Blepia

Duinacht na mBlepe (bl) Humanship of Blepia (en)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Blep leis na réaltaí (Blepian: Blepia to the stars)
Anthem: Cait na Laochra
Map versions	pending
Capital	Nídobhá
Largest city	Nídobhá
Official language(s)	Blepian English
Official religion(s)	None official Tocsaplasmóis granted cultural protection
Demonym	Blepian
- Adjective	Blepian
Government	Cellular democracy
- An Duine is Fearr	Maelsheachlainn Ó Sluaghadhaigh
- Ceann Daonna	Faoiltighearna nic Braonáin
- Legislature	Tionól Blepe
Establishment	5 May 2017
Area	541440 km²
Population	6,000,000 (simulated)
Active population	14
Currency	Blepian Líomóid (BLL)
Calendar
Time zone(s)
Mains electricity
Driving side
Track gauge
National website	[1]
National forum
National animal	Ginger cat
National food	Lemon
National drink	Lemon tea
National tree	Evergreen tree
Abbreviation	BLP

Blepia (Blepian: An Bhlep) is a nation located on Apollonia northeast of Glanurchy Island. Blepia has existed since May 2017 under a democratic government.

History

Blepia's history, albeit very short, is still interesting and eventful, having its fair share of controversy and conflict. It mainly revolves around the rapid development and democratization of the area inhabited by the Blepians.

Origins of Blepia

The first mention of Blepia in writing can be dated back to the year 1832 AD and a record keeping book belonging to a village now known as Mharú dom Anois. At the time of the writing of this book Blepia was fractured into many rival clans and city states, but was relatively peaceful.

Mharú dom Anois circa 1000 AD

In 1830 AD the Blepian language existed and was spoken over an area three times the size of modern Blepia. However as time marched on society marched forward and the Blepian language was considered "uncivilized" by academics of the time, and today the area where it is spoken as a first language has been shrunk to only the remote areas around the military installation Ullmhaigh Chun-Bás (although most Blepians do learn it before the conclusion of secondary school). However it is currently making a resurgence as small parts of Nídobhá introduce solely Blepian signage for the first time in 150 years.

The usage of the word Blepia in that book is assumed to be referring to the area speaking the Blepian language and adhering to the Blepian culture, and it is the oldest artifact of Blepian national identity.

Blepian Unification

Starting in the 1990s Blepian national identity grew to engulf the identities people had with their regional states. Thus in the year 2014, a regional state (whose capital was Nídobhá) began to invade other states around it with the goal of unifying Blepia. Due to its overly aggressive behavior and the attitudes of most other regional leaders towards a united Blepia at the time a coalition was quickly formed against it and it was militarily defeated. This sparked uprisings in all major cities across Blepia demanding a deal for unification. Initially the regional governments ignored them but they continued for weeks on end with tens of thousands of Blepians in the streets each evening chanting and singing. The elites realized that they could not ignore this forever and if they did not unify there would be an uprising on their hands and their heads would end up on pikes. Therefore, a conference was held in Mharú dom Anois with seven regional leaders attending. After only a few days of negotiations a deal was agreed that all states northwest of the Uí Muireasa line (now the border of mainland Blepia) or on the islands of Glanurchy or Fifty Elks. The Treaty of Mharú dom Anois officially came into effect on the 5th of May 2017 forming the Humanship of Blepia.

First Days of the Humanship

The Humanship of Blepia had lots of issues after its foundation. It had no predecessor state since it was a union of a few dozen other states which all had their own forms of government, and a form of government could not be agreed on in the Treaty. Therefore a referendum was held with a campaign period of one week by the Provisional Blepian Government. From the start, the idea of cellular democracy was very popular as it would allow for the easy growth of regional parties while still maintaining a unitary government and a central Blepian parliament. It eventually won 67% of the vote. After this the royal family of the previous Kingdom of Mharú dom Anois holed up in Pálás Buí with all the forces they could muster. Due to the overwhelming strength of this force compared to the non-existent army of the government at that time known as the Poblacht na mBlepe the government was forced to accept them as figurehead monarchs and allow them to keep their palace and some of their land holdings, thus changing the government to the Duinacht na mBlepe.

