Iblesia

Commonwealth of Iblesia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Civility Requires Certainty."
Anthem: "I Vow To Thee My Country" [1]
Map of Iblesia.
Capital and largest city	Kingsport
Official languages	Iblesian
Ethnic groups	76% Human, 24% Other
Demonym(s)	Iblesian
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• King	Alexander III
• Ruling House	House Canmore
• Prime Minister	Richard T. Owens
Independent (Sovereign)
• Act of Union	23th August 1606
• Bill of Rights	15th September 1606
• Royal Grant	8th January 1622
Area
•	377,973 km2 (145,936 sq mi)
Population
• 1731 estimate	12,500,000
• Density	26.5/km2 (68.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	S17,762,500,000
• Per capita	S1,421
Currency	Shilling (S)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy

The Commonwealth of Iblesia is a sovereign unitary state located off the eastern coast of Mulhollar. Iblesia is a constitutional monarchy which operates under a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature which operates on a common law basis. The executive is led by a Prime Minister who derives their authority from the crown. The current monarch is King Alexander III of House Canmore who has reigned since 1224; and the current Prime Minister is Richard T. Owens who has been in office since 1698. The capital city of Iblesia is Kingsport which is also its largest city with a population of 2.4 million, slightly less than one quarter of the nation's total population of 12.5 million; the majority of the population are human, with significant dwarven and kanturan minorities.

Iblesia enjoys a largely temperate climate, though the northern isles fall within the subtropical zone. The Commonwealth occupies an extended archipelago off the eastern coast of Mulhollar and consists of approximately fifteen islands (including islets) of which five are inhabited; the remaining ten being either too small or too inhospitable for regular human habitation. The majority of the terrain is moderate with relatively low lying hills and mountains found towards the centre of the larger islands within the chain. Within the archipelago there is one island which is substantially larger than the others; this island is known as Greater Iblesia and is divided into two procinces, Brytha and Gaela. Much of the land area of Gaela and the outlying isles are covered in dense woodland and while Brytha also once boasted extensive woodland and great deal of the island has been deforested to make way for farming and industry. In addition to the isles Iblesia currently occupies three colonies on the mainland of Mulhollar.

The earliest known human inhabitants of the archipelago upon which Iblesia is located lived approximately eight thousand years ago. Prior to human migration to the isles they were largely uninhabited except for some small elven enclaves and notably the House of All Knowledge located on the lesser isle of Athena which is occupied by the Monitors. The earliest evidence of complex civilisation on the isles, with a written language and organised government dates back approximately two and a half thousand years when a series of petty kingdoms and tribal nations emerged; it was also during this time that the dwarven migration to the isles began. The isles would continue to be governed under a fractured system of tribal governance until 672 ME when the isle of Brytha was united under the rule of the Greater Vampire Alexander I of Canmore. By 1307 the isles were further united so that only two nations remained; the Kingdom of Brytha and the Kingdom of Gaela, both ruled by a vampiric monarch; a state of periodic war would continue for the next three centuries until the King of Gaela, the higher vampire Malcolm Bryce, was slain by Alexander III of Brytha, prompting the Act of Union.

Iblesia is a highly developed nation with a strong economy. The economic strength of the Commonwealth has been steadily building over the last decade with the beginning of industrialisation and urbanisation, factors which have led to a population boom and the rapid growth of urban centres. Traditionally the Iblesian economy relied upon the textile industry, primarily wool and flax products; the introduction of new production methods as well as the invention of more efficient weaving machinery have enabled the aforementioned industrialisation and have generated the capital necessary for further developments. The government's economic policy is one of wealth generation with considerable subsidies and investment available for industrialists and capitalists.

Etymology & Terminology

The Commonwealth of Iblesia takes its name from that of the ancient protector goddess Iblese who was the patron deity of the isles which now make up the nation. Originally the term Iblesia was used to refer only to the archipelago as a whole, since multiple petty kingdoms and tribal fiefs controlled the archipelago prior to the formation of the Commonwealth. The name Iblesia directly translates to "Isles of Iblese". Iblesia is referred to as a Commonwealth because of its status as a Constitutional Monarchy; according to the Bill of Rights the government "...operates on behalf of the crown for the common good of the people of Iblesia." However as a constitutional monarchy Iblesia is also technically a Kingdom and thus on certain maps and documents the name 'the Kingdom of Iblesia' is used; while the official long form is 'the Commonwealth of Iblesia' the term Kingdom has been accepted as an alternative in Iblesian constitutional law.

History

The archipelago upon which modern day Iblesia is located has been inhabited in some form for the last ten thousand years. The only natives to the archipelago appear to be the Monitors who have lived upon a single island within a structure known as the House of All Knowledge; however the Monitors have never spread their civilisation beyond the confines of this island and little is known about them even now. The earliest inhabitants to settle the isle were nomadic elves belonging to the Cheruskan culture, and these elves established numerous small coastal settlements which relied upon fishing and small scale agriculture; these early elven settlers left behind various monuments showing evidence of a sophisticated and well developed culture unique to the archipelago. The Cheruskan culture started its decline approximately eight thousand years ago with a mass migration of humans from the continent of Mulhollar to the west. The migrant humans came in two waves; the first belonging to the Brythyan culture and the second to the Gaelyan cultures. Although the human settlement of Iblesia was not violent in nature the Cheruskan elves were ultimately outnumbered and through centuries of intermarriage with the human population largely ceased to be. The large kanturian minority in Iblesia is a legacy of the Cheruskan extinction, with the Kantur being descended from the ancient Cheruskans.

View from one of Kingsport's harbours.

