Organizations
City Hall: The Commonwealth of Baltimore is led by the Lord Mayor of Baltimore. He is elected by popular vote of all the citizens of the Commonwealth, including the populations of Columbia, Detrickville, Westburg, and Minetown. The lawmaking body of the Commonwealth is the City Council. It is composed of one representative from each of the church parishes (24), 2 representatives from each of the Knight Orders, 10 from Columbia, and 2 from each of the townships, for a total of 46 representatives. In the event of a deadlock, the Lord Mayor has the tie-breaking vote.
Knights of Baltimore: While the government of the city is still run from the old City Hall, the real seat of power rests in the Headquarters of the organization pledged to defend the city from all outside threats, the Knights of Baltimore. Based out of the old City College Castle, the Knights of Baltimore are an alliance of the three biggest offensive groups in the city: The Black Knights of City, the Techno-Knights of Polytechnic, and the St. Francis Knights of Central Baltimore. While the Knights of Baltimore have several dozen member groups spread throughout the area, these three groups form the principal of the Knight forces.
Baltimore Defense Force: The Baltimore Defense Force is composed of those members of the Commonwealth who do not have the magical or psychic abilities necessary to be a Knight of Baltimore. The BDF is both the standing army of the Commonwealth, and its police force inside of the city and townships.
Baltimore Naval Division: The Baltimore Naval Division is charged with securing the waterways of the Baltimore Commonwealth and protecting the Fishing Fleet through the use of deep water frigates and shallow water attack craft. It is a branch of the Baltimore Defense Force, and other than some additional training, there is no difference between the sea-based and land-based personnel.
The United Churches: With the threat of invasion and enslavement, the population of Baltimore walled itself within its Church-forts. During the near century of isolation, members of the different faiths learned to live and work together in harmony. After nearly a century of forced intermingling, a basic understanding was made between the four main faiths in Baltimore; Catholism, Islam, Protestantism, and Judaism. All faiths believe in one God, and other than how you worship him, there is no basic difference between them. This understanding is what made the Church-forts strong, and what continues to make the City of Baltimore strong. While there may be some rivalry based on which Church-fort you come from, or what school you went to, religion is a unifying force in the lives of Baltimoreans.