Reikland

The Commonwealth of Reikland
Flag of the Commonwealth 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	Federal Semi-Presidential Constitutional 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 Twelve Isles to the North, Faniviace to the South, and Wargloria to the West. Reikland covers more than 6.8 million square kilometers and has an estimated population of 383 million. Reikland is comprised of 14 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.

History

The history of Reikland and the Reikish people is a long and often difficult to determine saga, made up of as much myth and legend as actual history. Despite being a distinct culture group for near 6,000 years, the modern Reikish people are a more recent development and the product of thousands of years of migration, conflict, and accumulation.

Pre-Return History

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.

The Return

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 Elixians lost heart and fled. Five we lost that day, their bodies burned on that beach to speed their spirits to the Godshall."

While this first meeting was violent, many subsequent meetings were peaceful. For forty-five years the Reikish traded with the Elixians and occassionally skirmished with them. According to the historian Alfred, this was done by various Reikish rulers gather intelligence before a great invasion was undertaken. Furii describes the invasion, what Reikish scholars would call "The Return", as follows, "There came from the East a great host of ships, long and low, with a single tall mast with a single, large sail. The ships approached the Great Jungle and sailed along the coast, raiding and burning settlements as they went. A Sektor was raised to repel them and then another and another, on and on until fully forty-thousand men had been raised to meet the invaders. This host arrived at the mouth of the River Eli, a day behind the invaders ships. There, arrayed on the beach as far as the eyes could see, were ships. A host of men, a hundred thousand strong, was arranged on the banks of the river, awaiting our arrival. The General drew his host up for battle and made a gallant charge. The battle was fierce and lasted the whole day but, in the end, was futile. The General fell, as did his sons and fully thirty-thousand men." Accounts from Reikish sources put the invasion force at 1,000 to 1,200 ships and many thousands of men. Modern historians have agreed that the claims by Furii of a Reikish army of 100,000 men is embellished and many have argued that the Reikish claims of over a thousand ships are also an embellishment. However, archaeological digs in Northwestern Reikland, where the invasion is alleged to have occurred, have uncovered hundreds of ships along the banks of the River Eli, dating to 1050s BD. Similarly, the records of the Elixian garrisons did survive mostly intact, allowing modern historians to confirm that twenty to thirty Sektors were present at the battle, putting the Elian force at between 30,000 and 60,000 men. Analysis of the size of Reikish ships in this time period put the Reikish invasion force at between 50,000 and 60,000 men.

The Battle of the Eli marked the end of the Return and the start of over 150 years of near constant warfare between the Elixian Empire and Reikish warlords. The wars eventually culminated in the Great Seafare being undertaken by the Elians in 902 BD.

The Reikish-Elixian Wars

The Return in 1055 BD marked the beginning of a century and a half of near constant war between Reikish armies and the Elixian Empire. The Reikish, who had colonized largely western jungles around the River Eli, found themselves with a largely trapped opponent. The Reikish longships owned the rivers and the coast and the mountains were nearly impassable at the best of times. The armies that landed here would carve out two of the most influential Reikish kingdoms, Mercia and Tomsaete. From this foothold, the Reikish would expand, driving the Elixians to flee the continent.

Before the Elixians could be brought to flee, many campaigns and battles were fought.

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

Population

The Commonwealth Census Office tabulated the current population of the Commonwealth to be 383,690,048 in the 1520 BD census. According to the Office's Population Clock, there is a net gain of 1 person every 100 seconds. Reikland is one of the most populous nations in the world and has a median age of 38 years.

Language

The official language of the Commonwealth is Reikish.

Religion

Upwards of 90% of the population follows the Reikish Faith, however there is a following of Kandeists, Jarists, and others within the Commonwealth. For centuries, foreign religions had been persecuted, particularly during the Monarchist period. In the last 150 years, however, the increasing liberalization of society has led to a greater acceptance of foreign religious practices, though The Faith remains supreme and the official religion of the Commonwealth.

Largest Cities

Rank	City Name	Metro Population	Province
1	Aretria	9,629,654	Mercia
2	Merton	4,596,711	Mercia
3	Aedolis	3,111,746	Aedos
4	Vale	2,680,085	Tomsaete
5	Carolton	1,941,673	Tomsaete
6	Medora	1,829,713	Messa
7	Charlotte	1,787,194	Tomsaete
8	Adrianshire	1,644,655	Mercia
9	Haroldshire	1,551,928	Tomsaete
10	Neorton	1,180,250	Mercia

Government

The Commonwealth is unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic with 15 provinces, only fourteen of which are internationally recognized as a part of the Commonwealth. The 15th province is disputed in ownership between Reikland and Faniviace. 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. Consisting of 4,604,280 personnel, the Commonwealth Military is one of the larger military forces in the developed world.

