idea December 2020 Event: Daily Worldbuilding Prompts

[Fulgistan]

Hello all! This year, the Eurth staff is debuting a brand-new month long event for the community. Every day of December, there will be a themed prompt that deals with some aspect of your nations. The prompts will all be posted on Discord and replies can be made using Discord or directly to the thread on the forums. In either case, our hope is to compile as many replies as possible into this thread, so it would be helpful to make a post even if it's not on the same day. Without further ado, our prompt for December 1st is...

Weekends! How do the people of your nation spend the days when they are not working? How long are your weekends? Who gets to take weekends off?

These are just some questions to get you started; please have fun with this and use it as an opportunity to discuss worldbuilding with your fellow members. 

[Orioni]

📅 Weekend in Orioni follows the standard continental system, with Saturday and Sunday being the off days. This is the case in most towns and smaller cities. For larger cities, there is a system where the off days are divided over multiple neighbourhoods. For example: in a city with 3 neighbourhoods, one area will close while the other areas continue operating. Two days later another area closes for their own weekend. This rotation ensures that public services are always available, and shops remain open at a minimal travel distance. Another benefit in metropolitan cities such as Zuidhaven is the prevention of overcrowded during commuter travel. One setback is families and friends who lives in different areas need more planning to meet up together.

⛪ Foreign visitors and travellers are often quite surprised by this system. Some visitors find it to be a very practical solution, while others just never get used to the puzzle of neighbourhoods operating on different schedules. Immigrants who adhere to the Yehudim, Christian/Tacolic or Salamid faith also have a difficult time fitting their day of rest into this work schedule. Most immigrants solve this problem by moving to a neighbourhood where the weekend rotation matches their religious calendar.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Children and students have two days of weekend off when their neighbourhood school closes. Parents and the senior workers also receives two days off. Young working people are regularly asked to work an additional day. This is compensated with a higher salary. Many young people dislike this system, but the extra money is welcome and it also absolves them of some of the household chores.

🏖️ Weekends are a mix of blessings and burdens. People spend a mix of their time doing regular chores and fun outings. The first day of the weekend is usually decided by the men/fathers and dedicated to entertainment and preparing food. Biryani is popular throughout the Orient and typically served with other Orinese dishes. Most sports events and festivals also fall on this (Satur)day. The second day is decided by women/mothers and dedicated to seeing friends and family. When the weather is nice you'll spot families sharing a taxi to the beach of nearby lake or park.

[Xio]

Metztlitlaca, like most countries, has a 7 day week with Saturday and Sunday as the weekend. This largely came about as a push towards standardisation and ease of trade with their neighbours and the wider wurld. Children who go to school would also have Saturday and Sunday off.

Catholics would go to church on a Sunday morning and usually had the full day off if they could afford to do so (working in the secondary or tertiary sectors) with Wēcatoc followers going on Saturday evenings to the local temples. Those who bear the expenses of resting on Saturdays would most often then not spend that time relaxing and catching up on lost sleep or going out with the children to the local markets (or the town centre for those living in urban environments).

There use to be and is still used by in more isolated communities a 20-day week calendar system, which would dictate days of fasting, prayer, temple goings, etc. However under the reign of Marianne Eugène de Caldofondo-Bouvèron, the 20 day week was tossed out for the seven day week (along with the old yearly calendars - making historic dating annoying as hell for Metztlican historians). However, it is commonplace to find commodified 20 day week calender stones in gift shops at tourist destinations and most Azlo children are taught a basic understanding of how it works (even though most will end up forgetting by adulthood).

[Galahinda]

Weekends in Galahinda vary wildly between social and economic classes. For those wealthy enough to never truly work a day in their lives, the difference between weekends and weekdays is only marked by the appearance of more people in clubs. These people spend their days drifting throughout the urban core and warehouse district amidst a miasma of alcohol and other substances, stopping only to sleep and eat, both of which can be avoided through a thorough application of appetite suppressants and energy boosters. It pays to be skinny after-all. Joining them on the weekends are partygoers lucky enough to avoid weekend shifts, allowing them to relax and unwind before re-entering the rat race of conglomerate life on Monday morning. During this time, the working class of Galahinda continues about their jobs. Some work throughout the weekend, some getting days off on Saturday or Sunday. They never get the full glory of the bars and clubs in the urban core, preferring to stick to small bars nestled in the hearts of industrial zones or stay home to spend time with their families.

Those either too old to enjoy Cascadia's nightlife or families with younger children tend to drift towards the coastline. Beach houses are common amongst the wealthy, with private gated communities offering clean and safe beach experiences for their residents. During the summer months, public beaches are crowded with middle and working class families, but they're rarely populated during the winter months, with patrons instead opting to spend time at home. 

[Florentia]

Weeks in San Castellino follow the basic 7-day model. Therefore, the weekends are always made with one Saturday and one Sunday.

Weekends for poor peoples : Weekends are usually repetitive for the poor in San Castellinos, that is to say all the San Castellinos with an annual salary less than 9,600 pesetas, which represents 32% of the San Castellinos. The poor peoples always need to work all the Saturday to pay all the taxes, and cetera. And, anyway, they don't have much of a choice because, otherwise, they will surely be fired if they don't work Saturday. But, thanks to a government law saying that Catholics should always be able to attend Sunday mass, the poor still have their Sunday morning off. The poor also have Sunday afternoons free. Except that, on Sunday afternoon, all San Castellinos have the obligation to attend on radio or television the weekly speech of General Sullivan Di Foxycionni, the President of the Republic, which takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The rest of Sunday, the government encourages the poor to go and relax in one of the many government-approved "fun centers", where the San Castellinos can play soccer, play soccer, play soccer, admire the many busts and portraits of General Di Foxycionni, and play soccer. It is important to note that soccer is an extremely important part of san castellinos culture. But, if they don't go in one of the "fun centers", poor peoples very often spend time in government-approved cinemas to watch government-approved films, or in one of the many popular bistros in working-class neighborhoods.

Weekends for middle class peoples : Middle class peoples, like the poor, usually have to work the Saturday, even if they are less likely to be fired by their boss. Like the poor, the middle classe peoples usually go to the church the Sunday morning. After, they are also obliged to watch or listen to the speech of General Sullivan Di Foxycionni. The rest of the day, middle class peoples go in a "fun center", go to a government-approved cinema, go shopping, or having a good time in one of the illegal nightclubs (but tolerated since they are also frequented by many high-ranking members of the government) where alcohol, drugs and prostitution are commons.

Weekends for rich people, high-ranking member from the government, and high-ranking militaries : All these people, who constitute the elite from San Castellino and control 95% of the country's resources even though they represent only 10% of the population, always have superb and varied weekends (except, of course, the Sunday mass which is practiced by 92% of San Castellinos). For example, they have access to private government beaches (which represent 60% of all beaches in San Castellino), play tennis or golf, go to the Fernando XIV opera house, or to one of the many luxury cabarets in Gazallenoa, La Libertad, and Asmavie. At night, the elite of San Castellino can enjoy the many illegal nightclubs of Gazalleno, Sullivanopolis and Montedoux.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Goupil Del Arte (see edit history)

[Esonice]

Ever since Esonice adopted the Standardised calendar as the official calendar, opposed to the traditional Esonian calendar during the early 20th century. Weekends have integrated into Esonian culture and everyday life! As according to Esonian Workers Rights Act of 1967, and the 1982 & 2001 amendments. Working hours per week are legally not allowed to cross 52 hours in any situation. And the average working hours per week are expected to be at a maximum 38 hours, unless the employee and employer agreed to a written agreement of their working hours exceeding 38 hours. This entitles many Esonian workers to have free days off during the weekend! But there are some, a lot in essential services such as healthcare & police, which unfortunately are exempt from certain rules. They have to work during the weekend or do night shifts, replacing workers that work during weekdays to keep those vital services and facilities open 24/7.

