Shastara

The United Kingdom's of Shastara
Flag
Motto: Tir Y Fenix Land of The Phoenix
Anthem: Galwad yr Emrallt Ynys The Emerald Isle's Call
Capital	Reisstaun
Largest	Porth Clementina
Official languages	English, Shaelic
Recognised national languages	English
Ethnic groups (2017)	75% Ethnic Shastaran 6% Ethnic Rhodeve 5% Ethnic Ventismarian 5% Azaran 4% Ethnic German 3% Eastern Ophionese 2% Sunafrican
Demonym(s)	Shastaran
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• Queen	Veronica Mustang
• Assembly Minister	Harri Glynn
Legislature	Shastaran National Assembly
Established  Kingdom of Shastara
• Treaty of the Six Kings	1225 A.D
• Y Siarter Imperial (The Charter Imperial)	1292 A.D
• The Collapse of the Shastaran Imperium	1575 A.D - 1688 A.D
• Crowning of Queen Alicia I	1690 A.D
• Ymosodwyr (Rhodeve) Invasion and Occupation	1745 A.D
• Samhradh Chwyldro (Summer Revolution)	June 6th - September 30th 1822 A.D
• Halcyon Reformation	1900 A.D
Population
• 2017 estimate	60,350,270 (20th)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	CR2,808,899
• Per capita	CR33,333
Currency	Shastaran Credit (CR)
Time zone	UTCUTC+2 (Imperial Time)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+971
Internet TLD	.uks

The United Kingdom of Shastara, commonly referred to as simply Shastara, is a sovereign nation located in located in Southern Ventismar whose territory comprises of the island of Shasta in the Centismar Sea. The United Kingdom's of Shastara is a sovereign state, the two governing entities of the nation are the reigning monarch who rules from the nations royal capital located in Reisstaun, and the National Assembly located in the legislative capital of Astorburgh. Both entities exercises control over seven counties: Brynffrwd, Cwmdwrgi, Uainewyr, Val Centwyr, Bontfawr, Talbach, and Largenleck. The Centismar Sea surrounds the island which separates the country from its neighbors: Orylia to the west and Ashukal to the south.

The country's government is split between the Royal Branch and Legislative Branch. The Royal Branch is located in Reisstaun which is recognized as the nations official capital, while the Legislative Branch is located in Astorburgh. The largest city is Porth Clementina.

The Shastaran landscape is small but diverse, ranging from evergreen forests, rolling river valleys, gigantic mountains, and arid plains. Shastara's three major rivers the Bowlen, Fay, and Hendadder flow through 5 of Shastara's 7 major population centers. The Bowlen starts in Lake Saffir, the remnants of an ancient glacial lake that formed the Centwyr Bowl. The Bowlen runs west through the Aldwych Mountains and drops down to the Bowlen Delta in the city of Porthsladd, where it splits into the Fay and Hendadder rivers. The Fay flows northwest which goes through the nation's capital Astorburgh and then it empties into the Centismar Sea in Shastara's second largest city Bytholwyrdd. The Hendadder flows south into Brynffrwd and empties into Clementina Bay.

Shastara has a nominal GDP of 2.8 trillion CR. Shastara’s economy is led by logging, mining, and dairy industries, and agriculture with major contributions from well-funded export trades. The unemployment rate is at 4.2%. Shastara boasts a life expectancy of 82 years for men and 84 years for women. Both have access to healthcare services provided by the county government.

Etymology

The name Shastara comes from the ancient Shaelic word Shasta, which meant high or great island. Eventually, in Roman times the word shast came to mean teacher or wise one, and was used to describe the healers of the mountains. It is unknown what the reason was for the term Shastaran to be coined, but its first use was in a Roman census in the early years of occupation and has stuck ever since.

Demographics

According to the 2017 census, Shastara has a population of 60,350,270. 40,000,000 people live in the country's largest metro areas. In 1900 the country had a population of around 32 million people. Over the past century the population has doubled, in 2000 Lindenholt reached a population of almost 53 million. Since 2010 the population growth has been on average 37,000 people per year.

Language

Shastara's national language is both English and Shaelic. While schools nationwide teach English, 95% of students learn Shaelic at home or via tutoring. Both English and Shaelic are spoken in the cities however, Shaelic becomes more and more prevalent the farther into the countryside you go.

All government signs are printed in both languages. Oddly, knowing both languages is not a requirement to be eligible for any branch of the Shastaran Armed Forces or the Commonwealth Army. However, it should be noted that the Commonwealth Army requires an English translator for every Shaelic only speaker.

Religion

TBD

History

Prehistoric Shastara

Shastara was most likely first inhabited by those who crossed on the land bridge from the Ventismar mainland. Human footprints have been found from over 800,000 years ago in Bytholwyrdd and traces of early humans have been found around Uainewyr from some 500,000 years ago. Shastara became an island at the end of the last glacial period when sea levels rose due to the combination of melting glaciers and the subsequent isostatic rebound of the crust. Lumenism becomes prominent in early Shaelic society around 5,000 BC. By the year 50 BC Shastarans had spread Shaelic culture around the island and had begun to repopulate quickly.

