Rulership
The form of government of Ascavia is an oligarchy. The nation is ruled by the Council of Nineteen, the nineteen most powerful Lords of Ascavia. They rule by simple majority. One can only join the Council if a member falls from the Council. This can only happen when there is no adult successor to the seat or if at least thirteen of the nineteen members vote to cast a member out. Obviously this rarely happens.
Nobility
Ascavia has no nobility. They have been driven away, killed or just stripped from their titles. However, one do can hold title in Ascavia, but this is only as a Lord. One becomes Lord when no more than nine members of the Council of Nineteen object to giving the title. To be considered, ten Lords, of any stature, have to propose a Proposal of Advancement to the Council at the same time. Thus, lordships are fairly easily required if one manages to gain power, influence or wealth in Ascavia. The Lordship can only be lost by lack of recognition. This, of course, seems a vague notion, but recognition is defined by ten Lords giving recognition to another one's title. Even this can seem vague, but in the Ascavian system it works.
International relations
Together with the neighboring nations of the Setic Empire, Tretitan and Tsain Ascavia has formed the Eastern Alliance in 2571 to stop the advance of the Rubiad Empire to the north. In 3002 Atrogia joined the alliance as well. The relationships with its neighbors have been fairly peaceful the past centuries. There have been minor conflicts, but this was mainly part of some powerplay internally and externally. As the alliance is only required when in threat, it allows such minor conflicts to occur without endangering the alliance. Attempts of the Rubiad Empire to take an advantage because of a conflict, quickly turned around as one unified again against the greater threat.