 

🏖️ Esonians during the weekend often choose to spend their free days outside! Going to many places that are sources of community such as teahouses, restaurants, parks and enjoying renowned Esonian street food and bustling nightlife! Many Esonians also choose to spend time with friends and family, either going out drinking & partying with friends or walking with their babucha (grandmother) to local shops!. Going to Arikai shrines & temples is also a big tradition for many, especially in more conservative and rural communities. Arikaites often go to get blessings from the Ari (spirits) of their choosing for the following week, or worship past ancestors. Temples often organise community events to bring everyone together also!  

 

🎒 Students across Esonice  are entitled to have 2 days off every weekend! This gives them time to complete any work expected to be given in for the week after, and also to refresh their mind and have free time! Young people from 13 to 18 especially use this time to hang out with friends and be part of the community; and often go to places in town which are known to be sources of Esonian youth culture! For younger children, parents often choose to sign up their kids to weekend classes to develop skills or enhance them (This has been a source of many child abuse controversies). Teachers from time to time have to come in during weekends to complete work and mark students work.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Esonice (see edit history)

[Grenesia]

Grenesia follows the standard 7-day week cycle since the country was christianized in 1054. Traditionally, the weekend for Grenesians has always been Saturday and Sunday while Moday being the beginning of a new week, which was also a direct result of Christian influence. Nowadays this is more of a general consensus since a citizen cannot be legally expected to work more than five days per week - but while the law states that Sunday has to be a day off, it neither specifies which other day should be spared in particular, nor does it define the upper limit of the days off from work. Following the publishment of a famous study conducted a decade ago and presented by Andzhey Yatskovski, many schools and businesses are attempting at setting Wednesdays and Sundays as two days off in the week. This practice was partly adapted by numerous large and small-time businesses in the service sector for about half of their employees, so a firm closes its doors only one day a week. Several more noticeable Grenesaian corporations experiment with applying a four-day workweek, which trades an extra day off in exchange for two aditional hours at work per day.

Grenesians call "weekend" any day when their schools or workplaces close or when they are not expected to be at work. Weekends are most often considered as a moment of relief from the daily hustle at work. Despite that, Sunday is usually the only day an average Grenesian can often have just for themselves. Wednesday or Saturday, depending on the individual's work system, is commonly viewed as a day of house cleaning. Sundays are especially important for christians who are declared to make the majority of the nation's population. As a result, it has never become a working day.

On Grenesian weekends, children do not go to school and are usually expected to help their parents do daily chores. Many Grenesian families use their spare time at weekends to go on city breaks. They sometimes travel to the other end of the country to enjoy themselves either in the mountains or on the beach. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, those who prefer to soak up the atmosphere of the city are welcomed by pubs, nightclubs, cafes, cinemas - the list goes on. These two days also make a perfect opportunity to go shopping. However, all businesses shut down on Sunday, the day that marks the end of the week.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Grenesia
edit: spelling (see edit history)

[Seylos]

Weekends in Seylos don't vary dramatically between social classes, though of course the rich can have more unique experiences. The standard work week is 5 days a week, though the days can vary depending on jobs. Essential workers such as those who work infrastructure or medical professions will work on the weekends. However the Seylosian work week is cut off at 60 hours per week maximum with the 20 hours after the initial 40 forced to be paid in overtime. These rules can of course be flexible in the case of emergencies.

Seylos is a warm country with many beaches that run around the nation, being most popular in the south. A popular weekend activity for many of its citizen is to spread out among the many seaside communities and enjoy time at the beach usually followed by copious amounts of drinking later in the evening. Sailing/boating is an incredibly popular past time for Seylosians with the richest of citizens owning their own boats, and for those not as well off dozens of companies exist to rent out small ships for brief excursions. In cities like Selbourne or Norfolk university students flock to bars, pubs, and clubs enjoying the nightlife. Members of the military not on active deployment typically get the weekends off unless they are marked at essential (at which point they would just get a separate set of days off) and partake in much the same activities as everyone else.

The nobility and more wealthy citizens do tend to have more options to them. A common activity for wealthy young people is to charter a short flight over to Galahinda, spending the weekends partying in Cascadia. Some members of the nobility have partaken, but they tend to find the Galahindan nightlife to be undignified. Seylos itself is a popular destination for the Galahindan elite who tend to come to the island to get away from the high speed life most Galahindans follow. Noble families enjoy the myriad of social functions they set up amongst themselves. With the loss of most of their power many noble families have shifted towards becoming successful business owners, most popularly in real estate, where vast family lands are still used to rent out. Many nobles have also transitioned into becoming local/provincial politicians, attempting to adapt to the new political landscape to show the people the benefits of having a distinguished aristocracy, thus spending most of their weekends working or campaigning.

There is one definite universal activity for all Seylosians of any social class, the beachside pub. From rich to poor people have always gathered in them for centuries. Even the most posh noble can be find in one from time to time.

[Fulgistan]

The prompt of the day for December 2nd is...

 

Pets! How have domestic animal companions shaped the history and culture of your people? Are certain pets held in higher or lower regard than others? And which pets are signifiers of a particular group or subgroup? Are there any interesting laws governing the ownership of pets in your nation?

The responses to our first day's prompt were fantastic, so I'm very excited to read everyone's replies today. Get going!

[Xio]

Īpan Lexoxōʯ Mēƶλicān
Pets in Metztlitlaca

You walk down the shop’s aisle, to your right is the wall full of numerous glass windows with small holes and metal locks. Inside nearly every one of the chambers is a small dog, most appear to be well groomed but some were missing patches of fur, others missing eyes, and some even missing limbs. Your stare caught the eye of the shop’s owner, an old lady in a brown apron and black hair that looked like a wig made from the brush of a broom.
“Iƶqīnλi calāmpa zolticyōλ” The shopkeeper remarked. The dogs use to live on the streets.
“Namactia λayōwīlli” She chuckled as she walked off. They sell quickly apparently. Slowly your eyes moved away from the dogs as you continue down the cramp aisles, mostly pet accessories and toys. Turning the corner, you’re suddenly face to face with a large white bird. It’s entire body shook as a deep vibration rumbled through you. The message was clear; back off. And so you do, eventually reaching several more glass chambers with lizards and flightless birds. Some you swear you’ve seen being sold for ridiculous prices back home, but here, it was barely a couple Pounds or the Tenge to buy a grilled kebab from one of the street vendors. It was probably the same species of lizard in that glass chamber then in that kebab so…
Eventually you arrive at the checkout, wave goodbye to the shopkeeper, and continue through the city mall…
 

