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Topics - Izhitsa

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1
Fiction IC / Excerpts of Feng/Democratic Literature
« on: March 15, 2023, 02:31:55 AM »
This thread collates some examples of literature from the Feng Kingdom and The Democracy. Not all of the examples here are equally representative of Feng culture, but provide a wide swathe of literature from throughout the history of the region.


Table of Contents:
Excerpts from Notes From a Far-West Cottage:


Details:
Spoiler: Notes From a Far-West Cottage • show
Notes From a Far-West Cottage is a commonplace book compiled by the late 18th-century author Fu Wenhong 富文虹. He was a high official in the Feng court and is perhaps most famous for leading the compilation of the Concordance of Feng History. Unfortunately, he was exiled to various posts in the Far West for an accidental insult to the king. Notes from a Far-West Cottage was written during this period based on stories he heard in the Far West and stories he experienced himself. The book is filled with stories of varying lengths, which are often strange and other-worldly. Many are written with a moral in mind, but most are not. The stories were not originally titled, but his associates, who published the books after his death, gave them titles and numbers to make it easier to discuss them. Fu Wenhong always hoped that his loyalty to the court and the Ardian Empire would be recognized and he would be recalled to the capital, but he spent the rest of his life in the Far West.


More to come.

2
Diplomacy and Events / Diplomacy, TV!—Daito
« on: October 01, 2022, 05:33:47 AM »
After filming the first episode of Diplomacy, TV!—ugh, he'd never get used to that name—Guo Tianming was feeling much more confident in himself. Not that he was ever anything less than confident to the point of self-indulgence, but now this self-confidence was beginning to jump into nearly lethal levels. The next episode was to come two weeks later, with none less than the Emperor of Daito himself. Heaven, it felt weird to say that out loud. After all that the Feng Kingdom and Daito had done to each other when the Feng were under the dominion of the Ardian Empire, how could he dare to suggest that friendly terms could be found less than a year after The Democracy's emergence? And, perhaps more to the point, how could he dare suggest that The Democracy's earliest treaties should be with monarchs?

With Clysperis, there was hardly any risk. People will forgive inviting an autocrat to tea if they are far away, benevolent, and (most importantly) beautiful, but the Emperor was close, vaguely menacing, and, well, thought Tianming, also beautiful, if he was honest. Still, one out of three was not good.

Despite these obstacles, Tianming had successfully convinced his bosses that if the show was to succeed, it had to "take Wei through the Devil's Gate",[1] it had to take this risk, both quickly and head-on. It had to show that it was willing to take on everything that diplomacy meant, and that meant doing their best to make old enemies into friends. Of course, this didn't mean he would take any unnecessary risks either. For one thing, the audience had been carefully screened for anyone with anti-Daitojin sentiments. He didn't tolerate heckling on a normal show, how could he allow it when dealing with a real Emperor? He'd also had to take extra precautions for housing the Emperor. The Great Peace Hotel was obviously out after being the site of the Pharaoh, so he made a reservation with the Everlasting Democracy Hotel, which, in addition to being in a more discreet location, served a better breakfast, which made up for the gilt and glitziness left behind at the Great Peace.

Looking over the darkened stage, he took a deep breath and signaled to the translators to ready themselves. And then the lights came on...
"Welcome to Diplomacy, TV!" Tianming waved to the crowd, smiling as he walked toward center stage. He smiled at the table the crew had set for the occasion. In addition to the chrysanthemums placed next to the tea set in the center, they had also left out a bowl of mochi filled with sesame paste. He didn't think the Emperor would eat any, but he hoped the thought wouldn't pass unnoticed. "We have here tonight a wonderful guest, just a short trip away from his home across the waters from Old Ardia, the Go-Tenshi Emperor of Daito!" The crowd was helpfully exuberant. Things were going to be great, he thought.
"Emperor," he said, "or Eijiro, if I may be so bold, before we invite our negotiators onto the stage, we like to get to know your nation a bit first. After all, a lot has happened in both our countries since 1954! How has your country been in the last 70 years? I've heard you have a man on the moon, the real moon, now, is that right?"

 1. This saying refers to an old story from the beginning of the Feng Kingdom. Gongchan Shan, the master general of Liu, took the city of Weifang (潍坊) via the Devil's Gate (魔门), a narrow, dangerous pass, in order to secure the city in time to protect Liu's advance against Feng.

