Faneria

Faneria (Fhasen: Fhainnlannacharean) is a centrally-run parliamentary republic situated in northern Levantia. Largely dominated by a Fhainnin Gaelic population in its more heavily populated southern regions along the Vandarch Sea, the country includes Coscivian and Aenglish-origin minorities for a total population of over 292 million. It consists of 29 metropolitan provinces, one overseas province, two territories, and two semiautonomous Republics which span roughly 1.9 million square miles; it borders Kiravian Scapa to the northwest by sea, Caergwynn to the north and east, and Fiannria to the east, as well as sharing maritime borders with several nations across the Vandarch. The national language is Fhasen.

Republic of the Fhainn Respoblachd an Fhainnlannachaeran
Flag
Motto: Monadh Dealach Rinn Níl No Mountain may Divide Us
Anthem: Kurikilan Fires
Capital	Oirthidún
Largest	Teindùn
Official languages	Fhasen
Recognised national languages	Fhasen
Recognised regional languages	Aenglish, Coscivian
Ethnic groups	Fhainn, Aengles, Coscivians, Latins, others
Demonym(s)	Fhain (s), Fhainn (p), Fhainnin (adj.)
Government	Unitary Quaternalist Republic
• Director	Cían Walaerin
• Taesteach	Sair Luthair
Establishment
• Principalities	est. 500 BC-1398
• Elective Monarchy	1398-1830
• Constitutional Monarchy	1830-1906
• Fhainnin Civil War	1906-1909
• Fhainnin Popular Republic	1909-1922
• Republic of the Fhainn	1922-present
Area
•	3,087,291 km2 (1,192,010 sq mi)
Population
• 2027 census	351,252,312 216,846,102 citizens
• Density	117.98/km2 (305.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	₮18,117,332,411,669 ฿23,914,878,783,403
• Per capita	₮49738.41 ฿65,654.71
Gini (2027)	45.8 medium
HDI (2027)	0.851 very high
Currency	Barra, Taler (฿, ₮)
Time zone	UTC0 (Solisbury Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+0
Date format	dd-mm-yy
Driving side	right side
Calling code	+68
ISO 3166 code'	FH

Geography and Climate

Main Article: Geography of Faneria

Vandarch Sea and the Ninerivers

For much of its early history, the Kingdom of the Fhainn was bound to the northern coast of the Vandarch Sea, with the conquest of lands reaching the Kilikas being a major turning point in the country's history and accelerating its expansion significantly. The Vandarch is incredibly culturally important to Faneria, and the northern Vandarch Basin forms what is colloquially termed the Ninerivers for its nine major waterways. The Ninerivers forms the geopolitical core of Faneria, with the most dense population centers, economic hubs, and infrastructure concentrated there and branching inland and out to the west coast. It varies from a somewhat cool to a temperate climate, with occasional harsh winters and heated summers. The eastern Ninerivers is the largest agrigultural region in Faneria, and the Ninerivers as a whole is a breadbasket for rye and barley crops as well as temperate crops. The Vandarch Sea itself is a major source of food and has a warming effect combined with southerly winds from Dericania.

Deamhainns and Interior

The center of Faneria's metropolitan area is dominated by several massive mountain ranges. Of these, the Deamhain and Croilaen Mountains divide Faneria's northwest and southwest, while Conn's Mountains and the Giath Mountains saddle the border between Faneria and Caergwynn in the east. The Deamhains and Croilaens have a number of gorges, passes, divides, lake valleys, and nooks which allow for seasonal passage through the mountains, though underground trains and plane travel have since overcome the physical limitations imposed on travel. The effect of these natural boundaries on social development between the north and south are crucial to Faneria's history, and divides the nation into largely geography-bound local subcultures.

In the east, the Giath and Hadraeon Mountains sit on either side of the Turlanns, a flat basin draining out through the Torr River into northern Fiannria. The Turlanns are much drier and cooler than coastal Fiannria or southern Faneria due to being shielded by numerous mountain ranges, and vary seasonally between frigid, sparse winters and cool, wet summers, with cool air travelling overland and bearing oceanic moisture. The area is prone to dry thunderstorms, and agriculture in the area is dominated by potatoes and other hardy vegetable crops.

Kilikas Coast

The northern coast of metropolitan Faneria consists of two major regions - the West Coast and the North Coast. The West Coast is a relatively highly developed region that continues to be of increasing significance nationally, whereas the North Coast is notably cooler, prone to being struck by storms, and less populated as well as being physically separated from the South by large mountain ranges.

Nordska Coast

Formerly connected to metropolitan Faneria by land, the overseas province of Sorhaithe sits on the bitterly cold Nordska Sea. Sorhaithe is culturally distinct from both Faneria proper and the bordering nations, and consists of dense coastal isles and inlets which often freeze over in wintertime.

