Atlantean Society
Every Atlantean belonged to a “House”. The House was generally the family the Atlantean was born into and each individual was known by the house they were from; such as Qellel of House Mekali.

Some houses were more powerful, wealthier, or wielded more influence than others. The Atlantean society was based on a free enterprise system with significant government regulation – no House was allowed to control the majority of trade, industry, money or land. Not even the House of Atlas, the Emperor’s house. The Atlanteans believed in a balanced society where there was no poverty and every House was either wealthy, well-off or somewhere in between. All Houses were urged to diversify their interests in as many different trades, agriculture, military/government service, etc. to balance their own self-interests.

Any Atlantean could own land. The government encouraged this with a Land Council that would award a large parcel of land to each Atlantean when they reached the age of eighteen to do with as they chose. If a member of the House died, the Council would determine how the assets were distributed. Sometimes the land would go to the House of the deceased person; it was also possible some portion would revert back to the government, depending on how it would affect the balance of Society. All Atlanteans accepted the extensive regulation as a benefit to all of their people that removed the possibility of greed and corruption.

Socially, men and women were equal in every respect. Every citizen could own land and rise to a governing or leadership position. Only a natural Atlantean could be a citizen of the Empire and considering that no other species had been able to procreate with an Atlantean, it was fairly easy to determine their heritage. Still, it was not completely unheard of for an Atlantean to take a Sylvan, or even a human, as a mate, even if it was to be a childless union.

Atlantis was an Empire of laws that were strictly enforced on their own people and any foreigner that traveled or lived within their territory. Laws were complex and fair. Anyone accused of a crime had the option to be represented by a legal official to assist in a proper defense. Sentences for guilty parties ranged from small fines to confinement or even banishment. Only the most dangerous criminals were imprisoned for life. A prison sentence for a human generally meant they would be sent to a labor camp to work in agriculture or the mines until their sentence was served. Every Atlantean, from ruler to a commoner was considered equal under the law with the same rights and liberties. Crime was very rare in Atlantis and in almost every case, offenses were committed by non-Atlanteans; especially humans.

The non-Atlanteans that lived within the territory of the Empire were afforded the same protections and subject to the same laws as a citizen. However, they were unable to hold any position that elevated them above an Atlantean or to own land other than a residence or structure for trade. The Atlanteans did not mind foreigners in their Empire, they need them to fill critical service and labor roles they preferred not to engage in, as well as to facilitate trade beyond the Empires borders.