06-12-2003, 14:35
[[OOC: Feel free to have any diplomats arrive to attend or discuss things with the various members of the Church/State of Isam. This post is pretty much background information. This follws on from the topic at: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98367&highlight= ]]
The Holy City was under martial law. Soldiers of the Second, Third and Fifth Armies patrolled the streets and surveyed the crowds from the roofs of the buildings. Ranks of the soldiers from the First Army of Isam lined the main streets leading to the Great Cathedral. They stood three deep at every place. Only public transport moved throughout the city via the monorails, train systems and the back roads. Tol Isam would remain like this until the Hierarchy had made its decision and acted upon it.
The city of Tol Isam was home to over one hundred and seventy million people, with thousands upon thousands of housing blocks rising beyond the Outer Wall. As one moves deeper into the ancient city one would pass the shops distributing Church-Approved merchandise to the population, the banks and offices of the Empire and only two foreign banking companies. Throughout the city are countless thousands of churches, and a smaller number of holy buildings for the non-Isam religions.
As a person enters the Main Wall the administration district is entered, the innumerable offices required for managing the day-to-day business of the Most Holy Empire and the Imperial Faith Union. Also within this region are the hospital and Sentinel (police) headquarters, the structures housing these organisations both massive and formed of white marble. Marble seems to be used a great deal throughout the Holy City – should a visitor ask a native about the sheer amount of marble, he or she would learn that the marble is mined in the Gadonaa Protectorate. Gadonaa is one of the two Protectorates that had been in Isam hands for so long that they are effectively part of the Isam Nation.
After leaving the Inner District, and passing through the Inner Wall a person enters the Holy District. To pass through the Inner Wall a visitor must pass numerous security checks – none enter the District without authorisation. The Nazareth Stormtroopers who guard the wall also watch the skies and are supported by the Angel Observation Satellites that recently replaced the Eye of God satellites formerly in use. The Satellites ensure that none cross the wall except through the gate. The gate itself is massive and built strong enough to resist a nuclear blast – although the fallout would affect those on the other side of the wall. However, once the Gate is passed a visitor would enter the most beautiful region of the city, the marble buildings of the Hierarchy are surrounded by beautifully calm and beautiful gardens – open to a number of citizens every day. Although the waiting list is long almost every Citizen longs to enter the Hierarchical Gardens. In the Holy District those of the Church High Echelons dwell and control the Empire. Also, the colossal marble structure of the Chaplaincy rises close to the Holy Wall, beside it stands the Offico Espiritum Sancti – the Office of the Holy Ghost, the training centre of the Holy Ghost Special Operatives – assassins.
There is one more wall, defended by Nazareth Stormtroopers and Holy Ghost Operatives. However, no one is permitted in at this time and so the Cathedral would not be seen yet.
Planes and helicopter land continuously at the Isam International airport, bringing ambassadors, diplomats and heads of state – most from the Imperial Faith Union or the Most Holy Empire – along with more mundane people. The great ports of the Isam Nation receive cargo ship after cargo ship of supplies, for even during a funeral the Empire most go on. Soldiers drill for their marches in a few days, when the ceremony itself takes place and Archbishops, Archdeacons, Archflagellants and Archzealots write and rehearse their speeches. The Lord Secretary runs the nation from his simple office until the new Holy Father is decided upon by the Hierarchy. The Clergy write their sermons to their flocks and mechanics ensure that the broadcasting systems are functioning properly. Workers hang yards of black cloth throughout the city and decorate statues and churches with white lilies that will be replaced every day until the seventh day after the funeral itself. Artisans and painters create works of art to be stored in the archives. Chroniclers research the Holy Father’s history, re-recording his deeds and searching for his name…for the birth-given name of the Unnamed Ruler is spoken only twice after the Hierarchy’s decision – during his appointment and at his funeral. All other records of it are expunged save what shall be written upon his tomb and upon the timelines of the Church. Architects and rulers labour to create a tomb for the Holy Father and a single coffin maker slaves over his work. The Empire is a hive of activity, geared towards the funeral.