The Commonwealth of Reikland 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 of Reikland Army (including the Commonwealth Guard), Commonwealth of Reikland Navy (including the Commonwealth of Reikland Marine Corps), and Commonwealth of Reikland Air Force (including the Commonwealth of Reikland Space Command).

The Commonwealth Army is responsible for land warfare operations and is the largest of the branches. Evolving from the Parliamentarian Armies of the Civil Wars and later incorporating the lineage of the Royalist Army, the Commonwealth Army is primarily tasked with overseas combat duties. A total of 2,062,717 men and women serve within the Army, split between the Regular and Reserve Armies. The 384,000 men and women of Commonwealth Guard (known until 2500 as the Territorial Army), a reserve formation evolved from the Provincial Militias that, in 2500, became a fulltime formation of the Department of Defense to serve gendarmerie and other law enforcement functions during peacetime.

The Commonwealth Navy is responsible for naval operations, power projection, coastal defense, and the policing of merchant traffic on the high seas. The Commonwealth Navy also serves as the institutional home of the Commonwealth Marines, though the Marines are colloquially recognized as an independent branch. With 920,856 sailors and 460,428 Marines, the Commonwealth Navy is the largest maritime force in the world, capable of projecting power to every continent. The Commonwealth Navy is the only branch aside from the Air Force to retain control of atomic weapons.

The Commonwealth Air Force is the youngest of the branches, formed in 2473 AR to take advantage of the new technology of the airplane. The Air Force serves to perform a number of missions, including air support of the Joint Force (through air superiority, close air support, deep interdiction bombing, and intelligence gathering), cyberwarfare, space operations, and the control of the land and air portions of Reikland's nuclear triad. 1,037,805 men and women serve in the Commonwealth Air Force, with another 33,151 men and women serving in 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, a pair of battalions with primarily ceremonial duties.

Economy

The Reikish Economy is one of the largest in the world, valued at £24.7 trillion. This is supported by a diverse domestic economy and a bustling international trade.

Since the 1480s BD, the Commonwealth has seen an average annual GDP growth of around 3% and ranks highly in per capita GDP and per capita income.

The private sector is estimated to be around 80% of the economy. Around 50% of the population is a part of the full-time workforce, with the largest employer being the Government, followed closely by health care and social services. There is robust assistance for the homeless and unemployed, though this remains a hot button issue in Parliament.

Workers have substantial legal rights, including the rights to at least 25 days of paid vacation each year, 12 paid holidays, as well as paid parental leave, 14 weeks for new mothers and 8 for new fathers.

Culture

The Reikish culture has undergone a substantial evolution in the millenia since it appeared. A common thread of it is an unusual degree of gender equality, heavily influenced by the Faith, and a continued respect for seers.

At the center of the Reikish culture is The Faith, a polytheistic religion that centers on deific families. These Families are the Heavens, the Earth, The Sea, the Underworld, and War. According to the teachings of the Priests, the Chief Gods gather around a large table in a great, stone hall. At the head of the table is seated Frodl, the God of Learning, the sky, and King of the Heavens and, by extension, the Gods. To his right is seated Thorunn, Goddess of the Sun, Warmth, and Justice and wife of Frodl. To his left is seated Moni, Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, and Fire and second wife of Frodl. Next to Moni is her daughter, Fylle, Goddess of the Sea, the Tides, and Currents, patron of fisherman and Mother of the Oceans. She sits with Jolat, God of the Sea, Fish, and Ocean Storms, patron of seafarers and Father of the Oceans. Next to Thorunn sits Atix, daughter of Thorunn and Goddess of the Earth, Storms, Winter, Animals, and Mother of the Earth. Next to Atix sits Tyemis, God of Joy, Companionship, Spring, Agriculture, Commerce, Messengers, husband of Atix and Father of the Earth. Areia, Goddess of Battle, Shieldmaidens, and Fertility, the daughter of Frodl and Moni and Mother of War, sits next to Jolat. Next to Areia sits Tor, God of Battle, Soldiers, and Wisdom, husband of Areia and Father of War. Across from Areia and Tor sit Fyll, God of Death, King of the Underworld and Father of Frodl, and his wife, Neor, Goddess of Memory, Fondness, and the Guide of the Souls of the Dead. At the end of the table sat the only creature to pre-exist them all. Time.

