent to the Alliance Defense Network where they served as a member of the House until the declaration of Martial Law, at which point and time the Allied States of EuroIslanders left the organization.
Xha'dam is one of the longest serving active members of the Allied States of EuroIslanders and in their time they have served a number of functions in addition to those noted above. Leading the ASE Red Guardians as a Division Commander, Strategos Nemonos, and Vice Strategos Nemonos, Xha'dam has served in over hundred regional defenses and liberations in its time with the ASE. In addition to this, Xha'dam has been elected to serve on the Defense and Euthynai Committees twice and, as having been earlier selected to serve as caretakers of the regional discussion center, was automatically appointed to the General Administration Committee twice. During earlier periods of regional government, Xha'dam was elected to fill the Strategos position numerous times.
On the World Stage
In addition to the roles Xha'damians played in the ASE, Xha'dam has also been a nation of note on the world stage. In addition to having participated in countless regional defenses and serving as a member of the ADN House, Xha'dam was also one of the founding members of the Red Liberty Alliance or RLA. In their time there they have served on all Executive Committees and were named Deputy Commander of the RLAF, the military of the RLA. During the brief fusion between the regions of the Allied States of EuroIslanders and Greece, Xha'dam was one of the nations who led the push to drive out the Greeks when it became clear they would support Moldavi in his dictatorship over the North Pacific, and held members who participated in the invasion of Palestine. Both of these deeply offended the Xha'damian notion of democracy.
Xha'dam has also shown it's value as a member of the ASE during periods of internal strife, providing a vital role in the migration of the people of Dalimbar and their subsequent civil war, during which time the nation was overtaken by Imperialist Forces and thus was no longer considered part of the Alliance. Xha'dam has taken a more active role in alliances between the Allied States of EuroIslanders, helping to negotiate the last treaty between the ASE and Equilism as well as the treaty between the ASE and The West Pacific when Xha'dam discovered that the treaty had expired due to a delegate change in the West Pacific.
Modern Xha'dam
Xha'dam is at peace in the modern era, or at least as at peace as any nation who's military must constantly defend other regions from invaders can be. The Dominion of Xha'dam is prospering more and enjoying closer relations to its allies than at any other point in its history. Having become one of the most prominent nations in the region and having become thoroughly involved in nearly every aspect of regional politics in one form or another, Xha'dam has found itself to be at a unique nexus of opportunity and relationship with the rest of the ASE. The people of Xha'dam look forward to a continuing bright future in the Allied States of EuroIslanders.
The Culture of Xha'dam
With their ancient history comes an advanced culture from those who inhabit the lands of Xha'dam which is no less complicated. As with all nations Xha'dam has its own unique cultural styles and tastes that have acted as both sculptor and product of the societal environment in whence they were found. It would not be unfair to say that culture is the very foundation upon which the Dominion of Xha'dam was built. Here we will discuss such topics as religion, entertainment, music, and other subjects which make up the culture of Xha'dam in detail in an effort to better understand the beliefs, customs, and practices of those who live within the Dominion.
Religion in Xha'dam
In modern Xha'dam there is little place for religion in society. As most of what the average citizen of the nation would call superstitions are largely distrusted, religion as a whole is widely overlooked. Less than one percent of the national population believe in any kind of supernatural beings nor the religions to which they belong. Slightly more prevalent are humanistic religions, such as those that seek inner peace through meditation and self-reflection. However, even those are not practiced widely, still less than one percent of the national population. In spite of this, however, tight knit religious communities do exist within the nation for almost all major religions. As with most things in Xha'dam, if one were to seek out one of these religious groups the best place to start would be Z'ha'dum.
In spite of the lack of religion in modern Xha'dam, it would be impossible to expalin the foundation of Xha'dam without covering it. During the primitve phase of Xha'dam, before the peoples who went on to found it even identified themselves by that name, the caretaker civilization were worshipped as gods of sorts. They did things that the people of the time could only understand in terms of magic due to the vast technology discrepency between the two civilizations. To add perspective, it must be recognized that in timespan, now well over two millenia at this point, those of Xha'dam have yet to fully understand the technology left behind by their departed masters and have yet to replicate their feats. To a society as primitive as the ancient Xha'damians even standard electronics would seem miraculous.
This religious awe in which they held their masters must be credited for their success early on. With their masters gone and their fanatical loyalty to their gods, they believed that they had to follow their masters to wherever they went and in order to do it they must understand where they went. This belief and loyalty fueled the insatiable quest for knowledge and technology that survives to this day, even if the cause does not. This, possibly more than any other factor, allowed for the ancient Xha'damians to form a functional society and allowed it to progress at the breakneck speed at which Xha'dam has worked it's way up the technological ladder. While the motivation of reuniting with their departed gods having faded, as many of the miraculous feats that inspired awe two-thousand years ago have been matched, air travel to name one, and consequently the image of the gods of old has faded into merely that of an extermely technologically advanced civilization. However, there are sects that believe that one day the caretaker race will one day return, though, this belief is mostly not a religious one.
