Reikland

The Commonwealth of Reikland
thumb Flag
Motto: "Frodl guides our hands"
Location	Nordenwald
Capital	Carolton
Largest city	Aretria
Official languages	Reikish
Recognised national languages	Reikish
Religion	The Faith, some presence of other religions
Demonym(s)	Reikish
Government	Semi-Presidential Unitary Republic
• President	Denise Gray
• Prime Minister	Cortez Howell
• Chairman of the Assembly	Alice Lefebvre
• Chief Justice	Joyce Hansen
Legislature	Commonwealth Parliament
Establishment
• Unification of Reikland	872 AR (183 BD)
• Adrian's Edict	1571 AR (516 AD)
• Commonwealth Government Formed	2193 AR (1138 AD)
• Treaty of Abdication	2195 AR (1140 AD)
Population
• Estimate	383,690,048 (estimate 2575 AR)
Currency	Commonwealth Pound Sterling (CRP)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
ISO 3166 code	CR
Internet TLD	.cr

The Commonwealth of Reikland, commonly called Reikland, is a Unitary Constitutional Semi-Presidential Republic controlling much of the continent of Nordenwald. It is bordered on all sides by the sea, though the nearest neighbors are The Twelve Isles to the North, Faniviace to the South, and Wargloria to the West. Reikland covers more thank 6.8 million square kilometers and has has an estimated population of 383 million. Reikland comprises of 13 Provinces and 1 disputed territory.

Reikland is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world. Boasting a powerful military, a robust merchant marine, and a diverse economy supported by a skilled, well educated population, and a minimal tax burden, Reikland is home to many of the largest corporations in the world and has a thriving tourist industry, focused on cultural monuments of the old Reikish kingdoms, the Great Desert, and the Northern and Southern Mountains that rise above the desert.

Etymology

Reikland translates to Land of the Reikish, a name which originated in multiple areas following the Return.

The standard way to refer to a citizen of Reikland is "Reikish", though "Reiklander" is a very common name.

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People first arrived in Reikland many thousands of years ago in a series of migratory events. Most of these early inhabitants would remain, settling across the continent. The population that would eventually become the Reikish migrated from Nordenwald in the 38th Century BD (2700s BR), travelling west and colonizing the lands that would eventually become Grenham. Little is currently known of these proto-Reikish during the migration or during the centuries leading to the Return. What is known is that the Reikish became skilled seafarers and metallurgists, learning to craft exquisite iron by the 3000s BD and even decent steel by the turn of the 15th Century BD.

By the time of the Return from 1100 to 1055 BD, the Reikish had developed a complex society that many outside observers found to be odd. Modern historians have described these early Reikish migrants as "A strange mix of cultural sophistication and simultaneous barbarism". According to contemporary sources, the first Reikish to land in Nordenwald in 1100 BD did so in large, clinkerbuilt ships. Writing nearly 200 years later, the Elixian historian Jaius Jarius Furii described the initial landings as follows, "The invaders reached the shores of the Great Northern Jungle in a fleet of boats. A group of armed men from the local garrison went to meet them, engaging in a short dialogue that ended in conflict. The records of the garrison did not include what words were said as the commander was slain in the battle, alongside no fewer than two dozen of his men. Thus began the Invasions which drove our Empire to ruin and exile." Reikish sources, compiled in the Chronicles written by Alfred in the mid-900s AR (circa 1st Century BD), indicate a similarly violent clash. According to Heathbert, the apparent leader of this first landing party, "The Elians came from the treeline, armor glistening in the sun, and drew up for battle. I drew my party up likewise and bade the völva Greita to come forward and offer prayers to Areia and Tor, asking for victory. For their blessings, I and my captains took the völva's blade and did cut our hands, sprinkling blood upon the ground as we beseeched the Gods for their favor. With our sacrifice made and our wounds bound, we were greeted by a pair of riders. They spoke in a tongue we did not and I called for the merchant, Aethelred, to translate. The riders asked our business and demanded we return to our boats. I replied that we would do no such thing. We were told once more to leave on pain of death. I replied that we would neither leave these shores nor shirk from death. With these words exchanged, the riders returned to their host and the battle commenced. I sought out the host's leader, a man clad in more ornate armor with a plume of hair atop his helm. With my lance I pierced his throat, laying him low upon the field. I then took my sword and parted his head from his shoulders, placing it atop my lance and lifting it high so as to be seen by all. At the sight of their leader's head, the Elians lost heart and fled. Five we lost that day, their bodies burned on that beach to speed their spirits to the Godshall."

Geography

Reikland is a large nation, measuring over six million square miles in total land area. Tropical jungles dominate much of the Northwestern coast, though the majority of the country is tropical savannah, with arid steppe leading from the sea to the Great Desert. 15 large rivers find their starts in Reiklands two mountain ranges, culminating in three major and six minor rivers flowing to the sea. The substantial coverage of the inland waterways of Reikland provide near complete coverage of the continent, allowing commerce and other travel over thousands of miles of rivers, canals, and channels.

Reikland is a warm, tropical region with an average temperature of between 20 and 35 degress Celsius.

Demographics

Largest Cities

Rank	City Name	Metro Population	Province
1	Aretria	9,629,654	Mercia
2	Example	Example	Example
3	Example	Example	Example
4	Example	Example	Example
5	Carolton	1,941,673	Tomsaete
6	Example	Example	Example
7	Example	Example	Example
8	Example	Example	Example
9	Example	Example	Example
10	Example	Example	Example

Government

The Commonwealth is unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic with 14 provinces. It consists of three distinct governmental branches, those being the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The President is elected by popular vote and has the power to name the Prime Minister and Cabinet but the Prime Minister and the Cabinet can be dismissed at any time by the Parliament.

The President of the Commonwealth is elected by instant run-off voting, a system adopted in 1408 AD (2463 AR) in which all candidates are ranked in order of preference on a single ballot. This replaced the traditional First Past the Post system that had elected all presidents since 1138 AD (2193 AR). The president is elected for a term of 5 years and may only serve two terms. Each President is able to appoint a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of ministers to oversee the executive offices, such as the Treasury, the military, and others.

The Commonwealth Parliament is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Commonwealth Senate and the Commonwealth Assembly. Parliament has the task of drafting and passing legislation as well as overseeing the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Commonwealth Senate consists of 1 representative from each of the 14 provinces, showing its lineage from the Council of Dukes under the old Royalist Parliament. Senators are elected to a term of 5 years by instant run-off voting and can serve no more than three terms. The Commonwealth Assembly consists of 726 members apportioned after each census. These members are elected to terms of five years by instant run-off voting in each district. Assembly members can serve no more than four terms, though there is an effort on the part of some parties to reduce the term limits to two.

Finally, the Commonwealth High Court serves as the highest court of the Judiciary, consisting of 13 members appointed for life by the President and approved by the Senate, another holdover from the Royalist Parliament.

Foreign Relations and Military

The Commonwealth maintains official diplomatic relations with all nations, though it does have a tense relationship with the Aydinirian Empire and the many socialist and communist nations, largely as a result of the Commonwealth's colonial history.

The Commonwealth Armed Forces were formed in 2193 from the Parliamentarian Army and Navy during the Reikish Civil War following the establishment of the Provisional Government and the election of the first President. The military consists of the Commonwealth Army (including the Commonwealth Guard), Commonwealth Navy (including the Commonwealth Marines), and Commonwealth Air Force (including the Commonwealth Space Command).

The President serves as the Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth Armed Forces and does hold a de facto military rank, though they are not given command authority over any troops other than the Presidential Guard Regiment.