Earrach

Earrach, or the Republic of Earrach, is the northernmost state within Redoriv. It is named after the capital of the state, Dùn Earrach, now called Dùn Beinne. The archipelago of Earrach consists of two islands situated in Northwestern Eldham. The state is founded and currently led by High Chief Ravenna Samhradh of the Willow clan, with Ferdiadh as the incumbent Speaker of the High Chief.

History
The island of Eranor started out as big volcanic island, volcanic ash and lava flows form what will eventually become Aran and Aukovai (hence why they're very agriculturally rich areas), volcano goes dormant and begins to erode away, eventually forming the jagged mountains of Mòr. A native species of colossally large oak tree grew all over the island years after the eruption. However, a fungal disease took over the population and killed all trees except for one, which would later be the tree that the citadel's tower is built in.

Shortly afterwards, possibly due to the aftermath of the volcano's eruption, the local area experiences a localized ice-age; large ice sheets form natural bridges between Earrach and the surrounding continents, allowing animals to cross (this is mainly to explain how Earrach's wild horses got there). This period of extreme weather also significantly eroded the old volcanic core, with glaciers carving wide valleys through it and leaving a jagged mountain range behind. This period of glaciation lasted for many thousands of years.

A few thousand years before the retreat of the land bridge from Eranor to nearby lands, the first peoples arrived; they were hunter-gatherers who never settled permanently on the land, but rather used it as a place to camp seasonally to herd reindeers and occasionally fish. It is believed that both the Moray and Aukovai clans may be descendants of these early explorers.

A few hundred more years after that, Raven's people arrived; an entire tribe fell from the sky and were melded into the rocks of the Mòr Range's southernmost valley. They survived mostly due to the help of the hunter-gatherers that had been visiting the islands for many generations, and knew how to survive on it; they showed them how to find food and shelter. Though native hunter-gatherers existed on the island, Raven's people were the first to build permanent settlements on the island. They settled in a rotten out cavity near the base of this tree; they cleaned the tree's bark and burned any infected pieces of wood, healing the tree, and keeping it alive.

When the first peoples of the island arrived, one colossal oak tree was all that remained, and it was very badly damaged by the fungus, nearly dead. Raven's people built a stone structure around its base to help stabilize it, and began to build their homes further up the trunk of the tree, carving their way through it, but being careful not to do enough damage to kill it.

After the land bridge receded permanently several more hundred years later, a group of refugees arrived on Earrach’s shore, escaping unknown devastation, they settled in the south, building a floating town in the Region of Aran called Omhanstad to avoid the harsh shifts in climate and to provide and easy escape route.

Several thousand years later, long after the land bridge receded, soldiers and envoys from the nation of Florandia arrived, and claimed the island as a part of their territory; the interactions between the islanders and the Florandians was peaceful, with the native folk not resisting the newcomers, and the newcomers agreeing to let them continue on their ways so long as they recognized their homelands as now being a part of Florandia.

Geography
The state of Earrach is an archipelago consisting of two islands named Eranor and Eilean, located in the northwestern quadrant of Eldham, southwest of the region of Katsura. Being a maritime region, Earrach has no land border with other Redorivan states or other neighbors. Located near Earrach are nations such as Aquaris to its south, Zarissia to its east, and Hussarias to its north.

Regions of Earrach
Earrach is divided into 5 geographical regions, with the large island of Eranor being divided into 4 regions and the small isle of Eilean being its own region. Each region in the Isles of Earrach has its own geographical features to note.

Earrach
In the region of Earrach is its seat of government called Dùn Beinne (Formerly called Dùn Earrach), the first settlement made on the isles.

The region’s borders are defined by the expansive peaks and valleys of the majestic Mòr mountain range, which cuts through the center of the isle. The valleys of the region are where the community farm is located, producing wood and a variety of crops that supplies the state with food. High above, on the peaks of the southern mountains, shrines to three local deities have been constructed. Near the center of the Mòr range, near the peak of Mt. Bàs, there is a standing-stone temple dedicated to the Creation Whale, which is said to have formed the universe from its own breath. This ancient standing stone temple is called “Smallhenge” by the locals. Along the side of the temple lay several fossil remains of an extinct species of whale which was once found in the waters surrounding the Earrachian isles, and whose remains are often considered to be sacred relics to the Earrachian people. Slightly south of Smallhenge, on Mt.Forsa, is the standing stone shrine of the God Srios the silent, who is a god of darkness and decay, and one of the few gods who remain to watch over humanity during harsh winters. Along the southernmost peaks of the range lies Mt. Fuinseog, at the top of which a large and very sacred ash tree called Fìochmhar looms over the shrine of the God Omhan, and guards Rèalta na Maidine, Omhan’s divine sword. Omhan is a god of light, justice and creation, and is the patron god of the Omhanian faith, a subgroup of the broader Earrachian folk religion. Several wood and rope bridges span across the great distances between the mountains, providing easy travel between Dùn Beinne, the sacred shrines, and the southern region of Aran.

This region is currently led by Chief Archibald Moray.

