Fanon:Papal State

If you are looking for the actual doctrines and the operational standards of the adherents of the faith, go to the Ecclesiarchy page.

Papal State (Gk. Κοινόν Ἱερόν, Koinon Hieron (lit. Sacred Union)) is one of the many political factions of the fanon Time Paradox, and the first of the states to be independent of the main SimNation. The Papal State is a nascent nation, claiming currently 4 neighborhoods, Sunset Valley, Twinbrook, the capital Hekatonschoinos, and most recently Sunlit Tides. Although the Papal State officially runs according to the principles set by the codex written by its founding members, in practice life outside the walls of houses of believers aren't too strict. The Papal State, alongside the short-lived City-State of Twinbrook, is one of the two independent states to be introduced so far.

Nation Data

 * Symbol: Vergina Sun
 * Animal: Bunny
 * Color: Cyan and Silver
 * Average (Mean, with outliers excluded) wage per hour: Hekatonschoinos: 108 § ; Sunset Valley: 54 § ; Twinbrook: Not yet determined ; Sunlit Tides: Not yet determined.
 * Flower: Screw that, We prefer fruits (As Kallistrata records)
 * Fruit: Lime
 * Fields of Strength: Machine technology, most notably biotechnology, cybernetics and robotics, Gemcraft
 * Fields of Weakness: Performance arts, a lack of professional production studios and consumer good production, lack of large metallurgic centers
 * Exports: Tiberium, Nectar, Produce, Machine Tools, Sculptures, processed gems, finished alchemical products
 * Imports: Meat, Consumer electronics, Clothings
 * Top Wage: 2524 §/h (Kallisto Syrakosia)
 * Tax Rates as a percentage of income: Hekatonschoinos: 84%; Sunset Valley: 38%; Twinbrook: N/A%; Sunlit Tides: N/A%
 * Official Language: Attic Greek, Koine Greek
 * Mineral: Palladium
 * State Motto: "αἳρεσις τρέφεται παρά Ἑρωτος" hairesis trephetai para Erotos Heresy grows from (sexual) love
 * Currency: Simoleon, although the official currency is the Drachma. Simoleon is considered the fiat currency used in everyday use, while the Drachma is considered the representative money (backed by reserves of precious metal). The current conversion rate for Drachma is 1 for 1,146 Simoleons. There is also the Obeloi, which are 1/6th of a Drachma (and henceforth an exchange rate of 1 per 191 Simoleons)

Daily Life
In general, an ordinary sim would live a life rather similar to any other sims in the SimNation, as church attendance is not required, even by the ranks of believers. Regardless of that, religious structures are commonplace in the capital, having 3 chapels built based on the temples of the Ancient Greeks, one at the Triskelion Islet named the Temple of the Forefather (Naiskos Propatros), a unnamed chapel at the Agora, and lastly one at the Meditative Grounds. Sunset Valley also had one, until Esomena launched the renovation project, and it is presumed that it will be restored.

Religious Ordinances
Main Article: Ecclesiarchy

As a fundamentalist state, the Papal State technically runs on religious laws. The most significant part of the law is that romance and WooHoo is strictly forbidden to the followers of the faith, which comprises a significant part of the population of Hekatonschoinos, and a less significant presence in Sunset Valley and Twinbrook. Due to the fact that the said law applies only to registered followers, sights of couples can be still seen even in the streets of Hekatonschoinos, although in Hekatonschoinos the religious pressue is so high that such heretical relationships are nearly nonexistent, and couples usually take to their homes, and Ecclesiarchy usually is not bothered by private WooHoos of non-adherents.

Given the Ecclesiarchy's pro-technology attitudes, Papal State is also highly advanced in terms of science. For one, Simbots are far more common in Papal territory than in any region of the SimNation, especially so given that Stratonike has been the pioneer in the field, and the makings of a simbot is an arcane art held currently only by the members of the Big 6, although some, such as Parthenope, has the aptitude and experience to be ready to make one. The Papal State is also a leader in the fields of cybernetics and biotechnology, claiming many artificial humans and prosthetics (such as one proudly borne by Hypatia) given the attitudes that look unfavorably to the "natural" way of reproduction.

