Shellands

Overview

The Shellands, officially known as the Variance of the Shellands, is a divisional power of the Magistrate of Vaviland; the principle power of the Eastern Union of Rahmiel. Its territory consists of the northeastern corner of the Island of Gaenaland; comprising around 15% of its total surface area. For most of its history, it has been seen as a cultural Gaelish region. It shares a sole land border with that of the now independent Republic of Gaenaland to its southwest, with the rest of its borders consisting of rigid coastlines of the Sea of Gaenaland to the east, and the Superior Sea to its north.

While it has a unique history and cultural heritage stretching as far back as the enigmatic Mythic Ages; the Shellands as an independent entity separate from the rest of Gaenaland Isle is relatively brief; having only becoming a Variance — the Vylish term for its constituent Kingdoms which comprise the Magistrate — as recently as 2,960 YM, near the closing years of the Alls-Rule War. Prior to this, the Shellands were one of the six major "Communities" that comprised Gaenaland during its long tenure as a Variance of the Vylish Magistrate. After the Shellands ascension as a standalone Variance; it inherited all previous territory it as a Gaelish Community once held, alongside the majority of its population.

Throughout the centuries that the Vavillian Isles of Gaenaland and Great Vyamore have been in a shared society, the Shellands had been settled by denizens of the Vylish Variances of the Burlessland and Greylands. Slowly the native Gaelish population would be overshadowed by the Vylish, most of whom electing to remain loyal to the Magistrate once Gaenaland severed itself from the rest of Vaviland following its joining as a constituent power of the Westland Empire of Bariquel. The Shellands successfully remained both part of Vaviland, and the wider Eastern Union following the Vylish victory in the Holdfast of Gaenaland, a besieging and collection of conflicts waged all across the Shellands during the Westland Empire's invasion of Gaenaland Isle from 2,957 YM to 2,960 YM.

In the modern-day, the Shellands remains at constant arms against that of Gaenaland; marking it as one of the many on-going interborder wars between specific Divisional Powers following the end of the Alls-Rule War. Continual military supremacy of Great Vyamore has thus far prevented Gaenaland with reuniting themselves with the Shellands, which in recent years has become the most prominent ambition of the new Gaelish Republic.

Territory

The bulk of territory within the Shellands comprises the whole of the northeastern coast of Gaenaland Isle, alongside territory further south towards the Fernfast Corridor which marks the border between the Shellands and the rest of Gaenaland.

Most of the Shellands comprises of elevated hills and planes with long verdant grasslands and meadows, with few major pockets of forests. The center of the Shellands is its most temperate region, with lush grasslands and small rivers and streams fed by the Lake Donderros, the largest body of water within the Variance. Whilst its south, west, and east comprises of calm pastures and small hills.

Shore of Ten Thousand Shells

Likely the most major region of the territory is that of the Shore of Ten Thousand Shells, a region which comprises tens of thousands of multi-colored basalt-esc interlocking columns which hug along most of the Shellands coastline.

Their name comes from the appearance of the pillars being likened to that of "shells" of oysters and clams. In Gaelish Mythology; the Shore was created when Stuthica, the Goddess of Creation, emerged from the "Star-Shell;" the shellike womb of the virgin-cosmos which birthed her. The shell then fell towards the empty world, landing in the sea, disrupting the waves, and formed the first foundations of Gaenaland Isle which would house her people.

The pillars themselves are comprised of a material endemic to the region; similar in structure to volcanic basalt, yet unique in formation. Named "Stuthcite" after their mythological origin; they hold little practical applications and have largely been used in ceremonial and cultural art and iconography. Most often it is used in religious icons of those which follow the Steadfast of Gaenus; the organized religion birthed from ancient Gaelish Mythology, with its members often wearing medals and emblems crafted from Stuthcite.

Divisions

The Shellands is divisionally governed by the prominent cities within the given area; there are seven major regions recognized to be part of the Shellands.

From north to south there is the North and West Antrimarrow Coasts — which constitute the whole of the Shore of Ten Thousand Shells and the Antrimarrow Line. The Donderros Midlands which comprises the Shellands middle, hugging along Lake Donderros. Fernfast; which stretches the whole of the south along the Fernfast Corridor. East and West Shelland; both of whom making up near the whole of the Variance's southeast and southwest respectively. And Heldfast Isle; a small yet crucial port island off the northeastern coast in the Sea of Gaenaland.

