Manzland

Manzland is a Federative Unicameral Republic located on the southern edge of the Serronan continent. A fiercely independent people, Manzland gained its independence on the 24th of February 2022, peacefully seceding from the U.S.S.E after a popular National Referendum and Independence movement.

Kolssonafell
The area known as Manzland, previously known as Kolssonafell was inhabited by a tribe of people known as Kolssons for thousands of years. Manzland draws its roots from Kolssonafell and the Kolsson people.

Tribal Wars in the area would eventually lead into the creation of the Jarldom of Kolssonafell, by Drake Erik Nielsen; a warlord of one of the tribes. The Kolsson people went through a golden-age of development and culture after the Tribal Wars.

This Golden Era would give contribution to the naming of the continent that the Kolssons lived on; Serrona. Later, a Famine would lead to the end of The Golden Era and the start of The Dark Ages.

The Dark ages lead to the death of many Kolssons, in which the entire population suffered, and a third died. Desperate, the Kolssons voted to become a state in the U.S.S.E, but the population never recovered to what it once was.

Manzig
After Kolossenfell was integrated into the U.S.S.E, Kazkayan settlers were sent to populate the new state of the union. Included among these colonists was Mandes "Boneman" who helped NaVium establish the cities of St Neilsburg and Manzig.

The city of Manzig in particular would become the beating heart of Manzland and the Manz people.

While the area around Manzig has been populated in some form or another for hundreds of years by Kolsson nomads, the first permanent settlement was a small port and Guildhouse set up by pirates as a safe harbor for raiding expeditions to the East.

After rebuilding the Guildhouse and Port, Manzig rapidly grew thanks to the influx of refugees, giving the city a vibrant mix of odd characters from around the world.

Among the notable poor saps who made their start in life at Manzig include:


 * Ursa Cornaro. A cheese maker who unwittingly became cursed by the magical Sheep-Man Pervith during his travels. Founder of Aleria and the Casa Nostra betting agency. Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S.S.E. Discoverer of Tim.
 * Fredrich Reidina. A Rathnir Pirate who fled by ship to Manzig from the P.A.U after a series of catastrophes in his homeland. Writer, Master fisher and mayor of St Neilsburg.
 * Lavender Star. A batu peasant boy turned Vulpinian ex slave who washed up on Manzig. Writer and prolific collector of books, runs the largest library in Serrona. Statesman, Diplomat and political theorist, the namesake of the ideology of "Lavenderism".

Like wildfire, the energetic souls gathered in Manzig set upon their home and the continent with unparalleled fury. Within a few months of its foundation, the city had a market, walls, farms, a library, a burgeoning industrial district and ' THE PIT. '

Unfortunately, for most of the city's existence, houses or even tenement apartments weren't really a thing. For several months, every member of the city lived under an old abandoned mine in the Guildhouse, affectionately dubbed "The Craphole" by locals.

Thanks to the ceaseless work of its citizens and Larian Architects, Manzig quickly emerged as a major city in the U.S.S.E and the continent, widely recognized as one of the more impressive cities of the region.

Manzland
As Manzig grew more and more populated, it's residents spread into the neighboring lands, either integrating into the depopulated existing cities of Kolossennfell or creating new cities all together such as Aleria and Astranza.

Since many of these settlements came about from direct colonization or repopulation efforts from the city of Manzig, these settlements became extremely close knit, with the local populations of respective settlements often being close friends with one another from their time together as neighbors in Manzig.

A sense of National Identity began to form in the hearts of the people of Manzland, all of whom found themselves far more attached to their friends and neighbors than the lofty ideals of “Proletariat Revolution” preached by petty Kazkayan Bureaucrats.

While there are many Socialists in Manzland, they adhered to a reformist movement in opposition to the hardline Vanguardist Party enforced by the U.S.S.E. Even more people in Manzland were indifferent about Socialism all together.

Ultimately, a free Manzland entered the global stage not because of national identity or ideological conflict but because it was ushered in by the drums of war.

Already dissatisfied with the apparent hostility and incompetence of the Communist Party, a Pirate invasion brought about by incompetent foreign policy created a deep urgency to jump off the sinking ship of state.

Over drinks and in hushed whispers, the Mayors of Manzig, Astranza, Aleria and St.Neilsburg drew up a constitution and set Manzland independence to a National Vote.

The people of Manzland overwhelmingly voted in favor of secession from the U.S.S.E and despite a tense week of negotiations and not so thinly veiled threats of armed conflict in a potentially devastating civil war, peace prevailed and the U.S.S.E agreed to honor and facilitate Manzland secession.

Manzland declared its independence on the 24th of February 2022, a day known commonly among the people as; “Liberty day”.

Government
Manzland is a federative republic made up of many by and large independent towns. While these towns have to adhere to the constitution and the justice code of the federal government, they are by and large allowed to operate how they please.

This has led to radically different city character in Manzland, with regions adhering to Lavenderist Socialism and Hyper-Capitalist Feudalism all being in the same nation.

Every town in Manzland sends a delegate to The House of Lords, the main political body of the Nation. Lords are traditionally leaders of their respective towns and can be voted out of office if more than 50% of their town gives a vote of no confidence.

The Executive branch of Manzland is made up of the office of “Manz”. The Manz has the complete authority to exercise the power of the executive branch, being able to appoint advisors to help wield his power. The Manz is voted in every 4 weeks after a popular election.

Cultural Activites
The confusing and rich culture of the Manz people is best described as a blend of Kolssonafell and Pirate traditions with a dash of the U.S.S.E mixed in.

Popular Manzland pastimes include:


 * Fishing.
 * Sailing.
 * Poetry.
 * Excessive drinking during inopportune times of the day.
 * Misidentifying the Alerian Bear Statue as a rat.
 * Fleeing the Alerian mob which will inevitably form after your perhaps not so accidental mistake.
 * Gardening.

National Anthem
To be sung to the tune of: "Rule Britannia"

When Manzland fi-i-irst, at Tim’s command,

Aro-o-o-ose from out the crimson pain,

Arose, arose, arose from out the crimson pain,

This was the charter, the charter of the land,

And Bone man’s a-a-angels sang this strain:

'Rise Manzland! Rise Manzland Brave and Free!'

Manz shall never, never, ever, shall be slaves.

'Rise Manzland! Rise Manzland Brave and Free!'

Manz shall never, never, ever, shall be slaves.

The Manz, no-o-o-o-ot so based as thee,

Must i-i-i-i-in their turn, to cr–iin–nge fall,

Must in their turn, to-o cri-inge fall,

While thou shall flourish, shall flourish Brave and Free,

The dread and e-e-e-e-nvy of them all.

'Rise Manzland! Rise Manzland Brave and Free!'

Manz shall never, never, ever, shall be slaves.

'Rise Manzland! Rise Manzland Brave and Free!'

Manz shall never, never, ever, shall be slaves.