THE KINGDOM OF MEDUSALIN
The Kingdom of Medusalin has throughout its history been known by several names ranging from, the Isle of Doom to Isle of Outcasts. The island began as an area used seasonally for fishing from the Alba Karinya mainland, mainly as it was plagued by volcanic activity which has been largely dormant since the 2nd Century AD when the last eruption is thought to have occured. At some point in the early 3rd Century AD a stone building was constructed on the northern shore with an inscription stating "This is the house of death. All who enter may never leave save to their Gods" It is clear from historical record however that this island had already begun to be used for a dumping ground of a mixture of people thought to be highly infectious in terms of disease, most likely leprosy, and criminals. There are records indicating that some criminals were tricked into believing that they were earning the right to freedom back by acting as nurse-maids or workers on the island and that the Gods would forgive them inf they did this work. There are however no historical records of anyone ever leaving the island.
By the middle of the 6th Century AD several settlements had been established across the island, some known as "clean" where workers were based to carry out work such as agriculture, fisheries and mining, other settlements were known as "unpure" and were largely walled cities with gatehouses preventing anyone entering or leaving without permission. While the illness spread in many occasions to the worker class the island did manage to become wealthy. A series of large stone boxes were erected on rocky outcrops known as "Vinegar Banks" these were boxes were large amounts of gold, silver, diamonds and various other precious items mined on the island could be deposited soaked in vinegar, a measure believed to prevent the spread of illness. Traders and pirates would leave goods, food and even at some points slaves and take the goods. As a result the island became rather diverse however the vast majority of those on the island would be described in the historical record as "pale of skin, golden of hair", a belief that came from the idea that the Gods were described as being "Golden" and that such people could be their semi-human offspring and thus immune from the disease.
In the early 13th Century one of the people left on the island was a young 17 year old Knight by the name of Franz Gottschalk was sent to the island. The thought of never being able to leave and some of the immorality he saw happening there lead him to leave the "unpure" settlement he had been put into by sneaking out and killing two guards. He established his own settlement and by the time he was 23 he had taken command of a rabble known historically as the "Masses of the Grave". A combination of their lack of fear of death, fear of their illness and Franz's connections meant he had taken control of the island by 1278. He made himself King and in 1279 an agreement was made with nations across the region that "King Franz the Cursed" would accept all criminals and ill in return for annual gifts and slaves. Franz's right to be King was seemingly supported by the Gods as despite the leprosy taking a great toll on his appearance and physical abilities he remained alive until the age of 61. Through a mixture of adoptions, marriages and decrees the island remained a private Kingdom in effect until the mid 1700s.
In the 1700s the island began to experience the occasional slave revolt but these were often harshly put down. Slavery was finally outlawed in 1861.
When knowledge on leprosy improved the island became more open for trade and visiting and for once it was permitted in 1887 to leave the island.
In 1902 there was a brief conflict on the island between the Republicans and Royalists. The Royalists won and have maintained control of the government ever since.
Today the island of Medusalin still can be seen as a divided island. Parts of the island are still established as a place for primary industries that at one time made the island capable of supporting those with illness. The other side of the island has become modern settlements. The island is still dominated by the royal family and its strong control over everyday life.
The people of the island follow a faith known as Gorgonism which is heavily influenced by the time of the island being a leper colony.
National Population - 3.8million
Capital City - Haven (population 650,000)
Currency - Farthing
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