South of Fernfast, the Forest of Tonth is a region in contention between the Gaelish Republic, and the Shelland Variance. The Forest comprises a great number of tightly packed deciduous trees which creates a large natural boundary between the Gaelish Plains and the Fernfast Corridor. The Shellands wish to control the region to further defend its borders, and to give it a position to threaten the Gaelish Republic. However; they have thus far failed to do so, with it remaining in control of Gaenaland to the modern day.

North Antrimarrow Coast

The North Antrimarrow Coast extends itself from the northern most point of the Shore of Ten Thousand Shells; stretching east and southeast until the Shore meets its end with the hills of East Shelland. Comprising one half of the Variance's shoreline, the region is defined by its rugged cliffs and tide-battered outcroppings. As such; few major cities have been established in the region throughout the millennia, leaving most of it uninhabited.

Despite its ruggedness, it houses a few notable fishing settlements and trading ports; nestled between the Sea and Stuthcite pillars, with trade and naval patrols centered on the fortified port-towns that overlook the Superior Sea. The Coast is also dotted with ancient Gaelish and Vylish ruins, remnants of fortresses and sanctuaries once raised during the Archaistic Eras, many of which have since been integrated into Magistrate strongholds or converted into shrines of the Steadfast of Gaenus.

In modern times, the North Antrimarrow Coast as a whole holds critical strategic value, acting both as a defensive wall against incursions from the Superior Sea, and as a supply line that sustains the Shellands’ role as a barrier between Vaviland and Gaenaland. As the coastline of northeastern Gaenaland Isle is extremely perilous, much of the ports of North Antrimarrow cannot house large fleets of ships. As a result; most in-bound vessels are smaller mercantile ships bringing goods to the Shellands from both the rest of the Vavillian Isles and the whole of the Rahmiel continent.

The largest city of North Antrimarrow is the settlement of Agaan; although it is the smallest amongst the largest cities of the Shellands. Regardless; Agaan is the main commercial artery between the Shellands and its exterior allies, most often with that of the wider Magistrate of Vaviland, and the Omnidom of Unimore. Agaan was established as recently as 1,723 YM during a period of Vylish investment within Gaenaland, following its then reintegration into the Magistrate. Soon after the Shellands breakaway from the rest of Gaenaland, Agaan served as the region's foundation. Agaan itself was created to facilitate greater levels of trade between that of northern Gaenaland and southern Vyamore; a role which it continued to inhabit on towards the modern day.

West Antrimarrow Coast

Whilst the vast majority of the Shore of Ten Thousand Shells is part of the North Antrimorrow Coast region, a slim 10% of the Shore is counted amongst the much smaller West Antrimorrow Coast. Its section of the Shore is much less dynamic with that of its counterpart to its east; as the Stuthcite material becomes gradually less prevalent, until it ends completely at the Antrimarrow Line.

The Antrimarrow Line itself demarcates the northwest to western border of the Shellands with that of northern Gaenaland; comprising a narrow set of rocky hills, forming a natural boundary which extends all the way down where it ceases at the Fernfast Corridor. This Line is immensely crucial to the continued sovereignty of the Shellands from that of Gaenaland; and thus why the West Antrimarrow Coast is defined as a distinct divisional region from that of the North Coast.

Most of the regions settlements consist of military encampments with semi-permanent inhabitants in order to keep the instillations operational in case of westerly assault launched by that of Gaenaland. Thus far, this has not occurred since the lessening of hostilities after the Alls-Rule War conclusion, with most combat between the two sides occurring in the south within the Fernfast Corridor. Regardless; these stations remain with small garrisons of Vylish troops ready to alert the Magistrate should invasion come.

Donderros Midlands

The Donderros Midlands form the verdant heart of the Shellands; stretching out from the shores of Lake Donderros into a wide basin of fertile valleys and open meadowlands. Populated with disperse small farming villages, the Donderros Midlands comprise the whole of the Shellands agricultural artery