Western Frontier Protectorate
Family Values
The smallest of the three Arctic leagues, the Western Frontier Protectorate is often overlooked by outsiders, deemed too small and insignificant to be worth closer examination. Those who do make the effort discover a strong and vibrant society which places considerable emphasis on family values and martial strength. Though small, the Protectorate has influence far beyond its size, casting the tiebreaking votes in the CNCS councils. As a consequence they are courted by both the NLC and UMF, each seeking to use the WFP to further their own goals, little realizing that they may be the ones being used.
Family life is very important to Westerners and the principal unit of society is the extended family, or clan. There are thousands of clans in the WFP, bound together by complex webs of loyalty, debt and feud. Numerous clan alliances color Protectorate politics, ranging from informal coalitions in outlying communities to the massive Maderan and Zuccite factions that dominate league politics. These large alliances wield immense power and are capable of influencing almost every aspect of society. Unfortunately, clan politics and the goals of the Protectorate do not always mesh, leading to a number of disputes and clashes throughout the WFPs short history. The WFPA in particular treads a fine line through the convoluted politics of the clans.
The military has played a major role in Protectorate life since the early days of the league. It pervades all levels of society, from the ruling councils to the architecture of the city-states and outlying settlements. Indeed, citizenship in the WFP is a privilege, not a right. It must be earned by military setvice, and thus the millions who will not or cannot undertake such service
Militarism and nationalism are the prime motivators of Western life. After being dominated by the NLC for so long, the freedoms gained in the wake of the War of the Alliance of the Alliance have proved intoxicating, and they have combined with the realization that the Protectorate holds the balance of power in the CNCS. This has been exploited mercilessly by the senior proconsul, Zucco Adamo, creating frictions within the alliance but strengthening the Western position by making numerous concessions. The military-led Protectorate played a major role in the run-up to the Interpolar War, seeking redress against the South for long-held grievances. More than anything eke, the war has divided the clans. Some call the confrontation a matter of honor, while others see it as a senseless bloodbath that will once again cost the Protectorate the cream of its youth. The latter also argue that the war is a product of Norlight and Mercantile ambition - religious and economic, respectively - in which the Protectorate is a tool to be discarded. Bloodlust has seized the people and there is no end to the confrontation in sight.
Geography & Fauna
WFP - Geography & FaunaStructure
Culture
Assets
History
See detailed History in the following article: WFP - History
Demography and Population
Customs
The WFP is a complex society whose convoluted nature i s often confusing to outsiders. The clans remain the center of Western life, their structures and prejudices having far-reaching impact on every aspect of society. Many customs are common to all clans, having been intrinsic parts of life on the plains before the founding. Others are restricted to select groups, notably the new clans or the clanless, introduced through the steady influx of immigrants to the WFP. This is particularly the case in the city-states of Fort James and Fort William which, superFicially at least, have gained a cosmopolitan air. The military also plays a major role in Western society, providing leadership and direction but also promoting a number of social divisions, notably between citizens and residents.
Family Groupings
Families and extended families - clans - are at the heart of Western society. These close-knit groups grew out of the farming communities of the colonization era, evolving with the league and becoming an integral part of Western life. The clans, which range in size from a dozen members to over a thousand, are the building blocks of the Protectorate, exerting considerable social, financial and political influence on daily life.
Marriage and Relationships
Marriage plays a central role in Western culture, binding families together as tightly as it does the individuals involved in the ceremony. Indeed, political marriages, motivated by the wish to build alliances and bring specific people into clans rather than by love, have been a part of the region's political structure since before the WFP was formed. They are particularly common among high-ranking members of First Clans, and many are arranged when a child is only a few cycles old. The childhood betrothals and by-proxy marriages are relatively easily ended if the situation changes drastically before the actual ceremony takes place, however. Divorce is almost unheard of in the WFP, replaced by legal separations that allow the partners to go their own ways without breaking up the family.
Several clans practice polygamy and polyandry, allowing members to have multiple wives and husbands rather than break up existing social units. While the separated partners are permitted to live their own lives, it is demanded by custom and clan that they reunite for important holidays, often bringing various spouses and 'friends' along for the celebrations. This practice has led to high tensions in a number of cases, and many movies and situation comedies have capitalized on the chaos that almost inevitably results.
