Historical Details
Name: Ibaia, the Metal Vale
Age: 1000 years, at least. Actual specific age unknown.
Formation: Although the crater on which Ibaia sits existed before the country itself was formed, the nation was founded some time after the crater was discovered.
Advancement: Post-industrial
Personality: A crippled craftsman focused only on their work, intent on giving their trade to the world but taking nothing in return.
Flag: In times of peace; a hollow circle with a cross spanning its interior, silver in design over a deep blue background, representing the night. In times of war; a hollow sun shape with a cross spanning its interior, gold in design over a white background, representing the day.
National Symbols: Traditionally the symbol of a crossed wheel has been widespread throughout the country, however oftentimes this has been replaced simply by the sun and the moon. All of these symbols share something in common; the circle. This stems from the original icon which the country's founder adopted, of a fallen star.
National Holidays: Aside from various common and municipal holidays that entail celebration and relaxation from work, there are a notable few. Once a year for one week, people celebrate the Breaking of the King, a time of remembrance for the civil war. During this week among other common festivities, metal effigies of a king are paraded around and are attempted to be destroyed by various means, and it is believed to be highly unlucky or a bad omen if a king is not destroyed. Separately, the first four weeks of spring are notable for the emergence of grand markets, to signify the end of winter during which time work is heavily emphasized. These markets, rife with festivities, are for citizens to display and sell all they have been working on during the winter.
Historic Events: The creation of the five Cities of Significance which stand to this day, the crafting renaissance which marked perhaps the biggest change in Ibaian history, and the civil war with the resultant breaking of the former King.
Historic Role: Ibaia is likely most well-known for its work with metal and metallurgy, which it supplies to outsiders. Not so much the shaping of metal, as that is the province of the crafters and largely a new trend, but forging of metal. A common sword of Ibaia may not carry the worth, capabilities or craftsmanship of a Saijo O Wazamono, but the constituent materials are to be considered far in excess of any other weapon.
History: Since its formation, the island of Ibaia has been distinguished for its metal craft and industry. While not technologically advanced, Ibaia has always been famous for its achievements in metallurgy and as a nation was known for its forges and foundries. In recent times however, new changes began affecting the country. More than just different types of metal and how to make them, people experimented on what could be done with them. Of particular importance was machinery, and how metal could be made to do more than just last the test of stress and time. Unfortunately, five years ago a civil war was begun and the country was thrust into a state of chaos as much of Ibaia sought to follow the new ways while the royalty and those in support of them would not abandon tradition. While the royal palace was under assault, the King prepared for the completion of a singular algorithm which would settle the disputes of the country once and for all, however before this work could be completed the King was betrayed. With his overthrow came the end of the war, as well as the national adoption of the new ways. Though not the greatest conflict the country has ever faced, the civil war marked arguably the greatest change it has ever undergone.
Historic Problems: The first ruler of Ibaia more or less built the nation herself, so naturally, most of the cultural and political basis of the country stems from the original system she founded. Since she abandoned the country relatively soon after this however, the people were left to run things and deal with problems on their own, while still trying to remain as close to the original system as possible. The problem is that the system established by the first ruler was very basic, made in a short amount of time and only intended to maintain some semblance of order over what was then only a single small city. Because of what the people of the nation owed her they have tried to remain as close and true to her ways as possible, but for a country that has developed over so much time and grown to the size it has, the original system has shown to be impossible to maintain. This has lead to much conflict over the many years of the country's history, and rule of Ibaia has changed hands several times since its foundation. Because of this conflict between tradition and application, historically Ibaia has had trouble maintaining order and exerting its influence outside of its own borders due in part to its strange customs. As a result, the nation has adopted something of a removed stance and despite having developed its independence for so long, it still has trouble today when incorporating itself into the world. As such even things like defense are difficult, and the country has trouble with any major adjustments or conflicts.
Geographic DetailsLocation: The Grand Line, first half
Size: In terms of actual land, the country is considered very small, however the vast majority of the area of its holdings are over water.
