Irovasdra

Irovasdra is a state of the Kiravian Federacy located on the west coast of the Far Northeastern peninsula of Great Kirav, bordering the Bay of Rains and the wider Kilikas Sea.

Etymology
The name Irovasdra evolved from the High Coscivian Dan irúx vāsdráya, meaning "Country of the slopes of heavy rain". This apellation first appears in the log of Captain Eridan Selkur, an early Coscivian explorer of Great Kirav.

Geography
Irovasdra occupies much of the western coast of the Far Northeastern peninsula. Its eastern border (with Fariva, Axonléga, and Rovidrea) is formed by the Aterandic Mountains and its western boundary is the bay of Rains, an arm of the Kilikas Sea (known abroad as the Coscivian Sea). The state's topography descends from the geologically ancient, heavily eroded Aterandics through a period of foothills and lower rolling hills to a relatively narrow (though wider in the north) coastal plain. The terrain is thickly forested with hemiboreal mixed forests of spruce, pine, maple, birch, and elm fed by the heavy rains that fall in Irovasdra year-round.



Major Settlements
 * Avercrósan - 94,372 (County Avercrósan)
 * Glenmára - 72,853 (County Roscoman)
 * Dunmoran - 53,738 (County Gráinne)
 * Fèlecorner - 36,240 (County Averloran)
 * Vorticavium - 34,875 (County Céirlon)
 * Elphinsar - 34,420 (County Ardrossan)
 * Arigna - 36,240 (County Marlin)
 * Báileforan - 22,106 (County Averloran)
 * Endivadarin - 15,932 (County Independence)

History
Irovasdra's first inhabitants were Dankememic-speaking Kirhavite Aboriginals related to the Tapkek tribes of Kiygrava and Niyasca. However, during the Xth century, these aboriginals were partially displaced by Gaelic migrants, which established numerous independent chiefdoms in the region. Low population densities among both groups allowed for a reasonable degree of peaceful coëxistence and occasional coöperation against the Normand brigands that frequently raided the coast until the arrival of Coscivians in 1318 anno Domini.

Irovasdra and Rovidrea were separated from the Dominion of the Kiygrava in 20587 by Emperor Vorticaviur II and became colonies in their own right.

21207 Asylum Dispute
In 21207, Columbanus Fergus Eriugena, a Latin national and Gaelic nationalist hailing from the Latin province of Hiburnia who was wanted by Latin authorities for crimes against the state, fled by plane to Avercrósan, possibly with the assistance of Irovasdra-based Pan-Celticists. Eriugena walked to the County Avercrósan courthouse and lodged a request for political asylum, which was granted by First Executive Ruarí mac Tòisich. This was immediately disputed by the Federal government, led by Andrus Candrin, who maintained (in accordance with standing legal opinion and established procedure) that state governments did not have the authority to grant political asylum, and wanted Eriugena turned over to Federal authorities for extradition to Dericania.

Over the next several weeks, the asylum dispute became a rallying point for Pan-Celtic and anti-federal sympathisers across the Federacy. Mac Tòisich, an outspoken proponent of both, continued to rebuke Federal requests (and later demands) that he render Eriugena to Federal custody, and assigned Eriugena a protective detail of Irovasdra State Troopers. Meanwhile, Eriugena was relocated to Fèlecorner, where he moved about freely and was given a hero's welcome by the local population. The Candrin administration, hoping to settle the matter without coërcion, filed suit against Irovasdra and mac Tòisich in the Kiravian High Court, but mac Tòisich, invoking "sovereign immunity" (which does not exist for state governments or officials in the federal court system) announced that neither he nor a representative of the government would appear. Faced with the politically disastrous prospect of having Federal Marshals bring a sitting Governor before the High Court by force (potentially also involving combat with Irovasdran police or militia), Candrin authorised the Migration Enforcement Agency to surveil Eriugena and his detail with the goal of apprehending the fugitive by force.

Eriugena was ultimately captured on 8 Trælús inside a Fèlecorner pub while he and his guards were heavily inebriated, and was taken to a federal prison in Kiygrava to await extradition. However, the political fallout from the incident continued to plague the Candrin administration for many years, and energised the antifederalist camp in its support of mac Tòisich for the 21209 Prime Executive election.

Politics
Irovasdra is a constitutional republic within the Kiravian Federacy.

Each of the state's 36 countyships is alotted two seats in the Auditorium, both filled by alternative vote. One seat par countyship is reserved for independent candidates only, while the other may be contested by both partisan and independent candidates. Incorporated cities are alotted one Auditorial seat each, which is also filled by alternative vote and is open to both partisan candidates and independents. Auditors serve three-year terms renewable indefinitely since the abolition of legislative term limits in 21137.

