The Litoric Islands
History
Founding
During the Age of Rule, the Litoric Islands lived through an era of slow excess. Their goddess, Petrina, patron of the seas as deep as the sun can reach, had a light hand compared to many gods. Content to allow them to live off of abundant fish, she saw no need for interaction between the many independent islands of the Litoric Archipelago. This left them culturally similar through their mutual ruler and the relatively identical geography across the islands, but forced upon them ignorance and a closed mindset through their lack of interaction. As the end of the Age of Rule approached, and the gods were called back in The Crossing Over, the blessing of Petrina seemed to leave with her. Now understood to be the natural result of overfishing, at the time this deprived the Islanders of a key food source. Coupled with the rocky nature of many of the islands and therefore limited opportunity for farming, boats from every island ended up going further afield, facilitating the silver lining of first contact for many of the island kingdoms. However, despite being united in their mutual problems, they faced a new issue from afar. Tribes from the Boreal North also faced overfishing issues, but had the added benefit of access to more abundant freshwater. This allowed for a huge advantage to a people who were otherwise kept from the Litoric Islands purely out of respect for Petrina, and spelled potential doom for an already beleaguered island group. The disparate Litoric kingdoms began being picked off one by one, until the largest island of Sandressi itself was threatened. King upon Sandressi was Orso Nacatore, more worldly than his fellow island monarchs due to his island hosting Petrina for her time on the mortal plane. This allowed Orso a unique perspective on people and issues in his native archipelago, and in turn allowed him to save his people from almost certain death. Taking his fleet first along the islands furthest from the northern mainland, and therefore less threatened area, he collected up the allegiances of many struggling kings. Forced into taking a solemn pledge to follow Orso's flag wherever it led, the kings of Genatta, Lascaris, and Mina, as well as innumerable lesser islands, sailed off in the wake of the first High Admiral's Flagship of the Fleet. Liberation came swiftly to the occupied islands to the north, as the King of Caletta and the Diarchs of The Twins were liberated and pledged loyalty to Admiral Nacatore. While the northern tribes were certainly a threat, their thoroughly average competence at naval warfare made them less intimidating when up against the combined forces of all the islands. The first High Admiral and his new friends pushed the tribes all the way back to the mainland, and came away with the life-saving gain that would become Coldharbor. Located at the mouth of a river flowing down from the freezing mountains of the north, this was one of the few spots that could facilitate widespread farmland. With victory and safety now secure, the government (described above) was formed, largely on the force of Orso Nacatore's personal ability uniting these disparate kingdoms, or so the story goes. For the 200 years since The Crossing Over, the Litoric Islands have stood united and continued to perfect their system of government. With strict meritocratic tests for naval ranks, and a military complex that has grown into a surrogate family for so many, their culture has developed in a unique way. Their history since unification has been full of fights against pirates stationed somewhere in the vast expanse of sea to the east, occasional fights with tribes since the unsuccessful attempts at expansion in the Frozen Wars, an expanding emphasis on mercantile pursuits, and rumors of threatening ships to the far east.The Frozen Wars
First Frozen War
See Argono Vivaldi for now. ...Second Frozen War
...Third Frozen War
...Government
The government of the Litoric Islands is a thalassocracy based around merit. Forged in the fires of military conflict, following a war against tribes to their north, the islanders both came to, and were forced to, value ability and efficiency above all else. In addition to its past, its unique geographical position as an archipelago makes central government is difficult, and the result has been a form of government all their own. Some states exist as states with a navy, but the Litoric Islands are a navy with a state. From the High Admiral at the top of the government down to the most salt-of-the-earth old woman, every citizen has their role to play in a grand naval hierarchy. While not every citizen is a sailor, nor even a member of the military, the sea-fairing traditions of the Litoric Islands are seen in every facet of government. Rising above the rest is the High Admiral, the Head of State of the Litoric Islands. His, or her's, is an organisational role at its core. From atop their bastion on the capital island of Sandressi, the High Admiral and his Board are constantly engulfed in strategic planning at the highest levels, for both the immediate needs of their islands, as well as the hypothetical issues of the future. Aiding the High Admiral in his never-ending task of keeping their armada of islands in line, is the Admiralty Board. Generally shortened to just the Board, this group of admirals is the advisory body of the nation, each having their own area of concern from naval readiness to food supplies for the general population. At the same level as the Admiralty Board, but in a different way, are the Princes at Port. The Princes are holdovers from the formerly monarchical form of government prevalent in the pre-Unification islands, and still exercise some of their old powers. Most are still from the original Plankholder, or founder, families of the Islands, as the positions are hereditary. They are seen as a way to keep the individuality of separate islands as well as a firm grasp of history in a society that values planning and uniformity, and as such enjoy popular support from all aspects of the population. While directions come down from the Admiralty Board and the High Admiral, it is up to the Princes to implement those plans in a way that addresses their specific needs. Over time, particularly after Argono Vivaldi's rule, their power has varied. Today, they have accumulated more oversight roles involving Admiralty policy, but their local autonomy has decreased. Judicially, local criminal and civil matters are resolved by the Princes at Port either through their own deliberation or through delegation to other members of their local government. This varies from island to island, with some having harsher penalties or different crimes than others. For example, in either of The Dogs, crimes related to espionage or accidental impediment