Founded in 405 AS as the Decusian Kingdom in Tor, First Coast. Transitions into the Decusian Empire within the fifth century and lasts until 749 AS; when it transforms into the Venerated Republic. After the fall of Tor in 1342, the seat of the Republic was moved to the City of Redholme.

Eastern Baronies: The First Coast in the Hall of Wisdom goes into more detail on the history of the Republic, being its de facto birthplace and the location of the fallen capital city of Tor.

The formal state religion is the Decusian Faith, and while pagan faiths exist, they are prohibited and heavily persecuted. The Church of Decus is the most powerful entity in the Republic.

The empire is huge, encompassing an entire continent of Vitaveus. Since its unification, people have become mostly homogenous with one another; though remnants of ancestral cultures can be found in the manner of dress, language, and beliefs. The Geography of Vitaveus has been rearranged into three distinct territories; Eastern Baronies, Midlands, and Western Territories.

Upon character creation, you will be able to choose which territory your character is from - this will unlock unique regional language, starting apparel, character portraits, as well as access to unique regional recipes in crafting.

A rigid class structure divides life in the republic into two formal castes: Citizens, and Civilians. These castes are entrenched in the theocracy which the Republic is bound - only through service to the State (and ultimately, the Church) can one earn Citizenship with the exception of Prelacy who are tied to the Church’s founding through ancestry.

Citizenship in the hall of wisdom outlines the differences between the two caste.

NOTE: This text is meant to outline the society your character has left behind in order to enter the First Province in an effort to help give you the tools to better understand how your character and others may have been shaped by it. While the First Province is still considered a part of the Republic, due to its isolated state it’s impossible to effectively cross-check records and communicate with the rest of the continent; thus, your character’s previous position in the Republic will not ultimately matter in the eyes of the NPC authorities that inhabit the First Province. They explain this as follows:

Under Protocol 7: 21 of Quarantine Level: Extremus - All occupants within a quarantined area, outside officials of office, their retinue, stationed soldiery, and permitted workers are to be treated and act as though they are of civilian standing. Past stations of citizenship are void under Quarantine procedure and will be reinstated upon its end or departure from a quarantined zone. Proceeding governance retains the authority to enstate citizenship at its discretion. Any and all citizenship garnered under Quarantine Protocol is deemed TEMPORARY and will be re-reviewed upon the ending of a quarantine.

Earned through merit. Gain legal rights in the eyes of the government known as The Beneficium.

• Gaining citizenship only applies to an individual. Citizenship does not extend to their living relative or future descendants. Inherited citizenship is only extended to those who can prove descendent from Prelates and make up the Prelacy caste.
• Gaining citizenship is through service to the state. For example, military service, or rising in the ranks of the Church or other bureaucratic state entities.
• Citizens have the rights of the Beneficium. Meaning they can own land, testify before their government, and wield and carry weapons.
• Citizens of the Republic may carry and possess weapons within the Republic, whereas civilians cannot.

Citizenship includes more detailed information on Citizens in the hall of wisdom.

Descendants of the original Prelates of the Decusean Church, over a thousand years ago. The main difference between regular citizens and Prelacy is they inherent Citizenship due to their blood-ties as opposed to being granted it from service to the Republic:

• Prelacy does not have any formal titles or additional rights outside citizenship caste. Instead, they have inherited citizenship, which allows them to build generational wealth and influence through dynastic families that normal citizens cannot. Formal titles are reserved for military, church, and state positions.
• The Prelacy's advantage is in nepotism. In the Republic, the prestige of their lineage gives them an advantage in rising the ranks of the theocracy; having people in place whose ancestors can be traced back to the founding members of the Faith is great optics.
• A Parish refers to a family that can trace its lineage back to a founding member. This genealogy will span centuries dating back to the Prelate.

While feudal systems and kingdoms have existed in Vitaveous prior to the Republic, nobility would be an outdated concept by a few hundred years. Titles are reserved for the Republics factions, for example, the title “Lord” is very exclusively linked to the Foundry’s ranks under certain circumstances, otherwise “Lord” “Lady” and “Nobles'' are not generally terms used in Vitaveous.

The Prelacy, located in the Hall of Wisdom provides more detailed information on the Prelacy.

This would be your general population of the Republic. While they don’t have the rights of the Beneficium, they have the benefits of the societal infrastructures and protections of the Republic at a fraction of the taxes, levies, and tithes paid in by Citizens.

• Denied the Right of Dissent, meaning they don’t have a say in their representation in the Republic Senate,
• Denied the Right of Lethality, meaning they cannot carry weapons, even for self-defense against the undead. Civilians often rely on the Ecclesial Authority to provide day-to-day protection – be it in the form of the Legion, the Templar, or a local Municipal safety force.
• Denied the Right of Dominion. Civilians are not allowed to reproduce, breaching this right is regularly punished by fines. Civilians cannot own land.
• Aside from from the Beneficium Rights, Civilians are protected under all Clerical and Republic law as equally as their Citizen counterparts, they are unable to initiate any sort of legal proceedings against their fellow Decusians in the absences of Citizen status (the Right of Dissent)

Citizenship includes more detailed information on Civilians located in the hall of wisdom.

Citizens within the Republic are afforded additional rights and privileges (known collectively as the Beneficium). Civilians are not.

The Right of Dissent

• The right to vote for your municipalities Vicar (Senate Representative)
• Right to bring public grievances against another Citizen or Civilian
• Despite its name, it’s still illegal to publicly dissent against the State itself

The Right of Dominion

• The right to procreate and produce offspring. Civilians are not allowed to reproduce, when they do they are fined.
• The right to own land

The Right of Lethality

• The right to possess and carry weapons
• The right to use said weapons in self-defense against both living creatures and undead

Citizenship includes more detailed information on the Benficium in the hall of wisdom.