Dal Riata

Dal Riata is an independent region-enclave of Virgohronie on the continent of Galea with a population of only 92,464 citizens. It has in recent years been campaigning for independence from its Virgohronian administrators, citing an ancient treaty with Virgohronie concerning Dal Riata's constitutional status. Dal Riata recieved recognition as an independent country on the 1st November 2011 and reclaimed much of its ancestral territory that had been subsumed by Virgohronie.
The Capital of Dal Riata is Mallaig, which has a population of 797 and has been the seat of Dal Riata's legislature since ancient times. The official language of Dal Riata is Scottish Gaelic, though English is spoken fluently by almost 100% of the population and is mandatory in Dal Riatian schools. Its national currency is the Dal Riatian Pound (£), which is pegged in value to the Virgohronian Roobl.
==History==
Dal Riata has had a bloody history due to its heavily tribal-based nature. Almost every Dal Riatian is descended from one of the ancient tribes, of which around 84 remain, with an average of ~1100 members each. However, membership between the individual tribes can vary greatly, with the smallest having as little as 57, while the largest has over 2000. Conflicts between the tribes were numerous, and there was a state of almost constant warfare between them, though there relativly small size has kept this from spilling over into neighbouring countries. It has been suggested that this constant warfare has been the reason for Dal Riata's small population and growth rate, as despite this warrior culture, the stereotypical 'willingness to die in battle' view is not common among Dal Riatians and many Dal Riatian mothers have only a few children to avoid repeated pain at losing her children in war.
===Treaty of Činžilli===
After a particularly violent conflict which pitted two main groupings of the tribes against each other over the issue of succession to the Dal Riatian throne, it was agreed among the tribes to sign a treaty with Virgohronie, in which they voluntarily became an autonomous region of Virgohronie, in return for their help in isolating Dal Riata and preventing external interference in the tribal wars until a conclusion was reached internally by the tribes.
===Modern Day===
In recent times, conflict between the tribes has died off substantially, with a lawful and relativly stable government implemented. As such, the economy of Dal Riata has begun to improve considerably, and for the first time a national television broadcaster has been formed, DRTV, which has applied to join the NSC.
Many tribes have died off in this long struggle, and so Archeological digs are commonplace throughout Dal Riata as Archeologists attempt to find information on these lost tribes as contemporary records of the time are (understandably) rare.
==Geography==
Dal Riata is a very hilly country, though not mountainous. It's highest mountain is around 1,000ft above sealevel, and its various mountain ranges are popular spots for hikers and rock climbers. There are few significant lochs in Dal Riata, though there are legends of a prehistoric monster living in the larger ones, which locals have dubbed 'Agnes'.
Dal Riata has a mild climate, with winters dropping to around -20 degrees Celsius and heat reaching around 22 degrees in summer.
==DRTV==
Dal Riatan Telebhision (DRTV) is a state-run and the only native television broadcasting corporation in Dal Riata. The vast majority of DRTV's schedule is made up of foreign imports dubbed over in Scottish Gaelic though there is increasing availability of home-produced programmes. Dal Riatan viewers in search of alternative viewing can pick up most national and a few close regional Virgohronian stations.
===DRTV Channels:===
====Television:====
*DRTV 1 - Main channel, broadcast 24-hours. Shows NSC-related shows.
*DRTV 2 - Secondary channel, focuses on home-produced content, broadcast 1pm - 10pm.
====Radio:====
*DRTV Radio 1 - Main channel, plays contemporary hit music.
*DRTV Radio 2 - Secondary channel, plays classic hits.
*DRTV Radio Home - Tertiary channel, plays Dal Riatan music.
==NSC Participation==
Main Article: Dal Riata in the Nation Song Contest
On a whole, Dal Riata has not been particularly successful in the Nation Song Contest, only qualifying to the final twice in their first ten attempts, and only achieved a top-ten placing (and pre-qualification) on its 20th entry. DRTV normally hosts a public selection to choose its representative, in which the Dal Riatan populace decide on an act by televote. However, DRTV has occasionally hosted international selections, permitting foreign juries to vote in Dal Riata's National Final.
