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*1871: Establishment of the [[Council Guard Regiment]].
  
*1871: Establishment of the [[Council Guard Regiment]].
 
===The 20th Century===
  
===The 20th Century===
−
*1903: Council Crisis, [[Battle of Anfa Ridge]] versus....
 +
*1903: [[Council Crisis of 1903|Council Crisis]], [[Battle of Anfa Ridge]] versus....
 
*1905: Unification of the Free Lands.
  
*1905: Unification of the Free Lands.
 
*1920: Establishment of the [[SDF]].
  
*1920: Establishment of the [[SDF]].

Revision as of 17:54, 5 November 2019

The Free Lands of the Selkie, usually referred to as the Free Lands, are a small, harmless country in the middle of nowhere, where the Selkie settle in their farmsteads, villages, farms, towns and cities.

As the Selkie differ between the Free Lands, their government, and the Selkie, the people, the full name of the nation is, indeed, 'the Free Lands of the Selkie', while the short form is 'the Free Lands', with the people being referred to not as 'Free-Landians', but as Selkie.

The Free Lands are a signatory of the COSTAL-Accords. Since the signing ceremony on the 15th of October, the Free Lands are also a founding member of the Strategic and Economic Alliance.

Chronological History

"...and so life amongst the Selkie will go on, very much as it has the past ages, full of its own comings and goings, with change coming slowly - if it comes at all. But things are made to endure in the Lands of the Selkie, passing from one generation to the next."
- Hanna Marell, An Account of the Selkie-Lands, by a person, who lived amongst the people living there., 1701.

Mythical and Prehistoric Times

Mythology says, that Selkie came from distant lands by sea.

Myths of the Spiorad Ainmhithe agree with that, describing how the Tramorwyr, Outsiders, arrived and they came into being by the will of their Gods to protect the wildlife and forests. However, archaeologists have found out, that the Spiorad are older then the first signs of Selkie-Settlement by far.

First signs of scripture is a cuneiform-tablet found near Launceston, 10,000 years old. Although no one can read the script, it is assumed, due to formatting, that it's a list of sorts, maybe for a warehouse. This scripture was soon abandoned in favour of another script, this time a runic one, which has its first signs on tablets found in dig sites near Cuan, estimated to be seven to eight thousand years old, carbon dating still pending. Although some of the runes appear to be familiar, no one has yet deciphered them.

The first recorded history in script, a list of kings of what later would become the City of Riverwood, is 6,500 years old and was deciphered with the aid of other tablets. The runic script began to develop into the modern runic script of the Selkie, evidence of its wider and wider use gather from there, from prose, to letters, to scriptures and inscriptions, graffiti and many more. Histories were regularly recorded and chronicled since roundabout 3,000 years ago, shortly after the establishment of the First Kingdoms.

The Age of the High Kings ( - 450)

The High Queen's Rebellion (442 - 450)

See also

The Kings' Rule (450 - 826)

In 450 CE, Fort Stone fell and the Time of the Kings' Rule began, with raiders having almost free reign on the countryside, which saw the establishment of fortified cities and farmsteads, making one especially powerful: City of Fortham.

  • 802: With the Battle of Uinge, and the Death of King Bran, the Kings' Rule comes to an effective end. The cities and towns cement their power.

The Dark Ages (826 - 1459)

Early Dark Ages (826 -1050)

  • 826-919: Raiders' Golden Age begins with the Raid on Tipa, which destroys the Ladra-Temple there. The Cult moves to Silverport.
  • 836: First raid by Selkie on Kjalaaran soil on Odeila.
    • 840: First recorded instance of the superstition, that Selkie wearing seal coats are immune to anything but blunt weapons, which the Selkie start to use to their advantage by 842. Blue Seal Coats are especially sought after. Together with their reputation as particularly fierce fighters, the raiders soon became a much sought-after commodity themselves, as mercenaries.
    • 843: The first Kjalaaran Counter-Raid ravages Traverse.
    • 855: First recorded instance of Selkie-Mercenaries fighting Selkie-Raiders. It is presumed, that this happened sooner.
  • 850: Leonard Tolgach from Kelyneck and The Plougher of Fofar establish their own Warlord-States.
  • 888-914: An alliance between the cities of Crarae and Silverport is formed and breaks after the Sack of Wembury.
  • 911: The Sack of Fortham breaks the power of that city and ends the Rennaissance of Fortham.
  • 919: Battle in the Blizzard, the Raiders' Golden Age ends.
  • 966: Siege of Silverport.
  • 994: Beginning of the War of the Great Woods.
  • 1040: The last Warlord of the Great Woods is killed in an ambush.

