Welcome to Shireroth and to micronationalism! Whether you're someone who has stumbled upon our site and wants to know more about us or a new immigrant trying to figure out what you've gotten yourself into, the following pamphlet should tell you enough about us to allow you to jump right in and feel that you understand most of what is going on. Warning According to the DEA, micronationalism is one of the most addictive things on Earth. If you are the kind of person who easily gets addicted to things and doesn't have very much time, you should probably stop reading now. What is micronationalism? As the name implies, micronationalism is the game/hobby/way-of-life based on creating and living in small nations. It has many levels, from people who treat it as a role-playing game to people who are dead serious about seceding from the United States or elsewhere as soon as they get enough military might to back themselves up. Shireroth falls in between. We have no real secessionist aspirations and follow all United States laws, but we do try and maintain at least a tenuous grip on reality most of the time. All micronations are looking for new immigrants who are interested in contributing something to the community, and Shireroth is no exception. If what you see in this guide seems interesting to you, please consider joining us. Is this a role-playing game? The most common misconception about micronations held by those new to them is the belief that they are an RPG, or somehow separate from the real world. This is not the case. Do not make yourself a character or expect someone to care if you claim to have built something, achieved something, or, God forbid, killed someone. If it is helpful, consider Shireroth not to be a simulation of a country but rather a real country that happens to be conducting many of its affairs on the Internet. It has a legislature, a university, a square for general discussion, et cetera. This way of looking at things should prevent you from falling into the role-playing trap. So what do you do? Whatever we want, basically. People are always coming up with more ideas to make Shireroth a more interesting place. However, most stuff that happens here generally falls into a few areas: - We pass laws. Laws can concern everything from what holidays we celebrate to our foreign policy to who gets noble titles. This is really the backbone of the whole system. As a new immigrant, you will not be directly involved in the legislative process. However, you can watch the proceedings of the Landsraad and are encouraged to tell your Duke or Baron your opinion on issues. - We conduct foreign relations. There are many other micronations around, and some of them, like Antica and Babkha, are very close to Shireroth, often working with us or conspiring against us on various plans. The Ministry of the Exterior works on writing treaties, negotiating solutions to problems, keeping informed on what our friends and enemies are doing, and trying to convince foreign countries to act in ways that benefit us. Sometimes we just visit and say hi. - We have a military and an intelligence agency. The military chiefly participates in "recwars", a uniquely micronational sport similar to RPGs in many ways. Intelligence often consists of having foreign contacts who are willing to sell Shireroth information on their nations and of infiltrating enemy countries with spies before they can do the same to us. - We create fiction. We have developed a rich fictional culture, a couple of stories, and some history for our lands and institutions. Usually this is done as a side or an embellishment to the government work, but there are some people who prefer just to write stuff or role-play without any official government jobs. - We make stuff. From launching model rockets under the guise of a space program to broadcasting KIRS, Shireroth's own radio station, people with hobbies tend to find that associating them with Shireroth makes them more fun and gets people interested in them. How does the government work?
Our government works on the feudal system. It consists of four levels, each of which is sworn to obey the level above them and each of which commands the levels below them in their turn. On top is the Kaiser, who you can think of as a sort of king. His word is law, although to hold official sway it must be formalized in an Imperial Decree. Directly
below the Kaiser are the three Dukes. The Dukes each rule over a Duchy, and each have the privilege of voting in the Landsraad, the legislature that decides most important issues. Below the Dukes are the Barons, who may vote in the Landsraad with permission from their Dukes. There may be no, one, or more than one Barony in each Duchy, but each Barony has
to have at least two people. How can I become a noble? 1. (the normal way) Be an active, intelligent, and loyal citizen. When a noble title opens up, someone may remember you and recommend you for it. 2. (the easy way) Marry into it. The significant others of Shirerithian nobles are granted their own noble titles, although they are not ruling nobles, a small but significant legal distinction. 3. (the really helpful way) Recruit some friends to Shireroth. By the Feudal Holdings Act of 2003, any collection of at least two people may apply to become a Barony, and any collection of at least five people may apply to become a Duchy. Keep in mind that these people must be reasonably active for this to work - you can't just have some friends fill out the form and leave. A great way to prove yourself an intelligent, active, and loyal citizen is to get yourself a job in one of the Ministries. As of the time of this writing, the Ministry of the Exterior needs ambassadors, the Ministry of Information could sure use someone to update the website, and the Ministry of Military Affairs can always use soldiers. In general, people who just do good work and make a lot of friends in the community are more likely to become nobles than people who are obviously hell-bent on a title. What fiefdom should I live in? Most citizens of Shireroth reside in a fiefdom. If you choose to immigrate, you will be expected either to choose a fiefdom or give the Minister of Immigration and Naturalization permission to choose one for you. The current fiefdoms are as follows: The Duchy of Brookshire is Shireroth's oldest Duchy and the former home of the nation's founder, Erik Metzler. It is currently ruled by James Raine, a student from central California. Brookshire's culture is somewhat conservative, and the citizens tend to be both isolationist and traditionalist. Its lone Barony, Muaddib, is ruled by Shyriath Bukolos, an environmental scientist from Maryland. The Duchy of Kildare, has a long and somewhat troubled history. Traditionally most military leaders have come from this area, although that has dropped off in recent months. It is ruled by Duchess Renee and Duke Joseph, both students from California, and its culture is an unstable mix of old micronational traditions that predate Shireroth and a bit of Ireland that has hung on through the region's many incarnations. Kildare contains the Barony of Hallucination, wherein many strange illusions and visions are manifest. The current Baron is Ozarka Monto, a student from Tennesee. The Duchy of Yardistan is certainly Shireroth's most unique Duchy, and quite possibly the most unique thing of any sort anywhere. It is home to several of Shireroth's oldest and most questionable traditions, such as the Annexation Corps and the Small Animal and Molotov Cocktail Delivery Company. Its Duke is Osmose, a student with interests in programming and gaming. The Barony of Amity and Mirioth has a tropical island theme that makes an interesting contrast with the Gothic tendencies of its Baron, Greg Russell of North Carolina. How do I immigrate? If this sounds like something you might be interested in, register on our public forum, go to the Ministry of Immigration, Naturalization, and Tourism(MINT), and fill out the form on the top. For more information on immigration, talk to the Minister of Immigration, whose contact details are below. Who can I talk to? If you have some questions about Shireroth or just want to chat, the following are some AIM screen names of people who will be able to help you. Unless you have a query about a specific ministry, your best bet would be the Minister of Immigration, Minister of Information, or the Kaiser. All positions are as of 8/13/05:
GSquid314: Scott, Kaiser of Shireroth Any other advice?
-Just participate. The more you do stuff, the more it will all become clear to you. Where can I get more information? The ShireWiki can give you definitions of most of terms related to Shireroth, histories of our institutions, and descriptions (occasionally warnings) of different people or positions. If you have any lingering questions, the people listed above should be able to answer them, or you can email the Kaiser if you don't have AIM. |
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