The Priests tell us that Time, being alone and without companionship, sought to create for himself companions. He plucked from his body a rib, which he fashioned into Fyll, and a string of his heart, which he fashioned into Neor. Neor and Fyll, however, were more interested in each other than in Time. They came together and were familiar and, in this way, Frodl was birthed. Angered by their lack of interest, Time struck them, causing Fyll to lose his left eye and Neor to lose a lock of her golden hair. Fyll and Neor fled, taking with them the growing Frodl and time, overcome with grief at his actions, sought to atone. For this, he crafted Fyll's eye into Moni and Neor's hair into Thorunn. Time searched far and wide and eventually found Fyll and Neor, where he offered Moni and Thorunn as brides for Frodl, a token of his apology. Frodl was wedded to Moni and Thorunn, a sign of the Heavens acceptance of Time. As a further act of penance, Time crafted the Underworld, to house Fyll and Neor, where they could be alone. He then crafted the Sun, the Moon, and the Heavens, to be home to Thorunn, Moni, and Frodl. Comfortable and with a place to call home, Frodl and Moni bore Fylle, the Ocean Mother. But she was not whole and without a companion, she was consumed with dread. And so was crafted by Time a new companion, this one of his heel. Fylle was introduced to Jolat and they were wedded, forming the Seas and bringing with them the many animals that would inhabit them. But Jolat was quick to anger and with his anger could bring terrible storms, soothed only by the touch of Fylle and the warmth of her embrace. Thorunn, jealous of Moni, came next to Frodl, begging for a daughter of her own. Frodl, not wanting to treat his second wife unfairly, obliged and so was born Atix. Atix, like Fylle before her, was alone. She saw her Mothers and Father and her Sister and her Grandfather and Grandmother and saw that they had companions and she did not. Frodl asked Time to craft her something and Frodl first made the Land, where she could live in joy. But the Land did not offer what Atix sought and, overcome with despair, Atix let the Land wither and wilt. Time realized his mistake and plucked from himself a section of his leg and crafted it into Tyemis. He placed Tyemis on the Land, where he greeted Atix. Atix, filled with joy at having a companion at last, brought forth a bounty from the Land and, with Tyemis, filled with all manner of plant and beast. But Atix was fragile, prone to boughts of despair, casting chill winds upon the Land, so powerful even Tyemis struggles to make it to her. But Tyemis always makes it, bringing with him the Spring. Try as Frodl might to be fair to his wives, Moni was his first and favorite. With her he fathered a third daughter, Areia. Like her sisters, Areia was lonely. But where her sisters sank into despair, Areia fought. First she went to her parents, demanding from them a companion. When they could not provide, she went to Fyll and Neor and made the same demand. Finally, she went to Time himself and demanded a companion. Time had learned from his prior creations. Moni and Thorunn, the wives of Frodl, disliked each other, necessitating that they live apart. Jolat was swift to anger, soothed by the calming touch of Fylle. Tyemis, likewise, served to balance the despair of Atix. But he could think of nothing to balance Areia. She was not angry nor did she despair. What she desired was different. And so, Time plucked from himself a part of his brain and forged it into Tor. Areia was pleased with her companion, for he was quick witted and confident, a perfect companion in her eyes. In this way, the story goes, did the Universe come to be. Throunn, Moni, and Frodl sired more children, the stars and other worlds. Areia and Tor made Men, forging them in their image. Strong, full of courage, and with keen wits to place them above the beasts of Land and Sea. But as consequence or perhaps by design, Men were filled with a desire for contest and conflict. This desire caused no small amount of grief to the Gods, save for Tor and Areia who, as parents should, sought to guide their children and lead them on the path to greatness. It is for this reason, the Priests tell us, that the Reikish became the favored children of Tor and Areia. It is from Tor and Areia that we gained fire, writing, a master of masonry, shipbuilding, metalworking, and other crafts. And it is also to them that we give the most homage. But, the Priests warn, it is unbecoming to refuse homage to the other Gods, who gift us the bounties of their labors.

Infrastructure

Reikland is a large nation, relying on a robust sytem of energy and transportation infrastructure that rivals most of the world.

Transportation

Transportation is dominated by the automobile, with more than 800 automobiles per 1,000 residents, rising to over 900 vehicles per 1,000 residents if looking at two-wheeled vehicles like scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, and motorcycles.

A thriving private airline industry serves domestic and international customers, with some of the busiest airports in the world located in Reikland's largest cities. Some of the largest airlines are also Reikish companies.

Greenhouse gas emissions by fossil fuel automobiles remain a concern, leading to a three-pronged government initiative to encourage the use of electric vehicles. A tax break is offered to every person who purchases an electric car, a subsidy is available to EV companies that build recharge stations, and the government has spent billions on building their own recharge stations across the country. As a result of this, it is estimated that nearly 17% of all automobiles on Commonwealth roads in 1521 are electric.

Energy

The energy sector is a part of the economy that has been of vital importance to Reikland for decades. Initially reliant on coal, the energy sector has now become dependent on oil and natural gas, though work over the last half century has seen a substantial shift from fossil fuels to nuclear, solar, and hydroelectric power. The Great Desert is home to more than two dozen solar power plants, with a dozen more under construction. Wind farms dot the plains while hydroelectric dams have been built on most of the Commonwealth's rivers.