Tabulu

Commonwealth Republic of the Tabulu Islands Ca'bua Ton Fa'tim Tabulu Koini
Flag Seal
Motto: "Kea Mo Bea" "Beauty and Prosperity"
Anthem: O, Heavenly Tabulu
Capital and	Fort Ka'kua 03°15'S 157°12'W
Official languages	Tabuluan, Torvonese
Ethnic groups (2018)	93% Tabuluan 6% Torvonese 1% Other
Religion (2018)	84% Christian 11% Muslim 3% Tabuluan Narrative 2% Other
Demonym(s)	Tabuluan
Government	Federal Constitutional Presidential Republic
• President	Ocan T'fika
• Vice President	Hic'Moa Tavaka
Legislature	National Assembly
• Upper house	Representative Assembly
• Lower house	Senatorial Assembly
Independence From Torvon
• Torvonese Exploration	1689
• Introduction as Crown Colony	October 19, 1842
• Partial Independence Granted	June 6, 1906
• Independence Granted	January 12, 1979
Area
•	812.3 km2 (313.6 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.4
Population
• 2021 estimate	198,500
• 2018 census	195,312
• Density	240/km2 (621.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$416 Million
• Per capita	$34,312
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$318 Million
• Per capita	$29,899
Gini (2018)	0.293 low
HDI (2021)	0.682 medium
Currency	Tabuluan Dollar (TDR)
Time zone	UTC-10 UCT (Central Paisi Time)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy AD
Driving side	right
Calling code	+828
Internet TLD	.tbu

The Tabulu Islands, officially the Commonwealth Republic of the Tabulu Islands, is a nation located in the Paisi Island Chain. It consists of 1 main island (Ka'fua), 3 minor islands (Tajam, Fa'rika, Pukica), and many smaller, uninhabited islands. The capital city is Fort Ka'kua. It is widely accepted that the original settlers were the Mo'vakai'i people of whom settled down in Tabulu an estimated 4,200 years ago, although some classical scholars dispute this theory.

The Tabulu Islands is a Federal Constitutional Presidential Republic, consisting of 12 administrative divisions. It is a member of the Torvonese Commonwealth, and has recently been accepted into the Sekidean Union as an associate state. As of 2019, Ocan T'fika has been the president of the nation.

The Tabulu Islands has had strong support from the Torvonese government following its independence. The Torvonese Government invests over 300 million dollars into Tabulu each year, as well as maintaining a naval military prescence on Ka'fua. While many Tabuluan Nationalists claim that the Torvonese should be ejected for crimes commit during the colonial period, this sentiment is not widespread and many Tabuluans have accepted the apology offered by the Torvonese government.

History

Main Article: History Of Tabulu

Early Tabulu

The first people to discover Tabulu were the Mo'vakai'i peoples in roughly 4,200 BCE. The first skeletons and burial sites were found 15 miles inland from the Ka'kua Bay. Because of the absence of a written language in Mo'vakai'i culture, the way that the Tabuluans have been traced is primarily through genetics and trade with the other Mo'vakai'i peoples.

The Tabuluans were far less populated than the other, Northern island chains, although that is not to say that they were unpopulated. However, because of their position as a 'frontier' island, populations rarely migrated, and much of Tabuluan culture became stagnant because of this.

The first Kings of Tabulu were of the Fa'kido line, in roughly 200 CE. The Fa'kido line would marry into the other Paisi Islander nations towards the North, causing them to become much more important. The Fa'kido line would maintain a large amount of power over Tabulu up until the Torvonese Colonization.

1700's Tabulu

In the year 1689, Torvonese Explorers would discover the Tabuluans. Torvonese descriptions of the people describe them as being "ashen-haired, with skin like a pig's." This may be in reference to the natural toughness and hairiness of ethnic Tabuluans, although this claim is disputed as it may have just been discrimination. While the Torvonese would eventually leave the islands, many Tabuluans claimed that the Gods were warning them; that the explorers were messages from the Gods, telling them to change their ways. This sentiment was localized, however, and the Torvonese did not immediately settle. Instead, the Torvonese introduced them to the Latin alphabet, resulting in increased trade. In 1763, with the permission of King Ra'kumunki Fa'kido, Torvonese settlers were permitted to begin building their own cities independent of the Tabuluans. However, this would lead to confliuct between the Tabuluans and Torvonese people, especially as the Torvonese began to claim the overwhelming majority of the Islaands. By 1793, the Tabuluans were forced to either live in Torvonese cities, or live in the jungle with no houses.