High Dark Ages (1050-1280)

The Crusade (1280-1325)

  • 1280: The Crusade is proclaimed against the "Heathen Lands of the Selkie."
  • 1280s-1320s: Raiders and pirates from Lillorainen mount attacks against supply convoys of the crusaders, thus, almost by accident, helping the Selkie. This is also the starting point of a sort-of competition between Selkie-Sailors and Lillo-Sailors, especially pirates. (OOC: This point might change in the nearer future, is not yet finalized.)
  • 1300: The Battle of Cuan is the major turning point. Gwen Lách of the Tribe of Galway rallies an army around her to retake conquered lands.
  • 1310: Siege of Caisleán, first recorded usage of Black Powder in the Lands of the Selkie.
  • 1325: With the end of the Siege of Tipa, the last stronghold of the Crusaders is broken.

Late Dark Ages (1325-1365)

  • 1351-1353: The Inquisition of Inis, foundation of the Ionchoisne.

See also

Explorers, Traders, Mercenaries (1365- 1790)

See also

The Second Golden Age (1790 - 1863)

Age of Peace (1863 - 1903)

  • 1871: Establishment of the Council Guard Regiment.

The 20th Century

  • 1903: Council Crisis, Battle of Anfa Ridge versus....
  • 1905: Unification of the Free Lands.
  • 1920: Establishment of the SDF.
  • 1938: A number of Jews, fleeing from the threat of national socialism, seek refuge in the Free Lands of the Selkie and get it granted. Those people become the Selkie-Jews.
  • 1942: Submarines of unidentified origin, presumed to be Lutetiian or to operate from bases there, execute raids on trading convoys. The SDF-Navy begins with ASW-operations, called Operation Spriocearcaitheoir, Operation Headhunter, which lasts until 1948 (long after WW2 ended). Abhcan's Little Daggers make a name for themselves.
  • 1972: Beginning of the Yard Crisis.
  • 1973 and 1974: Bad Harvests.
  • 1975: Unrest of 1975, Battle of the Buabhall Inn (made into a movie in 2019), leads to the disbandment of the Gíománra, the Selkie-Yeomanry.
  • 1965-1975: Humanitarian Mission of the SDF to Kupandukira.
  • 1983: Second Vellenge War.
  • 1983: Foundation of SDY.

The 21st Century

Geography

Karte Komplett-Mod2 - Distanzen

Complete Map of the Free Lands, with Lutetii's Windsinger Islands, Mainland in Darker Colour.

See Main Articles: Distances between places in the Free Lands of the Selkie, Mainland, Northern Islands, Oileánra-Archipelago.

The geography of the Free Lands is highly diverse, mainly due to the Free Lands reaching over a large area, from the Northern Islands at the Northern Polar Circle down to the Oileánra-Archipelago a bit north of the Tropic of Cancer, while the core is the Mainland. 1,642 islands are territory of the Free Lands, most of which belong to the Archipelago.

Climate

Due to the geographic length of the Free Lands, it incorporates many different climates and climate zones, from the Oileánra-Archipelago's warm-humid summers almost giving them a tropical feel to the cold and harsh winters of the Mainland and the Northern Islands.

Storm Season lasts from the End of September to Mid to End of November, when Winter really kicks in. When a snowstorm rages south of the Icy Shore between Mid-November to Mid-December, which happens, locals call it 'The Marriage of Taranis and Cailleach'.

Biodiversity

See: List of animal species endemic to the Free Lands, List of plant species endemic to the Free Lands.

The Free Lands, true to their nickname of Oilean na mBeo, Land of the Living, there is a huge variety of animal species, many of which are popular amongst the Selkie and tourists, as well as a variety of plant species endemic to the Free Lands. Above lists give a good overview.

Politics

Highest authority in the Free Lands is the Elder Council with seat in Fortham, which serves as Head of State (the entire council). It advises the Council of Cities, the assembly of all Cities, which is more of an coordination authority and less of a legislative body. The legislative bodies are the City Councils, which are the legislative bodies of the cities and the surrounding lands, the Mayor (and thus head of the City Council) being elected democratically. 

Servants of the State, for example in the form of SDF-soldiers or workers of the Foreign Office, are not allowed to vote or to be voted (unless as state-servants being up for elections). The Elders serve for the remainder of their lifetime.