Parliamentary Elections of July 2017

Blepians at a Solas na Saoirse rally in the campaign period

Once all the issues had been ironed out, the new unified Blepian government was ready to progress. Thus the campaign period for the first Blepian parliamentary elections begun on the 7th of July 2017, for a term intended to last 2 years. Having been angered by the military imposition of monarchy just a few months earlier, the chances of any monarchist parties winning were out of the question, and with the memory of the Unification Wars still fresh, nationalists had no chances. The right wing socially liberal party Solas na Saoirse performed near-magically in the run-up to the final debate but their party leader was caught up in a monumental blunder on live national television greatly diminishing their support. A Toxoplasmosist establishment party, An tAontas Daonlathach Tocsaplasmóis gained a large amount of seats from rural and religious voters while a broad tent leftist party Páirtí an Phobail also did well forming a government with minor Green and Social Liberal parties.

	Political party	Leader	Votes	Seats	% of votes	% of seats
	Solas na Saoirse	Émer Mac Asgaill	719723	31	30.65%	31%
	Toxoplasmosis Democratic Union	Daghain Nic Muircheartaigh	502984	21	21.42%	21%
	Paírtí an Phobail	Maelsheachlainn Ó Sluaghadhaigh	913684	39	38.91%	39%
	Comhaontas Glas	Riocard Mac Giolla Rua	69976	3	2.98%	3%
	Comhaontas Sóisialta Liobrálacha	Deirdre Uí Maoilbhrighde	118430	6	5.04%	6%
Total			2348281	100	86% (turnout)	100%

The Blepian Emergency

The Blepian Emergency was an uprising of members of the Warriors of Toxoplasmosis on 8th-9th February 2018. The WT captured the entirety of Nídobhá as well as putting up a significant fight in Mharú dom Anois. The cities were all liberated within a day but it is rumoured that small pockets of Warriors of Toxoplasmosis control and their hideouts remain in remote areas of Blepia.

Geography

Blepia is located on the continent of Apollonia northwest of Glanurchy Island and has a continental climate with temperatures year-round averaging 5 degrees Celsius. The Blepian mainland is bordered on the west by the Gulf of Souls, on the south by the Uí Muireasa line, and on the north and east by the Northern Sea which engulfs the two constituent islands of Blepia, Glanurchy Island and Fifty Elk Island.

Physical map of Blepia.

Administrative divisions

The cellular democratic system of Blepia splits the nation into ninety-four second-level councils which serve as governments for a area centered around a town, and they can be compared to American counties or European municipalities. Second-level councillors from several councils vote for the members of first-level councils. Blepia is divided into ten first-level regions, each of which have a council of fifty members. First-level regions usually follow the borders of previously existing states but can also be drawn on account of physical or cultural barriers. The first-level councils generally act like regional governments do in other countries, governing their specific part of the country with the caveat that it is still officially a unitary state.

First-level regions of Blepia.

Regions

Blepia currently holds sovereignty over ten regions, all of which were united to create Blepia at the Treaty of Mharú dom Anois. Their main role is to facilitate regional nationalists but they also provide effective local government.

Flag	Region	Capital	Number (on map)	Blepian control since
	Oileáin Thiar	Cuirfimid Báis	1	May 5 2017
	Druim Thuaidh	Baile gan aon Chúis	2	May 5 2017
	Novatica	Ainm aistrithe go Dona	3	May 5 2017
	Tuirlingthe	Cén fáth a bhfuil mé Anseo	4	May 5 2017
	Ullmhaigh	Baile Ullmhaigh Chun-Bás	5	May 5 2017
	Naomh Albain	Cuain Naomh Albain	6	May 5 2017
	Lárnach	Sráidbhailte Reoite	7	May 5 2017
	Lár Soir	Theas Nídobhá	8	May 5 2017
	Nídobhá	Nídobhá	9	May 5 2017
	Mharú dom Anois	Mharú dom Anois	10	May 5 2017

Government and politics

The government of Blepia is as complicated as its people, and according to international statistics, over seventy-nine thousand kilograms of hair have been removed from individual heads as a result of its complexity. Officially, it is a cellular democracy, with Best Human Glaisne mac Liatháin as head of state and Head Human Faoiltighearna nic Braonáin as head of government.