The Holy City was under martial law. Soldiers of the Second, Third and Fifth Armies patrolled the streets and surveyed the crowds from the roofs of the buildings. Ranks of the soldiers from the First Army of Isam lined the main streets leading to the Great Cathedral. They stood three deep at every place. Only public transport moved throughout the city via the monorails, train systems and the back roads. Tol Isam would remain like this until the Hierarchy had made its decision and acted upon it.
The city of Tol Isam was home to over one hundred and seventy million people, with thousands upon thousands of housing blocks rising beyond the Outer Wall. As one moves deeper into the ancient city one would pass the shops distributing Church-Approved merchandise to the population, the banks and offices of the Empire and only two foreign banking companies. Throughout the city are countless thousands of churches, and a smaller number of holy buildings for the non-Isam religions.
As a person enters the Main Wall the administration district is entered, the innumerable offices required for managing the day-to-day business of the Most Holy Empire and the Imperial Faith Union. Also within this region are the hospital and Sentinel (police) headquarters, the structures housing these organisations both massive and formed of white marble. Marble seems to be used a great deal throughout the Holy City – should a visitor ask a native about the sheer amount of marble, he or she would learn that the marble is mined in the Gadonaa Protectorate. Gadonaa is one of the two Protectorates that had been in Isam hands for so long that they are effectively part of the Isam Nation.
After leaving the Inner District, and passing through the Inner Wall a person enters the Holy District. To pass through the Inner Wall a visitor must pass numerous security checks – none enter the District without authorisation. The Nazareth Stormtroopers who guard the wall also watch the skies and are supported by the Angel Observation Satellites that recently replaced the Eye of God satellites formerly in use. The Satellites ensure that none cross the wall except through the gate. The gate itself is massive and built strong enough to resist a nuclear blast – although the fallout would affect those on the other side of the wall. However, once the Gate is passed a visitor would enter the most beautiful region of the city, the marble buildings of the Hierarchy are surrounded by beautifully calm and beautiful gardens – open to a number of citizens every day. Although the waiting list is long almost every Citizen longs to enter the Hierarchical Gardens. In the Holy District those of the Church High Echelons dwell and control the Empire. Also, the colossal marble structure of the Chaplaincy rises close to the Holy Wall, beside it stands the Offico Espiritum Sancti – the Office of the Holy Ghost, the training centre of the Holy Ghost Special Operatives – assassins.
There is one more wall, defended by Nazareth Stormtroopers and Holy Ghost Operatives. However, no one is permitted in at this time and so the Cathedral would not be seen yet.
Planes and helicopter land continuously at the Isam International airport, bringing ambassadors, diplomats and heads of state – most from the Imperial Faith Union or the Most Holy Empire – along with more mundane people. The great ports of the Isam Nation receive cargo ship after cargo ship of supplies, for even during a funeral the Empire most go on. Soldiers drill for their marches in a few days, when the ceremony itself takes place and Archbishops, Archdeacons, Archflagellants and Archzealots write and rehearse their speeches. The Lord Secretary runs the nation from his simple office until the new Holy Father is decided upon by the Hierarchy. The Clergy write their sermons to their flocks and mechanics ensure that the broadcasting systems are functioning properly. Workers hang yards of black cloth throughout the city and decorate statues and churches with white lilies that will be replaced every day until the seventh day after the funeral itself. Artisans and painters create works of art to be stored in the archives. Chroniclers research the Holy Father’s history, re-recording his deeds and searching for his name…for the birth-given name of the Unnamed Ruler is spoken only twice after the Hierarchy’s decision – during his appointment and at his funeral. All other records of it are expunged save what shall be written upon his tomb and upon the timelines of the Church. Architects and rulers labour to create a tomb for the Holy Father and a single coffin maker slaves over his work. The Empire is a hive of activity, geared towards the funeral.