Despite all this, there are no such thing as apostasy laws, and the State does not provide economic incentives to convert to the faith: most Klerouchoi are not adherents of the state religion. Hence although the separation of church and state in the modern sense is quite weak if not nonexistent, in practice it feels quite like a modern state, with no religious police to hunt down nonbelievers. Despite a lack of apostasy laws, the Ecclesiarchy however is very vigilant about heresy, and does not tolerate romance or tolerance of it by any chapter, an example made clear with the precedent of Antigone.

In fact, the Papal State is one of the least oppressive of fundamentalist regimes, and an average citizen of Papal State can expect a level of personal freedom in par with most democratic nations. Although no official laws or experimental policies were set in place, the Ecclesiarchy is actually open to offering representation to the nonbeliever segments of the Papal population. While the political system available in Papal territories were largely dummy systems with little power, the Ecclesiarchy shows interest in giving nonbelievers a say in the government, especially in the fields of economics where they wouldn't interfere with say laws against romance amongst believers.

Edict of Veracity
However, the relative freedom of the press that Kallisto once espouse was reversed when a false rumor (that the Ecclesiarchy was effective at suppressing for a time) hit Kallistrata: once Kallisto took note of that, Kallisto issued the Edict of Veracity: in effect, Kallisto purged all Paparazzis from the Papal State, and also ensured all media posted would be subject to reviews by the Ecclesiarchal chapter of the respective cities. So infuriated were the Big 6 that they also added an addendum, the Warning to Falsehoods, in which the Big 6 legislated death penalty to any more propagators of false rumors.

With that, the Big 6 effectively clamped down celebrity culture, and destroyed the celebrity news section of the media industry of the Papal State.

Things to do
The Papal State is known for its large public projects, and one of the vaunted accomplishments of the Papal State is the concept of a public workhouse in which commoners may practice skills that would be otherwise not feasible to hone. In Hekatonschoinos, this is fully implemented with the Public Workplace in the central islet at the Agora region, while Nectar making is available to the public at the Nectar Market (Emporion Nektaros) right next to the public generic school and the Business Tower. The Papal States (at least in Hekatonschoinos) offers plenty of activities, such as horse riding, swimming, and in Hekatonschoinos, two large (and currently simple) libraries, alongside a multitude of shops. The Papal State generally frown upon night parties, and the only state-supported party place is the Palace of Pella-Syrakousai at Hekatonschoinos that is classified as a exclusive lounge with none of its exclusiveness (it is available to all regardless of celebrity status, given the Ecclesiarchy's burning hatred against vanity associated with celebrities, another irony given that most of the Ecclesiarchy have some level of fame) With Sunset Valley, the town used to bear the marks left by the creators of the Papal State until Esomena launched a revolution to renovate the town.

The Papal State is also liberal on foreign arts, as mentioned with the Nectary. This is an Attalid influence given that it was the Attalids who were open to foreign things, which was also an benefactor of the Simbot craze in the first timeline. Given the Papal state's love of euergetism, Martial Arts facilities are also provided via the Palaistra Stratiotike, although a public counterpart was missing in Sunset Valley even before Esomena's renovation.

Given that Twinbrook is a recent acquisition, such euergetism did not make its way into Twinbrook yet, not helped by the relative poverty of the Twinbrook chapter compared to that of Sunset Valley or Hekatonschoinos.

