Solasberg

Solasberg (Rozowian: Byodraga Fornya, Modern Belmaran Rozowian: Bjorga Fronja) is a province of the Kingdom of Rozow situated in the borders between the continents of Halinn and Rozakko'ra. It is named after the mountain to its west called Mt. Sòlas (Beinn Sòlas in Scandari). It is located in southern Abexilas, on the northwestern coasts of Rozow.
== Description ==
The name of Solasberg is derived from the words of the Solasprak language, with "Solas" meaning solace (itself derived from the Scandari Language) and "Berg" meaning mountain. 
It is a province of the Kingdom of Rozow located in Hallinn and Rozakko'ra. It is ruled by the Queen of Rozow, with two elected lords acting as Solasberg's local heads of government.
== History ==
=== Migration of Earrachians and Statenlanders from Eldham ===
Solasberg was founded by Ferdiadh, an Earrachian, and Diamond van Hoeven, a Statenlander, in the Congress of the Union of Two Nations as a union of the people from both states of the Republic of Redoriv before a comet strike covering all of Eldham would force them to migrate to new lands. Both Earrach and Statenland were a formidable political alliance back when they were federal subjects of Redoriv, with frequent cultural exchange between the two entities, and the people of the southern Earrachian territory of Aran were distantly related to the people of Statenland. 
When the comet was about to strike Eldham, both peoples sailed together from the port of Aran to Abexilas with the aid of Raphael's angelic powers that would open up a portal that would connect both worlds. While sailing in what seemed to be an astral sea for days, the God of Time, Tìan, pulled the boats of the refugees underwater, bringing them to a foreign world where they would search for land.
=== Settlement in Belmara ===
The migrants arrived on the rocky coasts of southern Abexilas, founding a colonial town called Belmara, derived from the Scandari Beul na Mara, meaning "mouth of the sea". They also claimed Mount Sòlas, the mountain close to the fledgling town downhill, as a monastery for the adherents of the Earrachian religion of Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain.
The migrants arrived shortly after the Rozowian tribes to their south united under one throne, forming the Kingdom of Rozow under the rule of King Ryszard Rozmus. They were integrated into the newly united kingdom after a visit by their king. The town was granted provincial status soon after, forming the Province of Solasberg within Rozow.
=== Reclamation of Earrach and Statenland ===
In Winter of 31 VE, or Silence, 5531 EY, after the path to Eldham opened up for the Solasbergian fleet to journey in, the Parliament of Solasberg, with the agreement of both Lords of Solasberg and the Queen of Rozow, reclaimed both the lands of Earrach and Statenland in the former Republic of Redoriv. Both lands were the homelands of the two pioneering peoples of Solasberg, but Earrach was deemed a holy land for the followers of the Madacuain religion.
== Politics and Government ==
The politics of Solasberg is the continuation of the republican forms of government from Earrach and Statenland, with the parliamentary tradition of Earrach and the directorial system of government from Statenland. Though differing in their ideals, with Earrach being more religious and conservative and Statenland being more secular and progressive, they remained united under the Constitution of Solasberg.
=== Rosenlands Kyning (Monarch of Rozow) ===
As a province of the Kingdom of Rozow, the Monarch of Rozow (Rosenlands Kyning in Solasprak) has a final say in Solasberg's legislations and actions the province chooses to take.
Monarch of Rozow: Queen Katarzina Rozmus of Rozow
=== Morern (Lords of Solasberg) ===
Otherwise, according to the Constitution of Solasberg, it is led by two Morern/Lords, reflecting the union between two peoples into one polity, elected by the Parliament of Solasberg. The Lords of Solasberg are the local heads of government in the province. They have the authority to veto laws proposed by the Parliament and have representation seats within the central government of Rozow. They can delegate their executive duties to ministers.
Lords of Solasberg: 
* Lord Raphael MacOmhan (Ferdiadh)
* Lady Ravenna Samhradh (Ravenswillow)
=== Solasbergs Landsding (Parliament of Solasberg) ===
Solasbergs Landsding, or The Parliament of Solasberg, is made of citizens willing to participate in the local politics of Solasberg and are directly elected by the Citizens of Solasberg. There are 5 seats in the Parliament of Solasberg. All members of parliament (Dingsmanen in Solasprak) have voting powers on local laws.
Members of the 2nd Parliament of Solasberg:
* Alasdair Moray II (march_joe_nedd)
* Finoidh Taiscala (Fliesarefriends)
* Lunadaat Rè Aran Aukovai (Lunadaat)
* Diamond van Hoeven (di4mondcraft)
* Kairu Taslyn (Zalious)
=== Bréher (Judge) ===
The Bréher, or Judge, is the primary judicial arbiter of Solasberg. They have the power to hear all cases and controversies in Solasberg, hold the exclusive authority to interpret the laws of Solasberg, and have the power of judicial review. They are nominated by the Lords of Solasberg.