Pets, in the traditional sense, are a new concept to Azlo culture. Animals on the south-side of the peninsula were either:
A, Revered
B, Chased off
C, Eaten
And only birds and ground sloths were ever in (A). Not even dogs – known as Iƶqīnλi in Naxua – were safe from becoming food. Several hairless species of dogs in southern Palu (Nanƶiwīaitƶqīnλi) were bred as a food source as early as 1000 BCE. However, by the time of the Crescent Empire, consuming dog meat was increasingly seen as taboo and some philosophers seeing it as “barely a step above cannibalism”. The Mezzaluna period (when the Shffahkian Empire controlled southern Palu) saw a final nail in the coffin in the use of dogs as meat, and also the first time true pets were ever brought to the region.
Even in the 21st century, Meztlitlaca is still a bit antsy about the idea of pets. The only two animals in Metztlitlaca kept as a “pet” in the modern western view of a pet is the dog and cat. You’ll probably be grateful to hear that eating dogs and cats have since been made illegal in all 14 dominions as part of the ‘National Protection of Revered animals and Companion animals’ bill, which became law in 2004. The most common breed of dogs as pets are the Xōlōiƶqīnλi (Xolo dogs), Nanƶiwīaitƶqīnλi (Cow Dogs / Fat Dogs), Tečiči (Chihuahuas), and other dogs suited to hot temperatures such as the Great Dane and the  ̷A̷u̷s̷t̷r̷a̷l̷i̷a̷n̷ Gallambrian Cattle Dog. Recently, with a ban on dog breeding within urban areas due to a rise in strays, pet shops have begun to mass-purchase dogs from kennels or catch stray dogs, however there have been numerous cases of pet stores accidentality (or intentionally) stealing dogs owned by people which has been a stain on the Metztli government’s agenda for the past couple years.
The most revered animal (and also paradoxically the animal most put to work in Metztlitlaca) is the Crescent Bird. Metztli’s national animal.

The Crescent Bird (Azlo: Mēƶλimiwīoti(ƶin)) is a ratite (flightless birds that are large and long-legged), closely related to the Cassowary and Ostriches, although they are often mistaken as possibly being related to Peacocks. Crescent Birds vary in size from 1.5m to 2.5m depending on the breed. Their feather coats are often depicted as pure white in media, however most breeds of Crescent Birds have coloured feather patterns. The two most well known features of the Crescent Bird is its large display of feathers – akin to a peacock, and used in a similar fashion – and the curved crescent-shaped casque/horn on the Crescent Bird’s head.
Smaller Crescent Birds have used throughout south Palu history as aid to messenger runners. The largest breeds were used as light pack animals, carrying goods on their back or in dolly’s if the terrain was flat enough. Overall, the Crescent Bird is a much beloved companion within Azlo culture despite its behaviour being a mix of a cassowary, a cat, and a dog. Crescent Bird fashion shows are commonplace in the larger cities along with Crescent Bird talent shows, trainers flaunting their Crescent Bird’s intelligence. There are even Dwarf Crescent Bird breeds that are often purchased by the rich and powerful as exotic and intelligent pets, it isn’t uncommon to see the Archpriest in meetings with a Dwarf Crescent Bird waddling about her arms and lap despite everyone’s protests.
 

In conclusion. If you ever plan to come to Metztlitlaca with your pet, please put it on a leash, avoid Crescent Birds whilst they are working, and avoid any mystery meat street vendors.

Edited December 3, 2020 by Metztlitlaca
CtrlVCtrlC error fixes (see edit history)

[Orioni]

2. Pets in Orioni, and fauna in general, are quite diverse. The Orinese archipelago has many different animals in all shapes and sizes that are adapted to a wide range in climates and altitudes. About 53% of Orioni is either forested or mountainous. Orioni has a tropical marine climate that is usually hot and humid. Some areas are inhospitable to human habitation, such as the coastal deserts of western Alnilam.

🐈 The main ecological divide is the one between urban pets versus rural "pets". For the average city dweller without much living space, you have your standard cats and dogs and what have you. School children are allowed to take care of the class aquarium fish. There is also a lively underground network of illegal trade in snakes and other reptiles.

🐬 Venture outside any city and you'll meet a much wider variety of animal. The pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is the national animals. They are solitary animals and live primarily in the southern river systems of the Wenizi and Caroni. Pink dolphins are unique among dolphins for having molar-like teeth and can chew their prey.

🐘 For really wild animals, there's only one place: the northeastern Amilaki Wildlife Reserve established by EOS.  It is the least populous region, with the longest coastline, largest area, lowest annual temperature, coldest winters, highest temperature difference between seasons, and most volcanic activity. Head up to Adansi to see a completely different side of the country. The city is located in the mountainous Kidusi province. Elephant rides are a popular activity here, although the practice is sometimes ethically questionable. Tourists love visiting the elephant sanctuaries, transplanted from the Kingdom of Koku, which allow visitors to appreciate these magnificent creatures while providing them with a safe and loving environment at the same time.

🐎 The cultural influence of animals is widely be debated and certainly not settled. Some non-native animals were imported from former colonies, while enemies also brought animals to Orioni. For example royal processions in the 10th Century CE are known to have included elephants. During the civil war (1023-1174) the mercenaries of Uthman ibn Naissa brought many horses with them, an animals that's not native to tropical Orioni.

[Fulgistan]

The prompt of the day for December 3rd is...

       Wartime and Peacetime! How long have your people known peace? How has conflict (or the lack thereof) shaped your modern history? Are there any civic rituals observed by your government during either period?

[Salvia]

None of the pictures could be embedded so you'll have to click on them yourselves lmao

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/646152426088431649/784275106209333288/unknown.png 

Crusader and heretic armies clash in northern Amhara during the 16th century crusades of the Yellow Empire Salvians call the Yellow Crusades.

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/646152426088431649/784273905648926750/unknown.png 

The Blood-Soaked Fields, one of the most popular images from the People’s War, depicts the final battle of the war outside Deopolis on the Minilivian Fields and resulted in a decisive republican victory.

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/646152426088431649/784275824164995072/unknown.png 

Depiction of Salvian infantry charging against Gallambrian positions, late 1880s.  

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/646152426088431649/784286742487891998/unknown.png 

Photograph of Salvian Marines wading ashore to reinforce the established beachhead on a Fulgistani island, early in the Great Alharun War.

 

War is what propelled Salvia to its peak as well as becoming its downfall.  Emerging as an incredibly fragile and weak albeit united state in the 15th century, Salvian emperors were entirely occupied with struggles in their own backyard, fighting both inside and outside forces to keep the empire together.  By the beginning of the modern period (roughly defined as starting in 1450), a series of competent rulers had pulled Salvia out of the 14th century crises and towards moderate economic prosperity.  The discovery* of the New Wurld and the wars that followed it, however, would define Salvia and her history for the next six centuries.  It’s largely impossible to understate how influential these wars were on the Salvian empire.

The watershed mark for Salvian power would come with the successful Yellow Crusades, a series of wars that would earn Salvia a strong foothold in the New Wurld.  Increased trade and contact with New Wurld empires led to increased conflict as Salvia attempted to further increase their power and wealth, successfully expanding the Salvian colonial empire to become one of the most powerful empires in the wurld and would remain that way throughout the 17th century.  War would once again become influential on the Salvian peninsula with the People’s War, which oversaw the overthrow of the monarchy, the secession of several notable Salvian provinces (including Alvernia and Tanemum), and a loss in much of its colonial territory to foreign and Alharun powers.  Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, wars were fought to reclaim some of the lost power, wealth, and land, especially with Limonaia, who became Salvia’s main rival during this period.  Although Salvian power largely recovered from pre-People’s War levels, it was not as it once was, and the final nails in the coffin would arrive with the arrival of the Gallambrians, with which Salvians fought several wars against over Salvian colonial holdings and Marenesian territory.  Salvian defeats in these late 19th century wars would culminate several decades later in the 1940s Great Alharun War, in which Salvia and Seylos waged war against Gallambria and the communist Fulgistan.  This war was lost, and the Salvian colonial empire was finally and fully put to an end, having faced a slow death beginning in the early 1800s.  

