Ilha das Tempestades

The Holy Dictatorship of Ilha das Tempestades is a tropical island situated lies some 180 kilometers (110 mi) east of AHSCA, which lies across the Venus Sea. The island is primarily inhabited by aborigine people known as Brasillians and was the native population until the island became open to tourism, trade and business.

In recent years, the island has reverted to a tribal culture and near-isolationist view of the world only mingling with its closer neighbor nations such as AHSCA.

Name
The name Ilha das Tempestades is a native name, literally meaning Isle of Storms due to the turbulent seas surrounding it and its frequency of stormy weather from hurricanes, lightning and monsoonal storms.

Other names its been known as are Brazil or Brasil for its native populous, also Ilha do Brasil

Early History
Carbon dating estimates the island to be more than 10,000 years old and geologist assume it was probably formed by underwater volcanic activity.

The early history of IDT is usually been relegated to oral tradition or folk tales. Dates, settlements, early people are generally subject to only the speculation by its people. The most known and accepted fact is that the island's people were largely farmers, finding the rough seas around the island a challenge to traverse for fishing as well as difficult for foreign sailors.

The first know contact with a the outside world came sometime in the early 1900s when Aurora Princess, Himekia Shino sailed from Aurora to Tempestades in an exploration mission and made contact with the tribes of the island. The two islands were able to engage in trade and learned the art of boat making to withstand heavy seas and expand the able fishing ability.

Princess Shino was also believed to introduce Madokamism to the people but the religion didn't catch on with most of the natives who already practiced their own indigenous faith of, Venus Estrelaism.

Modern Influence Age
In the later half of the 20th century, advanced technology in maritime and air travel began enabling the remote island more to foreign visitors as well as refugees from AHSCA wars. With this influx more and more tribes began disbanding and joining the "world of modernity."

In 2006 the island was purchased by the LaDaux Family, Claude and Lucille, a wealthy family who had worked in the oil trade business around the world but resided on their own self proclaimed nation of LaDaux Island an oil rig somewhere in the Venus Sea. The island would become the new nation for the family and efforts were made to modernize the country and get recognition from the international community.

With the purchase, the former Chief of Tempestades was deposed of his position and given a healthy sum of money to live off the rest of his life.

Following the death of Duke Claude in a sailing accident his wife Lucille became the steward Duchess until their only daughter, Silvia could come of age and marry. Upon the death of Lucille from malaria, Silvia declared herself Duchess and ruler of the new colony and deposed anyone who challenged her.



Under Silvia's reign the island continued to prosper but Silvia took her father's plan steps further by expanding from just a tourist destination to a self-sustaining nation state, inviting foreign manufacturers to set up residency with hefty tax relief incentives.

This fostered accusations from natives who accused the Duchess of allowing exploitation, gross misconduct and pollution. The Duchess pushed off these accusations but did offer new incentives for companies there to allow labor union formations but these went largely unimplemented by visiting companies.

Valenzuela Revolution
Years of misconduct finally took it's toll on the native population, with some leaving to AHSCA others began to take up arms and plan a revolt.

Valenzuela Avdotia eldest daughter of tribes leader returned from a Spirit Quest as a charismatic individual. Feeling empowered by the Goddess Venus she grew more vocal about her disgust of the state of Tempestades and was calling the gross exploitation of the people punishment for betraying their roots.



Efforts to silence her from the Royal Guard failed as repeated assassination attempts failed. This only helped empower her cause as many believed she was divinely blessed and protected to bring this message to the people. Attempts at peace negotiations also fell through with a simple demand by Valenzuela to LaDeaux, tear down the establishment and leave, or die. The LaDeaux court didn't take to Val's demand and proceeded on a year long man-hunt, with massive rewards offered for her capture, dead or alive.

During this time, Valenzuela was able to rally more remote jungle villages to her cause and gather more support for a revolution. During this time she also trained her younger sister, Shamara to be a fighter herself.

On the night of November 1, 2008 a group of armed assailants, lead by Valenzuela marched into the capital of Port Lucille burning every building in sight, destroying houses, businesses, automobiles and killing tourists and foreign businessmen. No distinction was made between young or old as all who were considered part of the problem were killed.

