Post by Avaerilon on Apr 29, 2012 16:33:02 GMT
The Magnificent Kingdom of Avaerilon
I. A Brief Overview
Avaerilon is a large country within the Social Liberal Union, made up of four large isles (Fereldan, Dunaemair, Arnalor and Morrowind) and numerous smaller islands. It is a constitutional monarchy with an unusual tricameral system of government. It has a long and complex history, beginning as a group of affiliated British kingdoms to a united kingdom of various ethnic groups, now one of the most infuential nations in the SLU. Avaerilon is a member of the SLU Cabinet, the World Assembly and CAT.
II. A Short History
Avaerilon has been inhabited since at least the time when Stonehenge was built in Britain (around 8000 B.C.), since the design of the circle appears to have been based-on a commonly-used structure in Fereldan. Archaeological evidence, as well as numerous historic accounts, puts the same Celts who later inhabited southern Britain as the first people in Avaerilon.
Plato notes this in a brief paragraph:
"The Gauls claim that beyond the seas there lies an island where their kin-folk from Albion have migrated in some number. While one at first may discount the barbarian's elaborate tale of an emerald isle, traders from Athens, Marlassa and Thebes have said they have sailed weeks overseas to a distant isle, in the midst of others, that is called by the Keltoi and Gauls "Veraldunom," or by the local Britons "Fyreldun." It is said that this place has riches beyond counting, and even a literate people. While experience has shown the Keltoi and Gauls are illiterate and stubborn, perhaps this island is different."
Caesar acknowledges the existence of Fereldan in his works:
"...while being there [Gaul], some man did mention to his fellows that they should make for Veraldunom; a distant isle where their cousins lived. It is unlikely that the legions could send a force across the sea, for it would take many weeks, and many ships could be lost, if such a feat were attempted. Therefore, the legate discounted the idea, and said "Let the Celts be in their haven, for what do we watn with distant savages?"
It appears that, for thousands of years, the Britons of Fereldan lived as they did in Britain although they had adopted written-script and more formal communities. By the time immigrants from Wales, Cumbria, Cornwall, Rheged and Gododdin would arrive, the local Ferelish would be, as the scholar Gildaeus put it, "enlightened barbarians."
The first new people to arrive in Avaerilon were the Britons- a British-Celtic people, who left Britain in the 5th Century A.D. to escape persecution under the Saxon expansion in those lands. After numerous weeks of sailing, they came upon the island of Fereldan. With a mild, temperate climate, and plenty of nearby resources, it was deemed an ideal place to settle by the leaders of various British tribes. The Britons were not the only people to have resided in Avaerilon for thousands of years, however, Ancient elvish records state that, many moons ago, a fleet of Sylvan Elf ships from Middle Earth reached Arnalor. Resembling their heavily-forested homes in their old land, they settled among the woods. Various elven kingdoms flourished, the most powerful and successful being the kingdom of Gondolin, which lasted until the unification of Avaerilon. Contact had existed between the two peoples for centuries, but it truly came to fruition with King Brychan of the Britons making a lasting friendship with Deilan the Bright, who assisted the Britons in casting-down a wicked, rogue king within their own lands, in the 6th Century.
It was not simply Brtions Sylvan elves that dwelt in what became Avaerilon- around the year 1150 B.C., a fleet of Duneri ships, led by the Prophet Veloth, arrived on the eastern isle of Morrowind, which they called Resdayn at this time. The Dunmeri people eventually made contact with the Sylvans and Britons, but they were not friends. Due to huge cultural differences, there was mutual suspicion and misunderstanding. This lasted for quite some time, until in the 2nd Century A.D., when there was a civil war in Morrowind. The great leader Nerevar, a powerful general and respected politician, led a group of Dunmer who opposed the construction of a thearchy led by the sorceror Dagoth Ur. Nerevar knew that the forces of Dagoth Ur were too powerful enough for the Dunmer, and sought help from overseas. The Britons and Sylvans agreed to help, for they feared the power of Dagoth Ur also. A coalition defeated Dagoth Ur, although Nerevar was gravely wounded. From then on, the Dunmer co-existed with their Western neighbours.