3
Diplomacy and Events / Diplomacy, TV!—Clysperis
« on: October 01, 2022, 04:25:41 AM »
Guo Tianming stared in shock at the letter he had received from the Pharaoh. A small, niggling voice in his head had never expected to hear anything back at all. To receive as his first communication from the faraway land an apology! The part of him that wanted to frame it for his wall churned in opposition to the part of him that wanted to burn the letter to save face for the monarch. In the end, reason held out and, after carefully filing the letter away, he dialed the Great Peace Hotel to make a reservation. A guest of Wenhua Television Group could only have the best. His tongue nearly tripped over itself trying to stop himself from letting slip that an actual monarch, baubles, entourage, and all, would be visiting The Democracy for the first time since the Civil War. But the arrangements were made, and soon, a flight was arranged and he could focus on the important thing: convincing sponsors that he had got an actual, honest-to-goodness, Pharoah.



It was now September. Wenhua TV had blasted the airwaves for months with teasers its newest offering: something almost no one had seen for decades: a real, live, monarch. And a foreign one, no less. The prospect of a foreign treaty, of course, was mentioned here or there. But in their hearts, everyone knew the real reason to watch would be to see a Queen—yes, a Queen!—from the distant, mysterious Orient.
Citizens of the Democracy had an image of their heads of what such a person might look like. Old newsreels depicting headscarfed women,  turbaned men, and gilded kings (and kings were always a category apart from women and men) were displayed in every documentary about Middle Aranye. And of course, no film set in Clysperis would be complete without a montage of great antiquities, pyramids, and steles.

After hours of painful, begging meetings, Tianming had managed to convince his bosses to leave these parts of the Orient to the imaginations of potential viewers ("everyone knows what Clysperis is in their heads, anyway"), and focus on the revolutionary aspects of inviting a foreign head of state to negotiate live with the people. After all, he said, if they expected the show to last more than a season, they couldn't base it entirely on how exotic another nation might be.

The stage was dim as he prepared himself for go. The small army of translators signaled their readiness. Deep breath. Here we go. And the lights switched on...

"Welcome," said Tianming, "to Diplomacy, TV!" He smiled at the whooping, adoring crowd before him as he walked toward center stage. The crew had really done a good job setting up. Armchairs for him and Akasha flanked the sofa where the special guests, the real negotiators, would be sitting. Before them was a low table set with tea and, best of all, some lotus flowers imported for the occasion. "We have here tonight a very special guest, all the way from Middle Aranye, give it up for the Pharaoh, Akasha Di-‘nh-mi-Re!" He waved Akasha onto the stage, unnecessarily, and gestured to an armchair as he sat himself down in the one opposite.
"Pharaoh," he said, "before we invite our negotiators onto the stage, I hope you'll indulge us by telling us a bit about your country. How has Clysperis been in the last, oh, 70 years?"

4
Diplomacy and Events / Diplomacy, TV!
« on: July 06, 2022, 05:53:57 AM »
A red envelope, ornately decorated with golden images of dragons, knots, and pheasants, arrived, sealed with wax. Inside it lay three copies of the same letter, in Feng, Latin, and English.


Akasha Di-‘nh-mi-Re, Sovereign of Sovereigns, Divine of Appearance, Beloved of Amun, Chosen of Ra, Lord of the Three Lands, Ruler of Justice like Ra, High Priest of Every Temple, the Eye of Horus, Satisfied is the heart of Ra,

Our nation, The Democracy, has once again flung open its doors to the world, and is eager to make contact with all of Mundus’s nations and peoples. However, as you may have heard, in our country no one person has the authority to negotiate on behalf of the entire state. In fact, every citizen has the right to draft treaties with other nations and propose that they be ratified by the majority vote of a large portion of our citizens.
In order to create and publicise a potential treaty of friendship and freedom of movement between our two countries, we would like to formally invite you or your diplomatic representative to negotiate with some of our top luminaries on live television. Such a public negotiation would ensure that every citizen could be satisfied as to the contents and consequences of the treaty and all but guarantee its ratification.
We are able to provide travel to and accommodation in The Democracy, and there will be no barriers to your stay in our country. Please respond as to your interest in this endeavour.

Guo Tianming


5
Vignettes / Welcome to The Democracy
« on: July 03, 2022, 05:59:47 AM »
Vignettes involving the people of The Democracy. This post is intended to act as an index whenever I get around to it.

6
International News Networks / Renmin University Democracy Index
« on: June 24, 2022, 05:10:42 AM »

2022 Democracy Index

The Democracy Index is a new study created by the World Studies department at Renmin University in cooperation with The Democracy Daily Newspaper. The goal of the index is to measure the state of Democracy across Mundus by analysing five important indicators: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. Each category is rated on a 0-10 scale, and the overall index is the average of the five.
The index values are used to place each nation into one of four categories:

1. Full democracies—scores of 8-10.
2. Flawed democracies—scores of 6 to 7.9.
3. Hybrid regimes—scores of 4 to 5.9.
4. Authoritarian regimes—scores below 4

Experts are now being contacted across the nation and across Mundus to rate the world’s nations on this important metric. Song Yuankai, the head of the project, says that the survey results are expected to be collected by July 3rd.