Geography: Ibaia is formed in/on a large crater from some asteroid impact a very long time ago. The upturned earth from the impact created a ring of small mountains giving the appearance of a stone bowl sitting in the ocean; water outside, water inside. It is on this circular formation that Ibaia sits; four great cities at opposing sides of the mountain ring, each connected by a vast bridge to the center of the crater where the capital city stands. As such with the crater forming the outside circle, the four cities and their bridges create a cross over the crater, with the capital at the very center of both the cross and the crater. Of note that while the capital remains stationary and connected to the bridges in the center, the outer cities actually rotate, travelling along the mountain range ring of the crater at a consistent speed. This is an incredibly slow process however, and would take some time to even notice they have moved at all. It currently takes roughly a year for the cities to make a full rotation around the crater.
Climate: Seasonal temperate. A typical yearly progression from Spring to Winter, with appropriate weather to match.
Characteristics: Almost completely stripped of all natural resources. An abundance of starmetal from the original asteroid impact.
Natural Wonders: Apart from the actual crater itself, there is very little that could be considered "natural" beauty in the country, although because of the starmetal apparent in the crater it causes the water inside to glitter and gleam even at night.
Hazards: The occasional landslides as the cites rotate around the crater rim, as well as occasional spillage from the ocean into the crater, when the outer rim is breached.
Ecology: Apart from some sparse forests growing on the outside of the crater near the coast, there is very little if any terrestrial plant life in the country, certainly none inside the crater. All in all, the ecological balance with nature in Ibaia is atrocious, and the stripping of all resources certainly doesn't help.
Fauna: Birds are about as frequent as anywhere else, but land based animals are all but absent, save for those few which are kept in the cities. Fish are the main wildlife present, both outside the crater (saltwater, the ocean) and inside the crater (freshwater, the Shimmering Sea).
Geographic Problems: As the four cities move along the outside of the crater in their rotation, they also slowly extend it; dredging up the earth from below, stripping it of all minerals and resources, and forcing it outwards. As such, this gives the impression that the crater is slowly but surely increasing in size overtime. While the basic height and size of mountain range forming the ring of the crater is maintained, the shape is slowly extended, and so over much time this leads to some problems. For one, as the circle of the crater gets wider and wider, the cities get farther and farther apart so that the bridges need to be extended and the time for a complete rotation around the crater is lengthened. As stated previously, the current time for a full rotation is about one year, but it used to be much shorter and in time will eventually become much longer. The creep of the outwards extension of the crater is slow, perhaps no faster than the rate of continental drift as it has decreased overtime. Over so much time though, the distance traveled has been quite significant, and the size of the crater has almost doubled. Another problem is that as the crater extends, the amount of water inside decreases. This means there is a need sometimes to let water from outside in, to balance the water level. As the water inside is freshwater however, this entails die offs of life within the crater when the ocean water is let in, until it can be desalinated and such.
A top-down view of the island, showing in order; the crater, the actual "country" itself and the cities which comprise it positioned above the crater approximately where the would sit, and the actual placement of the country upon the crater displaying its pattern of rotation:
A cross sectional side-view of the island, displaying what a typical area of the crater might look like, with one of the cities passing over it in rotation. Clearly visible is the outer crater "wall" upon which the city sits, with the inner "sea" area of the crater on the right side of the city, and the rest of the ocean and the world on the outside left side of the city:
Monarchy, officially, though in practice the cities govern themselves and it is more like constitutional monarchy with the different city governments forming a parliament of sorts.
Organization: Under the King, there are municipal leaders; a governor for each city as well as a city council.
Powerbase: A stable social system, the populace has a vested interest in the government as it has done well for them. As well given the layout of the country, since the government keeps the island literally operating and functional, it would be foolish not to support the system in place unless a viable alternative was provided.
Establishment: While the monarchy is largely just symbolic and the cities are relatively free to run things their own way, when the time comes for the King to do his job, the people know where the power lies. It is important to note though that in recent times the importance of the monarchy has dwindled, at least in the public eye. Regardless, the hold of the monarchy on the country is more a necessity than anything, as the alternatives are that the island falls into disrepair and and the systems in place fail. Really the only group considered rebels are those who support the former monarchy and want a return to the old ways.
