Um-Ulum State

The Um-Ulum State, was a meritocratic oligarchy ruling over the north-western part of .... It was founded in 3280 AA after the Council of Mastavimmia that laid foundations for its organisation and political structure.

Um-Ulum
Official Name	Gresin Um-Ulum Varaits (Rule of Ulum over all People and the Forest)
Capital	Mastavimmia(3280-3653) Eptulum(3653-3711) Ummastum(3711-...)
Official language
	Arnisium
Government
	Meritocratic Oligarchy
Religion
Miaopiaoism	Ulum Fundamentalism
Currency
	Copper Tridisc

Timeline

Society and Government

Philosophy

Um-Ulum is founded on a unique set of principles, the foremost being the cyclical nature of time. Time is seen as an ever-repeating sequence of three distinct cycles. This philosophy called Ulum Fundamentalism. Even if in the early days Ulum was seen as a divinity, after 3711 At key junctures, choices can be made to guide time into one of these cycles, influencing the path forward. The three cycles are commonly referred to as: Shestas, Telyuas, Sheushirbas. Literally meaning: Stability, Submission, Volition. However each carry multiple meanings. These cycles are the key to all political decisions.

Umimi

After the treaty of Mastavimmia in 3280, Ilummia and high rankings officials wrote a set of laws to create a state that followed the will of Ulum. This meant ensuring constant mixing in the population and a fair meritocratic system. The first action was (forcefully)separating and equally distributing the native and settled populations, throughout the land secured by Ilumma. The land was then split in Umimi and the central rule was given to the Ilummian Elite. These communities acted as semi-independent, however they had to pay a tax to the central government and were most frequently highly specialized. Some Umimi had a special status: Mages, Government, Military, Academies and Merchants. Different large reforms were taken between 3280 and 3711. The Um-Ulum state adopted a stable structure, described here.

Every adult citizen of an Umimi had an assigned profession. This profession was assigned at the moment of integrating the Umimi. It could only rarely be changed afterwards, most commonly after an accident. Most Umimi were organized in groups of the same profession (Treuveurmi). These groups usually chose a representative (Liretifer) based on merit or with an election. The representatives, composed the Umimi Council (Leusimimi). The Leusimimi, decided the production objectives of each Treveurmi and held absolute judicial power over the Umimi citizens and anyone passing through the Umimi territory. The Leusimimi also directly oversaw commerce with other Umimi and merchants. All currency was held collectively by the Umimi and the Leusimimi decided how to spend it. Members of the Merchant Umimi, were the only individuals that could hold currency and exchange goods between Umimi and with other nations. The bigger Umimi had fixed positions to assist the Leusimimi, mainly to help in the accounting, communication and logistics.

In the Umimi, people usually lived alone or in seasonal couples. Housing was standardized in most Umimi (but not between them). In general, most services were communal. There were assigned professions to prepare food, wash clothes... Each Umimi had at least a Caretaking House, where children were raised. The Caretakers who worked there as a fixed position, raised and schooled them. After the age of 11, children who were judged adept enough, could go live and work outside the Caretaking House. However they weren't required to do so (in most cases). By law the Umimi had to educate every child in fundamental knowledge. This was provided by a set of books issued to each Umimi by the state. It's contents focused in writing, basic math and the history of the Um-Ulum state.

Upon reaching the age of 20, the young inhabitants of each Umimi were required to leave it (they were called Sestasher). They took on a journey to find their new (and permanent) Umimi; in most cases they departed on the first day of spring. All the Sestasheren from a same Umimi traveled together (for at least a year). They traveled flying from Umimi to Umimi where they were given hospitality. When they arrived in a Umimi they could try to integrate, by choosing a profession and by participating in some challenges. These challenges (called Nulievarin) varied between Umimi and profession. Only the best from each Sestasheren group was taken in the Umimi, the Nulievarin can be tried every three years inside each Umimi. Academy-Umimi were located throughout the territory. There, Sestasheren could be integrated for a three year period, during which time they trained to pass the Nulievarin for the most prestigious Umimi professions. Everyone could be a Sestasheren for a maximum of 9 years, afterwards if they weren't accepted in any Umimi they were integrated by default to the Military or Merchant Umimi.

Government

The Government Umimi, called Ashe-Sumneimimi, was composed of a variable number of lower functionaries (Ashsash) that acted as counselors, and the Ilummian Elite (Ashe-Ilummin) that held the power. The Ilummian Elite was composed of 23 members, at the beginnings of the Um State, no fixed roles were assigned, however during the centuries that followed each one of the 23 had specific responsibilities that would be passed to his successor. The Ashe-Ilummin, contrary to all other roles in Um-Ulum society, could be joined even after one was already a member of another Umimi. To join it, any Um citizen could challenge an Ashe-Ilummin for his post. The Nulievarin for these titles varied across the centuries. After 4000, it consisted first in a series of advanced knowledge tests followed by a test of physical aptitude. After these screening trials, the true test began. First, with a competition between the claimant and holder, using skills relevant to the role. Afterwards, the holder and claimant fought to the death/surrender, the winner taking the post. In the case of surrender, the loser usually became an Ashsash.

In 4000 the 23 Ashe-Ilummin titles were:

• Admiral of Palfion
• Admiral of Narevet
• High Warden of Um
• Marshal of the Armies
• Governor of the Lartemun
• Governor of the Lazemun
• Governor of the Mountains
• Keeper of the Forest
• Keeper of the Treasure
• Keeper of Justice
• Keeper of Sestasheren
• Keeper of Knowledge
• Great Cycles Historian
• Great Waymaster
• Archimage of Farex
• Archimage of Ulum
• Great Ambassador of Um-Ulum
• Chancellor of Unity
• Chancellor of Peace
• Chancellor of Uniformity