Since then, war has not since crossed the Salvian mind until the Cerisian crisis, and even that is largely seen as a peacekeeping operation and not a war.  Isolationist for most of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, conflict with other nations has not happened since the Great Alharun War.  Besides this, it’s easy to see the long-lasting consequences of war on the Salvian nation, despite the people living in her today being largely spared from such horrors.

Due to the highly religious nature of the nation, it is no surprise that, while only very few civil rituals surrounding it have existed, most of these have in some way involved religion.  Ancient Marenai chiefs, considered religious, political, and military leaders, were expected to sacrifice to the gods before, during, and after a battle in order to ensure victory.  In medieval Salvia, kings would have to be crowned the emperor of the new territory they had just conquered by the pope in order to make the conquest official.  Parades and other celebrations of the military have been common throughout Salvian history and is an exception to the religious rule.  The most modern example of a civic ritual that is largely unique to Salvia is the blessing of troops before their deployment by the pope, the most recent example being Salvian and Papal troops before they departed for war-torn Ceris.  This tradition originated with the Yellow Crusades and has carried on since, although the pope has not blessed Salvian troops on all major occasions - during the Great Alharun War, Pope Thomas II refused to bless those who came to him as a Salvian soldier rather than just a faithful lay member as him and his complement in Iverica believed the war to be politically motivated and not a just war.

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/646152426088431649/784292253182328942/unknown.png 

Pope Gregory XVII blesses Salvian troops before they depart for Ceris, April 2020.

 

*Salvian explorers had probably discovered the New Wurld, most likely Aurelia, some centuries before - incredibly experienced sailors, the Marenai that had previously occupied the peninsula before the Salvians had reached as far as Oyus through island-hopping.  It is considered very likely that Salvian traders had reached the New Wurld prior to the modern period, and in fact it may have been not a discovery so much as a confirmation that these “lost continents” were in fact real, as claimed by those before them.

[Florentia]

I didn't have time to do the worldbuilding about pets so I put it now > w <

Pets are an integral part of the culture of San Castellino and are pretty popular there.

Laws : If the laws about pets are to be believed, the government considers them to be objects exempt from any conscience and unable to show any sign of intelligence. The owner has the right of absolute life or death over the animal. Then, zoophilic practices are officially illegal but, unofficially, they have been tolerated since the foreign minister was found having sex with his pet toucan. Finally, according to a law bringing up to date an old San Castellino tradition, animal owners have the right to eat their pets as long as the latter does not expressly express themselves against it.

History : In the history of San Castellino, pets, and especially mackerel, have always been an object of social positioning. Indeed, from 1438, the nobles San Castellinos proudly walked in the company of their companion mackerel. Mackerel was also used a lot in wars as a messenger: discreet and fast, it was widely used. But it was especially during the civil war of 1936 - between the Social Democrats and the nationalists - that mackerel was used a lot. From 1942, the mackerel even became a symbol of anti social-democratic propaganda in the young republic.

Culture : In culture, pets are and always have been objects of social positioning. Indeed, rodent-type animals such as rats, mice and hamters are reserved for the poor. So-called "basic" animals such as dogs, non-exotic birds are reserved for the middle class. On the other hand, exotic animals, cats and especially mackerel are reserved for the elite of San Castellino. Indeed, owning an exotic animal is often considered a sign of wealth, while the cat and the mackerel are associated with nobility and luxury. Finally, there is an ancestral tradition very widespread in San Castellino which says that eating your pet gives strength and courage. For example, it's common to see San Castellinos eating their pets when times get tough. It is also not uncommon to see animals like peruch and cat on the table at large banquets organized by the great fortunes of San Castellino, where cat meat and peruch are considered extremely delicacies.

[Florentia]

For a long time, San Castellino was successively invaded by many countries, thus forging a strong identity characterized by absolute independence and great influence of the army. But, surprisingly, it was not a professional army but a civilian militia - the National Liberation Front - which delivered the country from the French Empire in 1812. The newly formed Plutocratic Republic of San Castellino relies on two forces at both: the National Army, a professional army controlled by the general staff, and the National Liberation Front, a civilian militia controlled by the president. The Republic was quite unstable and the presence of two military forces led to several small internal conflicts. But it was from 1921 that the tension was most palpable. In fact, on April 1, 1932, the oil crisis took place: the price of oil suddenly fell, putting 17% of the San Castellino population out of work and causing many food shortages and strikes. It is this opportunity that the nationalist and conservative general Rodrigo Rodriguez will use to gain popularity. He narrowly missed the elections of 1935, losing to the Social Democrat and progressive Juan Baptista who was reelected a second time. And it was on August 3, 1936 that General Rodrigo Rodriguez, supported by the vast majority of the staff and the clergy, attempted a coup d'état. Even though he managed to take control of more than half of the territory, Rodriguez failed to take the capital. Juan Baptista will then rely on the anarchists and the National Liberation Front to try to keep control. It was then that the civil war began. This will last 5 years, setting the whole country on fire and seeing the nationalists win at the end. This is why, at the end of the civil war, General Rodrigo Rodriguez will set up the "day of heroes" for purposes of pro-war and pro-militarism propaganda. Since then, the country has never been at war with another country but, because of its general mismanagement and its ambient instability, it is common to see revolts break out across the country.

War and peace in culture : In the culture of San Castellino, war has always been associated with bravery and courage. It was only with the accession of the Social Democratic Party to power in 1867 that pacifist movements began to appear. But these were totally banned by the dictatorial regime of General Rodrigo Rodriguez from 1937. From there, the different dictators of San Castellino each tried in their own way to strengthen the love of war among the San Castellinos. For example, there was General Rodrigo Rodriguez who used propaganda, General Fidèl Estùpidel who sent pacifists to prison, or General Sullivan Di Foxycionni who sent pacifists to concentration camps or to the guillotine.Finally, many traditions and festivals have been created by the government for propaganda purposes. But the most famous remains the national holiday, the "Santa Guillotina". During this, a procession made up of all the army and all of the government marches through the entire capital, with the grand finale being the passage by the guillotine of a puppet bearing the effigy of the ancient Juan Baptista. This celebration symbolizes "the end of the communist dictatorship led by Juan Baptista and the genesis of the San Castellinos democracy brought by the all-powerful supreme liberator Rodrigo Rodriguez".

[Xio]

“How long have your people known peace?”
Twelve years, take it or leave it.

From mid-2020, it has been twelve years since the official end to the South Paluvian civil war and the start of the Dominions of Metztlitlaca. The civil war started in 1992, when the Republic of Metztlica, Republic of Acolica, and the Republic of Tepanizo broke off from the South Palu Confederation’s government to form their own pro-archpriest government. For 10 years both governments did not engage in any large-scale conflicts, but did not recognise the other as a legitimate government. Eventually in 2002 border conflicts spilled over into full-scale conflict and the two governments went to war up until 2012, when the South Paluvian government was officially dissolved as it was absorbed into the Metztlican government.
LAANN did not get involved due to a fear of being perceived as a greater threat by both governments – especially if Fulgistan got directly involved. Even still, the Metztlican government is still critical of Fulgistan’s lack of involvement in aiding their government during the civil war. Overall, just a poor loose-loose situation for Fulgistan.
Since the civil war, Metztlitlaca has been largely focused on reconstruction. By modern day most of the war-torn towns and cities have been repaired back up to code and have even expanded. But, sadly, several isolated villages are still suffering even twelve years later.

Metztlitlaca and Eulycea have also been fighting a transnational ethnic conflict in the north-west mountain borderlands by the Tlahuizo and Colhuazo seperatists. The conflict itself is not well known in the wider world and is overall shrouded in mystery, so lets move on hastily…

The last biggest war Metztlitlaca took place in wa̷s̵ ̷t̴h̵e̶ ̷G̶r̶e̵a̷t̸̟̆ ̸̜̔A̵͕͐l̸̞͙̓h̷̯̄a̸͉̐r̷͎̄͊u̸̲̼̐ņ̶̽͋ ̴̰̣̈W̶̡̋ͅa̸͚͎͛͑r̵̹̺͋ ̷͚̓ẃ̷̢̍█ẻ̴̳̻ȓ̷̛̮͎̹̲̙̳̏̃̅̿͌̈́̎͒̌͑̑̚͘̕͘e̶̳͎̟̘͚͂̆ ̴̧̲̘̙͙̜͇̞̀̆̿́̿̄͒͛̒̒̉͛̄͝t̷̨̧̨͍̰̼̠̰̙̓̋̚͜ĥ̴̡̜̪̘̥̺̙͙̘̳̦̫̃̐͐͆̈́͐͗̍͜͝͝ẹ̸̡̨̬̭͓̳͔͍̔͜ ̴̡̪͚͚͖͇̻̰̊͋͊̍̀͋̐̊̌̋̚͘͘͜C̶̡̫͍̯̲̪̺͍̹̖̘͎͖̯̅̓͐̅̇̒͗̈́͘̕ŗ̸̪͍̦͈͙̹̱̈́̌̅̎̓͗̓̾̽͊̈́͛͊̔̐̚͝͝█s̶̡̘͚̗̯͖͎̠̘̺̈́̿͒́̃̌̏̅́̈́͆̕͜ĉ̵̨̡̙̣̖̗͉͍̯̲̣͓̇͋̀̃́̆́̀̋̈̎͝e̸̺̺̣̺̦̳̫̩̼̤̻͌̉̋̀̇̂̅̀̓̇̿̊́͝͝█t K̵̢̢̨͕͚̺̗̙̗̯͓̯͛̿ḯ̷̡̧̢̘͖̟͓̱͈̬͚̥͉̥̮̍̈́͗̽̀̀͘█g̶̨̧͙͚̹͓̞̣̲̩͔̰̲̮̬̠̉̐̓̀͋͑́̋̀̆̅̾̌͋͗̄̐͊̑̃͐͑̇͗̓͆̅̀̔͗̈̍̈͐̓̓̕͘͘̕͜͝██m̸̨͓͚̹͇̰͉̻͚̘̳͚͖͚̤̻̱͛̇̀͒̆̇̆̈̐̉͆͑̊̍͂̈́̓̆̀̉͆̚͜͜͝ͅ ███████ ██ ███ █

 

Overall, Metztlitlaca has seen a bloody 20th century, with the 21st also seeing a fair share of bloodshed. However, this is the norm in Azlo culture. The Azlo people have always been embroiled in conflict - from the Paran Lake expulsion around 0 CE, to the millennia long conflicts between monarch states in south Palu, to the fighting off and eventual conquest by the Europans. This has led to the average Metztlican being rather distrustful of the outside world and strangers, even towards their closest allies of Fulgistan and Oyus at times. There isn't really any clean way to conclude this post except that... Yea, Metztlitlaca has had a pretty rough century.

 

[Grenesia]

Placeholder for war and peace

 

 

It may come tomorrow, should tomorrow come.

[Fulgistan]

The prompt of the day for December 4th is...

 

     Cities! What are your nation's famous cities, and why? (Bonus brownie points for cities excluding your capital) What features make your cities unique? How are your urban areas developing in the present day, and what are the plans for the future?

[Fubukino]

I did not even think of this so credit to Metz (insert mention here if it was working) but I'll be doing a double answer for the prompts. one for Oyus, and one for Fearannteth. A great way to flesh out what to expect day-to-day in Fearannteth as I push to get things completely settled with them.

On 12/1/2020 at 4:55 PM, Fulgistan said:

Weekends! How do the people of your nation spend the days when they are not working? How long are your weekends? Who gets to take weekends off?

Oyus

When isn't it the weekend? Oyus does align itself with the standard 2 weekend days off (Saturday, Sunday) where they are of agreement on the matter internationally. However, Oyus has within recent history added a third offday, a sort of break in the middle of the work week after Kera Yulaa took notice to studies early on that it could promote more productivity to have a four day work week as opposed to five day work week. Traditionally this is done in the middle of the week instead of a third day, however in some cases employers apply it at the end of the week instead of the middle of the week.

The vibrant entertainment and stadium districts of the urban centres of Oyus as well as the town squares of smaller towns or villages are filled with fanfare and excitement. Be there a match of one of the domestic sports leagues going about, a festival going on, or just your run of the mill weekend, there is always plenty to do. From taking a beverage at your local watering hole to participating or watching if you're the more shy type, traditional indigenous dance shows - typically in open air venues. Extended families that are not so outgoing may choose to congregate at one family member's dwelling and have what some may consider to be a casual party as a time to catch up or simply relax and is as commonly seen as those that prefer going out. Typically, you can see this in more rural parts of Oyus than the urban areas.

Fearannteth

Fearannteth is far more traditional in contrast to Oyus. Sundays are reserved for worship and family while Saturdays are the only other off day. While religion isn't as much of a factor as it used to be, Friday nights and Saturdays are when you would have as close as you can to a night on the town in your time off as come Sunday morning, everything closes except essential services, some restaurants, and places of worship. Fearannteth otherwise observes the traditional five day work week of Monday-Friday. Western Fearannteth is a larger exception to the Sunday closures. With the shared disdain between the more indigenous and diverse populace of the west and the Europan descendants, they are more lively and outgoing than the average Fearann otherwise.

On 12/2/2020 at 4:52 PM, Fulgistan said:

Pets! How have domestic animal companions shaped the history and culture of your people? Are certain pets held in higher or lower regard than others? And which pets are signifiers of a particular group or subgroup? Are there any interesting laws governing the ownership of pets in your nation?

Oyus

The status of pets has more or less been a hot subject in more recent times. There is a larger political discussion (albeit one not largely prioritized by the Matriarchy) about the place of animals ranging from purely as food, to treasured companions, to them being their own beings [when we say this, think Max PETA]. For the most part, there is unwritten code in respect to certain animals not being consumed, though it certainly isn't illegal in writing. In the case of animals that aren't considered domesticated and are more exotic, there are stringent regulations to be able to keep them as pets.

Despite the overall negative association in Oyusard faith with cats, they are embraced because of the faith's teachings. If anything, a way to ward off an early death. Thus, cats are rather popular. There are two breeds in particular that are rather ubiquitous: The traditional Adisi Fohytail cat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong_Bobtail) has been around for centuries, while the more recently bred and imported Fulgistani Bob [of no relation to Fulgistan] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixie-bob) has become rather popular as well. Although cats are popular among the more indigenous, that is not to say dogs aren't disliked or other exotic animals, though typically more harmless ones like birds or lizards.