Enforcement: Given that the alternative to the government is the physical and mechanical failure of the country, that alone is a powerful deterrent. That said, the cities police themselves, and there is the presence of constructs that maintain order on a national scale; towering mechanisms which keep the peace as they patrol about the crater between the five cities.
Age: The current monarchy is about 5 years old, having been established at the end of the civil war. The actual monarchical system however has been in place as long as the country has existed.
Seat: The monarchy is situated in the capital, however each cities own individual governing body remains stationary, within their respective cities.
Capital: The Glade of Silence. The capital city was once the shining gem of Ibaia at the center of its crater, and a metropolis busier than any other, called the City of Stars. Since the civil war however, it has become a deserted, empty place which many people regard as haunted. It is likely that the number of living occupants can be counted on two hands, which has led to the current and common name for the city as a silent glade. Of note, that long before the civil war or even the renaissance when the country was still young and only a single great city at the center of the crater, it was originally called the City of the Sun and the Moon. Nowadays though few people if any even know of that name, and only in the oldest history books can it be found.
Divisions: Ibaia is almost exclusively organized into the five cities, with some consideration afforded to the few settlements that exist outside the cities on the bridges and actual land itself.
Cities: In total there are five major cities, having been built at the formation of the country. Originally they were just different districts of the same city, but overtime have geographically moved apart. Today, excluding the capital the main cities are;
The City of Copper, dealing with the inside of the country, and the benefit of the people of Ibaia. Definitely the largest in terms of size, with the largest population to match, it is here that the infrastructure of the country is built and maintained.
The City of Iron, dealing with the past of the country, and the preservation of it. In short, the military city charged with the defense of Ibaia. Because of its nature with the past, it suffered the worst from the civil war (after the capital of course), and many people deem it as the City of Scrap now, or the City of Rust.
The City of Mercury, dealing with the future of the country, and the promise of it. Though the smallest in terms of size, it is the most advanced where the people work on anything and everything new.
The City of Gold, dealing with the outside of the country, and its relations and trade with the rest of the world. Definitely the most vibrant and splendid of the cities, serving as the country's main port through which all goods travel.
Economy: While the country maintains the common beli currency, this is mostly for international purposes. Interpersonal exchange is almost exclusively handled through bartering, on the rare occasions that such exchanges do occur.
Citizenship: Only by birth is it believed that a person can become a citizen, as immigration is strictly prohibited. This was established only recently, and non-natives are actively hunted by machines on the island.
Individual Rights: The typical rights one could expect to find in any reasonably progressive country, with the important addition that citizens are not targeted by the defensive forces while outsiders are.
National Laws: Apart from a fairly standard set of laws, there are only two distinctly enforced rules; the practice of shaping is strictly prohibited, and it is illegal to pollute the inner sea of the crater.
Crime: Crime is not too abundant given the socializing factors of the country, and there are few with a want for anything. Those who do commit crimes are dealt with in a proportionate manner, though most often criminals are simply exiled.
National Tax: A resource tax from each of the cities which is to be delivered to the capital. The most heavily taxed substance is starmetal, of which any and all amounts are to be forwarded as soon as being found. Beyond that, the rules are pretty lax on exactly what is sent in, so oftentimes just rocks and dirt are sent.
National Policy: Largely self-governed city states, industrial centers closely aligned towards a common interest.
International Policy: Non-interventionism
International Involvement: Ibaia willingly and freely offers its wares to the outside world while seeking nothing in return, other than funds. It maintains its position as a member of the government, but only insofar as that it can remain up to date on what as happening with the world, as well as have the authority to back up its claims.
Military: Ibaia does not have a military, only a very small self-defense force.
Military Composition: Though citizens are allowed to serve, very few if any actually do, and the self-defense force is comprised of constructs led by the rare human commander.