As night turned to day Valenzuela ordered any natives who fought the revolt or were part of the establishment to be taken alive and given the choice of trial or exile. By November 3 much of the Royal Army had been decimated by guerrilla warriors, due to poor equipment and on the evening of the 4th a strong storm brought a momentary ceasefire and put out burning fires.

Attempts to mitigate a peace still remained unheard of by Valenzuela's army and fighting resumed on the 6th. November 10th the Royal Court was penetrated by the army and Princess Silvia was captured.

The Trials of Porto Brasil
Over the course of the next several months the Trials of Porto Brasil (Julgamentos de Porto Brasil) trials of natives began, consisting of a six person council comprised of Valenzulea herself and several other tribal leaders which put natives on trial who had worked with or collaborated with the foreign menace. The levy of crimes consisted of


 * Crimes against Venus (blasphemy)
 * Crimes against Tempestades (act of polluting, building, or exploiting natives)
 * Crimes against the libertadores (those who fought with the royal court or fought against any of the liberating soldiers of Valenzuela)

Penalties ranged from exile to death. Duchess LaDeaux was also tried and humiliated before the court of spectators.



While tried she was declared guilty on all counts and sentenced to execution. What happened afterword remains a mystery as Silvia managed to either escape or was set free from captivity. It isn't clear if she ever was able to leave the island or died in the jungles trying to reach the coast.

Post-Revolution
In the days since the revolution much of the infrastructure built by the wealthy LaDaux family was torn away with Valenzuela naming herself Grand Mistress Chief of the Island and enacting strict laws to abide by her code and the laws of Venus.

Geography
Tempestades is a sizable island that spans 8,515,767 km2 (3,287,597 sq mi) It's terrain is relatively flat and level with few hills but some large natural mountain boundaries exist but no range spans more than 10 miles across. These mountain ranges reach elevations of up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). These ranges include the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço mountains and the Serra do Mar.

Climate


True to it's name Tempestades is famous for the intensity and frequency of stormy weather. It's postion in the Venus Sea puts it in position of the jet stream that runs course to AHSCA and Catatumbo Island thus increasing the frequency of storms. This is a band dubbed "The rain belt" bringing a high amount of precipitation to the island every year.

Hurricanes, lightning, flooding and tidal shifts are a common occurrence. Winter frosts and snowfall are not rare in the highest areas.[

Government
The government of IDT consists of it's Autocratic Chief, Valenzuela as well as the Tribal Chiefs beneath her. There is no parliamentary system in place or political parties and all decisions are made by Val on the consult of her Tribal Chiefs who answer the concerns of their own villages.

Political Divisions


IDT is divided into four main political divisions known as dominions each overseen by a Dominion Chief whom in turn reports to Valenzuela as High Chief. Dominions were drawn along natural barriers such as rivers and mountains. More than a hundred villages of varying size sprawl in each of the four dominions.

Economy
Under the old monarchy regime, the economic base used to rely heavily on manufacturing and tourism. Since the revolution it was reduced purely to a subsistence agriculture economy. It's sole use of currency is the Dotes previously a paper note but since has become the trade of tin or copper which is naturally found on the island but this is gradually being phased out to a barter and trade system.

Culture and Society


The Brasilian society is a largely matriarchal society thanks to the worship of their Goddess Venus and the strong will of Valenzuela. As such women are the primary workers and heads of home and are expected to maintain home and family and teach their ways to their daughters and sons. Men play an important part of laborers in society but have no say in the political sector.

Women also lead in the religious ceremonies and in the distribution of good in their villages. Young women frequently go on vision quests or spiritual journeys to understand their lot in life. This can include going into the wilderness, to sea or becoming a priestess for a period of one or two years. Some may chose their spouses outright and settle down when they reach maturity.

Tribal culture was restored following the revolution with villages being considered tribes under the leadership of a Tribal Chief. The majority of people practice Venus Estrelaism with a few Madokamists remaining due to the friendship and cross refrencing the religions have with each other. Most other religions are prohibited and preaching of a religion other than Venus Esteralism is also banned.

People live by nature and what they can produce from the land or by the sea. With fishing remaining a staple of old culture it has managed to carry over.



The hunting of wildlife is treated as a reverent and sacred manner as it is considered a gift given by the Goddess.