The Offices

What other nations call ministries, the Free Lands call the Offices. There are X:

  • Foreign Office (ministry of foreign affairs, Felicia Sciotóg of the Tribe of Monaghan): Responsible for foreign affairs and everything going along with it.
  • Office of the Defense (ministry of defense, General Ferris Taoiseach of the Tribe of Antrim): Technically the political leadership of the SDF, but practically the political shield arm of the SDF.
  • Infrastructure Office (ministry of transport): Responsible for coordinating all infrastructure efforts of the cities and towns.

Law

The law, and executive power, in the cities is enforced by the City Guards, the law of the seas is enforced by the Water Polices, the latter of which sometimes claim administrative assistance by the SDF-Navy. The domestic intelligence and security service of the Free Lands, and its principal federal law enforcement agency, is the Ionchoisne, internationally known as the Selkie-Inquisition (which no one expected).

The Judical Power rests with the judges and the Council of Judges, 14 judges from the ranks of all judges in the country with at least 25 years of experience on the job, one from each city. They, amongst them, elect the highest judge of the country. All members of the Council of Judges except the Head of that Council have one vote on all matters.

Capital Punishment

The Selkie know capital punishment and even execute someone by beheading once every blue moon. The procedure is rather difficult as no singular judge can decide about that.

Much rather, a judge can, in cases of the gravest of crimes, put a possible death sentence up for debate. The debate is brought before the Council of Elders and the High Priests of the Six-Pantheon, the highest political, spiritual and moral authorities amongst the Selkie. They all have to agree, with one voice, that an execution is the right way to proceed and request of the High Priest of Cailb, that one of the Priests of that Cult is tasked with the execution. The High Priest of the Goddess of Death has, then, to agree as well - after that, the execution is carried out.

It has often been noted by outside observers, that the procedure is slow and requires not only much debate, but unanimity from all involved, many believing, that a criminal deserving death does escape it - the Selkie usually argue against it, that an execution is not a step to be done lightly and which can not be reversed if there was a mistake, but the end of the story.

The Council of Judges has no place in that procedure.

Legal Ages

  • Age of Majority (Reaching of Adulthood): 15 Springs.
  • Age of Criminal Responsibility: 13 Springs (Juvenile Law), 15 Springs (Adult Law).
  • Age of Candidacy (being elected): Most cities place it at 20 Springs for public offices at minimum.
  • Age of Voting (electing): 15 Springs (usually).
  • Age of Consent: 11 Springs.
  • Marriageable Age: 15 Springs.
  • Legal Drinking Age: 15 Springs.
  • Legal Smoking Age: 13 Springs.
  • Legal Working Age: 11 Springs (usually earlier on farms and ranches).
  • School Leaving Age: 15 Springs (or leaving Middle School).

Foreign Relations

See: Ambassador Groups.

The Free Lands

The Tribes

See: List of Tribes of the Selkie.


The Clans

Influential families sometimes band their followers and dependents together to form a Clan, a community under Selkie Law and Tradition, usually made of members of several tribes. Their chiefs have the right to speak in front of the Elder Council without prior appointment and have a standing just below the Elders in society.

Usually they have neither legislative, nor executive or judical capabilities and powers, but their word carries much influence amongst the Selkie, more so among the people in the lands ruled by them.

In line with the Selkie's tendency to look for both advantages and own merit rather then their family's deeds, the Chiefs are usually chosen by their own merit or the advantage brought by choosing them, for example political or economical ties. They usually tend to become rather wise influential persons, with so much weight behind their words, that they are sometimes called Princes and Princesses.

Amongst the more influential Chiefs in the Free Lands are Gwen Banphrionsa of the Tribe of Cavan on Farpoint Island and Tyran Cathlong of the Tribe of Cork in Silverport.

The Cities

See: List of Cities of the Free Lands.


Military

See: Selkie Defence Force.

The Free Lands have a military, the SDF, under the supreme command of General Ferris Taoiseach of the Tribe of Antrim.

Mission of the SDF is to protect the Free Lands, to ensure the safety of the people at home and overseas, to cooperate with other armed forces to achieve this goal and to conduct relief efforts in case of desasters, both natural and humanitarian. Also part of their mission is a certain representative function and SAR-missions, especially at sea.

The two components of the SDF are the SDF-Army and the SDF-Navy.

Born Selkie

A Born Selkie, a citizen of the Free Lands, is a person, who's parents before him were Selkie, the citizenship being defined over the ethnic affiliation of being Selkie. By right and law, Half-Selkie are counted as Born Selkie, as are, since 1939, the Spiorad Ainmhithe. Born Selkie, contrary to Immigrated People, are allowed to vote (and get voted), to own land, to establish businesses and to get into state service (for example as a City Guard or soldier).