Best Human

The Best Human in traditional clothing.

Best Human of Blepia is a title gained by the mac Liatháin family as a result of the Pálás Buí incident. The Best Human is generally only a ceremonial title, created to ensure that the previous royal family of Mharú dom Anois could keep their palace and most of their assets. All members of the Tiónol Blepe must take an oath of loyalty to the Best Human before taking office, and consent of the Best Human is required before a war is declared. In addition, the Best Human is the ceremonial leader of the Blepian Forces.

Head Human

The Head Human of Blepia is the head of government of Blepia and the leader of the party with the most seats in the Tiónol Blepe. They are the leader of Blepia and have the power to veto bills of the Tiónol as well as declare states of emergency and make executive orders during them. The Head Human was created after the Blepian government referendum of May 2017 voted in favour of cellular democracy.

Tionól Blepe

The Tionól Blepe is the parliament of Blepia composed of 100 members, 10 elected by each first-level council. Translated to English, it means "Blepian Assembly". The Tiónol Blepe is composed of three major parties: Solas na Saoirse, An tAontas Daonlacath Tocsaplasmóis, and Paírtí an Phobail, as well as two smaller parties, the Comhaontas Glas and Comhaontas Sóisialta Liobrálacha.

	Political party	Leader	Ideology	Economic position	Social position	Notes
	Solas na Saoirse	Émer Mac Asgaill	Economic liberalism, Liberalism	Right-wing	Libertarian
	Toxoplasmosis Democratic Union	Daghain Nic Muircheartaigh	Theocracy, Toxoplasmosism	Radical centrism	Authoritarianism	This party is banned.
	Paírtí an Phobail	Maelsheachlainn Ó Sluaghadhaigh	Socialism, Cellular democracy, Left-libertarianism	Left wing	Left-libertarianism
	Comhaontas Glas	Riocard Mac Giolla Rua	Green politics, Vegetarianism	Centre-left	Liberalism
	Comhaontas Sóisialta Liobrálacha	Deirdre Uí Maoilbhrighde	Social liberalism, Pirate politics	Left wing	Left-libertarianism

Foreign Relations

Due to its presence in the Discord, Blepia is well-known internationally and has had expeditionary forces from many other countries visit in the past due to the Blepian Emergency. Blepia is not a member or observer of any international organisations and its only diplomatic mission is an embassy to Coria in Grandbay.

Military

The Blepian Forces have existed as long as Blepia itself and had their first engagement in the Blepian Emergency. There are a total of 85000 men in all branches of the Blepian Forces, divided into 20000 active-duty army personnel, 50000 reserve army personnel, 10000 naval personnel, and 5000 air personnel.

Economy

The Blepian economy is mainly based off extraction of natural resources but also has a large technology sector. Resources in Blepia include sheep in fish. The Blepian spiced cod is famous around Micras as is NídobháOS.

Blepians catching fish near Port na Gaoithe.

Cuirfimid Báis is the capital of the Blepian IT industry serving as headquarters to Daydream Corporation, Blepia's #1 exporter of electronics. Daydream Corporation was founded in 1981 between a group of local teenagers who, upon adulthood, incorporated it as a business and have now grown it to having over 20000 employees and being a major Blepian company. Attractions such as the Museum of Blepian History, Pálás Bui, and Fifty Elk Island bring in nine hundred thousand tourists a year to Blepia.

Social services

The Blepian safety net is large and has been large since time immemorial as a result of Blepian culture. In ancient times Blepian villages were very strongly communal, there was no private property, and if you were hungry you could take your neighbor's cabbage without expecting retaliation. This continued into the modern era with increased taxes on the rich, capital gains taxes, free college tuition, minimum tax allowances, free healthcare, free education, and grants for every adult over 20 to have a flat, a television, a laptop, and a bed.

