Merilia, Forum Factbook

About this Post:

This post shall be dedicated to information related to general information, including maps, about the Most Serene Kingdom of Merilia.

Click to expand...

Maps:

---

Map of the Most Serene Kingdom of Merilia​

---

---

Map of the Alieria Island​

---

---

Realms of the Kingdom​

---

Information:

---

Capital: Verá
Demonym: Kaltían
Chancellor of the Realm of Kaltí: Katarina Helvig
Administration: Provincial Administrative Councils, Provincial Parliaments, Municipal Councils
Area: 247,458 km2
Population: 44,000,000
Population Density: 177/km2

---

---

---

​

---

---

[c]

[c]

---

Capital: Kadrion
Demonym: Calenfirian
Chancellor of the Realm of Sáira: Sven Mathison
Administration: Provincial Administrative Councils, Provincial Parliaments, Municipal Councils
Area: 240,488 km2
Population: 42,000,000
Population Density: 175/km2

---

---

---

​

---

---

[c]

[c]

---

Capital: Reykholm
Demonym: Alcárian
Chancellor of the Realm of Alcária: Jóhanna Sigurd
Administration: Provincial Administrative Councils, Provincial Parliaments, Municipal Councils
Area: 192,860 km2
Population: 39,000,000
Population Density: 202/km2

---

---

---

​

---

---

[c]

[c]

---

Capital: Vethyr
Demonym: Alierian
Law Speaker: Erik Rundstrom
Administration: Provincial Administrative Councils, Provincial Parliaments, Municipal Councils
Area: 9,700 km2
Population: 750,000
Population Density: 77/km2

---

---

---

​

---

---

[c]

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Click to expand...

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Click to expand...

Verá[c]Population:
6,308,750​

[c]

[c]

Kadrion[c]Population:
6,025,000​

[c]

[c]

Reykholm[c]Population:
6,424,500​

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

About this Post:

This post shall be dedicated to information related to the governance of the Most Serene Kingdom of Merilia.

Click to expand...

Freydís Varangr
Mother of the Motherland (Móðir af Móðurlandins)
Queen of Reykr and Merilia (Drottning af Reykr og Mérilia)

(Born: 1512 / Died: 1585)
(Reign: 1531 - 1585)​

[c]

Casimir Vollan
Jarl of Norvik (Jarl af Norvik)
King of Reykr and Merilia (Konungur af Reykr og Mérilia)

(Born: 1509; Died: 1573)
(Reign: 1542 - 1573)​

Name: Solveig Ragni Varangr

Royal Name: Solveig III

Official Title: Her Serene Highness High Queen Solveig III, Princess of Reykr, Princess of Merilia, Lady of the Isle,
Defender of the Realms of Kaltí, Calenfir, Alcária and Alieria, Servant of the Lord and Lady, Shield of the Elenath

Styles: Her Serene Highness, Her Majesty, High Queen

Born: 3 March 1978

Age: 40 [c]

[c] Name: Tobías Alar Lindstrom Varangr

Official Title: His Serene Highness High King Tobias, Prince of Reykr, Prince of Merilia, Lord of the Isle

Styles: His Serene Highness, His Majesty, High King

Born: 22 October 1976

Age: 42 [c]

[c] Name: Katarina Helvig

Official Title: Chancellor of Kaltí

Styles: Her Excellency, Chancellor, Ma’am

Born: 16 June 1976

Age: 42 [c]

[c] Name: Sven Mathison

Official Title: Chancellor of Calenfir

Styles: His Excellency, Chancellor, Sir

Born: 15 August 1970

Age: 48 [c]

[c] Name: Jóhanna Sigurd

Official Title: Chancellor of Alcária, Speaker of Merilia

Styles: Her Excellency, Chancellor, Ma’am

Born: 08 January 1973

Age: 45 [c]

(Parties from L-R: Green Party, Liberal Party, Social Democratic Party, Progressive Party, Moderate Party, National Party, People's Party, Alierian National Party)​

Green Party​

[c]

Liberal Party​

[c]

Social Democratic Party​

[c]

Progressive Party​

[c]

Moderate Party​

[c]

National Party​

[c]

People's Party​

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

Name: Stefán Lindholm

Official Title: High Commissioner of Alieria

Styles: His Excellency, High Commissioner, Sir

Born: 8 August 1953

Age: 65 [c]

[c] Name: Erik Rundstrom

Official Title: Law Speaker of Alieria

Styles: His Excellency, Law Speaker, Sir

Born: 11 November 1951

Age: 66 [c]

[c] Name: Magnus Anker

Official Title: Deputy Speaker of Alieria

Styles: His Excellency, Deputy Speaker, Sir

Born: 09 May 1959

Age: 59 [c]

(Parties from L-R: Alieria People's Union, The People's Isle, We Ourselves, Families United)​

Alieria People's Union​

[c]

The People's Isle​

[c]

We Ourselves​

[c]

Families United​

[c]

[c]

[c]

[c]

About this Post:

This post shall be dedicated to information related to the foreign affairs, armed forces and police of the Kingdom of Merilia.