Gaelic people had lived in Dunaemair since about 300 B.C., but were bolstered by immigration from Ireland and Alba (Scotland) from 400 A.D. onwards. Having had cordial relations with their southern cousins, the Gaels became hostile, and the Britons likewise, due to mutual immigration and skirmishes. However, by 700 A.D., the disputes and disagreements had died-out, with a new generation of Celts seeking co-operation.
After uniting under the banner of the great warrior King Arthur as one nation to repel a huge invasion attempt by Anglo-Saxon forces at the end of the 8th Century, Avaerilon truly came-into being. The Royal Family were descended from Brychan, and were thus mostly Hiberno-British, although there were several elvish links as well. The family emerged as the Williams by 1230. Avaerilon was an early democracy, with the monarch having advisers elected by ordinary folk, and wielding minor power compared to most other lands. By the 1600s, Avaerilon had much the same system of government it has today.
There were several invasion attempts made on Avaerilon by other nations in the Early Medieval period, though they were all of them repelled. During this period, rampant castle-building occurred throughout Avaerilon as a defence mechanism. Today, it is estimated that the average road traveller will see a castle every 10-15 minutes, when travelling at 50mph in Fereldan. Once the threat of invasion was muted, Avaerilon continued to play its part in the wider world; mostly as a trading nation, a scholarly bastion and one of exported expertise, notably in architecture, literature and science. During the Renaissance, Avaerilon became one of the most enlightened nations, with a literacy rate of nearly 50%, due to the belief (which has never waved since) that education was the key to success.
Avaerilon developed as a major nation over the years, although it did not sacrifice its expansive forests and meadows for industrialisation, which was mild. One of the great advantages Avaerilon has was, rather than usual coal, it had its own, unique variety, which had been mined for hundreds of years, and did not emit large quantities of harmful gasses when burnt. Used for centuries beforehand, its usefulness made it ideal for steam-engines. Avaerilon built a comprehensive railway system, which allowed goods to travel around the nation faster than they had ever done. Avaerilon has no "industrial cities" as such, and never truly did, although some had notable numbers of factories, which employed thousands of people. However, government policies prevented pollution and "environments of filth," which often forced it to adopt genuinely modern social policies. This meant Avaerilon avoided many of the negative issues that occurred with industrialising.
Over the course of the years, Avaerilon pursued largely Liberal and social-democratic policies towards its governance, which makes it a progressive and "socially-modern" nation by many definitions. There has not been any civil-war within Avaerilon, nor had it taken-part in many major conflicts with other nations since the 1400s. Today, it is regarded as a safe, environmentally-friendly place to live.
III. The Geography of Avaerilon
As stated previously, Avaerilon is made up of four large isles. Each one has varying topographical features. The region enjoys a very temperate climate, with mild Summers and cool Winters. It rains gently throughout Autumn and Spring, with moderate snow in Winter and plenty of sunshine in the Summer. Dunaemair is the wettest of the isles, and largely the coolest. Morrowind is typically the driest and warmest.
Fereldan and Arnalor both share dense deciduous woodland and thick pine (largely Scots pines and firs), as well as green hills, snow-capped mountains, and long, winding rivers. Moorland is common in some areas, along with marshes, swamps and bogs. Uncultivated land also includes lush meadows and fields of flowers, both ofwhich Avaerilon is famous for. Most agriculture is found in Fereldan, where there is more flat land. Mediterranean flora is found on the Adriatic Peninsular in Avaerilon, which has a warm current of water creating its warmer climate. It is believed volcanic activity causes this.
Dunaemair is more rocky and high-up than the Southern isles, with moorland and pine-forest dominating the geography. Lakes, waterfalls and caves are frequently found in its mysterious landscape.
Morrowind is the most unusual of the isles, with a titanic volcano (Mynyd Goch- Red Mountain) in the centre, with the sprawling Ashlands emanating from it. There are also sulphurous badlands in the south-east; Molag Amur. However, the island also has good growing land in the south-west Ascadian area, which is where most of the population lies. Grasslands, forest and mountains are found alongside, as well as huge salt-marshes in the west.