Children are honored in the WFP and large families are the norm, seen as reflecting both the power and vitality of the bloodline. Most parents have between four and eight children, though rural families are usually larger than those in the city-states. An unusual provision of Western law is that descent is traced through the matrilineal line and a child is always deemed to be that of its birth mother and their legal partner, irrespective of the genetic material used in the process. This poses many legal problems for surrogate births and male same-sex marriages, but also eliminates the stigma of extramarital affiirs. In stark contrast, children born to an unattached woman are viewed with scorn and, though often raised by the clan, are viewed as a mark of shame.
The combination of large families and close relatives results in a ready-made child-care system, with clanmates and older siblings often taking charge of the young ones. In some clans this downplays the relationship between parents and children, as well as between siblings, instead fostering a sense of belonging to the clan as a whole. Other groups work hard to maintain both the individual parent-child relationships and those with the clan.
Honor
Honor is very important to Westerners. There are two distinct forms: personal honor and clan honor. Both are taken seriously, but clan honor shapes and defines interactions within the Protectorate. Great care is taken to avoid insult, resulting in a surprising degree of politeness. There is little tolerance for even accidental breaches of etiquette, particulady by foreigners, and demands for "satisfaction" are commonplace. Whereas insults against an individual's honor may be resolved with an apology, or are (rarely) ignored, slights against the honor of a clan effects every member of the group and challenges cannot be dismissed so easily. Many inter-clan disputes degenerate into feuds and vendetta, often temporarily settled with a duel between the two most recent clashers. Duels are most often fought with pistols or swords, and there are a number of rituals which have grown up around the choice of weapon. Feuds are often restricted to hostile exchanges and sharp political dealings, often following a minor insult or political disagreement.
Vendettas, where sanctioned under Protectorate law, are much more serious. They center on violent means of gaining satisfaction, often involving the use of deadly force. Unlike duels, which take place under strictly controlled circumstances, vendettas may target any member or asset of a clan. Usually this is carefully kept in proportion to the offense, but often the target (or his clanmates) will respond in kind, resulting in a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. The WFPA and WIA monitor the progression of vendettas, so as to prevent them from spilling over into more wide-ranging civil disturbances. In times of war, such as the present, the monitoring of vendettas comes second place to national security, and both the number and severity increases markedly.
Traditions
Hospitality has long been part of Western culture and remains common in rural communities where travelers are invited to partake in the family meal. A vestige of the tradition remains in urban centers where even the poorest families invite unexpected visitors to join them for lunch or dinner. In such areas the invitation is little more than a courtesy, and by tradition is politely refused.
In the more scattered communities, large social gatherings - dances, parties, etc. - are the main form of social expression, leading to well developed music and storytelling styles which serve to transmit the clan's traditions to the attentive listeners. Irrespective of skill, participation in such events, be they in a pub or as part of a family gathering, is strongly encouraged and helps break down social barriers. Ability (or lack thereof) is secondary to a willingness to take part, and even the worst performers will receive good-natured applause for being "good sports." As a result few Westerners are shy about public performances, helping to reinforce their public image as extroverts.
Prejudice
Though Westerners present themselves as fair and open-minded people, prejudice is endemic in the Protectorate on a number of levels. The most obvious is the citizen-resident divide. Only citizens have the right to vote and receive additional benefits such as the ability to petition the councils and to bear arms outside the WFPA. Residents must rely on their citizen relatives to represent them, not a major hardship for those living within the clans, but the fact remains that residents form an underclass. Several groups exist to further the interests of residents, known collectively as the Enfranchisement Movement.
There is also a major divide between the majority of the population who are associated with a clan, and those who are not. Clanless individuals have no form of representation - most do not have citizens in their immediate social circle - and are largely ignored by Western society. Unlike residents, there are no support groups for the clanless and their situation is considerably worse. This "them and us" mentality extends to foreigners who are often looked down on by Westerners, and suffer a host of minor inconveniences: shopkeepers who only speak Equatorial Hispanic, "full" restaurants and so forth.
Lastly, many Westerners continue to hold a grudge against the AST, dating back to the days of the St. Vincent's War. This animosity is principally directed at the Republicans government but has slowly grown to include any members of the AST leagues. This manifests itself in a number of ways - refusal to do business with Southern companies, favoring other job candidates and so forth - and has also fostered aggression towards the South. Only those with first hand experience of the AST and its people, notably those who fought alongside them in the War of the Alliance, stand opposed to these views and even they tend to regard the AST as an association of dictators.