Romaleus period

In 50 BC the Romans invaded and occupied Shastara until 125 AD during the Roman Collapse. Due to the island's geography the Shastaran people fell back into isolation from each other as Roman infrastructure deteriorated.

Muslim Raids and the Formation of the Taighs: 130 AD - 490 AD

In the year 131 AD, Muslim Ashukalese explorers sailed north and found Shasta, they immediately deemed Lumenism an affront to Allah and wage a jihad against its followers. Decades later in the year 158, in an effort to fight off the Muslim raiders the first of the Six Taighs, or Houses formed: Taigh Duilich under the lordship of Bartholomew Duilich. Seeing the success that Taigh Duilich was having upon unifying, other Taighs began to form. Taigh Hendrixson in 163, Taigh Beinn in 168, Taigh Lanchester in 170, Taigh MacCoinnich in 172, and finally Taigh Hamlet in 174. Not much is known about the early days of the Six Taighs, however, by the 490s the Taighs had repelled the invaders from the island. However, they immediately turned on each other. There is no record of who attacked who first but from the year 490 to 1170 the Taighs fought each other in a series of brutal wars for 680 years.

The Great Pobldywod Invasion and the Treaty of the Six Taighs: 1195 - 1206

In 1175 Amed Hal Muta raised an army with the goal of taking Shastara and landed in southern Shastara and quickly overran the forces of Taigh Hamlet at the Battle of Abermark. The other five Taighs quickly realized the grave threat this force posed and quickly unified their forces. After a series of brutal battles, the deathblow to Hal Muta's campaign was dealt at the Battle of Gorcaster Pass in 1205. Cadywydd Amadeus Suian's force of only 3,000 destroyed Muta's 10,000 strong army by causing man-made avalanches and picked off any survivors. With Muta dead, his remaining forces fell apart and the war ended in 1206 with the signing of the Treaty of the Six Tŷmeistrs. This treaty was meant to not only be the final conflict between Shastara and the south, but between the Six Taighs as well. This did not last however, as in 1225, Taigh MacCeallaig attacked Taigh Lanchester. Eventually, the conflict enveloped the island and by 1226 the Great Taigh Mawr was in full swing.

The Great Taigh Mawr and the Crowning of Tomas Mustang I: 1225 - 1290

For 23 years the island drowned in its own blood in the conflict known as the Great Taigh Mawr, or the Great House War. However, at the Battle of Bowlen Gap between Taigh Hendrixson and Taigh Duilich the island was shocked at the insane 150,000 casualty count and the Tŷmeistrs realized if this pointless bloodshed continued they would succumb to outside invaders. So on June 7th, 1249; the Six Tŷmeistrs came together to sign the Treaty of Aon Popel. This treaty decreed that a King would be chosen from a selection of generals, scholars, warriors, and priests. Eventually, the Shastaran Crown fell to a man named Tòmas Mustang I, a General in service of Taigh Duilich. Tòmas Mustang was crowned the King of the newly unified Kingdom of Shastara. Alongside the King, the Tŷmeistrs would form an Assembly where instead of fighting out their differences on the battlefield, they would instead fight it out in the art of politics with the King being a mediator. Under Tomas I, national identity was built around Shaelic culture and the values of Lumenism.

The Crowning of Conall Mustang I and the rise of the Shastaran Imperium: 1290 - 1320

When Tomas I died in 1290 his son Conall Mustang I was crowned King. Conall was ambitious and sought to expand his domain. Under Conall the kingdom was changed as he implemented the Siarter Imperial, the document which organized the Kingdom of Shastara into the Shastaran Imperium. The first expansion of the Imperium was the Muslim lands to the East which were still largely unorganized. By 1315 Conall had personally subjugated most of the Eastern Centismar and was beginning to turn his attention to the west. By 1320 several islands in the Orylian Archipelago had been taken and were being used as staging grounds for the great war that was coming.

The Iar War Period: 1321 - 1399

Over the course of the mid-1300s, Conall and his armies took advantage of the chaotic situation in Ventismar and quickly took several coastal cities in Pantorrum as well as several islands off the coast of Roma. However, in 1335 Conall I died of old age and was succeeded by his heir, Conall II at the age of 18. Conall II was even more ambitous then his father.

TBD

The Fharpaisewyr War and the Western Collapse: 1400 - 1575

By this stage, Conall II's alliance with the Ruzkov Empire was rapidly deteriorating and ultimately results in a 137-year long war that consumes the northwestern Centismar. The War ends in 1537 which results in the Imperium's northernmost holdings being ceded to the Ruzkov's. With Pantorrum rapidly gaining strength and the huge amount of resources wasted on the Fharpaisewyr War, the Imperium's forces in the Western Centismar were overrun and by 1575 the Imperium was reduced to its size in 1320.