Iblesia was unified in 1606 with the Act of Union after the death in ritual combat of the Gaelan king, the Higher Vampire known as Malcolm Bryce, by the Brythan king Alexander Canmore. Prior to this the archipelago was controlled by a number of petty kingdoms with most only inhabiting a single island; however as society and technology advanced two major powers emerged centred around the two human cultures which had settled the isles. By 1307 the Kingdom of Gaela had successfully unified the Gaelyan culture in the northern isles while the Kingdom of Brytha had united the more numerous Brythyan culture in the southern isles. The two nations remained rivals and a state of continuous animosity between the two countries existed until 1544 when the Treaty of Knitsport was signed bringing an end to the hostilities. Tensions began to build once more in 1604 with the Brythan decision to rearm and rebuild its naval power; the Gaelyan king, Malcolm Bryce interpreted this as a preparation for war and issued a personal challenge to his rival, Alexander Canmore, in order to settle the matter of rule of the isles once and for all.

Richard T. Owens, Iblesia's current Prime Minister.

Following the unification of the isles a series of incremental reforms to the government took place. Under increasing pressure from various early capitalists and industrialist Alexander III steadily increased the authority of Parliament and of the Prime Minister, granting the latter the use of the Royal Prerogative, while increasing the number of peers in the House of Lords. Major changes to the House of Commons came in 1680 when suffrage was extended to all persons who owner property (land or a house) or who had served at least eight years in the military; in response to the vastly increased size of the electorate (it had more than tripled in size) new electoral boroughs were established with some of the larger existing boroughs being separated. The 1680 electoral reform increased the size of the Commons to 523 seats with each MP representing approximately 19,000 people. 1684 saw the official abolition of slavery, serfdom, and indentured servitude throughout Iblesia; although in practice serfdom had ended in the 16th century it had remained a legal fact which allowed the continuance of serfdom in some of the smaller isles and the manipulation of the newly democratised system of government. Under the new laws abolishing serfdom and indentured servitude the bulk of the common folk who did not meet the criteria to vote became cives sine suffragio or Citizens Without the Vote.

The current government under Prime Minister Richard T. Owens came to power in 1698 following the general election of that year. Owens and his party campaigned on a platform of national development and expansion with increased spending on education, business investments, and colonial ventures. The Liberal Party succeeded in taking the place of the Conservatives in power after a series of political scandals throughout the early 1690s which had severely weakened the party and its support base, exposing systemic corruption and embezzlement of government funds. Since taking power the Liberal Party has engaged in establishing a Ministry for Colonial Affairs with the goal of colonising parts of eastern Mulhollar. Other projects include the construction of an extensive network of canals and paved roads linking major urban centres to the resources located further inland.

First Charter Colonisation

On 9th Enneada 1711 the first overseas colony belonging to Iblesia was established in New Kingsport on the coast of Nova Brytha by the East Mulhollar Company (E.M.C.) which had been granted the charter to do so a month prior in Octoeada 1711. The company itself had been building up capital through a combination of international sea trade and through trading with the indigenous populations of eastern Mulhollar since 1684 and already had a large fleet of ships and considerable resources with which to carry out a colonial charter; with the charter grant however came additional investment and resources that were given by the government of Iblesia under Richard T. Owens, along with permission for the E.M.C. to begin recruiting and transporting colonists and pioneers across the Iblesian sea. The E.M.C. had been anticipating the grant for some time and had already dispatched ships on 29th Octeada 1711 with colonists, troops, and resources in order to establish an initial colony. The ships arrived on 9th Enneada 1711 and of the sixteen sent twelve were deconstructed for building materials, their cannon being redeployed to defend the fledgling settlement which was dubbed New Kingsport.

A view of the harbour at Alexanderhavn.

Further fleets had also been dispatched by the E.M.C. to other lands further south located in the Alexander Archipelago, and to the eastern Mulhollari coast on the Julian Peninsula, however these did not arrive until the 11th Enneada 1711, two days after the establishment of New Kingsport. As had been the case with the initial colonisation on Nova Brytha the majority of the ships sent were dismantled for building materials allowing for the rapid construction of fortified settlements. These fleets had successfully made landfall and established the towns of Alexanderhavn, Julianashavn, Owensburg, and New Brenwyth on 11th Enneada 1711, while two further fleets were delayed for five days and would arrive on 17th Enneada 1711 to establish Isobelville, Andrewstown, and Jamestown in a similar fashion. Under the E.M.C. plan for the establishment and organisation of the new colonies the colonial efforts were divided into three areas of control, referred to officially as Colonial Districts, each ruled by its own Governor. These colonial districts were New Iblesia, centred in Kingsport; Alexandria, centred in Alexanderhavn; and Juliana, centred in Julianashaven.

In the early stages of the colonisation effort the main focus was on establishing sustainable trading and supply ports where the indigenous people of eastern Mulhollar could bring goods such as furs, pelts, tobacco, and sugarcane for trade with the settlers. Because the government was subsidising the colonisation effort the E.M.C. was able to focus upon planting crops and raising livestock meant to feed the population rather than seeking to establish cash crops; for the interim the colonial profits would be slim and largely drawn from trade with the natives. However as the settlements expanded in size and complexity the demand for additional territory and resources grew and as these demands were met it enabled the establishment of sugar, tobacco, and cotton plantations; but in meeting the demands of the growing colonies more and more settlers found themselves well outside the defensive walls of the original settlements. Additionally the steady encroachment of the E.M.C. into native lands was creating increased tensions between settlers and the native populations; by 1720 tensions had reached such a point that trade with the native populace had all but died out. A series of minor skirmishes between E.M.C. troops and native warriors in 1722 finally brought an end to any suggestion that the colonies and the native populations could co-exist peacefully.

