Kelamí League: Difference between revisions
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The '''People of the Peaceful Friendship''' (E’lixsienk: '''''Wëlànkuntëwakà’ká''''') commonly known as the '''Kelamí League''', is a confederacy of tribal nations located in northwest [[Novaris]]. The six constituent nations of the League, known as ''Lekayu,'' are highly autonomous, though they answer to a central government known as the Grand Council of the People (Achimulsëwakàn) on matters of foreign policy, international economics, and defense. The nation shares borders with [[Endertopias]] and Acara Shura to the south and [[Cryria|Tynam]] to the north, as well as [[Älemsi Negdel]] via maritime territory. The League covers a mountainous and cold territory close to the [[Rotantic Ocean|Rotantic]] Circle, and derives much of its prosperity from the soft drink and data hosting industries, owing to carbonated hot springs and cold temperatures being conducive to supporting those enterprises.
The League was formed from six nationstates: Shahëwèkwe (''The People of the Crawfish''), Sànàksëkwe'iéke (''The People of the Black Arrowhead''), Answikànwèkwe (''The People of the Fishing Net''), Thàpèkunkwèké (''The People of the Wellspring''), Pahsaèkatëmatwa'áku (''The People of the Guarded Valley''), and Kèxaptunwène'ku (''The People of Few Words''.) These nations of Cervine tribes and people had existed in the isolation of the Novaran tundra for centuries, but the slow colonization and settlement of the southern lands prompted them to band together for mutual defense and solidarity. Each spoke a language descended from a common origin, and the confederacy still maintains a diverse linguistic heritage today. The national language "E’lixsienk" is not a single dialect but a group of over ten related languages. The Treaty of National Friendship, signed in 1344, brought the six states under the banner of the name Wëlànkuntëwakà’ká, meaning "the People of the Peaceful Friendship." This confederated nation developed its own identity and values separate from the more industrial southern Novaris nations during the 1st Millenium, their territory too inhospitable for settlement and the peoples too adamant of their independence to be worth bothering. Taking no sides in any conflicts, the League is staunchly neutral to the point of stubbornness, though its citizens are active and vocal participants of the international community via interconnectivity, television, and travel. The nation is a full member of the [[League of Novaris|League of Novaris.]]
Credited with being the oldest and largest of the contemporary Cervine nations, the League is a modern example of Cervine culture. The confederated nations are highly family-based with constituent tribes and clans led by elder matriarchs. The League as a whole is highly environmentally conscious and does not permit excessive extraction of resources or development of real estate, preferring small scattered communities of limited size and nondestructive industry. While somewhat isolationist, the League trades with a good number of countries and is a common source for spices, herbal remedies, and traditional medicines. The lumber and agriculture industries, as well as food and beverages, are major League exports. The League states commonly cite themselves as the birthplace of rootbeer and other carbonated beverages, though this claim remains unverified due to the nature of its roots in oral history.
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As of 2020 there were 500,018 people living in the League with a foreign background (2%.) Most of these people are from neighboring Tynam and other Cryrian territories, with significant amounts also from Endertopias, Alemsi Negdel, and Vesienval. Of these, around 65,121 possess citizenship. The children of non-citizens do not receive citizenship in the League if born in League territory. Cervines worldwide are however able to take advantage of the League’s ''laphala'' policy to claim citizenship via ancestry. The immigrant population of the League is growing very slowly, and can be found almost exclusively in the cities. It is expected to reach 550,000 by 2030.
==== Ethnicities ====
Within the League there are two types of ethnic group: genetic and national. All League ''Lekayu'' are considered separate ethnicities, divided along familial tribe lines. These distinctions go back millennia and are still observed both officially and casually, though they are not a cause of friction or disagreement. The tribal components of the ''Lekayu'' nations are matrilineal and fall under two categories: clan and family. The clans are named after animals, trees, rocks, and other natural concepts. These groups can be as large as several million people, or as small as ten-thousand. Certain clans, such as the Red Leaf Woodpecker, are considered part of larger clans. Families are smaller groups consisting of a few dozen to a few thousand individuals, tracing common ancestry to one matriarch of note. Families do not have formal names, simply taking "of Ancestor" as appellations. Typical rural League communities are always populated by exclusively one family or clan, with the exception of the massive urban areas.
The second type of ethnicity is cervine sub-species. There are three recognized sub-species of cervine in the League - the Northern Kelamí, the Plains Kelamí, and the Highland Kelamí. Known as ''músakwék'a, ahtu'hwék'a,'' and ''xinkòlëwék'a,'' these three types of cervine vary considerably in biology. Northern people exhibit large antlers and musculature, standing an average of 8 feet tall for males and 7 feet 9 inches for females. Their fur is typically dark brown or black, and their faces are long. Both genders possess beards. Their body fat and fur are adapted to colder climates and long winters with little nutrition, and out of the three groups are the most traditionalist and technology-shunning. Plains people are much leaner, but still quite tall and strong. Males average 7 feet 5 inches without antlers, and females average 7 feet 3 inches. Their antlers are pronged and branch many times more than Northern or Highland types. Notably, more females grow antlers than the other two groups. The fur of the Plains people is typically blonde, brown, and white, with patches and patterning common. Their physiology has adapted for endurance and strength rather than hardiness. The communities and cities of Plains Kelamí are considered an elegant blend of modern technology and ecosustainable cervine tradition. Highland people are the smallest cervines in the League, averaging around 6 feet 8 inches for males and 6 feet 2 inches for females. Having developed for high-altitude living, Highlanders have strong lungs and legs. Their antlers are small and much thinner than the other groups. Highland fur is thick but soft and tends to be blonde, red, or grey. As the ''Lekayu'' of the Highland peoples are the most developed and industrious, they are much more cosmopolitan in attitude and communities.
