The Scholarium of Inden

Inden is a nation of scholars, where education is valued above all else, and one's status in society typically depends upon their intellectual abilities. The result is a nation that is considered elitist by many, but which is responsible for much of the world's most cutting-edge advancements and its newest theories.

The value placed on education by the people of Inden makes it, naturally, the most educated nation in the world. Education is compulsory for all residents, up until adulthood, with secondary education a requirement for most worthwhile careers. Those who have difficulty in the classroom are viewed poorly, with their value typically only based on how they are able to support the nation's best and brightest.

Even for individuals in roles where education is theoretically limited, the pressure constantly remains. Simply doing ones job is often seen as lazy and sub-par. Instead, all citizens are expected to continue to learn and experiment with their role, performing tests and experiments to improve their work.

Inden is primarily occupied by Dragonborn, with other draconic races such as Kobolds and half-dragons present as significant minorities. Other races are present as well, though most are present only temporarily to fill roles or share knowledge that only an outsider can provide. Citizenship is only granted to individuals born in Inden who successfully complete their primary education, or outsiders of particular talent, and is required for the most important and glamorous jobs.

Residency is granted to anyone else deemed worthy of living in Inden, and while not a horrendous downgrade by global standards, the distinction both financially and socially between the citizenship and residency is clear. The result is a culture of extremely high stress, particularly for those in the early stages of their education, as their success can affect their opportunities for the rest of their lives.

Inden is ruled by a Council of 100 Elders, who serve for life, and chosen from the most educated in the nation. Once an elder dies or retires, applications are submitted by those with sufficient education, and the council debates and votes upon the replacement. The council also votes on a Chief Elder, who acts as the head of state and a tie-breaker in council votes, who serves in two year terms.

The citizens of Inden usually follow politics, but do not act directly. Instead, with the most educated in charge, they expect that any decision made by the council will be heavily researched and strongly debated, and will naturally be the best decision. However, many ignore politics entirely, viewing it as a distraction from more scientific and experimental pursuits.

The cities of Inden are filled with libraries and laboratories, as well as publishing companies always on the lookout for new findings to break first.

Crasemer is the capital of Inden, and is commonly believed to hold the most knowledge of any one place in the world by an order of magnitude. This is accomplished with the Crasemer Central Library, an enormous building filled with literature stretching back to before the Cataclysm, which also acts as seat of Inden's government. Access to the library is restricted, however, and while an incomprehensible amount of knowledge is present there, most find it just outside their grasp.

The other major city of Inden, Belktom is where those who struggled with their education are more likely to reside. While Crasemer is responsible for the uncovering of new ideas and innovations, Belktom is where most of these ideas are put to use for the good of the nation. Those who were not eligible for a more prestigious job find work in the various buildings here, attempting to scale the latest technologies or working in factories with products unique to Inden.