OOC:
Now, you may be wondering, who are these “experts” mentioned above? Those experts, my friends, are you folks!
The index is calculated using the results of a 60-question survey, which I have recreated here. The survey seems to take about 10-15 minutes. Just fill it in with your expert opinion on your own nation(s), and I’ll do the rest. If your nation has multiple recognized governments, feel free to fill in the survey for all of them. Or choose your favorite one. You’re a free person, you can make your own decisions. Just make sure to specify which government you are filling the survey for.
If you are interested in participating, click on the link below. Please fill it in by July 3rd. Let me know on here or on Discord if you have any questions.
2022 Mundus Democracy Index Survey

7
Diplomacy and Events / The Democracy Reaches Out To The North
« on: June 05, 2022, 01:27:49 AM »
Three letters arrived from The Democracy, addressed vaguely to “The Current Praetor of the Ardian Empire.”

The first, written in fine copperplate Latin, read as follows:

Hello. I am Jiu Chenggong, a well-known figure of The Democracy, formerly the Feng Kingdom. In our country I am known as the primary leader in the effort to re-open our country to the outside world. I am contacting you on behalf of our people in order to arrange a meeting with your leaders to establish formal relations and discuss a treaty of free movement and trade between our two countries. I am capable of providing adequate accommodations in Haizhou for the discussions as well as travel from the Ardian border.
Please respond promptly regarding your interest in this arrangement.

Signed,
Jiu Chenggong


The second arrived in three copies, one in Latin, one in fine, calligraphic Feng, and one in English:

Greetings, Praetor.
My name is Dong Xiangyu. I am a respected scientist and political theorist in my country, The Democracy, which your people once knew as the Feng Kingdom. You are no doubt aware by now that our people have chosen to re-open our borders once more. Because our government lacks formal diplomatic contacts, I would like to personally extend a proposal to negotiate a formal treaty of friendship. Among the topics I would like to discuss are movement of peoples between our nations, connection of our National Computer Network to the global Internet through your nation, and trade relations.
Because foreign travel into The Democracy remains complicated, I would like to suggest that these talks take place in your own country. Please advise if you do not think this would be possible.
I am looking forward to our negotiations.

Signed,
Dong Xiangyu


The last letter arrived in merely two copies, one in somewhat suspect Latin and one in Feng:

Many salutations, Praetor. Our country, The Democracy, your country’s old ally, has reopened its borders to you and the world. On behalf of my people, I would like to negotiate a treaty on trade, investment, and freedom of movement with your country, which will then be sent to my people for ratification. I can host the negotiations in Tai’an and can personally vouch for the security of you or your representatives.
It is my hope that this will bring a new era of peace and development for our two nations.

Signed,
Wang Mengbai


8
Character Guides / People of The Democracy
« on: June 05, 2022, 01:21:41 AM »
Notes
Feng names are provided in Romanized and Feng script. Most Feng characters also have Latin names, which they typically derive by directly translating their Feng names. These translations are not always accurate, especially because Latin has many grammatical elements that are unfamiliar to the typical Feng, such as grammatical gender.
Ardian characters, of course, primarily use their Latin names.

Estimated liquid vote totals are just that: estimates. A central tenet of the National Legislation System is the secrecy of the ballot, and that secrecy extends to how many proxy votes any one voter person cast. However, the number can be estimated for most people from known facts about their political influence and the rise and fall in vote tallies at times when they are known to have voted.

9
International News Networks / News From The Democracy
« on: February 20, 2022, 02:13:14 AM »
This is a thread of news reports from The Democracy. This post is reserved for an index.

10
Factbooks and Maps / The Democracy
« on: February 13, 2022, 07:03:34 AM »
As this nation has only recently emerged from extreme isolation, this factbook is still a bit under construction. Please excuse any omissions or errors as our fact-finders attempt to learn more about this nation.

The Democracy (民国)