By 1725 the new colonies of Iblesia were well established and turning a substantial profit. The end of trade with the native inhabitants had initially damaged the E.M.C.'s profits, however as the plantations they had established grew in size and started to outproduce any effort by the natives the demands for sugar, tobacco, and cotton were now being reliably met by the colonists themselves. Successive colonial governors saw no reason to pursue trade or peace with the native populations and in 1726, following a brutal raid by members of the Tuhradib native orc tribe on the Alexandria town of Stocksbride, the governor formally declared was upon the native tribes. Both of the other Colonial Districts were located on lands of their own which had been uninhabited, or which had already integrated the small native populations present and in response to the Alexandrian governor, Sir Lucas Nash's declaration of war they were able to send their own troops to help.

The end of the twenty year colonial charter loomed and in 1731 the E.M.C.; according to the terms by which the E.M.C. had been granted their charter they were required to pay back the investments, loans, subsidies, and interest given by the government by this time. Despite the ongoing Alexandrian Frontier War and the costs and losses incurred by prosecuting it the E.M.C. had been able to turn a profit; however it was not sufficient to fully cover the government investments, and so on 24th Hendeceada 1731, control of the three colonies was officially handed over to the Iblesian government. In practical terms this changed little for the colonists and settlers in the Three Colonies; the E.M.C. had operated according to Iblesian law, and the homeland was not so far distant that legal matters requiring a higher court could not be easily dealt with. On 30th Hendeceada 1731 the Iblesian parliament voted to enfranchise the colonies, granting the right to vote to colonial citizens.

The termination of the First Charter of Colonisation with the government taking control of the Three Colonies actually proved beneficial for the E.M.C. financially; they were no longer required to fund the ongoing Alexandrian Frontier War, and they still owned many of the private interests in the colonies. Additionally although they had failed to pay back the government in full, due to the interest owed, the company had turned a profit for its private shareholders and investors and so had the capital and influence to pursue a Second Charter of colonisation. In Monoeada 1732 the E.M.C. formally lobbied parliament for a second grant of colonisation so as to begin the larger scale colonisation of the Mulhollar mainland.

Alexandrian Frontier War

An artist's depiction of one of the E.M.C.'s colonial troops armed with a rifle. The E.M.C. allowed women into its ranks on an equal footing.

Beginning in Trieada 1726 with the formal declaration of war on the native tribes of the region east of the Alexandrian Colonial District by Governor Lucas Nash, the Alexandrian Frontier War was a broad but rather nebulous conflict fought until 1733 with the Tuhradib tribal chieftain Uruk Mog-Udaar's surrender at Black Pine Stand after a prolonged siege of the tribal settlement there. The official casus belli' was to exact reparations for the damages caused and losses suffered by a series of native raids and skirmishes with E.M.C. troops in 1722 and to avenge the massacre at Stocksbride in which fifty three Iblesian colonists were murdered by orc warriors of the Tuhradib tribe. However the declaration of war was against all of the nearby tribes east of the Alexandrian frontier, rather than just those responsible, and because these tribes were not all united or even of the same culture any formal diplomatic communications with them were severely hindered; not only that but many innocent tribes, which had aided or traded with the E.M.C. in the past, were now being attacked.

The early stage of the Frontier War was seen as a major success. E.M.C. troops, supported by local militia forces, were able to push miles into tribal territory. This had resulted in the destruction of several tribal camps and villages, but only one major battle was fought prior to 1728, at Uhlahataar, a fortified orc encampment. The remainder of the first year and a half of war was spent patrolling vast tracts of wilderness, raiding small and largely defenceless villages, and fighting minor skirmishes with native warriors. The battle at Uhlahataar was the first decisive battle of the war; up to this point most of the engagements had been fought as ambushes, or had otherwise been too small scale for any kind of ordered battle, and although Iblesian tactics relied on organised formations and volley fire the native warriors, who were utterly unprepared and unfamiliar with gunpowder technology and metal weaponry, had generally been soundly defeated. At Uhlahataar a large E.M.C. force had besieged an orc encampment, it was the E.M.C.'s first chance at a proper conventional battle, and although the native forces defending the encampment were by now adapting to Iblesian technology and tactics they were unprepared for a siege of the kind prosecuted against them.

The E.M.C. strategy, put in place by Colonel Matthew Dawes, was to encircle the encampment, which was protected by earthworks and a palisade wall, and to bombard it with cannon and mortar fire. A fairly standard tactic by Iblesian conventions, but one that the defenders could not have anticipated as they had no experience facing artillery and were used to siege scenarios involving a drawn out battle of attrition. Within hours of the first bombardment it is estimated that sixty percent of the defending force were killed or wounded. The cannon, firing solid shot directly into the palisades turned the wooden fortifications into fragmentation bombs with the splinters of timber inflicting terrible wounds. On the second day, having bombarded Uhlahataar until his ammunition ran out, Colonel Dawes ordered the assault. E.M.C. casualties were light, the remaining defenders quickly surrendered handing the E.M.C. victory.

In an effort to end the war early Colonel Dawes released the prisoners taken at Uhlahataar on the proviso that they communicate a peace offer to their leaders. Among those released was the son of the Chieftain of Uhlahataar, Uruk Mog-Udaar, who was now himself Chieftain of his battered tribe. Although he agreed to communicate the peace offer he urged his fellow tribal chieftains to reject it. Uruk Mog-Udaar proved to be a shrewd negotiator and tactician who had spotted exploitable weaknesses in the technology and tactics employed by the E.M.C. forces and with a united force of warriors he was able to lead a warband on a highly successful guerrilla campaign against the E.M.C. Uruk Mog-Udaar understood the strength of the Iblesian artillery and ended the fruitless practice of trying to raid fortified positions, instead he focused on small skirmishes and ambushes where the slow firing muskets of the E.M.C.'s troops were at a disadvantage to the rapid firing of the orc bows. This strategy of slowly bleeding the E.M.C. was intended to force them to sue for peace at more favourable terms; Uruk Mog-Udaar wanted a promise of no further expansion into tribal lands but the E.M.C. stubbornly refused.

