Difference between revisions of "Finara"

Revision as of 00:11, 20 May 2005

Finara is a large island to the north of the Pantocratorian Archipelago. It's one of several human Catholic powers in the Atlantic, rooted largely in Irish culture and populated overwhelmingly by ethnically Irish people.

Geography

The geography of Finara is marked by a mountainous coastline, low central plains, and rolling green foothills in between. The highest peak, Ana, is 1043m above sea level.The longest river on the island, the River Ronliffe, largely separates Alsa from the rest of the island, though it comes a few kilometers short of actually splitting Finara into two islands.

Finara is divided into four duchies: Alsa, Deasrargle, Naotrina, and Vyn. Each duchy is further subdivided into eight counties. Representative members of the Seanad Finaraann (which constitute only part of the membership, see below)) are elected by duchy and members of the Dáil Finaraann are elected by county.

The largest port city is Franvan in southern Vyn, built upon trade with Pantocratoria. Vyn, on the whole, is the most urban part of Finara, also containing the great entertainment capital of Eita and its own capital city of Luchan, the largest ducal capital on the island.

The least arable land in Finara is in misty and mountainous Alsa and the islands off the west coast, as well as in Deasrargle, where the rocky terrain and healthy grass produce beautiful vistas of green and grey.

Politics

Prior to the unification of Finara in 1148 and beginning with the settlement of Finara by Irish explorers, Finara consisted of four independent kingdoms under an Ard Ri, descended from Mathgamain, the older brother of Brian Boru.

According to Finaran tradition, the Irish settled in the four separate colonies of Alsa, Deasrargle, Naotrina, and Vyn. Unfortunately, the first attempt of the colonists to sail back to Ireland failed. When the Finarans were unable to make contact with home over several more attempts, they eventually accepted that their affairs were know their own. Murchad, a son of Mathgamain and the leader of Asla, claimed the title of Ar Ri and became Murchad I. The leaders of the other three colonies claimed their own petty kingships.

After unification, these petty kingships became duchies and can never again claim royal dignity. The throne of Finara does officially retain the title of Ar Ri among the list of titles belonging to the monarch. However, since 1148, the Finaran monarch has normally been styled simply the king or queen of Finara.

Finara is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch retains formal sovereignty as well as the authority to veto any acts of the legislature. She has the right to appoint ambassadors and judges with the advice and consent of the legislature. She has the right to judge in cases of law and Her Majesty's Court is the final court of appeal. The monarch is the head of the Finaran military, opens the Oireachtas (Parliament) with a Speech from the Throne. The monarch also chooses the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), though this is almost always the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Oireachtas.

The [[Oireachtas Finaraann|Oireachtas consists of two houses: The Seanad Finaraann and the Dáil Finaraann. The Seanad consists of representatives elected by duchy, titled nobles, ordinaries of the Catholic Church, representatives of the branches of the military, and a small smattering of other delegates from groups guaranteed one representative in the Seanad. The Dáil consists of representatives elected by county, with each county having one representative for every million people, rounded down.