Motto:- For the People, By the People
National Anthem:- Name of Anthem

BACKGROUND

The area now ruled by The Democracy was once a patchwork of small chiefdoms and lordships surrounding the Changjiang River (长江). As the Ardian Empire began its expansion into the area, it faced stiff resistance from the bordering lords, until one, Guo Weitao (郭偉涛), sensing an opportunity, chose to form an alliance with the Ardians. He led the invaders up the Changjiang and, as their puppet, united the area under his rule. He became the first ruler of the Feng Kingdom (奉国), changing his regnal name to Feng Shiwang (奉始王, lit. “first king of the Feng”), and founding a dynasty that would last until the end of the Ardian Empire.
The Feng Kingdom was a staunchly loyal vassal of the Ardian Empire, and as a result, enjoyed a great degree of autonomy. Due to its fertile soil, it was also a popular target for colonization; at its peak, Ardians made up over 30% of the Kingdom’s population.
It was this loyalty to the Empire that sowed the seeds of the Kingdom’s downfall. During the Great War, Feng people fought side-by-side with Ardians on all fronts. The war gradually lost its popularity as more and more Feng soldiers died horrible deaths far from home. Many returning injured soldiers had also absorbed the nationalist ideas of the people they were fighting against, and by 1939 the Feng Kingdom was facing rebellions of its own.
In an attempt to save his throne, the last King of the Feng, Guo Guilong (郭贵龙), declared independence from Ardia in 1941 and crowned himself emperor of the Feng, changing his regnal name from Feng Yongxi (奉雍熙) to Feng Shihuang (奉始皇, lit. “first emperor of the Feng). However, this did not satisfy the rebels, who in 1946 shot and killed him by accident during an assault on the Imperial Palace.
The Feng Civil War (1939-1954) is typically divided into two stages. In the first stage (pre-1946), the various factions were all united against Feng Shihuang, though they disagreed on exactly what they planned to do with him after the war was over. In the second stage (post-1946), in the absence of the emperor, these factions fought with each other for control of the country.
The Civic Movement (公民运动, gōngmín yùndòng), the eventual victors, were the only one of these rebel factions that professed any sort of democratic rule. The others were largely composed of pretenders to the Feng throne and extreme nationalist movements. This is one of the things that led to its eventual success; unlike its rivals, it promised both change and peace.
The current political system in The Democracy has been established through a long period of what is called Democratization (民主化, Mínzhǔhuà). For citizens of The Democracy, Democratization is a slow, ongoing process of converting the nation into a country not bound by ethnic distinctions or loyalties to a monarch, but rather by loyalty to the cause of Democracy. After a rebuilding period, the Civic Movement held its first votes in 1969, in which the country’s name, demonym, and system of government were fully formalized.
After 1954, the Civic Movement fully shut down the Feng borders, fearing that other countries would attempt to shut down their movement before it had had a chance. In the intervening years, only limited information about the outside world has reached The Democracy, primarily in the form of important inventions. As a result, the typical citizen has a cell phone and access to the internet, but, for example, is completely ignorant of the orgy of genocide that characterized 20th- and 21st-century Mundus. These restrictions were only recently lifted by vote, and as a result the population is more vulnerable to misinformation than ever.

Government Type:- Liquid Democracy
Population:-:- 94 million people
Capital City:- While there is no official capital, the former Feng capital, Haizhou (海州), remains the largest and most important city with a population of over 8 million residents.
Demonym:- The official demonym is Citizen (公民, gōngmín); however, this is obviously awkward to use in most situations. The most common demonym in the Feng era was simply Feng (奉, Fèng) and it remains in unofficial use today.


ECONOMY

Currency:- Yuán (symbol: 元/¥)
GDP per Capita:-
Unemployment Rate:-
Main Industries:-


PEOPLE

Ethnicity:-
Feng people (奉人, Fèngrén): 86%
Ardians (迪人, Dírén): 12%
Others: 2%
Languages:-
While Feng (奉语, Fèngyǔ) has always been the most common language for everyday speech, Latin (迪语, Díyǔ) had special status throughout the Ardian period. However, since the establishment of The Democracy, Latin has fallen out of favor with the Feng public, and is seen as a backwards symbol of oppression. As The Democracy has begun opening up to the rest of the world, English (英语, Yīngyǔ) has gained popularity as a symbol of cosmopolitanism and modernity.

Religion:-
Due to Ardian influence, the popular organized religion in The Democracy is Christianity, but it is heavily mixed with folk traditions of ancestor worship and animism. While the church in The Democracy doesn’t condemn these practices, it doesn’t promote them, either.
Average Life Expectancy:-