Click to expand...

Merilian Police Authority​

Roles:

• Patrols the streets and responds to emergency calls
• Promotes public safety and crime prevention
• Oversees police investigations and prosecutes criminals
• Traffic control; highway, river, lake and harbor patrol
• Provides security at concerts and sporting events
• Provides riot and crowd control at demonstrations and protests

[c]

Army Corps of Merilia​

Roles:

• Provides border security, to include passport control and the issuance of visas
• Provides transportation security at the airports, railway stations and seaports
• Provides for the protection of federal buildings
• Provides the Government of Merilia with a mobile response force for internal security events
• Provides the Government of Merilia with counter-terrorism forces
• Provides in-house security for Merilian embassies abroad

[c]

Varangr Guards​

Roles:

• Protection of the Royal Family
• Protection of the Royal Residences

​

Spoiler: Uniforms of the Merilian Armed Forces

Army of Merilia​

[c]

Air Force of Merilia​

[c]

Navy of Merilia​

[c]

[c]

[c]

---

[c]

[c]

[c]

Spoiler: Naval Vessels

Corvette [c]

[c] Littoral Combat Ship [c]

[c] Submarine [c]

[c] Destroyer [c]

[c] Frigate [c]

[c] Amphibious Transport Dock [c]

[c] Aircraft Carrier [c]

[c] Support Tanker [c]

[c] Hospital Ship [c]

About this Post:

This post shall be dedicated to information related to the religion of the Kingdom of Merilia.

Click to expand...

The central gathering spot for the Elenathistic religion has always been housed on the island of Alcária. Ruins of temples dating back to the 1st Century CE have been found.
The prior Grand Temple stood from 1573 till 1835 when it was torn down and a new, modern temple was built.
The current Grand Temple was built and commemorated in 1835, on the 250th anniversary of Queen Freydís' death.​

ELEMENTAL LADY OF AIR

[c]

ELEMENTAL LORD OF EARTH

[c]

ELEMENTAL LORD OF FIRE

[c]

ELEMENTAL LADY OF WATER

Nyarna Edda:

---

Saga of the Cosmos​

---

Chapter 1, The Void:
Long ago, there was only darkness - a deep, ebony ocean of empty infinity - the void that was no place.
From this place of nothingness, the Spirit drew in upon itself and, with a mighty burst of joyful vibration, our Lady exploded into being.
Her essence was the totality of perfect love and perfect trust.
In delight, our Lady danced among the heavens.
Her bare feet beat out the rhythm of all creation, giving birth to every pattern of energy as sparks of light catapulted from Her flying hair and extended fingertips.
She created the stars and the planets, and bid them to dance with Her.
As they began to move, so was the cycle of the year born, and the divine symphony of the universe came into form.
When Her dancing quickened, She formed the seas and mountains of Earth.
She chanted words of love and joy, and as these sounds fell to the Earth, the trees, flowers and grasses were born.
From the pure, white light of Her breath came the colors of the universe, turning all things to vibrant beauty.
From the bubbling laughter in Her throat sprang the sounds of running water of the streams, the gentle lapping vibrations of the lake, and the roaring of the ocean.
Her tears of happiness became the rains of our survival.

Chapter 2, The Beginning:
When Her dancing slowed and She sought a companion to share the wonders of the world, the Spirit created The Lord as Her life mate and companion.
The Lord's power moved through her and She showered the Earth and all upon it with Her blessings.
Together, the Lord and Lady gave birth to the birds, animals, fishes, and people of our world.
To protect and guide the humans, the Lord and Lady created the Valkyries, guides and spirits of power.
To protect and guide the elemental ways, the Lord and Lady took on the personification of the Faer.
These beings walk with us always, though we may not often see them.
To each being our Lady bestowed a unique vibration in which to communicate.
To each being our Lord bestowed the fires of passion and the burning instinct to survive.