In 1731 the E.M.C. handed over colonial authority to the Iblesian government. Dawes was replaced with Major-General Sir Andrew A. Fitch. Fitch had studied the battle reports provided, and the tactics employed by both Dawes and Mog-Udaar and immediately began a series of changes. With ruthless efficiency the Iblesian military began to build roads into the frontier territories being fought over and established a network of forts and outposts which were practically unassailable by the native tribes with the technology they had available. Prisoners captured in attacks of native camps and villages were no longer released, instead they were relocated into camps intended to be integration centres so that the orcs could be turned into productive citizens; however endemic mismanagement of the camps would inadvertently lead to the spread of disease and the perpetration of severe abuses by camp guards. Major-General Fitch was undeterred and unconcerned by the reports from the camps however and continued on, pressing his forces further east into the Mulhollari frontier, sending prisoners back east to camps, until the tribes were so depleted that they were unable to even feed themselves.

Major-General Fitch finally accepted the surrender of Mog-Udaar in 1733. The Iblesian government agreed to release the orc population from the camps, but forced citizenship upon them, forcing them to become farmers, labourers, and runners for the colonial authorities in exchange for an end to hostilities and the formal acceptance of the tribal religions and traditions. Mog-Udaar had little choice but to accept; his people were starving or dying from disease in camps; peace promised their release and food. Major-General Fitch was decorated for his successes and placed in charge of the integration efforts in 1734. The Iblesian government hoped to rapidly boost the population and productivity of the colonies by integrating the orc natives into Iblesian society.

Second Charter Charter Colonisation

Following the conclusion of the First Alexandrian Frontier War the government in Kingsport sought to issue a second colonial charter for an inland push beyond the borders of the existing colonial districts; due to the experience of the East Mulhollar Company, as well as the high revenues the company was bringing in even after handing over control to the Commonwealth, the E.M.C. was once again granted a colonial charter. The Second Charter was specifically aimed towards expanding the borders of the existing colonial districts, allowing New Iblesia's border to link up with that of Alexandria along the coast, and allowing all three districts to push outward into unclaimed inland territories following the lines of the Julianna, James, and Alexander rivers.

As early as 1730, before the end of the First Alexandrian Frontier War, Iblesian scouting parties and surveyors had mapped out the areas inland, and had succeeded in tracking the James to its source. The reports returned by army scouts and surveyors indicated a vast span of land with a similarly temperate climate and vast resources. The continuous need for timber to fuel Iblesia's growing economy and colonies was sufficient to convince many MPs in Kingsport of the need to expand further east, however the tipping point came with the discovery of rich coal deposits in Alexandria in 1733, as the war drew to a close. As a critical resource coal was in high demand and given the similar lay of the land further inland it was surmised by planners and politicians that additional coal reserves might be secured by settling these areas. For its part the E.M.C. played up the claims of vast mineral wealth, and targeted propaganda towards the native orc population which had been forcibly integrated.

The Second Charter was issued in late 1733 with the full approval of Alexander III, and the E.M.C.'s new chairman, Isaac Dawkins, was given express permission to employ as much of the orc population as possible in breaking in the new frontier. With the financial backing of the government, as well as private investors, and the Colonial Districts the E.M.C. built three fleets of new river boats and outfitted large inland ranging parties. The bulk of the manual labour was being given to the subjugated orc population, providing them with a steady source of income and the means by which to purchase food and supplies in an alien culture and economy. Regardless of attempts by Dawkins to ensure that the orc workforce was paid fairly in practice conditions were appalling, poverty and disease were rampant, and tensions between the large contingent of orc workers and the human Iblesian workers grew to the point where armed guards had to be stationed around the work camps.

The initial stages of the Second Charter Colonisation were split into two main focuses; the overland expansion, and the river expansion. The fleets of river boats constructed by the E.M.C. ferried soldiers and settlers deep into the interior where they established fortified settlements along the banks of the river; this would then allow the overland parties places to stop between major works projects, and also allowed for the defence of the newly secured lands against native incursions. The river settlements would be supplied by boat until they became self sufficient, or until the overland work crews reached them. The goal of the overland work teams was to construct a series of roads to facilitate the movement of settlers into the interior; these work teams were also intended to be settlers themselves once the new frontier was established in the west. Linking the new river settlements with overland roads would be a secondary priority.

While the plans for the Second Charter Colonisation were extensive and detailed in practice the process was not so easy. The rates of attrition among the orc labourers were high and the provision of basic services to them was limited. Although nominally equal within Iblesian society these orc labourers were poorly treated and lacked the education that their Iblesian counterparts had received; equal pay was not sufficient to balance the educational and cultural imbalances and the practice of overcharging orc labourers for goods and services became endemic. Additional problems arose from the cultural and societal unfamiliarity of the orcs, the concept of money was new to them and money management a hard learned skill that most lacked; not only that but their exposure to new diseases brought by the human settlers meant that many orc families were spending much more money of subsistence than their human counterparts.