GOVERNMENT

The Democracy lacks a head of state, head of government, or parliament. Instead, every adult citizen has the right to propose and vote on any law or treaty. Citizens also have the option to delegate their votes to another citizen who then has the ability to vote on their behalf. This citizen, called a proxy voter, may also choose to delegate their vote and any votes that have been delegated to them to another citizen. Votes on any issue can be recalled at any time, and voters can choose to delegate their votes to different people depending on the type of issue at hand.
This is facilitated using the National Legislation System (民国立法系统, Mínguó Lìfǎ Xìtǒng), a computer network that can be accessed on the web, via a mobile app, or even at an in-person voting center. In the early days of The Democracy’s history, this was handled entirely via in-person voting centers and an extensive bureaucracy, and as a result, the vast majority of votes were cast via proxy voters. However, as internet access has spread through the population, the proportion of proxy votes on new laws has decreased considerably.
A bill is passed into law two weeks after at least 30% of eligible votes have been cast on the issue and a majority of those votes are yea votes. If the bill no longer meets these conditions before the end of the two-week time period, the timer resets.
There are two ways a law can be repealed. The first way is through a bill written to specifically repeal the old law. The second, less straightforward way is for the law to no longer meet the requirements to be considered a law. Citizens can withdraw their votes from bills at any time. This also means that as citizens die and their votes are removed from the system, laws can be accidentally repealed if there aren’t enough yea votes remaining on the law. Because of this, there are a number of proxy voter services that allow citizens to automatically cast yea votes on laws that make up important parts of The Democracy’s government.
The first time this happened, laws that lost voter support were repealed instantly, and, as a result, proxy voting became technically illegal for two weeks. Because of this, laws that lose voter support must lose their support for two consecutive weeks before they are fully repealed.
Many people argue that the lack of a formal head of state and the inherent instability of diplomacy by vote is a disadvantage on the world stage, but so far, resistance to the idea of an elected head of state is extremely strong. As a result, other countries wishing to draw up a treaty with The Democracy need to establish a connection with a citizen willing to propose the treaty as a new law, and then somehow convince the nation to vote for it.

11
Diplomacy and Events / Council On Izhitsan Aid
« on: June 27, 2020, 07:56:11 PM »
In typical Izhitsan fashion, the letter arrived with enough stamps to make a philatelist swoon. Izhitsa's postmen charge a high but fair price, considering the dangers of traversing Izhitsa and the amount of foreign currency required to get a letter mailed internationally. And for a letter like this, you're willing to pay anything.

Formal Invitation to Izhitsan Aid Conference

To whom it may concern,

Izhitsa welcomes the many offers of aid it has received from, among others, Achkaerin, Fleur, and Clysperis. So that some order may be maintained in the disbursement of such aid in Izhitsa's carefully-balanced situation, we now invite delegates from countries willing to aid us in our plight to participate in a conference to organise this aid. Delegates will arrive at Hrada Airport and will be given police escort to the New Generation Tower, which will provide accommodation and meeting place for the duration of the conference. Live translators are available for speakers of Fleuroix, English, Latin, and Parthian.
The Provisional Government of Izhitsa is genuinely trying to leave a lasting, positive legacy on Izhitsa, and hopes that with your help, we can bring Izhitsa safely into a new era.

Signed,
Antek Dzhavid, High Lord of Yach
Matvey Karamovo, Chairman of Izhitska Ednota.



OOC: This is specifically targeted to Achkaerin, Fleur, and Clysperis, who have offered food aid to Izhitsa due to the ongoing food crisis, but feel free to join in if your country is concerned about the issue.

12
Vignettes / Welcome to Izhitsa
« on: February 05, 2020, 10:26:26 PM »
This is the thread for Izhitsan vignettes. Table of contents arriving once there's actually a reason to add a table of contents.

13
The letter arrived without much fanfare. It must have looked ratty, next to all of those fancy letters with their envelopes and their printed lettering. The sheer weight of the stamps attached to the thing would have made a philatelist gasp in envy. Sending international mail in Izhitsa is expensive, especially when they know you can afford it. And if you’re a High Lord, well, would you like to look at our premium options?


Imperator Magnus Aurelius,

As a fellow re-emerging power, we understand how much of a struggle it can be to find friends in the international community, especially long after all of your former friends have abandoned you. You are no doubt keenly aware of the power of having faithful allies on the world stage.
We believe that Dragovah and Izhitsa would mutually benefit from open and friendly diplomatic communications, not just as military allies, but as trading partners and associates on the world stage.
We would like to prove to you that Izhitsa will be a valuable ally to Dragovah through the coming decades. We propose to send a delegation to Drovah which will properly explain the benefits of a blossoming friendship and a permanent embassy with a rising power such as Izhitsa.

With High Regards,
High Lord Antek Dzhavid
Chairman Matvey Karamovo
Izhitsan Provisional Government


Looking at it now, it’s rather a short letter to be using so many stamps, but since the value of the revna is so low, maybe the provisional government was just trying to get rid of their spare low-value stamps. Or perhaps the mail courier was just a really smooth talker. After all, one doesn’t simply walk into Dragovah. You have to declare your cheeses first.

14
Press Offices / Press Office of Izhitsa
« on: January 12, 2020, 05:20:25 AM »
Regarding the Formation of a Provisional Government
The First Committee of Izhitska Ednota and the Parliament of Yach officially declare the Constitution of the Federation of Izhitsa null and void. In the coming year, Izhitska Ednota and the Yach Governate will be forming a provisional government, using their military forces to keep order in Izhitsa while a new Constitution is drafted.

FAQ:
1) Isn't this illegal?
Yes.
However, because of Izhitsa’s current situation, any effective government would be illegal. Under Article 10 of the former constitution, all legislation must be approved by a monarch of the Zhemislovtsy dynasty, inheriting by male-preference primogeniture. As the royal family was hunted down by the nationalists during the civil war, there are no living candidates for this position.
The only solution we have is to create a new constitution that reflects the challenges Izhitsa faces in the modern world.