Politics in Xha'dam
Politically, Xha'dam has been fairly constant for a very long time, torn between multiple left wing factions competing for control over legislatures, committees, and departments in an attempt to make the changes needed to bring the nation in line completely with their ideology. There are 5 current major political movements in Xha'dam that account for roughly 96% of all individuals. Roughly 26% of the nation are hardline Marxists of one descript or another. The largest political faction, though not yet strong enough to complete their agenda, the main agenda of the Marxist faction is to remove capitalism entirely. However, as they lack the popular support to make this move, at least for now, they largely simply campaign in an attempt to bring more people on board their ideology.
A close second in ideology are the Market Socialists, roughly 23% of the population, who believe that certain aspects of capitalism, particularly the consumer and producer markets, are useful tools for economic regulation and believe that the exploitative problems inherent in capitalism can be resolved simply through the removal of the labor and capital markets. They frequently come into conflict with the Marxists over what ammounts to one differing point, the Marxists accusing the Market Socialist ideology of maintaining the exploitative relationship whether they know it or not, the Market Socialists retorting that the Marxist attempts to create a command economy are historically demonstrably doomed to failure.
The third largest faction are the Social Democrats who believe that a heavily regulated form of capitalism can provide a just system of government. They number roughly 20% of the population of Xha'dam. The most right wing faction in the mainstream, perhaps, are the Liberals, or as they are more frequently refered to by the other factions, the Welfare Capitalists. Numbering roughly 16% of the population, their agenda is similar to that of the Social Democrats except their focus lies more in the developement of social systems supported by the government than the actual regulation of capitalism itself. The last group, the Anarchists, number 13% of the population. They believe that government itself does not serve a useful purpose and call for it's abolishment. The remaining 4% of the population is largely populated by the small right wing or religious groups. So far they have failed to gain significant influence in Xha'dam. Further information on the topic will be available in the Government section.
Entertainment in Xha'dam
The people of Xha'dam, as with other places, have numerous hobbies and activities in which they engage to entertain themselves. Fiber-optic substitutes for electronic devices are among the most popular. The video game and computer industries in Xha'dam are expansive and some of the most lucrative market sectors, at the same time providing entertainment to countless citizens of the nation. Visual entertainment forms are also quite expansive in the forms of movies and television. Currently, the most popular forms of these are those presented in an animated medium or in a science-fiction of fantasy setting. If asked for a reason for this, the locals will frequently reply that focusing on the fantastic, both in terms of story and medium, provides more inventive and creative works.
Music is another popular form of entertainment. As has historically been the case, and is true today, orchestral movements are the dominant force on the Xha'dam music scene and are always in high demand, providing excellent work opportunites for those who are instrumentally inclined. For example, the capital city of Z'ha'dum has over 1,400 seperate, independent orchestras of varying sizes and qualities. While orchestras are the most common form of musical entertainment, they are by no means the only one. Rock of assorted forms, blues, and jazz all also enjoy high levels of popularity. Rap and country music, on the other hand, seem to be universally disliked.
Sports in Xha'dam are unusually combative, largely composed of wrestling, boxing, martial arts, paintball, and fencing. The largest sport, however, is known as Combat. This sport takes multiple forms with multiple sets of rules depending upon the variant. However, what it consists of is the combatants using weapons, composed of foam for safety issues, and striking each other with them in battle. These weapons must conform to certain restrictions put in place for both playability and safety. Weapons generally take the form of swords, spears, axes, clubs, low poundage bows, javelines, and other medieval weaponry. Shields and armor are also frequent. Each player is responsible for keeping track of the damage they recieve, with different damage having different effects. Players who are dishonest about taking damage, as determined by the heralds, can be barred from the leagues though this is the rarest and least used punishment.
Combat, as mentioned above, comes in a variety of forms. Large battles, frequently consisting of upwards of a thousand people on each team, are seldom used in tournaments for league purposes beyond having a good time due to the difficulty of analysis of individual performance. Smaller teams have different leagues, dependent upon team size, weapons, location, and other factors, which contain individual ranking systems. The other major form of tournament Combat is dueling, which, as the name implies, is one-on-one combat. As with team battles, multiple leagues exist for duelists with independent ranking systems. The sport is also widely used recreationally as it is accessable to almost any age.