Judge of Solasberg: Keats Philips (GTP123456)
== Demographics ==
=== Ethnicities ===
==== Earrachians ====
The majority of citizens in Solasberg are Earrachians, which comprise 36% of the total population of Solasberg. A great majority of them live in the town of Belmara, with a minority living as monks in the monastery of Mt. Sòlas. They speak Scandari as their first language, though a majority of them are fluent in both Solasprak and Traveler's Tongue as well. Most Earrachians are adherents of the religion of Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain, with a minority adhering to Sarkism.
In Eldham, Earrachians were divided by clans which reside in certain territories of their homeland, with some clans being more politically powerful than others. After they moved to Abexilas, none of the Earrachian clans take control of a certain piece of territory as the people united as one nation, though naming systems still depend on clan system and Earrachians still take pride in their clan affiliation.
===== Tribes =====
Earrach is divided into 5 tribes, each consisting of several clans and a ruling clan which held several territories inside Eranor and outside of it. The tribes of Dùn Earrach, Beinn Bàs, and Aukovai are grouped together as the Northern Tribes of Earrach, and Aran and Speur comprise the Southern Tribes.
Each tribes are unique in their own ways. The tribe of Dùn Earrach mostly consists of scribes and scholars. It is the only clan to be led by a non-human species (a highland minotaur). The tribe of Beinn Bàs are traditionally sheep herders and pastoralists. They are native to the island alongside the Tribe of Aukovai, which are mostly farmers and brewers. The tribe of Aran are traditionally seafarers and merchants and are the only firmly monotheistic tribe. The tribe of Speur are mostly builders and fighters. It was once part of the Tribe of Aran until their exile by Omhan to the skies.
==== Statenlanders ====
Statenlanders comprise 24% of the total population in the province. A majority of them chose to live in the flat forest close to Belmara, with a minority living in Belmara. They are fluent in Solasprak, which is the direct descendant of the Statenlander language with Scandari loanwords, and Traveler's Tongue. Statenland's political system is influential in shaping the politics of Solasberg. 
Statenlanders are related to the clans of southern Earrach of the territory of Aran and the people of northern Redoriv. They shared some form of identity as migrants from an unknown disaster west of Eldham before the comet struck the world and both speak languages belonging to the same language family. They are also a seafaring people, much like their southern Earrachian relatives.
==== Rozowians ====
Rozowians comprise 16% of the population in Solasberg. They are the native people group that mostly settled in the continent of Rozakko'ra, with a few pockets of population in southeastern Halinn. Though they are native, they have never built a permanent settlement in the area comprising Belmara until Solasbergian migrants arrived. Only after Rozow unified that a small amount of Rozowians settled the province.
==== Others ====
The remaining 22% of Solasberg's population comprises an array of diverse ethnicities, native or otherwise. The most numerous of which are other Redorivian immigrant ethnicities, which comprises around 8% of citizens in Solasberg. There are also communities of Dralians, Tabaxi (cat people), Foxkins, and Spider-people which comprise a minority of citizens in Solasberg.
=== Language ===
==== Rozowian ====
As a subject of the Kingdom of Rozow, Rozowian is the official language of the province. It takes precedent over other languages in Solasberg and is the administrative language of the province, but is mostly spoken by the Lords and government officials of Solasberg to better communicate with the central government of Rozow and a diverse community of minority populations, like Rozowians and Dralians, to communicate with each other.
Solasberg has its own dialect of Rozowian, now called Modern Belmaran Rozowian. This dialect diverged from the Szaduran dialect used as a standard dialect of Rozowian by a few key changes:
* Consonants 'p', 't', and 'k' are ejectivized before vowels
* Schwas turn into 'á' or 'a' depending on vowel harmony
* Consonant 'wvy' turns into 'y'
* Diphtong 'ao' turns into 'o'
* Nominative case -ta/tá turns into -t
* Addition of imperative mood -e after verb stem
* Some loanwords from Solasprak
Alasdair Moray II, the member of the Parliament of Solasberg, devised a revised orthography of the Rozowian language for local Solasbergian use to get Solasbergians acclimated to the language. Such revisions include:
* my > mj
* ny > nj
* by > bj
* gy > gj
* v > w
* shy > sz
* jy > zs
* wvy > wj
* y > j
* w > ł
* u > y
* ú > u
* ao > au
The table below contains examples of Modern Belmaran Rozowian compared to Standard Rozowian.