2) Why not amend the old constitution?
Under Article 24 of the former constitution, a two-thirds vote in both the Shekhtichka Rada and the Lidova Rada, followed by approval from the reigning monarch, can amend the constitution. As the monarchy no longer exists, and the current members of both Radas were all murdered by the nationalists, this is a rather difficult thing to do!

3) What gives Yach and Izhitska Ednota the authority to form a provisional government?
In the early stages of the civil war, both Yach and Izhitska Ednota pledged their support for the legitimate government. As a result of the war, they already effectively govern Izhitsa and are thus the most capable hands for forming a government.

4) What will the provisional government be doing?
The primary goal of the provisional government will be to draft a new constitution and begin the reconstruction of Izhitsa and her place in the world. Funds are already being drawn for badly-needed road repairs in Ved, which will greatly alleviate economic difficulties in the area.
Also, in the coming weeks, the Izhitsan government will re-enter international treaties that it left under the nationalists, including the Commonwealth Treaty, the Mundus Convention of Human Rights, and the Fair Seas Concordat.

For more information, visit reconstruction.gov.izh.

15
Character Guides / Who's Who in Izhitsa
« on: January 03, 2020, 01:59:27 AM »
Some OOC notes:
This nation is meant to feel stuck in the past. That's why I'm using historical pictures.
Most of these characters use pictures of people I based them on in some way. If you're curious about any of them, feel free to send me a PM.

Matvey Karamovo
RolesChairman of Izhitska Ednota
Supreme Commander of the Armies of Izhitska Ednota
Year of birth1987: Tureno
EducationPartial high school education, ended at age 16 after a "revolutionary expropriation" at a bank went awry and landed him in jail
Positions HeldSergeant Major in Izhitsan Federal Army, 2007-2010
Director of Kherhorod Union of Metalworkers, 2012-2015
Assistant Chairman of Izhitska Ednota, 2015-2016
Commander of United Kherhorod Division, 2016
Supreme Commander of the Armies of Izhitska Ednota, 2016-present
FamilyLana Kapichka-Mother
Svatoslav Karamovo(d)-Father
Tamara Karamova-Sister
Mira Karamova(d)-Sister
Links to Important events?Led Izhitska Ednota to victory over nationalist factions in the Izhitsan Civil War.
BiographyMatvey Karamovo has lived a varied life. A scheming communist revolutionary, a devoted Izhitsan soldier, a resolute union boss, Karamovo has drifted from role to role as his life has taken him. His fiery rhetoric, worker's background, and military service made him an easy symbol of the revolution during the Izhitsan Civil War, especially once his armies began inflicting defeat after defeat against the nationalists.
Despite being the face of Izhitska Ednota, many in the organisation are troubled by his social conservatism and hardline communist economics. Many suspect that his ideology is far less defined than he would have people believe, and that his efforts to rebuild Izhitsan society now that the war has ended will end in his undoing.

16
Factbooks and Maps / The Federation of Izhitsa
« on: January 02, 2020, 05:10:03 AM »

Motto:- Together for peace
National Anthem:- Where My Home Is (Kde domov muy)

BACKGROUND

Following a civil war against nationalist rebels, Izhitsa finds itself dominated by the military forces of a minority ethnic group and a communist party, both with lukewarm attitudes towards the new constitution drafted by officials only allowed to be elected due to public pressure.

Half of the country is occupied by Izhitsan Unity (aka Izhitska Ednota, or the IE), a leftist popular front led by hardline communist Matvey Karamovo. The other half is occupied by the forces of Yach, a province of Izhitsa with a culture unrelated to the rest of Izhitsa. The victory has brought with it its own troubles. The royal family, once integral to the constitution, lie in mass graves, along with the hundreds of thousands of Yachese murdered by the nationalists. All that remains of Izhitsa’s former anti-nationalist parliamentarians are a roomful of ashes. IE and Yach joined the war on condition of receiving favorable concessions from Parliament once the war ended, but seem to have gained little in the new constitution. How either party will proceed is anyone's guess. Meanwhile, a new generation of politicians is rising, united by a demand for renewed democratic rule after years of conflict.

Until the new constitution is ratified, Izhitsa operates as a dual state. Federal government positions are filled with a representative from both Yach and the IE. Naturally, this makes foreign relations somewhat painful.
The constitutional committee, the Federal Assembly, is composed of officials elected under the auspices of the provisional government. The Federal Assembly ostensibly holds absolute legal power over Izhitsa, but real power lies with Yach and Izhitska Ednota, who operate on a careful balance between independence and unity. Yach has implemented a parliamentary democracy similar to the previous government, whereas the IE has begun to organise society along communistic lines.