Fearannteth

A more traditional take once more, Fearannteth's popular pets are mostly the run of the mill dogs and cats with a variety of breeds. Regulations are ones you can see across many nations on Eurth. With laws against animal abuse and the outlaw on the consumption of certain animals. In Cassieshire, there are more showy pets that are mostly associated with affluence. In the case of Fearannteth, these are rare species of domestic animals or some more tame wild animals. It is not unheard of for them to keep horses nor domesticated foxes, the national animal of Fearannteth and the provincial animal of Cassieshire. Meanwhile in Fearannteth proper and Western Fearannteth you see more pet owners keep dogs, typically working dogs over showy, affluent associated ones.

18 hours ago, Fulgistan said:

Wartime and Peacetime! How long have your people known peace? How has conflict (or the lack thereof) shaped your modern history? Are there any civic rituals observed by your government during either period?

Oyus

Oyus has for a century not seen conflict in the isles. Most residents have been able to live in peace with the stories told by their elders about the Adisi Liberation War, fighting to keep the peace. The horrors of the Adisi Liberation War pushed for there to be more peaceful forms of bringing about change and advocating change, with government and opposition factions historically pushing change in peaceful numbers rather than taking up arms. A prime example of this is the lead up to the Sudden Dissolution. Thousands protested and turned out in numbers in opposition to the Democratic Republic and eventually paved the way for Yulaa to dissolve it and form the Matriarchy as it stands today.

Fearannteth

To Be Continued

[Xio]

Xināλawīλiyoɥ Overview
The Capital of Metztlitlaca – Xināλawīλiyoɥ (literally meaning “Capital/Old City filled with Valleys”) – is the largest city in the country at a population of 2,142,000, around 10% of the total population. The total population living in the city is expected to triple by 2023 due to rapid migration to the city for job opportunities. The local government of Xināλawīλiyoɥ is currently in the process of using the current influx to build the new infrastructure and housing to avoid the formation of mass slums. What will happen to the population once large-scale housing and infrastructure construction is no longer required is unknown, with several proposals being passed to and fro the local and national government.
 

History
The city was first founded in 420 CE – 120 years after the arrival of the Azlo – on the ruins of the ancient city of Panuiotawa, once the third largest Hekenga city in the southern Palu controlled by a people group akin to the Iwica. Even today there are some temples from the Hekenga period still remain if you know where to look, although most have been torn down and used as quarries and stripped of anything leaving husks of rock. The largest – still mostly intact – Hekenga temple is found in the northern boundary of the city and is called Tiōpān Cuezoāyoɥ (“Temple full of disturbances”) by the locals. It’s Hekengan name is unknown. The city became the (near) permanent residence to the Archpriest Temple and became the centre of the Azlo’s religion of Wēcatoc.

In 1203 CE, one year after the formation of the Crescent Empire, the city was declared its capital and was known internally as Xinmēƶλican “Capital/old city of Meztlican”.

The origin of the city’s exonym of Altepetl Tekaken is not entirely known, but has been dated to around late 1700 / early 1800. The most accepted theory is that it came from the phrase “cē altepetl tequicen” meaning “To curtail the city altogether / To cut off the city entirely”. Which was used by the Shffahkian empire’s native allies against the Crescent Empire as shorthand for their plans to capture the capital. Its likely that Shffahkian generals mistook this as them naming the city “Tequicen”, which was then corrupted into “Teqiken” and eventually “Tekaken”. This became the unofficial name used by Shffahkian colonists and the empire up until 1876. Where allegedly Armand the Peaceful and his wife Ičtaca (an Tlaxcalixe aristocrat) were out at a riverbank park, and overheard an older couple talking about a place called “Xinmēƶλican”. Later that night he scoured through all the maps in his collection of the city and the entire river basin for a “Xinmēƶλican” only to come out empty handed. When he spoke to his wife about this, she supposedly stated that was what the city was called before the Shffahkian Empire took over. From there he declared that the city’s “historic honour shall be preserved” and had the city’s name changed to Xinmēƶλican. However, most historians believe this story to be false and that it came about more as part of his attempts to unify the Shffahkian colonists and the Azlo into one cohesive state through compromise and strong arming.

In 19██, the city was renamed to Altepetl Tecipanoāniʮ (“City of Workers”) under the South Palu Confederation. And finally in 2013 the city’s name was changed back to Xināλawīλiyoɥ as part of Metztlitlaca’s attempt to revitalise old nationalism but also not push any one specific ethnic agenda that names like “Xinmēƶλican” would. Many of the oldest businesses of Meztlitlaca can be easily dated to specific periods by what they called the capital.
 

Politics
Calpōlli are the subdivisions used within cities. Xināλawīλiyoɥ has 12 distinct historic calpōlli. Most people identifying with their historic calpōlli before identifying as someone who is Xināλawīλiyoɥyōλ. Every 5 years a mayor – Zīntaco – is elected by the population.
The city is a hotbed for liberal ideologies and is perceived as a potential political threat to the current government in the near future. As such, there have been numerous attempts to subvert the capital’s growing liberalism and pro-democracy sentiment ranging from televised and radio propaganda, ad campaigns, and even considering creating a new capital to spread out the city’s wealth. Ironically, the city chosen as the most likely candidate to subvert the influence of Xināλawīλiyoɥ was the very city that tried to destroy the Metztlica altogether:

Altepetl Azcapoƶinco
 

 

Altepetl Azcapoƶinco
Xināλawīλiyoɥ’s historic rival since 13th century. Contrary to popular belief, the city of Altepetl Azcapoƶinco survived the Azcapoƶinco civil war and remained an economic behemoth up until the Crescent Empire’s golden years in the 15th century, wherein the capital (under the name of Xinmēƶλican) finally overtook Azcapoƶinco in population and economic power. However, to this day the city remains the 4th largest urban area in the country just behind Pomodoria City in the Shffahkian-majority region of Yatotla and the city of Mocheng in the Hong dominion. Technically 5th if you count the city of Kaseka as part of the Metztlitlaca. The city has a population of 356,000 and is downstream from Xināλawīλiyoɥ. The city’s name translates to “At the Anthill”. Originally the name was literal, as for the longest time the city suffered from ant colony infestations, but now the “Anthill” refers to a hill within the city called Azcapo where the house of the mayor resides.

Numerous times in the 20th and 21st centuries the city was put up as a candidate as a new capital city. The reasons being one part geography (being lower stream, boats could more easily travel up and down stream) and one part politics (to curb the current capital’s growth). The closest the city got to becoming the new capital was in 2016, when even the Archpriest had started to reference the city as the “Soon-Coming Capital” and almost all of the paperwork was in place. But it was stopped at the last minute due to an earthquake which caused part of the city’s western calpōlli’s to collapse due to poor infrastructure standards. Since then, there has been no effort to relocate the capital to Azcapoƶinco.

The city’s economy is largely a mixture of tourism in the east (where most of the historic buildings survived the civil war and the Shffahkian invasion) and manufacturing in the west.
 