of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers is punished severely. While the Princes at Port are the chief authority on their respective islands, their sailor class is often trapped in a sort of dual sovereignty between their love of home and their love of their brothers at sea. Guiding the young men of the Litoric Islands across the vast deserts of blue is the Commodore. Free from the constriction and guidance of the Board for long periods of time while away at sea, these are Islanders of particular personal strength. While they have passed all the most difficult examinations, they are also the surrogate fathers for so many of the next generation as they grow and mature on the deck of ship, and therefore need to be of the greatest moral fiber. Due to their unique position, these men also inspire boundless loyalty in their men if they do their job correctly, and need to be trusted to act for the good of the nation rather than for their own power. Below the Commodores is the typical naval hierarchy viewable at Litoric Fleet.Culture
Forged by the sea, and born through suffering, the Litoric Islands are home to a culture that embodies its unique position on the globe. To manage a navy and government as effective as the Islanders need theirs to be, a degree of sacrifice from the common citizen is necessary. Many of the young men of the nation are often away at sea, so every strata of the population has their role to play in their success. Used to getting by on little since they first pushed the Northern Tribes back to their snowy wastes, the Islanders are ready to survive any blockade, stand steady through any storm, and keep their heads high through any loss. However, this fierce self-dependence has led to a culture outsiders view as prickly. Their relations with their southern neighbors are a rocky relationship, fluctuating between rivalry and camaraderie, as the bloviating politicians across the sea never cease to strike the Islanders as wastes of time and space. However, those followers of Vestria have a deep affinity with the wind and weather owing to their goddess, necessitating respect from all Litoric Islanders.Foreign Relations
Northern Tribes Since the start of their independence, the Litoric Islands have had an often times violent relationship with the tribes to their north. The Boreal North is a vast land of snow, but most importantly, wood for ships. This necessitates trade with the northern tribes, which has led to furthering of cultural understanding in recent times. However, this was not always so, as violence peaked in the decades following the Unification War. Buoyed by the success of their seizing of Coldharbor and expansion of agricultural security, the Islanders sought to expand upriver in the disastrous Frozen Wars, a series of confrontations demonstrating why ships work best in water and not on ice. Nemura's Cay Pirates Across the sea, somewhere to the east, is a den of piracy which exists, it seems, purely to be a thorn in the side of the Admiralty. Effortlessly mobile, with an intimate knowledge of the inlets and icebergs all throughout the Boreal North, they always seem to escape before any squadron can catch them. Harassment of Litoric merchant vessels is common, as well as interference with trade as far south as near the Wastelands. Anhara Across the Hewn Sea from the Litoric Archipelago lies the sweeping plains and jutting mountaintops of Anhara. A land sometimes so anathema to the hardworking and team-orientated culture of the Litoric Islands that it is truly a wonder they are not constantly at each other's throats. Formerly ruled by Vestria, the goddess of the winds with a penchant for flattery, her people embody the traits their goddess left behind. This would lead to at worst hostility and at best annoyance, if not for the Anharans' gift for diplomacy and the Islanders' veneration for Vestria, upon whom their sails rely. While they have skirmished on the seas before, a brotherly rivalry reigns presently. However, much can change with the vicissitudes of Anhara's noble houses.Territories
The territory of the Litoric Islands are made up of the Litoric Archipelago and the mainland holdings. The Litoric Archipelago consists of the main islands of, in decreasing order of size:- Sandressi, the capital.
- The Twins, two islands connected by a naturally forming arch, with cities on opposite sides.
- Genatta, south of The Twins and east of Sandressi, a major mining center.
- Caletta, the northwest corner of the archipelago.
- Lascaris, south of Sandressi and southwest of Genatta, a major fortress.
- Mina, a small island with major shipbuilding facilities.
- First Dog, a southern island with a large lighthouse, first line of defense for the home islands.
- Second Dog, a central island with a large lighthouse, second line of defense for the home islands.
- Dozens of smaller islands.
Military
No more need be said than Litoral to invoke thoughts of walls of wood upon the waves, and seas of sails billowing across the horizon. However, there is always a reason for fame, and the Litoric Fleet prioritizes improvement. From the Naval War College at Sandressi, the best and brightest, regardless of station, undergo an intensive four year program to create career flag officers. However, perfection is not just sought at the top. When a nation runs on ships, it necessitates manpower. This means, every year, a new crop of boys are sent from their homes to learn to love the sea, and their nation understands the need because of the common experience shared throughout. Beyond strategy, beyond maintenance of their vessels and standards of seamanship, officers go above-and-beyond in the molding of the men themselves. In the Litoric Fleet, your crew is your family, and your family is part of a larger collective as well, leading to men raised to be greater than themselves, perhaps the fleet's best asset. However, as the Frozen Wars demonstrated, ships tend not to function well on land, and less so in ice. Hence, the Litoric Islands' weak spot is land-based warfare excluding shock amphibious assaults.Religion
The Litoric Islanders primarily worship their patron deity, Petrina. However, owing to the nature of their livelihoods, particular reverence is given to Vestria and Mistra, Ruler goddess of the winds, and goddess of weather respectively. For their deity-based powers, see Magic.
Founding Date
10 AM
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
The Islands, The Litorics, The Isles
Demonym
Islanders
Leader Title
Government System
Meritocracy
Power Structure
Thalassocracy
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
The Orsino
Legislative Body
Admiral's Board
Judicial Body
Admirals' Mast
Princes at Port
Princes at Port
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Comments