Government Type:-
In Yachese occupation zone: Parliamentary democracy
In IE occupation zone: Single-party communist state
Population:-:- 50 million Izhitsans
Capital City:- Hrabohrada (343000), often referred to as just Hrada
Demonym:- Izhitsan


ECONOMY

Currency:- Revna
GDP per Capita:- ₽110000, about 5500 USD
Unemployment Rate:- 35%
Main Industries:- Manufacturing, arms trade, mining.


PEOPLE
The following statistics are based on a census from before the civil war. Actual statistics may vary. Izhitsans were given the opportunity to declare their ethnicity and language as Izhitsan, Ved, Kher, Shta, Dzel, Yachese, or Other.
Standard Izhitsan was created in 1874 from a dialect of Ved. While the regions of Izhitsa retain their individual identities and dialects of Izhitsan, many Izhitsans have begun to adopt a pan-Izhitsan, rather than regionalist identity.
Both Izhitsan and Yachese are written in Cyrillic. However, there is also a Yachese alphabet, which has largely fallen out of favor due to repression by the Izhitsan government.
Ethnicity:- 4% Izhitsan, 15% Shta, 17% Dzel, 23% Ved, 17% Kher, 24% Yachese, 3% Other
Primary Language:- 14% Izhitsan, 15% Shta, 13% Dzel, 21% Ved, 14% Kher, 22% Yachese, 1% Other
Religions:- 94% Izhitsan Orthodox Christianity, 6% Other
Average Life Expectancy:- 72 years


GOVERNMENT

Head of State:-
In Yach occupation zone: Antek Dzhavid
In IE occupation zone: Commander Matvey Karamovo
Head of Government:-
In Yach occupation zone: Tadar Hamady
In IE occupation zone: Anton Brazda
Name of Legislative Body:- Federal Assembly




HISTORY

Modern Izhitsa finds its origins in the Rus crusader state of Ved, established in the mid-1300s during the Izhitsan Crusade. Through conquest, the dukes of Ved established counties over the other modern-day regions of Izhitsa: Kher, Dzelo, Shta, and Yach. Each of these regions grew their own dialects and identities, while Izhitsa fractured and reunited repeatedly until the 19th century.
By 1600, Rus settlement had crowded out most of the native Izhitsans. The only surviving native Izhitsan ethnic group is the Yachese, who make up the majority of the region of Yach.
In 1824, Izhitsa united under Duke Stanimir Zhemislovtsy of Ved, who crowned himself king in 1826. Stanimir I established the constitutional monarchy which became Izhitsa's longest-lasting united government. This government gave considerable authority to regional governments and created a bicameral parliament. The upper house, the Shekhtichka Rada, consisted of hereditary nobles, and the lower house, the Lidova Rada, consisted of elected officials. New national legislation had to pass through both houses and be signed by the king. The king also had the power to propose a referendum, which would be binding if two-thirds of the population vote to pass the law.
Despite the unprecedented reform, the power of the largely conservative nobility remained largely untouched. Though the nobles of Ved, Kher, and Yach eventually introduced regional parliaments, the nobility still retained hereditary power to govern. In 1894, Dushan II attempted to replace the nobility with elected officials by referendum. Unfortunately, due to a campaign of confusion and intimidation initiated by the nobility, the measure failed.
By the 1990s, the rigidity of the government had led to extreme economic stagnation. A banking crisis in 1991 led to the rise of Izhitsa for Izhitsans (Izhitsa pro Izhitsi, IPI), a far-right party bent on replacing the current order with an ultra-nationalist, corporatist state. The collapse of the Revna in 1996, followed by a Communist-aligned mutiny in the Navy, led to a purge of the military and its domination by far-right nationalists. By 2013, IPI had such an alarming degree of support that King Boleslav introduced a referendum to attempt to ban the party. However, before a vote could be held, the nationalists in the military rose up, pledging support for Izhitsa for Izhitsans, executing the royal family, and swiftly taking over Ved. Dissenting parliamentarians established a provisional government in Dzelo, while labor unionists in Kher and regionalists in Yach pledged their support in exchange for favorable concessions after the war. However, the nationalists quickly swept into Dzelo, executing every member of the provisional government.
Despite their rapid rise to power, the nationalists lost for two reasons. First, they spent a significant portion of their resources hunting down and murdering Yachese people within Ved and Dzelo. Because racial hatred was one of the basic foundations of IPI, they spent almost as much effort on their genocide campaign as the war itself.
The second reason they lost the war was due to a lack of materiel. The Izhitsan military relied heavily on factories and mines in Kher. Izhitsan trade unionists, led by Matvey Karamovo, an on-again off-again revolutionary, blocked these supplies.
After several successful campaigns against the nationalists, the trade unionists united Kher under the banner of Izhitska Ednota, a leftist revolutionary organisation. Meanwhile, Yach assembled a military from former Yachese members of the Izhitsan military. The war of attrition lasted years, only finishing after a brutal campaign in Northern Ved and fighting in the streets of Hrabohrada itself.
At the end of the war, Yach and Izhitska Ednota promised to transition to a constitutional government quickly. However, their efforts have met with long delays, first due to the failure of the Dochasny Rada to come to agreement on a real constitution despite almost a year of work, and second due to reluctance from the now-cemented governments to change the status-quo. Yach and Izhitska Ednota now lie on a terrifying standoff, between each other, internal factions, and even with the people of Izhitsa itself.

