The Republic of Vikarbyn

[Vikarbyn]

THE REPUBLIC OF VIKARBYN
National Motto:- March Forth
National Anthem:- The Minstrel Boy
Population:- Approx 42,000,000
Capital City:- Fernwald

HISTORY

The Republic of Vikarbyn came into being on 27th of March 1744 following a people's rebellion which overthrew the last King of Vikarbyn, Margh IV often now referred to as Margh The Merciless. The King had attempted to change many of the nations rather conservative traditions and when resistance came from some of the nobility on behalf of their tennents. Rather than accept their demands to retain their traditions the King instead sent his army into the East of the nation where the best supported noble, Duke Kenver of Quoit was based. The King's Army hung 12,000 people including women and children over the course of the next 6 months, a further 35,000 people were sent into the nation's tin mines as slaves. Duke Kenver formed a large army with the other 10 leading nobles and a civil war began in 1742. This culminated with the Battle of Tregavethan (Left) in which King Margh IV was slain by a 15 year old soldier from the Dukes Army, the boy however was mortally wounded. It was noted after the battle that the young soldier, discovered to be Jory Hugus, was not actually a trained soldier but had actually been a Minstrel in the Duke's household who had gone onto the battlefield to tend his wounded friends. As such Jory Hugus was made the first Knight of the Republic and is the inspiration for the nations National Anthem.  The day after the battle on the 28th March 1744 the leading nobles lead by Duke Kenver signed the Treaty of Fernwald which set out the manner in which the nation would be run from that forth. 

Since the Treaty of Fernwald the nation has been run as a Republic with an elected official known as the Law-Giver acting as what many would consider to be a role of a Prime Minister while an elected official known as the Law-Shield acts as the nation's Head of State. The nation has managed to maintain many of its traditions that focus on the closeness of the people to nature. 

GOVERNMENT

The Republic has run along roughly the same lines since the Treaty of Fernwald and is seen as being highly democratic. Each of the traditional 18 Dukedoms is split into 5 shires creating a total 90 shires. Each Shire is represented by a Sheriff who is elected every 5 years by everyone who is a permanent resident in the shire and over the age of 18. These representatives from the Shire Council who act as the nations Parliament and from their number select the Law-Giver. When the Treaty of Fernwald was signed no political parties existed and so the individuals Sheriffs were considered on their merit by their colleagues however in the 21st Century several political parties exist and it is fairly true to say the leader of the largest party is always elected as Law-Giver. An individual known as the Chamberlain acts as a chair-person for the Shire Council and has no political power but is more like the Head of the Civil Service managing the drafting of legislation to ensure it is legal and within the constitution. They also manage the debates within Council. The Chamberlain is appointed by the Law-Shield

The 18 Dukes/Duchesses each also may sit in the Knights Council, along with any individual recognised by the nation for great service or act of note these people are known as Knight's of the Republic. The leader of the Knights Council is an elected individual known as the Law-Shield, they may be a Duke/Duchess or Knight of the Republic but over the last 50 years or so have been well respected indivduals in their own right. A Law-Shield is elected every 5 years and may only serve a total of three times in this role. Any individual holding this role is automatically made a Knight of the Republic. 

The government functions by the Law-Giver appointing a cabinet of Reeves (Ministers), each of whom must be approved by the Knights Council. The Law-Giver and his Reeves propose to the Shire Council suggestions for new laws. Those gaining the majority approval in this Council are given to the Knights Council. The Knights Council may block any legislation with a majority vote however any blocked legislation must be accompanied by an explanation as to why the legislation has been blocked.. Once a piece of legislation has been blocked it may be redrafted and should the Chamberlain be of the opinion the redraft has overcome the objections of the Knights Council it may again be voted on by the Shire Council and if successful returned to the Knights Council for its second attempt. Should a piece of legislation fail three times it may be voted on a forth time by the Shire Council and this time if successful presented to the voting public in the form of a referendum. Laws either being passed by referendum or through both Councils must be signed into law by the Law-Shield. 