Military Importance: In terms of the actual military itself, there is little respect or prestige afforded to soldiers in Ibaia. It is considered best left to the constructs to handle the actual fighting, while it is the job of the populace to create and supply this force.
Military Advancement: As military application is just another way for people to test their skills, the meager armed force of Ibaia is quite advanced and displays one of the few examples in the country where foreign assistance is taken into account. Things like incorporating weapons or systems for the armed forces, which were not made in Ibaia.
Military Strength: Weak, if at all worthy of note. Though the armed force may be relatively strong for its size, it only stands to protect the country and its holdings, and could never realistically invade or spread influence outside of Ibaia. In that respect however, looking at the force from a purely introspective viewpoint, massive strength is not really of dire importance. The country is naturally defensible, and there has never been much need to exert power or influence elsewhere.
Military Strategy: Traditionally, since Ibaia is more or less independent, there has never been a need to go beyond a simple defensive policy. To fortify the cities and to barricade any points of entry, repelling any invaders until the overall conflict is settled. In this way, blockading has proven to be largely ineffective. Then again, it is hard to imagine a reason for invading Ibaia other than to plunder its goods and resources, things it already offers for trade.
Political Problems: Because of the increasingly reclusive nature of the king, and the cities' removed position from the capital, the strength and recognition of the monarchy as vastly decreased overtime. Now, the cities are virtually independent and govern themselves. Though the overall benefit of the country is always focused upon, nowadays the words and command of the king are treated with passing consideration rather than unquestioning servitude. In short, the monarchy is merely tolerated in the present day, and it is not often that the king commands the loyalty or respect that used to come with the position. In truth, if the monarchy were to fail again, then it is likely the cities would do away with the royal system altogether, as time has shown they much prefer free governance.
Cultural DetailsPopulation: Each of the cities has perhaps a few thousand people at best, except the capital which is basically empty.
Ethnicities: Mostly humans, with some uncommon minority races.
Sex Ratio: A greater trend towards female, given the general disease among the populace takes a worse toll on males.
Languages: Common, though the original Shapers were said once be able to converse with metal.
Family Structure: Usually a family is composed of two parents of different classes (one a Smelter and the other a Smither, most often), and any number of children.
Family Constraints: The only limit on families, is the same as the limit on relationships, which is that couples cannot be of the same class. That is, a smelter cannot enter a relationship with another smelter, they must look to another class.
Growth: In sharp decline. Ibaia is a dying country, and this can be contributed largely to the high emigration rate.
Age distribution: A higher tendency towards an older population.
Mortality: Apart from accidents and work related injuries, disease is fairly common and the mortality rate for the country is fairly high.
Hazards: Since most people are descended from the original Shapers, blood-based disorders are fairly commonplace.
Life Expectancy: It is not uncommon for people to live into their eighties, despite the many dangers present in the country.
General Health: Generally, people are to be considered quite unhealthy. A product of their environment and work conditions.
Urbanization: Somewhere around 99% of the population lives in the rotating cities, while the other 1% are just outcasts who exist on the bridges or the small amount of actual land.
Education: In general people of Ibaia are fairly well educated. The system of education is heavily slanted towards metalworking however, and in the rest of the world, a person of this country would likely appear to have only a very specific and limited skillset and understanding.
Social System: With the Shapers gone, the people of the country are primarily organized into two distinct classes; the Smelters, the oldest class who actually create the metal, and the Smithers, a newer class who work with the metal to make things with it. There are some smaller classes, like the miners and such, but they only comprise a small percentage of the population.
Social Mobility: In terms of classes, once a person becomes designated as a specific class (say Smelter), it can be very hard if not impossible to change. That is because the classes are largely dependent on the skillset and knowledge of the individual, so it would be like a person who spent their whole life as a construction worker suddenly trying to become a doctor. Within the actual classes themselves, position is designated by the kind of work a person does, so if the consistently produce great works then they will find themselves climbing the social ladder. If the continually slack off and do nothing, then they will find themselves at the bottom.
