Cantalvia
The Mostly Sublime Republic of Cantalvia Cantalvia | |
|---|---|
Flag
crest
| |
| Motto: "Compassion, Knowledge, Well being for All." | |
| Anthem: "Echo of the Mountains" | |
| Location of Cantalvia | |
| Capital | Ratilva |
| Official languages | Cantalian, English |
| Ethnic groups (2012) | Cantalvian 90% Carcenoan 5% Altean 5% |
| Religion | Secular Humanism, Cantalvian Paganism, Mystrian Pandeism |
| Demonym(s) | Cantalvian, Cantalviani |
| Government | semi-direct democracy |
• Chairman | Fredrick Vanderlan |
| Independence From Altea after the Carcenoan Independence | |
• Meeting of the Magistrate and the Military | 15 August |
• The Signing and Establishing of the Cantalvian Constitution | 27 September |
| Area | |
• Total | 366,420 km2 (141,480 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2% per year estimate | 17 million |
• 2012 census | Cantalvian Census |
| Currency | Honoria (H) |
| Time zone | Mystrian Eastern Standard Time (MEST) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy |
| Driving side | vehicles drive on the right side of the road |
| Calling code | 241 |
| Internet TLD | .ctv |
Cantalvia is a country located North of Carceno in Mystria.
Etymology
The Name Cantalvia comes from the ancient Altean word "Canta" which means song, and "via" meaning mountains. "Cantalvia therefore means the voice in the mountains and was adopted in the name of the Goddess Lydia, one of the local legends that remained in the area and still holds much sway over traditions to this day.
History
The founding of Cantalvia is began with gathering of the Magistrates and the Cantalvian Militia which determined that the Confederacy of Altea was not looking in their best interests and then they declared their independence from Altea writing up their constitution and establishing it on September 27th. Cantalvia is historically isolationist, except for trade and therefore does not have a strong tradition of magical knowledge and the separation of the planes is incredibly strong, leaving very few magi and magical happenings in Cantalvia. Some reports of miraculous occurance have happened but are merely regarded as legends.
The Holy Wars
Cantalvian people began their great period of isolation when a group of Altean atheists and unorthodox pagans decided to take refuge in the protection of the Lydial mountains to be away from the conflicts with the Serionites who declared inquisitions on all non-Serionite faiths, and when the Cantalvians settled in the mountains, the Alteans were forced to battle themselves and the focus was lost upon the Cantalvians and they merely became a tributary state. The lands proved to be a good investment for the Cantalvians because not only did it grant them full protection from the inquisition and Altea, but it also opened several trade routes throughout Mystria and safe passage through the mountains controlled by the Cantalvian people.
Kessian's First Call to the Faithful
During the First Call to the faithful the Cantalvians were largely isolated and were thankfully unaffected by the happenings of the war and instead began their full periods of flourishing which led to the Golden Age of Prosperity of Cantalvia. Cantalvia continued to pay tribute to Altea as an Altean State, but they did not participate in Altean politics and had a strong locally autonomous government and little by little Cantalvia became less and less dependent on Altean support, and the tribute became more of an economical drain than any sort of econonomical benefit.
The Invasion of Altea and and the Revolution
The Beastling High King, after the collapse of the rule of the Altean King Jaragen III, demanded that the Order of Idealists expand the borders to the east, and the King with the power of the Council forced their way into the Altean heartlands, and at first encountered minimal resistance, but then began wearing their forces down. The Honorable Hector Smythe of Cantalvia knew that Altea was not going to send aid to prevent the onslaught, and so instead looked to Carceno for aid and the Order of the Flame covered Cantalvia and Hector Smythe became first chair of the executive council with Erik Vanderlisle deciding that the most practical situation was to break away from the Altean Dominion and he led the armed portion of the rebellion, successfully gaining Cantalvian independence.
The Fell Crusade
The Fell Crusade thankfully did not encroach or affect the Cantalvian provinces due to the strength of the Shining army and the assistance by the Order of the Flame who protected Cantalvia on all sides. It was rumored that Cantalvia never had encountered hostile unbidden and merely declared formal neutrality.
The Wars of Attrition
During the wars of Attrition Cantalvia expanded their technological prowess along with Carceno developing the first automotive vehicle as Carcenoans developed the first firearm, and then the Beastlings created Magitech.
Geography
Cantalvia is located North West of Mystrian Altea in the region of Mystria. Cantalvian land is mountainous with the Grand Whip River expanding through several mountain streams and giving the picturesque land of Cantalvia a beautiful landscape famously depicted by many artists throughout Mystria. The weather in Cantalvia is mild with the threat of avalanches in the high mountains and heavy snowfall in the winter, but the climate year round is temperate with wide coniferous and deciduous forests to the south.
Politics
Cantalvia has a unicameral socialist democracy. With a federal assembly of representitives who then elect the executive council members but the executive council has to be representitive of the assembly. The State is responsible for provision of health care, education, defense, and other services. Cantalvia has a nationalized federal bank.
Peoples Social Society is socialist and currently makes up the majority in the assembly. Stable Society League is conservative and makes up the bulk of right wing Cantalvia they are pretty centrist socially and fiscally conservative. Communist Party of Cantalvia fiscally far left socially, far left. Cantalvia Freedom Now is an extreme right fringe group linked to a terrorist leader. the main parties get along fairly well because each party is represented in the Executive Council. the Executive Councilers also are the ministers of the government departments.
It is divided into eighteen administrative divisions called "Cantons".
