Scraps of Worldbuilding

An inside joke within the Sil Dorsettian scientific community concerns the existence of a space program, replete with resources for the development and testing of rockets. The truth, of course, is that, with the principality being as small as it is and with not a lot of funding coming in through taxes, there is no real space program. The joke itself is that the space program is run by the Prime Minister's eldest daughter, eight-year-old Rachel Bowers, who launches water bottle rockets from her mother's estate.

Model rocketry is a favorite activity of school-age children across the principality, and government education funding is used to purchase rocketry supplies for science classes in all grades. Leger Industries is the top recipient of said funding, being the #1 supplier of black powder model rocket motors in Sil Dorsett, as well as being a manufacturer of other model rocket construction parts. Elementary school children are introduced to physics with the use of pressurized water bottle rockets, and Leger Industries products become commonplace among middle schoolers. Leger motor usage continues well into high school, although usage of their premade rocket kits becomes less common as students utilize simulation software to design their own custom builds.

Supposedly, Rachel's mother is keen on advancing the Sil Dorsettian "space program" ahead of schedule by mass purchasing Leger A8-3 motors for her daughter, a couple of years earlier than most children would be exposed to them.

In terms of transportation in Goyanes, the first thing one might think of is the railways. While this is a valid point, as Goyanes has possibly the most robust railway network on Eras, the network of ferries across not just the Naesser Sea, but across the ocean to Ayovulka and Nærøy are worth noting.

The origin of the regional ferry market stems to the development of the steam ocean liner itself. When the ocean-going steamship was invented, it immediately became extremely popular in the Naesser Sea, transporting people and cargo across the small sea, connecting Cojedes, Hessunland, Frisia, and Andrenne. They have thrived for the most part, but after the Fascist War and the development of air travel, the trans-Naesser ferry market took a blow. Gottia was threatening regional security, and airfare got cheaper by the day.

In 1988, when the Gotmark War came to a close and western Gothis began to heal, so did the ferry market. Operators capitalized on the readily available market and expanding post-war economies, and immediately began to construct new ships and terminals. These new ships resembled ocean liners more than ferries, and included well-appointed cabins and onboard amenities like pools, shops, nightclubs, and restaurants. The goal was to make the journey so much more than sitting in a metal tube for an hour, it was to be an experience.

With these marketing tactics in mind, the market exploded with operators, creating one of the most lucrative transportation markets in the world. Goyanes has six main operators that serve a variety of cities from their main operating bases. They are the Hysende Line, K Line, NRF Line, MLFS Line, Østnet (Eastern) Line, and Nordstrom Line.

The largest operator of ferries is the K Line, short for Kongsland Shipping Lines, based in Kadsbyhavn, Kongsland. The K Line operates the largest route network, connecting most of the Naesser region to their hub in Kadsbyhavn. The largest ocean shipping company however is the Hysende Line, which operates the ferries from Hofsvægr to Ërrbog and Ayacucho in Ayovulka and Cojedes, respectively. Hysende Line maintains a large fleet of container ships, ocean liners, and ferries for their two routes.

These Goyanean companies compete on international routes with other operators. The ferry companies are represented by the Naesser Shipping Confederation, a trade organization that lobbies for the interests of, and fosters cooperation between the main Naesser Sea ferry companies from all of the nations on the sea.

Some of the coolest routes in operation in Goyanes are the Kroneøy-Fanorstad and Dagenfjord-Hanjetor lines. They connect coastal Nyhett and Sørnen with Hejen, and even though only Eastern Lines is listed on the map, there is competition on these routes. Since the distance for these routes is relatively short (only about 60-80 km), hovercraft and jetfoils are in frequent use. Eastern Line operates large Radisson-built Series 4 Hovercraft, which carry both cars and passengers at a cruising speed of 110 km/h across the Allysund (the body of water between the Hejen peninsula and the mainland of Goyanes). The reason that the ferries are so popular on these two routes is that trains to the north take too long as they have to circle around the Allysund, but the ferries go from downtown to downtown port, and in all four of these cities, the railway stations are connected to the ferry port, so passengers simply can walk off a ferry and onto an HHT train.

In recent years, the growth of low-cost airlines has threatened the supremacy of the Naesser ferries in regional transportation. However, the ferry companies have reacted by lowering fares, and including various drink and meal packages into the price of the ticket. As a result, they have gained popularity (or notoriety, depending on how you want to look at it) amongst younger travelers who want to have fun on the way to their destinations. For example, a group of friends can embark in Gojannesstad in the evening, party all night, sleep all day, party again for another night, and then arrive in Nærøystad two nights later.

The Naesser Sea ferries remain popular with the market of people who road-trip to their destinations, such as families and truckers. Taking a ferry across the Naesser Sea can shave a day or two off the travel time to destinations east of Goyanes, as one doesn’t have to drive around the sea coast.

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In the dog days of August 1974, a team of 12 construction men were working on the Nordøst High Speed Line near Kinneydal, Nyhett. The pantograph wires overhead had already been strung up, and the men were installing wiring systems for the signalling system, when the wires reportedly began to bounce as if a train were approaching at speed, but the men looked around and could see nothing coming. The bouncing stopped all of a sudden, but a blinding light caught the foreman’s eye. He told his workers, and they saw the Virgin Mary appearing before them.

The apparition of the Virgin began to speak, giving an apocalyptic message to the workers. According to one of the technicians with them, the Holy Mother reportedly said:

“Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, ... the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. ...Each day recite the prayer of the Rosary. With the Rosary pray for the Pope, bishops and the priests. The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, and bishops against other bishops.”

The message startled and incited fear in the men, and as soon as the Virgin Mary had appeared, she had also left, leaving an imprint of a crucifix in the concrete trackbed below where she stood.

The men traveled to the nearby church in Kinneydal, and brought the pastor as well as several brothers of the Order of St. Ingolfr back to the job site, where they were shown the mark of the crucifix on the concrete as well as where they testified to their experience.

The brothers and the pastor blessed the workers, and opened an investigation into the apparition. While ultimately the Goyanean See did not cast approval or disapproval, the local parish gifted a shrine of the Virgin Mary and associated plaque to Gojan Jårnbaner, which now sits next to the signal equipment hut along the Nordøst High Speed Line just south of Kinneydal HHT Station.

A brief abstract on Goyanean agriculture:


The vast bulk of Goyanes’ agricultural production occurs in the southern Kingdoms of Goyanes (Sørnen, Fennmark, Hejen, Dåren, Kusenhelm, Kira, Nordgotmark, and Vasterfriesen). One of the primary reasons for this is that In Goyanes, 70% of the population lives in the northern half of the country (everything north of Nyhett and Seggsnet), or 70% of the people in 58% of the land. That leaves the remaining 42% with 30% of the population. The population density of the southern half of the country is 163 pp/km^2 in an area 247,154 km^2 large.

This sets the stage for good, rural, arable land that can produce a large amount of crops, allowing Goyanes to have a slight majority of exports (1.22 IBU exported for every 1 IBU imported). The majority of Goyanes exports consist of dairy, meats, wheat (including barley and hops; and as a result beer), fruits (mostly apples, grapes, and peaches), and vegetables (such as potatoes, cabbage, spinach, and sugar beets). In addition rapeseed oil is becoming an increasingly popular cultivar.

Regarding the production of beer, Goyanes’ large amounts of wheat, barley, and hops allow it to produce a staggering amount of it. The top ten breweries produce a whopping 53.89 hectoliters of beer per year, with many other smaller craft breweries producing more.

Goyanes’ agricultural tradition has been mostly based in the rural southern regions, with many people calling them (lovingly) the Potatolands and the Wheatlands (Kartoffellanden/Veiselanden). However, northern Goyanes does have an upper hand on something else, fisheries.

Goyanean fisheries take advantage of the large amount of coastline, as Goyanes is a peninsula. The cold-water currents of the Great Northern Ocean as well as the Naesser Sea provide for excellent tuna, halibut, mackerel and cod, and herring, and the cold mountain streams and rivers of Goyanes’ rugged north yield excellent trout and salmon. Whaling still occurs in Goyanes' north, and seal clubbing occurs on the northern Goyanean coasts.

Goyanes’ agricultural land and fisheries are well managed by both kingdom and national authorities, and fair trade and “organic” practices are the norm.

A Malicious Spirit in Yeran Folklore:

The B'âpaynaw are undead spirits (or alternatively, spirits born from malicious thoughts) who target those who have unexpectedly betrayed them. B'âpaynaw take the form of entirely black and white, incorporeal humanoid shapes with extraordinarily long and thin limbs, and their faces consist of three voids in the shape of a crude pair of eyes and a mouth, locked in an expression that suggests confusion and fear in equal measures.

Upon creation, they lock their gaze upon their future victim (even if they do not know who wronged them in life) regardless of distance or obstacles, and begin moving towards them. They supposedly move incredibly slowly, drifting almost like a jellyfish, but inexorably drawn towards the person that wronged them. People who are not their victims cannot see the B'âpaynaw, but supposedly experience feelings of sudden coldness or confusion if they pass through one. This is suggested as why people sometimes forget what they're doing all of a sudden.

The victim of a B'âpaynaw reportedly subconsciously knows when one has been created, and its creation begins to play havoc on their psyche. Once a B'âpaynaw reaches its victim, invariably when the victim is in bed or asleep and alone, there is little the victim can do to stop its revenge, though certain legends report that covering yourself completely, including the face and eyes, and refusing to look upon the specter until the sun comes up, will cause the B'âpaynaw to dissipate with a scream of rage. Most often, however, the victim is instead killed, with their cause of death being reported as anywhere from Alzheimer's or Dementia, to even suicide, as some claim the B'âpaynaw can drive a person to perform actions against their will.

The origin of the B'âpaynaw and stories surrounding it is unknown, but probably stems from ancient Yeran customs about honor. It is possible to prevent the formation of a B'âpaynaw if one has caused one to form by paying amends to the person one has wronged.

Telecom in Goyanes


History:

Telecommunications in Goyanes has a long and rich history, dating to 1845 with the establishment of the Imperial Telegraph Company (Kæsernet Telegraf; KT). The Imperial Telegraph Company was a state monopoly that strung wires across Goyanes, and layed undersea cable to other nations. Eventually the company was acquired by Imperial Mail (Kæsernet Raisvasta; KR) in 1911, which operated the network as a subsidiary. By that time, Imperial Telegraph had expanded into the phone sector. Several competitors attempted to match Imperial Telegraph, but none succeeded until 1945 when Gojan Jårnbaner (GJ; Goyanean State Railways) was founded out of the consolidated “Big Four Railways.” Each of the railways had its own telegraph networks, but the consolidation allowed GJ to create a unified telegraph system with a reach that went wherever the railway went. GJ soon thereafter began offering telephone services under the brand “Riksfahrspråk,” and a duopoly soon emerged.