The Voice of Dal Riata is the most viewed programme in Dal Riata and is hosted by DRTV-1 every year. It is normally used to select DRTV's representative with the exceptions being WLSC 4, NSC 76 and NSC 89, which used a different format, and all NSC Spinoff entries, which are internally selected by a jury.
==Sport==
===Haxball===
The National Dal Riata Haxball Team is one of the least successful national teams, losing 18 of its 22 official international tournament games with a combined goal difference of -71. Dal Riata's first international win was a pre-tournament friendly in which it managed to best Doire 4-2. Dal Riata's most successful tournament was the 12th NSC Cup, where it reached the Quarter Finals beore being knocked out by Rumia, losing 10-1. As off the 16th Cup, Dal Riata was ranked the 15th best team world-wide.
====Overall Stats====
Wins	Draws	Loses	GF	GA 	GD
3 	1 	18 	38	109	-71
====NSC 5th Cup====
Dal Riata first participated in the 5th NSC Cup. Dal Riata was placed in Group B, which also housed one of the most successful NSC Haxball teams - Calypso, and the teams from Seranate & Clair and Zechonia. Dal Riata placed bottom of their group, losing all their games and failing to progress to the next round. Dal Riata did manage, however, to place 15th overall, beating Doire by goal difference.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group B	Dal Riata 	0-7 	Calypso
Group B	Zechonia 	4-3 	Dal Riata
Group B	Seranate & Clair	5-0 	Dal Riata
====NSC 7th Cup====
After a break from the 6th Cup due to funding problems, Dal Riata returned for the 7th Cup, being placed into Group D from pot 4, along with Horehronieland, the Kingdom of Eras and Nukuland. Dal Riata once again failed to progress from the group stages, losing everyone of its matches, and finishing with a goal difference of -11 , ranked 16th and last. During the festivities before official tournament play, Dal Riata won its first ever international match against Doire, with a score of 4-2.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group D	Dal Riata 	2-9 	Nukuland
Group D	Horehronieland 	4-2 	Dal Riata
Group D	Kingdom of Eras	2-0 	Dal Riata
====NSC 8th Cup====
In the 8th NSC Haxball Cup, Dal Riata was again placed in group D, this time alongside Pigeon Island, Rumia and Genext. Dal Riata was up first, against Genext where they managed to achieve their best result yet in the NSC Haxball Cup, a 2-2 draw, giving them their first ever point in a NSC Haxball tournament. Dal Riata retuned to familier territory, after a dissapointing 1-6 defeat at the hands of Rumia. For Dal Riata's last game, they were pitted against Pigeon Island, the strongest team in group D, being ranked 5th overall. Much to their surprise, Dal Riata was able to avoid a humiliating defeat, and pulled a much more respectable 3-5 loss, thus cementing the 8th Cup as Dal Riata's most successful foray into NSC Haxball up to this point. Dal Riata was ranked 12th of 16th and moved up to the 22nd place on the overall ranking.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group D	Genext 	2-2 	Dal Riata
Group D	Dal Riata	1-6 	Rumia
Group D	Dal Riata	3-5 	Pigeon Island
====NSC 9th Cup====
For the third time in a row, Dal Riata was placed in Group D upon entering the 8th NSC Haxball Cup. Having faced an identical group two cups ago, hope were not high to qualify, despite a new ruling mandating the top three would qualify from Group D. True to form, Dal Riata lost all three matches by similar margins, finishing with a goal difference of -10.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group D	Horehronieland	3-0 	Dal Riata
Group D	Nukuland 	7-4 	Dal Riata
Group D	Dal Riata 	0-4 	Kingdom of Eras
====NSC 12th Cup====