 

Pomodoria City
Pomodoria City, named after the large tomatoes that have historically grown in the region, is the 2nd most populous city in Metztlitlaca, located in the Yatotla district within the Pomodoria region and with a population just under one million. The city’s population is expected to double by this time in 2022 due to the rise in tourism from Cristophone (Italian), Lysiphone (French), and Esperaphone (Esperanto) nations. The city of Pomodoria was founded in 1811 by a Shffahkian nobleman and was largely used as a hub for Huang slaves and Shffahkian indentured servants. From 1852-1873 the city saw numerous ground and sea invasions due to the competing powers of the First Shffahko Republic and the Crescent Kingdom of Shffahkia and was nearly completely abandoned in 1869 due to a high magnitude earthquake soon after an attempted invasion by the Republic. Similarly, the city was almost completely destroyed in the Great Alharun War. Very few historic buildings are still around to the present, but some still stand and have been renovated/restored and are now used for tourism.

Flag of the Pomodorian Region (Link must be clicked due to forum bugged).
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/784813719099277352/784813734588579922/Pomodoria_Region.png

[Galahinda]

Pets:

Despite Cascadia's urban crush, many families still find space and time to include a pet within their ranks. As is true with any nation, there are those who actively seek out the exotic, looking to one-up their social competitors with the rarest and most expensive creature from across the globe. However, despite Galahinda's reputation to the contrary, not many people seek out these types of pets. Instead, most citizens find comfort in the creatures we've been accompanied with for centuries, cats, and dogs. Given the dense and vertical element of Galahindan life, dogs are limited to owners dedicated enough to take them to green spaces or to small indoor breeds. Cats are the pet of choice for the masses, given their affinity to an urban environment when compared to other animals. Even the Chairman Yiu Amistacia seems to have a soft spot for them, housing two within the walls of their estate. 

 

Cities:

 

"In 2020, Tagmatine media labeled Cascadia as the worst city to live in on Eurth. Main issues? Sky-high rates of inequality, unpredictable government, and complete godlessness. I can't deny it, it's all true, but everyone still wants to live here." - Yiu Amistacia. 

Cascadia is a city of extremes, extreme wealth, extreme culture, and extreme inequality. The city should have torn itself apart by all external accounts, either in violent working-class revolution or by corporate infighting. Instead, the city is held together by the dream of wealth, power, and status. Anyone can become the next big thing; advertisements fill the heads of the working class with enough promises of glamor to hold back any revolutionary thoughts. People become stars overnight, and the corporate board maintains a chokehold on the minds of the masses. The city's districts are varied and distinct; the Warehouse district, filled with the bohemian and esoteric, home to Club Ecdysis. Industrial zones filled with the factories producing the goods to keep the wealth flowing. Sprawling estates on the southern fringe of the island house the wealthy and famous. At the center of it all, the Urban Core. Filled with towering skyscrapers covered in electronic screens, bustling commercial hubs, and enough liquor to drown the nation. Life in Cascadia is extreme, but why would you want to live anywhere else?

[Florentia]

Gazallenoa, the capital city

Geography : the city is located on the plain of Juimenez, between the sea and the Montemout and Montepecho mountains.

Urbanization: the city is currently two-sided. There are the districts along the coast which are famous for their luxurious villas, their dream beaches, huge hotels, and the incredible number of ferraris parked in the streets, the big cabarets, the flashing casinos of all colors, and the opera Fernando XIV. The "second Gazallenoa" designates the poor and industrial districts at the rear of the city. These districts are known for their extreme poverty, their huge concrete building bars - the "Casas de la Gracia de Dios", which are veritable rabbit cages -, intensive criminality and the many illegal nightclubs. The city's mayor, Garcia Garcia, recently elected for the 13th consecutive time, has plans to build new affluent neighborhoods along the coast, expand oil pump fields, build more car factories in poor neighborhoods and invest in the expansion of Gazallenoa international airport. All while destroying the fragile ecosystem that is the plain of Juimenez because, according to a statement by Mayor Garcia Garcia: "Nature ? Who cares and that sucks: long live concrete, cars and money. "

History : Gazallenoa is the capital of San Castellino and has always been since the territory was reunited under one banner in 1791. Legend has it that the city was founded by a barbarian chief named Quetlazchrikr. Apparently, the shape of the mountains in the background would have reminded him of the breasts of his mistress, who called Gazallenoa. Since then, the city has been technologically backward for a very long time, until the XVIe century, during the invasion of the San Castellino kingdoms by Iverica. By 1791, during the independence of San Castellino and the proclamation of the Kingdom of San Castellino, Gazallenoa had caught up a lot and was even considered a city synonymous with poetry and arts, commerce and wealth. The city continued to grow little by little, always in competition with the three other big cities of the country: La Libertad, Asmavie and Montedoux. Fortunately for her, Gazallenoa had access to many riches such as silver and gold mines, fertile land, an active and busy port, as well as waters full of fish. But it was above all the discovery of a large number of oil fields under Mont Montemount in 1852 that boosted the city's economy. The city benefited for a very long time from its large oil reserves, until 1963, when General Fidèl Estùpidel gave in to pressure from GalOil - the oil companie from Galahinda -, thus giving them unlimited access to 95% of Gazallenoa's oil reserves only against an annuity of only 8% from the sale price, but also to those of the Mariachis desert and those of the high Chanchel plateau. Since then, the country, and especially the city of Gazallenoa, has been totally dependent from GalOil. They even go so far as to intervene in the affairs of the country, to see if it does not try to nationalize the san castellinos oil.


Sullivanopolis, more oil pumps than houses

Geography : Sullivanopolis is located right in the middle of the Mariachi Desert, with no natural water point within 40 km of the city.

Urbanization: the city is completely built according to a checkerboard system and is almost completely composed of large gray building bars. And the whole city is surrounded by endless fields of oil pumps. Indeed, the city was built in 1943 for the sole purpose of harvesting oil from the Mariachi Desert and to have manpower nearby. There are very few services, very few parks. In short, almost all the places in the city are alike and there is really nothing to do there except work and sleep. The city is connected to the world by a network of railways of rare efficiency. There is also a fast voice but it is seldom used due to the intense heat of the desert. So far, the city's mayor has no plans for urbanization other than building more oil pumps and more rabbit cages.

 

Asmavie and Montedoux, where peoples have holidays

Geography : Asmavie and Montedoux are both located in a large maquis, along the coast, where the beaches are the most beautiful.

Urbanization : Both towns are renowned for their Spanish colonial-style architecture and for being two major seaside resorts. Every day, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to spend their holidays here. In the two cities, 60% of the infrastructure is reserved for tourists and the two cities are totally dependent on tourism. This is why the two cities are planning to expand the promenade, build new hotels and casinos, and above all create a huge marina to accommodate even more luxury yachts.

 

La Libertad, the "new city"

Geography : the city is located inland, on the border between the maquis and the forest.

Urbanization: the city was built in the 90s to begin to overcome the lack of offices in San Castellino. So this is why the city is mainly made up of huge office buildings made of glass and steel. The city intends to extend along the forest, the bush being more difficult to concrete, to be able to build new offices. In addition, the municipality is clearing the ancestral forest of Brahjun to build a new airport, in order to attract more companies to the territory of San Castellino.

 

San-Miguel-Matando-al-Dragón, the holy city

Geography : the city is located along the Malquel river, on the high Chanchel plateau.