If a pair of Born Selkie adopts a foreign child, this child is considered to be a Born Selkie.

Usually, the Spiorad Ainmhithe avoid any sort of public office.

Economy

Currency of the Free Lands is the Gil.

First Sector

Second Sector

Arms Manufacturing

One of the major industries of the Selkie is the arms manufacturing industry, which is mostly represented by the two companies of Gabha Blacksmiths Limited and Silverport Dockyards Limited. These two companies, main suppliers of the SDF, are the primary exporters from the Free Lands under the authority of the Merchant Guild of Leuda.

Third Sector

Tourism

Another important industry in the Free Lands is tourism,

Demographics

The total population of the Free Lands, by the 2018 census, is 12.6 million people, mostly living in the Mainland south of the Great Woods. The number is on a steady rise since the End-70s, usually put into correlation with the Mechanization of Agriculture and the increase in yields and productivity it spawned. Only a few bumps mar the steady rise. The population pyramid is slightly expansive, signifying a growing population.

139,313 people live in the Cities, with 173,722 people living in the Hinterlands of the Cities. That means, that 313,035 people or 0.0248 percent of the total population live in the urban centres or their hinterlands. The remaining 12.3 million people live either in the towns, a total of 4.1 million people, or in villages, hamlets and farmsteads or singular houses somewhere in the middle of nowhere, 8.2 million people.

Religion

Most Selkie are Selkie-Pagans, with only a small number of Jews, the Selkie-Jews,

In general, according to the 2015 census, 85.6 percent of the total population follow the Cults, 9.2 percent belong to one of the Cult-Sects, three percent being followers of the Paganism of the Spiorad Ainmhithe and 2.2 percent belong to other religious groups, the Selkie-Jews included.

Education

See: School in the Free Lands.

Up until the age of 15 Springs, usually the end of Middle School, school attendance is mandatory.

Health

Culture

See Main Article: Selkie-Proverbs.

Music

See Main Articles: List of Selkie-Songs, Selkie and Music.

Music is one of the most important parts of Selkie-Culture, they themselves claiming the title of People of Song and Dance, or in Selkie Daoine in Amhráin agus Damhsaí, and consequently, these have an important place in everyday life. Every inn has a small stage for a band and a dancefloor, sometimes organized bands of professionals playing, oftentimes unorganized bunches of people with a hobby - as music lessons, including playing an instrument and singing, is an important part of the education, it does not surprise, that a whole lot of people know their ways around instruments.

Art

Architecture

Caighdeán House

Caighdeán House, in Woodtown. It also serves as a good example for Selkie-Architecture of the Adhmad-Style.

Selkie-Architecture can be defined in several main strains:

  • Timber Architecture, the Adhmad Style.
  • Stone Architecture, the Cloch Style.
  • Bamboo Architecture, the Bambú Style, preferred by the Spiorad Ainmhithe.

By far the most far-spread style of architecture is the Timber or Adhmad Style, defined by the use of timber. Mostly one storey buildings with a small porch, these houses are built of wood and

Muileann House

Muileann House near Bodmin.

Aside from these three strains, there are a number of

Cuisine

See: Selkie-Cuisine, Selkie Tea Culture.

Hearty and rich in nutrients,


Media

Sports

See: Marcach, Foireann.

Sports and Selkie are connected each other like fire and warmth.

Most popular sports are football, and of course the sports of the Marcach, Archery, Horsearchery, Swordriding and Lanceriding, Fencing and Sworddancing.

Fashion and Design

Geansai

Several young people in Geansai, Tribal Garnment of the Selkie. From left to right: Galway, Sligo, Laois and Louth, Galway again, Tipperary, Waterford and Fingal.

What Selkie has five main categories: Geansai, the Tribal Garnments, the Éadach Obaire and other utility clothing, Armour (especially by sportspersons), Foreign Dress and swimwear (sometimes called sportswear).

Foreign Dress

Foreign Dress is what non-traditional, and usually seen as non-practical, clothing is called by the Selkie. While often worn abroad to not stand out as much, these clothes are not forbidden to be worn in the Free Lands.

Swimwear

Selkie practice a huge variety of sports and watersports are practiced as well, as well as waterports sometimes being demanded in certain occupations, weir fishing and other such matters being amongst that. Most renown producer of swimwear in the Free Lands is Bicíní Industries. While women usually prefer a variation of the bikini or one-piece swimsuits, men usually prefer trunks or briefs.

Others

See Main Article: School Uniforms in the Free Lands.

Selkie wear a wide variety of articles of clothing,

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