Nevertheless rapid advances were made. Isaac Dawkins, though a fervent egalitarian who wanted to integrate the orc population fully, was not above ruthlessness when it came to managing the E.M.C.'s affairs. Generous bonuses were available to worksmasters who met or exceeded their set targets, and harsh punishments were meted out to those who failed or shirked. This in turn led to a top down escalation of brutality. The orc labourers, who had little understanding of their rights and position within the society which had conquered them, were often flogged in order to ensure compliance and productivity. This practice of torturous punishment would continue until 1737 when a government inquest uncovered the extent of the E.M.C.'s abuses. Dawkins was able to shift the blame to his subordinates and retained his position, but the results of the inquest began a systematic purge of the middle management within the company.

The E.M.C. purges mostly affected those middle managers who were found to be 'inefficient' rather than those guilty of particular abuse and mistreatment, however it did have the positive effect of increasing upward economic and social mobility for the labourforce, the majority of whom were orcs. By 1740 the majority (some 57%) of the E.M.C.'s foremen and middle managers were orcs. This did not greatly improve the living conditions of the bulk of the workforce, though the brutality that had characterised the majority of the Second Charter Colonisation effort was all but eliminated.

Despite fortifying their new settlements the E.M.C. did not make the fortification of individual plantations or farms a requirement. One of the main ways in which the E.M.C. covered its costs throughout the Second Charter Colonisation was to sell or rent plots of land cheaply to independent labourers or businessmen, meaning that they could essentially convert frontier and undeveloped land into developed and productive farmland and plantations, without having to pay for the process themselves. The financial incentives given to new settlers were also significant because the new colonial frontiers were exempt from tax and because the E.M.C. was in a position to sell off vast tracts of land cheaply. The effect of this was another native uprising which began in 1735 with a series of raids by native orc tribes on undefended frontier farms and plantations, these raids would eventually spark the Second Alexandrian Frontier War.

Second Alexandrian Frontier War

The Second Alexandrian Frontier War, also known as Dawkins' War, was fought between 1735 and 1741 between the E.M.C. and a loose confederation of orc tribes belonging to the Khluntuk cultural group. The E.M.C. was headed by Isaac Dawkins for the duration of the war, however the military operations carried out were overseen by Colonel Sir Arthur Lowes. The Khluntuk Confederation was led by High Chieftain Dur-Lub Noordin until 1739 when he surrendered to E.M.C. forces at Fort Vickes, and by Warchief Paash-Al Nadiil until his death at the Battle of Three Rivers in 1741. The E.M.C. deployed approximately 24,000 front line troops during the campaign against Khluntuk forces estimated to number around 50,0000 to 75,000. The war was notable for the brutality displayed on both sides after Noordin's surrender in 1739, at which point the No Surrender No Integration policy was adopted by Lowes.

The opening stages of the war were fought around frontier farms, factor compounds, and plantations in Tetraeada 1735. Small Khluntuk warbands and raiding parties began an insurgency within E.M.C. claimed territory in response to the westward expansion of Iblesian settlement in Mulhollar, and initiated a campaign focuesed upon raiding the unfortified farms and settlements that had been privately established. Several minor clashes between E.M.C. troops and isolated Khluntuk warrior bands had occurred prior to 1735, however these skirmishes were informal and often only happened when the native Khluntuk refused to retreat before the E.M.C.'s expansion efforts. A series of twelve raids in Pentaeada 1735 forced the E.M.C. to formally declare war upon the Khluntuk and switch their operations to a war footing. Under pressure from the government in Kingsport the E.M.C. mobilised a force of 10,000 company regulars and 14,000 varied militia and irregulars with the goal of evicting the Khluntuk from E.M.C. claimed land and destroying their capacity for armed resistance.

Colonel Sir Arthur Lowes began his campaign in Hexeada 1735 by establishing a string of fortified outposts along the Line of Furthest Extent, the de jure border between E.M.C. territory and Khluntuk land. Most of these outposts were initially garrisoned by Lowes' militia forces, however as the war progressed they were handed over to local private militias, freeing up manpower. Throughout 1735 and early 1736 Lowes had his forces dig in and establish defences, not just along the LoFE but also around individual farms and plantations, furthermore he armed the civilian populace so that they could hold these defences in the event of a raid. The main E.M.C. controlled settlements were already fortified and garrisoned and were all but unassailable, meaning that Lowes had a constant line of supply and manpower; once the outposts had been completed his armies could respond quickly to attacks, and had several nearby safe locations to retreat to in the event of defeat.

The arming of private farmers and settlers was a controversial decision, but one which turned the war decisively in favour of the E.M.C. forces early on. The warbands still hiding inside E.M.C. territory were now cut off from supply; regular patrols made foraging difficult, and the new defensive works around the majority of farms and settlements made raiding for supply much more hazardous. By the end of 1736 the insurgency had petered out and the majority of the remaining warbands had retreated beyond the Line of Furthest Extent. A series of pitched battles followed throughout 1737 and 1738 which saw the disciplined, musket armed soldiers of the E.M.C. facing tribal orcish warriors who were mostly armed with war clubs and self bows; though the Khluntuk had an advantage in manoeuvrability (their cavalry being far more nimble than Lowes') the lack of armour and artillery decided most battles before they had begun. During the two year period from 1737 until Dur-Lub Noordin's surrender in 1739, an estimated 30,000 Khluntuk warriors were killed in battle. Finally on 12th Dodecaeada 1739 Dur-Lub Noordin led a force of 5,000 warriors in a last ditch attack on Lowes' stronghold and Fort Vickes; only 474 of Dur-Lub Noordin's warriors survived and the High Chieftain formally surrendered.

