Myrtannia

The United Isles of Myrtannia

Form of Government: Federal Republic

Population: Approx. 1.441 billion

Currency: Myrtannian Sohnner

National Animal: Dryad

National Motto: "Of the people, for the people, by the people."

Head of State: President Mohammed Akbar-Maheed

1. Brief History

The United Isles of Myrtannia, formerly known as the Allied States of Myrtannia, was once nothing more than a group of four islands. Two of them, the so-called 'main islands' were home to the largest populations amongst the four. On the southernmost island, home of the Lahar, Yoham, and Ramalah provinces, was largely Muslim by faith; its population was largely of a middle-eastern appearance. By contrast, the northernmost island (including Turku, Ebhoy, and Fergot provinces) had a population that mostly caucasian in appearance, but whom largely subsribed to the philosophy of Bhuddism. Trade was soon established between the two islands, and relations grew quite strong. Later, the discovery of the two smaller islands - Scandon Island and Sayiid Island - a full circle of trade was established between all four.

Eventually, this relationship led to the formal establishment of one federal government for all the islands. Delegates from all four islands, and from each province, gathered in the growing city of Halosen, where they constructed the Constitution of the United Isles. The United Isles of Myrtannia had been formally formed.

2. Atlantian Oceania

150 years after the original uniting of Myrtannia, the United Isles was ready to move to a region less crowded than the Pacific. This meant searching for a new home that might be welcoming as well as active. Too many potential regions were inactive in diplomatic channels - the last thing Myrtannia wanted. Finally, word reached Halosen from a longtime friend - the Free Republic of Lamoni. They had moved to Atlantian Oceania, and Myrtannia decided that this region would be the best place to move as well. So it was that the United Isles transported itself to the AO region, and began to open diplomatic channels with neighboring lands. Trouble would soon find Myrtannia, despite its peaceful intentions.

2.1: Atheistic Right

The first major problem to affect Myrtannia was the fact that the Darwinistic Peoples of Atheistic Right happened to share the Second Island with the United Isles. For a long time, the UIM simply tried to ignore this belligerent nation on its doorstep. When AR announced its intentions to develop and test nuclear weapons, the government in Halosen reacted with defensive measures immediately. The Myrtannia Defense Force was dispatched in large numbers along the UIM-AR border, ready to fend off any potential invasion. Meanwhile, the United Isles Commandoes were sent behind the lines to assist the Allied effort of sabotaging the AR war machine.

In addition, the MDF finally crossed the border when news of the SDL forces fighting AR troops that had been sent to invade Myrtannia was received. These MDF troops were used mostly to fill holes in the SDL line, and suffered minimal casualties as they saw mostly mopping up actions. Myrtannia's other contribution to the effort was through the production of pro-Allied propaganda that was sent to the people of the AR lands.

After the fall of the Great Lion, dictator of Atheistic Right, a great onflow of Jewish citizens from Myrtannia emmigrated to his former lands. They had relatives or friends who had secretly done so earlier in order to be with their own relatives and comrades. This gradual migration in secret over the years, combined with the onflow of migration after the cessation of hostilities, had its roots in religion. Orthodox Jewish synagouges in Myrtannia had long been home to rabbis that taught the faithful that the promised land would one day be just to the west of their adoptive homeland. Many took this to heart after the move to AO, and moved into AR by hook or by crook. A few years after the initial mass migrations, a new nation rose from the ashes of AO.

The provisional government of the area, with help from the Myrtannian government, formed a brand new state - the Federation of Yihsrael. Back in their homeland, the Yihsraelis have now rebuilt the Great Temple. They are now fighting an insurrection by the few devoted followers of the Great Lion that remain in their lands.

2.2: AOWAR

At the outbreak of hostilities in the AOWAR, Myrtannia was in a moral crisis. On one hand, they had an obligation to assist SDL allies against the agressors. On the other, the Constitution strictly forbids the use of Myrtannian troops in anything other than peacekeeping or self-defense. Since none of the SAAS powers had ever threatened Myrtannia, President Holton was voted out of office by the National Congress for his request that they declare war. Porfirio Trahin was breifly President, and infuriated the SDL with his isolationist/nationalist rantings. Trahin suffered a heart attack, and remains in the hospital to this day. New acting President Mohammed Akbar-Maheed revised the neutral stance of Myrtannia to allow the sending of all needed fiscal and medical support to SDL allies. The Nurses Battalion, a group of volunteer Myrtannian nurses, has volunteered to assist the Alliance of Nine States specifically, though no response has been recieved as of yet.

