Nation/Free Syllvin

The Confederate Islands of Free Syllvin
The Confederate Islands of Free Syllvin Adante Illa Farvin Sillwen
	Motto: "Best Way Forwards"
	Anthem: "The Unsung War"
Capital; and largest city	Syllvan Center
Official languages	Avannian, Island Common
Demonym	Syllvanian
Government	Tricameral Parliamentary Republic
Legislature	Syllvan High Senate
Formation
Population
GDP (PPP)	2012 estimate
Currency	Syllvanian E-dollar (ΣD) (SED)
Time zone	Syllvan Island Time (GMT + 13 hours)
Drives on the	right
Calling code	407
Internet TLD	.sv

This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final.

The Confederate Islands of Free Syllvin, known nativley as Adante Illa Farvin Sillwen ( lit. The Free Confederacy of Forested Isles), and most commonly referred to as Free Syllvin, is an equatorial nation that enjoys a high standard of living and a comfortable tropical climate. It is comprised of 41 territories spread across a volcanic-coral island chain in the South Concordian Ocean, as well as 11 territories in eastern Gondwana. The two areas are separated into Sectors known as "the Confederacy" and "Syllvania," respectively. While also laying claim to some 237 other small landmasses in the area, Free Syllvin only maintains a passing presence on them due to their usage as resource mines or military posts. The largest island, Valandar, has almost a third of its landmass covered by the capitol city of Syllvan Center, which is the largest city i nthe nation and the main cultural and commercial center. While having no borders with other nations, Free Syllvin's closest neighbors are The Predominance to the south, New Leganes to the east, and Wikichang to the north.

The ecosystems of Free Syllvin are widely diverse, with the most-common being tropical rain-forest and the second most-common tropical savanna. Several inland territories have grasslands and tropical deserts covering their interiors behind mountains. Salt marshes and mangrove swamps form the outer regions of most populated landmasses. The archipelago hosts a wide assortment of coral reefs and cays as well. The highest point is Cormin Peak, 1712 meters above sea level, with an average height of 234 meters above sea level. Syllvanians are conscious of their environment, with 35 ecologically protected parks and preserves spread around the nation. Several species can only be found in Free Syllvin. The Stepsister islands are the only habitat of the Reef Deer (kerwus farvil Syllvanius) and the Bill (piskus taberkulnaceuvishekerllionum) has only been recorded in the Greater Allas Boundary.

Free Syllvin is a traditional nautical power, boasting a rich history of pre-industrial societies. The sight of fishermen and pearl divers hailing from the ancestral home of the Syllvanians was a common sight in the island chains. The first society to arise in the area were the Ado people, a skilled group of industrial inventors who pioneered many things for their local archipelago, including the sail. They were wiped out by the cannibalistic Gynn, who were in turn wiped out in a tidal wave. The foundations for what would become Syllvin Center were laid by what is known as the Kwun people in 800 CE.

First coming into its own as a proper nation state at around 1650 CE, with the formation of the Kingdom of the Islands and the Coast, the modern Free Syllvin is a leader in law enforcement, public transport, and defense. Its income per-capita is consistent within 30,000 E-dollars of the highest and lowest levels of society thanks to extremely tight income tax on the top 10%. Private corporations are effectually illegal, with company boards being populated by officials from an associated committee in the Syllvanian legistlature. Free Syllvin is considered a post-information state, with heavily networked infrastructure and technological prevalence. The nation's primary exports are military equipment, technology, and sea-craft.

History

Early Inhabitants

Archaeological records show that the archipelago was inhabited as early as 300 CE. However, the most comprehensive and intact signs of native inhabitants date to 535 CE. Rock carvings on the islands of Valandar and Lipock contain records of a tribe known as the Ado, who developed a fishing society with small stilt villages spread out across the northern cays. Carvings on basalt pillars indicate that the Ado used a crude form of sailing and navigation to travel, making them the first Syllvan society on record to do so. They are remarkable in other aspects such as practicing a form of writing, having a grasp of trade and bartering,

The Ado people were competent sailors and divers, but were unaccustomed to conflict due in part to the lack of any other tribes in the area. A structured hierarchy also seemed to prevent internal disputes. This left them easy prey for the nomadic Gynn tribe, who can be traced to the Emoro Straights. Records from both the Ado and Gynn detail a short, brutal conflict in which the stilt villages of the Ado were burned, their religious sites destroyed, and people eaten. The only remains of their society are in the form of sunken canoes and basalt carvings.