By 1985 however, it was apparent that with the advent of the internet and mobile communication, the duopoly system would no longer be viable, so the Ministry of Trade and Commerce stripped Imperial Telegraph of its monopoly. Imperial Telegraph was reorganized as Gojan Telekom (GT). It did not break up GJ’s Riksfahrspråk as its market share was much lower. However, GJ took note and decided to capitalize, semi-privatising Riksfahrspråk (now known as SKK Rikskom) and funding the laying of fiber optic cables and more copper cables along railway lines, laying the groundwork for high speed access to the vast majority of Goyanes’ cities.

Regulation of the telecom industry is done by the Ministry of Communication, and Goyanes’ enshrined political and social rights have protected the communications industry from censorship.

Breakdown by Infrastructure:

All domestic trunks are now digital, and most are carried through the national fiber optic network. The main providers of fiber infrastructure are Gojan Telekom, SKK Rikskom, NordOptisk, and Torsheim Digital.

The landline system employs an extensive system of modern network elements such as digital telephone exchanges, mobile switching centers, and gateways at the core, interconnected by a wide variety of transmission systems using fiber optics and microwave radio relay networks. The access network, which connects the subscriber to the core, is highly diversified with different copper, fiber optic and wireless technologies. The fixed-line telecommunications market is dominated by the former duopolies Gojan Telekom and SKK Rikskom, however mobile operators such as Nordkom and Polyfon have been making entries into the market since the late 2000s.

The mobile phone service market is much more diversified than the landline market, with five companies competing for customers. The companies are Gojan Telekom, SKK Rikskom, Nordkom, Polyfon, and TDK. TDK is the mobile service subsidiary of the fiber-optic provider Torsheim Digital. Goyanes has a robust phone network with 4G/LTE technology being rolled out across the nation since the early 2010s.

Telephone numbering is in a common system used with Gotmark, and follows the format of a three digit area code, then a three digit local center code, then four individual digits.

Internet infrastructure in Goyanes is extensive, fast, and robust. Various companies provide high-speed internet service, both at the national and local level. In all areas of Goyanes there are at least 2 operators to choose from, and in many there can be three or more providers. The main ISP’s at the national level are Gojan Telekom, SKK Rikskom, NordOptisk, and Torsheim Digital. The larger regional companies include Mydfjord Communications, Stårnberg Veb, and KNR Data.

Cable television is provided by the same big four companies that provide optical and copper cable services, Gojan Telekom, SKK Rikskom, NordOptisk, and Torsheim Digital. However satellite television services are popular in some more rural areas, and companies such as KNR Data and Rundsat operate satellite TV services.

Idioms and Expressions in the Gojan Language
(thanks @Kyle for this idea, it's been a while in the making)

• “Gå til der Kamusjinfelden” (Go to the Fields of Kamusjin): To die a valiant death. Can also be used in past tense, i.e. went to/took a trip to…. The expression comes from when Grand Emperor Geirolf VII died leading his troops into battle at the Fields of Kamusjin in 1622 during the 2nd War of Goyanean Succession.
• “Anfang en strassetog/Strassetoganfanger” (Start a road train or road-train-starter): When on a two-lane road someone drives needlessly slow, holding up traffic and since they can’t be passed, it causes a convoy to unwillingly form behind them.
• “Være bærplukken” (berry-picking): When someone has no idea what they’re talking about or doing, wether in actions or in a conversation.
• “Røyke og rais” (smoke and travel): To get out of somewhere with haste. I.e. “let’s get out of here!” Can also be used informally when a train is late and needs to leave quickly, (De må røyke og rais) “they have to smoke and travel.”
• “Glykkenet laks” (Happy Salmon): someone who is a cheery person, a happy-go-lucky.
• “Øffdå/Øff/Øfda” (no direct translation): an exclamation of surprise or sudden pain, i.e. when you open a cabinet and a can falls out or when you stub your toe. Can also be used when a task at hand is substantial, but not in disgust.
• “Rais på austrykke til en ørtnetby” (Ride on an express to a local town): A railway-related expression referring to when someone outdoes something to impress people that they miss the original goal/objective. Refers to when you get on an express train only to find that the train has sped by your stop. Similar to mission creep.
• “Din handling, din førtjeneste” (Your act, your profit): equivalent to you reap what you sow, what comes around goes around, etc. Essentially a karma phrase.
• “Dær er en røv fra alles sitplats” (There is an ass for every seat): Refers to how everyone has different preferences. Can also be used to console people who have relationship issues in the same way as “there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”
• “Jåsusnet oppståndelse” (Jesus-like resurrection): To turn a bad situation around into a good one. Refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Used frequently with businesses after remodeling.
• “Plukking hans eplen” (Picking his own apples): When someone says/does something for their own benefit. “Han er plukking hans eplen.” (He’s picking his own apples).
• “Saufårskøfe, hundkøtt.” (Sheep’s head, dog’s meat): False advertisement, similar to “crying wine, selling vinegar.”
• “Baugge der nyå Stor Hove” (Build the new Grand Trunk Railway): Refers to when someone is doing something way over their head or they don’t know how to do, such as rebuilding the largest Goyanean Railway.
• “Der latrøv arbeid toseit” (The lazy-bum works double time): Essentially, don’t half-ass things, because you’re going to have to spend double the amount of time fixing it and doing it again.
• “Drams til der hund” (Drams to the dog): Giving a gift to someone who won’t appreciate it, similar to pearls to the swine.
• “Der blindrotte ikke reddanst van der bjørn” (The blind rat isn’t afraid of the bear): A saying that roughly means how can you be truly afraid of something you haven’t experienced before.
• “Sek falle, Syv Stå” (Fall six times, stand up seven): If you don’t succeed at first, perseverance will serve you well.
• “Ikke lass der bjørn ut med din honnig” (Don’t let the bear leave with your honey): Don’t let yourself get taken advantage of.
• “Sette kull i din lokomotiv” (Put coal in your locomotive): Man up/grow a pair. Stop worrying and get it over with.
• “Mannenfjerg, mannensee” (People mountain, people ocean): An adjective phrase used to describe a particularly crowded place. “Dette stasjon er mannenfjerg mannensee” (This station is extremely crowded).
• “Vagenelv” (Car River): When a road or railway has so much traffic that it seems like a river of cars.
• “Baugge en fjord van en bæk” (Build a fjord out of a creek): To make something out as more than it actually is, to needlessly hype something up.
• “Jeg luktet en tog” (I smelled a train): When you had a gut feeling something would happen. Refers to when trains were hauled by steam engines and the smell of smoke was evident a train had been there.
• “Nej bier i der Oktoberfest” (No beer in the Oktoberfest): Used to refer to something impossible, similar to “when pigs fly.”
• “Korpølsekaptajn/Syrskeadmiral” (Sausage Captain/Syrixian Admiral): Someone who has an inflated sense of importance/power or is extremely arrogant.
• “Kusøvn” (Cow Sleep): When someone is so exhausted they fall asleep standing up/somewhere that isn’t in their bedroom/on a bed. Refers to the fact that cows sleep standing up.
• “En Mittelgots såtte” (A Gottian please): When someone steals something/borrowed without asking. Refers to when Gottia (unsuccessfully) tried to take parts of Andrenne after the Fascist War and when Gottia tried to conquer Gotmark in 1987.
• “Sperke en dønk” (Kick a Doink): When someone fails at something they should have done correctly/is easy to do. Refers to when a field goal kick in Gojan football hits the goalposts and doesn’t go in, a skill that should be mastered before hitting the big leagues.
• “En ikkekontorby” (A town without a(n) (ticket) office): Refers (rudely) to a town so small that the train station doesn’t have a ticket office, requiring riders to have to buy train tickets directly from the conductor.
• “I der syvende drøm” (In the 7th dream): Deep sleep, used to refer to when something happens while someone is deeply sleeping.
• “En Gotmarkerstraum” (A Gotmarker’s Tree): Someone’s pet project/hobby that they work on on the side. “Dette vagen er mein gotmarkerstraum” (This car is my Gotmarker’s Tree).
• “Valanskhummersmør” (Vallish Lobster Roll): Something needlessly opulent/gaudy. Can also be used to represent a white elephant gift/project.
• “Seesprøyte” (Ocean Spray): A misogynistic term used to refer to women with poor personal hygiene.
• “Askalonskerfest” (Ascalonian Party): A party/get-together of high-school aged students where underage drinking/drugs are prevalent and where many regret-inducing decisions take place. This comes from the infamous parties thrown by Goyanean expat students who attend private high schools in Dazhou.
• “Utenriksmann på en Høyhastikettog” (Foreigner on an HHT Train): Refers to someone who is utterly impressed and speechless by something (in a good way).
• “Lass in en utkast” (Let in a draft): Refers to someone who is left speechless by something (in a bad way). Comes from when someone’s jaw drops, equating it to an open window/door.
• “Har en Andrenskdag” (Having an Andrennian day): To become depressed reminiscing about one’s previous life/status. Refers to Andrenne’s historical status as the central power on Gothis.
• “Lass der hokejplats sjmelte” (Let the hockey rink melt): To allow something to break/fall into disrepair that shouldn’t be allowed to.
• “Gojannesstad minutt” (Gojannesstad Minute): A very short amount of time.
• “Skittenet tvæt” (Dirty Laundry): Blackmail or fake news. Often refers to fake/scandalous stories printed in tabloids.
• “Hvor der togen ikke gå” (Where the trains don’t go): Extremely far away, or somewhere very difficult to get to. Can also be used to (rudely) refer to a bad neighborhood in a city.
• “I der stangaltan” (In the lookout post at the top of a sailboat mast): To be sent to do an annoying/arduous task.
• “Har mehr volle æn en saufår” (Have more wool than a sheep): To be loaded with cash/extremely rich.
• “Brukket som en stang” (Broken like a stick): To be poor/broke. Used especially when someone usually has money, but is caught off guard needing to make a purchase.
• “Der køttse van din moder” (Your mom’s c*nt): A sarcastic response when asked a question which you obviously don't know the answer to.
• “Gå til sengs med der kiklingeren” (Go to bed with the chickens): To go to sleep very early. Hens go to sleep when the sun sets, and as a result are the first animals to call it a day. In the winter this can be extremely early, around 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
• “Er geristet” (He/she is toasted): To have gone insane. A youth slang usage refers to someone high on marijuana.
• “Der Valaskutgang” (The Vallish Exit): An Irish Goodbye/To leave without thanking or saying goodbye to the host. Refers to the Vallish leaving the UKAG.
• “En Gojan tog” (A Goyanean train): The epitome of something/the absolute best something can be. “Din skølebetyg er der Gojan tog!” (Your grades are the Goyanean train!).