Traveler's Tongue 	Modern Belmaran Rozowian 	Standard Rozowian (Official Orthography) 	Standard Rozowian (Belmaran Orthography)
Hello! Welcome to Belmara! 	Slán! Szásdek Belmáráke! 	Jyálves! Shyusdek jyátá dávansi tlonyad Belmáráke!	Zsálwes! Szysdek zsátá dáwansi tlonjad Belmáráke!
I ate multiple tasty fishes.	(Zsáté) Szewit mebjensi mjetáks bjél.	Jyátá shyevit mebyensi myetuks byel. 	Zsátá szewit mebjensi mjetyks bjel.
I will walk to Szadura. 	(Zsátá) Krábjál tlonjad Szádurake. 	Jyátá krábyál tlonyad Szadurake. 	Zsátá krábjál tlonjad Szádurake.
My soup. 	Zsápá kronjatta. 	Jyápu koranyatta. 	Zsápy koranjatta.
Solasberg. 	Bjorga Fornja. 	Byodraga Fornya. 	Bjodraga Fornja.
Rozow Reppin! 	Rozosu Zrodawtok! 	Rozaosú Zrodavtok! 	Rozausu Zrodawtok!
==== Solasprak ====
The main administrative language of Solasberg is Solasprak, a descendant of the languages spoken by the peoples of Statenland and southern Earrach with some Scandari loanwords. The language took shape to facilitate trade and cultural exchange between Earrachians and Statenlanders as federal subjects of the Republic of Redoriv. The language was chosen as an official language between the two cultures as a bridge between the two peoples because both peoples have at least a rudimentary understanding of the language. 
It is hypothesized that Solasprak, and therefore the Statenlander language, is related to Traveler's Tounge as well. 
==== Scandari ====
Scandari is a language from the isles of Earrach and the liturgical language for adherents of Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain. To this day, a majority of Earrachians in Solasberg still speak Scandari as their first language while picking up Solasprak as their second language. It is one of the main components of the Earrachian identity and its knowledge is still preserved in the Monastic Community of Mt. Sòlas. 
==== Traveler's Tongue ====
Traveler's Tongue is also widely spoken in Solasberg, particularly by merchants and ambassadors because of its widespread use throughout Eldham and Abexilas.
=== Religions ===
Though the faith of Świtnica is the sole official religion of Rozow, and therefore Solasberg as well, the majority of Solasbergians are adherents of Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain, in which most adherents of the religion are of Earrachian ethnicity. They were granted a freedom to adhere to their faith by King Ryszard Rozmus and to build their monastery in Mt. Sòlas. A small minority of Solasbergians adhere to the Sarkist religion.
== Culture ==
=== Cuisine ===
Solasberg's variety of foods are the result of Earrachian and Statenlander migrations and the immediate geography of the colony they built on. As a result, Solasberg's cuisine vary from seafood to alcoholic drinks to meat-based dishes.
The people of Earrach have long been known for their hearty appetites and love of rich, savory dishes. One of their favorites is a meat pie created by the skilled bakers of Aukovai, or Érgespadfel in Solasprak. This followed the Earrachians to Solasberg, where this meat pie is still a favorite hearty meal. The pie is made out of the base ingredients of wheat flour and meat, usually mutton. The meat is usually cooked with vegetables, like carrots, beetroots, and, in some recipes, mushrooms or berries. The pie is usually topped with a lot of potatoes, used to cover the cooked meat filling, and cheese.
=== Kinship ===
The Earrachian people of Solasberg have a complicated kinship system in which lineages of families are determined by their gender and clan affiliation.
Northern tribes like Aukovai, Dùn Earrach, and Beinn Bàs are Matrilineal (Each person is identified by their mother’s lineage), whereas southern tribes like Speur and Aran are Patrilineal (Each person is identified by their father’s lineage). Aran, specifically, has a system of primogeniture, which means the firstborn child gets to have their descendant identified by the firstborn’s lineage, regardless of gender. However, some clans, specifically the Do Mhàthair clan, famously had a long line of only sons, which they said was due to Omhan blessing them with them. There may have been people who buried their firstborn, but the records of it may have been destroyed.
==== Marriage Norms ====
Earrachians generally marry outside of their tribes. The tribe of Beinn Bàs is very strict on only allowing people to marry outside their tribe. This means that even people of different clans don’t marry into each other if they’re part of the same tribe. Exceptions exist in Dùn Earrach, where highland minotaurs generally marry to each other.
In the case of females of a northern tribe marrying with females of southern tribes or males of another northern tribe, the family would inherit the lineage of the female. However, in the case of males of southern tribes marrying with females of another southern tribe or males of northern tribes, the family would inherit the lineage of the male.
