Balmitta

Balmitta could most probably be described as a pacifist nation. With the people's tame attitude towards life and work, they've grown to truly trust close to anyone, but always taking time to consider the outcome of a situation. To seek friendly relations with everyone could as well be the nation's top priority as a friendly neighbor is always better than the fear of war or death.

## Founding days

As Balmi tta was founded in a very active area the survival chances weren't very high as the early beginnings of a faction now known as the HCC or Heaven Chain Confederation had already divided the southern island in to spheres of influence with Balmitta falling under Morska Ziem's territory. Luckily, through diplomatic envoys and negotiation parties, Balmitta joined the council as an observer which granted it a guarantee to not be assimilated or attacked. At this point Balmitta has still not officialy joined the HCC but is part of their technology and research sharing system.

At the same time, relations with one of the western continent's members also improved, that nation being Alendora. Although insisting on joining a new and upcoming group (now known as UNO(United Nations of Oestia)), Balmitta has declined but insisted on keeping positive relations.

Although the nation is not one of expansionist nature, it has amassed one of the biggest amounts of land within the short time it has existed, how ever it lags behind in research and technology when compared to other nations on the island (appart from it's education system).

## Future vision

With a lot of it's land being underdeveloped, the nation has stopped focusing on expansion and is going to focus on internal maters like city building and manufactory as it's seen that only if it rises to be strong economically can it survive.

Balmitta will also probably join the HCC in the near future as not being in the islander's faction may cause strain and tension that could escalate in to war. This, how ever, does not mean that it will abandon it's pacifist policy as it is the nations moral foundation.

## The people

   The people of Balmitta are most commonly referred to as Balmittans or "Ballian" in ancient Balmittan. The name is a portmanteau of two ancient Balmittan words "Balli" - meaning "white" and "tian" - meaning either "sand" or "seaside" (people have a split opinion on the matter), this most is most probably a reference to the early life of the older people who were fishers and lived by the coast and the clarity of the sand on the shore.

the people are a slight variation from regular humans as they naturally have thicker skin and better endurance due to natural factors like colder weather and a fishing lifestyle. The average age for these people is 55 years, although according to several sources there is a case of someone living up to the age of 112.

The story of how the Balmittan people settled the land they inhabit now is told by every elder to the younger generation through out the years in schools, homes and is even propagated during festivals as the people believe it is the single most important part of their history and heritage. It is referred to as "toras" or "the journey". It is a story about the earliest known Balmittans traveling from one of the continents (weather it's the western or the eastern continent is not clear) on to an island and settling on a shore after "Saurigius", the god of life, nature and fertility together with his brother “Rakitas”, the god of secrets and safety, offered a fertile and safe land in exchange for 2 young sisters, "Kiete" and "Kiumia" to be their brides, to witch the people agreed and received what has been promised so far.

## Governing

the country is run by a form of try-monarchal system with the country having 3 official rulers and 1 king (is one of the 3 rulers). The king is an inheritable title as the oldest child is crowned no matter the gender, depending on the amount of children the previous king had there are certain rules for the 2 others, they may be siblings of the king, descendants of a king in the past 3 generations or they may be the companions joining the king for the "Kim para undeko lito" trials. each ruler has a distinct title and certain duties they must perform. The current king is being "borrowed" from Ral Atsel due to Gityte not having any children.

* The King: is the head of religion and diplomacy, conducting religious conversions and representing the nation to foreigners.
* The Duke: is second in command after the king and is responsible for the economy and trade, collects taxes and directs trade flow and market values in parallel with inspecting harvests and goods of all sorts
* The Herald: is the title of the third in power, they are responsible for land administration and act as the highest court, they divide the land between the people and lease it for different purposes, if a threat is made to invade, this person takes the role of chief of the army.

To pass a law or act, all 3 or at least 2 rulers must be in agreement. This is to prevent any lapse in judgement or corruption that might occur. In addition to this, every ruler is entitled to 5 administrators of a designated title to help with the duties that come up.

## Celebrations

Most are related either to seasonal changes or to mythical or mystical events in the past. There are 4 annual, 2 habitual and 2 ceremonial celebrations, not regarding personal festivities like marriage or birthdays.

### “Kim para undeko lito” or “celebration of the kings crown”

It is a ceremonial celebration when the heir to the crown has to spend a day at sea during storm season with 2 companions to prove his strength and connection with the gods. He may try up to 3 times after which they can chose to no longer partake in the ritual, but will be either succeeded as soon as another heir is of age or will rule in infamy. There is also an option to spend a year in solitary studying and becoming enlightened to rule not with strength but with wit and knowledge. (there is only 1 case of a king failing and choosing solitary, "Polive Tiure" was known as the "repenting queen" due to her unyielding devotion after the year of isolation).

### “Susha para undeko” or “coming of the king”

A festival celebrated when the king has a child. For 1 week he visits towns and villages in a ritual known as “touring” or showing the next king his lands while bringing along gifts and throwing feasts to the town's folk.

### “Grisha pa Yuria” or “return of Yuria”

An annual celebrated when the ice starts cracking in the sea signaling the coming of farming season. This celebration lasts for about a month as the royal food stores are opened to all residents and are almost depleted which is when their “unity period” starts, that is – until the ice and snow is gone they ration food and eat very modestly to show their unity in the struggle trying to survive the winters.(Unity period is considered a different celebration although it goes toe to toe with return of Yuria).

### “Celebration of warmth” or (“Piunica”)

The celebration is named after the first fire keeper who was rumored to be the mother of "Kiete" and "Kiumia". Fire keeping in winter is sacred and can not be disturbed, that is why every winter a town or village dedicates one young woman to guard the fire for the season in a sanctuary close to the center of said town or village (this is also done to ensure that the women are taken by the gods), during this time they can not meet or see men as it may distract them from the work. That said, 55 days after the first snow falls a ceremony is held for these women to celebrate their dedication, a fire is ignited at the sanctuary and given to the community’s strongest man and is to be brought to the capitol where they light lanterns for each community. “The winter brawl” then begins, a  3 day tournament where the men compete in a number of challenges and the winners flame is chosen to be the capitols fire for the next year.

### “Kim pa Yori” or “celebration of gold/Yori (a flower local to the region)”

Is celebrated during warm months one night after the full moon where people would go out in to the sea at night and light lanterns that float on the water. It is a celebration of remembrance of the passed away and it is said that the lanterns let the dead find their way to their family after death. It is a calm and peaceful celebration for families so the day before is free of work and worries to appreciate ones beloved people.

### “Deapa Saurigius” or “day of Saurigius"

It is a love festival happening 3 times a year depending on when a different flower sprouts: violets for spring, yori for summer, lupins for autumn. The sprouting is considered a sign from the god that it is time to be honest and heartfelt for the next 5 days, in that time (depending on your birthday \*only celebrated on your birth month and winter is cooped with spring\*) you can be honest to someone you like and cherish about your feelings, it is also the time to express your greatest regrets over a fire to get rid of them from the past year.

## Geography

Balmitta is one of the less influential nations on the south Mediterranean island as it is still mostly isolated. the capitol Alvia is located not too far from the geographical center of the nation on the shore of the "New middle sea" , with the warmer currents grazing the coast the temperature during the warmer seasons can range from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.

The landscape is mostly flat with some hills along the eastern border as well as being covered in temperate deciduous forests. As a costal state, Balmitta's coast to land border ration is about 4 to 5 with the beaches being of fine white sand. Due to old geological activity the southern coast line is littered with beach dunes which make up the perfect environment for the growth of special medicinal herbs.