Pyril

Pyril

Other Names: Pyrilian Expanse, The Expanse

Motto: “In unity we prevail.”

Government: Feudal Democracy

Religions: The Golden Church 50%, Children of the Sun 15%, Children of the Moon 15%, Children of the Star 5%, The Church of Flame 10%, Other 5%

Current Governor: Rudy Duarte the Gorilla

Spiritual Leader: Cardinal Benjamin Aquinas III the Toad

Languages: Elastron, Delmarese (AP), Xenjese, Zorali, Countless Dialects

Notable Settlements: Cormalen City (Capital), Dulran, Kathol, Ginwer, Povarul

Demographics: 50% Lemmings, 30% Water Buffaloes, 20% Other

DESCRIPTION

Pyril is easily the largest island-country within the Confederate Islands. It covers roughly 50% of the Thessonia Ocean and has more than 7,000,000 islands. It is also the great buffer zone between the other island-countries of the Confederate Islands and the rival empires of the Xenjese Commonwealth and the Zorali Magocracy.

Pyril is considered by many as a kind of paradise as it sits right on the equator and rarely experiences snow. A vast majority of Pyrilians are lemmings with more than a few water buffaloes here and there. Most other species that find themselves here are often foreigners or are descended from foreigners.

Much of Pyril remains unexplored with only up to 30,000 of its islands being fully explored and mapped. Many adventurers brave the unknown or unexplored islands, believing them to hold valuable secrets or treasure. Unfortunately, there are also many dangers on the islands of Pyril such as ferocious dinosaurs and poisonous flora and fungi. There have also been rumors of savage, cannibal tribes that have access to diabolical magic though there is little evidence to actually support this. These often claim the lives of adventurers before they can return to civilization to report their exploits.

Note however that despite the sheer size of Pyrilian territory and its vast amounts of natural resources, a vast majority of Pyrilians are impoverished. While efforts have been made in the past to alleviate this problem by both the government and the church, little progress has been made. It should also be mentioned that most Pyrilians are illiterate and only a very few can go beyond just simply identifying the greater letters of the Elastron alphabet.

Because Pyril sits on the very borders of Xenji and Zoral, a number of its islands and territories are contested by the two great empires. Thankfully, time and time again, the Confederal Navy has arrived to help Pyril reclaim its rightful islands and drive off invaders either through combat or diplomacy. More often than not though, Pyrilians prefer a more diplomatic approach to their adversaries as they continue to trade openly with them.

In more recent events, Pyril has gone further and further away from the influence of the Confederate Islands and many protests against the Confederal Military can be seen everywhere. However, some of the island-country’s rulers have taken sides with what are otherwise rival powers of the Confederate Islands. Governor Duarte and his administration has been more open to the influence of Xenji and Emperor Pu and has even seen it fit to gift some of the islands of Pyril to the Commonwealth and accept more than a few Xenjese workers into the Expanse. Cardinal Aquinas III of the Golden Church and respected even by the Children of the Sun and the Children of the Moon favor instead Zoral and cater especially to their diplomat Biomage Hilaria whom they treat to like a minor noble.

HISTORY

1204-Pyril was first settled by traders from Kithiya and the Firelands

1273-Pyril was united by early Zebastonian explorers led by Dionisio Pepa the Otter

1285-Missionaries from Ephelron City as well as Ulrondo and Nuraly arrive to convert natives to the Shining Path and the Golden Church

1326-Zeppon and the newly formed Affiliated Provinces of Ormland decided to settle on some of the islands of Pyril as well

1369-Pyril decides to declare itself as a sovereign nation and declares Tomas Amorsolo the lemming as its first governor

1420-Newly formed nations Xenji and Zoral begin wandering into Pyrilian territory

1467-War breaks out between the Xenjese and Zorali, forcing the Confederal Military to intervene and protect the civilians of Pyril

1532-The war ends and a treaty is formed between the Confederate Islands, Xenji and Zoral that forbids the two from entering Pyrilian territory without express permission from the Pyrilian government

1580-Pyril solidifies as an island-country and begins to rapidly grow its own constabulary and military

1621-After both becoming powerful nations in their own right, the newly formed Xenjese Commonwealth and Zorali Magocracy go to war again, forcing Pyril to defend itself

1672-With help from the Confederal Military, the Pyrilian military and constabulary are able to end the war between Xenji and Zoral again

1700s+ Present Day

PROBLEMS

-Poverty and Illiteracy

As stated, most Pyrilians are impoverished and illiterate, making it difficult for its citizenry to move upwards in life. People who are born to a family of poor farmers usually die as poor farmers and people born to wealthy merchants live comfortable lives as wealthy merchants. Schools, either public schools established by the government or private schools built by the Golden Church, have been built to fix this problem but progress is slow and few families even have the time to teach their kids how to read.

-Crime and Piracy

Thanks to rampant poverty and illiteracy, many make ends meet through illicit activities. Petty theft is the least of one’s concerns when in Pyril as its forests are often inhabited by fierce bandits and insurgents and its waters are infested by pirates of all stripes and colors. The Confederal Military has often tried to help in these issues but are usually too busy fending off Xenjese or Zorali vessels to take on the pirate fleets hiding among the islands of Pyril.

-Dangerous Wildlife

Another thing to note is that much of Pyril is unexplored. This has, more than once, led to awkward situations wherein dinosaurs from the jungles wander into cities, towns and other settlements. This goes from being merely an annoyance to a grave danger to persons’ lives when the dinosaur turns out to be carnivorous like tyrannosauruses or gigantrosauruses. Worse yet, many explorers and scientists agree that many plants in the jungles of Pyril are extremely poisonous and some even supplement their diet with the meat of their victims. Many mushrooms, molds and spores in Pyril are also quite toxic, resulting in the deaths of foolhardy adventurers who aren’t cautious of what they eat or inhale.

-Dark Magic

While there’s little evidence to prove this claim, early explorers from Zebaston did encounter many tribes in Pyril that worshiped bizarre and terrible gods that can best be described as devils. They would sacrifice other persons to these gods whom they believed held sway over disasters like storms, floods and wildfires. Missionaries often found themselves in conflict with these tribes not just because of differing beliefs but also because they often rescued the people who were supposed to be sacrificed. It is believed by many that many of these savage tribes or cults dedicated to the gods of these tribes can be found hiding among the unexplored islands of Pyril. While no one knows for sure, there have been reports of these devil-worshipers kidnapping villagers and explorers and sacrificing them to their gods. Worse still, it is said that some of these groups can actually summon heralds of their gods and bring them into the world.