The First Executive of Irovasdra serves a three-year term renewable once. Irovasdra is one of only six states to place term limits on its chief executive. Relative to most Kiravian states, especially those in eastern Great Kirav, the First Executure of Irovasdra is rather weak vis-a-vis the legislature. All executive appointments must be confirmed by the Auditorium, and the First Executive lacks the power to issue non-administrative decrees with the force of law except in times of emergency. Irovasdra is the only state in the Northeast whose chief executive is recallable.

Political parties are comparatively weak in Irovasdra, as a result of the reservation of seats for independents and stringent antipartisan electoral regulations. As such, Irovasdran political parties tend to serve as the nuclei of looser political groupings comprising their own party members and larger numbers of like-minded independents. The main political parties currently operating in the state are the Commonwealth Party (Christian democratic, CSU-affiliated), the Brothers of Irovasdra (Centrist,, SRA-affiliated), Clann na Bhéil (Antifederalist, Kiravia of Regions-affiliated), the People of Freedom (, LG-affiliated), the Celtic Distributist Party (Distributist, Celtic interest, DDF-affiliated), and the Pan-Celtic Congress (Celtic nationalist, social liberal, Alliance of Kiravian Ethnic Movements-affiliated). The Northeastern Reform Party (Liberal conservative, Caucus of Justice-affiliated) is also active, but currently lacks representation. Competition between Irovasdran parties is more vigorous in Federal elections, with the state's three Federal Stanora seats frequently changing hands between the Commonwealth Party, Brothers of Irovasdra, Clann na Bhéil, and Celtic Distributists.



Society and Culture
The population of Irovasdra is predominantly Coscivian and Celtic, with small Aboriginal, and Levantine minorities.

The main Coscivian ethnic groups in the state are Ĥeldican Coscivians, Arnóriem, Aterandem, Sedhem, Tańrisem, Arpitem, Kelnordem, Venskem, and Lúnstem. The mixed Coscivian-Celtic Féinem have a very large presence, particularly in the northern Aterandic foothills.

A small community of Levantine immigrants has settled in the state, most of whom are Gaels from Fiannria and Hiburnia.

Religion
In terms of religious affiliation, the state is predominatly (>80%) Christian, with the largest denominations being Insular Apostolic and Roman Catholic. Ruricans and Læstorians account for most of the non-Christian population. Rates of religious participation are high, with some 58% of the population attending religious services multiple times per week.

There are eighteen monasteries in the Irovasdra: Ten Apostolic, seven Catholic, one Coscivian Orthodox. Monasticism continues to play a vital rôle in religious life for both the Apostolic and Celtic Catholic communities, providing supplemental clergy, religious instruction, and social and spiritual assistance through various ministries and charitable works.

Cuisine
Food in Irovasdra remains very traditional, owing to the largely rural character of the state and a preference for old-style pubs and eateries over more modern restaurant chains among Irovasdrans. Irovasdran cuisine is part of the broader culinary tradition of the North Coast, but incorporates a heavy Celtic and Ĥeldican Coscivian influence less prominent in other parts of the region. Fish, mutton, and beef are the main protein sources in the Irovasdran diet, supplemented by shellfish (especially oysters). Meats are usually stewed rather than served whole. Fish are usually filletted and either grilled (oilfish) or fried (whitefish) when fresh, and a variety of salted and smoked fish products are popular snacks. Kippers are ubiquitous and are eaten with toast for breakfast.

Whiskey and beer are the primary beverages in Irovasdra. The state has a vigorous local brewing tradition, with some 62% of households and 85% of rural households engaging in home brewing. Irovasdran beer is traditionally made in the or  style, as hops do not grow well in Irovasdra, and most Irovasdran home brewers continue to use local botanicals rather than imported hops. Nonetheless, the dark beers (particularly oyster stouts) and ciders associated with Irovasdra's neighbouring states across the Aterandics are imported in large quantities. Four commercial distilleries operated in the state, all producing whiskey. The Cair Sinclair distillery in Avercrósan is the fifth-largest Kiravian distillery by output and the third-largest independent one.

Notable Irovasdrans

 * Saint Bran - 14th century churchman and patron saint of potato farmers. Born in Róntren in County Bran, which is named for him.
 * Ruarí mac Tòisich - Governor of Irovasdra and prominent antifederalist leader. Born in Oisgill Líath, County Steve.