At all regions of the Papal State, nectar is quite an common commodity, despite the extremely high quality of Ecclesiarchal nectar. In fact, the Ecclesiarchal nectar is accepted by most experts to be better than even those of Champs les Sims, although many connoisseurs complain about the lack of variety, especially if the said connoisseur is tired of life fruits, given that life fruits make up the majority of the fruits consumed by the nectaries of the Papal State. The two most popular and common brands are the Nectar of the Throne of Pella, which is often preferred by the critics given the moodlet, and the newer Sacred Nectar of Alexandros, which fetches a greater price in the market despite expert preference for the former. There are other less common brands, such as the Inflammatory Rejuvenator, although such are far less common because Kallistrata makes most of the nectar, and the Inflammatory Rejuvenator is of Kallisto's design. While Al-Dar has pretty much taken over as the nectar maker in Sunset Valley, they have yet to produce notable brands. Of all the nectar brands, Kallistrata's main two brands are of international acclaim, and despite massive production (for one sim), it is sought after by many of the rich, and even the Bridgeport celebrities, who were about as hostile to the Ecclesiarchy as any could, have admitted purchases. In fact, Life fruits are so common in the Ecclesiarchal territory that many joke that Life fruits alongside Tiberium are the principal currencies of the Papal State. On the other hand, things like blue topaz is nearly unseen (at least in the capital), although iron and other industrial ores are quite common in the Papal State, even at its capital. However, given the recent WooHooium spike, Kallisto has ordered a quarantine, which hurt trade.

Although machineries are a strong point of the Papal States, given the arcane level of skills that the Big 6 possesses, machineries do not accrue a large portion of the economy, much less exports. In fact, the Papal State's strength in machineries are largely academic, and SimNation's greatest inventors and engineers often grieve that the relationship between the two states are of technical war, and curses the Bridgeport celebrities because of this.

Culture
Culturally, the Papal State officially supports a more Ancient Greek one, and the Papal State is an proud practitioner of euergetism. Outside the realm of the state, Kallisto's influence remains strong, given Kallisto's status as a celebrity figure. As such, the dress code of the Papal State is far more Victorian, and mini-skirts shorter than knee-length are frowned upon, and other unnecessary exposure is not common in Hekatonschoinos (and to a lesser degree, Sunset Valley). Even in terms of swimsuits, bikinis are an rare sight, while swimming shirts are common sights especially in Hekatonschoinos.

On top of comparatively prude dress code, women of the Papal State are encouraged to take up a trade. Fields usually considered male, such as engineering, are especially encouraged. Due to this, the Papal State is known for female technicians and inventors, and one notable example is Yuri Kang of the Kang Patriarch family of the 3rd timeline. Among males, they are also expected to make an independent living if able, although unlike females males generally tend to be much more varied in their career choices: musicians and athletes in the Papal State are almost always male, with very few exceptions. Males are also expected to dress prudely, although males are given much more leeway when it comes to swimming pools.

The Ecclesiarchy is highly disapproving of nonfunctional pets, a feature that is similar to the old communists and socialists. And as such, household pets such as little dogs are frowned upon by the Ecclesiarchy. Although the Ecclesiarchy has no law against the ownership of pets, the explosive rate of pet adoption has wrecked the nerve of the Big 6. However, there is a pet plague that is going around killing dogs and cats while sparing horses, leading some to believe shady works of the Big 6. Big 6 currently denies these allegations.

The Ecclesiarchy also pushed for more Hellenism, and succeeded in propagating more Ancient Greek culture by building the Stoa, which is an homage to the Stoa of Attalos, at the Hekatonschoinos' Agora area. They have also succeeded in building an larger public bath, the Balaneion featuring all aspect of the Barbarian thermae. They are also active investors in Hellenic education, re-establishing the Phrontisterion of Trapezous in Trabzon, Turkey that eventually resulted in the presense of Nikanor Trapezountios.

As for subcultures, the Ecclesiarchy is one of the greatest proponents of gaming subculture: An fact held more dearly given the Big 6's love (and aptitude) of computers. The Big 6 is known for game making, and it has been a profound proponent of IT education. Given that, the Big 6 is an benefactor of many gaming communities, and is an proud sponser of many tutorial sites: the greatest of which an annual contest in programming, computer arts, and so on.

