Republic of Xelass

The Republic of Xelass is the largest Zeth state. It is a representative democracy.

Culture
The culture of the Republic is one of freedom of speech and empowerment of the individual. Enterprise and entrepreneurship and rewarded, and the main aspirations of citizens are to become famous or to discover and invent.

Education
The state owns almost all schools, though a few privately-owned ones have survived in which the richest of Xelassian children can be educated. The curriculum is designed to be general and non-focussed from the ages of six (when school begins) and thirteen, and then to give teenagers the ability to narrow down what they want to do.

Subjects include biology, chemistry, classics, computing, cosmology, design, fine art, mechanics, particle physics, politics, and pure maths.

After reaching the age of nineteen, students no longer have to remain in education and can leave to begin their careers. However, many choose to stay behind for further studies, in which they narrow down to two subjects to become extremely proficient. Many professional jobs require specific further studies.

Entertainment
Xelassian entertainment is mainly through the medium of television. Radios used to be an important household item, but have fallen out of use. There are two state-owned channels and around sixty privately-owned channels which citizens must pay to access.

There is a small film industry, but it is dwarfed by the television industry. Many actors begin in film and move to television drama once they have become famous.

Art
Drawing and painting are introduced to young Xelassians. Professional art is no longer possible, but many still do it as a hobby, and there are a few galleries in which artwork can be exhibited.

Music
The music in the Republic is very variable. The latest fashion is for jazz-like and bluegrass-type music, though there are rock 'n roll and electronic music subcultures.

Religion
Freedom of religion is a right in the Republic. Around 57% of Xelassians practice a religion.

The main religions are T'han, which is a pantheistic faith believing in a god visible through nature, and the religion of Parity, which believes in a world of interconnected opposites and the importance of sapient beings in maintaining the balance of the cosmos.