More details on The Clans
Technological Level
Technology occupies a strange position in the Western Frontier Protectorate. On the one hand the league's city-states are centers for high technology research and manufacturing. On the other, "gadgets" have made little impact on everyday Western life, particularly when compared to the other CNCS leagues. The reason for this dichotomy is complex, but ties in to the Western belief in tradition and quality of life. While accepting devices that will genuinely improve their productivity, rural Westerners are leery of technological fads and will often spend a long time evaluating new appliances before accepting them. As a consequence the sale and development of household and agricultural appliances is poor, prompting reliance on imported technologies, usually from the UMF.
The Protectorate has established a solid reputation for non-Gear military research, particularly into weapon systems and armor composites. Much of this is centered on Fort William and companies like Riley Weapon Systems, who supply military giants like Northco and Shaian with sophisticated but reliable guns. Though the manufacturing base is centered in Fort William, research centers are scattered across the Protectorate. The largest cluster is in Fort Henry where they make extensive use of the Fort Henry Weapons Testing Range. This facility is also home to numerous WFPA projects, including research into captured CEF technologies. At least one team has been reverse-engineering the HT-68 and HT-72 hovertanks, though their success has been limited. Since outbreak of Theban Blight and the Republicans annexation that followed there have been rumors of Humanist scientists working with the technicians at Fort Henry. This has neither been confirmed nor denied by the WFPA or Northern Guard, but there have been reports of vehicles matching the description of the HT-68 operating on the FHWTR.
The FHWTR is best known, however, as the only site in the CNCS for testing weapons of mass destruction. Historically these have been nuclear, but on 12 Summer TN 1932 Protectorate scientists carried out the first of five tests of an antimatter weapon based on CEF technologies. The WFP quieted disapproval within the CNCS by agreeing to share the technology with both the NLC and the UMF and to place any anti-matter weapons under the jurisdiction of the Northern Guard in the event of war.
Though not as well known as Yele in the NLC, the Fort Henry Medical Center has developed a formidable reputation for the development of pharmaceuticals, including several that play a major role in the treatment of cancer.
Religion
The Sorrento Church has become well established in the WFP and almost seventy percent of the population is Revisionist (the remainder being dominated by Jerusalemism and the Blue Crescent Order. Despite its majority support, attempts to make Revisionist the state religion of the Protectorate have repeatedly floundered because of the staunch independence of the Western population; they may support Revisionism, but they reserve the right to determine their own path of enlightenment. The councils accept the spiritual and charitable role of Revisionism in society but, unlike the NLC, believe such matters should remain distinct from the process of government. This has not prevented the Church from attempting to involve itself in secular affairs, a practice that has occasionally brought it into confrontation with the government.
Most Revisionist holidays are national holidays in the Protectorate, though the time-critical autumn harvests prevent many rural communities from obselving Gentle Day services which are instead replaced by a festival of thanksgiving once the work has been completed. Even rural workers put some time aside for services on the Day of Peace (1 Autumn) which commemorates the death of Mamoud Khodaverti and Nathani Reiss.
Organisation
The Revisionist hierarchy in the WFP is well established, divided into three districts, one for each city-state. There is a Senior Reverend heading each district and, together with Senior Reverend Benitez who is responsible for the Western Church as a whole, they form the Western Ecclesiastical Council. The day-to-day operations of the Church in the WFP are overseen by reverends, senior priests and monks who have been elevated above their colleagues after showing considerable dedication to Revisionism and its goals. Most oversee churches and monasteries, providing guidance to more junior members of the church though a small number serve as administrators for the Western Church
The widely dispersed nature of Western settlement forced the hierarchy to adapt to meet its needs. The most important change is the introduction of mendicant friars, wandering priests who travel from community to community providing spiritual guidance. Though the church provides each with a small stipend for books and travel, their daily living expenses are met by the communities they serve. Indeed, providing food and shelter to a mendicant i s regarded as a high honor by Revisionist clans and prompts considerable competition.