Rùsliath
The Region of Rùsliath is a birch forest located at the northern edge of the isle of Eranor. Rùsliath is the homeland of the Aukovai clan, who dedicate themselves to agriculture and the production of consumable goods, like drinks, jams, and cheese. Over many generations, they have become masters of their trades and are considered the greatest bakers and brewers in the entire region. Within their village, the Aukovai clan has made a standing stone temple dedicated to Oharan, the local deity of autumn and the harvest. Oharan is a patron of farmers, bakers, brewers, and is said to help gather and preserve food for the winter or other harsh times when food might be scarce.

This Region is currently led by Chief Lunadaat Aukovai of the Aukovai clan.

Sìos
The Region of Sìos is a rocky valley sandwiched between the Regions of Earrach, Rùsliath, and the World Border. The region slopes downward from the mountains of the Mòr range to Rùsliath, and is currently the least developed region of Earrach. The region is notable because the first tribes to settle on the island found horses in the valley of Sìos, and all horses currently living on the island are the descendants of this ancient herd.

This region falls under the jurisdiction of the Aukovai clan.

Aran
The Region of Aran lies south of the mountains of the Region of Earrach. This part of Eranor is dominated by a rocky meadow biome with an abundance of wildflowers which have spread all around the region. There are patches of wetland and swamps around the coast of Aran, and a small field of wild wheat which mainly grows within the northern bay area. This wheat field is believed by locals to be where the first wheat plants grew and where bread was first made in the isles. Some cultural sites in this region include a church dedicated to the god Omhan which was built by Omhanians as a place of prayer, a large hillfort topped with a village of roundhouses, and the city of Omhanstad which is located along the northernmost shores of Aran. The people of Omhanstad have built piers and floating platforms which extend far into the sea and connect to the isle of Eilean, upon which they have built much of their city; there are houses, farms and markets, all built upon the water.

This region is currently led by Chief Ferdiadh Do Mhathair

Eilean
The Region of Eilean is a small mushroom isle located east of the island of Eranor. Eilean is strongly associated with the local deity of the moon, Rè, with a standing stone temple and a lighthouse dedicated to the deity. It is the central marketplace of the state, and has several fishing docks and market stalls, as well as piers which connect it to the floating city of Omhanstad and its marketplace.

This region falls under the state of Earrach's jurisdiction without a chief of the regions of Eranor claiming ownership of the island.

Beyond the World Border
To the west of the map of the archipelago (beyond the world border) is an uncharted region of Eranor. Earrachians believe that the creatures of horror, like the Nuckleavee and the Banshee, reside in the region and will migrate east of Eranor at certain times (such as when the sun didn’t rise for a week on the 18th of September 2021).

Politics and Government
As a state within the Republic of Redoriv, Earrach operates within both the Constitution of Redoriv and the local laws of Earrach, devised by, and enforced by, the High Chief and the Council of Chiefs. The Constitution of Redoriv grants the Archon (head of state) of each county a seat within the senate of Redoriv, unless said Archon appoints one of their citizens to be a senator to represent the county. In Earrach, the role of senator is fulfilled by the Speaker of the High Chief.

Earrach has a High Chief as its head of government and a final arbiter of local affairs, with the Council of Chiefs as an advisory and legislative body. The Council consists of the Speaker of the High Chief, chiefs from each clan.

 High Chief of Earrach:  Ravenna Samhradh of the Willow clan, Chief of Earrach (from 10/07/2021 to...)

Council of Chiefs:

· Ferdiadh of the Do Mhàthair clan, Chief of Omhanstad and Speaker of the High Chief (from 21/11/2021 to...)

· Lunadaat Aukovai of the Aukovai clan, Chief of Aukovai (from 08/11/2021 to...)

· Archibald Moray, Chief of the Earrach Region (from 19/04/2022 to…)

(Note: dates are listed as day/month/year)

Religion
Earrach operates as a quasi-secular state, where people are free to practice their respective religions so long as those beliefs do not hurt citizens of the isles of Earrach or degrade native practices and beliefs. Actions of which include the desecration of local temples, proselytization of beliefs originating from outside the isles, and a crusade against the native religions of Earrach, among other things.

The Madacuain
Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain (Song of the Whales), sometimes shortened as The Madacuain or Tianism, is a polytheistic animist native religion of the Isles of Earrach which has a slight lean towards agnosticism. The religion is currently isolated within the Earrachian Archipelago, with the majority of Earrachians worshipping at least one deity from this religion.

Beliefs
Madacuainists believe that gods, nature spirits and ancestral spirits exist, and have many druidic and mystic practices. However, they also acknowledge that these forces are extremely difficult to study, and nothing can be known about them with absolute certainty (thus having a lean towards agnosticism). The gods that they have chosen to worship, and the rituals they have chosen to perform, are simply their best attempt at understanding and respecting the supernatural.

Madacuainists believe that the best way to understand the gods is to understand the natural world, as the natural world is both made of divine creatures and influenced by them. Because of this, high priests within the religion spend a great amount of time studying and performing research. Libraries are often considered shrines to all the gods, and are very sacred places for the followers of this religion.