Chapter 3, The Lord and Lady:
Our Lady has many names: Frigg, Freya, Idun, Sif, Eir, and many more.
The Lady walks beside us and resides in each woman and man.
She is the Maiden, Mother and Crone and is the sacred trinity.
Our Lord has many names: Odin, Freyr, Heimdall, Thor, Tyr, and many more.
He guards and guides us and resides in each man and woman.
The Lady has taken on the image of the Moon as her symbol of gentle light and perfect peace.
The Lord has taken on the vibrant rays of the Sun as his symbol of strength in perfect love.
When thunder roars in the heavens and lightning cracks, the Lord and Lady dance the divine myth of creation so that we may remember Them and know that we are never alone and that we are one.
When the sun rises each morning, we bask in the joy of His love for us.
When the moon moves through Her phases, we understand the cycles of birth, growth, death and rebirth, as is the nature of all things, and we honor Her.

Chapter 4, Humanity:
Together, the Lord and Lady blessed humanity with free will.
As the humans began to grow and prosper, the Lord and Lady saw the need for healers and teachers among them.
And so they drew forth energy to create the Witches who brought with them the wisdom of the Lord and Lady, the ability to heal, and the art of magic.
Our Lady taught of the wisdom of the Universe and we were instructed on how to cast the circle and how to communicate with the Spirit.
She taught us how to talk to the dead, how to honor our ancestors and how to focus the mind and cast a spell.
Within each person, She imprinted the patterns of all the energies in the cosmos, and how to work magick by the moon and the stars.
Our Lord taught us how to meld with the elements and the spirits of air, fire, earth, and water and to commune with the animal and plant kingdoms.
He taught us weather magick and the healing arts with energy and plants.
He taught us how to protect ourselves and how to survive.
Each of us was given the rites of purification and the ability to tap into our lineage of creation.

Chapter 5, The End:
When it is our time, the Witches are guided by the Valkyries to the Summerland and Valhalla.
From the Spirit that moves and flows through the Lord and Lady we continue to learn the mysticism of the Universe so that we may return, to serve our brothers and sisters.
Many of us do not remember our chosen path until we reach adulthood, but others know instinctively of their heritage from the time they form their own thoughts.
We are the Witches; the power, the change and the representation of the growth of wisdom on our planet.

Click to expand...

Lirit Edda:

---

The Lady's Poem​

---

I am the Lady, worshiped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal. I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all magic.
The winds and moving leaves sing my name. I wear the crescent Moon upon my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens. I am mysteries yet unsolved, a path newly set upon. I am a field untouched by the plow.
Rejoice in me and know the fullness of youth. I am the blessed Maiden, the gracious Lady of the harvest. I am clothed in the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with grain.
By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition according to my season.
I am refuge and healing.
I am the life giving Mother, wondrously fertile.
I am the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth.
I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon.
I rule the tides of the oceans and of women and men.
I give release and renewal to weary souls.
I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas.
My names are many, yet know that by all names I am the same.
I pour forth insight, peace, wisdom and understanding.
I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of reckoning, and I send you blessings of limitless love.

---

The Lord's Poem​

---

I am the radiant King of the Heavens, flooding the Earth with warmth and encouraging the hidden seed of creation to burst forth into manifestation.
I lift my shining spear to light the lives of all beings and daily pour forth my golden rays upon the Earth, putting to flight the powers of darkness.
I am the spirit of all beasts wild and free.
I run with the stag and soar as a sacred falcon against the shimmering sky.
The ancient woods and wild places emanate my powers, the birds of the air sing of my sanctity.
I am the harvest, offering up grain and fruits beneath the sickle of time so that all may be nourished.
For without planting there can be no harvest; without winter there can be no spring.
I am the thousand named Son of Creation.
Know that by all names I am the same.
The spirit of the horned stag in the wild, the endless harvest.
See in the yearly cycle of festivals my birth, death and rebirth and know that such is the destiny of all creation.
I am the spark of life, the radiant Sun, the giver of peace and rest.
I send my rays of blessings to warm the hearts and strengthen the minds of all.

---

The Divine Poem​

---

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel, the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lammas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill: "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Click to expand...

