Sirnoth
Sirnoth
GDP: 1.25 trillion
Per capita income: 41,500
Area: 387,500 sq km (77 per sq km)
Population: 30,000,000
Ethnic Groups: 88% Sirnothi, 12 % Gilean
Religion: (15% Christian, 65% non-religious, 20% misc)
Climate: Temperate and rainy north. Usually 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Higher altitudes are more arid, with notable precipitation on the northern side. The south coast is hot and mostly uninhabited.
Chief Crops: wheat, corn, citrus fruits, vegetables,
Natural Resources: Oil, Tin, Copper, Iron, Coal,
Industries: Mining, Construction, Textiles, Agriculture,
Sociopolitical Structure
Middle and lower class Sirnothi have much in common with the average citizens in other cultures. However, the upper classes still observe much of pre-colonial traditions.
Patronage is an accepted part of Sirnoth society. People offer their services to a patron, who in turn uses his influence to increase his client's standing. This can be anything from bestowing a job, to a business contact, to a loan. Thus indebted to their patron, the client works to be of greater use to them. While many Sirnothi can use their family's reputation alone to rise in society, there are those who have to fight tooth and nail for every bit of influence and esteem they can get. These ambitious people are often the most useful for a patron. They have the desire and the ability to rise high, and they prove to outsiders that the patronage system works for everyone, not just the aristocracy.
When a patron gives his client a job, it can be dangerous for them both. For example, if a general loses a battle, the patron who backed his choice for command loses influence. The patron's reputation suffers from his client's failure. The client loses favor with his patron. And if the patron has a rival whose client does a better job, the patron falls even further in social standing. A patron who wastes his influence on favors for friends or clients will become a laughing stock if his candidates fail to perform as required. A patron only has the influence they do because they are expected to achieve results. A patron who cannot aid his clients is no patron at all.
A client's shortcomings are usually only exposed when they fail at something, so some can rise quite high before coming to an intolerable failure. However, the Noble families are always watching each other, and will go to great lengths to expose corruption or incompetence from the client of a rival House. Hacking computers and bugging offices are joining more time honored methods of intrigue.
Government Structure
The Sovereign
The Sovereign is the highest authority in Sirnoth's military, and the architect of foreign and internal politics.In theory, he is the absolute ruler of Sirnoth. Reality being what it is, the Sovereign realizes there are things he can and can't do. He will ensure that his aims benefit enugh people so that there is no major opposition. As an added form of insurance, the Sovereign also goes to great lengths to be a useful patron. Even if some disagree with his policies, the mutual obligation between patron and client restrains them from acting. For a Sirnothi to act against his patron is beneath contempt in their culture.
Prefect of the Sovereign's Guard
This position began as the personal guard to the ruler of Sirnoth. Over the 40 years of the first Sovereign's reign, the Prefect took on more and more administrative duties. Now, the Prefect is the effective #2 in Sirnothi government.
Small Council
The Small Council is an advisory body for the Sovereign. Councilors have the ear of the Sovereign, and as such, possess significant influence in Sirnothi society. The people on the Small Council are appointed by the Sovereign.
Political parties per se do not exist in Sirnothi society. The Shroomanian administration was not a democracy, and neither was the pre-colonial regime. Even if the Sovereign were an elected position, the patron/client relationship is so deeply entrenched in the Sirnoth collective consciousness that the populace would vote for their patron's favored candidate, seeing any other choice as unacceptable ingratitude.
This restrains freedom of expression somewhat. The Sirnothi media has a significant bias, depending upon the patron/client relationship of the owners. Many histories in Sirnoth were written by men seeking to exalt their patron or excoriate his rival.
Political Goals
Being so close to two rather violent military powers, Sirnoth's overall goal is avoiding being drawn into any continental conflicts. They also intend to maintain the Sirnothi dominance of the country, maintaining internal stability despite the prescence of Gilean insurgent militias.
International Relations
Sirnothi relations with their neighbors on the new continent have been distant for the most part. They have no desire to be sucked in to the chronic wars between Shepistan and the Old Dominion.
Despite their past, relations with Shroomania are rather amiable.
