Kingdom of Tietero
 Flag | |
| Capital | Zamenhof |
|---|---|
| Demonym | Tieteran |
| Government | |
• Reĝo | Alekso IV |
| Establishment | |
• Founded | 878 TT |
• Joined the Inter-governmental Radio System | 7 PC |
| Population | |
• 20 PC estimate | 661,629 |
| Currency | Tieteran Dolaro |
The Kingdom of Tietero (Esperanto pronunciation: [ˈtie.ˈtero]), commonly known as Tietero, is a Parliamentary Monarchy located on an island within the Attu Archipelago, off the southwestern coast of Akaria. The total area of Tietero is 1,853 square kilometers with a population of 893 thousand people (as of 40 PC). The kingdom's capital and largest city of Zamenhof is home to a population of 112 thousand people. The island's chief exports are kelp and kelp-derived products, including kelp oil and kelp-based textiles, while primary imports consist of recreational drugs and manufactured consumer goods.
History
According to legend, the Tietero began when a group of exiles, abandoned at sea, miraculously survived and eventually shipwrecked on the island. After years of directionless existence, a child was born with extra fingers, which the people interpreted as a divine sign of leadership. This child was crowned the first Reĝo and established a lineage marked by the trait of extra fingers, symbolizing their connection to the original leader.
Government
Organization
The government is structured with a monarch as head of state, a nationally elected First Secretary leading the cabinet, and a bicameral parliament divided into the Senate and the House of Commons.
Royalty
The Tieteran Royal Family consists of the Reĝo and their immediate family, including any siblings and children of the king. The Reĝo is ultimately responsible for the functioning of the government and has a significant influence on policymaking. This includes appointing the First Secretary and high-ranking officials, approving laws passed by Parliament, and guiding national priorities alongside the advisory cabinet.
Other family members primarily support social initiatives like environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and public welfare. They also, at times, serve as representatives of the country for foreign events and meetings.
Judicial System
The judicial system is structured into three levels: the Supreme Court, Cantonal Courts, and Local Courts. The Supreme Court is the highest authority, handling final appeals and constitutional matters, with justices appointed by the monarch and confirmed by Parliament. Cantonal Courts operate regionally, overseeing serious criminal cases, major civil disputes, and appeals from Local Courts, with judges appointed by cantonal governments. Local Courts serve towns and districts, handling minor criminal cases, small civil disputes, and family law issues; judges are appointed locally.
Criminal Punishment
Historically, those convicted of crimes in Tietero faced the amputation of the sixth finger on their dominant hand as punishment. People born with ten fingers were generally regarded as lesser, facing exclusion from government programs and widespread discrimination. However, these practices were unintentionally banned with the passage of anti-discrimination legislation, and society later grew to accept these practices as archaic.
Geography
The landscape is defined by a central mountainous range that arcs from the southwest corner through the east and then northward. These mountains feed a network of rivers flowing out to the coast, creating natural routes where towns and cities have popped up over time. The island has a mostly temperate climate with forested areas common, but the west coast is a bit warmer, with subtropical conditions that support denser vegetation and unique wildlife.
Culture
Finger Removal
It is customary for individuals to have one finger removed from their non-dominant hand upon reaching the age of 17 as a symbol of adulthood. Historically, the elite paid for this procedure to be done surgically by a doctor, while commoners generally settled for communal bolt cutters. In modern times, this rite is performed surgically for everyone, using local anesthesia and specially crafted amputation tools.
Religion
Portism
Portism centers around the worship of the gods Filoto and Kapilano, who, according to tradition, left a windsock behind as a sacred symbol when they ascended to heaven. This windsock, along with the "propeller" symbol representing the gods' movement and guidance, is central to the faith. The propeller symbol prominently features on the Tieteran flag and is commonly incorporated in government publications and official designs. Portist churches are built with long, cobblestone paths meant to welcome the gods if they choose to return. On the 5th day of each month, followers light candles along these paths as a ritual to guide the gods back, seeking blessings and protection for the community.
Discordism
While a fringe religious group, Discordism still has a significant impact on island culture and politics. Discordians believe the world was created by a group of higher-level beings in a forum called a "Discord" as part of a collaborative world-building project, with each being responsible for a different country. These beings are generally considered malevolent, they may at times cause panic and destruction for their own whims. Tietero’s key being, Jhn, is regarded as absent-minded and whimsical, causing events purely for personal amusement. Discordians view worldly events as beyond human control and instead focus on achieving inner peace.
Critics of Discordism cite the unrealistic nature of the religion, and how if such higher level beings did exist, they surely would have better things to do instead.