Ostrovenia (ah-stroh-vehn-eeya)
The island nation of Ostrovenia is one of the most prosperous nations in the world, though it occupies only a few hundred square miles to the southeast of Ayndrinor. Its wealth of natural resources make the island a key source of ore and produce for the world markets, and their two indulgent vacation cities pull tourists from around the world to this quiet, unassuming island.
Structure
The nation of Ostrovenia is a highly centralized elective monarchy, with a Viceroy overseeing things from the palace in Port O'Connor. Because each city and town specializes in a specific industry or two, the central government must coordinate trade and the movement of goods between the towns and from Ostrovenia to the rest of the world. Besides the viceroy and their appointed advisors, there is a large bureaucratic machine across the island that helps facilitate the necessary cooperation and coordination for these efforts.
The viceroy is voted in by the entire populace of the island and serves 10 years at a time, with no maximum length. When the time comes to choose a new viceroy, each city or town selects no more than two candidates. These are usually past or current mayors of those towns and cities or influential families from there. The candidates travel to each of the four major settlements and as many "unofficial" jungle villages as possible, hoping to spread their message and gain support. Every election sees at least one challenger to the incumbent viceroy, but except in times of hardship or strife these candidates know they will not win.
The viceroy does not have a parliament or other legislative body to help govern; they do so with their own best judgment and the advice of their counselors, who are usually close friends or social contacts but usually have some idea about the aspect of the nation upon which they are supposed to advise. In exchange for their work on behalf of the nation, the viceroy and the appointed advisors become members of the island's aristocracy if they were not already so. Getting voted out of office is usually a mark of failure, and the few viceroys and advisors who have suffered this indignity chose not to remain in the aristocracy rather than face the prospect of being kicked out.
History
From the earliest annals and records, Ostroven Island has always been a sort of shelter or rest island for sailors, until the first formal settlement in the fifth century 1A. Finding valuable ores and even more valuable forge space underneath the central volcano, Mount Dubliina, a group of dwarves decided to found a permanent city that they would call Vurothil.
To move goods back and forth between mainland Ayndrinor and the island, the dwarves of Vurothil set up a port town on the northwest corner of the island, which would go on to become Port O'Connor in 1999 1A. The city continued to grow, and subsequent groups of settlers to the island founded villages and towns, some of which would come to be world renowned like Zyltri and Armini.
The booming populations of both Vurothil and Port O'Connor were completely decimated during The Smiting, but it did not take long afterward for the cities and towns of the island to reform the previous nation. After all, the ore and goods from Vurothil needed to be shipped somewhere, and there were many goods they were unable to grow or produce themselves. This refounded kingdom has experienced prosperity and growth rivaled only by a few places in the world, and it is now one of the most desireable places to live and work in Ayndrinor.
Demography and Population
The population of Ostrovenia is split between halflings, humans, and dwarves predominately, though the economic prosperity and opportunities on the island have attracted people from all manner of races and cultures. As best anyone can tell, the island was unsettled and uninhabited when the dwarves arrived in the fifth century 1A. Since then, dwarves and halflings have arrived in several different waves to settle various parts of the island, along with the plethora or other peoples that arrive sporadically.
Foreign Relations
The nation of Ostrovenia is officially neutral in all wars or conflicts across the world, and they maintain friendly diplomatic relations with most countries. Most of this is due to the nobles from the countries frequenting the vacation towns of Armini and Zyltri, then going back home where they directly or indirectly control the power in their home lands. Due to geographical concerns, they are most friendly with their island neighbor Caladrem, as well as the dwarves of Gel Morgran who originally settled Ostroven Island.
The only country with whom the Ostrovenes have negative or neutral relations is the Toldrun See. Due to religious devotion, the nobles of the See rarely leave their homeland - and when they do they view places like Armini and Zyltri as too sinful or decadent for their patronage. In addition, the See's navy has tried raiding supply routes or accosting visiting ships on and around Ostroven frequently. Sometimes they seem to be after Ostrovene produce or goods being shipped to Ostrovenia, but other times the ships bear Inquisition flags and are trying to kidnap dwarves who refuse to convert to their religion.
An Island of Possibilities
Founding Date
2049 1A (refounded 3 2A)
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Isle of Plenty
Demonym
Ostrovenes
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Executive Body
Viceroy
Royal Advisors
Royal Advisors
Location
Controlled Territories
Comments