Loheta

Castles of Loheta Loheta Zadirwa
Flag
Capital		Wataful
Largest		Gollisad
Official languages		Lohetan
Demonym		Lohetan
Government		Semi-constitutional octarchy
-	Lohe
Legislature		Advisory Council
-	Density	30/km2 77.7/sq mi

Loheta (Lohetan: Loheta [IPA]), officially the Castles of Loheta, is a country located in eastern Soltenna at the northern shore of the Gulf of Šarkunen. It borders Asota to the north and shares a maritime border with Lenezan in the east.

It is a small pastoral country that was first formed from eight different chiefdoms in the 3rd century CE following the collapse of Letsatian influence. The ancient castle-palaces of the chiefs traditionally and to a large extent still serve as the centers of power in the country, as the position of chiefs continue to exist, however

Etymology

Loheta, "palace", comes from Proto-Rietic *ləwhəta, from ləwhə (elder) + ta (place suffix). Zadirw, "castle, tower, skyscraper" from Proto-Rietic *tsadʰirsew, from tsadʰ (arrow, spearhead) + ir (genitive plural suffix) + sew (camp, settlement).

History

Loheta was formed out of 8 smaller chiefdoms located at the end of the Uhsnoh peninsula following the collapse of the rule of the Letsatian Empire in the region in the 3rd century CE. The establishment of a council rather than proclaiming or electing a single person to be monarch was likely done to spread power evenly throughout the land and so ensure peace, stability while preserving the power of each chief and the different local identities.

In the following centuries, times of independence alternated with times of foreign rule from neighboring kingdoms and more loosely organized groups, before finally regaining independence in 1803, from the Alotol Confederation.

After this, local people in every former chiefdom could also vote for representatives to be sent to an Advisory Council for the first time, however, this council had no political power and is generally claimed to have only been established to allow the chief council to claim to be listening to the general population more. Only gradually did it become a legislative council with actual (even if initially limited) lawmaking powers and the right to agree or reject a budget, with the process having been completed after the Great Ekuosian War, in 1952. The Chief Council was officially renamed the Executive Council in 1956, but no substantial changes or limits to its power were made, and it remained unelected. As a response, a movement to appoint the members by popular vote was founded by political groups in Gollisad, but has not managed to achieve much success yet.

Politics

Government

Executive

The Octarchs known as lohe or elders are unelected political and religious leaders of the country, collectively forming the Executive Council (until 1956 Elder Council) ruling the country. Its power is limited only by a traditional unwritten constitution and laws passed by the legislative. In theory every elder appoints their successor based on merit, but in practice this is usually one of their children. This system has led Loheta to become very conservative politically, being one of the few countries with a traditional, unelected executive, as the only ways for a new member to take up a spot require a council member to have died, voluntarily left or failed to maintain ceremonies appropriately and confidently conduct them (or have publicly voiced being unsure about them). In this case they are usually silently (and more or less politely) ousted.

The eight leaders that form the Lohetan Octarchy are in writing often accused of caring more about appearances than actual government. Research from the University of Lanothi purports to show that octarchs have been keen on maintaining their political power while doing little in office that is not linked to their ceremonial responsibilities as religious leaders. Most octarchs will dismiss any criticism with a smile and friendly gesture, trying to maintain a kind and helpful image.

=Legislative

However, an elected legislative has existed since the end of the GEW and also has budgeting power, limiting the power of the Elder Council somewhat, renamed in 1956 by the members to Executive Council to make it sound more modern to outsiders and promise change to locals. Not that this was a popular move, outside of official documents referring to it as the Elder Council is still common

Administrative divisions

Loheta is divided into eight regions, each led by one of the octarchs from their castle palaces in the largest regional towns. Below the regional level, individual parishes exist and are governed by representatives appointed by the regional octarch.

Demographics

Healthcare

Healthcare is public, available in all towns and free to all passersby. Its funding has always been of the highest priority to the Octarch government, taking up the largest part of the yearly budget to allow for standards of care as high as possible with the funds available. Unlike with other sectors of daily life, the economy or government, technological and other innovations in the healthcare sector are embraced regularly, if affordable. The healthcare system regularly polls at the top in questions about what inhabitants in Loheta take the most pride in, right after the religious traditions and hospitality to travelers, especially children.

Religion

As a result of historical influences from the Letsatian Empire and the Alotol Confederation as well as Alotol culture more generally, Loheta is a nominally Akalist country. Lohetan Akalism is a polytheistic religion, with several deities called "legendaries". However, due to the emphasis on the two main legendaries, the Sky Legendary and the Sea Legendary, and all other legendaries being grouped together with one of the two, the religion resembles in many ways a dualistic faith. As Earth is seen as the realm of spirits and humans, there is no deity associated with it. Nonetheless, there are legendaries said to be roaming the earth representing natural forces, lightning, winds and rain, and fire. The sea and sky furthermore are home to additional legendaries, representing water and its forces and forms, the waves, currents and ice.

Many pre-Akalist beliefs and rites also still exist and are reflected e.g. in the existence of shrines for protective spirits (such as Xiuci, said to watch over travelers and letter-writers). Every one of the 8 bigger towns with a central castle-palace has certain protective spirits assigned to it. People often have household spirits they worship, too. All spirits are linked to a particular traditional element (air and storm, earth, life and death, metal, ice and fire), and each one of those elements is also associated with a particular town and region. The ninth traditional element (water), is assigned to the sea and seafarers.

Culture

Heritage

Loheta's culture has also generally had a lot of Letsatian and Alotol influences, as well as from other cultures and neighboring countries, such as Asota, especially in the modern day.

Unique to Loheta however is an adulthood rite where children at some point before turning 20 have to travel across the country and visit all 8 castle-palaces and there challenge the local elder to a ceremonial animal husbandry competition that differs from region to region. Children travel alone, but are guaranteed safe conduct and every household in the country is expected to help a child on an adulthood journey out, by giving them food, shelter or advice as needed.

Symbols

The flag was adopted after regaining independence in 1803. The yellow represents the sun and warmth, both in the air as well as the warmth coming from people showing hospitality and genuine friendliness.The white represents the sand at the beach, the cycle of life and peacefulness. Finally, the "crystal blue" in the center represents crystals in caves, but also the sea and clarity of mind.