History

Main Article: History of Faneria

Princes' Wars

1519-1545: First Princes' War

1571-1583: Second Princes' War

Northern Expansion

1676-1712: Tundra Wars

1712-1715: Sutharine Succession Crisis/1st Kin War

other Kin Wars up to 1880s on and off

Civil War and Fhainnin Popular Republic

Civil War 1906-1909

Postwar Faneria

Lean Years

Vandarch Canal crisis: 1991-1992

Culture and Demographics

Main Article: Fhainnin Culture

Settlements and Population

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.

Ethnicities and Language

Primary Selected Ethnicity (2025 National Census)

  Vandarch Fhainn (44.8%)

  Sheafhainn (18.7%)

  Cascufhainn (8.1%)

  Parvefhainn (7.8%)

  Aenglish (4.9%)

  Faeskt (Fiann) (4.2%)

  Caenwynin (Caeric) (3.5%)

  Coscivian (3.3%)

  Other Gothic (2.1%)

  Yonderine (0.7%)

  Derian (0.6%)

  Vithnijan (0.5%)

  Other (0.8%)

Main Article: Gaelic people, Fhasen Gaelic peoples make up the vast majority of Faneria's population, with local minorities of Aenglish immigrants and Coscivian colonists in the eastern Vandarch and western coast, respectively. Of the Galeic peoples in the country, the Fhainn are the most prominent branch, with the related Sheafhainn, Cascufhainn (Caenwynin), and Parvefhainn making up most of the others. Some (Caergwynn people) live in parts of the northern coast and mountain highlands as well as (Fiannria people) concentrated in parts of the north and mideastern portions of the country. These other gaelic groups speak somewhat intelligible languages with the Fhainnin language, Fhasen, although communication is not particularly reliable without some translation. The groups within the country, conversely, speak fluent Fhasen due to centuries of forced integration, although the Cascufhainnin dialect remains distinct from Ninerivers Fhasen.

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.

Religion

Selected Religious Affiliation (2025 National Census)

  Catholicism (46.1%)

  Protestantism (5.6%)

  Irreligious (34.5%)

  Gaelic and Coscivian Pagan Faiths (12.2%)

  Other (1.6%)

Main Article:Religion in Faneria 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.

Old custom holds that redheads are 'blessed' by the gods, a tradition that carried over into Christian Faneria. As a result, red hair, particularly natural-looking red hair, is often associated with fertility and wealth in Faneria. Long, loose red hair is associated with naturalist movements, while styled red hair is a commonly-desired beauty standard.

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.

Health, Wealth, and Education

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.

Cuisine

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.

Government and Politics

Main Article: Political Parties of Faneria

Faneria's government, the Republic of the Fhainn, is a unitary republic with its capital situated in Oirthidun. It is the legal successor state to the Fhainnin Popular Republic and the earlier Kingdom of the Fhainn, which were also referred to colloquially as Faneria. It has no state-approved or mandated religion, but is formally linked in its function and its Constitution to the Fhainnin ethnicity in particular, although naturalized foreigners are capable of attaining citizenship. Faneria's political zeitgeist has wavered considerably over the last century and a half, with a traditionalist monarchy being overthrown by a radical revolutionary republic in the 1900s that later transformed into a semiauthoritarian hybrid state in the 1950s. Its policies are typically nationalistic and focused on economic growth and public wellbeing along with soft power projection. It formally claims some border regions currently possessed by Caergwynn, and although it has good relations with its neighbor Fiannria, the ethnic makeup of Fiannria's coastal region along the Vandarch and the territory's history as a battleground between HLE troops and Fhainnin armies makes Faneria's formal renunciation of claims seem shallow.

Government Structure

As a republic, Faneria's government is divided into four branches - an executive, legislative, judicial, and administrative; these are called the Directorate, the National Assembly, the National Audit Council, and the Administration Board, respectively. Each interacts to counterbalance the other, although Faneria has a strong executive position compared to contemporary republics abroad.

Directorate of the Republic

Main Article: Directorate of the Republic of the Fhainn

The Director of the Republic is Faeria's head of state, with the powers of the Head of Government resting nominally in the office of the Taesteach. The Directorate is an elected position selected for by a two-stage vote (see Main Article). The term of office for the position is five years, with a hard limit of six terms - however, no Director has ever held the position for more than five terms, which is generally considered a soft limit out of respect for the Republic's first head of state, Callac Cananach.

National Assembly

Main Article: National Assembly of the Fhainnin Republic, Taesteach

The National Assembly is the legislative body of Faneria's government, and is a tricameral legislature composed of the Peoples' Council, the Party Council, and the National Council.