Torvonese Rule (1842-1979)

Main Article: Crown Colony of Tabulu

From 1842 until 1979, Torvon maintained partial control over Tabulu in a dual monarchy. While the kings and queens of Tabulu maintained autonomy, they were not permitted into Torvonese settlements and the Torvonese kings ultimately dictated the laws. While minor conflict was present because of this, the kings often worked together. One famous example is the Tabuluan Housing Act of 1861, in which Native Tabuluans were finally permitted to live in Torvonese-built cities. While slight racism continued throughout, many Torvonese who lived in Tabulu gradually came to live alongside them instead of above them. Another thing brought by the Torvonese was Christianity, which would begin to phase out the islander's original religions.

The Plague of 1845

In 1845, Torvonese Settlers who had likely contracted yellow fever moved to Tabulu. While the Torvonese had a heightened resistance due to former exposure, many of the Tabuluans were struck by the illness. Between 1845 and 1847, roughly 60% of the population contracted the disease and 8% died because of it. While Tabuluans of the time attributed the illness to the Anger of the Gods, Torvonese evangelicals used this as proof of 'the true God,' claiming that the plague was only affecting the natives for their paganism. This causedan increase in conversions upon the islands, and by 1849, an estimated 85% of people on the islands were of a Christian denomination

The Insurrection of 1905

Main Article: Tabuluan Insurrection of 1905

In 1905, following increased calls for independence around the world and the beginning of the fall of many empires, Tabuluans began to want for freedom. In 1904, the Tabuluans had organized themselves into a new government, and sent a list of demands to Torvon, primarily detailing the need for independence. These demands were rejected. In retaliation, the Tabuluans took over Fort Ka'kua and its accompanying naval base. When word of this reached the Torvonese, several battleships and infantry battalions were sent to assault the location. On January 3, 1905, Torvonese forces landed on the beaches outside of Ka'kua.

Torvonese Naval Forces posing for a picture, 12 miles off the coast of Tajam Island.

On January 5, Torvonese naval forces issued one warning to the Tabuluans to give up their arms. The Tabuluans refused. Hours later, shelling began of Tabuluan positions. As a strange prelude to the Great War (Anteria), the Tabuluans dug trenches, tunnels, and other ways to protect themselves from the shelling. Bogged down on the beaches, Torvonese forces were eventually forced to dig trenches themselves, although theirs were of a worse quality due to the tide and constant water flooding it. It is widely recognized as one of the military failures of Torvon, as they failed to ever take any land upon the island.

Torvonese trench, dug into the beaches in February.

In March of 1905, the Torvonese Government, after viewing the casualty numbers for Torvonese in the thousands, elected to give the Tabuluans partial autonomy.

The Great War

Main Article: Tabuluan Troops in The Great War

Torvon would originally join the Great War on the side of the Iron Pact, and as would be expected by a colony, Tabuluan troops volunteered to join the war effort. The 26th Infantry Regiment, composed of 950 Tabuluan Volunteers, would be sent overseas to fight against The Alliance. Many of the troops who volunteered had already fought in the Tabuluan Insurrection, and had combat experience. While vastly underequipped by the Torvonese government due to supply shortages, the Tabuluans would be issued shovels as hand-to-hand weapons. Their brutality in trench raiding would earn them the nickname by The Alliance of "Die Spatmen - The shovelmen."

When Torvon was forced to switch over to the Alliance side in 1907, the Tabuluans were informed of this decision when they were with several other units from other nations. In a shock maneuvre, the Tabuluans "picked up their pistols, rifles, and shovels, and then shot and stabbed their own friends." The Torvonese command, hearing such horrific tales, primarily began employing the Tabuluans as a "šokpolki," or Shock Regiments. The Tabuluans would continue to serve throughout the war, however their numbers dwindled rapidly due to their constant being put at the front lines. By 1909, the 26th Infantry Regiment was sent back to Tabulu, due to their numbers being at 2/3 their original size and not receiving new volunteers.

Another major aspect of the Tabuluan identity in the Great War was in the Torvonese Navy. The Tabuluan people have always described themselves as being connected to the sea, and so it made the most sense to join the Naval Forces. 1,800 Tabuluans would serve in the Torvonese Navy, primarily as gunners on smaller boats and corvettes. The Tabuluan sailors would be less effective than their land-based counterparts, however, they still are reported as having assisted in the sinking of at least 4 ships.

By the end of the Great War, an estimated 3,500 Tabuluans had served in the Torvonese military, and of those, 982 had died. At Mahakua Remembrance Park, there is a tribute to all 982 deceased men. The last Tabuluan soldier, Ocan Mikatua, died in 2013.