Bass Pro Shops (Blagevi Vorvikker) is a Vallian retailer - specifically of Vallish origin - of fishing, camping, mountaineering, and other related outdoor recreation merchandise and supplies such as firearms for hunting. One of many similarly named retailers throughout the Nordic world, Vallia's Bass Pro Shops was founded by Nils Håkkesson in Hoggen, Valland, in 1968. From its humble roots, the chain expanded throughout the United Kingdom, which has a strong outdoor culture.

Today, Bass Pro Shops maintains many stores across the United Kingdom, similar to its sister corporations in other Nordic countries, with the largest of its stores being more of veritable theme parks with an outdoors theme as opposed to regular stores. These mega-stores are known in Vallish as Naturlik Velden, or "Natural World" stores. The largest of them all, however, is the store in the town of Meppel just outside of Hoggen, where the original store still stands.

The Meppel store, similar to others like it across the Nordic world, is known as the Blagenpiramid. Built by Bass Pro Shops in the late 80s into the early 90s to serve as a megastore, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Valland. Inside the pyramid is the store itself - the largest Natural World store by far - as well as a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and a shooting range, as well as many observation decks.

Three Most Popular TV Shows of Nordvand

1. Echoes (documentary series, 2018 - Present): Directed by Michael Westberg, Echoes is an exploration into the legacy of totalitarianism left by the former Revolutionary Government and its Chief Chancellor, James Vossen. The series interviews those whose lives have been affected and transformed by the Revolutionary Government; for example, its first season included an interview with an anonymous first cousin (once-removed) of Chief Chancellor Vossen in its episode to understand if those who were intimately involved in the regime at its highest levels understood the gravity of the crimes that were committed, and in another episode, a group of Chilimuk Elders are interviewed to provide an oral history of the increasing repression against the native peoples of Nordvand. The final episode of Season Two was estimated to be watched by 5.2 million people - just short of one-third of the total population of Nordvand - and featured a two-hour interview with King Matthew I discussing the time he served as a Revolutionary Army officer and his defection to a militant opposition group, how he came to unite the disparate opposition groups under the banner of the People's Coalition for a Free Nordvand (PCFN), and the final battle major battle in the Civil War of Nordvand - the Battle of Archambeau.

2. Worlds of Payne (comedy, 2017 - Present): Author Reggie Payne and his loveably bone-headed roommate, Derek, live in a tiny apartment deep in the Lower Dockside District of Parlamer City. His life is complicated by a boatload of debt acquired from attending the shady, unaccredited School of Composition, Art, and Music (also known as "SCAM"), by a girlfriend who gets into legal trouble for her egregious excesses of the most minor offenses (she just finished one month of house arrest for jaywalking across the NOR-1 federal highway!), and by an eclectic neighbour - and landlord, to boot - who suspects Reggie of being an undercover foreign spy! But hijinks ensue when Reggie writes a bestselling novel, entitled An Emu's Kiss, which catapults him to fame but also forces him to reconcile his new present with his hilarious past!

3. Experiences (specialty programming, 2019 - Present): Nordvand Public Broadcasting (NPB) inaugurated Experiences in February 2019 with footage of an ten-hour, 1200-kilometer train ride from Jonbour to Eastbay and, surprisingly enough, 10% of households tuned in to watch at least twenty minutes of the train ride, with 5% of households leaving it on for an hour or more! Since then, NPB has released additional episodes of Experiences, including a boat ride along the western Nordvandian coast from Issted to Victoria and, most recently, helmet cam footage of a successful summit climb up Nordvand's highest peak, Mt. Riesig (5300m).

Ever since the grouping together of the various principalities into the states of Valland, the southern states and northern states were developing more pronounced regional identities and values, bolstered by their religious differences and their terrain, as the North came to industrialize whilst the South came to depend on agriculture. As time went on, as well, national politics began to become more and more volatile due to flaws in the existing system. Originally, the country's democratic process was much more exclusive. The Lånsevar was the only legislative body and the Lord President was elected every six years. In 1822, the Lånsevar was enlarged to 435 members and the right to vote was extended to all citizens of the Republic, not just those who owned property. However, calls continued for constitutional reform, specifically for the Lånsevar to be organized on a proportional model, reflective of population distribution. Unsurprisingly, southern states were against this, whilst northern states were generally for it.

The issue exacerbated existing cultural differences between the North and South and the people largely divided along these lines, as did the political parties, creating the first serious instance of political coalitions in Vallish history, with the northern coalition - the Coalition for National Unity (KNE - Koalisjon vor Nasjonal Enheit) - being largely composed of the Northern classical liberal Free Soil Party and the center-left National Party, and the southern coalition - Den Gelisten ("Gelisten" roughly translates to "Equalists") - being largely composed of the right-wing Republican Party and the Southern classical liberal Whig Party. The centrist Liberal Party was the worst affected, dividing sharply along regional lines. The party remained legally existent, but in reality was nothing more than a mutual satellite of the Unionists and Equalists. The Presidency, meanwhile, became the primary battleground point between the two coalitions. This state of affairs persisted until the election of 1854.

In 1854, Einar Rasmussen, the Unionist candidate, from the National Party; defeated Jonas Håkke, the Equalist candidate, from the Whig Party, and was elected Lord President. Rasmussen had, for much of his political career, been seen as an outsider, being strongly in support of constitutional reform. Worried and fed up, southern states began to secede, eventually forming the Vallish Confederation. Lord President Rasmussen responded by leading the formal union of the Unionist parties into the National Union Party, activating emergency powers, and mobilizing the portions of the military that remained loyal. The South, however, struck first, launching surprise attacks over the mountains, formally initiating the Ørmell - the war's name being a Vallish term that means "War Between the States". Both sides courted foreign support throughout the war, with the South gaining the support of Andrenne and the North gaining the support of Xentherida. Jonas Håkke took up the position of Lord President of the Confederation.

The war went back and forth for just under half a decade, with much of the fighting occurring in the mountains in the center and west of the country as well as near Lake Lucerne. Occasionally, each side would engage in incursions deeper into the other's territory, but by and large, the South was succeeding in its goal of defending itself and solidifying its territorial independence. As time went on, the Northern public began to grow more discontented with the course of the war, and so, as a last ditch gamble, the exhausted Lord President Rasmussen authorized an incredibly risky strategy. In 1859, Northern forces marched through Almere, western Hofgren, and Varen in an unorthodox scorched earth campaign. If the campaign failed, the administration judged, the war would essentially be over in the South's favor. However, if it succeeded, Valland would at last have a fighting chance at unity.

The gamble worked. The South, though spurred on by regionalist bravado, was just as exhausted from the war, not to mention their continually outnumbered state throughout the war. The South needed to divert forces to retaliate, and as a result, their lines in the mountains gradually began to give way. By 1861, Northern forces finally marched into Vikstad and the war was over. Following the war's end, a compromisal version of the originally proposed constitutional reforms were put into place, creating the Mensedag; a bicameral legislature with a proportional lower house, the Vårtinget, and a Lånsevar that now held the status of upper house with its pre-1822 roster of 180 senators. The first Mensedag was elected in 1862. The National Union Party did not survive the war, dissolving soon after the constitutional reforms were passed. The original Whig Party, the Republican Party, and the Liberal Party were all formally dissolved. The National Party drifted to the left, changing its name to the Social Democratic Party. The Free Soil Party subsumed the old Liberal Party and became the Constitution Party, a center-right party.

Finally, two new parties were founded. First was the Social Credit Party, based on the economic theory of Social Credit, which gained popularity in rural regions of the North and some parts of the South during the war. The second was the Messianist Democratic Party. After the war, Southern states were subjected to military administration, being gradually readmitted to the Republic. The Messianist Democratic Party was founded in 1863, when the first Southern states were readmitted, and first emerged onto the national scene during and after the 1864 midterm elections. A right-wing party, further to the right than the Constitution Party, the Messianist Democrats were a strong voice for Southern interests, but as time went on, it eventually morphed into a big tent conservative party, eventually subsuming the Constitution Party in the 20th century.

Lord President Rasmussen, exhausted from the war and now visibly older, was initially against running in 1862, wanting to retire from public life. However, he was persuaded to run again not only in 1862 but in 1866 due to sheer popular demand. Lord President Rasmussen did not complete his third term, falling victim to cardiac arrest in 1868. He was followed by his Vice President, Gert Drees, who immediately gave his predecessor one of the largest state funerals in Vallish history. Lord President Drees did not run in 1870, and was succeeded by Cornelius Bondevik of the Constitution Party. Under Lord President Bondevik, the last state under military administration, Versør, was readmitted, and Valland continued to heal from the war, experiencing an industrial boom and a revitalization of the South.

As for Jonas Håkke, he was blood-eagled in 1862; the last blood-eagling in Vallish history.

Bearing Syrxian gifts- To appear friendly at face value but secretly have an agenda

Testing the river with both feet- To act without caution

Dancing to Skandan tunes- to engage in aggressive or irrational actions

Going Kaiderin- referencing the military caste, to ‘go’ Kaiderin is to throw one's full support behind something

A hollow gourd- someone who is loud but says nothing of substance

I know where you live! - A common threat

Ascalonian loyalty- One who has forgotten where their true loyalties lie

Taking an Iraelian walk- to go to war

“He/she tried to hug a Baobab tree!”- attempting to seem wise or intelligent but failing to grasp a subject

A Lawstonian opportunity- It could go either way

Planting cassava in the Bhadari- a pipe dream, the Bhadari is a vast desert where nothing grows

Pull an Mboto- to do the right thing regardless of the cost or risk

Sabhrain’s children- Nuclear missiles, also a good-natured dig at the empress's lack of heirs

To beat a drum with no rhythm- to champion a lost cause

A Gotic entrance- to cause chaos or a great offence

Suchari etiquette- to show a lack of respect for something

A Fussian hello- to be unsubtle with one's intention

To call the wood that shelters you a jungle- lack of gratitude

To hawk a beautiful coffin- to attempt to sell something no one wants

Make an Alnarian oath- to remain noncommittal

Attempting to wrestle with a falling baobab- fighting against the inevitable

Skinny dipping in the Metteran sea- to throw caution to the wind

A Bashimite tank- something complex or possessing many aspects

A Rafhazani overture- to be mysterious

A large chair does not make an Exalt- a rebuke directed at people enamoured with ostentatious displays

Sipping Demescian Stew- to have varied tastes

When we think of modern Hessunland we tend to think of the circumstances that surrounded the birth of the nation, namely the abortive Gotmark war of 1987-1988, while this view is not entirely inaccurate it does ignore a great deal of history that predates both Gottia and the Dachsi regime. Hessunland has existed as a nation in some form since about 1555 when it was founded as the Arch-Duchy of Hessunland, over time the duchy evolved into a kingdom, first under local monarchs and then later under the rule of the Malorian originating Vin Severyn dynasty. It is specifically the period of 1840-1879 that is largely considered the golden age of Pre-Gottian Hessunland.

The Vin Severyn's had cemented their place as beloved rulers of Hessunland thanks to a series of capable monarchs, by 1840 this string of successful rulers had reached triumphal heights following the Malorian victory in the 1st Andrenno-Malorian war. To be alive in Franktorf during the Vin Severyn period was to be a resident of one of the most cultured and cosmopolitan cities upon Eras, Lucas Seidel was composing magnificent choral works for the nations bustling opera scene, coffee was imported from Astragon and consumed in immense quantities in the cities many cafes and the Neu-Gotic style was thriving as architects erected countless beautiful structures across Hessunland's expanding urban centres.

Favourable trade relations with the rest of Gothis and wider Eras ensured that the port cities of Dussel, Franktorf and Naesserhafen were host to a bustling trade in exotic goods, the wealth of nations passed through the stalls and shopfronts of Hessunlands elegant cities. Many merchants grew rich from the sale of Hessunlands vast reserves of silver and the nation's banking sector grew rich from investment in foreign expeditions and business ventures. Religion too proved to be a thriving enterprise during the golden age, in 1844 the act of unity essentially worked to end the longstanding conflicts between the southern Courantists, northern Arvinists and pagan Ivarans. Religious toleration led to social harmony in the thriving kingdom, the Arvinist rite becoming synonymous with northern Hessunland around this time.

The Arvinist rite with its strong emphasis upon active earning of salvation and good works set the tone for the nations moral compass and Arvinist lodges became extremely prominent at all levels of society. It was said that beggars in Hessunland were the equals of peasants in other lands during the golden age thanks to generous alms and forward-thinking social programs. Arvinist High Architect Wilhelm Von Saar was particularly revered due to his opposition to workhouses, instead, he campaigned successfully for reformed social programs that provided non-punitive support for those without.

In the early 1900s prosperity and peace led to the annexation of Frisia into Hessunland in 1910, the country had long been economically dependent on its more developed neighbour and a personal union between Hessunland and Frisia became increasingly inevitable as the two states became more intertwined. On October 7th, 1910, Nicolaas Vin Severyn II was crowned king of Gottia in Franktorf's Arvinist cathedral, this was ironically the height of Hessunland's power and would mark the nations zenith. Shortly after the union, the troubles would begin, Hessunlanders were always the more dominant partner in Gottia and this became increasingly obvious as Frisian's found themselves being forced to speak Mittelgots and conform to Hessunlander cultural ways.

The Gottian kingdom increasingly worked as a Hessunlander run nation with Frisian tenants, this was literally the case in Frisia as Hessun landlords typically owned the majority of land and housing. The second-class nature of Frisia became even more apparent when the nation was plunged into the catastrophic Provocation war of 1917-1920, Frisian soldiers largely led by Hessun speaking officers died by the thousands for a nation that did not consider them equals. The Gottian defeat saw the nation plunged into an economic depression that crippled the once-proud Gottia. During this time the Vin Severyn dynasty was overthrown during an uprising of disenfranchised workers and soldiers, Nicolaas II fleeing into exile overseas.

In the monarchies place the shortlived Dussel republic became the de-facto government from 1920-1930, they largely struggled to rebuild the nations failing economy with inflation and labour strikes becoming a common feature of Gottian life. In 1930 military officer Gebhardt Himdach seized power over the country under the pretext of stopping a syndicalist coup, what followed was some sixty years of brutal and dictatorial Dachsi rule which would forever stain the once hopeful Gottia and cement its place as one of Era's most reviled nations. The end of the Dachsi regime in 1988 saw a gradual re-examining of history by Hessunland scholars.

Today as the nation of Hessunland once again enjoys prosperity under a monarch the golden age is increasingly a source of inspiration, whether the nation can avoid its historical pitfalls remains to be seen.

What is SkyNet?
Founded in April 2003, SkyNet is a leading web browser that is used by a global audience (although primarily Bashime and Iraelia).

What makes SkyNet unique?
SkyNet prizes itself on several key features, such as:

• Privacy, SkyNet puts the user first and offers world-class protection from website trackers so that the user can browse with peace at mind. As well as this, the browser also has the latest secure end-to-end encryption and data such as your password is encrypted locally on your device, never being sent to SkyNet.
• Customisability, being able to make your browser your own is part of the core SkyNet experience. Choose between light and dark themes, favourite websites/apps and pin them to your sidebar, map your own custom keyboard shortcuts, and even use the address bar to access what you want to quicker.
• Versatility, the ability to do what you usually can't is also one of SkyNet's greatest boasts. Capture full-page screenshots with the built-in capture button, use phone-based apps on our browser with no third-party extensions, and even use certain browser extensions from other well-known browsers with SkyNet's special compatibility settings.

How does SkyNet do it?
Much of the SkyNet team has had decades of software-building experience, and is run with a unique approach in mind. That being the concept of self-organisation and cross-department decision making that truly unleashes SkyNet's highest potential. We also take in a significant amount of support from a global network of volunteers who translate, test, speed the word, and even create parts of SkyNet!

Where is SkyNet based?
SkyNet's main headquarters is located in Ekbatana, Bashime, the federation's technology hub, with over 400 employees of a world-spanning range of cultures and faiths. However, SkyNet also has four other major headquarters:

• Sarazed, Iraelia: With so many of SkyNet's users being based in Iraelia, a headquarters was created in the heart of the nation's financial hub.
• Hadden, Prydania: To support the growing technology industry in the war-torn regions of Northern Craviter, SkyNet built its new Craviter headquarters in the sleepy city of Hadden.
• Hirosake, Akaria: The formation of the Auroran Union has put the world's eyes on Akaria and SkyNet has taken note, currently in the process of building a new Aurora headquarters in its capital.
• Tagtaryeva, Yamantau: Construction of a new Meterran headquarters in Yamantau has also begun, with SkyNet looking to penetrate the fledgling industry in the nation.

Prydanian Idioms

Hanga á útibú (hang onto a branch)- Wait a minute.

Refurinn giftist konu úlfurinnar (the fox is marrying the wolf’s wife)- It’s raining with the sun out.

Eins og björn með staf (like a bear with a stick)- To look very confused.

Til að hafa mús upp ermi þína (to have a mouse up your sleeve)- Someone has a mischievous plan.

Ekki hrista kjúklinginn (don’t shake the chicken)- Don’t overdo it.

Þú ert að klóra kúlur með sofandi úlfur með stutta staf (you’re scratching a sleeping wolf’s balls with a short stick)- You’re being very arrogant.

Rúfa hunang á munni einhvers (rubbing honey on someone’s mouth)- Kissing someone’s ass, buttering them up, sucking up to someone.

Kirkjan hans/hennar er úti (his/her church is out)- It’s all over for him/her.

Stingdu skeið í þakið (stick a spoon in the roof)- Someone has died.

Það er staðreynd eins og kýr (it's a fact like a cow)- A fact you cannot ignore.

Talandi gat í höfði einhvers (talking a hole in someone’s head)- To persuade someone.

Sæktu úlfur aftan frá hæðinni (fetch a wolf from behind the hill)- To think or talk about problems that haven’t happened yet and thus possibly making them happen.

Kettlingur af brautinni (kitten off the track)- An outgoing and fun person at an event.

Laushöfuð (loose head)- Forgetful or odd behaviour.

Slíkur munnur ætti að fá sultu (such a mouth should get jam)- When someone says something which rings true or is very witty and sharp.

Four instances of Maerid Law was enforced in Rafhazan history:

• 1st instance: During the era of the Caliphate, Maerid Law was established following the establishment of the Caliphate (after the death of Mehrab). It worked decently fine for the time, not being heavily radical. Despite this, it’d be disbanded upon the establishment of the Kingdom of Rafhazan, and it's far more secular policies under King Mehrab Al-Fassi. The secular policy kept stability within the kingdom, but the notion of secular policies angered the radical Mehrabiists, which caused some conflicts to occur within the kingdom.

• 2nd instance: Following the death of Mehrab Al-Fassi, Qaaid Al-Fassi would take power, and wasn’t devoted to secular policies at all. He reestablished Maerid Law, but wasn’t radical about its enforcement. This actually was relatively successful. Mehrabiists were fine with it, and radical Mehrabiists, despite disagreeing and disliking the lack of harsh punishments, were happy to see it return. Other followers of other faiths were allowed to worship in private. Granted, it didn’t always work - at times, other followers of other faiths would rebel or revolt against the Kingdom. And even a few Radical Mehrabiists would attempt to break away or revolt. Which was rare, but still occurred. This would remain the case even after his death. Until in the 1760s, where Saahir Al-Fassi would take power, he returned to secular policies. By this point, however, most of Rafhazan had a massive Mehrabiist population.

• 3rd instance: In the early 1900s, following the death of Tayyib Al-Fassi, the Kingdom fell to Zubair Al-Fassi, a 13 year old. Due to this, a radical Mehrabiist organization known as the iirada* rose into power and prominence due the head of the organization, Saif al-Abbas taking advantage of the situation entirely. The iirada used Zubair as a puppet and used him as a way to enforce Maerid Law more radically. Maerid law was reestablished. Radical punishments were done as well. Stonings, whips, and far more cruel forms of killing were done to those that broke it. Due to this, some people who broke Maerid Law attempted escape to the Majana Almaladh Alamana (Free Safe Shelter). Most would die. Others would escape to Bashime, Iraelia, or other areas. By 1906, after a couple years of this, a General by the name of Saqr al-Sadek, stormed the Kingdom’s capital, Asiya, and after a few days of fighting in the streets, would depose Zubair Al-Fassi, and the iirada. He’d lead the Kingdom for a few days before it was dismantled, and a military dictatorship would take place. Saif al-Abbas would be executed following the establishment of the military dictatorship. In an ironic twist, would be stoned to death, despite it being illegal in the military dictatorship. Maerid Law would be disbanded once more.

*iirada is nowadays defunct. Followers of the iirada still exist in Rafhazan to this day, but are largely in hiding, and small, excluding one. The one excluded is the Barkuu Organization which is currently fighting the Southern Rafhazi insurgency alongside/against the Dimuqratiun faction. Both oppose Muntasir's rule, but also oppose each other.

• 4th instance: Following the collapse of the Social Republic of Rafhazan, and the establishment of the Emirate of Rafhazan, the first Emir, Haarith al-Sarwar would disallow the usage of the Maerid Law, stating that its “Outdated” and “Unneeded for Mehrabiists, and the Emirate” - Despite which, following his death, Muntasir el-Nasr (the current Emir of Rafhazan) would reestablish Maerid Law. Despite not being radically placed in, it’d meet with heavy negative responses from the ministers within the Rafhazan government. At one point, in the late 1990s, the Minister of Internal Affairs was on his knees and begging for Muntasir to reverse his decision. In 2005, the Emir finally removed it after an adviser had a mental breakdown.

Phung Dao Rong was an embattled and incredibly loathed Prime Minister going into the 2018 General Election. Facing tough opposition from not only just the National Party, but from more liberal-leaning factions of his own party, just barely pushing back against Huynh Ngyuen in a leadership spill, his prospects seemed low. In the eyes of most domestic and foreign political observers, he was a lame duck saddled with a crippling net disapproval rating of 32 percent. However, no one could predict the utter massacre the Community Party received at the voting booth, especially in the Prime Minister's own constituency. Despite outspending his opponents by a lofty margin, the national parties not taking the race seriously, and leading pre-election polling for the constituency, he lost in a major upset, going down to a political newcomer by a massive, 11-point beat down.

To quote Hsienic Television Personality, Alan Kyung, "A no-name economics professor from Pau just kicked the Prime Minister's ass." Thus, the Prime Minister went down with his party in 2018, as the Nationals enjoyed a clean sweep of Kasu, ending more than a decade of the Community-lead government. Nowadays, the former Prime Minister maintains an active public presence after his loss, harping on and criticizing the current government at any opportune chance he gets.

His opponent, Pham Anh, was an economics professor at Hyn-Qiang Community College, recruited by the Liberal-Socialist as a paper candidate to help the party fill up constituencies in Nam-nui. When election night hit, even he couldn't believe the results when they started appearing on television, as he watched from a small watch party of about 60 individuals at a cozy, rented venue. History had been made, as this was the first time in Kasugan history a Prime Minister had been defeated for re-election in his own constituency.

The Third Ministry of Nordvand
11 July 2018 - Current

Prime Minister: The Right Honourable Sofía Jiménez Rodriguez, O.E.
Deputy Prime Minister: The Honourable Michael Ahearn
Minister of Agriculture: The Honourable Raymond Saunier
Minister to the Chilimuk Nations: The Honourable Tseniyah Olanna
Minister of Commerce: The Honourable Alain Chauve
Minister to the Crown: The Honourable Erika Palmgren
Minister of Defense: The Honourable Samuel Abend
Minister of Education: The Honourable Tseynuk Willawah
Minister of Energy: The Honourable Annette Selvig
Minister of Environmental Conservation: The Honourable Christiane de Jong
Minister of Family Services: The Honourable Kiyati Hatiyyah
Minister of Finance: The Honourable Dominique Boucher
Minister of Foreign Affairs: The Honourable Jordan Muller
Minister of Health: The Honourable Mateo Pedrero, MD
Minister of the Interior: The Honourable Martijn Anderson
Minister of Labour: The Honourable Rainer Schwerin
Minister to Laws: The Honourable Dagny Norgard, Esq., Attorney General
Minister of Natural Resources: The Honourable Raul Cardenal
Minister of the Nordvand Postal Office: The Honourable Anja Selander
Minister of Science: The Honourable Dr. Seynuk Tellawa
Minister of Trade: The Honourable Janneke Spoelstra
Minister of Transportation: The Honourable Jurke Wiersma
Minister to Veterans: The Honourable Julienne Nicollier
Minister to Women: The Honourable Olivia Prado, MD

The symbol below is known as the Kayƛa Łeyg'âƛa Cańƛikê (typically shortened to just Cańƛikê), which is colloquially referred to in Mercanti as the Yeran Cross, but is more accurately translated as The Dead King's Guard. The symbol is unrelated to messianism and arose out of the early days of the War of Dead Kings, a series of internal conflicts and civil wars in the Stan Yera throughout the 12th century and into the 13th, triggered by the then assassination of the 'King' of the Stan Yera. It supposedly represents the guards of the King, who were killed while defending the hall of their lord. Supposedly, the guards were repeatedly struck by javelins, arrows, and spears, but did not initially die and continued to slay anyone who came in range. After many hours of being riddled by projectiles, they finally bled out and died, but did not fall over upon their death and instead remained standing, the only indication of their passing being the stillness of their bodies and the pooling blood at their feet. The symbol would go on to become one of defiance and protection against death and evil, and is often marked on the doors of rural homesteads come winter to ward off the various evil spirits believed to inhabit the wilderness.

Cigarettes in Astragon

Red Crowns-High Quality, High Strength, Silk Cut and Clove laced. You Smoke these because you have money and status

Scorpions- Strong acidic hints, caustic feel, Edgy orange packaging. You Smoke these because you are young and want to look cool or because you've been strung out on bloodweed for a few days and want to come down gently

Lumamba gold-Cool Menthol taste, neat green and gold packaging, silk cut and reasonably priced. You Smoke these if you are middle aged and respectable...or because you stole them from your dads draw.

Spear Strikes- Fierce taste, Standardized black packaging, 100% real tobacco and no filler, Resale is a crime and you can't buy them anywhere outside of a military district. Favourites of Naval officers and Kaiderin everywhere, be all you can be before your lungs give out or you catch a bullet 07.

Red Sons- Cheap, caustic, slight earthy hints, a common brand across Astragon, workers and people on salaries love em, just don't smoke em in the rich side of town.

Kosh- Dear god really!? okay the tobacco(which is about 5% of the total thing) tastes stale and sad, the rest is probably old newspaper and a lethal dose of arsenic for flavour. They cost half a Kashai and will kill you slowly but surely, but hey the Kosh induced depression smoking these will give you might make you wish for death.

Famous and Infamous - Cigarettes in Skanda (Part 1?)

Silver Star - The most popular brand in Skanda. Smooth draw, mild, mellow taste, not too expensive but not particularly cheap. Oda Shujiko (first president of the Republic of Skanda) smokes these.

Gold Star - Silver Stars for pretentious, rich assholes. Ever so slightly smoother. Black with a white butt. That's it. They're the same otherwise. You're paying for a fancier box basically.

Marlins - Second most popular. They've never overtaken Silver Stars but they never will. They have a fish on their box! Stronger than Silver Stars, earthier too.

888 - Triple eights. Third most popular. They're said to be real lucky, and they have a minty apple to them but it's not too strong, they're menthol cigarettes. Really smooth, very little actual 'cigarette' taste to them.

888 Kapuchīno - Triple eights, but they taste like coffee instead of apple and mint. Cool, if you're into that thing. The scent they give off is notoriously nasty, however.

888 Karameru - Triple eights, but they taste like caramel instead of apple and mint or coffee. Often seen as 'trendy' by smokers and the scent they give off is far more pleasant.

HKKY - Formerly AKY, formerly formerly HKKY. This brand has gone through some changes alongside the Skandan government but has never exactly been the face of quality. They're cheap, strong, and they smell pretty bad. But of course, the military seems to love them as does anyone just looking for a tobacco fix.

Kaehoni - Cannons, in Mercanti. These are better than Kosh, but not by much. At least they're a proper cigarette, even if they're about as low quality and infamous as Skandan cigarettes get. It's very likely rolled by a sweaty and blind man up in the Akitu Mountains. They have a very odd, unpleasant, almost coppery taste to them, they're about as smooth as sandpaper, and you'll probably end up in a coffin after the first pack. Even the box has a horrible design on it.

Shaddaism has been present in some form within Hessunland since at least the 1300s, early documents revealing that large communities of skilled Yihuddi migrants existed within the great urban centres of the nation. The tome of works written in 1355 by courantist monks of the order of St. Willem, lists "Craftsmen of Yihudisch origin" several times, hinting at a wider truth. Throughout Hessunlands early history Yihuddi immigration represented a small but influential contribution to the growth of the nation, Shaddaist craftsmen were renowned for their silverwork and Shaddaist doctors quickly became a source of quality physicians for the nation's nobility. Despite this they remained largely confined to specific urban zones of Franktorf and Dussel, this segregation can be traced to the traditional prejudices held against Shaddaists by Hessunland's nobility.

It appears that the ruling class never truly trusted the Shaddaists, reasoning that their differences in faith and culture made them less loyal to the nation. In 1834 Count Grunwald famously declared his distrust for Yihuddi communities:

"They remain within their own communities, keep to their own rituals and ways, they do not worship our Messiah and they have no interest in integration, they represent an alien element, useful but not to be trusted"

This dismissive and prejudiced tone would become increasingly the norm as Hessunland and Frisia united into the state of Gottia, the prejudices of the nobles filtering down to the middle and lower classes. Shaddaists in Gottia continued to contribute in various ways to the wider society, science, commerce and law all benefited thanks to Yihuddi immigrants and their works, but the growing tide of distrust and prejudice form wider society was becoming increasingly restrictive. The Provocation war in 1917 marked the beginning of a period of great trials for the Shaddaist people of Gottia, initially, prejudices were put aside as the drive for recruitment and victory made old hatreds counterproductive. During the war, several Shaddaist Gottians won acclaim for their bravery, Willem Rosen of Salzen was decorated with the Gottian cross for his actions on the frontlines, Walter Weiss was equally decorated for his many aerial victories against Andrenne in the latter war.

The end of the provocation war caused discrimination against Shaddaists to intensify, right-wing elements blaming Shaddaist "desertion" for the nation's loss. Gebhardt Himdach would later seize on this myth of Shaddaist disloyalty during his coup in 1930, the dictator utilizing this as a pretext for strict laws that segregated and restricted Shaddaist peoples. Himdach firmly believed that Shaddaists represented a threat to Gottia, their difference being a sign in his eyes of a treacherous enemy within, he sought to remove this supposed threat with increasingly harsh legal declarations. The "Gottian Purity Laws" of 1934 set the tone for the repression that was to follow, Shaddaists being confined to urban ghettos and forbidden to marry Hessunlanders or bear their children. Gebhardt later made it illegal for Shaddaists to bear arms or serve in the military or civil service, these laws effectively cemented the Shaddaist people's status as an underclass in Gottia.

It has been suggested that Gebhardt Himdach had intended to use a victory in the fascist wars to deport large numbers of Shaddaists to newly acquired territories seized from Gotmark and Andrenne, likely hoping that they would gradually die out due to limited resources and harsh conditions. Thankfully Himdach's delusions of victory were shattered by the overwhelming defeat of Fascism by Goyanes and its allies, Gottia once again finding itself a weakened and economically constrained pariah. Gebhardt Himdach would die of a aneurysm in the mid-50s, his son Gaucheis claiming the title of Diktator in 1956. Gaucheis's rule was arguably more overtly racist than his fathers, the son seeking to complete his father's vision for a "pure" Gottia. Gaucheis was however largely constrained by his nations post-war weaknesses, Goyanean scrutiny and economic decline both preventing him from enacting vast deportations or initiating pogroms against Shaddaist communities.

Instead, it is now common knowledge that from about 1970 onwards, the Dachsi regime had drafted plans to deport Shaddaists en masse to colonies that were to be established in Gotmark following a successful conquest. In the meantime, the old purity laws and segregation policies instituted by Gebhardt made life miserable for Shaddaist people, who were largely at the mercy of police and black shirt patrols. Ironically Frisia was to prove the saviour of Shaddaism during the dark decades that preceded the Gotmark war, Frisian revolutionaries shifting attention from Hessunland to themselves. The Frisian Liberation Army was highly successful in tying up military resources within Frisia, Gaucheis's security services too busy with Frisian bombings and assassinations to put a concerted effort into organized persecution of Shaddaism.

When the Gotmark war did break out in 1987 Himdach's poorly trained armies of conscripts were quickly repulsed by better trained Goyanean and Andrennian forces. The Gotmark war quickly turned to a rout and ended with Gaucheis swinging from a rope on a Franktorf overpass alongside his mistress Olga Graf. In the wake of the war, Gottia was broken up and Hessunland and Frisia emerged as separate national entities. Hessunlands first president Wilhelm Turpentiz sought to rebuild the nation as a tolerant and peaceful entity, his swift repeal of Himdach era laws serving to end the state approved persecution of Shaddaism. 30 years of rebuilding and political change followed, Hessunland gaining its first Shaddaist president in 2004 in the form of Wilma Adelstein. Anti-racism campaigns and the tabula rasa state that the carpet bombing of Hessunlander cities created allowed for Shaddaist communities to integrate at a relatively equal level during the reconstruction of Hessunland.

Today Shaddaists represent a proud and influential culture within Hessunland, their presence in Franktorf, Kufen, Dussel and Naesserhafen making up nearly 5% of the countries total population. Many problems still remain, however, for example, the segregation and confinement of Shaddaist populations by the Dachsi's had meant that they remain largely confined to urban centres, though suburban communities are growing in number. Another issue is the continued struggle for recognition by Shaddaist peoples within the history of the nation, groups such as Gedenkt Aundz(געדענקט אונדז) continuing to advocate for remembrance of Shaddaist contributions in Hessunland's history. The Shaddaist-Hessunlander has been forced to endure much, but where their Dachsi enemies now lie buried with their vile dreams, the children of Yihuddi remain unbowed.

a Novyveki Stop and Yield sign respectively. The first one, the stop sign has a shortened version of the Novyen word of Prestanú which roughly means to cease. So when you read it, its telling you to cease moving and stop. Secondly on the right side is a yield sign, which indicates that merging drivers must prepare to stop if necessary to let a driver on another approach proceed. Its shortened for the word, Výťažok meaning Yield. Both of these signs were introduced in the National Traffic Modernization Act of 1979.

Hessunland's early history is one of struggle, the country that emerged from the Gotmark War was a battered and volatile creature, nowhere was this more evident than in the nations sporting life. In May 1992 a series of bad decisions would lead to disaster as the city of Düssel hosted a friendly between local Nordstahl FC and Naesserhafen United. The city of Düssel was reeling in the aftermath of Gotmark, its once-proud industries being heavily restructured due to the economy saving reforms of the Democratic Socialist Party. As factories shifted from inefficient Gottian era setups to smaller and more agile forms, thousands of workers were being laid off daily.Düssel and by extension, Hessunland were years away from seeing the economic miracle that the Turpenitz reforms would deliver, in the short term crime, unemployment and riots were the norms.

In preparation for the friendly, promoter Louis Schumacher had suggested a discounted beer event to draw larger numbers to the game, desperate to boost flagging turnout Henkel stadium agreed to Schumacher's suggestion. Zehn pfenning* night was meant to serve as a one-time promotion that would put backsides in seats and cash in coffers, instead, it rapidly descended into a nightmare. From the outset there were major problems, unemployed workers crowded the stadium primarily for the chance to get cheap booze and worse still Syndicalist and Neo-Dachsi's supporters were present in the stands and eager to create unrest. Adding to this combustible mix was the resentment that had been brewing for several years between Nordstahl and Naesserhafen, the two teams representing very different faces of Hessunland, Düssel had been hit hard by the war, Naesserhafen had been largely unscathed and bounced back quickly. The two teams had a well-established history of altercations and the so-called "friendly" was anything but.

In the first half of the match, no less than 5 separate incidents of streaking and pitch invasion occurred, forcing the game to be halted repeatedly, the situation would only escalate as fans grew more intoxicated. No limit had been set to how many beers a fan could buy over the course of the evening, a 7 cup limit with any single purchase proving ineffective. Fans simply drank their 7 cups and then went back for more and as servers struggled to keep up with demand fights became commonplace, entire trucks of beer were on standby outside assuring the situation would only worsen. Eventually, servers simply abandoned their posts, unable to deal with the hordes of drunken fans and fearing for their safety. Thousands of intoxicated people soon began raiding the concession stand and the trucks outside and taking all the alcohol they could carry.

Ten minutes into the second half things exploded into a full-blown riot, throughout the evening fans on both sides had been throwing trash and food onto the pitch, when a can hit Naesserhafen player Paul Hassel he proceeded to flip off the crowd. Enraged fans soon stormed the pitch in enormous numbers attempting to attack the beleaguered player, his team promptly joined the melee in defence of their colleague. Security for the evening was short-staffed and largely helpless. In the end, the Nordstahl players emerged from their changing room armed with chair legs, brass knuckles and other improvised weapons and began laying into their own fans to protect the Naesserhafen players. A fan on player brawl ensued on the pitch of Henkel.

Hundreds of local police and an armed contingent from federal security were deployed to break up the riot, police using tear gas, rubber bullets and batons to clear the stadium. In total over 400 people were injured, the stadium suffered thousands of marks worth of damage and over 150 people were arrested for disorderly conduct. The evening was a disaster and quickly became emblematic of the early years of post-Gottian Hessunland. in the wake of the riot stringent laws on alcohol sales and tighter security measures were overwhelmingly approved across Hessunland, no one would be buying beer for pfennings again. The night entered sporting infamy in the decades that followed "ich überlebte zehn pfenning nacht*" becoming a popular saying plastered on mugs, t-shirts and caps.

* Ten penny in mercanti
*"I survived ten penny night" in mercanti

The Republic of Korovka was a long lasting medieval state centred around the city of Korovka, which sits on Novaya's southwest coast at the mouth of the River Pyasina in the namesake bay. It can be considered an interesting case study of social stratum for the fact that it places the burgher classes above that of the nobility and landowners; this is due to its association with the Ganzeyskiy Soyuz (or Ganze) and its mercantile practices. On top of the hierarchy sat three people: the Knjaz, the Tysyatsky, and the Posadnik. The first two were appointed by the Duma, the highest legislative body in Korovka, and the third was elected all land & business-owners in the republic. They can be collectively refered to as the Veche. The Knjaz [Prince] was the representative of the Boyar class as well as the highest order military officer (for both the army and navy) and was trusted with the defence of the republic. The Tysyatsky [Thousandman] was the representative of the Torgovtsy/Burgher class and effectively the diplomatic leader of the nation - they were entrusted with the convention of Dumas, to act as a leading ambassador, and as the highest judge in commercial courts. Finally comes the Posadnik, the mayor of the city of Korovka, who was the representative of the lower classes and given the responsibilites of civil administration, ranging from the management of Korovka to wider civil order and tax collection. These three also sat as the highest members of the Sovet Gospod (Council of Masters).

In some ways, the Oldermen of the Ganzeyskiy Soyuz could be considered a fourth member of this integral layer of Korovkan hierarchy but the League can also be viewed as a separate entity to the rest of the Republic and so many descriptions of the hierarchy do not included them.

Next came the Torgovtsy, or the mechants/burghers. Although the burgher class had always been integral to Korovka, the came to dominate the political scene and chain the survival of the state to their existence once the Ganze rose. Guilds became an important aspect of this social strata, their divison and fees were used to break the classification into cliques and, in some aspects, a sub-hierarchy. As well as this, many guilds also issued 'Merchant Certificates' that effectively barred access to Korovkan commerce by establishing rights to trade in certain areas. Beyond this, only Guildmembers (alongside appointed members of the Boyars) could take a seat in the Duma, the republic's highest body of legislation.

The third member of the hierarchy was the Boyars, the noble/landed men of the realm. Their class was purposefully disempowered through its meticulous ranking and close linking to military roles by the Knjaz, meaning the Boyar class could be considered to be a (somewhat) hereditary form of military and governor ranks. This purposeful disvaluing of the boyars also left them subservient to the Torgovtsy in some ways, economically the Torgovtsy were empowered and even encouraged to take advantage of the boyar's weaker leverage. Militarily, the outside connections enabled by the Ganze resulted in the Torgovtsy (an example of such connections being leveraged would be the Korovkan calling of Ta-Meri to attack Zhurova) simply being too powerful for the Boyars to leverage their own military control against them.

Fourth comes the last major strata, the Dukhovenstvo or clergy. This group largely functioned the same as a typical clergy elsewhere in the world but were also left somewhat disempowered due to the pure influence of the Torgovtsy. I'll elaborate on their role in Korovka politically during the reformation shift to Laurentism in a later post another time.

Now comes what can be considered the Korovkan middle class, the Chernarod and the Zemstvo. The Chernarod, or the Blackmen, were a class of artisans, lesser traders, and advanced workers while the Zemstvo were minor landowners who worked their own land. In some ways, they can be considered a landed and unlanded form of one another and both were relatively common due to the notable wealth present in Korovka.

The second to last level of the hierarchy were the peasantry who could be divided intro three different groups: the Smerdy, the Kochetniks, and Zakupy. The Smerdy were the generic peasantry, those who lived on state or Torgovtsy lands and cultivated these lands. The Kochetniks were peasantry who cultivated foreign private lands and the Zakupy were those who took payment for their work in advance, essentially indentured servants.

Last came the Krepostnoy and the Ad' Cane, the Krepostnoy were a class of serf-slaves who generally exist as a result of debt non-payment or misdemeanor/crime. The Ad' Cane however, were the absolute bottom of society and treated as slaves worse than animals for their non-human nature. Their torture was considered a special form artistic expression, and they were often drugged in 'farms' for breeding purposes to be shipped off for this exhibits, scientific efforts, or just pure slavery

On the depiction of people in Yeran Art:

In Yeran culture, and especially for the practitioners of C'an Buya, it is considered taboo to render or have rendered one's face into a visual format. That is to say, drawings, carvings, statues, paintings, and other such mediums are traditionally required to not depict faces in their entirety, even if they do not intentionally depict a living person. This stems from the belief within much of C'an Buya that rendering someone's face anchors a portion of their identity (in Yeran: the Yereńkyâ) and existence to the world and does not allow it to be reincorporated into the ƛ’âyetyês, thus not allowing the person to fully die when it is their time. As such, Yeran folk have been wary of allowing visual depictions of themselves to be produced or distributed, unless the face is distorted or obscured, up until the invention of the photograph. Curiously, the photograph is exempt from this taboo, and it is believed that instead of depicting someone, a photograph actually is that person, and that photos are mirrors of the real and living world, rather than static depictions, and thus do not anchor the Yereńkyâ to existence. Of course, hardline traditionalists, especially in rural areas of the Stan Yera, are still wary of photographs and may consider them taboo. This taboo has waned over the course of the 20th and 21st century, but still has some superstition around it, and it is common to see depictions of faces missing critical elements from contemporary Yeran artists.

This taboo is especially evident when studying Yeran Art from the 19th century. As impressionism, post-impressionism, and surrealism collided with traditional Yeran art, the lack of focus on realistic depictions of people allowed Yeran artists to whole-heartedly engage in these schools, and the art scene in the Stan Yera exploded. People were often depicted indeed, but were often distorted in figure and lacking faces or facial features. This can be seen in these three paintings from the mid-late 19th century.



Figures in masks were also common to see, as masks were often caricatured and seen as divorced enough from the identity of a living person to be acceptable to depict. This is exemplified by the following painting.



In the 20th century, however, a scandal erupted with the production of two paintings by the artist and composer Pyârne G'ûlaći, who, in 1910 released two successive paintings featuring a singular face as the main subject. Both faces were highly distorted, and not fully depicted, but the concept of depicting just a face was seen as highly scandalous and taboo. Despite this, Pyarne's paintings became wildly popular among the public of the Stan Yera, even as they drew ire from old-school Yeran artists.

Military ranks in Themor
Marines
Same as above
Air Force
Same as above

The Themor military ranks, adopted this year by order of the Queen in cyfalaf, are designed to reduce confusion among the military personnel by making the Ranks the same in most branch’s of the military.

Founded: January 12th, 1862 (158 years old)

Headquarters: Antalya, Aydin

Key People: Osmanek I, President and Aybert Berkant

Products: Petroleum, natural gas, and other petrochemicals

Revenue: $400.5 Billion (2020)

Operating Income: $215.5 Billion

Net Income: $150.2 Billion

Owner: The Head of the Aydin Imperial Family: Grand Sultan Osmanek I

Number of Employees: 80,250

History: In January 1862 RAO was founded by Grand Sultan Beyazit a month after the construction of the first commercial oil well in Aydin in December of 1861. From there the company began to rapidly expand eventually ending up owning almost every oil well in the entirety of the Empire. With the assistance of the Sultans of Aydin. RAO has maintained a state-controlled monopoly over oil. And have grown to be one of the largest and profitable oil companies in the entirety of Craviter and the world.

In recent years the company has launched many ad campaigns advertising their products and for years have been trying to undercut the rising renewable energy industry. The company views these renewables as a threat to their business and a threat to the economic well being of the Empire.

Fun Facts:

1. All customers of RAO when visiting Aydin are treated to expensive hotels, the finest food and drink, and all the things they could ever ask for. This is to maintain customer loyalty and to safeguard against competitors.

2. RAO has also been known to use mercenaries to guard assets not located in the Empire itself.

3. For over 158 years RAO has provided excellent products to thousands of loyal customers. And will continue to do so for years to come.

4. Every year an annual Gala is held on January 12th to commemorate the founding of the company and the prosperity it has brought to the Empire of Aydin.



Aybert Berkant, CEO of Royal Aydin Oil stepping out of his car to walk his daughter Asil to school.

Redacted.

First parts are copy+paste from discord which I'm leaving here for posterity.

Sasten has a few patriotic battles; it's hard to say which one is more important though since one is semi-mythological and the other is a whole series of battles more accurately described as a campaign.

The first took place sometime around 1400 BCE, though the exact date is uncertain. The War of The Gods was understood for thousands of years to be more of a legend, though recent archeological discoveries have proven it to be a real event. The war pitted the ruling Ad Kana Empire against a large-scale revolt of Sasten's human population along with a large force of AK dissatisfied with their own brutal leadership. The war culminated in what is now known as the Battle of the Razen plains, with the rebels completely destroying the imperial armies, precipitating the collapse of the empire and the liberation of human and AK alike. The tribes participating in that battle went on to found many kingdoms and cities which would go on to form the core of the modern state of Sasten; in fact, several of the named tribes still exist (or at least claim to) as prominent clans, particularly Ervas, Naivei, and Kaizunel, from which Sasten currently draws its kings. Despite the loss of their empire, many (though notably not all) modern Adkana celebrate the victory as well, and claim descent from the AK who joined the rebellion, for the loss of the empire liberated them from the old ways which many now revile. Desarist myths hold that both sides of this war, and particularly the Battle of the Razen Plains, were aided by gods, with the Desarist gods aiding the rebels against the Old Gods. The modern suggestion is that the humans misidentified notable AK leaders and heroes for gods, and human chieftains for demigods, with modern AK contending that it was their use of old magics that aided that idea. The most devout of Desarists totally reject this, though they have notably declined in number over the last century.

The second and secularly-celebrated event was the Six Months of 1947, culminating in the battles of Varasa and Virdev, and ending with the final collapse of fascism in Varaten and the reunification of Sasten. From March until September, the Azartennic military carried an unbroken string of crushing victories against the Varatennic Army, pushing the fascists all the way back to just two cities, and then finally destroying them within them. The whole event is treated with immense patriotism, though particular attention is paid to the battles of those two cities.

The Battle of Virdev was actually initiated in the closing days of 1946, when the Azartennic Navy began blockading and shelling the city's defences and port areas, joined shortly after by regular bomber raids. The land battle began in February of 1947, when the city was besieged by Azartennic Marine-Raiders advancing up the coast from Delzen and the channel islands; they were joined by the regular Army and two legions of Royal Guards in July as they advanced across the Vara desert to the west. For eleven months the city was pelted by tens of thousands of tons of bombs and shells coming from all directions; so much ordnance fell on the lower city that in several places the craters connected each other to the sea, cutting the upper city off from the mainland. It was said that not a single piece of rubble larger than one's thumbnail remained intact, though that is a manner of hyperbole. The city finally surrendered in late November after a concentrated assault and brutal house-to-house fighting in the upper city. The defenders lasted two weeks longer than those in Varasa, albeit without official sanction.

So much UXO was left over from that battle, and the terrain so mangled, that a section of the lower city over a kilometer wide was declared uninhabitable until the last cleanups finished in 2002, over fifty years later. Even today, there are still large stretches of empty lots waiting to be refilled.

The Battle of Varasa could be said to have lasted longer, with Azartennic air raids having occurred since 1938, but the battle didn't start in earnest until the Azartennic Army surrounded the city in June of 1947. By then Azarten's first true heavy bombers were available in numbers, and after a brief period of four days to allow the civilian population of the city to evacuate, a general bombing and artillery campaign began, with even the navy's cruisers sailing up the Vara river to bombard the city at point-blank range. Combined with intense urban warfare carried out by the Army and the Guard, the city was reduced to ruins over the course of just three and a half months. The city's historic architecture and modern skyscrapers all met the same fate; even the ancient temples and palaces weren't spared. By mid-November, the Azartennic Army was in control of all but a few blocks, and almost none of the city's once-great buildings remained standing, those few untouched by Azartennic ordnance fell to fascist sabotage.

On November 14th, it was obvious to premier Kerzi and whatever fascist leadership remained alive and free in their bunkers that Varaten was lost. That night they snuck away to the last intact airfield they had under their control, and attempted to escape to Demescia (or really anywhere that would take them) in a group of five transport aircraft escorted by a handful of whatever intact fighters they still had. Their attempt was doomed to failure; twenty two of the party leadership were captured before they even made it to the airfield, while four of the five transports were shot down by Azartennic fighters and ground fire before they could even leave the city, among these premier Kerzi's plane that crashed into the ruins of a schoolhouse on the outskirts of the city. He survived the wreck, only to be captured and halved at Azarai's Blood Square two days later. The last transport might have made it had they not had the misfortune of encountering the Azartennic navy frigate AKS Marzande just as they had made it out to sea; fire-direction camera footage from the ship shows the plane taking a direct hit from the ship's 160mm main battery. There were no survivors.

The now SKS Marzande now rests docked at the Royal Naval Museum at the shores of the Faizekrais in Krasnai, while the casing of the shell that downed the fascist transport was presented to the people of Varasa in 1951; it now sits in a display case at the new city hall.

With their leadership gone and most of their numbers either dead, defected, detained or deserted, the state of Varaten officially surrendered on the 15th of November, 1947.

The Battle of Varasa and the Six Months are actually celebrated with enthusiasm in the old territories of Varaten as well as Azarten. After the war, much effort was made towards selling the event as a great moment of unification rather than one of defeat for the Varatennic people; a huge amount of attention is given towards the Varatennic soldiers and generals who defected from the fascist armies, while the Azartennic contingent had liberated the area from fascist rule and reunited Sasten as a single entity. The effort has largely succeeded, though there is still a contingent of right-wing nationalists who mark the 15th together as a black day, chief among them Varatennic neo-fascists and Vara-monarchists. That there were no two groups that hated each other more by war's end than Varatennic Fascists and Varatennic monarchists, and that monarchists were defecting to Azarten as early as 1937, is completely and utterly lost on them.

The Battle of Azarai in 1941 is also celebrated, particularly around Azarai itself, as the year when the fascists first stared into the face of defeat. For six years during the war it was celebrated as a great symbol of Azartennic resolve, and it remains so especially among the Royal Guard and the Sastennic Army, but it has largely been eclipsed by later fascist defeats in the eyes of the Sastennic public at large. Still, the first of July is still celebrated with ceremonies and the largest annual military parade in Azarai.

5 Facts About Korova

1) The Naming of Zhurovka
Before the annexation of the Republic of Korovka, the capital of what would become Korova was the city of Zhurovka. The city was given this name in 1862 when the Zhurov dynasty liberated the Principality from the clutches of Makopan rule. However, before this, the city was known as Kreva by the Makopan Lumay dynasty, as well as by the Maksutov and Durnovo dynasties who had come before them.

2) Why Auburn?
The islands that Korova sits on are often referred to as the 'Auburn Isles', this originated as an exonym referring to how common red hair appears to be in the Isle's human population compared to the mainland.

3) That One Really Damaged Bridge
Simeon I, the second-to-last Zhurov, was a king of vanity projects and completed many during his 36-year reign. Examples include the Northern & Southern Channel Tunnels, as well as the Vysotsky Building but one most apparent to foreigners would be the Great Simeon Bridge.

In order to get to Korovka by sea, you must first sail through the Bay of Pyasina, whose mouth is flanked on the southeast by the city of Tura and on the northwest by the principality of Tivertsi. Stretching from each side of the mouth is the Grand Simeon Bridge, constructed by Tiran Simeon in 1990, which is a large suspension bridge that is yellow in colour. it stood as an impressive but generally unremarkable bridge until the Korovan Anarchy, where portions of it were destroyed with explosives and left a half-standing bridge standing at the Bay of Pyasina's mouth.

In the present day, the rubble left in the sea has been cleared for safer shipping and the ruins have been stabilised and left standing. Why? As yet another reminder of what the nation of Korova has endured during the Anarchy for all those who enter its capital by sea.

4) Tempest Holm
The Korovan name for Tempest Holm is Buryakh (a shortening of the direct translation). Despite the fact that the island is so close to the Kalmovite Principality, it has never been under the direct control of any Auburn state. The closest successful attempt to seize it, during the Krivichi union over Pridaniya, ended in Pridaniya successfully revolting against Krivichi rule.

5) Isles of 100 Peoples
The islands north of Novaya are the home of the Louha people, or Loukhskiy. Their origins are unknown due to a historical lack of interest in their society academically but they are believed to be descendants of the first humans to settle the Auburn Isles and largely live an unurbanised, indigenous lifestyle. (In an OOC sense, they are based on Karelians with some Yeran flavouring.)

By the Grace of the Father, of Mar Mashiah, and the Universal Spirit:

We believe in the One, Eternal, Creator God, the Father Almighty, Lord of all that has been, all that is, and all that will be.

And in his only begotten son, Mar Mashiah, of one nature, fully divine and fully human, united in one hypostasis.

We believe in the perfect union of Mar Mashiah with the Father, who along with the Universal Spirit constitute the Divine.

We believe in the Messianic gospel of Mar Mashiah, who, for the sake of man, was brought down from heaven and made to inhabit the flesh and nature of man through a virgin birth, so that we may be saved by His will alone.

He took flesh, spirit, and everything that is in man, essentially and fully.

He was tortured, crucified, and put to rest, only to rise again on the third day, ascend into heaven and become one with the Almighty Father.

He will come once more to judge the sins of Man and restore the Divine Law, His Dominion shall be everlasting.

We believe in the Universal Spirit, uncreated and perfect; Who spoke through the Divine Law, the seers of God, and through the will of Mar Mashiah; Who came down upon Man, gave strength to the apostles, and spread the Holy Truth to all nations; Who dwells among and within, ever present, ever good, and ever true.

We believe in One, Universal, Orthodox, Holy, and Apostolic Church; in one Holy Baptism, in the Holy Rites of Confirmation, and in the Holy Meal of the blood and body of Mar Mashiah made manifest; in the Holy Penance of sins granted by Holy Baptism and in the Holy Rites of the Anointing of the Faithful; in the commission of Holy Brotherhood and Holy Union; and in the resurrection, in the everlasting judgement of Spirit and Man, in the Dominion of God, and in the everlasting life.

Amen.

Ever since the Big and Little Slumps, the halls of Callisean universities have been haunted by the specter of Social Credit. The theory, founded by Ernest Gallois, holds that all payments for goods in a given year necessarily outpace payments in wages, meaning the government would have do it's best to make up the difference or forfeit economic prosperity to crisis. While never an orthodox theory of governance, Social Credit has played an important role in Callisean political and welfare history. The Callisean Social Creditors have run for elections, organized resistance against the tyranny of Syndicalist and Fascist rule, and even made up a key part of the governing coalition. However, with recent attempts at globalization and economic neoliberalism by the ruling Liberal government, Social Credit has experienced a rise in popularity in Callise. But to understand the modern revival of Social Credit in Callise, we must first understand the New Social Credit movement.

New Social Credit is the brainchild of Constance Laffitte, the Professor of Economics at the University of Sainte-Beaudoin. A devout Revenist and disciple of Frédéric Corne, she altered her thinking in the early 2010s after publishing a paper on the axioms of Social Credit and an appraisal of their monetary and fiscal policy. She combined these ideas with other heterodox theories of economics, and published them in her book "New Social Credit."

In "New Social Credit," Laffitte affirms the A+B theorem, the idea that spending outpaces wages, and revives the orthodoxy of the Compensated Price Mechanism and National Dividend as solutions to this problem. However, borrowing from other Heterodox traditions, Laffitte also argues for a theory of money in line with the New Duchampian School of Economics. She posits that money, rather than being a universal commodity, is an invention of the law, and that all monetary value is derived solely from the stability of the laws of a State. From this premise, Laffitte argues that the State creates money through its fiscal policy, and deletes it through taxation, with the goal of a states economic policy being full employment and the bridging of the gap between A & B payments. Laffitte ends with a call to action for economists to embrace Social Credit orthodoxy, and to investigate other heterodox schools of Economics more rigorously.

In spite of being a best seller, Laffitte's book has been very controversial. Beaune School Economists criticized her theory as rampantly inflationary, but she received a much warmer welcome from the Duchampian and New Duchampian economists for her repudiation of some of their economic presuppositions. However, they still criticized her for her revival of the A + B Theorem, which Duchamp heavily criticized. Regardless of the opinions of academia, her book became incredibly popular among Callisean politics, with it taking off among the political left and the nationalist right. Her call to return to Social Credit orthodoxy has led to a renewed interest in the Callisean Credit Party, and inspired many party members to reconsider their economic policy,

In spite of her influence, her book, published just prior to the election, only gave minor help to the Callisean Credit Party, although it was enough for them to earn a spot in the governing coalition. But in the wake of the election, her book has inspired multiple parties to interrogate Social Credit. The Callisean Credit Party recently cleaned house and appointed a slate of higher ups who are ready to embrace Social Credit fully, and the Revenist Democratic Alliance, as well as the Farmers Group, have begun a dialogue with the Callisean Credit Patrty to promote ecumenism and Social Credit in all three parties. It's safe to say that Social Credit is on the rise once more in Callise.

Urbanization in Goyanes has been steadily increasing as the years have gone by, now reaching ~83% urban population. While this is good as more people have access to modern conveniences and services, it also means that of not just property, but life is getting left behind in rural Goyanes. As population begins to dwindle in many rural areas, so do the services. Services begin to become more concentrated in singular places, meaning that things get abandoned. Houses, offices, stores, and even railways. Yes, railways. Goyanes has been continually expanding its railways, but many rural spur lines are so unprofitable and low-ridership, that they become abandoned. First go the stations, then the tracks themselves.

The phenomenon has created an idiom for when a rural town dies or is dying. “Der Jårnbaner furgikk.” (The railway left.) When the railway leaves a town, it truly means that it’s over. Stores begin to close, people begin to leave, and soon entire hamlets are abandoned. This problem affects those who remain. Fire and police services are slow to respond due to the distance, roads are less maintained, and they begin to become backwaters.

These ghost towns and areas have been popping up more in Goyanes’ more sparsely populated and agriculture-oriented south, as well as the frigid far north of Osanhalt, where towns are left behind for nature to reclaim. Furthermore, the abandonment of rural Goyanes is expected to cause problems with the food supply sometime in the future as less and less people work in agriculture.

These have lasting effects on the remaining rural population, such as feelings of disenfranchisement, lower quality of life and reduced availability of healthcare, and more “radical” political views. Many of the rural populace have turned to the far-right National Party of Goyanes, which while it aligns mostly with the National Union Party when it comes to voting in the Stortinget, they do advocate for the ending of the Grenseverein, hardline reductions in government spending, and reinstating more powers to the Grand Emperor to create a “self-sufficient” and “powerful” Goyanes.

This, and other issues such as the pretty bad work culture, and mental health crisis, are some of the most important domestic issues facing Goyanes today.

Is It Wrong to Pick Up Smugglers in a Railway Station While I'm a Railway Officer? is a chetan producted by Breakdown, the Empire's largest studio, and directed by the upstart Yeran-Syrixian chetan director Amir Kayê. The show premiered in 2018 and is now on its third season.

The show, a meta-destroying, parody-filled buddy cop comedy, stars Goyanean Railway Police officer Sven Peter Eriksson and his friends on the squad as they get into wacky hijincks on the job, such as what the title suggests, among many other things.

In the early 1st century, colonists from Norvesk began to found settlements on the Pyasiniy Coast of western Novaya and the colony, called Nový, was an autonomous subject of the mainland Norveskiy state. Despite initial opposition from the existing Shlavich tribes, they were successfully norvified and cities such as Těšany, near modern Tura, and Rašov, a predecessor to Korovka, rivalled the already entrenched Shlavich tribes. At their furthest extent, the colonies reached from modern Zhizny, to the Tarkhov Range, to the River Yurga. In the 5th century the Norveskiy state collapsed, rendering the cities of the colony independent polities which in practice only cemented their increasing autonomy from Norvesk. For the next three centuries the Pyasinan Coast would be the hub of intellectualism and the wealthiest part of Korova, bolstered by the local naval culture and democratic thought. However, the late 8th century brought the rise of the Buzhan tribe which had been successfully uniting the Korovan inlands and raiding the outlying territories of the Norveskiy cities, increasing economic and security pressure amongst the cities.

The first act of armed conflict between the Buzhan tribe and the Norveskiy cities was the seizure of the cities encompassing modern Merya and Pomorye, the most important of which being Strhaře that was home to the island's largest iron mines. After three decades of conquest and internal strife within the Norveskiy colonies exacerbating the conquests, the Buzhan conquest of Novaya reached its conclusion with the siege of Těšany, the last Norveskiy city on Novaya, that ended in a violent and symbolic razing of the city down to its foundation. As a result, the Kingdom of Koro' was proclaimed by Aleksandr Votoynsky which marked the birth of the first Korovan state and its capital would be Korovka, built on top of Rašov.

Map of the Norstina colonies in Antique Korova.