Wa

Wa, oficially the Phinean Kingdom of Wa, is a sovereign country located in the insular region of Tyntalsya, in the South Atlantean Ocean. The country is unique for its culture being similar to the Hopelandian Hakki one yet is completely outside of its region of influence, and has a predominantly mermaid-based culture.

Name

The name comes from the ethnic name given to the branch of the Hakki-Ashtalaic offspring ethnic group known as the Was, yet following Michillian colonization (and a later independence), the country adopted the full name Phinean Kingdom of Wa, in a personal homage of the Michillian colonist Phineas Warren, who settled on the islands in an attempt for Flarland to reconquer the first Hakki lands in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The official sports abbreviation is PKW.

History

First settlers

The earliest known records of Wanians settling in the islands was when the Ashtalaic Wanderers set on a mission to find the so-called "New Atlantis", in what is now eastern Hopeland. They managed to cross-breed their genes with Hakki humans so that they could give birth to Hakki mermen.

Humans didn't settle until much later.

Flarlandian colonization

In 1794, Phineas Warren landed in the Wanian islands, and initially claimed it as part of the AOFS, but within days, claimed the islands as part of himself. Some of his members were aided by Michillians who were returning from Hopeland and helped bring the English language and Flarlandian customs.

Quickly, the Wanian culture had merged naturally with that of Flarland. This was deemed fitting considering that the islands were settled by Ashtalaics.

Sovereign again

It didn't take them long for the AOFS to recognize that Wa was, in fact, a sovereign kingdom. While Flarlandoam influence was already present, some natives were confined to hidden areas, yet Flarland would still be aware if its existence. Thr king signed the Compact of New Sovereignty in 1798 and opened diplomatical relations with Flarland in the same year.

Government and politics

Wa is a kingdom, and it has been since ancient times. Owing to the immortal nature of merpeople, Wa's king resigns rarely. Older kings had been ruling Wa for centuries, but the modern kings are elected by a process similar to a conventional election.

Since Flarlandian colonization, the system changed. Phineas Warren was briefly elected Royal Comissioner of the AOFS. Within less than a year, monarchy was restored when Wa's social paradigms changed, largely due to the introduction of the English language. The new title for king was the "Phinean King".

Elections for the Phinean King are made in irregular periods of time, as there is a series of criteria that needs to be respected:

• the king must have Phineas in the name, either as a first name or a surname;
• the king must be a merman;
• the king is one of the members of the Royal Houses.

When a king resigns, a ten-member conclave known as The Selection occurs. The members of the Wanian royal family - the Ten Chosen Ones - vote secretly under supervision of the previous king, and the winner gets a position in the throne.

Nonetheless, despite the bordeine absolutist government of Wa, the king also selects a human minister of foreign affairs and a human minister of economy. A reduced parliament comprising of sixty seats is also available, however instead of being divided by political parties, it is divided into sectors of a typical government. The format waa adapted from its colonist Flarland. The Wanian parliament is known as the House of Discussion and operates under royal supervision.

Wa is a federal kingdom, and is composed of two smaller kingdoms. The Phinean King takes control of all of Wa, yet there are also two sub-kings for each of them.

International relations

Wa has a longtime relationship with Flarland, and some of its economical measures were inspired by them. Consumption of Flarlandian television series is high in Wa.

Geography

Wa is an archipelago, and is comprised of a few islands. The largest of these is Phineas Island where an estimated 60% of the population resides.

Wa is divided into five self-governing units known as sub-kingdoms.

Continental classification

The classification of Wa has been a wide topic of dispute. While the islands are geographically close - yet distant - from South Sierra, it is sometimes considered to be a Bulungian country. If the Ashtalaic classification is followed, then it must be considered as a Eurectipherian country.

Wa did not join any continental confederation until it did the inevitable and decided to join the Bulungian Football Confederation in 1999. As a consequence, Wa became a part of some Bulungian institutions including the Bulungian Union.

Administrative divisions

Wa is divided into sixteen states. Ten of these states are under the jurisdiction of Phineas, three under Warren, two under Waliah and one under Darwin.

Culture

Languages

Wa has two official languages: English and Wanian.

Demographics

According to 2018 census estimates, the population is of around 1.08 million.

Sports

Sports are more recent in popularity. The most common spectator sports in Wa are association football, gridiron and wrestling. The Wanian Wrestling Federation (Wawref) was founded in 1995 and is often seen by the community as either "a poor man's WWE" or "WWE done right". The federation gained a cult status in fellow colonist Flarland.

As a member of the Bulungian Football Confederation, the country took part in the Bulungian Cup of Nations four times and went past the group stage twice. Most players are black. The team is, however, unable to qualify for the Championship of Nations, known for its stricter nationality criteria, and reflected by the nature of the Wanian population.

Media

Main articles: Media of Wa; Radio in Wa; Television in Wa

Media is in a strange situation: while in many countries media gets into turmoil largely due to politics, in Wa it's the complete opposite. Although the royal enterprises control more than half of the media landscape, there is commercial competition in all sectors: the press, radio and television.

The press is important for the dissemination of news in both languages.

The royal houses operate the Wanian Broadcasting Corporation.