Economies
Economically, the Papal State boasts an overall trade surplus given a solid base of raw material as well as an highly developed craftsmanship on the side of the Ecclesiarchy. However, independent businesses are largely stifled given the exceeding quality of the Ecclesiarchy, most notably in Hekatonschoinos. In Sunset Valley, such crowding out is almost non-existent (given that Naos-Stratopedon II does not have the facility to produce nectar yet), and there are some independent businesses in Sunset Valley that produces finished goods, most notably the Al-Dar. Kallisto always frowned upon the service sector, and commerce is largely based on locals supplying raw materials that is easily accessible. In fact, Kallisto believes malls to be heretical given that malls are associated with fashion and trend that is a symbol of the celebrity culture that Kallisto despises with great magnitude. As such, there are no malls in the Papal State whatsoever. However, Kallisto does recognize a need for commercial sector, and the Agora is dedicated to that. However, Agora is not exactly a popular place for commercial transaction, much to Kallisto's chagrin.

To sum it up, the Papal State's business environment is very unfriendly to big corporations, although it is quite conducive to small individual-size businesses due to the Ecclesiarchal support of consignment commerce. Given the lack of large corporations, advertisements are virtually absent in the Papal State, something that Kallisto see as a good thing, given Kallisto's view that advertisement sparks up desires for unneeded luxury.

Hekatonschoinos
With regards to Hekatonschoinos, the economy of Hekatonschoinos is highly export-oriented given Kallistrata's mercantilist policies. On top, Hekatonschoinos is rich in Tiberium, which is a main (yet diminishing in percentage) source of income of the Papal State. Hekatonschoinos is well-endowed with metallic resources, and mines are an common sight in the said capital. On top, Hekatonschoinos boasts high quality fruits cultivated by Kallistrata, and despite average soil fertility, Hekatonschoinos is known for agricultural products, and more so the Nectar produced by the Hekatonschoinos chapter of the Ecclesiarchy. Despite this, Hekatonschoinos does have some problems: As Hekatonschoinos lacks affordable housing, even previously rich sims ended up in debt due to crushing tax rates as prescribed by the Ecclesiarchal law ("There is no glory in money or luxury, latter only has heresy."), although given the massive coffers of the Ecclesiarchal government Hekatonschoinos boasts a solid welfare system. Military industry is also a growing part of Hekatonschoinos' economy, owned largely by the state.

Hekatonschoinos is not surprisingly a supplier of raw metals and gems, given its rich deposits of Tiberium, and to a lesser extent, other materials such as Supernovium. Hekatonschoinos is henceforth also a leading figure in rare-metal metallurgy, as well as gemcraft. Its consignment stores are brimming with such valuables, although with the infusion of the Hugo's Orphanage, crafts such as art products are also flowing into the market, even more so when the Big 6 became more active in production of art crafts. Despite its technological strength with its numerous leading figures, mechanical handicrafts accrue only a small portion of the market.

Hekatonschoinos is far from perfect, however: alongside a crushing tax rate given a lack of smaller housing which was remedied partially by more affordable housing, although the main issue that plagues Hekatonschoinos is the significant difference between the supply and demand for labor, in which the demand far exceed the supply given its low population. Kallisto wishes that the new affordable housings would attract immigrants of lower socioeconomic classes, who are the ones most interested in work.

The economy of Hekatonschoinos by itself is highly reminiscent of the 17th century France given a largely state-controlled economy, mercantilism, and a military focus.

With the Supernatural Revolution brought two changes to the capital of the Papal State: first it has allowed the Papal State to form its own gemcraft industry, especially convenient given the large reserves of gem found at its capital. Another was the Philosopher's Stone, allowing the Papal State to increase the amount of gold reserves that it previously possessed. However, this resulted in a recession, as the increased gold amount strengthened the Papal currency, and hence decreasings its exports, a key element of the Papal economy. This hit the other families hard, as most of them had spent their reserve cash on spreading out. It has nonetheless benefitted the Ecclesiarchy: despite the fact that exports were hurt, they still were able to use their leverage to get their products out into the mainstream market. The alchemy industry also grew, given the Ecclesiarchy making an eager initiative. The alchemy industry was scoffed by most of the SimNation, although it was noted by none other than Thessalonike, who was interested in seeing such elixirs used to facilitate the development of the martial prowess of fighters who visits what was formerly Appaloosa Plains, an unexpected reaction given Thessalonike's disdain for general magic and sophisticated technologies which she believed was a force that weakens people.