The Gynn, seemingly violent and cannibalistic from the few ritual artifacts they left behind, remained the dominant inhabitants of the islands until around 612 CE. Geological indicators of a tsunami can be found pertaining to this event, as well as the disappearance of relics with the design of Gynn culture at around this time. The nomadic nature of the tribe ensured few permanent settlements, and there is little protection from a tidal wave on open water. With the Gynn gone, the archipelago would remain uninhabited for another hundred and fifty years.

The Kwun people, who are regarded as the true founders of Free Syllvin, first appeared near 800 CE. Their establishment of a village on the Rillin Bay is the first archaeological sign of their existence, so it is likely they emigrated from the area of Butan to the northwest. The Kwun were a cautious and careful people, and detailed translations of pictographs reveal a deep mistrust of outsiders. Their village, as it expanded, was fortified and restructured to prevent outside access. Many anthropologists believe that the xenophobia and love of fortifications passed from the Kwun to the Syllvan peoples.

Monarchy

The Succession Wars

Stabilization

Modern Era

Free Syllvin currently operates a social-consciousness government, which states that it's goal is to view issues from the perspectives of the people. While, phasing out of a massive military-industrial complex is difficult, the High Senate is taking steps to once again diversify the Syllvan economy. With much of the Confederacy urbanized or otherwise heavily developed, there is a strict and ever increasing set of environmental regulations to preserve the habitats and ecosystems that are spread around the nation.

Syllvan Center, the capitol

Geography

The Syllvan islands developed as the tectonic plates shifted, exposing a volcanic hotspot. This hotspots is still active to the north of the nation and there is a small ethnic group from the islands who make pilgrimages there. The island it is located on currently does not fall within Syllvanian influence. The oldest and southmost of the islands in the chain, Daesan, is estimated to be 17 million years old, and the largest and northernmost, Valandar, is just under 500,000 years old. There are several dormant volcanic peaks throughout the chain, but each has been inactive for at least 3 million years. The rock content is mostly silica, with large deposits of basalt throughout the area. The volcanic islands of Free Syllvin are each their own territory, with 12 islands larger than 1,000 square kilometers and 29 smaller. Along the eastern side of the island chain, there is a long series of barrier islands, atolls, and coral cays that are known as the StepSisters. This archipelago is built upon the Greater Allas Boundary, an extensive reef ecosystem that extends 1,800 miles north-south and 200 miles east-west. All of the islands of the Confederacy and the Stepsisters enjoy a warm, tropical climate year round. During the periods of storms, however, the smaller landmasses have a high risk of flooding.

The territories of Syllvania are seperated into three distinct ecosystems. The coastal Carrius, Penael, and East Larrica are subtropical forest, while Karaktan and Gerrima are mountains. The midland areas of Visthus and Sencan are dominated by mountains, while Anneun is covered in tropical rainforest. The inland territories of Dacceron and Polmor are rainshadowed regions.

Climate

The climate of Free Syllvin varies by region, due to differences in altitude and, with some extent, proximity to the ocean. It is generally mild year round in the central highlands, with a humid subtropical climate in the lowlands. The islands and coast are generally tropical rainforest. In the western lowlands, subtropical desert expands out past Lake Cirrel due to rainshadowing.

The coastal lowlands in the eastern part of Free Syllvin are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy.