17
International News Networks / Izhitsan News Networks
« on: January 02, 2020, 05:07:25 AM »

Fascist Insurgency Totally Defeated, Says IE Chief
Yulia Tancheva
01 Jan 2020

Hrabohrada - A coalition force of Yach and Izhitska Ednota troops have claimed final victory in a 7-year-long civil war against a military-back nationalist coup, says Matvey Karamovo, head of the IE paramilitary forces. Long after the defeat of government forces in 2016, the communist IE and the regionalist Yach governate have successfully retaken Hrabohrada, the historical capital of Izhitsa. Spokesmen for Yach and Izhitska Ednota say that this symbolic victory gives them the chance to begin making real changes to improve Izhitsa. Talks have already begun to introduce a new currency to replace the Revna, which has experienced severe inflation since the war began.
Matvey Karamovo stated that they plan to form a provisional government with the Yach governate until a new constitution could be drafted, adding that the previous constitution “has failed catastrophically.” In the meantime, Izhitska Ednota and Yach have drawn up what critics call occupation zones. Antek Dzhavid, the High Lord of Yach, denies these allegations. “We are simply dividing the task of administration over such a large and diverse area,” he said in a statement this morning. “This is a simple solution which will ensure peace in Izhitsa.” When asked whether he was afraid of handing over control to the communist IE, Dzhavid stated, “Izhitska Ednota have proven their commitment to democracy through blood and steel.”

More on this story as it develops.

18
Introductions / Visit Scenic Izhitsa!
« on: May 06, 2019, 03:26:03 AM »
You accidentally click on an ad sporting the name of a country you’ve never heard of. It takes you to a website that appears to have been designed with great loving care by someone permanently stuck in the early 2000s. Against your better judgement, you read it.

Top five misconceptions about visiting Izhitsa:

1) It’s dangerous.
While Izhitsa experienced a brief twelve-year civil war, the nation is now secure again under the watchful eyes of the Izhitsa Volunteer Security Force. There’s no need to worry with the fine members of the IVSF keeping you out of harm’s way!

2) It’s undemocratic.
While the provisional government of Izhitsa was not elected, it is currently in the process of establishing free elections in which every citizen can participate without interference. By visiting Izhitsa you indirectly help this to happen by supporting our local economy!

3) There’s no variety.
Izhitsa is a diverse nation accepting of many nations and cultures. In fact, each of the Federated States has their own unique culture, complete with their own distinctive traditions cuisines and dialects. No matter where you go, there’s always something different!

4) There’s no cell service.
While cell towers and other communications networks were severely damaged during the civil war, they have been almost entirely restored through the efforts of the provisional government. No matter where you are in Izhitsa, communication is a breeze!

5) There’s nothing to do there.
From the ancient cities of Vedi, to the scenic landscapes of Shta, to the warm beaches of Kher, Izhitsa has something for every traveller. So why not check out one of several government-approved vacation plans?

Paid for by the Izhitsa Tourism Board. Learn more at visit.gov.iz.

You wonder how much copywriters get paid that the Izhitsa Tourism Board. Apparently not enough to care.

Izhitsa recently exited a long civil war between supporters of a democratically elected government and supporters of a fascist paramilitary disappointed in their party's election results. It came as somewhat of a surprise, then, when the civil war was won by the communist Izhitsa Unity Front, which had enjoyed little support beforehand.
Izhitsa was never a very wealthy country, and the civil war has not helped things. However, the IUF, under the leadership of Matviy Karamovo, knows that they can turn things around. Of course, that's assuming they can stay in power. With demands for free and open elections growing, it's uncertain how long they can postpone fulfilling their promise to allow the people to choose their government.
Meanwhile, tensions are still high from the civil war, especially in the state of Yach, which declared independence during the war and seems to miss it dearly. And the IUF aren't convinced that fascist sentiment has disappeared either, a fear made worse by the inability of their security forces to enforce the rule of law in the mountainous state of Shta.
As the provisional government begins to look increasingly permanent, international observers worry that violence might once again break out, reversing any progress made since the war.

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