After further funding problems leading to Dal Riata's withdrawl from the 10th and 11th NSC Cups, the Dal Riatan team made a comeback for the 12th Cup. Dal Riata was placed in Group B, along with Adamsburg, Horehronieland and Prasia and was drawn for a difficult first match against Adamsburg, where they managed to pull off a better than average performance and score to scores, finishing with a score of 5-2 to Adamsburg. Next up, Dal Riata was drawn agaisnt Prasia, a team they had never played. To the subject of much celebration in Dal Riata, they pulled off their first ever official NSC Haxball win, beating Prasia 5-nil. Dal Riata's last game was a predicted loss at the hands of Horehronieland, a familier and unbeaten opponent to Dal Riata. 3rd place in their group allowed Dal Riata to advance to the 3rd placers Round, where they were paired with Pigeon Island, who soundly defeated them 8-1. Dal Riata's final game in the 3rd Placers round was against Xorientia, who were surpisingly defeated by Dal Riata 3-2 allowing Dal Riata to advance for the first ever time to the Quarter-finals. Rumia was Dal Riata Quarter-final opponent, and handed a 10-1 loss to Dal Riata, to the surpise of no-one. the 12th NSC Haxball Cup became Dal Riata best ever showing and rose in the overall rankings to be ranked 20th overall.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group B 	Adamsburg 	5-2 	Dal Riata
Group B 	Prasia 	0-5 	Dal Riata
Group B 	Dal Riata 	0-4 	Horehronieland
3rd Placers Round	Pigeon Island	8-1 	Dal Riata
3rd Placers Round	Dal Riata 	3-2 	Xorientia
Quarter-Finals 	Rumia 	10-1 	Dal Riata
====NSC 15th Cup====
Dal Riata returned after missing the 13th and 14th cups and was placed in Group D along with Rumia, Mooseland, Marrakechia and Cydoni-Gibberia. Dal Riata was able to pull and early win 3-5 win against Cydoni-Gibberia, before losing their final two Group D matchs 2-5 to Mooseland and 2-9 to Rumia. Third-place in the Group stages allowed Dal Riata to advance to the 1/8 Playoffs, where they were paired against the Kingdom of Eras, who promptly defeated them 5-0, knocking Dal Riata out of the 15th NSC Haxball Cup.
Stage 	Team 	Score	Team
Group D 	Cydoni-Gibberia	3-5 	Dal Riata
Group D 	Dal Riata 	2-5 	Mooseland
Group D 	Dal Riata 	2-9 	Rumia
1/8 Playoffs	Kingdom Of Eras	5-0 	Dal Riata
==Demographics==
Due to its history, the population of Dal Riata is relatively pure, with about 98% of the population being indigenous. Virgohronians make up the only other significant Ethnic Group, with the remaining 2% mainly because of Dal Riata's legal status as a region of Virgohronie.
===Ethnic Makeup===
Ethnic Makeup of Dal Riata
Dal Riatian 	90,608
Virgohronian	1,849
Other 	7
==Government==
Traditionally, each tribe was for all intents and purposes, an independant entity, answerable only to the Dal Riatian King, though the monarchy was abolished as part of the Treaty of Činžilli. However, as the internal disputes died down, the tribes have become much more interdependent. Current government is based upon a unicameral democratic tribal council system, in which each tribe elects one representative to the 84-member 'Tribal Council' each year which constitutes both the legislature and judiciary. The position of executive, 'First Chief' is elected from among these 84 members before the formation of the party organisations using an exhaustive ballot system, though has only limited powers himself.
Last First Minister Election
Candidate 	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
Jon Steel 	14 	16 	24 	28 	43
Jennifer MacRae	21 	21 	23 	29 	41
Thomas Muir 	18 	18 	20 	27 	OUT
Angus MacDonald	11 	15 	17 	OUT 	OUT
Moira Cameron 	13 	14 	OUT 	OUT 	OUT
Gemma Smith 	7 	OUT 	OUT 	OUT 	OUT
Votes 	84 	84 	84 	84 	84
In Dal Riata, a tribe is officially recognised when allocated a seat on the Tribal Council, thus the Tribal Council has varied in overall size at many points in its life, though has recently stabililized at 84 members. The method of election for their representative is decided by each individual tribe, though a simple Fast-Past-the-Post system is by far the most common. Non-Dal Riatans are not enfranchised due to their status as not being members of the Dal Riatan tribes.
