Thirteen States

The Thirteen States of America, more commonly known as The Thirteen States or 13 States is a representative meritocracy founded in 1712 by a coven of witches called the Founding Sisters who were fleeing persecution in Europa, primarily by the fae. The etymology of the word derives from one of the Founding Sisters, Ameriga.

History
1600s - Witches flee fae persecution in Europa, where they are seen as a threat to a magical monarchy that has existed for centuries. As Europa expands globally during a period of imperialism, the witches settle and befriend (and sometimes clash with) the Native populations of the continent.

Ways of harnessing and accessing magic are shared freely between the ex-Europans witches and indigenous witches. Native witches introduce the Europan exiles to plane-bonded spirits, which become co-opted by Europan witches and called familiars. Europan witches show the Natives magical tools like early wands, the pre-curser to advancements in enchantments in the 1970s, known as the Second Magical Revolution and is considered to have ushered in The Modern Magical Era, also called The Age of Abundance.

1712 - The Founding Sisters declare independence, both national and magical, from Europa. They found the Thirteen States of America (then America) and declare it as a place where people and magic will always be free from government control.

Late 1700s - The Great African Dragon awakening in Western Africa drives droves of witch refugees to the shores of America.

Mid 1800s - Bloody civil war divides Natives and settlers, resulting in America being divided into the Thirteen States to the south, the First Nation to the north.

Late 1800s - Gifts invented by Cornelia St Jaime, Historically Magical Universities, most in a period of two decades between 1875-1898. This period is known as the First Magical Revolution, or sometimes The Age of Aptitude, or the Age of Brilliance.

The States
The West


 * Calypso (CA)
 * Redrock (AZ, NM)
 * Ji'ishland (TX)

The Mid South


 * Morganshyre (Ohio-ish)
 * North Hecatanee (TN)
 * South Hecatanee (TN)
 * Cote d’Aveau (LA)

The Mid North


 * Maholand (Montana-Ill)
 * Elzborah

The East


 * Wyckton (CT, NY up to Maine?)
 * Brosia (GA)
 * Hashiland (FL)

NEED ONE MORE STATE, possible contenders: Candela, Ambrosya, Kezyah

Notable Cities

 * Elzborah City, Hartland (Washington) - Capital of the Thirteen States
 * Athenia
 * Slumber City, Cote d'Aveau (NOLA)
 * New Salem, Wyckton - Original capital of the Thirteen States

Minor Cities


 * Belmar, Calypso - Thrash's hometown

Resource explaining -ham, -ton, -hurts endings

Branches of Government
The Thirteen States considers itself a representative meritocracy in which the country is governed by elected representatives (Low Circle) that correspond to a state's population and a group of accomplished witches (High Circle).

Executive & Judicial Branch
The High Circle - Made up of Named Witches, self-appointed, considered a meritocracy
 * Approve laws drafted by the legislators in the Low Circle
 * Convene to form the highest court in the land

Legislative
The Low Circle - Made up of representatives from each state based on population

High Circle used to be called High Coven? Circle a combination of European witch ideas & Native tribunal.

Melting Pot of Magic
The Thirteen States boasts that it is the most magical country in the world, in part due to an influx of magical immigrants over the centuries who perceive it as a country where witches can make a good life for themselves.

While some immigrants fled magical persecution and intolerance, like the original European settlers the Founding Sisters, others fled magical disasters, like the waking of the Great Dragon in West Africa in the early 1800s.