===Language===
The national language of the League is the E’lixsienk, a collection of closely related dialects each spoken by a different state. Shahësien and Kèxaptusien are predominantly spoken in the south while Pahsaèksenye and Sànàksëseni are more common amongst northern communities. The native languages are notable for all being Cervine-specific and require their unique vocal biology to be able to pronounce correctly. The E’lixsienk language family is unique amongst Novaran languages for being species-specific. While there are no other official languages, Cryrian, the Älemsi languages, and Endertopian are spoken among the general populace. In 2010, 32% of citizens reported the ability to speak a second language. Education on language is a mandatory course for all centralised League schools.
The concept of foreign languages in the League is part of "Outland" culture - everything outside of their borders have difficulty comprehending the full scope of the League's values, so special secondary names and terms must be invented for "Outlanders" to understand. These Outland terms include the name "Kelamí League" itself, originally rendered in Cryrian before translation to the rest of the widely-used languages on Urth.
== Government ==
The six nations part of the League's confederacy are termed ''Lakeyu''. This word means various things: nation, tribe, people, nationality, ethnicity. Its contemporary context refers to countries and government-administered territories. The six ''Lakeyu'' are each run by distinct Matriarchal Conventions and represented by Chief Advisors, serving at the pleasure of the Conventions. Matriarchal Conventions are elected bodies, made up of women of at least 60 years of age with experience in administration, economics, engineering, science, and other specialty fields. The Matriarchs serve for life, using their accumulated knowledge and wisdom to guide the ''Lakeyu'' on paths that benefit all residents. Duties of the Matriarchal Conventions include setting a nation's annual budget priorities, debating and creating ''Lakeyu-''level laws, managing the relations between other the other League states, and addressing pressing issues facing the population. These duties combine that of an executive and legislative branch. The Conventions each appoint a Chief Advisor. These officials are the liaisons between the Matriarchs and the various organs of government in the ''Lakeyu''. They officiate meetings of state, bring matters to the table for the Matriarchs, provide context and precedence of prior decisions, organize legal and clerical activities, and ensure that all Convention decisions are fully followed up on.
To manage the affairs of the League as a whole, three bodies exist as defined by the Treaty of National Friendship. These are the Grand Council of the People, the Matriarchal Council, and The One Who Speaks. The first is the League's legislature, made up of one-hundred and eleven elected Councilors from each ''Lekayu.'' Prominent local officials, community figures, respected scholars and elders, and legal experts are elected by the people every ten years to fill these spots. The trend of electing those viewed as wise and experienced, and thus of older age, has been in effect since the founding of the nation. The Grand Council supports the Matriarchal Council, which in many respects functions similar to the Matriarchal Conventions. It manages the overall public service, economic, and financial aspects of the League and ensures that all constituencies are cooperating and dealt with fairly. The Matriarchal Council also directs foreign policy and the military.
The Matriarchal Council receives proposals for laws and acts from the Grand Council, which itself receives issues submitted from the populace or members via the Grand Council Advisor mediator. The Matriarchal Council will then debate amongst themselves for the proper way to enact the legislation across the nation, drawing up a legally binding Statement once finished. This Statement is sent back to the Grand Council for debate and approval. The Grand Council consults each other as well as the appropriate authorities to project how a Statement would effect the next six generations. If the Statement is accepted, it is sent to The One Who Speaks for enactment and enforcement. If it is not accepted, it is sent back to the Matriarchal Council for revision. This is somewhat of an unusual inversion on the typical legislative - executive relationship, and a process that takes quite a long time. It does ensure that all government decisions that affect the League as a whole are well-made and thorough, so it has stayed in practice.
The One Who Speaks is a ceremonial title as well as a government role. They are the public face of the League, similar to a monarch in other types of nations. The One Who Speaks traditionally gives up their name and gender when appointed to the office by the Matriarchal Council and assumes the title of Nikanixit, the E’lixsienk translation of the role. This position actively manages the Office of Outlander Conversation, the foreign affairs department of the League central government, and is given the traditional job of ensuring Statements go into effect. While The One Who Speaks gives official orders to the government bodies responsible for the function of the nation, their authority is limited and they are understood as acting as an intermediary between the public services and the Matriarchal Council. There can only be one Nikanixit at any time within the League, though several can exist at once. Imporant diplomatic missions often have the current administrative Nikanixit assigned to them as an ambassador, and a new person assigned to The One Who Speaks' role. This assignment can be temporary, or in the case of the League's mission to the [[League of Novaris]], an entirely new Nikanixit can be created to serve their domestic duties. The One Who Speaks is a ten-year position no matter the circumstances, so all individuals with the title serve out this time often in tandem with others.
== Economy ==
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