The six months following Dur-Lub Noordin's surrender saw a lull in the fighting; many of the civilians within Noordin's tribes crossed the Line of Furthest Extent into captivity with the E.M.C.'s so-called Integration Camps, so that they could be filtered into the workforce further down the line. However Warchief Paash-Al Nadiil was disgusted by Noordin's surrender and led a band of 4,000 warriors deep into E.M.C. territory. For the next two years Nadiil would wage a guerrilla campaign against the Iblesian settlements within E.M.C. territory; Nadiil managed to conceal his movements and only ever struck a target with overwhelming numbers, shying away from larger engagements with fortified troops. However in Quinteada 1740 a clear pattern to Nadiil's attacks emerged which allowed Lowes to predict where and when the Khluntuk would strike and spent the remainder of the year constantly harassing the orc force. Finally Nadiil was brought to battle in Trieada 1741 as Three Rivers; by this time he had only 2,300 warriors left and was ambushed by two forces of approximately 2,000 E.M.C. regulars each after he had attacked a 1,000 strong force of militia. Surrounded Nadiil's forces fought to the last man, making a desperate last stand which earned both Nadiil and the Khluntuk enormous respect from the wider Iblesian populace.

Nadiil's death signalled the end of the Second Alexandrian Frontier War, and the end of Lowes' No Surrender No Integration policy. From the time of Nadiil's first attacks the E.M.C. had operated under this policy, which dictated that any Khluntuk encountered by the E.M.C.'s soldiers, be they warriors or civilians, were to be asked to surrender otherwise they were to be given no quarter. While this was intended as a means of rounding up the remaining Khluntuk who drifted into E.M.C. territory many field commanders used the policy to justify massacres of Khluntuk villages and nomads. The long term effect of this relatively short lived policy was the near decimation of the Khluntuk culture, and the almost total eradication of their warrior caste and traditions.

Geography

The majority of the Commonwealth of Iblesia lies within the northern temperate zone and consists of thirty seven islands and islets of which fifteen are inhabited. The southernmost part of the island chain falls within the northern subtropical zone. The temperate isles within Iblesia have a generally wet and cool climate with rainfall and fog being consistent throughout the year. The largest island, Greater Iblesia (divided into the provinces of Brytha and Gaela), feature low lying mountains and hills towards the centre which steadily gives way to dense woodland. The coastal areas typically consist of rolling countryside and rocky moorland which provide ideal ground for agriculture and pastoral farming. The smaller islands within the archipelago are generally rocky and densely wooded with granite cliffs featuring limited bays and havens.

Brytha is the largest province within the Iblesian archipelago and is also the mildest in terms of terrain and climate. The coastal regions feature low lying grasslands and large areas of deciduous woodland which give way to densely wooded hills and uplands further inland. The majority of the provinc's fresh water supply is source from rivers which start as springs in these uplands. Lakes of varying size are not uncommon, many fed by the consistent annual rainfall which is a defining feature in the island's climate. Toward the centre of Brytha can be found a line of low lying mountains. The majority of the island's largest urban centres, including the capital Kingsport, are located along the coast and many take advantage of river estuaries, or in the case of the capital, broad natural harbours. Kingsport is also the largest city in the Commonwealth with a population of over 2 million.

Gaela is the second largest province and lies directly north of Brytha across the Border and Southcairn rivers. Gaela's climate is cooler and wetter than that of Brytha, in part due to its position further north, but also due to its elevation. Although Gaela features low lying coastal fens and moorland inland this terrain rapidly gives way to sharp inclines, rocky hills and crags, and mountainous interior regions. The island's landscape is defined by a series of glens and lochs which rest in the uplands within the mountainous interior. The average elevation in Gaela is significantly higher above sea level than Brytha. The largest city in the province is Brenwyth with a population of approximately 720,000.

Administrative Divisions

A map denoting the provinces of the Commonwealth and their borders.

The Commonwealth of Iblesia is divided into two provinces, referred to as the Twin Kingdoms, and three Colonial Districts. The Twin Kingdoms are the two original kingdoms which were united to form Iblesia; Brytha and Gaela, between them these two provinces make up the entirety of the Iblesian Isles. The three Colonial Districts are New Iblesia, Alexandria, and Julianna which are located directly west of the isles on the Mulhollari mainland. In addition to the three Colonial Districts there is also the E.M.C. controlled Alexandrian Frontier which lacks the status of a formal province. In Iblesian law the provinces of the Commonwealth are afforded a certain rank based upon their historic significance within the nation; these ranks are Kingdom, Duchy, and March. Prior to the unification of Iblesia Brytha was divided into Duchies and Marches, which in turn were divided into Counties and Baronies; however this practice ended and the former Duchies and Marches became subdivisions within the Province of Brytha. Gaela operated a similar system, except that it only had Marches and no duchies. At present there are no provinces with Ducal status, though many of the older subdivisions within the province of Brytha do nominally confer the title of Duke or Duchess. Both Brytha and Gaela are considered to be Kingdoms, while the three Colonial Districts have the status of Marches, with their Governors having the courtesy title of a non-hereditary Margrave or Margravine.

In terms of government the provinces have only limited autonomy and are entire subject to the central government in Kingsport. For the most part the titles conferred are courtesy titles, though the King of Brytha and Gaela remains the hereditary monarch of Iblesia. Within the Colonial Districts there are devolved legislative assemblies that exist to address issues specific to that Colonial District, however these bodies must defer to the judgement of Parliament which remains supreme. The citizens of the Colonial Districts have the same rights are the citizens of Brytha and Gaela and those eligible to vote in the Parliamentary elections may do so, electing MPs for seats located in the Colonial Districts.