The weather in the regions further inland is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The areas east of the Gedian Mountains is subject to some ocean breezes that cool the area, but west of the mountain range has no such wind patterns. In the tropical territories, the average temperature during the day is 78 °F (26 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C). In the highlands areas, the average temperature is 61 °F (16 °C) during the day and drops to an average of 47 °F (8 °C) at night. The average annual temperature is 55 °F (13 °C). In the subtropical desert regions, the average temperature can climb up to 89 °F (31 °C). At night, it can drop to an average of 43 °F (6 °C). The dry season (summer) runs from June to September and the wet season (winter) is from October to May. As Free Syllvin is below the equatorial line, June to September is considered to be winter, and winter is generally the dry season in warm climates. Spring, summer, and fall are generally the "wet seasons" while winter is the dry (with the exception of the first month of fall being dry).

Marine Ecosystem

The Gear

The current national focus is on sustainable living space in the face of overpopulation. The ethnic groups of the Confederacy view living on Gondwana as distasteful, preferring to stick to their oceanic cultural roots. This has caused the majority of livable space on most islands to be taken up by residential developments, with the rest unable to be settled thanks to ecological preserves, government installations, or the land owned by private or foreign groups.

The solution that has been reached is the re-purposing of Free Syllvins large fleet of oil drilling platforms. Connecting a series of semi-submersible platforms with tension-leg support frames and linking these by similarly-outfitted causeways, the prototype city eliminates much of the concern about sand dumping and the ecological impacts of artificial islands. The current model is composed of eight such platforms linked in a circle, and then connected to a central super-platform made up of 9 platforms re-purposed into one.

Artist's concept of a completed Gear

While initial tests have been promising, the project has been a severe drain on funds and resources, and several government officials have expressed concerns over the long-term viability of the endeavor. Some have suggested replacing the center superplatform, arguably the most difficult part, should be replaced with a similar sized artificial island. The Gear also has faced issues concerning the stability of the outer platform ring when connected to the center, and the structure must separate into its individual components in order to move under its own power. This makes repositioning and reanchoring the platforms in the exact spots necessary for their causeways to reconnect a time consuming and costly affair.

The Gear is currently undergoing sea trials and habitability experiments in the waters 20 kilometers off of Valandar's coast. Completed modules so far include 2 of the outer habitation platforms, 1 of the outer power platforms, the military dock, and the hull of the central platform. Based upon current projections, the project will complete in 12 years, 2 behind schedule.

Government

Administration

Free Syllvin is currently led by a three-house parliament. The upper house, known as the Conclave, consists of 52 Councilors elected from each of the major territories. The role of Chairman, essentially the head of state, rotates positions every 2 years based upon an interior vote, and the Councilors are re-elected by their constituents every 5 years. Each is the head of a certain department within the government, such as Commerce or Agriculture. They serve as a quasi-executive branch, voting upon resolutions approved by the Island Assembly, and enacting edicts themselves.

The "lower houses" are the Commons and Island Assembly, though they each have separate functions that make them equal. The Island Assembly is the de-facto legislative branch, and deals with passing, altering, and repealing law. They are composed of 106 delegates, 2 from each territory. The delegates are appointed by the preceding delegate, selected from a list of candidates elected by the people of the territory. The Commons is made up of 312 officials from around the nation; each territory is allotted 6 elected representatives. They represent a check on the powers of the other two, debating laws and regulations and posessing the power to alter or remove them if they see fit. Alterations to such documents cannot be overturned by either the Conclave or the Assembly without a court case.They also can vote with three- fourths majority to remove a Councilor for their position if they feel that the powers of the Conclave have been misused. Their name, "The Commons," comes from their ability to act as a counterbalance to the Assembly and Conclave and act in the interests of the people rather than the government.

Foreign Relations

Until the recent months, Free Syllvin has been a completely isolated state, guarding its borders and airspace zealously. The administration under the Lords Administrator and Operator took a completely isolationist stance on foreign relations, permitting no Syllvanian, EDF personnel excluded, to leave the nation. All extra-national goods, information, and even people were purged. With the current Syllvan High Senate steering the nation towards more cooperation with other countries, Free Syllvin has established ties with a number of foreign powers.