3: Myrtannian Sports

Since its first days in AO, Myrtannia has been very active in the region's many sporting competitions. Included in these tournaments have been two that Myrtannia itself initiated (AORBC and AO U21 Football Cup). Myrtannia's long tradition of domestic sporting and a highly active media have gradually transformed the United Isles from doormat into rising star. While not to the summit of sporting accomplishment, Myrtannia is still climbing the mountain ambitiously.

3.1: AORBC

In response to the continuing populatrity of AOCAF, the Myrtannian Basketball League announced the inaugural Atlantian Oceania Regional Basketball Championship. Only a few teams came to Myrtannia for the first tournament, which was ultimately won by Lamoni. Myrtannia won the only AORBC I women's division game, and with it the women's championship. The Dryads have not won the women's title again in the two tournaments since, finishing third in AORBC II and as runners-up in AORBC III to the undefeated team from Dorian and Sonya.

Meanwhile, the Myrtannian men suffered from the Curse - which dictated that no Myrtannian team could ever get past the semi-finals at best - finishing fourth in AORBC I and third in AORBC II. When the tournament moved to Neu Amerika, the Myrtannia Suns finally won the championship, defeating Lamoni in the Final.

3.2 AOCAF

Soon after the first AORBC, Myrtannia entered its first Atlantian Oceania Championship of Association Football. Placed in a difficult group, the very first Dryads football team was shut out in every match save one. After several dissapointing shutouts, Deeann Massetti, a 15-year old striker at the time, scored a hat trick in Myrtannia's only win - 3-1 over Dorian and Sonya. Despite the breif success of the D&S match, the Dryads returned to form embarassingly by losing 0-5 to Pacitalia.

AOCAF XIV is considered by many Myrtannians to be the high point of Myrtannian AOCAF play thus far. After losing four times in AOCAF XIII, the Dryads put together a remarkable 1-3-0 record in the Group Stage to qualify for the knockouts for the first time. The one win in the Group Stage was a shocking 2-1 upset over powerhouse and eventual champion Starblaydia. After qualifying, the Dryads went on to pull off more upsets, first a big 3-0 win over Vilita in the Round of 16. Then, Myrtannia sent Bazalonia home in the Quarterfinals. Their luck ran out (as dictated by the Curse) when they lost to the same Starblaydi side they'd beaten in the Group Stage, falling 1-4 to the Men in Muave. Myrtannia lost once again to Pacitalia in the Third Place Playoff, finishing fourth - their best finish in an AOCAF to date.

AOCAF XV is barely worth mentioning - the Dryads stumbled into the knockouts in fourth place from their group, and then got hammered by Nedalia in the Ro16. This was also Deeann Massetti's last tournament in a Dryads uniform. She was left off the team in the next AOCAF after the infamous headbutting incident against Pacitalia.

Most recently, AOCAF XVI in Lamoni saw the resurgence of the Dryads under new coach Rachell Gabino. Using an all-out attacking style, the Dryads tied their all-time single-tournament win total in the Group Stage. Group D saw Myrtannia draw with eventual champion Vilita & Turori, and defeat Krytenia, The Lowland Clans, Milchama, and Quakmybush. Finishing 4-1-0, the Dryads faced and defeated ASMV in extra time in the Ro16 before falling to Pacitalia once again in an incredibly dissapointing result. However, the sucess of the Group Stage catapulted Myrtannia in the AO Rankings, jumping an astounding 11 spots from #20 to #9.

3.3: AO U21 Football Cup

In the aftermath of Myrtannia's AOCAF XVI collapse, the Myrtannia Association of Football Clubs (MAFC) decided to host a regional Under-21 tournament. With 16 nations, including Vilita & Turori, Starblaydia, Pacitalia, Bettia, Lamoni, The Lowland Clans, Nedalia, Demot, Neu Amerika, Misrantis, Az-cz, Bazalonia, Milchama, Yihsrael, and Hypocria. Placed in Group D, the Nymphs defeated Bazalonia, Lamoni and Az-cz en route to the knockouts. There, the Nymphs continued their impressive play led by Hettie Miyagishima, who made a name for herself by scoring goals and wearing a pink knit cap given to her by one of the Az-cz team's parents during the subsequent matches. Myrtannia downed Milchama in the Quarterfinals, and finally got a win against a side from Pacitalia in extra time in the Semis before playing Demot in the Final. In that match, Miyagishima scored the only goal, leading Myrtannia to its first-ever international football tournament championship.