Demographics

The first and only Blepian census of 2017 puts the population of Blepia at six million human individuals. 70% of Blepians live in urban areas with a sizable rural minority of 30%. The population density of Blepia is very low, with 0.09 square kilometers per person, but very unevenly spread out. The fertility rate in Blepia is 3.4 children per woman, who make up 50.5% of the population as opposed to 49.5% men.

Ethnic Groups

Due to the cold climate and (until recently) dismal living conditions, there are almost no immigrants in Blepia. Only 0.7% of Blepians reported themselves as "Other" during the Blepian census. Of these, 62% identified as Corians, and 38% identified as Shirerothians. Almost all of these immigrants are located in either Nídobhá or Cuirfimid Báis.

Languages

While only 7% of Blepians speak Blepian as their first language, 53% of Blepians have at least some proficiency due to the laws making learning the language before the end of secondary school mandatory. The largest concentration of Blepian first-language speakers is in the province of Ullmhaigh where they are the majority, while the largest concentration of Blepian second-language speakers is in Oiléain Thiar. In addition to the Blepian language, students are also required to learn one foreign language.

Religion

The government of Blepia is constitutionally secular, however the majority of Blepians practice a religion. The only major religion of Blepia is Toxoplasmosis (Blepian: Tocsaplasmóis), practiced by 57% of Blepians. A large minority of Blepians are Atheist and do not believe in any religion. The major worship centre of Toxoplasmosis is the Blue Cathedral located in Mharú dom Anois, at the spot where the Great Cat Spore was given to the founder of Toxoplasmosis, who goes without a name.

One of the paintings adorning the walls of Pálás Buí.

Culture

Blepian culture is based off that of Ireland as well as some influences from Scotland and the Sami people. Like Ireland, Blepia only recently unified, has an agricultural past, and has a dying language. The sense of community in Blepia is very strong and due to this crime rates are exceptionally low even in downtown areas of Blepian cities.

Folklore

Back in the time when winter was useless for everything and we all sat around a fire eating old food, people needed things to do, and the tradition of creating folklore was invented. Blepian folklore usually does not date back to before the 1300s. The Blepian national epic was rumoured to be written around a campfire in the year 1352 AD and to this day no proof has been mounted against this claim. The majority of Blepian folklore is carved onto trees in clearings in the wilderness in old Blepian script making them very hard to transcribe and due to these issues only a few pieces have been successfully translated into English.

A stone with Ancient Blepian inscriptions carved onto it.

Art

The oldest surviving Blepian works of art adorn the walls and roofs of Pálás Bui which is home to over 3000 paintings. Most of the paintings in question depict cats, fires, or trees and some early villages and people have also been recorded in this way. Blepian art is different in that it is usually not used to look good but only to convey complex ideas or events through imagery.

Music

Blepian music has existed for as long as the Blepian culture itself. Started with a mix of flute and violin with lyrics mixed in, since the 1950s Blepian music has grown to encompass almost all types of music and Blepian bands are abundant in different styles. Most early Blepian music had to do with the struggle of survival or with the area from which the songwriter was from. Later the songs grew to encompass the Blepian national identity egging the Blepians along to eventually unify and acting as a major force in their culture.

Cuisine

Blepian cuisine is mainly based off fish and land animals such as deer and rabbits. It is usually spiced but this was only a recent edition as spices are not naturally available in Blepia. Most foods are dried, starting as a tradition to preserve food through harsh winters. The unique Blepian fruit, the lemon, only grows on Glanurchy Isle and is the national food of Blepia.

Sport

As Blepia is a more intellectual and pacifist nation, not many sports teams originate in Blepia, and Blepia does not usually compete in sports such as basketball, soccer, or football. However Blepia is home to a few of its own sports, hosting the monthly Micras Fishing Championships as well as the Improper Fraction Arena.