The Peoples' Council is elected with one representative per county for terms of three years with a maximum of three terms. It has the power to propose laws, veto laws prior to ratification with a 3/4 vote, and to request amendments to the budget by a 2/3 vote. It is overseen by the Peoples' Speaker.

The Party Council is elected on a proportional model across the entire country; there is one representative for every million registered citizens. These representatives are elected every five years for a maximum of two terms. The Party Council may propose laws, veto laws prior to ratification with a 3/4 vote, and propose alternative budgets if the National Council refuses to approve a budget twice. It is overseen by the Parties' Speaker.

The State Council is not elected, but consists of the Taesteach, the two Speakers of the other houses, the chief ministers of the eight Offices of government, and one representative of the Audit Council. It is observed by the ministers of every government Bureau. As a result of its makeup, it has no term limits or terms contingent to itself, and members are removed and added as the positions associated with a seat are changed. The National Council approves laws passed by the lower houses, with the Audit Council representative having tiebreaking power. The State Council also acts as a forum for frank communication with the Director and coordination between government organizations. It is headed by the Taesteach.

In the event of a meeting of all houses of the Assembly, the Taesteach takes control of proceedings. The Party and Peoples' Councils may also meet without the National Council, in which case the Parties' Speaker takes priority if present; together, the two lower houses have the sovereign power of veto over decisions by the Director if passed by a 3/4 margin. If a 2/3 margin is reached, the Audit Council is required by law to immediately meet and review the executive order in question.

National Audit Council

Main Article: National Audit Council

Administration Board

Main Article: National Economic Administration Board

The Administration Board is headed by the Taesteach and consists of a selected panel of specialists, bureaucrats, and representatives from the Audit Council. It is informally structured and ensures the budget is carried out and the various civil services of the state continue to function. It works closely with the Director, State Council, and the Audit Council.

Offices of Government

The mundane functions of the government are organized into eight major Offices, each of which oversees subordinate Bureaus that break down into Departments:

The Office of the Courts manages the justice system and mediates intragovernmental disputes along with the Office of Political Security. It additionally liaises with the League of Nations International Court. It responds to the Audit Council.

The Office of Civil Services manages the bulk of day-to-day civilian services, from education to general infrastructure to utilities to business regulations and bookkeeping. It often reaches into areas normally under the auspices of other Offices and is easily the largest of the Offices in both form and function. Its function is technically overseen by the Administration Board, but it is common for a sitting Director to interfere in situations deemed to be of 'immediate national interest', typically through or with the consent of the Taesteach.

The Office of State Security handles the mundane aspects of international relations, public relations, and cybersecurity, as well as its most widely known function of acting as an investigatory body with regards to the rest of the civilian government. It responds to the Audit Council and may take requests from the Assembly or the Director at the Audit Council's approval.

The Office of Foreign Affairs deals in immigration, emigration, customs, tariffs, foreign aid, and exploration. It is generally under the control of the Administration Board, but foreign relations are under the control of the Director.

The Office of the Treasury runs the Central Mint and oversees most aspects of state investments and funding of private entities, along with tax collecting. It reports directly to the Audit Council, and recieves orders for the budget from the National Assembly.

The Office of the National Army manages the armed forces of the state, as well as the commissioning of materials and equipment for said forces. It answers directly to the Directorate.

The Office of Commerce

The Office of Culture

Constitution

Main Article: Constitution of the Republic of the Fhainn

Political Parties and Movements

Main Article: National Popular Party, Federal Party (Cananachist and Modernist factions), Social Party, Thunderstorm Party, Old Ways Party

Administration

As a unitary state, the administration of Faneria is organized top-down, and subunits of the national government are answerable to their superior administrative divisions and subject to their rulings, although rulings are occasionally passed for specific circumstances. As of 2020, the country is organized into three overseas possessions (two of which are administrated by the military and one of which is split into counties) and fifteen provinces. Each province has its own Governor and Provincial Taesteach and is split into counties, which are divided into rural and urban counties. County types are updated annually as needed, with the primary difference being that urban counties and rural ones are eligible for different types of central government funding and support, and urban counties have a Civic Taesteach added to head a municipal council. Some urban areas can span multiple counties, and cities care also divided into multi-county and single-county cities. Multiple-county cities have a municipal council that works with the local mayors of each of the city's counties rather than a single county, but are otherwise the same as the councils in single-county urban areas. Rural and urban counties both have Mayors.

In some instances, the national government will mark a county or several contiguous counties as 'special interest areas', either for targeted infrastructure programs, poverty relief work, or on rare occasions, the institution of martial law or emergency response measures.

Economy

Currency

old currency was Corinn - crowns - but replaced by Barran - measures - in 1914