Laws
The Protectorate legal system recognizes three levels of crime: that committed against the state, against a clan, or against an individual. State law (Ley Estatal) is the most far-reaching and covers subjects ranging from financial regulation and taxation to espionage and war. Its provisions govern the Protectorate's relationship with the CNCS and include the mechanisms by which the WFPA is absorbed into the Northern Guard in times of crisis. Most of the Ley Estatal originated with the formation of the WFP, though there have been several major revisions, notably in TN 1552 (the modification of the Protectorate government system and the Citizen Act) and 1692 (the Alliance provisions and modification to the Citizen Act).
The Ley de la Clan (clan law) governs the rights and responsibilities of clans. Though seemingly innocuous, it contains many provisions, ranging from limitations on clan influence in the military and administration (frequently abused) to the rights of clan members (including property and "social security" provisions). It also governs feuds and vendettas between clans: like duels, such actions may be legalized by advance notification of "intent" to the appropriate authorities.
The last body of laws, the Ley Civil is the principal criminal code of the WFP, governing crimes against individuals and corporate bodies. It contains the standard provisions - theft, murder and the like - but also includes several codicils dealing with matters of honor. They legalize the use of duels, including lethal force, to settle such matters. For a duel to be legal (rather than assault or murder) both parties must register the time and place of the duel with the local police at least 36 hours in advance. This provides both a cooling-off period and time to arrange legal witnesses and appropriate medical personnel.
Legal matters are judged by a panel of three magistrates, all of whom are members of the WFPA JAG corps and hold the minimum rank of major. Most judgements are rendered by majority vote though some, notably capital cases, require a unanimous decision. The panel is advised by a number of experts including advocates for and against the case who also represent the plaintiff or the accused. Citizens may appeal the decision of a legal panel to the appropriate military council, but frivolous objections are subject to substantial penalties.
Make my Day
(Trideo Tonight, 36 Summer TN 1936) - Due to technical difficulties, Studio James has announced that Badlands Boys, their previously scheduled movie, will not be shown tonight. Instead, they will be showing a special presentation of the premier episode of Crime and Justice, the new one-hour drama from producer Tarn Kodocha. Beginning in Autumn, this new and dynamic show chronicles the exploits of a crime family in Wounded Knee and the squad of officers assigned to track them down. Starring Pierrot Grandi and local lass Caruana Jessamin, the show i banking on the notorious chemistry between the two performers to draw the crowds it needs to compete against the much larger networks. According to press releases and preview screenings, C&7 will deal with all aspects of WFP law, from the small claims courts through to the red tape that bogs down high-profile trials. Even before the show has aired, rumors have sprung up about possible harassment by such groups as the Fom cartel, and large numbers of private security guards have been stationed at the studio for weeks. Police have dismissed the reports as publicity stunts.
Education
Education in the WFP is something of a hit-and-miss affair. The rural lifestyle of the Protectorate places considerable emphasis on vocational training, and many families enroll their children for the minimum possible period, between the ages of 6 and 14 cycles. Even here most of the educational system is patchy, reliant largely on "virtual classrooms" which children attend via the communications net rather than in person. Some mendicant orders include schooling the young in the tasks they perform, but the nature of such groups limits their impact on the educational process.
To ensure that children are educated to a basic level, groups of inspectors travel the plains, visiting farmsteads and testing the children's aptitudes. These inspectors have the power to remove children to residential schools in the citystates if their education has been neglected. Despite this, many Westerners are poorly educated when compared to their northern neighbors, but as with many such comparisons, the Westerners aren't concerned: "Why fill their heads with weird science and history if they're going to be johar farmers?"
Urban Westerners follow a more traditional practice, given basic education by childcare workers and then attending fulltime school for eight cycles. Classes vary in size from 15 to 30 pupils and most schools are small, usually with less than a dozen classes. These primary schools teach basic literacy, mathematics and language skills that serve as a foundation for later education
Beyond 14 education is not compulsory, though attendance at secondary schools (15-20 cycles) is the norm in urban areas. Only the most promising rural students or those of wealthy rural clans are given the opportunity to attend secondary schools, as the institutes are located solely in urban areas. Most Western youngsters enter employment at the age of 20; higher education is expensive and only the children of rich families or those demonstrating academic excellence (and thus qualifying for educational trusts) attend university. Another possibility is enlistment in the WFPA, which provides grants for appropriate higher education in return for increased commitment (usually a basic term with the WFPA of ten rather than five cycles).
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