Provincial Subdivisions

Each province is divided into subdivisions collectively referred to as Counties. These subdivisions are a remnant of the feudal period and are in fact now a blend of counties, viscounties, nominal marches, nominal duchies, and baronies. In modern times these subdivisions exist to facilitate easier administration and to assist with electoral matters and the census, and while each has its own hereditary lord these individuals have no real legal authority or powers except the inherent right to vote. The creation of the Colonial Districts meant that new subdivisions had to be created within them; the land was gathered into broad geographical areas and a new County formed around it, with the largest land own living in that county receiving the title of Baron, thus these new colonial counties are technically baronies.

Colonial Districts

Colonial Districts are those overseas holdings of the Commonwealth which are administered directly by the Iblesian government rather than a Charter Company such as the E.M.C.. At present there are three Colonial Districts; Alexandria, New Iblesia, and Julianna. These districts are located on the continental mainland of Mulhollar and as such have a more continental climate than the isles which is largely drier and warmer.

Alexandria

The Colonial District of Alexandria is named after the current Iblesian monarch Alexander III and was the second of the three First Charter Colonies to be established. It is the largest in territorial extent and populous and also has the highest GDP and GDP per capita of the First Charter Colonies. The colonial capital of Alexandria is Alexanderhavn, which has a population of 92,000, and is the site of the East Mulhollar Company headquarters. The city of Alexanderhavn is located in a natural harbour beside the coastal cliffs and mountains of the Alexander Range. Originally densely forested as the city expanded many of the forests immediately surrounding the city were felled. The wider territories of Alexandria consist of rolling uplands which are densely forested; recent surveys of these uplands have revealed rich coal deposits.

The climate in Alexandria is temperate, but generally warmer and drier than that of the isles, this means that crops such as tobacco, sugar cane, and cotton grow well in the lower lying areas of the Colonial District. Tobacco is a plant native to this region of Mulhollar and was a rare luxury until the colonisation of Alexandria.

The inland regions of Alexandria are very densely wooded with largely deciduous trees including Alexandrian Oak, a similar and related genus of the Iblesian Oak found in the isles. These wooded regions made up the majority of the conflict zones during the First Alexandrian Border War. The rough and broken terrain found here as well as the untamed nature of the woodlands are credited as being a significant factor in stalling the E.M.C.'s military advances in the region which made fielding large orderly armies relying upon volley shot and line tactics difficult.

Julianna

The Colonial District of Julianna is named after the current wife of the Iblesian monarch, Julianna of Frosthavn, and was the third of the three First Charter Colonies to be established. It is the second largest in terms of territorial extent, but the smallest in terms of overall population. The colonial capital of Julianna is Juliannashavn, which has a population 42,000, and is the site of the Iblesian Colonial Marines Headquarters. The city of Juliannashavn is located in a large bay surrounded by flat open countryside, next to the estuary of the Julianna river. Much of the land of Julianna is low lying and relatively even, with high soil fertility, making the colonial district the most agrarian of the First Charter Colonies with much of the land now turned to the farming of food crops.

The climate in Julianna is temperate and cooler than that of Alexandria, however much drier than the isles. This climate makes Julianna ideal for the cultivation of wheat and oats and has resulted in the colonial district becoming the main source of food for the colonies as a whole. Small scale efforts to begin cotton planting have begun.

New Iblesia

The Colonial District of New Iblesia is named after the Iblesian Commonwealth, it was the first of the First Charter Colonies to be established. New Iblesia has the second largest economy and population of the three colonies but the smallest total land area. The colonial capital of New Iblesia is New Kingsport, which has a population of 63,000, it is the best developed of the colonial cities, having been carefully planned out and built some distance away from the initial settlement. The city is based on the estuary of the Noe river along the north bank; the estuary itself is deep and wide allowing for river and ocean going traffic to pass through. New Iblesia's main sources of income upon its initial establishment were sugar and cotton, however as rich seams of coal and iron were found very soon after the colony's establishment the economic focus has since switched to mining and heavy industry.

The climate in New Iblesia is on a par with that of the isles, somewhat cooler and damper than the other colonial districts.

Colonies

Under Iblesian Law a Colony is defined as "...a frontier territory under the control of a non-government entity prior to its incorporation into the Commonwealth." At this time only the East Mulhollar Company has received a charter allowing them to create Colonies and is currently executing their third such charter, having recently secured the Alexandrian Frontier beyond the edge of the Alexandrian Colonial District. The status of Colony implies that there are few large and developed settlements and that the land as a whole remains largely undeveloped or unmanaged. In the case of the Alexandrian Frontier this means vast expanses of dense evergreen forest over rolling hills with numerous rivers and tributaries criss-crossing the landscape.

Military

The armed forces of Iblesia are controlled centrally from the Admiralty and Commissariat, both of which are based in Kingsport. However certain companies, most notably the East Mulhollar Company, may receive a charter permitting them to raise their own troops for the purposes of colonial defence and the protection of trading routes. The armed forces consist of the Royal Navy and the Royal Army; both of which are independent from one another and are managed by their own governmental departments and receive their own budget directly from the treasury. The official Commander-in-Chief of both the navy and the army is the reigning monarch, currently Alexander III, however in practice they are managed by the Secretaries of State for the Navy and Army respectively. The highest ranking military officers are the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, and the Commissar-Marshal of the Army.

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy, also know internationally as the Iblesian Royal Navy, was established in 1222 by Alexander II of the Kingdom of Brytha. Initially the navy was established to end the reliance on levied civilian ships for defence in times of war; during engagements between Brythan and Gaelyan forces throughout the 11th and 12th centuries the Kingdom of Brytha had failed to make significant headway despite its numerical superiority, because many Gaelyan vessels were based upon more practical designs for military use and thus proved generally superior. The poor condition of the majority of the ship that trading companies provided for the levy, since they did not wish to risk losing their more valuable ships, also played a part in Brytha's poor naval performance. Alexander II formed the Royal Navy as a means to create a permanent naval force that could perform consistently and have dedicated military ships under its command, however it was Alexander III who really drove the formation of the Royal Navy as it is today.