Creation Myth
Madacuainists believe that the creation of the universe was started by what locals call the “Creation Whale”, a massive whale-like creature whose size is far greater than all of the known and unknown realms, swimming in some seemingly infinite sea. They believe that the realm we all inhabit was created when the whale breached the water’s surface and let out one mighty breath, from which formed our entire existence, in the cold and dark night’s sky.

The creation whale’s breath was extraordinarily hot when it was released into the sky, taking eons to cool down to the condition where mortals could survive. The nether dimension and the sun are two remnants of the heat of the early universe. It is prophesied that the universe will continue to cool in the eternal night’s sky, and that eventually our existence will end in cold, in dark, and in silence, when all the suns have died and the earth grows cold.

Early Deities
Creation whale       : The gods of all creation, very powerful though slightly indifferent to the mortal world. Highly respected and honored Tìan, the Serpent   : (Known as Mura in the Tuhrifelian pantheon) The God of Time and The Storyteller. Tìan was born at the same instant as the universe was, patron of all who seek to understand the past; Tìan tells the universe's stories to all who listen. Tìan is capable of influencing the future by guiding those in the present, and is often prayed to for this reason. Is the creator of the god Keal (protector of the spirit realm, high chief of the dead), and the elder sibling to Srios and Omhan. Sometimes depicted as a snake or a serpent-like being eating its own tail. Srios, the Silence    : The god of silence, emptiness, cold, darkness and the most powerful and dangerous forms of magic. Was born shortly after Tìan was born.Omhan, the Storm    : The god which formed the stars and other celestial bodies. Omhan is associated with light, warmth, order and justice. Omhan is the younger sibling of both Srios and Tìan.

Descendant Deities
Keal            : Created by Tìan, the Serpent, they are known as the protector of the Spirit Realm and the High Chief of the Dead.

Roh            : Created by Srios, they are the god of war, luck and skill in battle, destruction and violence, patron god of warriors, pirates and bandits.

Rùs            : Created by Srios, they are the god of deception and trickery, leader of the spirits of those who had died in combat and all other unrestful/vengeful spirits. They often help the spirits bring misfortune to their enemies who remain in the world of the living.

Mataig     : Created by Omhan, they are mostly associated with learning/discovery, revealing hidden things, invention and creativity. They are thought to have been the one who taught humanity to use language

Eòlas        : Created by Omhan, they are associated with knowledge and magic. They are said to have aided humanity in building local structures, such as shrines.

Worldly Deities
Earrach        : God of the planting season and of springtime.

Samhradh   : God of the growing season and of summertime

Oharan         : God of the Harvesting season and of autumn

Note that winter is when the three gods mentioned above leave the lands, leaving Omhan as the sole protector of the isles against the cold and silence of Srios

Taro            : Patron god for healers and herbalists and a child of Earrach

Rea             : God of the Hunt, wild/foraged foods and medicine, and of luck

Aran            : The teacher and protector of farmers, bakers, brewers, etc., and is said to help with preparing/preserving/storing food for hard times to come (aka, winter). A child of Oharan

Celestial Deities
There was a god of the sun, Tei. They are a parent of the god of the early earth named Seanndi. Seanndi has a lover called Leia, who Tei forbids from touching, lest they destroy one another. After walking through the vast skies together, side-by-side for years, Seanndi eventually reaches out to hold Leia's hand... And in that instant, they are both destroyed.

From the ashes of their remains, two new gods are born: Talam, god of the earth, and Rè, god of the moon. The two mourn the loss of their parents; Talam's tears become the oceans and rivers. Rè tries to comfort Talam, and vows to never leave their side. Rè wipes away the tears from Talam's face, causing the tides, and weeps his own tears onto her shoulder... Where his tears fell, sweetberries emerged.

Omhanism
Omhanism is a religion derived from the greater Folk Religion of Earrach. Believers of this religion venerates Omhan over every other deities in the Earrachian pantheon. "The Omhanian", written by the faith's founder, Ferdiadh Do Mhàthair, is Omhanism's most important and holy book.

Some Madacuainists, such as current chief of the Earrach Region, Archibald Moray, has looked at the rise of Omhanism with suspicion for its splinter with the practices and beliefs of Earrach. However, no religious tensions have occurred between believers of Omhanism and the Madacuainists as both continue to live alongside each other.

Literature
Despite its small population, Earrach boasts a rich native literary scene, with books written by various religious leaders and ordinary Earrachians. Some examples of books written by Earrachians include:


 * Earrach, by notwaffle
 * The Omhanian, by Ferdiadh Do Mhàthair
 * Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain, by Ravenna Samhradh

Further Readings
The Constitution of Earrach: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-7oRNQCUdYtJCNh8X34AiOdKmJ8LbQXrK6qrLRwU-uo/edit?usp=sharing

The Omhanian, by Ferdiadh Do Mhàthair: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tsZGZ-jy6hBaThAJnR3etHwuKzhNiSkorBukzEJRUz0/edit?usp=sharing

Naomh-Òrain a ’Madacuain, by Ravenna Samhradh: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d0emJk8tTyZ4XUoGYLJ4vTXE-WePelkZJoBwbqtOKxw/edit?usp=sharing