The Republic of Scroy-Noroy

The Republic of Scroy-Noroy is the western most electorate in The Confederation of Achthal which is extensively mercantile and is run by a group of rich merchants.

Culture
A visitor once said that Scroy-Noroyan culture could be summarised by a canal separated from a windmill by a levee. Although it is true that these things exist in abundance in Scroy-Noroy it misses the reason which is perhaps the most interesting. Although the Scroy-Noroyans do not have a traditionalist attitude they have no desire to purposefully forge into the future and instead use mechanical devises where they can sensibly be harnessed to improve their prosperity.

Government
Although Scroy-Noroy is officially a republic it is actually extensively controlled by rich merchants and to an extent the guilds. The leaders of Scroy-Noroy are the Consuls who are able to veto any action, refuse any advice and propose and block any law. The consuls were appointed by The Council of Families who are the off spring of a group of rich aristocrats who grabbed the important positions when they were available. The legislation technically states that it is made up of anyone with property over 40 Gold Crowns not controlled by a feudal lord is entitled to a vote their is much bribery, rampant corruption and copious quantities of intimidation and threats that are frequently followed up meaning that those with money and power have the upper hand. It is also worth noting that votes are public information. The Council of Families also has to aprove any laws although this is frequently a ill-attended rubber stamp procedure as they have already chosen the consul.

The other ranks of The Magisterium (Scroy-Noroy's political leaders) are: the Statistors (who are in charge of keeping official statistics); Praytellers (who have an ill-defined legal role); Quevestors (who prosocute murders and conduct other legal duties); and Administories (who are in charge of running public buildings). The Statistors and Praytellers are also elected by The Council of Families while Quevestors and Administories are appointed by The Council of Soldiers but both are unimportant as a Consul can over rule any action from them and so the Consuls are attributed as the true leaders. However, it is worth noting that conflicts do develop between the Statistors and there Administory underlings and the Preytellers and their Queverstor underlings because they are appointed by The Council of Soldiers which is controlled by wealthy noblemen.

Although, The Council of Soldiers is made up of all of the soldiers under the command of the Scroy-Noroy government, a vote is given to each of the thirty brigades in the Scroy-Noroy army. However, most of them are cavalry brigades so it is dominated by young nobles and so granting them the ability to elect the lower ranks of The Magusterium is actually designed to prepare them for when they are in The Council of Families which is defiantly evident in the layout.

Since The Merchant's Revolt the merchants guild members have been allowed to elect two Guildians Defenders who can veto any law or election but they rarely do so because of the threats that can be leveled by The Council of Families.

Another important part is The Senate which can issue guidance to the consuls and has to give its approval before money can be withdrawn from the treasury. The senate is appointed by the Statistors but they are only supposed to ensure that all members of The Magisterium who have been elected (even the ones who have finished their one year term) are on The Senate. The Statistors also have the power to remove members of The Senate but in both powers they can be overruled by The Consuls.

The Treasury
The Treasury is a hollow stone block with a slit at the top and 10 sides. It is highly guarded but to prevent anyone but the senators from unlocking the treasury it requires a combination of 3 of 5 keys are required and there being 9 combinations there are 9 iron hatches that can open the treasury. The 5 keys are given to the 5 senators who get the most votes in a secrete ballot held once a year who become known as keybearers. However, the treasury should only be opened and should always be opened when their is a majority of votes in the senate and so ordinarily it is the hatch in the tenth side with all 5 padlocks on which is used.

Geography
Scroy-Noroy was founded when Noroy was merged into its richer southerly neighbour, Scroy. Noroy remains poorer and is the subject of sparadic uprisings.