Social Problems: The main problem is that because the central culture of Ibaia is so heavily based around metalworking, and with it the social system, it can be very hard for someone to live a life outside of this cultural model and remain on the island. Essentially, either you can handle life in the country and its strict systems or you can't, and if you can't you leave.
Social Sentiment: For the people who can handle the Ibaian way of life, it suits them well and they could be considered quite happy. For those who can't though, there is little alternative other than to suffer or leave. Understandably, there are quite a large number of people who can't handle the lifestyle, although it is surprising the amount of people who remain in the country and suffer in order to support it.
Social Outlook: Similar to the previous category, however the difference between the opinion of lifestyle versus nation is distinct in one way. No matter whether people can or cannot handle the Ibaian way of life, all are known to be proud of it. This is expected, as they have much to be proud of. In times of war, it is not strange for natives the world over whom had left to seek new lives, to return in support of their original home country.
Social Worldview: Generally, the people of the country have some vested interest in the outside world, and would like to see more of it. For some, this want is too strong and will cause them to leave. For those who don't the focus on their lifestyle is simply too strong.
Social Acceptance: It is ironic that the people of Ibaia are generally quite friendly to strangers and in some cases are even glad to see them. Because of the systems in place to keep foreigners out however, the common person's interaction with outsiders is virtually non-existent. Thus, this leads to an overall suspicion of strangers, though it is still marked with a degree of curiosity.
Culture: The culture of Ibaia revolves almost exclusively on metalworking, and the practice and perfection of it. As a nation of craftsmen, the people focus on little other than what their work entails. This creates a meritocracy of sorts, where people gauge social interaction and relevance based on the sharing and comparing of work. When people are not in their own houses creating something, they are together with others collaborating on work. In this way, the people are very close and the bond between the common man is a strong one indeed. As a whole, people structure their lives around work and all that can be produced, and with this comes a desire to help and share with one another to improve upon this. There are few things more rewarding than getting together with a bunch of other people to create some great work, and it is not uncommon for entire groups of families to join for periods of time in this way. The same can be said for larger, even city-wide efforts.
Customs: As stated, social interactions and importance are usually initially established by completed works. It is not uncommon for people to carry with them items they have made, and to present them to one another for critiquing and study. In this way, it is a method for learning what another person is capable of, what they have done in the past and as well much about them as an individual. For example, someone who carries with them a sword they have worked on by themselves, you can already tell a lot about that person.
Ideal Citizen: An industrious and hard working person who aspires to do and create great things. The stronger their inclination towards wanting to do great for the community, the better.
Problematic Citizen: A lazy and unmotivated person who is content with living off of society rather than along with it. This may overlap with someone who can't take to the common way of life, and they may be prompted to leave. As well, of course, anyone who goes against the distinct laws.
Notable Citizens: some people worthy of note, including those of the past and present,
Leoric Sylex, the First; the current king of Ibaia, having taken over after he turned on the former king in the waning hours of the civil war. In his time, he was perhaps the greatest inventor and proponent of the new ways, and for this he was regarded as one of the top advisers to the king. Even in the time of the civil war, despite his stance he still remained close the loyalists who favored the old ways as opposed to Leoric's new. It was near the conclusion of the war however, when the capital was under siege that he decided enough was enough, and chose to overthrow the king for the good of the country. Since those times he has retracted from public view, and instead has sought to learn and understand of the former king, and the old ways he hold so dear.
Sable Soto; the current captain of the royal guard, having been charged with the defense of the capital by Leoric during the waning hours of the civil war. Because of her health conditions Sable had led a sheltered life, although her conditions also led her to be the subject of much study for the new ways, and she was of particular but unknown importance to the former king. Since the civil war, with Leoric becoming more and more of a recluse, Sable has stood in as his representative and adopted many of the responsibilities expected of him. Apart from the royal guard she also heads the armed forces of the country, and acts as the default ambassador to Ibaia in foreign affairs.
