Shieldcrest

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Shieldcrest
Nation: The Resurgent Dream
Capital: Narich
Leader: Grand Duchess Gwendolyn ni Cunedda

Shieldcrest is the largest and most conservative principality in the Resurgent Dream, although it is styled a grand duchy. The kingdom takes up the northern part of the high kingdom and is largely rural and agricultural. Shieldcrest has stricter traditions of rank of privilege than any other Danaan principality.

Shieldcrest was the originally the possession of Corrina of the Resurgent Dream, in addition to her high throne. She yielded her claim to Shieldcrest to her younger twin, Danwyth of Shieldcrest. Following Danwyth's death, the kingdom passed to his younger sister, Nianki of Shieldcrest.

Like the rest of the high kingdom, the people of Shieldcrest generally understand English and speak in appropriate circumstances. However, most citizens also speak Welsh among themselves and a notable minority speak only Welsh, especially in isolared rural areas. The business of local government is done in Welsh and most schools teach primarily in Welsh. Shieldcrest's borders to the west, north, and east are only with the Indian Ocean. It's bordered by Wintermore, Fireforge, and Farinor to the south.

History

Shieldcrest was originally inhabited by a number of Polynesian hamelts, including Mahina, Puka, and Kamara. Presentday Shieldcrest was first colonized by the Welsh. Rhygyfarch ap Cunedda, for whom Rhygyfarch Parish is named, founded the first European settlement in what is now the Resurgent Dream at Narich. Glynis, the first European child born in the Resurgent Dream, was born in Shieldcrest. Glynis Parish is named for her.

Rhygyfarch married Princess Maile, the daughter of native King Kamameha, in order to secure the right of his dynasty to the rule over the island. As other settlers began to arrive from other parts of the world, Shieldcrest forced them to accept the high kingship of the king of Shieldcrest. This lasted until 1381 when King Thomas I of Wintermore won the high kingship in a revolt against High King John.

The kings of Shieldcrest regained the high kingship in 1478 when King Dafydd seized the high throne from High King Thomas VIII. Shieldcrest continued to hold the high throne until the Homecoming War, when Timon ap Gwydion seized both the throne of Shieldcrest and of the Resurgent Dream, keeping them united. His daughter, Corrina ni Gwydion, then relinquished the throne of Shieldcrest to her younger brother Danwyth to end the perception that one part of her realm ruled over the others. After Danwyth's death, the kingdom passed to the next in line, Nianki. Under her sucessor, High Queen Agwene, Shieldcrest was reduced from a kingdom to a principality. After the Shattering, Shieldcrest passed once more into the hands of a descendant of Rhygyfarch, Grand Duchess Gwendolyn ni Cunedda, the younger sister of High King Owain ap Cunedda.

Over the past few years, Shieldcrest has grown to be a national leader in mining. The principality's mining output ranked first in the nation over the last year. This does not mean that Shieldcrest does not also participate strongly in national industries such as information technology, book publishing, and retail.

Law and government

Narich is both the capital of Shieldcrest and the largest city. The Grand Duchess of Shieldcrest is Gwendolyn ni Cunedda. While the Grand Duchess of Shieldcrest does not openly support any political party, Gwendolyn is believed by most to sympathize with the Patriots.

Executive branch

The Grand Duchess of Shieldcrest selects the First Minister, traditionally the leader of the majority or plurality party in the Assembly for Shieldcrest by granting him a mandate to form a government. The First Minister then appoints a Cabinet subject to the approval of the Assembly.

Legislative branch

The Assembly for Shieldcrest is a unicameral body consisting of one hundred members. The current First Minister is Patriot Christian Balogh. The current Speaker is Patriot Max Broughton. The Patriots control an absolute majority of the Assembly and rule without any need for a coalition.

Judicial branch

The Supreme Court of Judicature of Shieldcrest is the principality's higher appellate court, numbering only three justices. The Shieldcrest High Court and the Shieldcrest Court of Appeals constitute the two intermediary courts of appeal. Together, these courts of appeal make up the Appellate division of the court system. All three are empowered to hear certain specialized cases on first indictment.

The Trial division consists of the Parish Court and the Municipal Court. All felony criminal cases, civil cases involving more than S1,000, and first appeals from Municipal Court are heard in the Parish Court. Cases normally heard in Municipal Court are heard in Parish Court when they occur outside the bounds of any incorporated municipality. It is only in Parish Court that a citizen of Shieldcrest may request a jury of his or her peers. Juries in Shieldcrest can be requested at the Parish Court, and only at the Parish Court, level. Such juries always consist of seven local citizens selected by lottery and not subject to disqualification by any of the barristers. A defendant accepts the results of the lottery by requesting a jury trial. Peers of Shieldcrest may also request that any trial they are involved in on the Parish Court level be referred to the judgment of the Grand Duchess of Shieldcrest. However, a peer does so at his own risk. There are no sentencing restrictions on the grand duchess when hearing a case at the request of the accused.

Cases of marital separation, child support, child custody, misdemeanor charges, and civil cases involving less than S1,000 are heard in Municipal Court, as are all trials of minors.

Geography

The southern, eastern, and western boundaries of Shieldcrest are marked by the Atlantic Ocean. Its northern border is marked by the Yelverton Mountain Range which extends from coast to coast.

The basic geography of Shieldcrest shows great variation. The land is known for having many mountains and waterfalls, as well as a great many lakes of all sizes. The Shieldcrest coastline is widely considered one of the most breathtaking in the Resurgent Dream, although the near total absence of sandy beaches makes it poplar only among site-seers and not for tourists seeking a trip to the beach.

Economy

According to the best available statistics, the grand duchy's gross sectional product was S824 billion. Its 2005 per capita personal income was S44,844.38, first in the nation. Shieldcrest's agricultural outputs are beef, dairy products, and lamb. Its industrial outputs are book publishing, iron, and tin. Shieldcrest is also the heart of the Danaan entertainment industry. Movie studios are located in Rhygyfarch, Merlin, Bagdemagus, and, most popularly, Caer Gawen, the center of all Danaan film-making. Some of the films created there include: The Orcwars, Age of Arthur, and The Last Fairy-tale.

Demographics

The racial make-up of the grand duchy is:

  • 96% White
  • 1% Arabic
  • 1% East Asian
  • 1% South Asian
  • 1% Other

The largest ancestry group in Shieldcrest is the Welsh. People self-identifying as Welsh predominate overwhelmingly in the countryside with people of other ancestry groups remaining largely concentrated in more diverse and cosmopolitan urban areas.

Transportation

Airports

Narich International Airport

Mahina International Airport

Rhygyfarch Regional Airport

Tricity International Airport

Caer Gawen International Airport

Yelverton National Airport Glynis International Airport

Major Highways

IP-9

IP-52

GDF-1

GDF-2

GDF-3

GDF-4

GDF-5

GDF-6

GDF-7

GDF-8

GDF-9

GDF-10

GDF-11

GDF-12

Religion

Shieldcrest, like most Danaan principalities, is extremely religious. The vast majority of the people of Methodists and the Evengelical Methodist Episcopal Church is officially established. The current religious affiliations of the people of Shieldcrest are shown below: