Western Ireland

During the 'DRAGON WAR' which engulfed the United Kingdom between the years 2011 - 2013, the eastern part of Ireland suffered the rage of the retreating dragons. When many of them were driven out of England they took the battle to the Irish shores. The island became one of the final sites of the Dragon War, rendering the east barren and infertile.

Many fled, only the most stalwart remained. A small percentage of English, Welsh, Scottish dedicated to their homeland made their home Western Ireland. The bulk of the sparse population mainly hugs the coast, relying mainly on the fishing industry to support their economy and feed the masses.

Western Ireland's state is not unlike that of the Tri-America's and the rest of Europe. International trade, naturally, has greatly suffered. Many countries have been forced to fend for themselves and so they've had to step back a century. Returning to the old ways in order to support the population.

They are not without growing uncertainty in their lands. Before the dragons landed upon their eastern shores Ireland, like many other nations, was dealing with lycanthropes and zombies, among other 'magical incongruities'. Many of their communities are walled, some have even taken refuge in ancient castles, refortifying the archaic structures. They've taken a step back in time in order to press forward into an unknown future.

Travel to and from Ireland is mainly by sea. Planes are in short supply and incredibly expensive. Only a few airports are operational, serving to bring in much needed supplies that the country itself is unable to produce. The major airport that they maintain is the Western Ireland Airport in Knock. The other strip, is the military's Shannon Airport, in Shannon, County Clare. There may be other smaller strips, here and there able to service smaller aircraft but they are far and few between. The reality is, like many other areas of the globe surrounded by water, that Ireland is isolated from the rest of the world. Aside from family there is very little that would motivate a person to travel there. The 'modern lifestyle' yet enjoyed by New Yorkers has all but faded. The Irish, in general, live far more 'rustically'.

POLITICS

Ireland's government structure is loosely held together by a struggling military. Many have put aside political differences, but cultural prejudices remain. Thankfully, in such small numbers that their voices can be easily stifled. People are more concerned with basic survival and maintaining a government with the freedoms that everyone had simply taken for granted. These are threatened by growing factions and what can be loosely termed as 'war lords' seeking to impose their own versions of the laws over parts of the populace.

FACTIONS

The Vanguard of Humanity were quick to set up in Galway, the largest surviving city in Western Ireland. The new capital, if there was one. They have strong presence it a nation faced with an uncertain future but they are not without their 'altered' part of the populace. Providing council for the government in the matters of magic is the Order of First Light.

Lurking in the shadows are many outlaw groups. Irish mafia and other criminal organizations are a constant threat to the peace, but they also assist in supporting the structure by, in their own way, promoting a balance. The Sheut Nation as well, shares the shadows. They have existed since the beginning, staking out their territory and controlling their kind to ensure their survival.

Outside of the human populations, the Fanya Niasa exist to offer support and guidance to their kind. Ireland, especially, was a hot-spot for the emergence of beings of Elfin and Fey heritage, and rightly so given the country's rich legends concerning them. Ancient areas of Ireland have awoken giving rise to enchanted groves and mystical mounds frequented by the Faerie of old. The Irish landscape is slowly descending back into a nation of superstition and these days one would be wise to take the ancient tales to heart.

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