Adumara and Furnifold are considered by Syllvanians to be their closest friends, if not allies, abroad. Further relations with the neighboring New Leganes have been established, though they are more formal than practical. As a member of the South East Pacific Coalition, Free Syllvin maintains embassies with Mexregiona and the Staynish-Caltharus Empire. Additional recognition has been exchanged with Tivot, as well as Asendavia and Celannica despite the FPA - SEPC rivalry.

Military

Military of Free Syllvin

Free Syllvin has a long history of war, and their focus on defense and security reflect this. The standing military forces of Free Syllvin are split into two groups. The External Defense Forces handle the protection and security of the nation's borders as well as taking part in any offensive operations. The Internal Defense Forces are tasked with law enforcement and security within the borders. Both of the two organizations are funded separate and have divisions specific to an area of operation. An understandable rivalry exists between them, with one being overseen by the Councilor on Interior Security and the other being overseen by the Councilor on National Defense. Due to a long history of the territories of Syllvania rebelling, much of the doctrine of the Syllvan modern military focuses on sustained inland power projection and long-term amphibious assaults. The defense forces enjoy exclusive contracts with Syllvan State Arms and Syllvan Fleet Systems. There companies produce high-quality weapons and equipment that is only available to the IDF and EDF.

Internal Defense Forces

The Internal Defense Forces, or IDF, take the place of police in Free Syllvin. A centralized command structure and a wide array of military issue equipment ensures a safe and crime-free nation. The IDF is also tasked with protecting the sovereignty of Free Syllvin at home. This encompasses patrolling the waters and lands for poaching or environmental destruction, dealing with domestic terrorism or rebellions, and engaging invaders inside the borders of the nation. The IDF is much larger than its counterpart thanks to the combination of these duties.

The five divisions of the IDF cover a specialized area of operations to allow trained professionals to operate more efficiently. They are the Sentry Corps, the Sailing Corps, the Air Corps, the Engineering Corps, and the Tech Corps.

External Defense Forces

The External Defense Forces are the traditional armed forces of Free Syllvin. They are generally more militarized and warfare-focused than the IDF, which functions much more like a paramilitary national police. They are smaller than the IDF but are generally equipped with more modern and sophisticated technology. The most important division of the EDF is the Nautical Defense Corps, which manages the transport and support of the infantry and air-power. The Aviation Corps are likewise specialized, based around the escort of transport aircraft and sea vessels, and the combat support of ground elements. While the EDF does have a counterpart to the Sentry Corps in its Ground Assault Corps, they serve mostly as Marines rather than a traditional army.

Insignia of the EDF

Economy

Government Oversight

Arms Manufacturing

Thanks to the mass industrialization under Lourne and Almaro, the market for armaments became all the easier to break into. It was also exponentially more lucrative as the militarization of Syllvan society increased. Starting in 1948, the territories of Daceron and Polmor were heavily industrialized. Railways and airports were constructed to link the inland regions with the coastal areas, and massive mines were dug into the mountains in search of raw materials. The ever-expanding military of Free Syllvin demanded new and innovative minds to equip it, and the beginnings to the Syllvan military-industrial complex were born out of this.

Thanks to incursions against central Gondwanan states and near-constant civil conflicts between the Farwe and Daccic, the Lords administration continually fearmongered the defense budget highter and higher.

Global Presence

Free Syllvin has yet to break into the main international markets. Trade deals are in development with New Leganes, Celannica, Adumara, and Asendavia. There are certain small revolutionary groups that can be found using weapons exported by the previous regime, but those are few and far between.

Kendring is the largest port in the nation and the administrative center of the Carrius territory.

Demographics

Regions

Free Syllvin is divided into two Sectors, regions that are geographically and administratively distinct. The islands that make up the majority of territories are grouped into the Confederacy, named after the historical Avannian Confederacy of Islands. There are several sections of coastal land that is part of the Confederacy, however. Most larger islands are heavily urbanized, and those nearest to each other have extensive transport infrastructure that links them together. The quality of life in the Confederacy is significantly high, with access to most modern amenities and services in a developed nation.

Religion

Languages

Culture

Transporation

Education