Corisca
Corisca: City and Region
Corisca stands as the largest trading port on the Spiced Sea. Originally a meeting and trading area between Elves and Humans, the city began as two small towns; the human Dramnisca on the eastern bank and the elven Cor D’anthem. It is unsure when the two cities became seen as one, but it is believed that it began as traders from the south and east began concatenating the two town names they saw on the maps of the region.
The city exists solely for the purpose of trade. As the Elves and Humans grew accustomed to one another they began to allow traders from other communities. This translated into new goods and services entering into the local market as well as new markets for local goods. The community began to grow an an unprecedented rate.
This new influx of wealth did not go unnoticed. The city-state of Akterumn was well aware of the growth of it’s southern neighbor and planned to make the wealth of Corisca its own. A large army was gathered and the threat of siege was put to Corisca. Unwilling to allow such a threat to the people (or profits) of the city it was decided that the best course of action would be to capitulate and join Akterumn in a new combined nation with Akterumn at the head. The Coriscan merchant houses met and formed the first merchant council. The council decided to turn typically Akterumnian tactics against their new masters. They used their economic power to gain increasing political power within the nation.
Following the Great Northern War the region was again realigned. the entire area between the Il’Draeshad mountains and the sea came under the control of Akterumn and Corisca. While Akterumn was to remain the seat of the regional government, the real power now stemmed from Corisca’s Merchant Councils.
Government
all the area between the sea and the mountains is called Corisca beacause the city Corisca is the most prominent city. however the area is governed from Akterumn. The city of Corisca is run by a merchant council but the law of the land is laid down by a parliament in Akterumn. the parliament is composed of representatives from each of the 12 regions of the country with an extra representative for each of the two major cities (supposedly they need more representation because of their larger populations). this brings the total count to 14 members. There is a "king" that heads parliament , though he is mostly a figurehead. he opens and closes sessions of parliament, sits in judgment in the highest court of appeals, etc but has no power to make or change policy. the crown is a holdover from the days when Akterumn was a true monarchy (before the country was unified)
As for the city of Akterumn, the administration of the city is up to a city council, much like the merchant council of Corisca. it is comprised of 6 elected officials from round the city (elected every four years) and one chairman (elected every four years). the elections are staggered so there is an election ever 2 years one for half the council and the chairman, then another for the other half of the council.