Kallisto has focused on developing the Papal territories, and given so, the main problem of lack of cheap housing is largely taken care of. In addition, Kallisto expanded the real estate of the capital, adding more lots, as well as improving the Agora significantly. Although Kallisto has not taken care of the core problem of lack of entrepreneurship, such problem was ameliorated by addition of entrepreneural immigrants, most notably the Kostopouloi and the Demirci families. Of particular interest is the new tech nerd, Kyriake Kostopoulou, as Kyriake is the first to fully take advantage of the Papal resources to create her own source of income. The investment with Yuri largely was largely without success, and the introduction of willing individual such as Kyriake has gained the attention of the Big 6.

Sunset Valley
Sunset Valley also depends highly on the informal market outside the influences of huge corporations. Like Hekatonschoinos, Sunset Valley boasts a trade surplus, although unlike Hekatonschoinos, the share of the market is far more evenly distributed, and the main component of the market is the commoners, not the elites of the Ecclesiarchy. Given that Sunset Valley does have affordable housing, Sunset Valley does not have the problem that exists in Hekatonschoinos, and thus the welfare system is far lighter in comparison to the capital. However, given the lack of Tiberium and other valuable mineral wealth, the average income of its residents are far lower than their counterparts back in the capital.

It is also the most lively economy despite its middle position, given a huge input by the locals. However, since quality isn't a priority in Sunset Valley (in comparison to Hekatonschoinos, which is controlled carefully by the chapter), Sunset Valley isn't noted for the products introduced to the markets there. However, the Al-Dar presents a significant presence there, and it is also the key figure in the Nectar market of Sunset Valley after Kallistrata's departure that created a huge vacuum there. The Al-Dar pretty much represents the Sunset Valley after it came with the brands Medina's Passion and Blessing of Allah, both receiving positive reviews by the connoisseurs. To this point, Kallistrata finds the competition very exciting, as Kallistrata always wanted to compete with an equally talented vintner, found in Anwar and to a lesser extent, Usaim.

Sunset Valley was far slower in taking in the Supernatural Revolution than Hekatonschoinos, and has yet to fully capitalize on the gains to be made. In fact, the lack of actions after the initial ruckus caused by the expulsion was so long and great that the Sunset Valley Chapter hasn't even started on the Alchemy Skills, only taking an initial peek for the moment. However, the Sunset Valley Chapter has been receptive of the said element, and have taken steps to accomodate the supernatural. In addition, they were even more receptive to the bathing technologies garnered from Sunlit Tides, and they do want to see their own Balaneion in Sunset Valley.

Twinbrook
Twinbrook is a different story, and given its lack of infrastructure, Twinbrook is the only territory that has a regional trade deficit. However, David Pollair, the head member of the Twinbrook Chapter, hopes to reverse this, and while the Ecclesiarchy establishes the Cleruchy there, Pollair also wishes to create an agricultural base, particularly stressing organic farming (which is already a case with Hekatonschoinos, given the fruits available in the Royal Public Garden). It is also the poorest of the Papal neighborhoods, although the locals don't really have trouble with the taxes.

Kallisto have sent funds garnered from the huge boom, most notably after the Defect Tiberium incidents. However, developments have not taken full effect yet, and Twinbrook currently remains a backwater region of the Papal State.

Sunlit Tides
The most recent acquisition of the Papal State, Sunlit Tides already had enough infrastructures to have a decent standard of living, deriving most of its income from tourism. Although the Papal State has not taken much action yet, it has sought to improve the weaker portion of Sunlit Tides, such as lack of highly experienced scientists and teachers, hoping to fill the need with a chapter. With the removal of the preexisting corrupt regimes of the Kahales, it is reported that the residents have a slightly higher standards of living even without significant Papal investments.

