Faneria: Difference between revisions

The bulk of Faneria's population is settled in the Ninerivers Basin, along the coast of the Vandarch and in the lands leading up to the Deamhainn Mountains.  

The country's largest city by population is Teindùn, a conglomeration of several cities north of the capital, Oirthidùn, both of which lie along the _____ branch of the [[Rhydwel River]]. Its second largest city is [[Sethsport]], with Rihsport third, Oirthidùn itself fourth, and Dúnfhainn fifth. Sethsport, Rihsport, Carthaigh, Caileansdùn, Cionhaen, Comghallport, Mwynsdùn, Torrcirit, Mullcirit, _____, and _____ are the country's major commercial ports, with Rihsport, _____, _____, and Mullcirit being located outside the Vandarch.

Of Faneria's major cities, all except Sethsport are majority Fhainnin and Sethsport itself is still plurality Fhainnin. Rihsport has a large minority of Sheafhainn, though these are the closest related group to Ninerivers Fhainn.

Ethnic tensions are relatively lax in Faneria, excepting the clash between fringes of the Cascufhainn community and the state for and against greater autonomy or even independence, as the Cascufhainn have a history of rebelling against southern Fhainnin rule. The culture is accepting of immigration, although it pushes for naturalization strongly, as evidences by the large Aenglish communities around and in Sethsport and the aforementioned Coscivian and mixed-race groups in the west.

The pagan Fhainnin pantheon, like most indigenous galeic faiths, revolved around a large myriad of local gods, especially nature, water, sun, and storm spirits. By the 5th Century AD, religion in the Ninerivers had resolved into a pantheon of several dozen dieties with distinct roles, though many local alternative legends and names for the same deities existed. The general theme of Fhainnin faith held that the star god, Braess, had been killed by another diety, and his death created the Vandarch sea, with freshwater being his blood and his fall throwing arable land onto the world. The Fire, Storm, and Death gods repeatedly try to destroy the world (in the Death god's case, he is attempting to bury Braess to fulfil his duty, making the world end in the process, while the others are simply vengeful), while a few major deities ensure that the sun rises and sets every day and the Fire and Storm gods inadvertently foil each other's attempts. A host of minor patron gods also overlook aspects of human life and the natural world, although some are occasionally malicious, such as nature gods, who are fickle.

When Christianity was first introduced to the Fhainn, Jesus Christ was adopted readily as the minor god Hesus, a patron god of forests and woodworking. The god Benelus, Braess' steward and the Sun God, was gradually combined with the concept of God the Father, and worship of Hesus eventually absorbed the roles of healing god and, after several sectarian wars within the local principalities, freshwater as well. The subversion of the freshwater concept of the polytheistic lore was the turning point for Christianization in Faneria, with churches being raised and locally-trained priests teaching the Roman Catholic tradition. Most polities in the Ninerivers permitted this for a while or converted, with Christianity being the dominant faith in the Vandarch Basin by the time of the foundation of the Kingdom of the Fhainn in xxxx.

Pagan faiths are still fairly common in Faneria, as Protestant rebellion after the Reformation was always a greater threat to the country, and even the more pious kings throughout the centuries had to keep pagan peasantry in most areas pleased. After the advent of irreligiosity in Faneria during the Republican era, Christianity is the majority religion by plurality only, with agnosts and pagans being the next largest groups. Fhainnin Christianity retains some elements of old pagan tradition, such as emphasizing the relation of Christ to water rather than light.

Faneria sits slightly above average in quality of life among developed countries, with a large public health system in parallel to a private healthcare system and a moderately large degree of income inequality. The country has an ongoing issue with infrastructure reaching into parts of the Deamhainn Mountains, as well as its northern coast being much poorer than the Vandarch coastal regions. The country has a 98% technical literacy rate and a 92% functional literacy rate among otherwise capable adults.  

Rye bread features heavily in the Fhainnin diet as opposed to wheat bread, as rye grows better in the hills and northern regions of Faneria as well as in the drier northeast interior. Potatoes, clams, fish, crab, tomatoes, and leafy greens are also staples, while more specialized local foodstuffs include hardier varieties of apples. Chicken and beef are the primary non-aquatic meat sources in Faneria, although pork, turkey, lamb, and others are available through import within the Vandarch and occasionally are raised locally.

A common feature of Fhainnin cuisine is it is often served hot; given the propensity for frigid winters in the north and along the mountains, this should come as little surprise. Moth families put a great deal of effort into stocking their kitchens well, as the dining room is the central feature in most traditional home plans and meals are an important customary aspect of the culture. Snack foods are available but are generally derided in traditional circles, though this 'metropolitan' trend is becoming more common, and ready-to-eat restaurants are very popular.