The Politics of Dahls

Dahls follows a directorial system, where most of the power is held by three directors - adnir. The directors are elected for one cycle (2 Earthly years). One feature that distinguishes Dahlsian system from others is that if any director causes enough displeasure, they can be removed from office at any time. A petition with more than 1,728 signatures (Dahlsi use a dozenal system, so all the “round” numbers are multiplications of 12) can start the official process. If a director gets more than 20,736 vetoes, regardless of the ratio, they get removed and a temporary director is elected to take their place.

This is considered a progressive system, as traditionally the best way of dealing with disliked politicians in Dahls used to be beheading. Indeed, the road leading to The Directory Palace in Dahls is flanked by two rows of poles that were used to display the heads of the previous governments. These are most likely not the original pals, as the last revolution took place a couple hundred cycles ago, but they are powerful symbols.

In day-to-day operations, the Directory is aided by nine ministries:

• Ministry of Trade - a state-controlled trading company responsible for all the trade between Dahls and the old worlds as well as a large portion of the trade within Meon Cluster. Dahls allows for free trade outside of the Ministry.

• Ministry of Lifestyle - responsible for providing and distributing all the necessities to Dahlsi citizens, construction of new living units, and maintenance of food production and distribution system.

• Ministry of Finance - responsible for ensuring every working adult gets paid for the work they do.

• Ministry of Health - overseeing the healthcare and the training of healers

• Ministry of Education - oversees education of Dahlsi citizens.

• Ministry of Science and Sorcery - oversees the companies working on progressing Dahlsian technomagic. Works closely with the Cosmographic Society. Also responsible for construction projects, operating trains, and regulating the usage of magic within worlds.

• Ministry of Immigration - oversees the migration to the Meon Cluster, and works closely with the taxation office.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - oversees the relations between Dahls and other countries

• Ministry of Culture - oversees the production and distribution of art, organization of sport events, and the maintenance of tirahs (bars where people can meet and hook up). Since the settling of Meon Cluster began, it also provides citizens with viewing rooms (where one could view the illusionary maps and vistas of different worlds) and memory rentals (where one could experience saved memories from the travelers).

All citizens can apply to work at the Ministry and all Ministry employees can vote for the Ministers (nyalar). Ministers have no fixed terms and remain in office until vetoed. Some held the titles until their deaths.

Dahlsian politicians are by law prohibited from working with military forces. As Dahls is a tiny world with no significant resources, it never needed an army to deal with the outside forces.

Heliakia is an organization established to uphold peace, by holding judicial power over common citizens as well as the rest of the government. It’s led by the highest court of three kar-nair (high judges), elected among lower judges by all members of Heliakia. They are also elected for one cycle, though the directory cycle and Heliakia cycle are different.

Heliakia deals with crimes among ethnic Dahlsi people or the inhabitants of Dahlsian cities. Any Dahlsi citizen can apply to become a member, although the first stage is always street duty. Special education is required to advance within the organization, and a degree is needed to become lym (a lawyer) or nair (a judge). Typical punishments include public holding (criminals are forced to stand in a public place, holding a plaque detailing their crimes, paralyzed with spells for a set period of time), serving time at a labor camp in Xiburk, or (in extreme cases) exile.

Mespana is a non-governmental organization that's closest to the military, though its first and main purpose has always been safe exploration of new worlds. Settlers of all nations may request Mespanians aid in cases such as murder or grievous mistreatment, but the exact details are murky. In the end, it depends on Mespanian leaders if they agree to grant aid.

Mespana is led by kar-vassár, divided into cohorts led by vassárs. At the time of The Outworlder there are twelve cohorts, 144 members each.

Although both Heliakia and Mespananare extra-governmental organizations, they often cooperate with the Directory out of courtesy.

The basic currency in Dahls is the eyelet. Historically, Dahlsian coins were made of tertium and contained small dallite gems. As dallites’ usage in magitech increased, the stones were removed, leaving behind small holes as symbols. Despite that, the eyelets are one of the most valuable coins in usage. One eyelet is worth as much as one sák of milkseed. For everyday use, there are smaller coins called haip, worth 1/12 of an eyelet. Different nations inhabiting the Meon Cluster often use their own currencies, like shells, shards of jade, dryak teeth, etc. But a large portion of trade between worlds works by barter.