Political Standings
Although census regarding political standings are classified, most of the adherents of the state religion generally lean to the left, looking favorably to homosexuality and abortion. Although they frown upon other issues such as drugs, no laws prohibit usage of controlled substances as Kallisto cites examples of failed prohibition attempts. There are no parties in the Papal State, as there are no elected representatives yet. Kallisto does seek to introduce a democratically elected local council, and despite its fundamentalist roots, the Papal State is far less autocratic than most perceives. Papal State, despite its huge issue with romance and WooHoo, tends to keep out of private lives of citizens, although it does not stay away from collecting private data. Kallisto has demonstrated to have leftist tendencies, although Kallisto is quite centrist when it comes to level of government. On the other hand, Yuri also has leftist tendencies, although Yuri is lot more anti-authoritarian than Kallisto, who is centrist at that matter.

Given a largely female ruling body, the Papal State is also a center of feminist sentiments, although Kallisto et al does not approve of radical feminism hooting down males. As such, the Papal States boast a level of gender equality that is not seen in most regions of SimNation. Despite this, or maybe because of this, there are no major private feminist groups in the Papal State.

Corruption is absent on the high levels of the Papal State, and Eurydike has been confirmed in multiple cases to be free of corruption, and most politicians are also clean. However, Arsinoe of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, wife of Ptolemaios Philadelphos, has been confirmed to defraud people and hence is marked as an exception. Although major political dissent is minimal, there are complaints about high taxes in Hekatonschoinos, and people demand cheaper, smaller housing (as noted by the extreme popularity of the Oikos Ptochon style housing in the Persis Road as well as the Nesos Poleos, despite the shameful name: Oikos Ptochon meaning house of the poor and the Nesos Poleos carrying a stigma to those who are aware of the Roman insula) as well as malls, and Kallisto responded by renovating Hekatonschoinos, adding more of the former.

Education
''"παρεχε πένεντι ἄρτον και πένης ἐσθίει ἡμέρας. παρεχε πένεντι δῠνᾰμιν και πένης ἐσθίει αἰῶνος." - Give the poor a bread and he will eat for a day. Give him ability and he will eat for ages. - Papal Doctrine''

The Papal State boasts a great educational system that focuses on careers. However, due to the rigorous education that the Papal State endorses, many a student fall behind in grades, and few actually attain good marks, although this isn't to say that good grades are difficult to obtain if the mind is set right. Although there is no formal tertiary education, an informal tertiary educational sector exist, largely manned by the members of the Ecclesiarchy. On top, the Ecclesiarchy also runs a tutoring system to help students out, and more likely provide tutoring for skills helpful in careers. In general, a citizen of the Papal State is far more skilled than an average sim of SimNation, and given the Ecclesiarchy's pro-technology attitudes, skills related to engineering are highly encouraged, even (or more fittingly, especially) on females.

Given the relatively liberal political atmosphere of the academia in the Papal State, alongside the love of science and empiricism, the education in the Papal State is considered one of the greatest enemies of the Austrian School: The Big 6 themselves have considered Austrian School voodoo religion wearing the skin of economics, and have often decried it as economic theology of the bad kind. In fact, praxeology is taught in secondary level simply as a mean to deride the Austrians. However, the Papal State hasn't taken outright hostile steps against the Chicago School, given that they actually incorporate numbers into their arguments and study. Given Ecclesiarchal love of computers, there exists an educational game in which the player defaces statues of prominent libertarian leaders, such as Hayek, Rothbard, and Rand by answering correctly questions about economic facts.

Papal State is particularly generous in grants and other material supports particularly in the vocational field: Kallisto has always been active in supporting skill developments, and have encouraged gardening and nectar making. Given so, Kallisto had first invested in Yuri, later on investing on Kyriake after seeing initiatives made from each recipients.

Special Thanks
to Facebookerror for providing a basic layout with his page State of Simazonya.

Trivia

 * The exchange rate of Drachma is an reference to l33t: Ancient drachmai are worth 6 obols, and conveniently enough 1337 is divisible by 7, and the quotient (191) is the number of simoleon equivalent of an Papal obol.