Mackia Island

Mackia, The Pearl Island, is officially a province of Atonia but the local earl has a lot of independence. This is something like the Isle of Man in the era of 1200 to 1700

Structure

The Island is ruled by the Earl but with a fairly strong Council of the Island having a lot of influence.

Culture

The Island may be Angshire culture, but they are unique because of their location on an island. Some claim the Mackians are the original Angshirians, there are others that argue Mackians are a distinct culture and people. The most important event each year is the annual Council of the Island which is also a large market and fair. The gathering happens each year in October and marks the end of the harvest season. The gathering lasts for 16 days. The gathering is not in the capital but in a large open field that on the southeastern coast of the island. There is a small good harbour at the site of the gathering

Public Agenda

Defending the unique nature of the Island

History

There are people on Mackia that claim they are the origins of the Angshire culture.

Demography and Population

The Island has a total population of 64,000, of which 30,000 live in the capital of Tutheston

Territories

The Island has an area of 4,900 sq km. All land is owned as a grant from the Earl with the Earl keeping some rights other than land owned by ancient tradition. Eight families hold their land from the date of the first records. This land without underlying title belonging to the Earl will revert to the Earl if the male line of the families dies out. These lands are held in the name of the family by the eldest male. The family has a lot more rights but they may not sell their land and can only have tenants that are tied to a piece of land. One of the families, the Tuthes, only own a small property, the location of the Inn they have owned in Tutheston for over 1500 years - yes, 1500 years. The family Tuthes family once owned all the area of Tutheston but lost most of it over the millennia. The vast majority of people have land that they own via a lease, are tied to as a tenant, or rent from one of the owners who have a grant from the Earl.

Military

The navy of Mackia is its most important military. In return for their right to fish, all fishers must be available to be part of the Earl's navy when called upon. The Earl maintains a small retinue as do most of the great landowners. One of the obligations the Great Landowners and Ancient Landowners is to provide the Earl with troops within one week when requested. Tutheston has a strong castle at its heart. The castle was build on the centre of the Island to make it hard for anyone to invade the island take it all over.

Agriculture & Industry

The Island has a strong fishing industry including aquaculture in the form of oyster farming. A small group of oyster farmers have been getting more and more pearls all the time and very perfectly round ones. No one understands why their oysters are different. People have stolen the oysters in the past but not been seen anything close to the same number of pearls. The pearls bring a lot of wealth to the island, all pearls are to be sold by the Earl, who keeps half the value. The Earl has granted five oyster farming families a high degree of legal protection and a small group of his own troops to ensure thefts no longer occur (and to make sure the growers do not smuggle too many pearls) The Island grows crops like potatoes and oats. The Island also raises a fair number of sheep. The Island is known for distinctive sweater designs and has a reasonably sized textile industry

The sea is our wall

Type

Geopolitical, Province

Capital

Tutheston

Alternative Names

The Pearl Island

Demonym

Mackian

Major Exports

Pearls and fish

Major Imports

Most metals and salt.

Legislative Body

Council of the Island: The Council of the Island predates the creation of Atonia. It is an annual gathering of all the Great Landownersand he Ancient Landowners. The Earl presides over it. The Earl can override any advice, decision, or law of the Council if it does not have at least three-quarters of the landowners' support. The Great Landowners are all the people who have the grant from the Earl. The eight Ancient Landowners hold their title from before written records.

Judicial Body

Court of Appeals: The Court of Appeals deals with all major criminal and civil lawsuits. It sits at the same time as the Council of the Island. On the first day of the Council of the Island, there are four three-member assizes courts appointed. Each of the courts meets for three hours of the morning all the weekdays during the Council of Island. The Great Landowners act as magistrates for their lands. Anyone that disagrees with the ruling of the Great Landlord magistrate can bring it to the next Court of Appeals not that many are accepted at the Court of Appeals.

Parent Organization

Atonia

Controlled Territories