Shenlan

Eastern Shennish

Hinteran

-Tionol (Lower House)

The **Confederation of Shenlan** (*Na Oileain Ghlasa*) is a confederation of islands to the west of Medland. Though under the overall rule of the Prince of Shenlan and his Islands Council, Shenlan is comprised of 9 semi-autonomous islands, each with its own leader and government. One of these, Hinter, is also the homeland of the halflings.

## History

Shenlan has long been settled by humans, though the earliest inhabitants were the native halfling people.

Throughout much of its history the Shennish isles have been independent of one another, each ruled by their own lord.

In 2147 the Kingdom of Medland invaded the islands of Hunig and Bychan and conquered them. Following this, the islands of Shenlan, Larnach, Thaidh and Coinin entered into the "Shennish Alliance".

However the alliance was not able to hold and by 2166 all the islands were under Medlander control.

In 2296, Shenlan was given home rule by King Willem of Medland after a series of rebellions in Caslean and the Meddish port city of Layden.

In 2338 the New Shennish Alliance, led by Prince Donnel II, demanded independence in the face of raised taxes in order to fight the Patriots in New Medland. King Dannock IV eventually conceded and gave independence to Shenlan, Thaidh, Larnach, Coinin, Bogdor and Argoll. Hinter, Bychan, and Hunig remained under Meddish control, however.

Following the war's culmination, Shenlan bought the island of Hinter from the nearly-bankrupt Kingdom of Medland. Eventually Hunig and Bychan were ceded to Shenlan in 2382 following the 2nd Bychan Uprising.

In 2470, a Corlian nobleman - the Count of Dalene, attempted to invade the island of Thaidh, claiming it was his birthright by virtue of his Shennish mother. He landed with a mercenary army but was defeated by the combined force of Shenlan, Medland, and the Union.

## Geography

Shenlan is a collection of 9 semi autonomous islands, as well as multiple island dependencies.

Smaller islands include:

Smaller Isles
 Huchel
 Isel

The islands are each subdivided into smaller regions. For most of the islands, these subdivisions are known as Shires (or, in Shennish, *Tuatha*). Each shire has a hereditary leader known as an Earl (or *Tiarna*). However, not all islands use this system. Thaidh, Hinter, Bychan, and Hunig have their own systems:

* Thaidh is divided into "Towers" (*Tur*), each of which is lead by an Earl (*Tiarna*). One Earl will be elected Magnate of Thaidh for life.
* Hinter has no internal land divisions, instead working on clan law. There are a multitude of clans (known in *Haneraeg*, or Hinteran, as *Luitha*). Each *Luith* is led by a *Penardr* (Chieftain). When the *Brenin* (king) dies, a moot (*Curneor-a-Brenin*) is held to choose one of the *Penardra* as the next *Brenin*.
* Bychan and Hunig are each divided into districts (*Ardaledd*) with their own mayor (or, *Syrif*).
* Huchel and Isel are not considered Shires in their own right, but are considered personal property of the *Flaithri*. They are administered by the heir to Argoll, known as the *Tanist*.

## Government

The Shennish Isles consider themselves a confederation, however since their independence they have operated more like a federal monarchy. The Prince of Shenlan is *ex-officio* the head of state of the confederation in its entirety. Despite being separate political entities, many people use the Principality and Confederation of Shenlan interchangeably.

The Prince is assisted by a bicameral parliament known as the Islands Council. The Assembly (*Tionol*) of Shenlan, is the lower house. It is made up of 51 councillors. One is elected as a representative of each *Tiarna*. Hinter, Bychan, and Hunig return one councillor each.

The Court of Princes (*Cuirt Flaithrithe*) is the upper chamber. It is comprised of the leader of all the islands of Shenlan. However, it can also, by mutual agreement, be open to all hereditary human rulers (the Tiarnai).

## Military

The Confederation is served by the Shennish Army (*Arm na Oileain*). This includes the naval forces.

## Demographics

The Shennish people can be subdivided into three groups:

* Western Shennish (*Iarthair*)
* Eastern Shennish (*Dwyrain*)
* Halflings

The Western and Eastern Shennish share a cultural history but broke away linguistically sometime around 500 years ago. This was further compounded by the direct rule imposed on the Eastern Shennish islands (Bychan and Hunig) compared with the Western islands. The two languages are not mutually intelligible, however Meddish is used as the lingua franca (due to the influence of Medland).

With regards to religion, the population is almost entirely Catechist. The archon of the Islands administers all of Shenlan.