Merilia: Worldbuilding Compendium

Nightsong · Jun 22, 2020

Kingdom of Merilia
Reino de Merilia

Merilia, officially the Kingdom of Merilia, is an ancient land, full of life, love, and power. There lies within all a deep appreciation in watching the sunrise and sunset, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day, and the forest in the light of a glowing moon. Those who call Merilia home are seekers, teachers, and protectors. They are Earth; grounded, giving, and building. They are Water; flowing, cleansing, and healing. They are Air; breathing, focusing, and observing. They are Fire; burning, adapting, and igniting. Above all else, those who call Merilia home are Aether; connecting, knowing, and listening. As the old saying goes, "earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, and fire my spirit". Tradition blends seamlessly with modernity, where the path forward is walked with honor, integrity, and light of the mind, heart, and soul.

Nightsong · Jun 29, 2020

Quick Facts

Kingdom of Merilia

Monarch: Queen Kattalin (as of 2021)
Prime Minister: Mikel
Capital:
Population: 81,977,593
Area: 688,806 km2
Pop Density: 119/km2

Principality of Elbereth

Capital: Caeredin
Area: 193,196 km2
Population: 35,042,501
Pop Density: 181/km2

46,935,092 ... 23,467,546

Principality of Ilmare

Capital: Caeredin
Area: 193,196 km2
Population: 35,042,501
Pop Density: 181/km2

Principality of Alatariel

Capital: Caeredin
Area: 193,196 km2
Population: 35,042,501
Pop Density: 181/km2

Nightsong · Jul 7, 2020

Provinces of Merilia

Since pre-historic times there have been five Provinces of Merilia: Caerllion, Elerina, Torfaen, Eryri, and Alatariel. The Merilian word for this territorial division, pumed, means "fifth part". The number of provinces and their delimitation fluctuated until 4939 (1439 CE) when High King Macsen permanently set the number of provinces at five while establishing their borders. The Republic of Gwynedd was split from the Kingdom of Caerllion in 5348 (1848 CE) as part of a series of democratic reforms and today serves as the sixth Province of Merilia. The Provinces of Merilia serve as the member states of the Kingdom of Merilia with each holding semi-sovereign status.

The origins of the Provinces of Merilia can be traced to the medieval "over-kingdoms" of Merilia, stretching from the Plains of Aileach in the north to the River Celduin in the south with the Sorontil Mountains marking the eastern border and the Isle of Eryri marking the western border.

Historically the provincial monarchs held the title of King of Kings or Queen of Queens. By the 15th century the titles were replaced by King of a Fifth and Queen of a Fifth. In the modern day the titles are King and Queen.

Each province was made up of several petty kingdoms that roughly correspond to the modern counties. The petty kingdoms were ruled by aKing of Tribes or Queen of Tribes. The counties today have a lord lieutenant or lady lieutenant who serves as a representative.

The petty kingdoms were further subdivided into smaller petty kingdoms known as a a group of people. These were ruled by a King or Queen who were also known as a King of the People or Queen of the People. By the 11th century the rulers were no longer referred to as kings or queens but as lord/lady or chief instead.

The "lore of places" poem poetically describes the five provinces of Merilia.

Caerllion is the central kingdom of kingship, stewardship, and trade; in Caerllion lies the Hill of Tara, the traditional seat of the High King and High Queen of Merilia and where the Kings and Queens of Merilia gather to feast, celebrate, and debate.

Elerina is the eastern kingdom of learning, the seat of the greatest and wisest druids and brehons; the men and women of Elerina are famed for their eloquence and their ability to pronounce true judgement.

Torfaen is the southern kingdom of music and arts, of bards and artisans; the fairs and celebrations of Torfaen are the greatest in all Merilia.

Eryri is the western kingdom of ruggedness, of battle valor, haughtiness, strife, and boasting; the men and women of Eryri are renowned for their hardiness and as the fiercest warriors of all Merilia.

Alatariel is the northern kingdom of prosperity, hospitality, and fine wares; the men and women of Alatariel are noble of speech and possess exceptional beauty.

Nightsong · Jul 15, 2020

Education in Merilia

Education in Merilia is mandatory for children between ages six and eighteen. The school year runs from February to November with a winter break in June and July and a summer break in December and January. It is divided into two terms: Autumn (February to May) and Spring (August to November). Parents have four schooling options for their children: Public Schools, Private Schools, Elenathian Schools, and Boarding Schools.

Public Schools seek to provide students the education needed for them to become independent creative thinkers who can put their ideas into action. Students are guided in developing their capacities for teamwork, creativity, imagination, critical thinking, and problem solving. Curriculum is designed to bring language arts, mathematics, science, humanities, philosophy, and practical arts to life in a way that shows students that all knowledge is interrelated. Students are engaged in a meaningful way that allows them to develop a love of learning and an intrinsic desire for discovery.

Private Schools believe that education should be one where students not only develop a deep and broad knowledge of every subject but also practice skills. Skills like knowing how to plan and evaluate their own work, analyze, take initiative, and be creative. These schools offer an education that is ambitious in its goals to help every student reach further and accomplish more than they thought possible.

Elenathian Schools focus on the development of individuals on a spiritual, moral, and physical level. Leaders, teachers, and students focus on fundamental rules derived from the Path of the Stars and implemented by the Elenathian Temple. The fundamental rules are discussions on what defines Elenathism in daily life, the application of knowledge and wisdom, mindfulness in thought and action, celebrating life and nature, and being active in the community. While religion is taught in Public Schools, Private Schools, and Boarding Schools, Elenathian Schools place a heavier emphasis on the subject and view it as a vital component of the curriculum where individuals can develop themselves spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially.

Boarding Schools provide education for students who live on the premises with some schools accommodating students who only attend during the day. Students traditionally attend from Grade Seven until Grade Twelve. Boarding Schools are among the oldest schools in Merilia and they carry a tradition of academic excellence. Due to teaching students at both the Comprehensive School and Gymnasium level, Boarding Schools have a high degree of flexibility in their curriculum and ensuring that students are prepared for the Scholars Exam.

Governance and Fees

Education in Merilia is decentralized with the Realms of Merilia providing education standards, objectives, and fundings to the schools in their realm. The Government of Merilia works in an advisory role and provides a broad Educational Framework alongside the Scholars Exam.

the majority of control coming from the Realms of Merilia while the Government of Merilia works in an advisory role.

operates under a system of decentralization where the Government of Merilia does not directly control the schools. Merilian Schools are governed by the Provinces and Regions of Merilia, Elenath Schools are governed by the Grand Temple of the Elenath, and Boarding Schools are self-governing institutions of learning. All schools receive funding from the government; Merilian Schools and Elenath Schools are free of charge for students while Boarding Schools charge an annual tuition fee that is capped by the Government of Merilia. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation acts in an advisory role with their main task being that of setting a standardized curriculum. The core subjects that all schools must teach include Merilian and Modern Languages, Formal Science, Natural Science, Social Science, Humanities, Philosophy, Arts, Civics, Religion, and Physical Education. In addition to setting a standardized curriculum, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation approves a national syllabi and sets forth formalized academic standards and educational objectives. However, Merilian Schools, Elenath Schools, and Boarding Schools have a certain degree of freedom in determining how these standards and objectives are to be carried out.

Education Overview
(Public Schools)

Preschool
Prior to starting any form of formal schooling for their child, parents can choose from numerous daycare programs after their child has turned one. When children turn six, they attend preschool which seeks to instill a curiosity for learning and a desire for discovery of the world.

Comprehensive School
Comprehensive Schools are nine-year long schools and mandatory for all children between the ages of seven and fifteen. They are divided into Primary School, covering First Grade through Sixth Grade, and Junior High School, covering Seventh Grade through Ninth Grade. Student’s study ten core subjects – Merilian and Modern Languages, Formal Science, Natural Science, Social Science, Humanities, Philosophy, Arts, Civics, Religion, and Physical Education – in addition to various elective courses.

From First Grade through Sixth Grade, a student’s academic achievements are tracked by an Individual Development Plan, containing written assessments from their teachers. These assessments measure a student’s expertise and competence in a subject and course and provide feedback on how to improve. When students start Seventh Grade, they begin receiving grades instead of written assessments as part of their Individual Development Plan. These grades are based on a student’s individual academic achievement and reflect their degree of attainment of stated learning outcomes and objectives.

The grading system uses the grades A (Exemplary), B (Excellent), C (Commendable), D (Satisfactory), and E (Sufficient) as passing and F (Insufficient) as failing. For each subject, there are defined knowledge requirements for A, C, and E that state what the student needs to achieve to be awarded that grade. If a student is awarded a B, they have met all knowledge requirements for a C and a considerable share of the knowledge requirements for an A. Correspondingly, if a student is awarded a D, they have met all knowledge requirements for an E and a considerable share of the knowledge requirements for a C. If a student receives an F in a course, they are given a written assessment on how to improve their grade when they retake the course. A student’s grade score is calculated by taking their grades throughout Junior High School and adding them together by using the following letter grade to number conversion: A = 20, B = 17.5, C = 15, D = 12.5, E = 10, and F =0.

To qualify for gymnasium a student must receive an average grade of C (Commendable) in four core subjects – Merilian and Modern Languages, Formal Science, Natural Science, and Social Science. They must also receive an average grade of C (Commendable) in three of the six other core subjects from among Humanities, Philosophy, Arts, Civics, Religion, and Physical Education. If a student does not qualify to attend gymnasium, they are granted conditional admission pending the completion of an introductory course over the summer break. Students work on generalized topics that help them prepare for gymnasium studies.

Gymnasium
In their final year of Junior High School, students apply to national programs at various gymnasiums and compete for entrance based on their grades and score total. Gymnasiums are three-year long schools and mandatory for all children between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Students attend from Grade Ten through Grade Twelve, collectively known as High School.

Gymnasiums offer eight national programs, each focused on an individual field of study while providing students with a grounded knowledge base. The national programs offered are Merilian and Modern Languages, Formal Science, Natural Science, Social Science, Humanities, Philosophy, the Arts, and Technology. Some gymnasiums carry the backing of and are certified by the Guilds of Merilia which allows those schools to offer a more hands on, trade-oriented version of the national programs.

Students take 2500 points worth of courses with some courses shared across all programs and these are typically the first courses in Merilian and Modern Languages, Formal Science, Natural Science, Social Science, and Physical Education. To further refine their education and round out their national program, students choose between 300 and 500 points worth of elective courses.

Graduation
Students graduate from gymnasium when they have completed their national program, received passing marks, and passed the Scholars Exam. Students following the academic path for their national program graduate with an Academic Diploma (i.e., an Academic Diploma in Technology) and students following the vocational path for their national program graduate with an Artisans Diploma (i.e., an Artisans Diploma in Metalworking). Traditionally, students who receive an Artisans Diploma are offered a one-to-three-year long apprenticeship through one of the Guilds of Merilia upon graduation.

Nightsong · Jul 16, 2020

Higher Education

Higher Education in Merilia consists of universities, institutes of technology, and conservatories. Upon graduation, students can be awarded an bachelor’s degree (in the arts or the sciences), a master's degree, or a doctorate depending on their level of study. All higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, legally independent of the state. This is exemplified by universities such as the University of Elenarda and the University of Sirea which are “public universities” in the sense that they receive government funding but are “private universities” in the sense that they are entirely self-governing. The ITC Domain is unique among higher education institutions due to being directly governed by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation. Tuition fees are set by each university, institute of technology, or conservatory and the maximum amount that can be charged to students is capped by the Government of Merilia to ensure that higher education remains affordable to all.

Higher education institutions are organized in a collegiate manner and follow the Irinría Model, the Gaillimhe Model, or the Áralon Model. Colleges at schools that follow the Irinría Model provide additional teaching to students, primarily small-scale tutorials; colleges at schools that follow the Gaillimhe Model provide no formal teaching to students; and colleges at schools that follow the Áralon Model are groupings of academic departments and their faculty boards. Irinría and Gaillimhe styled colleges are residential communities with halls for meals, libraries, societies, and sports teams. Áralon styled colleges are different in that students belong to a school wide student society that organizes accommodation, meals, societies, and sports teams with libraries belonging to the school itself. In all three models, teaching is centrally organized through the academic departments and their faculties on a school-wide basis.

All higher education institutions utilize the Critical Thinking Assessment to filter out the best candidates. A student's performance on the assessment is not considered in isolation but is instead considered alongside other elements in their application. Students are assessed individually, and Admission Tutors look for different criteria in different students. Consequently, there is no magic formula that guarantees a student is offered a place. However, all Admission Tutors look for students who they believe have the most academic ability and potential and who are best suited for the degree program.

Students are assessed through one of three grade scales used by universities, institutes of technology, and conservatories. The relevant academic departments and their faculties decide which grade scale will be used for their programs and courses and the chosen grade scale will be noted in the course syllabus. Higher education institutions do not have a tradition of relative grading systems and ranking students with reference to one another and allocating grades in accordance with set proportions. Instead, they have a tradition of using criterion-referenced grading systems in which grades are awarded in relation to the student’s performance relative to the learning objectives set out in the course syllabus. Thus, grades do not reflect how well the student performs in relation to other students but how well he/she fulfills the objectives of the course. The criterion-referenced grade system seeks to show what a student knows and can do at the end of the course, and how well they know and can do it. The three grade scales are the Irinría Grade Scale: Pass with Special Honors, Pass with Honors, Pass, and Fail; the Gaillimhe Grade Scale: Pass with Respect, Pass, and Fail; the Áralon Grade Scale: A (Exemplary), B (Excellent), C (Commendable), D (Satisfactory), E (Sufficient), and F (Insufficient).

The Irinría Grade Scale arose from the University of Irinría during its years as an examination board and awarding degrees to students who graduated from their colleges and the colleges of the University of Elenarda, the University of Sirea, and the University of Áralon. The Gaillimhe Grade Scale was a result of the Guilds of Merilia and the numerous artisan communities scattered throughout the Isle of Alcária. The apprenticeship programs in place for the various trade professions were graded on a pass with respect/pass/fail system which was adopted by the University of Gaillimhe when it was established. The Áralon Grade Scale was pioneered by ITC Áralon and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation in coordination with Provinces and Regions of Merilia and the Grand Temple of the Elenath to extend the number of letter grades that a student could receive on their assignments and examinations as a way of assessing students more fairly during Primary School, Junior High School, and High School.

Nightsong · Jul 20, 2020

Free Society of the Icení

The Free Society of the Icení is a constitutionally established and independent organization and one of the High Councils of Merilia. The organization has its roots in the Elenarda Union Society of the University of Elenarda and the Sirea Union Society of the University of Sirea, two debate societies whose membership is drawn exclusively from the ranks of university students, professors, and faculty members. Members of the Elenarda Union and the Sirea Union felt a forum for all Merilians to exercise their right to free speech and debate would be a benefit to all and in 1739, they found the Free Society of the Icení. Since its founding, the Free Society of the Icení has come to be the guarantor of free speech in Merilia, a forum for the exchange of ideas and the art of public debate, and the largest free speech and debate society in the nation. Today, the membership of the Free Society of the Icení includes the Free Society itself and its members and debate societies at universities across Merilia. The Free Society of the Icení organizes speeches, debate competitions, and maintains outreach programs at gymnasiums for aspiring young adults who are interested in debate before attending university.

Debates at both the Free Society of the Icení and the University Debate Societies take two forms, that of competitive debates and that of formal debates. The debates are often lively and stirring as guest speakers and members argue passionately about their beliefs. Competitive debates offer members workshops and a platform upon which to practice and improve their debating skills. Formal debates occur bi-weekly for the Free Society of the Icení and weekly during term for the University Debate Societies. During every debate, all members are given a chance to have their say. Not only do society members speak alongside the guest speaker, but the audience can challenge points that have been made when the debate is opened to the floor; the outcome of many a debate has been swung by an impassioned speech. Results are determined by how many in attendance walk out the door marked ‘ayes’ and the door marked ‘noes’, in much the same way as done in the Dáil Mérilia. The dress code for competitive debates is casual, normal day wear and for formal debates, it is either casual dressy for University Debate Societies or formal attire (suit/dress) for the Free Society of the Icení.

Nightsong · Jul 23, 2020

Aether Calendar
“The Wheel of the Year”

Overview:
The Aether Calendar, also called the Wheel of the Year, is a twelve-month calendar used throughout the Kingdom of Merilia. The calendar was introduced in Lúnasa 5084 RS (1584 CE) by King Ronan Ó Mórdha as a minor modification of the Ánrothán Calendar, reducing the average length of the year from 365.25 days to 365.2425 days, and adjusting for the drift in the solar tropical year that inaccuracies had caused during the intervening centuries. Leap years in the calendar were set so that the average length of the year is 365.2425 days long, approximating the 365.2422-day solar year determined by Eras’ revolution around the sun. The rule adopted for leap years is that every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year. However, years that are exactly divisible by one hundred are not leap years except in cases where a centurial year is exactly divisible by four hundred.

There were two reasons for the establishment of the Aether Calendar. First, the Ánrothán Calendar had assumed incorrectly that the average solar year is exactly 365.25 days long, an overestimate of a little under one day per century. The Aether Calendar shortened the average year by 0.0075 days to stop the drift of the calendar with respect to the equinoxes. Second, in the years since the Council of the Seasons in 4059 RS (559 CE), the excess leap days introduced by the Ánrothán Calendar had caused the calendar to drift such that the autumnal equinox was occurring well before its nominal 20th Mabon date. This date was important to the Elenathistic faith as it was fundamental in marking the date of Mabon, the second of the harvest festivals alongside Lúnasa and Samhna. To fix this, the Aether Calendar advanced the date by ten days with 4th Lúnasa 5084 RS (1584 CE) followed by 15th Lúnasa 5084 RS (1584 CE).

As the Year Turns Ever Onward:
Alesséa marks the start of the Aether Calendar on 1st Ellairé, falling between Litha (the Summer Solstice) and Lúnasa (the Festival of the Land). Celebrations traditionally start the night before on 30th Litha. The holiday is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in other countries throughout Eras. Alesséa is steeped in myth and tradition and is one of the oldest holidays in Merilia aside from Mabon, Nollaig, Ostara, and Litha. One of the most widespread traditions is the practice of first-footing (an chéad-chos) which starts immediately after midnight on 30th Litha. The tradition involves family members or friends going to each other’s houses and being the first person to cross the threshold. Many symbolic gifts are given and received such as mead, whisky, shortbread, or fruit cake, all of which are intended to bring good luck to the household. The tradition of first-footing occurs throughout the day on 1st Ellairé, even extending throughout the month of Ellairé.

As the Wheel of the Year turns past Alesséa, the fire festivals of Lúnasa (Festival of the Land), Samhna (Festival of Darkness), Amarié (Festival of Rebirth), and Bealtaine (Festival of Light) are celebrated along with the equinoxes and solstices of Mabon (Autumnal Equinox), Nollaig (Winter Solstice), Ostara (Spring Equinox), and Litha (Summer Solstice).

Months of the Year:

Ellairé (January) – 31 Days [Summer]
Lúnasa (February) – 30 Days
Mabon (March) – 30 Days (31 Days in Leap Years) [Autumnal Equinox]
Endien (April) – 31 Days [Autumn]
Samhna (May) – 30 Days
Nollaig (June) – 30 Days [Winter Solstice]
Fírien (July) – 31 Days [Winter]
Amarié (August) – 30 Days
Ostara (September) – 31 Days [Vernal Equinox]
Sirilla (October) – 31 Days [Spring]
Bealtaine (November) – 30 Days
Litha (December) – 30 Days [Summer Solstice]

Nightsong · Jul 24, 2020

Elenathism

Five-Fold in Elenathism: Elements [Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Aether], Seasons [Winter, Autumn, Spring, Summer, Passage of Time], Directions [North, West, East, South, Grounded Center], Natural Rhythms [Rebirth, Death, Awakening, Life, Togetherness], and the Path of the Stars [Knowledge of Self and Craft, Wisdom and Foresight, Clarity of Mind, Celebration of Life and Nature, Honoring the Lady and Lord]

Earth – Winter – North – Rebirth – Knowledge of Self and Craft

Water – Autumn – West – Death – Wisdom and Foresight

Air – Spring – East – Awakening – Clarity of Mind

Fire – Summer – South – Life – Celebration of Life and Nature

Aether – Passage of Time – Grounded Center – Togetherness – Honoring the Lady and Lord

Elenathism is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, or a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Elenathism is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. Elenathism is the song of the birds and of other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of the loving embrace of Mother Nature and the brilliance of the Radiant King and being humbled in reverence. Within the temples of the Lady and Lord, blessings offer refuge for the weary soul. To be an Elenathian is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. Those who walk the path do so with honor, light, and integrity in their mind, heart, and soul.

Elenathism, also known as Witchcraft (“the craft of the wise”), the Five-Fold Craft, or simply the Craft is the religion of Merilia. Adherents are officially and traditionally known as Elenathians though Witch is much more common among practitioners. Elenathism is more than a religious and spiritual system, it is a way of life that fosters the individual by encouraging lifelong learning and gaining an understanding of the earth and nature to affirm the divinity of the Lady and Lord in all living things. The Craft teaches its practitioners responsibility for one’s actions and deeds. Witches learn from and revere the gift of nature by celebrating the cycles of nature and its seasons, the lunar phases, the solstices, and the equinoxes. The core of Elenathism is the Path of the Stars which states that all Witches must know themselves and their craft, apply knowledge with wisdom and foresight, keep their words and thoughts in good order, celebrate life and the seasonal cycles of nature and the earth, and honor the Lady and Lord.

Witches believe not only in the Lady and Lord but in the Spirit, the divine togetherness of feminine and masculine energies inherent in all creation. This Spirit exists in all things, in the sunlight of the day, in the moonlight of the night, the trees and flowers, the rain and sea, in one another, and in all of nature’s creatures. The teachers of the Craft are not just the Elders but the natural world itself, the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, valleys, mountains, and animals. The elemental spirits of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire are revered and together they combine to manifest all creation. Aether is the prime universal element that is present in all things. It exists between, within, and above the elemental spirits of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire and provides space, connection, and balance for the elements to carry out their eternal cycle of creation and destruction. Aether is immaterial, non-physical, and essential to Witches and their sense of connection with their inner self, their well-being, and their consciousness. It ultimately represents a sense a joy and union. A popular saying in the Craft is: “Earth my Body, Water my Blood, Air my Breath, and Fire my Spirit”. From these elements, Witches obtain insight into the rhythms of nature which leads to understanding the rhythm of their own life. The elemental spirits of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, as the literal forces of nature, are incorporated into ritual and magick and into the daily consciousness of those who live and work with the natural rhythms of rebirth, death, awakening, life, and togetherness.

The elements are distinct spiritual energies and an integral part of ritual and celebration. At the start of a ritual they are invoked and called to participate in any magickal work performed. Each elemental spirit is associated with one of the four cardinal directions – Earth in the North, Water in the West, Air in the East, and Fire in the South, while Aether is associated with the Grounded Center. Each of the elemental spirits represent five aspects of creation. Earth represents strength, abundance, stability, prosperity, and wealth. Water represents emotion, subconscious thought, wisdom, eternal movement, and purification. Air represents the mind and intelligence, imagination, knowledge, dreams, and wishes. Fire represents energy, inspiration, love, passion, and leadership.

Nightsong · Aug 22, 2020

Legislature of Merilia

The Parliament of Merilia (Parlaimint na Merilia) is the legislature of the Kingdom of Merilia. In line with the Constitution of Merilia sovereignty lies with the people while power is vested in the Crown and the Parliament of Merilia. Parliament consists of the House of Knights and the House of Commons. The House of Knights consists of 400 members; 350 of whom are hereditary and life peers and 50 of whom are the High Priests and High Priestesses of the Temple of the Elenath. Members of the Knights are appointed by the Crown on the advice of the Royal Council, the Chancellor, and the House of Knights Appointments Commission. The House of Commons consists of 400 members who are elected directly by the people. Parliament passes legislation, creates the national budget, sets tax rates, and approves international treaties. It also supervises the activities of the Government of Merilia and may bring about the resignation of the Council of Minister through a motion of no confidence.

Legislation can originate in either the House of Knights or the House of Commons, though most legislation originates with the House of Commons. Royal Bills are introduced by the Crown through the Royal Council, Council Bills are introduced by the Council of Ministers, and Member Bills are introduced by the Members of Parliament. There are also Common Bills which originate from a Citizen's Initiative, a type of petition that requires 500,000 signatures in a six-month window for Parliament to take up the legislative issue in question. Bills related to the national budget and taxation originate in the House of Commons and they can be delayed but not vetoed by the House of Knights and the Crown. In extraordinary and urgent situations that necessitate maintaining public safety or averting a crisis, the Crown may issue a Royal Decree.

House of Commons, Elections and Seats

The 400 Members of Parliament of the House of Commons are directly elected by the people through the use of open list proportional representation. Electoral periods are fixed at five years unless the Crown dissolves the Parliament of Merilia and calls for new elections following a motion of no confidence. Elections traditionally take place on the 25th Samhna, though the date may shift due to early elections. This date allows elections of Parliament to take place after the harvest season which is celebrated during the holidays of Lúnasa, Mabon, and Samhna. After election results have been called for Parliament, the Crown summons a new Parliament with the earliest start of the parliamentary session being the 1st Fírien though the date may be later if no government coalition is formed in time. Once a government coalition is formed, the political parties elect the Chancellor of Merilia and the Commons Leadership (the Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Opposition).

Of the 400 Members of Parliament of the House of Commons, 340 are fixed seats and 60 are leveling seats. The fixed seats are distributed among the realms according to their population and the leveling seats supplement the members directly elected by each electoral district. They ensure that each political parties share of the total seats is roughly proportional to the parties overall share of votes received nationally. Each realm is granted five leveling seats; the allocation of the leveling seats is a complex process wherein the seats are distributed among the parties and then among the electoral districts.

Distribution of Leveling Seats to the Political Parties

A nationwide ideal distribution of all 400 House of Commons seats is calculated according to the Ó Cuinn method. This determines which political parties need to be awarded leveling seats. [Ó Cuinn method = D'Hondt method]
If a political party has won more seats than the ideal distribution indicates, the party keeps the seats but is disqualified from being awarded leveling seats. A new ideal distribution is calculated between the parties still eligible for leveling seats. This step can be repeated should the revised distribution again show a party with more seats than the ideal distribution indicates.
Once an ideal distribution has been settled upon, the number of leveling seats awarded to each of the political parties is equal to that parties ideal number of seats minus the number of seats that they have already won from each electoral district.

Distribution of Leveling Seats to the Electoral Districts

For each political party and electoral district, the first unused quotient when the 340 fixed seats were awarded is determined and used for the awarding of leveling seats.
The quotients for each political party and electoral district are divided by the total number of votes for all parties in that district and multiplied by the number of regular non-leveling seats awarded to that district. This leaves a table of fractions for each of the parties and districts.
The first leveling seat is awarded to the political party and electoral district that corresponds to the highest fraction in the table. The second leveling seat is awarded to the party and district that corresponds to the next highest fractions in the table, and so on. This process continues until all 60 leveling seats have been awarded.

Legislative Process

For a bill to become law (an Act of Parliament) it must go through the legislative process in both Houses of Parliament (the Knights and the Commons) with an identical version passed by a majority in each House. The stages that bills pass through are the First Reading, the Second Reading, the Committee Stage, the Report Stage, and the Third Reading after which the bill is sent to the Crown for Royal Assent. A bill must have a Sponsor and a Critic who guide the bill through the legislative process; the Sponsor speaks first during debates on the bill and argues why the bill should be supported while the Critic speaks second during debates on the bill and argues why the bill should not be supported.

Though the legislative process is the same in both Houses of Parliament (the Knights and the Commons), the Knights can call for a preliminary study of legislation which allows them to examine the subject matter of the bill while it is still before the Commons. The bill must have been given its First Reading but not yet have been passed during its Third Reading. A preliminary study allows the subject matter of the bill to be referred to a Committee of the Knights for general review, as opposed to a clause-by-clause study. The bill must still come to the Knights to pass through the three readings after it has been adopted by the Commons, though the bill is adopted in a shorter time frame.

The House of Knights has ten standing committees and the House of Commons has twenty-two standing committees; they monitor government operations, handle legislative review and evaluation, and recommend courses of action. The Kingdom Affairs Committee works with the Royal Council while the Grand Committee works with the Council of Ministers; both work in bringing proposed legislation to their respective House and expressing their chambers stance on legislative issues, budgetary issues, and other issues that may be important. As such, the two committees traditionally make decisions and deliberate on bills that are referred to them. The Kingdom Affairs Committee consists of the Lord/Lady Speaker of the Knights, the Speaker of the Elenath, and Members of Parliament. The Grand Committee consists of the Chancellor of Merilia, the Speaker of the Commons, the Leader of the Opposition, and Members of Parliament.

Nightsong · Sep 24, 2020

Political Parties of Merilia

Merilia has a two-bloc system where voters decide the relative strengths of factions within the government. The political parties are divided between a center-right 'blue' bloc consisting of the Conservative Party and the Free Democratic Party and a center-left 'yellow' bloc consisting of the Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Center Party.

The political parties are not represented in the Senate. Instead, Senators belong to independent political factions that provide informed second thought on legislation and contemporary issues.

"In a two-bloc system, voters decide the relative strengths of factions within the government."

The origins of the two-bloc system stem from the long-time dominance of the Conservative Party in Merilian politics throughout the 20th century. For the political left to deprive them of power, the center-left parties had to govern together - though such governments often broke down due to differences between the parties. Declining levels of support for the Conservative Party at the end of the 20th century meant that they had to form a coalition with the Free Democratic Party in order to govern effectively. At the same time, the center-left parties had grown to be more effective at inter-party cooperation.

Today, Merilian politics are divided between a center-right 'blue' bloc and a center-left 'yellow' bloc. The bloc system ultimately exists in the realm of semi-official, unwritten rules. The parties are fully independent, and though they often produce joint manifestos in addition to their own, do disagree on certain issues. Nonetheless, the blocs effectively form two alternative governments.

The main advantage of the two-bloc system is how it makes government formation more transparent and democratic. Essentially voters have the possible government on the ballot paper. They know that if the majority of voters vote for the 'blue' bloc there will be a right-of-center government and if the majority voters vote for the 'yellow' bloc there will be a left-of-center-government. The parties have effectively negotiated their coalition before the election. This not only allows for governments to be formed within days of an election but also increases the accountability of the government. If voters reject a 'blue' bloc government they know that a 'yellow' bloc government will be formed without any of the component parts of the previous government - they are able to 'throw the rascals out'.

('Blue' Bloc: 241)
Conservative Party: 152
Free Democratic Party: 89
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('Yellow' Bloc: 214)
Liberal Party: 113
Social Democratic Party: 63
Center Party: 38

* The political parties are inspired by Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Sweden.

- Conservative Party (Liberal Conservatism / Elenathian Democracy) ... inspired by the Conservative Party of Norway
- Free Democratic Party (Conservative Liberalism / Classical Liberalism) ... inspired by the The Liberals of Switzerland
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- Liberal Party (Liberalism / Progressivism) ... inspired by the Democratic Party of Luxembourg
- Social Democratic Party (Social Democracy) ... inspired by the Social Democratic Party of Denmark
- Center Party (Agrarianism) ... inspired by the Centre Party of Sweden

Nightsong · Oct 28, 2020

Local Government of Merilia

The administration of Merilia is divided between the national government (the Crown and the Parliament of Merilia) and the local government (the Realms, Provinces, and Municipalities). As a devolved unitary state, the Government of Merilia delegates many powers to the Realms which exercise the right of self-government within the limits set forth in the Constitution of Merilia and its statues.

The Realms of Merilia are the continuation of the kingdoms that shaped the nation’s history from 3982 AR (482 CE) to 4306 AR (806 CE). The Icenic Realms are Áth na Ríogh, Elentári, Ilmaré, Morauia, Aontroim, Chiarraí, Nindari, Lantasíre, and the Alcárian Realms are Gaillimhe, Meath, Caledonia, and Arthórien. Each Realm is governed by a Royal Administrative Council which acts as a link between the national government and the local government. Councils are led by Crown Commissioners who are appointed by the King or Queen and they are supported by Crown Deputies who are elected by the people. The tasks of the Royal Administrative Council are to implement the national goals of the Government of Merilia, to coordinate and promote the interests and development of the counties, to safeguard the due process of law, and to oversee elections.

The Counties of Merilia are governed by a Governor and a County Council who are directly elected by the people. The County Government is responsible for local government administration, expenditure, taxation, policy regarding the environment and energy, sustainable land development and water management, public transportation, public health care, and supporting regional infrastructure. There are eighty counties, each of which elect Crown Deputies to the Royal Administrative Council.

The Municipalities of Merilia are governed by a Mayor and a Municipal Assembly (typically called a City Assembly, Town Assembly, or Village Assembly) who are directly elected by the people. The Municipal Government is responsible for local government administration, expenditure, taxation, coordinating municipal planning and services, maintaining schools, roads, and waterways, and supporting cultural infrastructure and preservation efforts. Municipalities are divided into cities, towns, and villages with cities being further divided into royal cities, core cities, and cities.

Royal Cities are cities with a population greater than 500,000 people and they are delegated the tasks of sustainable land development and water management, public transportation, and public health care. Core Cities are cities with a population greater than 250,000 people and they are delegated the tasks of public transportation and public health care. These delegated tasks are traditionally performed by the County Government and are assigned to a city once it has been granted its status (Royal or Core) by the Crown. Royal Cities derive their name from the Royal Decree that confers their city status while Core Cities derive their name from the Government of Merilia that confers the status of metropolitan area to the city and its surrounding area.

Below the Royal Cities and Core Cities lie the Cities, Towns, and Villages. Cities have a population greater than 50,000 people with at least 60% of the households established in a central urban area and employed in commerce, industry, or other urban occupations. Towns have a population less than 50,000 people though cities may be designated as a town if they do not meet the household criteria threshold. Villages have a population less than 25,000 and are the smallest form of municipality.

Nightsong · Nov 6, 2020

How Elections Work, An Example from the City of Iria

Saoirse lives in the City of Iria which lies in northeastern County Chláir. As such, she is eligible to vote for Members of Parliament of the House of Commons, Crown Deputies of Áth na Ríogh, the Governor of Chláir, Representatives of the Council of Chláir, the Mayor of Iria, and Representatives of the Iria Assembly. Elections take place every five years on 25th Samhna for Members of Parliament and Crown Deputies and every five years on 25th Amarié for the Governor, Council, Mayor, and Assembly. When elections come around, Saoirse heads to her local voting center and depending on the type of election, she will be handed different ballots. White ballots are used for Members of Parliament and Crown Deputies, blue ballots are used for the Governor and Council, and green ballots are used for the Mayor and Assembly.

The ballots for the Members of Parliament, the Crown Deputies, and the Representatives of the Council of Chláir and the Iria Assembly include a list of the political parties on the left and a blank circle on the right. Saoirse has two options: she can choose a party and leave the circle blank which indicates that she has no preference on the list order (alternatively she can write aon rogha (no preference) in the circle) or she can choose a party and write a candidate’s list number or name in the circle. Thus, Saoirse has two votes that she can cast: a required vote for a party and its list in an unaltered state and an optional vote for a candidate to influence the list order. The parties post their lists in the voting booths to ensure that voters can easily determine the candidate’s list number and name. Although the initial list order is predetermined by the parties, the final list order is determined by the number of votes received by each candidate. Ties between candidates are settled using the initial list order.

The ballots for the Governor of Chláir and the Mayor of Iria include a candidate from each political party, listed alphabetically. Saoirse is asked to rank the five candidates in order of preference, from 1 down to 5. She is only required to mark her preference for one candidate but she can mark her preference for the other candidates if she chooses to. A candidate must achieve a majority of votes to win the election.

Once voting ends, the ballots are counted:

Ballots for the Members of Parliament, the Crown Deputies, and the Representatives of the Council of Chláir and the Iria Assembly are first sorted by voter preference for a party to determine the number of seats that each party receives. The candidate lists are then reorganized based on the number of votes that each candidate received and this new list is used to fill all seats in the respective legislative chamber.
Ballots for the Governor of Chláir and the Mayor of Iria are first counted based on the voters top preference candidate. If a candidate has more than half of the vote based on first-choices, that candidate wins. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The voters who selected the defeated candidate as a first choice have their votes added to the totals of their next preferred candidate. This continues until a candidate has more than half of the votes, at which time they are declared the winner.

Nightsong · Jan 12, 2021

Law Enforcement in Merilia

The Merilian Police Authority (Údarás Póilíní na Merilían) is the main civil law enforcement agency of the Kingdom of Merilia with police responsibilities throughout the cities, towns, villages, urban areas, and rural areas. They are under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs and answer to the Director-General of Public Safety. Each Realm of Merilia maintains a division of the Merilian Police Authority except in County Chláir (part of the Realm of Áth na Ríogh) which is under the jurisdiction of the Crown Police Agency (consisting of the Royal Constabulary and the Chláir Constabulary). The Police Authority Divisions are organized at the county level by the Royal Administrative Councils and all carry the title of County Constabulary as they were modeled on the Chláir Constabulary.

The Local Police (Póilíní Áitiúla) are civilian police forces organized by cities, towns, and villages, and answering to their respective Municipal Government. They concentrate on preventing crime, settling incidents, traffic control, and intelligence gathering. The Local Police are authorized in municipalities with a population of 5,000 or more people and they work directly with the Merilian Police Authority in providing law enforcement services.

The Merilian Border Force (Fórsa Teorann na Merilían) is a law enforcement agency within the Ministry of Home Affairs that is responsible for onshore and offshore border control enforcement, investigations, compliance, and detention operations in Merilia. They are tasked with protecting Merilia's border and enabling legitimate travel and trade. The Operations Group is responsible for all activity related to the management of travelers and goods and cargo coming across the border while the Support Group provides planning, support, and specialist services to the Border Force and the management of detention facilities.

The Life Guards (Gardaí Saoil) are a combined infantry/cavalry regiment of the Royal Merilian Army with a strength of 1,500 soldiers. They are responsible for the defense of Áralon as well as the provision of the royal guard of honor for the High King/High Queen, the Pálás Áth na Ríogh (the office of the Monarch), the Teach sna Coillte (the residence of the Royal Family), the Pálás Aldwich (the Parliament of Merilia) and the Pálás an Cheartais (the Court of Justice). The Life Guards are also responsible for providing guards of honor for the state, foreign dignitaries and guests, military ceremonies, and staffing horseback patrol stations in the forests of County Chláir.

Police in Áralon

As the capital of the Kingdom of Merilia, Áralon poses special and unique issues of security and consequently, the Government of Merilia has been responsible for providing law enforcement since 5168 AR (1668 CE). The current iteration of law enforcement dates from 5300 AR (1800 CE) when the various law enforcement agencies of County Chláir were consolidated into the Chláir Constabulary and then joined with the Royal Constabulary of Áralon to create the Crown Police Agency (Gníomhaireacht Póilíní na Corónach). The Crown Police Agency is headed by a Commissioner of the Crown Police who answers directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs which oversees all police and security services in Áralon and County Chláir.

The Royal Áralon Constabulary (Constáblacht Ríoga Áralon) works alongside the Life Guards to ensure the safety and security of the Royal Family, members of the government, foreign embassies, and providing police and law enforcement throughout Áralon. They work alongside the Chláir Constabulary (Constáblacht Claire) which provides police and law enforcement throughout the cities, towns, villages, and areas of County Chláir.

Nightsong · Mar 10, 2021

Scholars Exam

In their final year of gymnasium, students take the Critical Thinking Assessment during the Autumn Term and the Scholars Exam at the end of the Spring Term. The Critical Thinking Assessment assesses students critical thinking skills, and it serves as the entrance examination to all higher education institutions while the Scholars Exam assesses students on their knowledge learned throughout gymnasium. Administration of the Critical Thinking Assessment is the responsibility of the Council for Higher Education Studies while the administration of the Scholars Exam is the responsibility of the National Education Committee.

The Critical Thinking Assessment consists of one section that tests problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, numerical and spatial reasoning skills, and the ability to understand argument and reasoning using everyday language. The Universities of Áralon, Irinría, Elenarda, Sirea, Gaillimhe, and Emerin (collectively the Ancient Universities of Merilia) and the ITC Schools of Áralon, Lithailin, and Nermiria add one section to the assessment which asks students to answer an essay question from a choice of three prompts. The essay tests the ability to organize ideas in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively.

The Scholars Exam consists of three sections: Merilian, Mathematical Analysis, and Scientific Reasoning. Each section is designed to measure a student’s knowledge of the relevant subject matter.

The Merilian section puts the student in the position of a writer who must make decisions to revise and edit a text. Short texts and essays from various genres provide numerous rhetorical situations. Students are measured on their ability to read closely, reason logically using evidence, interpret significant details, determine main ideas, and integrate information from multiple sources.
The Mathematical Analysis section emphasizes major content areas that are deemed prerequisites to a successful performance in higher education math courses. Knowledge of basic formulas and math skills are assumed as background for the problems but recall of complex formulas is not required.
The Scientific Reasoning section covers the natural and social sciences and measures a student’s ability to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and reason logically. Each scenario presented to the student asks them to recognize and understand the basic features of, and concepts related to, the provided information.

The Critical Thinking Assessment is offered on Saturday of the first and third week of March and April in the Autumn Term. The test comes in two forms; the traditional test which consists of one section of fifty questions which students have an hour and a half to answer and the extended test which consists of the fifty questions plus an additional essay which students have half an hour to answer. With the extended test, students are given a fifteen-minute break between the two sections. Students cannot sit and retake the test to improve their grade as their initial attempt is the one sent to higher education institutions.

The Scholars Exam is offered to students during their second to last week of Twelfth Grade with the days and times set by the schools and their governing bodies. The Merilian section of the exam is divided into a writing portion with fifty questions and a reading portion with thirty questions. Students have fifty-five minutes for the writing portion and thirty-five minutes for the reading portion. A break for lunch is taken after the Merilian section, lasting for thirty to forty-five minutes before students take the remaining two sections. The Mathematical Analysis and Scientific Reasoning sections of the exam consist of thirty-five questions with students having forty minutes to complete each section.

Nightsong · Apr 4, 2021

Social Structure of Merilia

The social structures of the Kingdom of Merilia have historically been highly influenced by the concept of social class, which continues to affect Merilian society today. Before the Industrial Revolution, Merilian society was traditionally divided hierarchically within a system involving the hereditary transmission of occupation, social status, and political influence. Since industrialization in 5284 AR (1784 CE), new factors other than birth (for example, education and occupation) are now a greater part of creating an identity. Merilian society has experienced significant changes throughout the 5400's (1900's), including an expansion of secondary and tertiary education, home ownership, a shift towards a service-dominated economy, immigration, and a more individualistic culture, all of which have had a considerable impact on the social landscape.

4306 AR (806 CE) to 4765 AR (1265 CE)

The older of the two historic social structures of the Kingdom of Merilia, it was implemented by High Queen Ciara ó Mórdha in 4306 AR (806 CE) when she established the Kingdom of Merilia. It set clear divisions between Royalty, Professionals, Free Commoners, and Peasants. Society was structured in a hierarchical fashion, with those further up the hierarchy having more privileges, wealth, and power than those further down.

The Ríchíosa (Royalty) were the highest social layer and included the Ard-Rí / Ard-Bhanríon (High King / High Queen), the Rí / Banríon (King / Queen), the Tiarna / Bantiarna (Lord / Lady), the Tánaiste (Deputy), the Toísech (Head of a Fine), Filí, and Cailleach. Filí recited traditional lore and poems, eulogized royalty, and satirized injustices within the kingdom. Cailleach provided legal, medical, and political advice.

The Gairmithe (Professionals) were the second highest social layer and together with the Ríchíosa made up the Royal Court of Merilia. Included in this layer were the jurists, physicians, artisans, musicians, and scholars with a master in a particular profession being known as an ollam (modern spelling: ollamh). As the various professions – including law, medicine, art, poetry, history, and genealogy – were associated with families, the positions grew to become hereditary over the centuries.

The Comóntóirí Saor (Free Commoners) were the most populous social layer and included freemen and freewomen. Some commoners owned land and cattle and some commoners did not own land or cattle, or who owned little. They could further themselves by becoming the client of a noble who would grant them property (i.e., livestock or land) and in return they would owe yearly payments and a fixed amount of work. The clientship agreements enabled social mobility as freemen / freewomen could increase their wealth until they could afford clients of their own, thus becoming a lord or lady. Clientship agreements also existed among the nobles where it established hierarchies of homage and political support.

The Tuathánach (Peasants) were the lowest social layer and included those who were in debt bondage, in indentured servitude, or were prisoners of war. Though serfdom was inherited, people could not be bought, sold, or traded individually though they could be passed along with the sale of land. The rights of the Tuathánach were considerably basic though they did have access to the legal system, and they could read whatever they wanted, take classes, and move about locally so long as the work got done.

Although the ranks were distinct, they were not exclusive as it was possible to rise or sink from one rank to another. Rising upward could be achieved several ways, such as by gaining wealth, by gaining skill in a field of expertise, by qualifying for a learned profession, by showing conspicuous valor, or by performing some service to the community.

4765 AR (1265 CE) to 5284 AR (1784 CE)

The younger of the two historic social structures of the Kingdom of Merilia, it was implemented by High King Seán ó Mórdha in 4765 AR (1265 CE) when he signed Cairt Mhór na Saoirse (The Great Charter of Freedom) that ended the strife among the Ríchíosa (Royalty) when rogue nobility sought to utilize the Gairmithe (Professionals), specifically the Guilds of Merilia, to undermine the power of the High King / High Queen. The Cairt Mór not only strengthened and centralized royal power but also strengthened the commoners by granting them more rights and social mobility though their ability to enter the ranks of the nobility using clientship agreements was severely curtailed and limited. As with the previous structure, society was structured in a hierarchical fashion, with those further up the hierarchy having more privileges, wealth, and power than those further down.

The Ríchíosa (Royalty) consisted of the Royal Court which was consolidated to include the Ard-Rí / Ard-Bhanríon (High King / High Queen), the Prionsa na Corónach / Banphrionsa na Corónach (Crown Prince / Crown Princess), Prionsaí / Banphrionsaí (Princes / Princesses), and other close relatives of the royal family. Other members who had traditionally been a part of the Royal Court were shifted into their own social class.

The Uasaicme (Aristocracy) included the ranks of Tiarna / Bantiarna (Lord / Lady), the Diúc / Bandiúc (Duke / Duchess), the Cunta / Chuntaois (Count / Countess), and the Barún / Banbharún (Baron / Baroness). The rules of succession were traditionally elaborate; however, the eldest daughter inherited the title and wealth. If a noble had no daughters, the title and wealth would then pass to the eldest son. Nobles were large land holders which granted them the right to sit in the House of Knights and to play a role in court affairs.

The Tionól (Assembly) was the sole domain of the Temple of the Elenath and included the Filí and the Cailleach who provided civil and religious services for the kingdom.

The Ord na Ridirí (Order of Knights) was the overarching group of chivalric orders in Merilia. It included the Ridirí (Knights) who organized local military forces on behalf of the Ríchíosa (Royalty) and the Uasaicme (Aristocracy).

As the Guilds of Merilia grew in power and helped shape the kingdoms economy, the Ceardaí (Artisans) arose as a distinct social class separate from that of the Gairmithe (Professionals). The Guilds protected their members from foreign competition, guaranteed the quality of work through strict supervision of the workshops, stipulated work hours, established markets and feast days, and provided public services to its members and their families. The Guilds also organized watchmen to protect closed workshops and warehouses. Members of the Ceardaí ranged from blacksmiths to tailors to wine merchants. Merchants ranged in status from middle to high, depending on their wealth and social importance.

The Gairmithe (Professionals) included urban and rural professionals, with the highest status bestowed on the Inns of Court, the center of the legal profession in the kingdom. The medical field grew in its level of professionalism with education centralizing a rapidly increasing knowledge base. Many professionals had a high level of education and their work centered on pursuits that did not require manual labor.

The Comóntóirí (Commoners) included freemen / freewomen divided among three sub-ranks. The upper rank of the commoners included those who were engaged as household guards, mercenaries, or farmers who held a reasonable amount of land and were able to defend themselves and their family against threats. The middle rank of the commoners included free tenants who either rented a home or owned a small plot of land. They traditionally paid of portion of their work or production to a land-holding noble. The lowest rank of the commoners included those who did not own land, or who owned little, and they traditionally worked the land as clients of a noble.

As the practices of debt bondage and indentured servitude died out, they were eventually outlawed by the High King / High Queen. The Tuathánach (Peasants) shifted to include those who worked for others for wages and servants who worked for a household or a farm. The retained the legal rights along with the right to read whatever they wanted, to take classes, and to move about locally so long as the work was finished. This last right was generally limited however if they worked in a household as they were expected to live in the house and adhere to the rules of the family.

Although the ranks were distinct, they were not exclusive as it was possible to rise or sink from one rank to another. Rising upward could be achieved several ways, such as by gaining wealth, by gaining skill in a field of expertise, by qualifying for a learned profession, by showing conspicuous valor, or by performing some service to the community.

5284 AR (1784 CE) to Present

The advent of industrialization brought much change to the social structure of Merilia. The Aristocracy began to decline in power as the Commoners gained more rights in society due to the opportunities available to them. The Guilds of Merilia transitioned into professional associations and trade associations as their grip on the economy weakened in the wake of economic centralization by the Crown and the Government of Merilia.

Ríchíosa (Royalty of Merilia): The Royalty consists of the Ard-Rí/Ard-Bhanríon (High King/High Queen), the Prionsa na Corónach/Banphrionsa na Corónach (Crown Prince/Crown Princess), Prionsaí/Banphrionsaí (Princes/Princesses), and other close relatives of the royal family.

Uasaicme (Aristocracy of Merilia): The Aristocracy consists of the Tiarna/Bantiarna (Lord/Lady), the Diúc/Bandiúc (Duke/Duchess), the Cunta/Chuntaois (Count/Countess), and the Barún/Banbharún (Baron/Baroness). Though many families still own land and estates, their power has been greatly diminished. The Aristocracy retains some political rights including the right to petition the High King / High Queen for a private audience, to sit in the House of Knights, and to be a patron of a Guild of Merilia or a higher education institute. The families that have taken up the mantle of patronage enjoy tax incentives and benefits in return for their continued support in promoting and supporting higher education studies in the Kingdom of Merilia.

Tionól (Assembly): Over the centuries, the Assembly consolidated the disparate powers of the Filí and the Cailleach into a unified Cailleach. They were granted the titles of Sagart/Bansagart (Priest/Priestess). They continue to rule from the Temple of the Elenath and provide both civil and religious services for the Kingdom of Merilia.

Comóntóirí (Commoners): The largest of the social classes, it encompasses everyone in the Kingdom of Merilia who does not belong to the Ríchíosa (Royalty), the Uasaicme (Aristocracy), or the Tionól (Assembly). This ranges from urban and rural professionals to workers, laborers, and farmers.

Nightsong · Apr 8, 2021

Tipping in Merilia

In Merilia, service charges (gratuity) are included in the bill by law. Tipping is uncommon in Merilia; however, those who wish to show a level of appreciation for exceptional service can leave an additional tip on top of the already included gratuity. The culture is one that values respect, hard work, and dignity and where good service is considered the standard. Restaurant servers, bartenders, hotel staff, cab drivers and many others who provide similar services are paid fair wages in Merilia. They receive benefits including maternity and paternity leave, childcare, disability coverage, and paid vacation from the government or their employer. Between fair wages and benefits, they are not dependent on tips to make a living wage and to make ends meet.

When out at a restaurant or bar, tipping is traditionally reserved for exceptional service and for high end establishments. Any tip that is left is generally split among the restaurant staff and those wishing to tip a specific server do so by handing it to them personally in cash. For servers and bartenders, the amount to tip is up to ten percent of the bill or rounding the total up. For example, if the bill is ƒ18 and the service was excellent, it would be appropriate (but not expected) to pay a total bill of ƒ20.

At hotels, the staff traditionally do not expect tips, but tips can be offered for exceptional service.

If the bellhop offers to carry the luggage to the room and offer directions, it is acceptable to tip them ƒ3 to ƒ5.
For a totally spotless stay, housekeeping tips of ƒ3 to ƒ5 per night are acceptable. These tips are generally left in an envelope in the room for housekeeping to pick up.
If the concierge secures reservations to a restaurant or show (or something equally impressive and thoughtful), a tip of ƒ3 to ƒ5 is an acceptable gesture of appreciation.

Taxi drivers do not expect tips, however proper etiquette calls for rounding up the fare to the nearest even amount. If the driver is taking a long time looking for change, it is acceptable to tell them to keep the change.

There is no need to tip a massage therapist or barber/salon worker since the gratuity charge is already included in the price of the service. However, tips are acceptable as appreciation for exceptional service.

If you sign up for a tour in Merilia, you will not be obliged to tip the tour guide at the end as the cost of the guide is included in the price of the tour. However, a tip is acceptable to show gratitude and appreciation for a tour guide who goes above and beyond in making the tour truly memorable.

Nightsong · May 6, 2021

Óglaigh na Merilían
(Defense Force of Merilia)

The Defense Force (Merilian: Fórsaí Cosanta, officially styled Óglaigh na Merilían) is the unified armed forces of the Kingdom of Merilia, charged with the defense of Merilia and her national interests. They also promote Merilia's wider interests across Eras through international peacekeeping and humanitarian aid. With a strength of 151,503 active-duty personnel, 28,593 reserve-duty personnel, and 60,484 civilians, the Defense Force is small but technologically sophisticated. The Defense Force has a budget of ƒ60.14 billion (ƒ60,148,454,288) which ensures that the armed forces are well funded with military expenditures accounting for 1.6% of Merilia's national GDP.

Óglaigh na Merilían, abbreviated ÓM, is a Merilian-language idiom that can be translated variously as "Warriors of Merilia", "Soldiers of Merilia", or "Volunteers of Merilia".

The modern Defense Force dates to 5015 AR (1515 CE) and today consists of the Royal Merilian Army, Merilia's principal land warfare branch; the Royal Merilian Navy, Merilia's blue-water navy; the Royal Merilian Aerospace Force, Merilia's combined air force and space force with an operational fleet consisting of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and reconnaissance satellites; the Information Operations Division, Merilia's specialized branch dedicated to information technology and cyber warfare/defense; the Support and Logistics Corps, a unified multi-service support and logistics organization; and the Medical Services Corps, a unified multi-service medical organization.

Under the Defense Force Law, the Chief of Defense serves as the Commander of the Defense Force on behalf of the Crown and under the direction of the Minister of Defense. The Chief of Defense is the head of the Defense Command which consists of the Chief of Army Command (of the Army Board), the Chief of Naval Command (of the Admiralty Board), and the Chief of Aerospace Command (of the Aerospace Board). The Director of Information Operations, the Inspector-General of Support and Logistics, and the Surgeon-General of Medical Services answer directly to the Minister of Defense instead of the Chief of Defense.

Royal Merilian Army (Arm Ríoga na Merilían): 51,360 Personnel
The Royal Merilian Army is the land-based branch of the Defense Force and are mainly responsible for territorial defense and maintaining the sovereignty of Merilia. Other tasks include emergency disaster relief and humanitarian aid at home and abroad and responding to domestic and international operations.

Royal Merilian Navy (Cabhlach Ríoga na Merilían): 24,453 Personnel
The Royal Merilian Navy is the sea-based branch of the Defense Force and are mainly responsible for maritime defense and maintaining the sovereignty of Merilian territorial waters. Other tasks include search and rescue efforts, surveillance, and contributing to domestic and international operations.

Royal Merilian Aerospace Force (Fórsa Aeraspáis Ríoga na Merilían): 22,436 Personnel
The Royal Merilian Aerospace Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Defense Force. Initially made up of aerial divisions of the Royal Army and the Royal Navy, it was made a separate service branch in 5419 AR (1919 CE). Its main purpose is to serve as the enforcer of Merilian airspace and to provide air support to Merilian ground and naval troops during domestic and international operations.

Information Operations Division (Rannán Oibríochtaí Faisnéise): 14,309 Personnel
While the Royal Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Aerospace Force are responsible for the dimensions of land, sea, air, and space, members of the Information Operations Division are responsible for the dimensions of information space and cyber space. Commonly known as The Division (An Rannán), they operate high tech weaponry and systems and defend against cyber-attacks on the weaponry, systems, and networks of the Defense Force. The Directorate of Reconnaissance, an organization within the Information Operations Division, is responsible for reconnaissance and surveillance. With the pooling of IT expertise and resources into the Information Operations Division, the Defense Force is prepared for new developments and is able to take advantage of technological progress while minimizing any associated risks.

Support and Logistics Corps (Cór Tacaíochta agus Lóistíochta): 20,562 Personnel
The Support and Logistics Corps is responsible for the acquisition and supply chain management of military equipment and material including vehicles, ships, aircraft, electronic systems, uniforms, and rations. It is also the operational basis for all branches of the Defense Force and provides support to the Royal Army, Royal Navy, Royal Aerospace Force, and Information Operations Division in accomplishing their respective tasks. Its core competencies in the fields of supply and logistics, CBRN defense, training, and military police make it a key element in the success of the Defense Force. Aside from this internal role as a service provider, the Support and Logistics Corps also provides disaster relief service in the event of a flood, forest fire, or other disaster.

Medical Services Corps (Cór Seirbhísí Leighis): 18,383 Personnel
The Medical Services Corps ensures medical care for the Defense Force. The provision of health care to service members does not just start on site of an operation. Through preventative measures, like vaccinations, service members are guaranteed to receive the best possible protection against health hazards prior to their deployment. Qualified specialist personnel provide care to wounded, injured, and sick service men and women along the medical evacuation chain. It ranges from self-aid / buddy-aid to treatment in the theaters of operations to final treatment and rehabilitation in Merilia. Personnel also check the quality of water and food and the cleanliness of sanitary facilities to protect service men and women both at home and abroad.

Nightsong · Jun 12, 2021

Merilian Intelligence Community

The Office of National Intelligence is an intelligence agency responsible for advising the Monarch and the Chancellor, producing an all-source intelligence assessment, and overseeing the administration of the Merilian Intelligence Community. Their main goal is to effectively integrate domestic, foreign, and military intelligence from the Security Intelligence Service, the Secret Intelligence Organization, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, and the Directorate of Reconnaissance.

The Intelligence and Research Staff is an intelligence agency that provides all-source intelligence and analysis, and they serve as the government’s primary source of foreign public opinion research and analysis. As the Staff is primarily analytical, they do not engage in counter-intelligence or espionage, instead utilizing Intelligence Community reports, Foreign Service reports, and open-source materials such as news media and academic publications. Their mission is to provide all-source intelligence to support Merilian diplomats through all-source analysis, intelligence policy and coordination, analytic outreach, and hosting conferences and workshops to integrate outside expertise.

The Security Intelligence Service (Seirbhís Intleacht Slándála) is Merilia's domestic intelligence agency, responsible for national security and the protection of the nation and its citizens from politically motivated violence, terrorism, acts of foreign interference, espionage, sabotage, and attacks on the defense systems of Merilia. As they also have a role in counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism the Security Intelligence Service has a wide range of surveillance powers that allow for the collection and analysis of intelligence. Operations that require the police powers of arrest and detention under warrant are coordinated with the Federal Crime Commission.

The Defense and Intelligence Service (Seirbhís Cosanta agus Intleacht) is Merilia's foreign intelligence agency, responsible for the collection and analysis of intelligence in support of the nation’s interests and the Defense Force. Their roles includes counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, providing intelligence in support of national security and cyber security, supporting operations to disrupt criminal activity and terrorism, and providing intelligence to support military operations and contingency plans. The Defense and Intelligence Service also informs civilian and defense policymakers about foreign military intentions and capabilities along with developments that could affect Merilia's interests.

The Directorate of Reconnaissance (Stiúrthóireacht na Taiscéalaíochta) is part of the Information Operations Division and thus unique in the Merilian Intelligence Community as it is an integral part of the Defense Force instead of a stand-alone organization. Their primary role is to design, build, launch, operate, and maintain reconnaissance satellites. They focus on the collection, analysis, and distribution of signals intelligence (SIGNIT), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), and digital network intelligence (DNINT).

Nightsong · Jul 22, 2021

Judicial System of Merilia

Under the Constitution of Merilia and the Courts of Justice Act, everyone is entitled to have their case heard in court without undue delay. As a rule, all Courts of Justice in the Kingdom of Merilia may adjudicate disputes in legal areas such as civil law, criminal law, and administrative law.

The Merilian Court Administration is an independent agency within the Ministry of Justice that consists of:

The Courts of Justice include the Local Courts, Sheriff Courts, and Courts of the Realm.
The High Administrative Courts include the High Council of Merilia, Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State, and Maritime and Market Court.
The Judicial Appointments Council handles vacant court appointments (sheriffs, sheriffs principal, professional judges, magistrates, lay judges, and jurors).

The Merilian Court Administration is supported by various agencies:

The Advocate General serves as the principal legal advisor to the Crown and Government. Their office is His/Her Majesty's Office of Legal Affairs which provides legal advice and legal representation on a range of issues for the Council of State and Cabinet of Merilia and its members.
The Merilian Bar and Law Society supervises its members in practicing law. To practice law as an Advocate, candidates are required to graduate from law school with a Master of Laws, successfully complete an apprenticeship with a court or law firm and pass the Bar Exam. Members of the Bar and Law Society are required to pay annual dues, adhere to a professional code of conduct, and be subject to disciplinary action for unprofessional behavior and conduct.
- While the title of Advocate and a Master of Laws is required to represent clients in a Court of Justice or a High Administrative Court, those with a Bachelor of Laws or other legal based education may apply for membership with the Merilian Bar and Law Society. Membership allows for the practice of law as a Legal Advisor or a Civil Law Notary for clients, law firms, the Courts of Justice, and the High Administrative Courts.
The Merilian Prosecution Service is an independent government agency within the Ministry of Justice that upholds the due process of law, prosecutes criminal offenses, and ensures fairness in all criminal cases.
The Merilian Correctional Services is a government agency within the Ministry of Justice that is responsible for the implementation of detention and punishment in a way that is reassuring for society and for preventing criminal acts.

Courts of Merilia

The Merilian legal system is based on the so-called two-tier principle, which means that the parties to a case generally have the option of appealing the ruling of one court to a higher court. The higher court can then either reach the same conclusion (uphold the ruling) or change the ruling. The majority of cases begin at the Sheriff Court level with the option of appealing to a Court of the Realm. Cases can be further appealed to the High Council of Merilia or Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State.

Supreme appellate jurisdiction is divided between two judicial bodies:

The High Council of Merilia handles civil and criminal cases.
The Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State handles administrative cases.

In Merilia there are two procedures for investigating and prosecuting crimes: a summary procedure and a solemn procedure.

A summary procedure is used for less serious cases and leads to a trial before a Local Court or a Sheriff Court (lay judges are involved).
A solemn procedure is used for more serious cases and leads to a trial before a Sheriff Court (lay judges or a panel of jurors are involved).
The police authorities and the Merilian Prosecution Service choose whether to prosecute a crime under a summary or solemn procedure. Each procedure affects the sentences that the Local Courts and Sheriff Courts have available to them.

Courts of Justice:

There are numerous Local Courts in Merilia, and they are the principal court of first instance for minor civil and criminal cases. Civil cases deal with general civil suits, personal property claims, monetary claims not exceeding ƒ10,000, and family law cases dealing with marriage and ancillary matters (e.g., divorce, alimony, and child support). Criminal cases deal with summary offenses, misdemeanors, and breaches of the peace. Traditionally, cases are heard by a single sheriff.
There are 32 Sheriff Courts in Merilia, and they are the principal court of first instance for major civil and criminal court cases. In special cases, a Sheriff Court can refer a civil case directly to a Court of the Realm or High Administrative Court if the case has to do with principles of general interest. Court cases are traditionally divided into civil cases and criminal cases. Civil cases are cases in which one party seeks the court's help in pursuing a claim against another party or an authority (e.g., a local authority). Criminal cases are cases that have been investigated by a police authority (e.g., the Royal Lórien Constabulary) or the Merilian Prosecution Service and the court must determine whether an individual is guilty and should be sentenced via fines or imprisonment. Traditionally, cases are heard by a single sheriff though more complex cases are heard by a panel of three sheriffs. Criminal cases use lay judges or a panel of jurors.
- The Enforcement Division is tasked with helping the Sheriff Court in enforcing claims (e.g., claims for payment according to a court ruling or an instrument of debt) and holding the forced sale of real property.
- The Probate Division handles the administration of estates when the assets of the deceased are to be transferred to heirs or creditors. They also administer insolvency cases such as bankruptcies and applications for debt restructuring.
There are 6 Courts of the Realm in Merilia which are the appellate courts for the Local Courts and Sheriff Courts and the highest court within the Courts of Justice hierarchy. They re-examine cases and render their own verdict on the case to either uphold the ruling or change the ruling of the lower court. Traditionally, cases are heard by a panel of three professional judges. Criminal cases that are appealed from the Sheriff Courts involve lay judges or a panel of jurors.

High Administrative Courts:

The High Council of Merilia hears civil and criminal cases from the Courts of the Realm. In rare instances (e.g., precedent setting cases) they hear appeals from the Maritime and Market Court. However, most decisions of that court are final.
The Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State hears appeals by members of the public, associations, or commercial companies against decisions made by municipal or county authorities and by the central government.
The Maritime and Market Court is a special court that only handles certain types of cases. The court is divided into two divisions: the Legal Division and the Probate Division. The Legal Division deals with international commercial cases, competition cases and cases about patents, designs, or trademarks. The Probate Division handles all cases from the Greater Lórien Area relating to bankruptcy, debt restructuring, reconstruction and the compulsory winding up of public and private limited companies. In the rest of the country, such cases are handled by the Probate Division of the Sheriff Courts.

Miscellaneous Notes:
There are 6 Sheriffs Principal who sit as the Chief Judge in the Sheriff Courts of Lórien, Irinría, Arthórien, Áir, Chiarraí, and Gaillimh which are the six capital cities of the Realms of Merilia (Átha an Rí, Elentári, Ilmaré, Nindaría, Lanthira, Caledonia). The Sheriffs Principal ensure the efficient administration of the Local Courts and Sheriff Courts and act as the center of authority for the planning of court business within their Realm. Traditionally, the Sheriffs Principal occupy a unique position as judge and administrator and they are consulted on matters of practice, policy, and legislation.

Nightsong · Oct 2, 2021

Nightsong · Nov 8, 2021

Ancient Universities of Merilia

The Ancient Universities of Merilia are the five medieval universities founded between 1000 CE and 1500 CE. Originally established as centers for the study of humanities, philosophy, liberal arts, law, medicine, and theology, today the universities are the preeminent centers of higher education in Merilia.

The Ancient Universities are the:

University of Elenarda, founded in 1088 CE (Kingdom of Elentári)
University of Sirea, founded in 1139 CE (Kingdom of Elentári)
University of Lothlórien, founded 1348 CE (Kingdom of Altáriel)
University of Tirion, founded in 1441 CE (Kingdom of Ilimaré)
University of Stirlin, founded in 1485 CE (Kingdom of Alcária)

Nightsong · Jan 1, 2022

Federal Institutes of Technology

ITC Lothlórien (Merilian: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Cónaidhme i Lothlórien; Mercanti: Federal Institute of Technology in Lothlórien) is a public research university in the City of Lothlórien, Merilia. Founded by the Merilian Federal Government in 1848 CE with the stated mission of educating future generations of engineers and scientists, the school focuses primarily on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Over the next few decades three sister schools were founded, those being ITC () with a focus on natural science and engineering, ITC Rómenna with a focus on technology and formal science, and ITC () with a focus in the social sciences. The four sister schools are part of the Merilian Federal Institutes of Technology Domain which itself is part of the Merilian Federal Department of Education and Research.

Nightsong · Jan 26, 2022

Nightsong · Mar 15, 2022

The Realms of Merilia are the member states of the Commonwealth of Merilia.

A County Administrative Board is a Merilian Government Agency in the eighty-three counties of Merilia, led by a vice-regal governor appointed by the realm’s monarch for a five-year term. The office stretches back to 1653 when the modern counties were established in place of the petty kingdoms.

The main responsibilities of the County Administrative Boards are to coordinate the development of the county in line with goals set in federal and realm politics. Each county also has a County Council which is a policy-making assembly elected by the residents of the county.

The capital of a county is called cathair chónaithe (city of residence) because it is the seat of residence of the County Administrative Board and County Council.

When the County of Lothlórien became the Kingdom of Lothlórien its County Administrative Board was absorbed into the Senate of Lothlórien and Council of Lothlórien. A Chancellor was established in place of the Governor while continuing to be appointed by the High King or High Queen for a five-year term. The role of Chancellor has since become that of Chief of Staff to the Senate of Lothlórien.

Nightsong · Apr 23, 2022

The healthcare system of the Merilian Confederation are among the best in Eras due to a strong emphasis on preventative care to ensure a healthy population. Medicines are also stronger, and this mandates the need for prescriptions which leads to less misuse of over-the-counter drugs. Hospitals and clinics maintain a level of excellence in providing health care service and care thanks to an emphasis on advancements in medical technology. With health funds focusing on the promotion and maintenance of healthy lifestyles, Merilians enjoy a high life expectancy of 84 years (81.8 for men and 86.2 for women).

Merilia’s healthcare system dates to 1881 CE and the Workers Insurance Act which established health funds for laborers and workers. Healthcare was gradually expanded to cover more of the population, and universal coverage was achieved in 1949 CE with the Social Health Fund Act. The healthcare system is called Social Health and contains the Employment-Based Health Funds, the Residence-Based Health Funds, the Long-Term Care Insurance System, the Long-Life Medical System, and the Social Assistance Program. All residents over the age of 20 are required to have health insurance through their employment or residence. Young adults are legally covered by their parents’ health insurance until they turn 24 which allows them to be covered during their university years (bachelors and masters).

Merilia’s statutory health insurance system provides universal coverage which is funded primarily by taxes and individual contributions. Healthcare is mandatory for all residents of Merilia, with enrollment in an employment-based health fund or a residence-based health fund. All health funds have the same level of benefits which cover hospital care, primary and specialty care, and prescription drugs. In addition to health premiums, residents pay a coinsurance rate that is determined by their age; it can range anywhere from 10% to 30%. Some health services also charge copayment. To keep costs affordable, there is a monthly out-of-pocket maximum and an annual household out-of-pocket maximum for health care and long-term care that is based on income and age. The fee schedule is set by the Government of Merilia every two years in negotiations with the health care industry.

Nightsong · Oct 26, 2022

Snippets of Worldbuilding

The House of Lords (upper house of the Merilian Parliament) represents the nobility of Merilia. Those who sit in the House are part time non-partisan politicians who maintain another job. Nobles who are a Marquess, Marchioness, Earl, or Earless are entitled to sit in the House of Lords for life. Nobles who are a Baron or Baroness are entitled to sit in the House of Lords for a term of ten years.
The House of Lords has 400 seats. 250 seats are held by nobles with the title of Marquess, Marchioness, Earl, or Earless. 150 seats are held by nobles with the title of Baron or Baroness.
Every ten years elections are held to fill the 150 open seats in the House of Lords; any Baron or Baroness is eligible to apply. The House of Lords Appointments Committee assesses each application based on the noble’s merit, propriety, and fit for political office. There are currently forty-one members that sit on the House of Lords Appointments Committee.
The term of ten years is nonconsecutive so a Baron or Baroness cannot run again after their term ends.

In all Merilian provinces the primary administrative subdivision higher than a municipality is the county. Counties stand at an intermediate level of administration between each provincial government and the local governments within it.
Most counties are rural counties, of which there are two hundred and forty-four. All other counties are urban counties, of which there are eighty-nine.
Urban counties are cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. They combine the functions of a county and a municipality in one local government.

Residents are required to register with a resident registration office in their county (there is one office in each county, generally with multiple branches to cover the whole population). Registration facilitates administrative dealings regarding applications for Merilian identity documents and passports, healthcare enrollment, social services, welfare benefits, voter registration, taxation, etc.

Merilian nationals are citizens of their county of origin, their province of origin, and the kingdom, in that order: a Merilian citizen is defined as someone who has the citizenship of a county. The manner in which Merilian citizens acquire their place of origin differs depending on whether they acquired citizenship by filiation (jus sanguinis), ordinary naturalization, or facilitated naturalization. Marriage has in and of itself no effect on the place of origin of the spouses.

Nightsong · Oct 26, 2022

Snippets of Worldbuilding, Part 2

The Merilian telephone numbering plan is a closed plan meaning that all telephone numbers, including the area code, have a fixed number of digits. Area codes are officially termed national destination codes. A complete telephone number consists of ten digits and there are two formats distinguished: two digits for the area code and eight digits for the subscriber number (xx xxxx xxxx – used by landlines and mobile phones) and three digits for the area code and seven digits for the subscriber number (xxx xxx xx xx – used by freephone numbers and premium rate telephone numbers). A few exceptions exist such as 112.

Provincial capital cities use an area code of x0 (example: 20 for Rennes (Caerllion) or 60 for Iria (Elerina)) while the rest of the province uses an area code that ranges from x1 to x9. Gwynedd has one area code, 10, which applies to both landline numbers and mobile numbers.

Historically Merilia used a trunk prefix of 0 which had to be dialed at the start of the telephone number. With the revision of the telephone numbering plan in 2003 the trunk prefix is no longer used.

Phone Number Example and Breakdown:
(+41) 10 6853 1138

+41: Country Code of Merilia
10: Area Code (of Gwynedd)
6853 1138: Subscriber Number

Telephone Area 0: Reserved. The emergency telephone number of 112 is the most well-known number.
Telephone Area 1: Covers the province of Gwynedd.
Telephone Area 2: Covers the province of Caerllion.
Telephone Area 3: Covers the province of Alatariel.
Telephone Area 4: Covers the province of Eryri.
Telephone Area 5: Covers the province of Elerina.
Telephone Area 6: Covers the province of Torfaen.
Telephone Area 7: Mobile phone numbers; telecom providers are assigned a second number. Merilian Telecom uses area code 70 and Crown Wireless uses area codes 71 and 72.
Telephone Area 8: Reserved. Used by freephone numbers (example: 800 383 00 00; the phone number is seven digits and formatted in a 3-2-2 manner).
Telephone Area 9: Reserved. Used by premium rate telephone numbers (example: 901 511 00 00; the phone number is seven digits and formatted in a 3-2-2 manner). The area code indicates which type of service is offered. These are -1 for information; -3 for entertainment; and -5 for adult entertainment.

Merilia uses five-digit numeric postal codes with the first two numbers representing the postal region of the address. The regional numbers were assigned in blocks to the provinces in 1842 (example: Gwynedd Province received numbers 01 to 04 for its cities and counties which were then assigned alphabetically).

The last three numbers identify a more precise location, with two formats in use. Provincial capitals use a zero for the third number and two numbers that correspond to a city district for their fourth and fifth numbers (example: 01015 corresponds to the 15th Borough of Aerowyn). The rest of the nation uses the third number to denote a postal area within a postal region and two numbers that correspond to a post office for their fourth and fifth numbers (example: 02125 corresponds to Postal Area 1 in Clare Region).

Address Example and Breakdown:
5 Oak Avenue
01001 Aerowyn
Gwynedd

Building/House Number: 5
Street Name: Oak Avenue
Postal Code: 01001
01: County Prefix (Gwynedd Province)
010: Area Identifier (City of Aerowyn)
01001: Delivery Area (1st District of Aerowyn)
Locality: Aerowyn
Province: Gwynedd

The address can also be written as ‘5 Oak Avenue, 01001 Aerowyn, Gwynedd’.
If the address includes a flat number, it is written as a second line beneath the building / house number and street name. They are written as ‘Fflat 9’ or abbreviated as ‘Flt. 9’.
The country name (Merilia) is not required for domestic mail (though it can be included). However, it is required for international mail and is added after the province name (example: Gwynedd, Merilia).

In Merilia, vehicle license plates are composed of a two-letter code for the province and a six-character alphanumeric combination. The rear plate displays two shields with the flag of Merilia and the province. Since 1973 the sizes of the plates have been 300 x 80 mm (front) and 300 x 160 mm (rear).

License plates are assigned to the car owner and not the vehicle. If the car owner changes vehicles, then the same license plates are attached to the new vehicle. The previous vehicle receives the license plates of the new owner. The only time that a car owner has to relinquish a license plate assigned to them is if they move to another province which requires re-registration with the motor vehicle department. Since 1997 it has been possible to migrate license plate numbers between provinces if they are available.

Nightsong · Dec 10, 2022

Snippets of Worldbuilding, Part 3
An Update to the Courts of Merilia

[Provincial Courts]
Magistrates’ Court
The Magistrates’ Court is the lowest judicial court and is located in each of the three hundred and thirty-nine counties.
The court deals with minor civil and criminal cases and sentences are limited to fines, day fines, and imprisonment up to one year.
All cases (civil and criminal) are heard by a single judge.

Superior Court
The Superior Court is the principal court of first instance and is located in each of the sixty regions.
The court deals with major civil and criminal cases and sentences are limited to fines, day fines, and imprisonment up to five years.
The court hears appeals from the Magistrates' Court.
Civil cases are heard by a single judge or a panel of three judges. Criminal cases are heard by a panel of one judge and two lay judges.

Court of Session
The Court of Session is the principal court for serious criminal matters (murder, rape, treason, etc) and is located in each of the sixty regions. The Court can render a sentence of life imprisonment (determinate or indeterminate penalty).
Cases are heard by a panel of three judges and six jurors. Retrials are heard by another Court of Session and are heard by a panel of three judges and nine jurors. Parole hearings are heard by a panel of three judges and three lay judges.

Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal is the highest court within a province. It hears appeals from the Superior Court and Court of Session and reviews questions of law. Decisions of the court can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Merilia.

[Federal Courts]
Provincial Courts
The Provincial Courts have limited jurisdiction over federal cases involving questions of federal law, civil disputes, criminal matters, certain fields of commercial law (ex. business law, competition law, taxation, bankruptcy, and industrial relations), admiralty law, and immigration.

Courts of the Kingdoms
The Court of Merilia has specialized and exclusive jurisdiction over federal cases involving international trade, government contracts, trademarks, and patents. The Court of the Northern Kingdoms (Gwynedd, Caerleon, and Alatariel) and Court of the Southern Kingdoms (Eryri, Elerina, and Torfaen) hear appeals from the Provincial Courts.

Supreme Court of Merilia
The Supreme Court of Merilia is the head of the judiciary. It examines the uniform application of the law by the lower courts and whether the law was correctly applied in the contested decision.

[Judicial Appointment Process]
The Judicial Appointments Board nominates judges for the Magistrates' Courts, Superior Courts, Courts of Session, Courts of Appeal, Courts of the Kingdoms, and Supreme Court of Merilia. At the provincial level members of the Board include the President of the Court of Appeal, seven judges each from the Courts of Session and Superior Courts, and four lawyers. At the federal level members of the Board include the President of the Supreme Court, the Presidents of the Courts of the Kingdoms, and three lawyers. All judicial appointments are for life with a mandatory retirement age of 80.

Nightsong · Feb 4, 2023

Snippets of Worldbuilding, Part 4

From the 10th to 16th century Merilia, or the Merilias, referred to the Crown of Elerina and the Crown of Eryri. In the 16th century the Crowns were unified as the Kingdom of Merilia.
The Crown of Elerina was a dynastic union between the Kingdom of Elerina and the Kingdom of Alatariel. The Crown also included the Kingdom of Caerleon and the Kingdom of Athlone.
The Confederacy of the Three Fires included numerous independent chiefdoms on the Isle of Eryri. By the 11th century it came to be known as the Crown of Eryri when the Chief of Tirnen reorganized and unified the chiefdoms as a loose collection of kingdoms.
Crown of Elerina:
- From the 10th to 13th century the Great Council and the Courts of the Kingdoms worked to preserve the peace, aid one another in military endeavors, and arbitrate disputes.
- By the 13th century the Great Council had evolved into the Merilian Forum which would be the legislature of the Crown of Elerina until the 16th century.
- The Merilian Forum typically met several times a year and each kingdom sent a number of representatives who were drawn from the druids, nobles, and commoners. The three groups came to be known as the Estates of the Realm.
- The Merilian Forum dealt with inter-kingdom affairs and was the court of last resort in disputes between kingdoms. It also dealt with standards and legislation for the Crown.
Crown of Eryri:
- From the 11th to 16th century the Grand Council of the Three Fires was the legislature of the Crown of Eryri and included three representatives from each kingdom.
- The Grand Council worked to preserve the peace and arbitrate disputes.
- Matters related to the common defense and trade of the island were standardized.
In the 16th century the Merilian Forum was renamed the Merilian Parliament and became the legislature of the Kingdom of Merilia. The Grand Council of the Three Fires was renamed the Grand Council of Eryri and became the local court of the Kingdom of Eryri.
The Merilian Parliament continued to handle inter-kingdom affairs and serve as the court of last resort in disputes between kingdoms. It primarily served as an advisory body to the Empress or Emperor by presenting petitions from the estates and kingdoms and consulting on fiscal policy.
While the Empress or Emperor could rule without the Merilian Parliament it was often convened to help strengthen and provide a mandate for royal decrees and legislation.

Nightsong · Apr 2, 2023

Snippets of Worldbuilding, Part 5

During the forty-year period from 1775 to 1815 the Kingdom of Merilia experienced two parallel economic movements: an agricultural revolution and proto-industrialization.
- The agricultural revolution saw the creation of larger agricultural estates, the creation of new farming tools, and the commercialization of farming.
- Proto-industrialization saw small industries established in the cities and countryside.
These two movements led to economic growth benefitting large sections of the population and led to a consumption revolution starting in the 1820s. Proto-industrialization evolved into larger and more specialized industries throughout the 1800s.
The late 1700’s and early 1800’s saw a series of protests and growing unrest in urban and rural areas due to proto-industrialization and the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment.
- Rural areas saw a rapid rise in their population which led many to seek work in the cities that had begun to industrialize. This movement of people from rural areas to cities led to a rift forming between the commoners and the working poor.
- The liberalization of trade laws and the growth of factories increased the gulf between master tradesmen, journeymen, and apprentices and threatened the existence of guilds.
- The rise of the ideals of democracy threatened the existence of the aristocratic order.
- Aerowyn, which had served as the capital of the Kingdom of Merilia since becoming the permanent seat of the Merilian Parliament in the 16th century, saw increasing unrest as many people called for greater city autonomy.
A series of reforms were implemented throughout the late 18th and early 19th century to address the concerns of the nobility and the people. In 1812 a Constitutional Congress was convened.
- The Crown sought to ensure the survival of enlightened absolutism.
- The Monarchs and Nobility sought to preserve the aristocratic order.
- The People sought individual liberty and having a greater say in democracy.
Outcomes of the 1812 Constitutional Congress:
- Gwynedd Province (of which Aerowyn was the capital) was made an independent state. It would be beholden to no crown except that of the Empress/Emperor.
- The Kingdoms of Elerina, Alatariel, Eryri, Caerleon, and Athlone were granted rights and powers as befitting their status as semi-sovereign states.
- The Crown was made elective. Each Queen/King would be elected Empress/Emperor for a period of five years during which a reagent would be appointed to lead their kingdom.
- The Empress/Emperor retained the right to appoint the members of the Council of State, to issue royal decrees, and to veto legislation from the Merilian Parliament.
- The Queens/Kings retained their status as Heads of State of the Kingdoms and the right to appoint a Royal Council to advise them on affairs of state.
- The Nobility retained their right to sit in the House of Knights. However, the number of nobles who could sit in the Merilian Parliament for life was limited to those holding the title of Marquise, Marquis, Earless, or Earl. Baronesses and Barons were to be elected.
- The People were granted a new charter of rights and freedoms.
- Suffrage was extended but still restricted to certain groups of women and men. Farmers possessing their own land, civil servants, and urban property owners could vote.
By the end of the Congress of the Rose the delegates had drafted a new Constitution of Merilia. It was sent to the Kingdoms for ratification and became the law of the land on April 8, 1813.

Nightsong · Jun 28, 2023

Snippets of Worldbuilding, Part 6

Royal Family of Elbereth: House of Griffith (Tristan, Ceridwen)
Royal Family of Alatariel: House of Wynn (Guinevere, Maeve)
Royal Family of Gwynedd: House of Forrester (Brian, William)
Royal Family of Ilmare: House of Rowan (Morgan, Alexander)
Royal Family of Eryri: House of Hughes (Shannon, Gareth)

The capital of the Kingdom of Merilia is Caeredin; it is located in the Republic of Tara.
The Grove of Merille in Elbereth gave rise to the modern name of Merilia.
The Grove is the oldest Elenathian grove and is today a site of spiritual significance.
Current Queens and Kings and their Heirs:
- Kingdom of Elbereth: King Tristan, Princess Ceridwen
- Kingdom of Alatariel: Queen Guinevere, Princess Maeve
- Kingdom of Gwynedd: King Brian, Prince William
- Kingdom of Ilmare: Queen Morgan, Prince Alexander
- Kingdom of Eryri: Queen Shannon, Prince Gareth
“Aether Unites; Earth my Body, Water my Blood, Air my Breath, and Fire my Spirit”
Order of the Kingdoms: Elbereth, Alatariel (North), Gwynedd (West), Ilmare (East), Eryri (South)

Merilia: Worldbuilding Compendium

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Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm

Bookworm