Howell Mustang and the Mustang Schism: 1576 - 1600

Nearing the end of the Western Collapse Howell Mustang had been crowned and the state of his Imperium had seemingly driven him into a deep state of depression. Very often he would not leave his castle for weeks on end. He became bitter and abusive and often paid extensive visits to the Siaradwr, the figurehead of Lumanism. Finally, in 1585 Howell and the Siradwr made an announcement to the Imperium. Howell was a chosen warrior of Luma and would lead all to salvation. He painted other religions, particularly Islam as heretical and products of worms. As a result of this state enforced Lumanism thousands were executed across the Imperium, and not even the Order of Light itself was safe from this great purge. In 1588, When King Howell announced his plan for a great crusade into the Muslim world the Siaradwr came out against this act, he believed that Howell's actions were against the core values of Lumanism. Howelldeclared him to a heretic and had him executed, then declared himself Arwach (or Great Seer). As Arwach he took direct control of the Order of Light and took all authority away from the Assembly of the Taighs, he was in control and a year later in 1589 he launched his crusade to Mecca.

Howell only ever got about 200 miles inland yet still managed to kill hundreds of thousands of Azaran Muslims and Jews. However, his ultimate goal of reaching Mecca was never realized. Back at home however, his son Hywel was fuming. Growing up Hywel Mustang I had seen his father Howell for who he really was: an abusive, lustful, and sinful man who was in no way worthy of holding the title of King, let alone Siaradwr. After his father abolished the Assembly of Lords he reached out in secret and asked each Tŷmeistr if they would support him if he were to attempt to overthrow his father, they all said yes. However King Howell had most of the people in his grasp believing he was indeed a chosen leader by Luma itself, this would be the biggest challenge in his coup.

Upon his return from Azarah in 1595, Harvey confronted his father in the throne room and challenged him to a duel. The two fought ferociously until his father had thrown him of the castle wall. However the fall did not kill the young Prince, he was taken by Taigh McGregor and weeks later publicly announced the sins of his father and announced his intent on taking the throne back. For the next three years, the forces of the Six Taighs in support of Harvey fought against the forces of Lumanist theocrats under Howell. Finally, in 1600 at the Battle of Dalrigg Ridge, Hywel Mustang struck his father down and reclaimed the throne. The compulsory worship of Lumenism was revoked and the authority of the Assembly of the Taighs was reinstated.

The Reign of Alicia I and Ymosodwyr Invasion and subsequent occupation: 1721 - 1822

In 1721 King Corin Mustang II died of old age and his daughter Alicia Mustang I was crowned Shastaras first Queen at the age of 19. Her reign marked significant progressive changes throughout the Imperium ranging from woman's rights to improved working and living conditions for indentured servants.

However, her life and the lives of what would become millions of others were tragically cut short in 1745 when the United Kingdoms of Shastara became the target of the Empire of Rhodevus. Rhodevus invaded the island without warning on August 18th, 1745. Tragically Queen Alicia was caught in the initial bombardment of Porth Clementina as she was touring the city that same day. Days later it became clear that there was no chance that Shastara would be able to fend off the invasion. So it was decided that the Royal Family would be evacuated in secret to the Englean Kaiserreich. However, Prince Maddox Mustang chose to stay and fight for his people. He and his wife Claudia chose to stay, while the younger Prince Warner Mustang set off with the rest of the family in a ship disguised as a Rhodeve frigate bound for the Englean Kaiserreich.

For the first 30 years of the occupation, Maddox Mustang lead the Royal Resistance which worked to sabotage the Rhodeve war machine and government whenever and wherever it could. However, in 1783 the Prince was captured and publicly executed in the former capital of Astorburgh at the age of 60. However, he and his wife Claudia had a son. Ryker Mustang took command of the Royal Resistance at just the age of 19 and fueled by his father's death fought on furiously using guerilla tactics until Prince Murdoch Mustang, the son of Warner Mustang who had fled to the Kaiserreich appealed to the Kaiser to intervene. Admiring Ryker's fiery zeal and the fact that his resistance hadn't been snuffed out by the Rhodeves, the Kaiser agreed to help. After a series of naval engagements between the Rhodeve and the Engleans, combined with the rapidly deteriorating situation within the Rhodeve Empire, the Rhodeves finally withdrew from Shastara in 1822.

But there was a problem. Prince Murdoch was next in line for succession, but Prince Ryker and his father had stayed with the people and had suffered with them while Warner lived in luxury in Engleberg. This did not bode well with the public and in late 1822 the Ryker Riots began under the demand that Prince Ryker must be put on the throne instead of Warner. Several people died in the riots which lasted two weeks until Murdoch renounced the throne and Ryker was crowned King. In 1860 Ryker Mustang died of leukemia and Prince Halcyon I was crowned King.