Len Kyliman

The **Federated Kingdoms of Len Kyliman** are a state.

### Fauna

The most prominent animals present on Len Kyliman are birds. There are many species of birds, including a large number of flightless endemic bird species who have adapted to the local environment. The best known bird species is the Wisökö, a herbivore flightless bird that can reach up to two meters in height; the species has been exterminated throughout the archipelago, except on the Osatafa peninsula where a population remains and is protected. The Wisökö is the largest living native animal of Len Kyliman. Another flightless bird species native to the archipelago is the domesticated Ash Duck (Kylimian: Löju).

The only living mammal species native to Len Kyliman is the Arctic Fox; it is believed that foxes were able to arrive on the islands during the last ice age, when the sea around the island regularly froze, connecting them to the continental ice sheets. Although foxes were generally seen as pests and hunted for their furs until recently, populations have persisted on both main islands. The only known extinct mammal is the Kylimian Bear, a distinct subspecies of the Polar Bear, which was hunted to extinction soon after the Kylimians' arrival.

Large populations of dolphins and whales live in the waters surrounding the islands. Although there were many seals and walruses living in the archipelago before the arrival of humans, they have been extensively hunted for their meat, skins and ivory. As a result, walruses have gone fully extinct in the area.

There are no native reptiles on Len Kyliman.

## History

### Before human presence

The archipelago is of volcanic origin, having formed roughly 20 million years ago.

At the peak of the last ice age, Len Kyliman was covered by an ice sheet and surrounded by the frozen ocean. When the ice receded 20000 years ago, a population of polar bears remained on the islands. Over the following millennia, a distinct sub-species, the Kylimian bear, evolved. Its main identifying characteristics are their small size. A population of arctic foxes were also stranded on Len Kyliman at the same time. The Kylimian bear and arctic fox are the only land mammals native to Len Kyliman and occupy the top of the food chain.

In Kylimian mythology, the island was inhabited by giants before the arrival of humans, who, according to legend, built the Giants' Bridge, the isthmus linking Ostalva and Ulanei. There is however no archaeological evidence backing these legends.

### Iron Age (1500 BCE-1461 CE)

Around 1500-1000 BCE, the archipelago was colonised by iron age tribes from the mainland. Given the great distance between the two landmasses and the strength of currents in the area, it is not currently well understood why and how the Kylimians travelled such a long distance; the predominant theory is that the islands used to be closer to the continent due to lower sea levels.

The arrival of humans was followed by great environmental changes. By 600 BCE, the Kylimian bear had become extinct on the Eastern Island; it went extinct on the Ulanei peninsula before the first century CE. Before the arrival of the Kylimians, the islands are believed to have been mostly covered with forests, large parts of which were cut down. The Kylimians are believed to have been aware of the disappearance of the bears and bear hunts became rarer over time; furthermore, these hunts could only be done by kings and priests as bears were considered sacred. Because of this, there remains a population of bears to this day in Ostalva.

The ancient Kylimians brought cattle, pigs and dogs from the mainland. By the first century CE, they had domesticated the indigenous flightless ash duck; the exact timing of this domestication is unclear as it is impossible to differentiate the bones of domesticated ducks from those of wild ducks found at archaeological sites. According to archaeological finds, fish and seashells were widely consumed. The Kylimians regularly killed and ate seals; the evidence for whale or dolphin hunting is inconclusive.

Before colonisation, Len Kyliman was divided into hundreds of kingdoms, the borders of which are mostly unknown. No evidence of any urban or nucleated rural settlement has been found. The people were organised in a sort of feudal system where the majority of the population worked as agricultural workers for landowning farmers, whose rank depended on the number of cattle they owned; landowners paid tribute, offered hospitality and pledged assistance in war to more powerful landowners in exchange for protection and gifts. All members of society participated in farming activities.

As there was no writing in Kulmalein before discovery, the only sources for the Iron Age period are oral legends and traditions as well as archeological evidence.

### Discovery and colonisation (1461-1710)

Before what is considered the official discovery of Len Kyliman, several sightings were recorded. In 1327 CE, a trading ship got stranded on the Western Island. According to the captain's log, the surviving crew members were taken in by king Lali of Nutulma (who is the first historically attested Kylimian), but were expelled months later as their arrival caused the spread of an unknown illness. Over the following decades, this epidemic, which is now considered to have been a continental strand of smallpox, is believed to have killed 30% to 40% of all Kylimians; the population had not yet fully recovered when more frequent contact was established. In 1424, the Eastern Island was sighted by a trading ship that had been blown off course by a storm. However, seeing signs of human activity like smoke and stone buildings, the captain decided to not land as the country was at war and the crew believed they had come to hostile territory.

In 1461, an expedition was sent to find the North Pole, following a legend according to which there is a land there where the weather is so cold that it snows diamonds. These ships landed on the Western Island and established contact with the natives. The expedition departed soon after and continued their journey but sailed back to Len Kyliman after they could not go further North due to drift ice. Due to these circumstances and the harsh winter climate of the archipelago, it was called the Cold Islands by their discoverer. The expedition returned to the continent in 1462. The first map depicting Len Kyliman was drawn in 1465.

After discovery, traders initially came to Len Kyliman looking for diamonds, but it was soon discovered that there were none on the island. They however proved an efficient base of operations for fishing and whale hunting; continentals also bought walrus ivory, Kylimian bear furs and food from the natives, exchanging them for steel weapons and wool cloth. The first permanent continental settlement was founded by fishermen in Ulanei in 1477.

## Government

### Federal government

Len Kyliman is ruled by a high king, who holds the executive power. The high king is elected among the kings of the nineteen kingdoms for a 6 year term.

### Political divisions

   Len Kyliman is a federation of kingdoms, which are given a great degree of autonomy. In each of the kingdoms, the king is elected for life by the landowners amongst themselves.