Sirnoth Nobility
The Sirnoth aristocracy are raised to believe that they must be deserving of their great wealth and power. With their privilege comes responsibility. While it would be wrong to assume they are completely self sacrificing, neither would it be fair to portray a Sirnothi noble as an isolated despot drunk on their wealth and power. They will usually work for the betterment of their inferiors, with the implicit idea that those benefitting from their actions will show appropriate gratitude.
Precedence: This is a simple rule. No superior must ever be made to wait for an inferior. Whenever there is a court function, the highest ranking person invited should be the last to arrive. Thus, it is expected that everyone responds to an invitation to verify their attendance — so that the host knows not to let the event officially begin until the most superior guest arrives.
If everyone adheres carefully to this rule, then superiors will always speak before inferiors, will always be the first served in matters of gift-giving and other procedures and will always be called upon to perform, demonstrate or act before inferiors. Breaking this order of precedence implies a direct challenge of authority, and is an acceptable lead-in to a duel (even if it were unintentional — but not if it were directly caused by the superior).
Gifting: Among Sirnoth Nobles, the giving of gifts is a remarkable statement. Any gift given, whether in public or private, may imply affection, support or deference. What is most important is that the gift demonstrates significance, effectively saying that the giftgiver believes the recipient is worthy of notice. Refusal of a gift is, of course, an insult proportional to the sacrifice the gift represents. A refusal can lead to a duel, if the parties involved are hot-headed enough, or to a long-lasting emnity, if they are not.
Many nobles give small gifts of jewelry to one another as a bonding exercise, simply to acknowledge ties of family or friendship (and to make sure that anybody who sees the exchange understands that the participants are on good terms with one another).
It is customary, upon settling a dispute in a manner that is to the satisfaction of both parties, to bestow minor gifts as a final sign of reconciliation.
Display: To accept a gift is one thing. To wear or display it is something entirely different and provides yet another subtle statement to the gathered nobility. Wearing an accepted gift in public implies a return of affection or support for the one who gave the gift: It primarily symbolizes the giftee wishes to be associated with the gifter. Not such a big deal in most cases, but when you’re talking about a noble who’s out of the Sovereign's favor, or a foreign figure considered a terrorist by some, it can be the source of significant scandal.
Display does not soley apply to gifts. Where you enter and where you stand are equally important. Standing at the shoulder of someone indicates support, while taking his arm is a declaration of affection. Facing another person without bowing the head indicates a formal indifference, while bowing the head is a display of subjugation.
Simply attending an event indicates support for the host. Thus, it is expected that all the nobility attend every official event (unless they want to bring their loyalty into question). Even making an appearance at a function hosted by another noble can be considered a declaration of association, assuming the visit is peaceful.
Displaying a weapon carries no special significance in the Sovereign's Court. However, touching the hilt or grip of the weapon, even lightly, indicates a wish to duel. Nobles who are presented with such a demonstration must either rise to the challenge or respond with a submissive gesture.
Finally, displays of wealth are considered virtuous (and mandatory) among the nobility. Ostentation can help secure a noble's standing in court, by demonstrating their wealth to all and sundry.
Respect: While the nobility do not agree any more then normal people, they hide their disputes between a veil of respect. Speaking crassly or insultingly to another noble is unacceptable. A profane word let loose by a careless tongue can destroy years of carefully cultivated status. The principles of aristocratic society demand that respect be shown to both peers, and betters. While technically a noble can behave how they like with the lower classes, if they do something other nobles see as cruel, petty, or otherwise unacceptable, it will damage the reputation of the noble in question. Because of this rule, insults must always be covered in a veneer of courtesy. In Sirnoth, it is best if one can completely humiliate one’s enemies, or force them into making a faux pax. This damages not only the reputation of the noble in question, but their relatives and descendents.
Sirnothi nobles always refer to each other formally, unless the two are close personal friends. Religion and Philosophy Military Forces Uniforms Ranks a Structure of the Sirnoth Armed Forces Special Forces Sirnoth Military Academies Culture and Arts Socioeconomics History
Early Prehistory (2000BC-400BC)
Studies of Sirnoth's early history indicate the island was first settled around 2000 BC. There are few written records, but they seem to indicate that Sirnoth had no unified national identity, but was instead a collection of villages. The larger, more successful ones grew into Sirnoth's first proper cities. Bronze weapons were probably first used around 1700 BC. Archeological digs in places like Melgar, Baiae, and Montagsville have turned up the ruins of cities dating back to this era. When a city state was destroyed in war, or suffered a plague, it was abandoned, and later on would be built over. Several urban areas in Sirnoth are simply the latest habitations in areas that have been settled for a very long time. This period in history is rather similar to Ancient Greece. There were a number of city states, all sharing the same basic culture and ethnic background. Nevertheless, wars between city states occured annually. Politics in Sirnoth largely centered around shifting leagues of allied city states.