Urbanization : San-Miguel-Matando-al-Dragón is one of those rare cities that have been preserved from the intense industrialization of cities. Indeed, according to legend, it is on the very site of the famous cathedral of Nuestra Señora de San-Miguel-Matando-al-Dragón that Saint Michael would have slain the dragon. The city has therefore become a place of pilgrimage and has to have to respect the architectural style of the city center in order to be able to expand, which has made San-Miguel-Matando-al-Dragón a city renowned for its tranquility and its fresh air.

Edited January 8, 2021 by San Castellino (see edit history)

[Orioni]

🚀 ☮️ 3. Wartime and Peacetime!

Q. How long have your people known peace?

A. The peace-clock has been reset with the active military conflict going on in Bainbridge Islands. The last internal military conflict was in 1928 when Plebist-leaning military officers, led by Colonel Nawa Molo, attempted a coup d'état which ultimately failed. The longest military conflict was the Orinese civil war which lasted from 1023-1174. https://iiwiki.us/wiki/History_of_Orioni#Civil_war

Q. How has conflict (or the lack thereof) shaped your modern history?

A. After nearly two centuries of civil war, the country entered a long period of colonial expansion. The 14th Century was a period of reconnection between regions that had previously lost contact. This reconnection certainly wasn't always a peaceful event. The Empress Fuyami began sending forth explorers to eastern and southern Europa. Their mission was to revisit old trade outposts and collect overdue taxes. Religious and linguistic influence spread in these various regions and among the peoples.

Q. Are there any civic rituals observed by your government during either period?

A. Every year on May 29th the Restoration Day is celebrated. This is a public holiday to remember the end of the Civil War. This conflict came to a close when Hierapolis (Zuidhaven) was captured by the a loyalist army commanded by 41-year-old Sidi Seymond Adhamed (1133-1192), husband of Empress Masaino's second sister, on 29 May 1174.

⁂

🌇 4. Cities!

Q. What are your nation's famous cities, and why? (Bonus brownie points for cities excluding your capital)

A. Sirius (Oharic: Siriyus). In 2019 this city ranked #1 best city in Orioni. Sirius gives you the feeling that all is right with the Eurth. From its clean-swept streets to punctual transport. On a bright summer's day, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've landed in the Mediargic thanks to lively pavement cafés serving aperitif and people hopping into the lake for a midday swim between meetings. http://www.europans.com/topic/1966-roiters-»-know-now/?do=findComment&comment=40013689

Zuidhaven (Oharic: Ierakshini). Orioni's bustling 2nd city can be overwhelming at first. It is a hive of activity and its chaos is all part of its charm. The sights, sounds and smells that assault your senses will also inspire your curiosity. Each street will bring something new and alien to try to understand. It makes the perfect introduction to the country and southeast Europa as a whole. For history buffs and photography enthusiasts, a favourite stop is the ruins of Hierapolis. The ruins of this old city still stand proud despite enduring centuries of battle and exposure to the elements.  It offers many lovely photo opportunities. http://www.europans.com/topic/1966-roiters-»-know-now/?do=findComment&comment=40015598

Q. What features make your cities unique?

A. About 53% of Orioni is either forested or mountainous, making it largely unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This means that coastal areas contain the habitable zones and have high population densities. The population tends to cluster around fresh-water sources and seaports. As a result, these coastal regions of Orioni are some of the most densely populated areas on Eurth.

Q. How are your urban areas developing in the present day, and what are the plans for the future?

A. Some secondary cities are beginning to flourish. Gruis, for example, led the way to find creative solutions that balanced the need for growth and the preservation of urban spaces. Under then-mayor Rezovi the public transportation network saw a necessary expansion. An order for 300 new buses was placed last year and extensions are ongoing for its light rail and one of its subway lines. This expansion wasn't always well received when a new bill called Proposition 404 threatened to halt further expansion plans and put money towards building more roads instead. Another trend is the ban on e-scooter companies.

[Fulgistan]

The prompt of the day for December 5th is...

     Transportation! How do your people prefer to get around? How does this differ between urban and rural areas? Does your nation employ unique modes of transportation, and how have they been affected by globalization?

[Seylos]

Military:

The Seylosian military has always been standout from its peers, but not for it’s raw power, but its versatility and devotion to causes other than warfare.

In peacetime the Seylosian military dedicates itself to research, humanitarian works, and infrastructure projects both in Seylos and beyond. In the past few years the Royal Navy, the nation’s largest branch, has been involved in multiple humanitarian projects and have devoted hundreds of millions of pounds into scientific research for the nation to benefit from. The Royal Army’s main function during peacetime is mainly in logistical and engineering works, for instance preparing for infrastructure and supplies needed to support the many refugees from the crisis in Machina Haruspex and helping various nations in Ceris. The Royal Air Forces support both branches, mainly in a logistical capacity, however due to it’s longer and faster range they take a primary role in patrolling the Dolch Sea for any illegal activity.

What sets apart the average Seylosian service member is not their skill in warfare, though they are prepared for it, but their unusually high amount of education and skills they can bring to the Armed Services. The Monarchy long ago decided that quality was much preferable to quantity and with their focus not on war, they made their investments in the individuals. Seylosian service members spend an average amount of time, for Eurth, in combat training. However most of their time is dedicated to education. Every enlisted service member is required to enroll in a minimum of three years of higher education, with every officer expected to be pursuing a graduate level degree. Pay for even the lowest service member is quite high and the waitlist for joining the military is extraordinarily long. Upon enrolling service members are required to go through a battery of psychological testing to ensure their fitness for duty. These extreme measures however come at a price, the Seylosian military, compared to other militaries from countries of similar wealth is very small. While the Royal Navy enjoys around forty five thousand personnel, the army itself only makes up around nine thousand. While mechanisms exist to turn the Seylosian Military into a formidable force should the emergency need arise, Seylos’s forces would be incapable of mounting any sort of foreign assault, without support, aside from a blockade.

War has been very uncommon throughout the history of Seylos. Though it has had several small conflicts with its northern neighbor, Derthalen. All of these conflicts have been naval in nature and have mainly amounted to anti-piracy operations. However there is one dark period in Seylosian history, an outlier to its general course, in which the country abandoned its humanitarian principles and was taken down a path of colonialism and war. [More information at a later time]

Modern war has been a difficult experience for Seylos. Typically its special forces tend to be the most utilized in combat scenarios, most notably during the Fulgistani conflict to regain control of its south. It was lucky to not suffer any fatalities in the conflict, though it did not commit many forces to the action to begin with. However the most recent tale of conflict is the still evolving war in Ceris. Seylosian marines engaged in battle with the Sentists of the north, resulting in massive casualties and the destruction of the city by the Sentists armies. Though the five hundred marines and over a thousand Ceriser allies managed to hold the line long enough against almost a hundred thousand poorly armed Sentists for Seylos and its allies to send reinforcements and solidify their beachhead in the north.

Until the conflict in Ceris, and a period in the 1950s, Seylos has known almost universal peace with few exceptions. It has virtually no military enemies on the planet, and as such its military culture has evolved to be more of a self defense force alongside a force for scientific advancement and humanitarian outreach. While a position in the Seylosian military is considered an honorable and extraordinary accomplishment in one’s lifetime, the people of Seylos have shied away from glorification of the military, afraid of glorifying a terrible mistake. Parades are not held for the military, though the monarchy does give the nations highest awards to those who excel in their fields, and publicly recognized military accomplishments tend to be limited to those who did extraordinary works savings the lives of civilians versus sweeping tactical victories.