In special cases of females of a northern tribe marrying with males of southern tribes or females of another northern tribe and males of northern tribes marrying with females of southern tribe or males of another northern tribe, most families of both clans would compete in dowry spending in which whoever spends the most dowry determines the clan affiliation of the family. In some cases, for example, marriages with the highland minotaurs, a competition between clans in, for example but not limited to, fighting, archery, or horseback racing would be held. Winning clans determine the clan affiliation of the family.
As for people outside the gender binary, they are assumed to be beacons of the gods in some way. So when they are officially welcomed into the clan as a non-binary they are assigned a patron deity of the clan. The lineage of families with people outside the gender binary, regardless of gender, would be decided by which clan's god has seniority over the other (as in the order they were birthed in). If they have the same deity, or their patron deities are born at the same time, families would compete in spending dowry.
== Geography ==
=== Regions ===
Solasberg is primarily divided into two regions: Belmara and Mt. Sòlas.
==== Belmara ====
The Region of Belmara is the more populated part of the province. It is further divided into 3 subregions: The Port of Belmara, the Town of Belmara, and the Belnor region.
The Port of Belmara is the westernmost part of Solasberg. It acts as the primary trading and transportation hub of Solasberg, connecting it to the Bay of Roses. It has a large pier for docking large ships and galleons and a smaller pier for docking smaller ships and boathouses.
The Town of Belmara is the political and scholarly seat of Solasberg, containing the Parliament Building of Solasberg, the Horticultural Center of Solasberg, and the Grand Library of Belmara. It was where the first building blocks of the Colony of Belmara was built, making it the oldest region within the province. Alasdair Moray II is the current Mayor of Belmara.
The Belnor region is the most sparsely populated region in Solasberg, being the land granted to Solasberg after its integration into Rozow. It has a sprawling forest of cherry trees and a river flowing from the glaciers of Mt. Sòlas called the Belnor River (Zondtawyn in Solasprak).
==== Mt. Sòlas ====
Mt. Sòlas (Beinn Sòlas in Scandari) is the tallest point in Solasberg. It is one of the mountains in a mountain range in southeastern Halinn spanning 3 countries called the Temple Mountains (Yaszumatti: Paoma Daiguri, Nuíyan: Yeños, Solasprak: Dynsbérgn). It is the seat of the Monastic Community of Earrach Ùr, the monastery for the religion of Madacuain in Abexilas, headed by the High Druid Ravenna Samhradh.
=== Wildlife ===
Solasberg is home to animals and plants native to the Zolask Basin and Eastern Halinn. With the recent migration of Earrachians and Statenlanders from Eldham, the fauna and flora from each migrant's home regions were brought with them to Solasberg as well.
==== Earrachian Rainbow Sheep ====
The Earrachian Rainbow Sheep are a celebrated breed, painstakingly developed by the Aukovai Clan in Earrach before being introduced to the verdant pastures of Solasberg by Earrachian migrants to Rozow. Each sheep boasts a fleece of a unique, solid color, including an array of both neutral and vibrant tones: white, light gray, gray, black, and brown as well as bright hues like red, orange, yellow, lime, green, cyan, light blue, blue, purple, magenta, and pink.
The rainbow sheep are descended from the legendary Jeb the Sheep, whose multicolored coat inspired generations of breeders. They were cultivated to express the beauty of individual colors while embodying the unity of a rainbow. While Jeb’s singular coat remains unmatched, his descendants symbolize the harmony of diversity, with each sheep representing a piece of a grander whole.
Brought to Solasberg as a gift of friendship and craftsmanship, these sheep have adapted well to the province's cool climate and fertile lands. Their wool is sought after by artisans for its purity, vividness, and natural beauty, making them a cornerstone of Solasberg’s textile and cultural identity.
==== Birchfox ====
The Birchfox is a sly and elusive creature, native to the dense forests of Solasberg. They are thriving in the vast stretches of silver birch groves. Its sleek, rust-brown coat, marked by lighter underbelly and tail tips, helps it blend into the woodland surroundings, making it an expert in evading both predators and hunters alike. The fur of the Birchfox is patterned to mimic the shifting shadows and light dappling through the birch trees, offering it unparalleled camouflage.
Despite its small size, the Birchfox is highly intelligent and resourceful, often seen darting between the trees in pursuit of small prey, including rabbits, squirrels, and berries. It also has a fondness for scavenging and will often be seen rummaging through the underbrush for food left behind by larger creatures.