Pre-Elective Era (400BC-359AD)
For the complete history on the subject, check out "The Wars of Pre-Elective Sirnoth, Volumes 1-24, by Orros Vilyarin. This would be unmatched as a reference if the author had not been killed by a falling library stack before the series could be completed. As it is, it is an excellent history for anyone researching the first 250 years of the nearly 8 century long Pre-Elective era. Greatly simplified, it can be considered a rehash of prehistorical eras, except with nation states instead of city states. The defining event of this era was the Gilean invasion, and the subsquent founding of the Kingdom of the Gileans. They were a foreign people, seeking to make a new life in Sirnoth. They were mainly Arian Christians, though some were Monophysites, and some Nestorians. (*note: get with Fingolfin re history) They landed near what is now Martell City, and soon conquered all of Sirnoth west of the fork in the Elysium river. They had two advantages. The first was their tribe's militay tradition, fighting in formations in the Roman fashion. The second was the religious fanaticism that gave them such high morale.
Elective Era (359AD-641AD)
The Elective Era was called this because it marked the rise of an elected Prince. This was the first era where the Sirnothi people had a unified government. With the Gilean invasion, the surviving kingdoms of the Sirnothi were forced to work together. At first, they had an informal system where the assembled generals in a campaign would choose who commanded the overall force. It was eventually decided to extend this system to all the kingdoms of Sirnoth.
Each of the kingdoms in Sirnoth would have a particular candidate for Prince, as well as a number of electors. Each kingdom was allowed ten electors, and electors from a particular kingdom were forbidden from voting for their own candidate. This prevented electoral deadlocks, and lots of bribes, favors, and blows were traded for a decisive vote. The body of electors numbered anywhere from 90 to 140, as kingoms rose, split, or fell. Any lords that refused to abide by the Prince's edicts would have their lives and lands declared forfeit, and while this led to the Gileans gaining even more land at first, the long term benefits of having unified leadership would outweigh this.
The wars against the Kingdom of Gilead waged on and off for roughly 200 years.
In 612 AD, the Garrim plague broke out. This led to the collapse of several kingdoms, and the deaths of millions. Widespread societal collapse brought an end to the Elective system, as well as unified government in Sirnoth. The last Prince to rule indisputably died of the plague in 641, and so the Elective era is considered to have ended with him. There were various local councils to elect a Prince, but since none truly ruled the whole of Sirnoth, they are seen as pretenders by history.
Medieval Era (641-1875)
By 700, the Garrim plague had largely run its course. The demographic collapse affected both Sirnothi and Gileans, but the Sirnothi managed to liberate most of their island. The Gileans were run out to the Hecate Mountains, where their descendents reside to this day.
Colonization and Industrialization (1875-1960)
The Sirnoth islands were discovered by Shroomania in 1875. Because of its strategic location off the coast of Shepistan, it was decided to build a garrison fortress and naval supply base. Several Sirnoth citizens were educated in Shroomania so they would be more efficient colonial administrators. Most came from the aristocracy.
Modern Era (1960-)
In 1932, oil was discovered, and the Shroomanian colonial authorities spent lots of money building the requisite infrastructure to exploit it. This, along with fertile agricultural riverlands and mines in the mountainous regions, soon made Sirnoth a very wealthy colony. However, tensions arose beneath the placid facade.
Things came to a head in the 1960 Sirnoth Independence War (or Sirnoth Revolt as the Fungal authorities term it.) On May 8th, 1960, widespread rioting took place. The rebels called themselves the Sirnoth Nationalist Party. Colonial troops were mobilized to put down the rebels, but they immediately defected to join them. Shroomanian troops suffered rather heavy casualties in urban combat. Despite estimated 8 for 1 kill ratios, Shroomanian troops soon had to call in reinforcements. Some 2,000 Shroomanian troops pulled into Montagsville Harbor, intent on retaking the lost urban zones. When the troop ships approached the coastline, they were soon destroyed by SNP anti ship missiles. There were less then 200 survivors, all taken prisoner by the SNP.