Cantons of Cantalvia
| Canton | Capital |
|---|---|
| Ratilva | Ratilva |
| Lowafels | Trefalls |
| Pastow | Gefalls |
| Hemsewald | Wolfwil |
| Valston | Meadowcliff |
| Meadowgate | Goldwick |
| Strongbell | Whitebridge |
| Rosefog | Esterwell |
| Valford | Colddell |
| Orhollow | Redfield |
| Eastglass | Grayfort |
| Newacre | Havenhedge |
| Dorley | Fairston |
| Valvale | Wayston |
| Byholt | Strongrock |
| Stoneshade | Prycastle |
| Dracwick | Wildeden |
| Mistburn | Bywind |
Electoral Process and Cantalvian Legislature
Economy
Demographics
Circa (2/20/2001) Roleplay Population Stats
- Dark blue: Cantalviani
- Green: Spirean
- Yellow: Carcenese
- Orange: Kashionite
- Red: Altean
| Racial Classification | Numbers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Cantalvian | 15,300,000 | 90% |
| Carcenoan | 850,000 | 5% |
| Altean | 850,000 | 5% |
| Total | 17000000 | 100.0% |
Culture
Ethical and Religious Beliefs
Cantalviani are generally secular and atheistic with collectivist and egalitarian values, but there's still a few remnants of traditional beliefs and superstitions that remain, but they're still not commonly known practices. There's a focus on collective success and common welfare because the Cantalviani were isolated and abandoned from Altea, which left them in the dark for centuries. They were ignored for centuries and it took Cantalvia a long time to pick itself up and become a more self-sufficient nation. They thus value their autonomy and the power of group success. It is also a value to help people share success, and share failures.
Cantare Mulieres
he Cantare Mulieres are a secretive matriarchal religious order in Cantalvia that is based upon the doctrine of Lydialism (compassion and the protection of nature) and bringing back the practice to greater prominence in the public life of the people of Cantalvia.
The name of the order translates as “Singing Women” which comes from their particular talents with the manipulation of sound through the use of their vocal chords. Cantare Mulieres through genetic breeding programs of particular families and training programs are said to have created women who are able to use their voices in a multitude of ways from being able to shatter stone with a single note to being able to place subconscious suggestions in the minds of others.
The Cantare Mulieres have an ultimate goal of destroying the “New Mystrian Pantheon” and returning Lydia and other so called "Old Gods" to their rigthful position which includes extending the magic dampening field that surrounds Cantalvia into the neighbouring regions as magic is a perversion of nature.
Religious practice
The Cantare Mulieres are found in two particular regions of Cantalvia, either deep in the forests or within cloister in the high mountain temples. The Sisters within the deep woods are for the most part the Novice sisters still in training, this training is of a physical nature making the young girls and women fighters, once reaching a certain skill level they will be required to join a cloister in the mountains where they will be further trained in the less physical and focused more toward the divine nature of Lydia and the breeding programs which includes seduction of prominent political figures to aid in the facilitation of “super soldiers”.
Midwifing
The Cantare Mulieres through the training aid the high mountain women through labour and offer blessings of Lydia (in the form of washing the child in holy water and oil created from wild flowers) to the newly born child, welcoming it into the cycle of life, particularly if the child is a girl. In certain cases these families may wish to give a girl child up for adoption or abandonment because they are not able to care the child or in many cases due to certain cultural feelings in the high mountains that the girls are unfavourable the Sisters will take the child and she will be raised in the Sisterhood. The Cantare Mulieres will not do the same service for a male child that is abandoned.
Guardianship
The Cantare Mulieres act as the guardians of the forests and in fact all natural space in Cantalvia and while they are aware they cannot protect all of the land from the progress of the “Man World” they have been known to attack logging and mining sites that border their territories as well as aiding in the construction of the wind and solar panels in villages blessing them as a balance and preservation of Lydia’s will. The sisters also care for animals that have been hurt, become ill or have been abandoned until they have returned to full health as well as helping to restore populations of animals that have been endangered. NOTE: This care and protection also applies to Beastlings who have been harmed and have found their way into the Sisters woods or mountain temples.
The Obsidian Way
The Sisters have named their fighting techniques after the legendary obsidian spear of Lydia. This fighting style is grounded in the principles of offense, quick striking and overwhelming an opponent is the goal of this technique any defensive moves are motivated by dodging, there have been reports of attacks at work sites where sister were able to dodge bullets from a distance as close as 5 meters away though this may have been exaggerated by the survivors.
Music
In the high mountains it is not odd to wake in the middle of the night to hear voices echoing off of the mountains. The Sisters practice prayer through hymn as their legends speak of the fondness Lydia herself has for singing and music. Most hymns follow the pattern of one voice beginning the song which is soon followed by multiple voices repeating what has been sung in a mock echo.
Mountain Goddess Lydia
Cantalvian history is vague on where and when Lydia came from and the lore surrounding the mountain Goddess is sparse but for ages the people of Cantalvia have always sung her praises as they journeyed throughout the snowy passes between villages asking for the Goddess's protection. In the high mountains it is not uncommon to see gifts of flowers left for Lydia along the passes and shrines dedicated to her on the roadside. It is said her presence is near when there is a strong fragrance of flowers and none can be seen.
Cuisine and Dining Customs
Cantalvian cooking style is closely similar to Western European cooking style, and they use the western implements of fork, knives and spoons. They have 3 square meals a day with daybreaker in the early morning, noonfeast at high noon and evensnack in the late evening.
Some famous Cantalvian dishes are Ratilvan Stew which is very hearty stew with lots of different vegetables and beef, and Cantalvian fondue.
Cantalvia has many delicious cheeses like the Ratilva Rounders.
Holidays
Independence day is celebrated in Cantalvia with a communal barbecue and fireworks are launched over the Great Whip River and the Lydial mountains which look like firey flowers in the sky which is why it's often called the "Great Flower in the Mountains" Festival. There are also boat races through the river to commemorate the occassion.