A fascinating trait of the Birchfox is its ability to communicate with other forest creatures, especially through its keen senses. Many from the Aukovai Clan believe that the Birchfox is a spiritual messenger, its quick movements and presence in sacred sites often seen as a sign of guidance from the Birch's spirit.
==== Soul Lantern Wisp ====
The Soul Lantern Wisp is an ethereal being bound to the Soul Lanterns, sacred objects crafted by the Earrachians through a powerful ritual. These lanterns are infused with the spirit of a willing ancestor, whose soul is bound to the lantern by the use of soul sand—a rare and magical material that allows the spirit to remain within the lantern, glowing with an ethereal light. The wisps themselves are manifestations of these spirits, lingering within the lanterns and acting as protectors and guides.
These wisps flicker with a gentle glow, their colors shifting with the emotions and intentions of the spirit within the lantern. In their purest form, they radiate a calming, soft light, but their glow can become erratic or dim if disturbed or if the balance of the forest is threatened. They are seen hovering near or within the lanterns, guarding the spirits bound to them and maintaining the delicate balance between the realms of the living and the dead.
The process of creating a Soul Lantern is one of reverence and deep magic. To forge a lantern, the Earrachians perform an intricate and sacred ritual in which a willing ancestral spirit offers itself to be bound to a lantern. This ritual involves infusing the lantern with soul sand—a rare substance imbued with powerful magic—that anchors the spirit within. The spirit becomes part of the lantern, its essence glowing as a gentle wisp within the confines of the enchanted object.
Once the spirit has willingly offered itself to the lantern, it remains bound to it for eternity, acting as a guide and guardian for the living. The lantern serves as both a light source and a sacred vessel, offering a connection to the past and the wisdom of those who have passed. The wisp’s glow represents the spirit’s continued presence in the world, offering protection and guidance to those who respect the ancestral tradition.
The wisps themselves are not simply glowing lights; they are the essence of the spirits within the lanterns. They hold ancient knowledge, emotions, and memories, and can communicate with the living in subtle ways. While they do not directly interact with the world, they can offer guidance or assistance to those who seek it, often appearing when the living require aid or wisdom. The wisp’s presence is a sign of protection, and their light is a beacon for those who are lost or in need.
==== Candle Critters ====
Candle Critters are peculiar, living beings born from the fusion of life and candle wax. At their top burns a tiny, supernatural flame, serving as both their heart and their lifeline. These creatures manifest in a wide array of shapes and sizes, ranging from simple, animal-like forms to more complex humanoid figures. Their intelligence, abilities, and form are directly influenced by the energy, effort, and life force expended in their creation.
The appearance of a Candle Critter reflects the intent of its creator. Smaller, simpler forms are often crafted as comforting companions or helpers, while humanoid forms demand considerably more effort and life force. Advanced humanoid critters are capable of movement, thought, and communication. Many Candle Critters are designed to bring warmth and solace, serving as ethereal campfires for both the living and the spirits. Others take on practical roles, such as guiding travelers, providing companionship, or performing basic tasks. Their light can illuminate dark spaces, their heat can ward off the cold, and their presence often brings a calming effect to those nearby.
Made entirely of wax and wick, Candle Critters vary greatly in appearance. Their designs can range from smooth and polished to rough and textured, depending on the materials used in their creation. The flame at their core is their most vital feature, usually located on their head or back. This flame varies in size and color depending on the creature’s emotions but typically glows as a pale, silvery blue when at rest. Strangely, Candle Critters do not melt under normal conditions, softening only in extreme heat.
==== Glowberry Firefly ====
Glowberry Fireflies are small, bioluminescent insects native the Solasberg region, where they thrive in the lush glow berry vines that are extremely common in the area. These fireflies are notable for their rapid reproduction, with populations capable of surging dramatically in just a few weeks. 
Despite their density, they have minimal ecological impact, notably not poisonous to frogs, as they do not burrow into wood or soil nor eat it. Instead, they build compact nests among the glow berry vines, relying exclusively on the berries for sustenance and survival.
Glow berries are rich in a specific chemical compound vital for the development of Glowberry Fireflies. Without access to these berries, the insects fail to mature and perish, making their survival tightly linked to the availability of this resource. This dependency has confined their natural range to the Solasberg region and its immediate mountainous surroundings. However, their presence has been reported in neighboring provinces, likely due to accidental transport via ships and cargo and the increased popularity of the glowberry vine.
Glowberry Fireflies are preyed upon by a variety of predators, including spiders, birds, and local humanoid populations, who often harvest them as a food source due to their abundance and high nutritional value. Conservationists monitor their spread to mitigate the risk of ecological disruptions beyond their native habitat.
Category:Provinces