Reports from independent media indicated the missiles were manufactured in Shepistan, and the possibility of a proxy war with Shepistan made Shroomania reconsider their campaign. They believed they could eventually defeat a local independence movement, but if the SNP had serious backing, it might prove necessary to escalate the war. Unwilling to do so, they turned to negotiation. The SNP leader worked out a deal. Sirnoth would be granted full independence. All prisoners would be released, and compensation would be paid (60,000 per person, about 82 million) to those who had lost family members to the war with the SNP. Also, Shroomania would retain control of their military base in Sirnoth. Shroomania agreed, and the newly independent Sirnoth government was internationally recognized.
Politics
Sirnoth is ruled by a authoritarian figure called the Sovereign. There have only been two since Independence. The first Sovereign was Jake Setzer, the mastermind behind the Sirnoth Nationalist Party. He reigned from independence in 1960, to his death in 2005. His son, Charles Setzer, has a secure grip on power, but lacks his father's reputation.
Military
Defense Budget: 62,500,000,000 (5% of GDP)
Army
Overview: The Sirnoth Army is the least important of the three services. Sirnoth's defense policy in the past century or so has been dependent upon long range defenses, leaving the army with subpar recruits and equipment. The ranking officers are mostly those with the best political connections. Still, it would be wrong to portray the Sirnoth army as a collection of incompetents and cronies. While most of the Sirnoth rank and file are conscripts, they have excellent equipment, and an ongoing insurgency in the Hecate mountains means that most soldiers have a modicum of experience in combat.
Order of Battle:
3 Armored Divisions 5 Mechanized Divisions 2 Mountain (Light Infantry) Divisions 1 Air Assault Division
330,000 troops
2500 Leopard 2A4 MBTs, 4001 Marder IFVs, 516 HMMWV w/Milan III, 528 M577 Mobile Command Vehicles, 96 M110 203mm SP howitzers, 700 PzH2000 155mm SP howitzers, 72 MLRS, 914 Milan III man portable ATGMs, 528 106mm SP mortars, 445 ZSU-23-4 AA guns, 210 SA-11, 112 SA-15, 634 Stinger SAMs, 548 AH-1 attack Helicopters, 406 OH-58 scout Helicopters, 430 UH-1 helicopters, 48 CH-47 helicopters, 54 Vulcan AA guns
(CAS and air transport are handled by the Air Force)
Overview:
Navy (80,000)
2 Templar class CV (Audacious class look alike) 2 Canberra class LHA 6 Harper's Ferry class LSD 12 LST(3) class LST 8 Arleigh Burke class DDGs 16 O.H. Perry class FFGs 10 Loni class SSK (local manufacture, roughly equivalent to Russian Kilo class) 2 Chalice class AOE (local manufacture, roughly equivalent to Supply class) 2 Largesse class AKE (local manufacture, roughly equivalent to Mars class) 1 Marine Division
Fleet Air Arm
SNS Templar Airgroup: 24 Typhoon-Sir, 8 SH-60 SNS Justicar Airgroup: 24 Typhoon-Sir, 8 SH-60 SNS Connos Airgroup: 16 SH-60 helicopters, 4 CH-53 SNS Belyer Airgroup: 16 SH-60 helicopters, 4 CH-53
Air Force ()
200 F-16XL 160 F-4 Phantoms 42 F-111 8 KC-130 tankers 4 E-3 Sentry AWACS 12 P-3 Orion naval patrol craft 32 F-4T trainer jets 49 BaE Hawk trainers 4 C-5A 57 C-130
Transportation
Most transportation in Sirnoth has traditionally been by water. The nation has a large merchant fleet, as well as numerous water taxis and private boats. There is a particularly elaborate regatta on May 8th, to celebrate their independence.
Education
The government of Sirnoth provides free and mandatory education for all citizens.
13-14 is the traditional age, though some promising children are warded even sooner. Delaying the tutelage will incur a significant loss of social standing, as it implies the family has produced a child incapable of fulfilling the requirements of his station in life. This involves them leaving their families and taking up residence in the home of another Sirnothi. This can In addition to providing all the traditional aspects of a normal secondary school, the mentor will educate their ward in the intricacies of the Sovereign's court.