One curious part of Morrowind is the isle of Solstymaedd ("sol-stum-aith"), which has a Scandinavian climate, along with tundra, glaciers and other such things. It snows all-year and never gets above 3 degrees Celsius.
IV. Government
Avaerilon has a tricameral system of government; possibly unique in the region. Essentially, it is a constitutional monarchy, with an elected head of state, and two heads of government; one directly elected, the other appointed based on electoral performance of political parties.
Since 1796, kings and queens have no longer been hereditary in Avaerilon, after Robert the Bard died, having asked parliament to approve a measure, whereby the general voting public would vote for a head of state. The monarch is the head of state, elected by anyone over the age of 16 (the age of suffrage in Avaerilon). Anyone born in Avaerilonian territory to Avaerilonian parents (also born to Avaerilonian citizens on Avaerilonian territory) can apply to stand from the age of 21 onwards.
The Seanduine ("shan-djeen-eh," "Old Men" in Irish) act as an independent body of advisors and testers. If they deem a person fit to stand, based on a will to serve the land and the people, they are allowed to do so. After each taking part in a series of tests and challenges, to show qualities required in a monarch, those deemed worthy to stand are then elected via the Alternative Voting system. If a candidate gets over 60% of the vote, he or she is pronounced king or queen. They rule for life, or until they abdicate (which has to be at least 8 years after being elected), or if either the Royal Court or Parliament believes they should stand-down, based on a super-majority vote.
The Royal Court is made-up of various officials and advisers to the monarch. The House of Commons, House of Lords, and general public each appoint (via voting) a fifth of the total number to the court, while the monarch appoints two fifths. The monarch may demand parliament review legislation or take action, based on the wishes of the people. Essentially, they act as another check on the government, along with representing the military and police forces.
The House of Commons operates under a system of being voted by the Single Transferable Vote, introduced in 1889, after AV was dropped. Historically dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives, as each part moved away from the centre, new parties appeared. The Liberals remain the largest party, with healthy support across Avaerilon. The Social Democrats are the second-largest, with support mostly in Dunaemair and Fereldan. The Centrists have strong bases in Morrowind and Arnalor, and the Conservatives are largely from Morrowind also. Two small nationalist parties- the Dunaemair National Party and the Resdayn Nation party- are also represented, but in minor numbers. The former is a "traditional" socialist party, while the latter is Conservative and "traditionalist." A number of independents are also seen.
The Commons acts as the day-to-day government, introducing basic legislation and running the country. The House of Lords reviews legislation and writes the laws. 80% of this second chamber is elected via STV, while 20% are appointed judges by the Royal Court. This house is led by a Patrician, elected via AV.
For the first time since 1796, a Williams was elected King of Avaerilon- Aubrey, known officially and popularly as "Dragonheart." Favouring a Social-Liberal stance, his approval ratings are currently around 93%; strongest in Fereldan and Arnalor.
V. Economy
Avaerilon's currency is the Aub (A); a decimal currency, although some coins that hark back to the old system exist, such as half-pennies and sixpences. Avaerilon operates a mixed-economy (contrary to some reports), with a healthy private sector and a strong public sector. Tourism is one of the largest forms of employment in the region, giving rise to a strong tertiary sector. Billions of Aubs are generated by tourism, but the publishing industry, television and cinema media and trade services also generate substantial income.
Avaerilon has a modest but profitable car industry, which exports many well-engineered and sporty cars to numerous nations. The state owns and operates the Royal National Bank of Avaerilon, along with all electrical production, water supplies, and waste-management. Mining is small-scale, as is forestry, since deciduous trees come under many laws and protection clauses. A number of people work in agriculture, all of which is organic.
VI. Transport
The mass-transit system in Avaerilon is subsidised and largely state-owned. All bus systems are government-run, and the government operates Griffin Express coaches cross-country. All train companies are 50% state-owned, 50% private, with all carriage-building state-owned. Most trains are made by small, private firms. The railways themselves are owned and operated by the state, who also control the train stations.
