Syna

"*It is from these humble shores that we shall prosper. Grow. Reach never before seen heights as we fly upon the currents of aether until it we can shine down our brilliance and shower the land in the gift of Magic!*"
―KynTemplate:SpecialCategorizerSyna is a tiny island nation to the north of Velhellyiah. It is composed of a pair of islands with the larger of the two being named Syrin and the smaller one being Syra. The majority of the small country's population resides on the large island of Syrin with only a small few villages dotting the smaller island. Originally annexed by Velhellyiah it remained a reluctant territory of the country until the great war allowed it to break away and attain independence. While small it's position in relation to the Araal Peninsula and Sarathal makes it a key trading port and a strategic position for which Velhellyiah wants back and Calaes as well as Sarathal want in their possession. This puts the tiny island nation under great strain to balance it's diplomatic position while trying to maintain the weight of a burgeoning country.

## History

### Origin

Settled in the year 1384 by those wishing to flee Caelia's crusade of unification, the first group to set foot upon the island was a tribe lead by twin sisters by the names of Syrin and Syra. It is these twin chieftesses that the islands derived their names. The island was rugged and difficult to tame but the locals managed to build up their community and expand. Over the centuries their tiny village grew into a bustling port as more settlements were scattered around the islands. The Kingdom of the Twins, as they referred to themselves, prospered mostly undisturbed. It wasn't until the year 2481 that Velhellyiah saw fit to expand their reach to the island. With their magic and technology the Velians were able to swiftly annex the small islands and bring them into the fold. The natives resisted this with protests and riots, but they were ultimately no match for the Velians and were forced to accept their fate.

This went on until 2954 when Sarathal was defeated in the Great War. With Velhellyiah suffering from the war as well the islanders saw an opportunity to rebel and secede from Velhellyiah. Free of their occupation they named their new nation Syna in honor of the twins with the port city of Lares serving as their capital. Unfortunately freedom comes with it's own hardships and the island nation struggled to find it's place in the world. With larger powers vying for control and the difficulties that came with nationhood, Syna was struggling to stay afloat. This weakness allowed criminal elements along with foreign interests to take root, further splitting the tiny island nation. Now days the island is viewed as a neutral port for those who wish to skirt around the regional powers.

## Government and politics

The Government of Syna takes inspiration from their neighbors with a single Premier as the leader with a council of elected representatives from each of the Island's towns and settlements. It seems everyone has their own vision for the island and so the government is slow to act as it is rare that the council can ever agree to matters. This is made even worse as corruption runs rampant and the greed of those who wish to use the turbulent times to elevate themselves outweighs the desires to build up their island into something great.

## Economy

The bulk of Syna's economy comes from it's position as a trading hub. Tarifs and taxes being the overwhelming majority of the nation's income. Beyond that they supplement this income with exports of unique specialties native to their islands as well as serving as a tourist destination for those seeking warmer climates. Given their recent new-found freedom and general dislike of the Velians, Syna has adopted the Sathal Doner as their primary currency.

## Society and culture

Being Calaens at heart they share many similarities with their mainland brethren. Though their distance and separation have afforded them unique perspectives. Like the Calaens they value industriousness and self-reliance, but they favor their community above all else and believe less in progressing actual industry and more so believe they should devote themselves towards tending the island. They widely believe in a more laid-back interpretation of traditional Calaen views and as such dedicate themselves more to fishing, farming, or mercantilism.

### Arts and media

As a people of the sea it should be no surprise that much of Synan art focuses around the ocean. Sculptures and paintings depicting both the ocean's beauty and it's viciousness are commonplace with more recent art themes focusing around liberation and their freedom, tying into their believe that the people of the ocean can never be truly conquered. For even if you tame it for a time, they will inevitably swell forth and batter down even the hardiest hulls.

### Religion

The Synan people follow Airas, though unlike the Calaens their patron deity is not Kyr, but rather Tanir. The natives still hold deep spiritual beliefs and it is commonplace to find fishermen performing rites before heading out to sea so that Tanir may grant them safety and bountiful harvests.

## Military

The Synan military is little more than a glorified police force. Utilizing small boats to patrol their territorial waters and suppress piracy they have no real means to defend themselves. As such they play an endless balancing act with the three regional powers to ensure no one is willing to invade and annex them lest they start a conflict with the other two.

## Geography

Syna is situated upon a pair of islands. The larger of which is named Syrin with the smaller one being Syra. Over 85% of the nation's population resides on Syrin with much of both islands being densely wooded and mountainous. The port city of Lares resides in a coastal valley on the southern end of Syrin with the majority of the island's settlements focused around the coasts. The interior of the island is extremely mountainous with a single looming mountain, believed to be a dormant volcano, at it's center.