The Tribal Council is a non-partisan chamber. However, most representatives tend to 'group' with other like-minded individuals into organisations resembling parties, though these are only at the forefront when council is in session. Members of these groups are still essentially independent representatives, and so it is not uncommon for Councillors to vote outwith that of their groups favoured position.
Current Composition of the Tribal Council
	Party 	Seats
	Socialist 	29
	Nationalist 	26
	Liberal 	14
	Conservative	9
	Isolationist	2
	Far Left 	2
	Independent 	2
==Representation in the NSC==
===NSC===
NSC	Song 	Artist 	Language 	Final	Points	Semi	Points
75 	Hyökyaalto 	Antti Tuisku 	Finnish 	* 	* 	19 	48
76 	Rann Na Móna 	Capercaillie 	Scottish Gaelic 	* 	* 	20 	40
77 	A Spaceman Came Travelling 	Chris De Burgh 	English 	* 	* 	15 	55
78 	Weekend Wars 	MGMT 	English 	* 	* 	21 	36
79 	Parla Con Me 	Eros Ramozzotti 	Italian 	* 	* 	25 	22
80 	Forever Young 	Alphaville 	English 	12 	125 	1 	122
81 	Latha Math 	Mànran 	Scottish Gaelic 	* 	* 	12 	63
82 	Bright Eyes 	Art Garfunkel 	English 	22 	87 	8 	76
83 	Welcome to the Action 	Millennium 	English 	* 	* 	20 	44
84 	Fight Like A Girl 	Emilie Autumn 	English 	* 	* 	22 	28
85 	Sing 	Gary Barlow & Commonwealth Band ft. Military Wives	English 	* 	* 	13 	59
86 	Die Young 	The Sweet Serenades 	English 	25 	76 	5 	83
87 	Scotty Doesn't Know 	Lustra 	English 	* 	* 	21 	35
88 	Take You There 	Mànran & Michelle McManus 	English 	* 	* 	25 	24
89 	Touch The Sky 	Julie Fowlis 	English 	16 	108 	9 	72
90 	Stadt 	Cassandra Steen ft. Adel Tawil 	German 	* 	* 	23 	38
91 	What If 	Kate Winslet 	English 	* 	* 	17 	41
92 	Heaven Can Wait 	Star Pilots 	
English 	* 	* 	20 	44
93 	Gold 	Neon Hitch 	English 	* 	* 	24 	44
94 	I Could Be The One 	Avicii vs. Nicky Romero 	English 	3 	173 	2 	107
95 	Oidhche Mhath Leibh 's Beannachd Leibh	Ossian 	Scottish Gaelic 	26 	57 	* 	*
96 	When She Loved Me 	Sarah McLachlan 	English 	* 	* 	20 	40
97 	Gaelic Song 	Old Blind Dogs 	Scottish Gaelic 	* 	* 	21 	18
98 	One World One Song 	Dionne Warwick & Joe McElderry 	English 	* 	* 	17 	52
99 	A Real Hero 	College & Electric Youth 	English 	* 	* 	15 	59
100	Problem (The Monster Remix) 	Becky G ft. Will.i.am 	English 	* 	* 	26 	19
101	At The Heart Of It All 	Capercaillie 	English 	21 	95 	9 	74
102	I Like 	The Divine Comedy 	English 	* 	* 	20 	47
103	Full of Grace 	Sarah McLachlan 	English 	* 	* 	26 	25
104	I Quit 	Hepburn 	English 	* 	* 	20 	35
105	Greenland 	Bodega 	English 	* 	* 	16 	43
106	Do It All Over Again 	Elyar Fox 	English 	* 	* 	22 	28
107	I Should've Followed You Home 	Agnetha Faltskog & Gary Barlow 	English 	* 	* 	16 	53
108	Lon-Dubh (Blackbird) 	Julie Fowlis 	Scottish Gaelic & English	* 	* 	23 	30
109	One Shot 	B.A.P 	Korean 	24 	80 	10 	73
110	Whiskey Lullaby 	Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss 	English 	25 	82 	6 	89