• Ancestral languages dating from antiquity give rise to Ancient Icenic in the 1st Century CE.
• Elder Certhas arises as the written script and alphabet of Ancient Icenic in the 1st Century CE and is the earliest recorded runic alphabet in the Kingdom of Merilia. By the 8th Century CE, the Elder Certhas script has developed into the Younger Certhas script which coincides with the development of Ancient Icenic into Old Icenic.
• Old Icenic and Younger Certhas are the spoken language and written alphabet in Icenic lands until the 14th Century CE which sees the introduction of the Umbrialian language and alphabet brought from traders abroad. The Younger Certhas script and alphabet develops into Medieval Certhas.
• In the 16th Century CE, Old Icenic develops into Merilian following the marriage of Casimir Vollan and Freydís Varangr and the founding of the Kingdom of Merilia. The Merilian language utilizes the Medieval Certhas script and alphabet until the 18th Century CE. The language of international trade shifts from Umbrial to Mercanti
• By the 18th Century CE, Medieval Certhas is no longer used as an everyday alphabet, having been fully replaced by the Umbrial based alphabet. Medieval Certhas continues to see use in ceremonial traditions, particularly those surrounding the House of Varangr. The 20th Century CE see a renewed public interest in runic alphabets which leads to the rise of Runology, the study of runes, with a particular focus on Elder Certhas and Younger Certhas.
• As of the Present Day, Merilian is the de facto language of the Kingdom while utilizing the Umbrialian alphabet for writing.

About Certhas (Rune-Master):

Certhas was a rune-master who lived from 1319 to 1385 in the employ of Jarl Ragnar Lothmr, ruler of Reykr and her holdings. He was given the task of modernizing the runic alphabets and creating a new runic alphabet based on the Latin alphabet that had been brought by traders from overseas. In the process of completing his task, Certhas catalogued and helped to preserve the two older runic alphabets. In recognition of his work, the Jarl named the three runic alphabets after him with the distinction of Elder, Younger, and Medieval being used to distinguish the time period that the runes were used by the aristocracy and common folk.

Click to expand...

Notes:

• The common language shared between Merilia and Prydania is called Makari, however many in the Kingdom of Merilia continue to call the language Merilian.
• In Eras, the English language is called Mercanti while the Latin language is called Umbrial.

Click to expand...

• ƒ: Symbol for the 1 & 2 Florin Coins and the 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Florin Banknotes
  
• ¢: Symbol for the 5, 10, 25 and 50 Cent Coins
  
• Fixed Exchange Rate: ƒ1.00 = 1.00 US Dollar
  
• Rounding System: Since the discontinuation of the ¢1 and ¢2 coins, all businesses in the Kingdom of Merilia round to the nearest five cent interval.

• Merilia Today (Mérilia í Dag – MD) – Daily – General News
• Bay Journal (Flókabók – FK) – Daily – General News
• Arien Inquirer (Arien Spyrjandi – AS) – Daily, General News
• Reykr Times (Reykr Tímum – RT) – Daily, Business and Financial News
• Varangr Post (Varangr Bóka – VB) – Weekly – Royal and Government News

• Director-General *
• Deputy Director-General *
• Director of Content
• Director of Radio and Education
• Director of News and Current Affairs
• Director of Sports and Culture
• CEO of MU Studios Ltd *
• Chief Technology and Research Officer
• Director of HR

• Content: in charge of the corporation’s television channels including the commissioning of programming in conjunction with MU Studios Ltd.
• Radio and Education: in charge of MU Radio and music content across the MU and under the MU Music brand, including music programs on MU Television, events such as the MU Proms and the numerous orchestras such as the MU Philharmonic, as well as the Children’s MU.
• News and Current Affairs: in charge of MU News, including the national, regional and international output on television, radio and online, as well as the output of the MU Global News Division.
• Sports and Culture: in charge of MU Sports and MU Culture and broadcasting major sporting events, such as the Merilian Realm Cup, and major cultural events, such as the Queen’s birthday or the National Day of Merilia celebrations.
• Deputy Director-General Group: in charge of all digital output, such as MU Online and developing new technologies through BBC Research & Development. This division also includes other-MU functions including Finance, HR, Strategy, Security and Property.

• MU Studios Ltd: a television production and distribution company as well as the commercial arm of the MU. It houses the production departments of Comedy, Drama, Entertainment, Factual, Music & Events, and Scripted.
• MU Studioworks: owns and operates all MU studio facilities outside the main Broadcasting House in Reykholm and leases them out to production companies from within and outside of the corporation.
• MU World News: in charge of the production and distribution of the MU’s commercial global television channel. It works closely with the MU’s News and Current Affairs division and MU Studios Ltd and shares the corporation’s facilities and staff.