Cynwrig Brayden; in the time of the old royalty, Cynwrig was one of the two closest advisers to the king, alongside Leoric. In the civil war however, in order to increase his own standing, Leoric betrayed his partner and made him out to be a traitor. Facing death, Cywnrig was left with no other option than to defect to the opposing side and fulfill the claims that had been made about him. When the war eventually was concluded, it never sat well with him after, that Leoric would be the one to take the place of the king when it was he more than anyone whom could be considered a traitor. Under normal circumstances, Cynwrig would not sit quietly and let the country be run by a traitor, and there were thoughts of going to war once again. Seeing how things had gone for Leoric however, he was fine with letting the new king rot away in the capital, to wait until time took its toll. As of now, Cynwrig serves as the governor of the City of Copper, and holds a position of power comparable to that of the king as the overall leader of the four cities.
Mnemnorath of Ibaia; the former ruler of Ibaia, whom nowadays is universally referred to as the Broken King. During his reign, Ibaia underwent many changes in all aspects as a country. Though the king welcomed and supported these changes publicly, in secret he became more and more invested in the ancient ways of the shapers as time went along. For what purpose is unknown, but it is believed that his study and obsession drove the king mad, and to adopt the changes and ways which would lead to the civil war. Before the end he had secluded him from all outside contact completely, working on an algorithm that would supposedly solve all the problems of the country and bring peace to Ibaia. Before this could be completed however, he was betrayed by Leoric and the war was ended with the proponents of the new ways gaining control. Today, throughout Ibaia the king is regarded with trepidation and most people are afraid to speak of him or his reign, considering it a blight upon the country's history.
Hetanschonodir; the former princess of Ibaia, and the true cause of the civil war and the madness of the king. Though a fair and kind girl, the princess was born weak and sickly, not long for this world and unlikely to live beyond childhood. Seeking to remedy this, the king sought all possible means of saving his daughter, and would even go as far to pursue the ways of the ancients. It is down this path he saw promise, but it came with a cost, the civil war being the result. Unlike the king who was known to have been destroyed at the resolution of the conflict, it is unknown what became of the poorly princess of Ibaia, and she is generally believed to be among the casualties of the war.
Remelda of Ibaia; the founder and first ruler of Ibaia. Summoned by a falling star, she discovered the Ibaian crater and the remnants of a great comet that struck the world. It was therein that she found starmetal, and with it built a nation that she would one day leave in the hands of her descendants. It is said her desire to collect shards of the fallen star was so great, that she forsook everything and fled into the earth in her search. It is there that between the boundaries of reality and fantasy, she found solace in cold metal. Believed to be the first of a race known as the Shapers, it is from Remelda that this race draws its lineage. Despite this, there are no known shapers left in Ibaia today, and at least in this country their very existence is cursed.
Cultural Problems: The main problem Ibaia faces, culturally, is adjusting to the relatively new social system that has been adopted since the renaissance. While it has been welcomed with open arms for the most part, there are still many people who cannot make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately for these people, there is little choice other than to leave this, their their homeland. This creates a rather distinct rift, between those who support the new ways and those who don't.
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This score list will be done for the defense force for the country, rather than the non-existent army;
Size: 1 [Ibaia has no army, a small defense force at best, which largely overlaps with the Royal Guard.]
Tech: 1 [The defense force is most likely, much less advanced than your typical country on the grand line. While adequately equipped, the few soldiers of Ibaia tend to favor archaic weapons.]
Organization: 1 [As there is no standing military and with it ranks or commanders, the defense force it highly unorganized, drawn between either command of the king or whomever else might be suited to command at the time.]
Experience: 1 [Of anyone who might know how to fight or have some experience from the civil war, none of them serve in the military.]
Logistics: 1 [Distinctly the weakest area, Ibaia has practically never had to fight outside its own borders, so it has no capabilities in terms of supply chain.]
Morale: 1 [The small defense force exists to defend and nothing else.]
Individuals: 1 [With the physical and health weaknesses of the people of Ibaia, in conjunction with the other scores thus far, it stands to reason that this last category would be abysmal as well.]