111	Glasgow 1877 	Tuomas Holopainen 	Scottish Gaelic 	* 	* 	17 	55
112	Sweet Victory 	Spongebob Squarepants 	English 	* 	* 	22 	39
113	Walking On The Waves 	Skipinnish 	English 	3 	172 	8 	71
114	Little Braveheart 	Charlotte Perrelli & Kate Ryan 	English 	16 	131 	* 	*
115	Break Free 	Ariana Grande ft. Zedd 	English 	3 	176 	3 	91
116	Ugly Heart 	G.R.L 	English 	22 	93 	* 	*
117	Walking On The Waves 	Skipinnish 	English, Scottish Gaelic 	23 	73 	9 	70
118	All As One 	Miracle Of Sound 	English 	TBA 	TBA 	TBA 	TBA
====Points Given (Finals after NSC 75 only):====
Nation 	Points
Llama Republic 	42
Serenate & Clair	41
Doire 	41
Eterland 	40
Rumia 	34
Category:Nations
Category:Landlocked nations
Category:Northern continent nations
===WLSC===
WLSC	Song 	Artist 	Language 	Place	Points
1 	Kaksi Irrallaan 	Laura Närhi 	Finnish 	7 	58
2 	Latha Math 	Mànran 	Scottish Gaelic	1 	87
3 	Het Is Zomer 	Amika 	Dutch 	9 	54
4 	Bela Revo 	Anjo Amika 	Esperanto 	14 	45
5 	Tinseltown in the Rain 	Andrea Corr 	English 	11 	53
6 	21st Century Digital Girl	Groove Coverage 	English 	13 	52
7 	Sk8er Boi 	Avril Lavigne 	English 	10 	62
8 	Squealing Pigs 	Admiral Fallow 	English 	6 	73
9 	Kuulta Kyselen 	Laura Voutilainen	Finnish 	8 	68
====Points Received:====
Nation 	Points
Paperland 	52
Doire 	45
Jeffia 	44
Aspirinia 	39
Marrakechia	38
===Spinoff Editions===
Spinoff 	Song 	Language 	Artist 	Place	Points
AATW: Denmark 	Lidt I Fem 	Danish 	Rasmus Seebach 	21 	39
Country Randomiser 	So Much 	English 	Raghav feat. Kardinal Offishall	23 	32
National Finals 2011 	Manipulated 	English 	Hanna Lindblad 	21 	39
Country Elimination II 	With You I'm Born Again 	English 	Billy Preston ft Syreeta 	R1 	N/A
Melodic Picture Contest 	Watermelon 	English 	D.Willz 	30 	12
Minority Language Spinoff	Glaodh an Iar 	Scottish Gaelic	Mànran 	14 	42
Congratulation 8 	A Spaceman Came Travelling	English 	Chris De Burgh 	39 	55
WLSC Congratulations 1 	Squealing Pigs 	English 	Admiral Fallow 	7 	70
AATW: Finland 	Sydän Paikallaan 	Finnish 	Johanna Kurkela 	12 	70
Robbery 2 	LoveBlood 	English 	King Charles 	19 	56
Covers & Remixes 3 	Didn't See It Coming 	English 	Belle & Sebastian 	7 	73
National Finals 2012 	Mercy 	English 	Donna McCaul 	9 	64
Country Elimination III 	Je Sais Ou Aller 	French 	Patrick Fiori 	R2 	N/A
Congratulation 9 	Touch The Sky 	English 	Julie Fowlis 	11 	161
Folk & Ethnic 1 	A Fisherman's Baby 	English 	Fuaim 	21 	28
AATW: Japan 	Gingham Check 	Japanese 	AKB48 	12 	60
Congratulations 10 	I Could Be The One 	English 	Avicii vs. Nicky Romero 	7 	196
Spinoff Congratulations 2	Sydän Paikallaan 	Finnish 	Johanna Kurkela 	7 	77
==Awards and Nominations==
Ceremony 	Award 	Nominated	Status
NSC General Awards 2012	Best Flag 	Dal Riata	Nominated
NSC General Awards 2012	Best Nation Name	Dal Riata	Nominated
Category:Nations
Category:Landlocked nations
Category:Northern continent nations