Aeroplanes are not constantly flying overhead in Avaerilon. They fly high and fast, with the latest technological innovations. Commercial flights over Arnalor are illegal, although private and military aircraft may fly. (Incidentally, commercial operators are private companies with a substantial government stake in them to ensure quality of service.) Airports are not busy in Avaerilon, since most planes are large enough to carry thousands. Tourists travel by plane, trains from the SLU, or by boat. The latter is, and has always been, the most popular.
VII. The Native Peoples
There are four 'native' peoples to Avaerilon; Britons, Gaels, Sylvan Elves and Dunmer. One can group these into two groups; human (Britons and Gaels) and elven (Sylvans and Dunmer). Each people has their own language and native script, and a unique cultural identity. However, they also speak a common language; Avaerilonian Welsh, and all share an Avaerilonian culture. Primarily, the four peoples actually think of themselves as one people; just slightly different.
Physically, the Britons and Gaels are very similar, although the Gaels tend to be shorter. The major difference tends to be accent. The Sylvan elves are generally pale-skinned, relatively tall, slender, and have pointed ears. The Dunmer are grey-blue in their colour, often with red-coloured irises or even totally red eyes. They are usually tall and toned. Like the Sylvan elves, they also have pointed ears.
VIII. Other Ethnic Groups
Immigration has been key to Avaerilon's success for hundreds of years. As such, Avaerilon boasts a diverse mix of people from different nations, although most of them consider themselves Avaerilonian culturally and linguistically. Around 20% of the total population is "Non-Native Avaerilonian," with the highest numbers found in cities, particularly ports. Most of the population lives in Fereldan, although significant numbers of people venture further afield.
Most people whose ancestors emigrated from afar came from either the SLU, or from Avaerilonian territories overseas. Avaerilon welcomes immigrants, provided they can meet some objectives upon their application; a good record of conduct, the ability to speak one of the main languages at least (usually they can speak English and take free classes funded by their local Avaerilonian Embassy to learn Welsh), a willingness to integrate, detailed knowledge of Avaerilonian heritage and culture, etc.. With asylum seekers and refugees, if they do not already know any of the main languages at a competent level, they are schooled in them upon arrival.
Because of educational policies, ethnic tensions are very rare. Race relations tend to be excellent in urban and rural areas alike. While there have been some (very small) groups of racists in the past, they never had any influence on the majority of the population, nor on government policy. Slavery has been illegal in Avaerilon since it became a united kingdom.
The most ethnically-mixed city is Lundainium, where 30% of the residents come from non-native backgrounds.
Because of substantial immigration, Avaerilon has large communities of people who ethnically originate form elsewhere, but have mixed their native culture with Avaerilon's. Thus, Avaerilon has some interesting communities of rather unique peoples:
- French-Avaerilonian
- Avaero-Scandinavian
- Italian-Avaerilonian
- Avaero-Hellenic
- Avaerilonian-Turkish
IX. The Armed Forces
Avaerilon's modern armed forces are small, largely focussed on defence. This does not mean Avaerilon has not seen action before; mainly that the international policy has military action far-behind numerous alternatives. Spending accounts for less than 1% if the budget, despite generous pensions, world-class equipment, and some of the finest serving men and women in the region.
The army numbers around 50,000 regular men, and another 70,000 in-reserve. No national service has ever been in place. Prospective soldiers have to be at least 18 years of age, male, have conducted themselves to a "reasonable standard," and need to be physically fit and able. The air force allows both men and women into its ranks, with the same basic standards as the army, although often a clean record is required. Pilot training combines various different craft, so instructors and pilots can between them decided where their skills would best be used. 5,000 aircraft with 45,000 regulars and another 40,000 in-reserve make-up the RAAF. The Royal Avaerilonian Navy numbers 20,000 men and 500 ships, with standards similar to the army for entry, though "total competence" with regards to the sea itself is a pre-requisite.
Avaerilon does not currently and has never held nuclear or biological weapons. In the 1950s, when a significant proportion of the world was arming itself with atomic weapons, the government looked for an alternative weapon, largely designed with preventing a nuclear device from being detonated over Avaerilon. Thus, the EMP bomb was developed, which released magnetic waves, disarming a nuclear device. Since then, more sophisticated devices have been created, which do not harm, but destroy circuit-boards and microchips, rendering all modern weapons but small-arms useless.
