Chapter Text
Haven: A Safe Haven
To some, Haven is just a city. To others, it’s a fortress. For many, it’s home—a place of work, family, and life. To travelers, it’s a spot to rest and trade. Yet, no matter how it is seen, all agree on one thing: Haven is safe.
Haven is a Settlement, or a town. Maybe a city. No one knows or even care to define it. It's home and it's safe. It's all that matters Its most defining feature is its safety. The laws are strict and unforgiving, but they maintain order and protection and gender-based rules dictate life within Haven. Criminals are typically punished in accordance to the crime, and all crimes is kept on the low and out of public eye. Thieves typically lose a finger to an arm, vice versa leg. Repeat offenses get an exile or executions, Executions are rare though. There is enough death in this world. Murder, rape, Assault etc are all decided by the victim or their family. If said victim had no family it will be delegated to the local council. In rare cases a dear friend can make the decision.
Haven operates as a direct democracy where every single issue is voted on, with one vote per person. To manage its complexity, much of the city's responsibilities are delegated to guilds and councils. The state handles diplomacy, law, and voting, while guilds oversee specific sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and public services. CHFP(City of Haven Food Production) CHIWD (City of Haven infrastructure, Works and development) CHC (City of Haven Constabulary) and countless more for every issue. For the first few months of a newcomers time in Haven they are forced into the farming, Constabulary or construction. After a probation period and a time being examined they will be reassigned into a more fitting position, or they show an exemplary skill and or a coveted skill they will be fast tracked into assignment of Jobs. The bureaucracy in this city is INSANE. The Constabulary is an extension of the military overseen by its own council.
Haven spans several city blocks but grows vertically before outward. Its towering structures connect with bridges, rudimentary elevators, and zip lines, forming a labyrinthine network. Many buildings are covered in greenery—Haven’s crops—an essential part of its self-sufficiency. Solar panels are at the top of each building and are state owned. it's is encouraged to have a personal windmill, less strain on the grid. Many buildings are dedicated solely to power storage. Even so the strain is still massive and every night after 10 the power turns off and the batteries are allowed to charge a bit more. To have any "Extra" Electronics beyond lights you have to apply for a permit and give a time schedule for long you intend on having the object and how long it's gonna be plugged in. The council is, again, another small council. EPC (Electronic permitting council) There is a EPC for every housing unit. You would have to bring a convincing argument, They would talk amongst themselves about your reasoning, sometimes civilians are brought if there is a deadlock and if that happens you would have to reason with them as well, if the council denys it you simply go home and try again next month. If they accept it they would bring it to sub council of the CHIWD and if they accept it they would bring it to CHIWD. If it's accepted by then you get your power for the time you needed. It's stifling and slow but it makes sure everyone gets a say. If you were having a baby however you could simply tell the council and they would move you to a "Parents suite" which has all the amenities one needs. Which isn't a lot. The world's terrible all around, It's just slightly cleaner and bigger.
The Farmers' Guild oversees crop production and is directly under the CHFP. Crops are harvested and: Sold to those who can afford it, Provided to those who cannot, Stored for emergencies. Turned into beer as well, it's a good distraction. The brewers guild falls under the Artisan guild which is also under the CHFP, You can chose to not be part of the guild but you'd get pretty shit on for be a welsher. Every skilled trade that involves food or organics has it's own guild and reports to CHFP. Brewers, Animal raising, Poor kitchens, food scavengers etc.
The Builders' Guild falls under CHIWD and manages construction infrastructure and employment. While the state owns all buildings. Housing is assigned based on need: Large families receive larger homes. Policemen, soldiers, council members, and guild workers live in modest, common housing to remain grounded. However artisans and skilled workers get better accommodation. They also deal with Mining and demolitions when it's needed.
The state is the top of the top. Literally and metaphorically. The president and his cabinet are at the very top of the tallest building and are rarely if ever seen by the public. Under him are each top council. The president, The military, The CHFP, The CHIWD and finally The CHC.
The Constables are an extension of the military and are the common Police of Haven. But can be called on by the military any time, The military tends to send injured, Punished or recovering soldiers into the Constabulary. The Constables have the CHC but it has less power out of all top councils and can be easily overruled by the military who has its own power in Haven. The Constables are tough and unrelenting and will do what is necessary to do what they need to do. Many times acting as their own judge, jury and execution. which has caused much friction and concern in Haven. for example if they catch some kids messing around and doing something technically illegal the law dictates that constables fine them and put a report, However many constables just slap them around and go away. Constables are given a certain... Leniency. They often commit abuses and execute as they deem fit. Sometimes for massive swarths of time they don't listen to the CHC or State and govern themselves and make laws as they see fit until the State and CHC finally step in to correct them. It's very concerning, Just hope you encounter a Constable on a good day.
Haven is not incorruptible. Councilman can easily be paid and swayed into admitting or denying whatever. In one of the worst examples, when women needed permission to divorce, a women pleaded for a divorce from her abusive husband and when brought to the Divorce council it was a deadlock if not for one Councilman who did not vote, He called a timeout and in that time he was paid by the husband to deny her and when she was denied she was forced to stay with him and she was murdered. In interrogation he admitted to paying a council member. It wasn't illegal it was more less just unheard of. It set the president for my important laws enshrined in "The Haven Rule, Law and Order" book. For one It became illegal to try to pay a Councilmen, let alone accepting the bribe as a Councilmen. (Many constables favorite activity is to sting councilmen and beat them senseless when they take the bribe) . It also established the "Right to flee and right to fight" law which means that if you are in a situation where your life is in danger you have to right to flee a dangerous domestic situation and seek sanctuary and whoever you are fleeing from cannot legally pursue you and or demand you come back, Nor intimate anyone into breaking sanctuary. Right to fight is you have the legal right to fight back as long as viable cause has been established, if it were to result in death... Has never really been established. The constables usually just shrug and haul the body away. If it went noticed, say in a public place the person who fought would be detained but a Constable would probably just let them out down the street or something. Constables are a dark symbol of Haven corruption. The Rich, or what can be seen as "Rich" in this world. Tend to put themselves in high council position. They usually are business owners and or born into richness. However the more people come in from the outside the more question why people can do that, it's growing to be a... Tense situation. Technically through Haven laws "Rich" shouldn't exist but they do. Unfortunately.