The Law-Shield has several key responsibilities. 

1. Act as the voice of the people in dealings with foreign nations. They may not however agree terms with foreign nations without the consent of the Shire-Council. 
2. Call and oversee elections when required.
3. Command the Armed Forces as directed by the Law-Giver (i.e the Law-Giver may declare war but then the Law-Shield makes decisions as to the wars conduct)
4. Appoint the Chamberlain
5. Manage the appointment and if necessary removal of the Knights of the Republic. 
6. Appoint judges
7. Sign execution warrants. 
 

Edited February 11, 2020 by Vikarbyn (see edit history)

[Vikarbyn]

 

VIKARBYN FOLK RELIGION

The people of Vikarbyn follow what is known as Folk Religion, this is because simply speaking the religion was never given a name as the concept of other faiths existing seemed alien to the people of Vikarbyn. The nation is made up of deep wooded valley's, open moorland, rich open grassland and towards the coast marshes. This rugged and imposing landscape saw very little influence from outside religious factors meaning the people have clung to their faith strongly. 

WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?

The Universe is split between Light (Good) and Dark (Evil). Each of these two sides controls a range of creatures with humans being the most visible. There are however creatures out there in the spirit world that can be either Light or Dark. An example of this would be Pixies (shown to the left), these are thought to be small magical creatures who observe mankind and can intervene with their magical powers. Some Pixies are Light, they ensure nature runs smoothly, can bless a family with a good harvest or help a man get a beautiful woman to fall in love with them (or vice versa), a Dark Pixie meanwhile will cause mischief, disease and could even destroy crops. At some point these two sides will erupt into a war of epic proportions and it is likely the side of Darkness will seek to destroy mankind, as such humanity must strive to get rid of evil before it gets rid of us. Additionally people believe that these creatures of different kinds are abundent in the world and as such are very intertwined with nature. 

HOW DO THEY WORSHIP?

People following this faith do not have a set pattern of prayers instead believing that the manner in which a person lives their everyday life is an act of worship in itself. An example of this would be the idea that a member of the faith would seek to live as closely in tune with nature as possible. Many Vikarbynians will still keep their own farms or in towns and cities vegetable gardens. Additionally hunting of game is still an important part of life with animals being prayed over before being butchered as the hunter begs for forgiveness. Many sacred groves are found across the nation where it is believed the presence of spirits is very strong. A rather strange custom of the nation can be found when it comes to construction of buildings. It is believed that the spirits have their own "mystic road" network made up of lay lines, it is considered important not to block these and as such when new houses are built it is not uncommon to have a Gothi consult charts and omens to determine the impact of the lay lines upon the property and vice versa. Even the government building in Fernwald is influenced by this with the Shire Council buidling being built off set to a point where experts agree 30 lay lines meet. The building housing the Knight's Council can be found 400 meters down the hill following a road which runs parralel to a wide lay line that meets with 16 others close by the Knights Council building. 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

When we die our physical body essentially becomes pointless and this is disposed of by family and friends in one of two manners. The first is cremation on an open pyre and the ashes spread onto the families fields, the second option is for the body to be buried in the woods. Both these methods assume that our physical body then returns all the nutrients that nature has given us during our life time to nature. At the exact moment of death it is believed that Clíodhna, the Spirit Guide appears and takes the spirit of the deceased into the woods where they meet with two groups of spirits who try and persuade the deceased to go with them. One of the groups is made up of Light Spirits, the other Dark however this is not always clear to the deceased who must choose which group to leave with. The family of the deceased can make offerings to their ancestors to come and help the newly deceased make the right choice. As such funeral rituals often take place very quickly soon after the person's death. Clíodhna often receives offerings upon a person's death as a request for her to help the deceased make the correct choice. Deceased spirits making the determination to join the spirits of Light live a life of pure joy, endless feasting and wandering the woods, those who select Dark are forced to endure starvation, torture and various other torments. It is believed the more virtuous a person has been in life the more obvious it will be which group of spirits are the Light ones.