Menez-Mikael
Demographics
The majority of the population of the island either are members of, or directly support, the Lavigerien Guild, leading to a large population of technicians, scholars, arkanists and other skilled and educated professionals.
Bediz are the largest group represented on the island, making up the majority of the population. They are followed by the Tuatha de Danaan, the Kriores, and the Teuz in descending order. The Gargoul also have a large representation, although the populace is split between "feral" and "developed" subsets, resulting in inconsistencies of population counts. As a result, the Gargoul species has a large presence, but those participating in the community represent a much smaller amount.
Other Sidhe species, such as Tempestarii and Nathair are also found on the island in smaller numbers, as are other Korrigan peoples. The Fomorians largely live in floating villages in the sand-flats around the area, but more have moved within the island's walls and taken membership in the guild, signalling an increase in community involvement.
Government
The direct oversight of the island falls to the Archimago of Menez-Mikael, the head of the Guild and governor of the island. The Archimago is chosen by their predecessor in an esoteric arkane ritual, and upon death, all holdings of the previous owner transfer with the title. As a result, the Archimago is considered a quasi-noble title by the heraldrists and genealogists of the worlds and treated as such in records, despite no requirement of blood relation. The Archimago holds sway over the Guild and the Island itself, granted power during the Empire of Ys. This grant includes all lands that appear at low-tide around the island, and a few supporting settlements on the coastline. Due to the nature of this tidal-plain, actual control is typically centered on the island itself, with little attempt to settle or maintain communities on the flats.
The Ailhedenner, the secondary authority of the Guild, oversee the daily operation of the island, and some titles within that rung of authority are typically given ministerial duties relating to civilian concerns of the island's inhabitants. As a result, most of the governance of the island community is directly along the lines of the Guild's authority. The unaffiliated civilian population typically elects a largely symbolic representative to present their unique concerns to an appointed Ailhedenner.
The region is technically a vassal to the County of Avranches and therefore the Duchy of Normandi, however in practice the guild operates with complete autonomy, Past claimants include the Kingdom of Gallia and the Duchy of Letha. The citadel is typically considered as part of the Marches of Neustria by both Letha and Normandi.
Defences
The city is defended by several rings, starting first and foremost with its tidal plain. The dramatically shifting tides, submerging the entire region in a matter of minutes, and the quicksand like terrain makes both direct naval and overland assaults on the island difficult. Ground-based siege weaponry and tactics like undermining are rendered worthless by the water, while naval vessels run aground in the low-tide, allowing easy counterattacks on sitting targets. A curtain wall and several defensive towers lined with arrow-slits, trebuchets and scorpions adds further protection, and the 360 degree plain is difficult to encircle fully, making siege tactics ineffective in cutting off the city.
A standing garrison, supplemented by Brassgaurd, man these defenses, as well as an interior wall guarding the infrastructure at the summit. These numbers are buffed by alchemists, engineers and arkanists, making the island one of the most well-protected sites in Bedouar.
Industry & Trade
The Lavigerien Guild is the primary employer and industry on the island, with most additional industry intended to service the needs of the Ailhedenneg and the guild members who oversee it. This is not to say that smaller cottage industries have not sprung up among the industrious populace. The city has become well known for the production of omelettes and biscuits, although these are largely distributed only on the island itself and not exported.
Some of the elevated meadows and salt-marshes in the surrounding bay are ideal for sheep grazing, and the mutton of these creatures is considered to be among the most flavourful available, as a result of the salt-rich diet. The Teuz population is largely responsible for these flocks.
Infrastructure
The primary asset of the complex is the Ailhedenneg . Located on the top of the hill at the centre of the island, this large domed building houses a complex mechanical device, a massive brass machine of spinning rings and swiveling orbs. This device tracks ambulatory and transient landmasses, determining their relative location, predicted path and other navigational information. The Ailhedenneg is actually made up of three separate devices that are used in conjunction with each other to create complex mathematical formula to translate the machine's esoteric data into a usable format.
Surrounding this is the larger guild complex, taking up most of the summit and upper slopes, a collection of dining halls, dormitories, archives and other facilities. These are within a gated curtain wall and generally restricted to guild members and those with official guild business. Similar supporting facilities, and the private homes of more well-off guild members make up the slopes leading down to the lower levels. A collection of sloped paths, staircases and tunnels funnel travelers up the mountain in a winding circuitous path.
