The Freethinkers
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| Flag of The Freethinkers | |
| Motto: 'Our strength is our courage, our honour, our unity.' | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Haven |
|---|---|
| Capital | Navarre |
| Official Language(s) | English |
| Leader | HRH King George IV |
| Population | 1.458 Billion |
| Currency | Mintel = 100 Coppers |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Overview
The Sensible Commonwealth of The Freethinkers is a large, centrist nation spread out across numerous territories and islands. With the main island, 'Mainland' located in the Equatorial Atlantic, it also maintains large colonies in Haven in the North Pacific and owns the Fargon Archipelago in the far North Atlantic.
Because of its position, the Freethinkers became, by necessity, some of the most accomplished mariners and ship-builders around, and the shipyards at Navarre and other ports have produced some of the most famous ships in history, including the mighty Doujin Class Super Dreadnought. The skills inherited from previous generations lead to The Freethinkers becoming both the UnAPS Naval Warfare directors and becoming one of the founders of the Organisation of Maritime Powers.
As can be guessed, ship-building and arms-manufacturing are staples of the economy, although banking services and telecommunications are also big business. The relatively harh climates of almost all of The Freethinker's territories means the Commonwealth as a whole is a large net importer oof foodstuffs and other primary goods.
History
Though there are numerous reports going back to the late Middle Ages of lost ships being stranded and lost near a large desert island, (some of the Legends of Atlantis are based upon this, according to some scholars), the first confirmed sighting (and landing) occured on the 17th July, 1654 when an expedition seeking passage to South America from England came across the Eastern shore of the Freethinkers, 'a lande barren and torne, a deserte seeminglie abandoned by the Lorde Himself,' the Captain of the expedition, Sir John Barham, noted in his Journal. After taking supplies and noting the location, the ship completed its voyage and returned to England.
Immediately an expedition was mounted by the English (and soon enough the Spanish as well) to chart and then colonise this seemingly uninhabited island in a strategic point in the mid Atlantic. The first settlement, Pebble Landing (named after a natural harbour formed by a long arm of pebbles on the South-Eastern shore), was founded by the English on the 1st June 1656, and this date is now celebrated as a national holiday in The Freethinkers.
The Spanish were not far behind, however, and just before Christmas in the same year, the town of Navarre was founded on the Northern Shores of Mainland.