When Alexander III assumed the throne by right of combat in 1224 he inherited a kingdom which was mired in a long term war with its northern neighbour Gaela. Efforts to push north overland had met moderate success under Alexander II, however the structure of Brytha's armies at the time, and their reliance upon heavily armoured cavalry made any advances into Gaela's territory difficult. Meanwhile the Brythan coastline was under constant threat from Gaelyan raiders and privateers who disrupted trade and severely damaged Brytha's coast infrastructure which weakened its position. What Brytha did have however was a much larger population and a much more developed economy. By establishing a naval shipyard at Fort Andrews on the southernmost inhabited isle within the Kingdom of Brytha, and securing the waters between it and the mainland, Alexander III was able to direct the construction of a new type of navy in safety. The first engagements this new navy would fight would not take place until 1266, partly due to a brief period of peace between 1236 and 1252, and partly down to Alexander III's insistence on slow and methodical building up of overwhelming force.

The Act of Union in 1606 following Alexander III's succession to the throne of Gaela by right of combat brought an end to the age of war between the two nations of the isles. The formation of the new Commonwealth of Iblesia with the Royal Grant in 1622 handed control of the navy to the elected government. By this time the navy had developed into a formidable force which was largely engaged in patrols and pirate hunting; the early adoption of cannon, which replaced the old Scorpions and catapults previously used meant that the 1622 fleet was one of the best equipped and most advanced in the region. Throughout the 1630s and 1640s the Royal Navy pioneered new methods of naval warfare so as to make best use of new ship designs which allowed for more gun decks, great speed, and greater durability. One of the largest factors which contributed to the technological advancement in the Royal Navy was their use of double hulls made from solid Iblesian Oak on the outside, and softer timbers on the inside so as to reduce shivering in increase resilience.

At present the Royal Navy fields 220 ships in active service which range from the small eighteen gun Victoria class Sloop-o-War, to the much larger Ships-of-the-Line which field as many as 120 guns. The majority of the Royal Navies chips as frigates which carry between forty and sixty guns, with only a handful of larger vessels exceeding this number of guns. The primary goal of the Royal Navy is to protect merchant shipping and facilitate the continued expansion of the Commonwealth, as such most ships are organised into squadrons of three to six ships of varying sizes, with each squadron having at least one 'runner' (basically any light vessel capable of rapid movement) so that should the squadron be overcome at least one ship may be able to escape. The Royal Navy rates its cannon by the weight of shot, and considers the 15 Pounder to be the standard calibre for naval ordnance; larger calibres such as 18 Ponders and 24 Pounders are employed too, although in smaller number on most ships; smaller calibres are used as well on lighter vessels with the smallest gun in regular service being the 6 Pounder gun.

Royal Army

A Bluecoat of the 3rd Kingsport Regiment.

The Royal Army was established in 1606 shortly following the Act of Union and officially replaced the older system of personally raised regiments and royal yeomanry. The introduction of early muskets made more organised and disciplined formations of soldiers a necessity in order for the newly formed nation to effectively protect its borders and put down rebellions. The early Royal Army consisted largely of infantry and artillery, and employed the shot-and-pike tactics which had proven effective against native cavalry and light troops on the mainland of Mulhollar. However as musket technology advanced the Royal Army chose to do away with the pike in favour of bayonets mounted on smoothbore muskets. The Royal Army continues to be centred around infantry and artillery, however it now employs light sabre cavalry, lancers, and mounted musketmen as well.

The Royal Army is a professional standing army which has a rigorous recruitment and training processes meant to weed out the weak, cowardly, and insubordinate. The result of their extensive training and the high regard in which they are held by both the government and common citizenry has given them the reputation of an elite fighting force. By far the bulk of the army's numbers are made up of Bluecoat Infantry, soldiers equipped with a smoothbore flintlock musket and bayonet who take their names from the light blue coats and uniforms they wear. Different regiments have their own variations of the uniform, with some feature long or great coats and others cavalry style tunics; the 1st Royal Household Infantry are famous for their dark blue hussar jackets. The basis of army strategy with the Bluecoat Infantry is centred around the 'brick'. Soldiers serve in a formation of thirty men led by an officer, this formation is known as a brick, the brick in turn acts as part of a larger formation made up of five bricks in total. This system allows the infantry for form in good order and discipline a firing line, or a number of alternate formations such as the box, as required.

A Bluecoat of the 1st Fort Andrews Regiment.

Commissioned officers within the Royal Army are recruited from the gentry and aristocracy, this is because an officer is expected to pay for his own training, uniform, and equipment. Military training is often used as a means of employing the younger sons of noble families in an honourable profession. However the officers' training is as rigorous as that the regular soldiery must endure, and includes the more academic areas of study required of a commissioned officer. All commissioned officers are expected to be able to form up as a part of an ordinary soldier within a 'brick', and they are required to be as disciplined and capable in combat as their men. A particular emphasis is placed upon imparting the principle of 'Disdain for Mortal Danger' upon all officers so that it can be said that no common soldier will be expected to go where his officers dare not. Upon completion of their training a commissioned officer received a sabre and a flintlock pistol, they are expected to use both for the remainder of their military career; however in the field they are often issued the same primary armament as the unit they are in.

A newer innovation within the Royal Army is the use of rifled muskets; small scouting and skirmish infantry units have been established to take advantage of the increased range and accuracy of these weapons. However because the rifled musket is such a new innovation within the Royal Army and is largely untested number of such troops are minuscule.