A water-driven transport system for small objects connects various guild buildings with a series of pipes that can be used to send messages and materials between different locations. Similarly, a complex sewer system, created by Kriores engineers, displaces waste far out into the flats.
The island has no windspire, instead utilizing the tidal plains surrounding it to dock windships, left tilting on their sides as the tide recedes. Windships, and traditional sailing vessels typically only land during high-tides while Sand-Skiffs ferry passengers and cargo across the bay when the water recedes. A floating dock facility exists to assist these latter, and more traditional nautical small craft.
Guilds and Factions
History
The island of Menez-Mikael was once a larger mountain in a dry, but low-lying coastal region, sparsely populated and undeveloped. During the Battle of Meneziou Are, the defining conflict of the War of the Two Brothers in 28 SI, the sky above the region became the sight of a magical battle between 2 powerful dragons at the command of Mikael of Leon and Queen Malgven, representing Dumnonia and Kernev respectively. After a fierce battle, Malgven was thrown into the mountain, destroying its summit and unleashing a powerful magical wave that decimated the countryside.
The aftershocks of the battle and the lingering magical energies reorganized the region, and erosion quickly finished the job, transforming the region into the Pleg-Mor Menez-Mikael, the tidal plain that dominates the region.
An expedition led by Arkanists of Kernev, the precursors to the Guild, determined that the magical and geographical features of the region made it an important site for research, establishing an observatory on the site. It was discovered that the nexus of ley-lines beneath the site allowed for a crude level of remote observation, and, utilizing salvaged imperial technology and the assistance of Kriores engineers, the Ailhedenneg was created, gradually expanding in complexity, scale and scope over the years.
During this time, the site also proved instrumental in aligning the trade and cultural exchange between Albia and Armorica, a protected location offering shelter and supplies for the cross-channel trips. The city was sacked by a large army of tribes around 429 SI, taking advantage of a power vacuum following the Battle of Relec, effectively cutting off cross-channel trade with Kameled, recently fallen to the Tuatha de Danaan.
The city was transferred to Letha, along with most of the Contentin Peninsula, during the campaigns of Hastings Fireforged in 755 SI, when Gallia was unable to control the region, remaining in the Kingdom's hands until political instability brought about by a series of civil wars and the Formorian Interregnum allowed the newly formed Kingdom of Normandi to annex the peninsula and the bay, taking the island from Duke Konan II. The island was used as a staging ground for the Norman invasion of Logres.
Tourism
The unique architecture, cultural significance and the presence of the Ailhedenneg makes the citadel a destination for many travelers, who often seek out the island while traveling between Letha, Normandi and Logres. It is also an informal, but popular destination on the Tro Breizh Pilgrimage, and is visited by Bediz, Korrigan and Sidhe with some regularity.
Due to the compact nature of the island and the difficulties in traversing the bay, most choose to stay in the surrounding villages rather than the island itself, traveling by foot or sand-skiff during low tides.
Architecture
To compensate for the massive weight atop the summit from the Ailhedenneg, a series of crypts, supports and tunnels are constructed beneath the main structure, serving as ancillary support for the facilities as well as the primary habitation of the Kriores population. The majority of the structures of the guild are built in an airy gothic style, with the exception of the central facility, constructed in the domed style of the old Empire. The majority of structures in the upper level are connected with covered cloisters, allowing for dry travel along the surface while reducing weight in key areas for added stability.
Geography
Sitting on the tidal-flats of the Pleg-Mor Menez Mikael, the city is located on a hill/island roughly 1000 m in circumference and 100 m tall. Tidal shifts occur regularly, quickly and dramatically, with a 14m difference between the highest and lowest points, at the "speed of a galloping horse". This makes traveling from the mainland to the island a difficult and dangerous task, with many relying on sand-skiffs as the preferred mode of travel. The water-logged sand creates pockets of quicksand, adding to the dangers. Once every 20 years, a larger tide floods the area, forcing the abandoning of parts of the lower quarter, such as the floating docks.
The area surrounding the island is remarkably flat, but is marked by jagged granite outcroppings and small rises with salt marshes and meadows, ideal for grazing.
Founding Date
35 SI
Alternative Name(s)
The Ailhedenneg, The Armillary, The Rings
Type
Citadel
Population
2000
Location under
Included Locations
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Related Traditions
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