Factbook of Thalria

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Basic Information
[ul][li]Formal name: The Republic of Thalria (De Republik auf Thalrie in Thalrian)
[li]Motto: “Free and United” (“Fry und Furenigd” in Thalrian)
[li]Anthem: ‘This great land’ (‘Dë grot land’ in Thalrian)
[li]Capital (and largest city): Isenborg
[li]Language: Thalrian
[li]Population: 12,400,000
[li]Density: /km²
[li]Ethnic group: Thalrian
[li]Religion: Thalrian Church
[li]Currency: Kirib (1.17 KRB = 1 SHD)
[li]GDP: 355 billion KRB
[li]GDP per capita: 28,665 KRB
[li]Area: km²
[li]Abbreviation: TLR[/li][/ul]

Summary

The Republic of Thalria is a landlocked country located on the Auroran continent and surrounded by former nations of Ethalria on the north and west, Kostromastan to the east and Tuvaltastan to the south.

Thalria has been inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years by hominids. It lies at the confluence of the east and west Auroran civilisations, with its culture being heavily influenced by the Morstaybishlian and Kostuvan people. It formed part of the Grand Matriarchy of Ethalria for centuries. When the latter state was partitioned following the end of the Auroran Pacific War, the Republic of Thalria was proclaimed in a referendum held in late November 2017.

Its political system is founded on multiparty democracy. It is helmed by President Gertrude Amaliadotter as head of state and government and commander of the armed forces. The elected Folksting forms the law making body. An independent judiciary is helmed by the Supreme Court. The Conservative Party is the largest party following the December 2017 elections. Female dominance in politics and underrepresentation of men continue to be pervasive issues.

The nation is aligned with the policies of the United Kingdom, its largest trading partner. It hosts a large number of Morstaybishlian manpower and bases. Its military is formed of two branches (air and army). It relies on a 7 billion KRB budget and a manpower of 130,000 soldiers. Men are permitted to serve, although they constitute a minority in the force and their roles are limited.

The economy contracted significantly during the Auroran Pacific War to 355 billion KRB and a per capita of 26,000 KRB. The economy largely relies on grains, dairy and meat, financial services, information technology, coal mining, and heavy industry. Gender equality remains a problem, as women dominate management and earn more than men.

The country has an temperate climate. It snows in winter and rains in summer. There are forests in the north, wetlands in the south, grassland in the south east, and mountains in the southwest. The tallest mountain is Mount Friga and longest river is the Vena River.

Contents

1. Etymology
2. History
3. Geography
4. Politics
5. Foreign Relations
6. Military
7. Demographics
8. Culture
9. Economy

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Etymology

The name of Thalria, in either Staynish or Thalrian, is derived from the same root: Thalana. Thalana was a semilegendary heroine who saved her people from a mythical beast and founded a small kingdom that soon mushroomed and absorbed smaller tribes to form Ethalria. Following the partition of Ethalria, the country came to be known as Thalria.

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History

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Geography

As with nearly 73% of the Urth’s surface, Sedimentary rock - Wikipedia forms the primary rock of the country. It is formed from layers of sediment that build up and harden over time. Organic and inorganic matter accrue and form the minerals that exist in the ground, the most common of which are iron, nickel, copper, tin and lead which often occur in ionic compounds such as iron oxide or copper sulphate. Their widespread availability has formed the basis of the mining and, by extension, manufacturing sectors of the economy.

The country is divided into and main biomes: forest, grassland, wetland, and mountain. The forests cover nearly 70% of the country, but are particular dense in the north. The most common woody trees are pine trees such as the longleaf (or Pinus palustris), shortleaf (or Pinus echinata), and loblolly (or Pinus taeda). Others such as oak (and other members of the beech or Fagaceae family), redwood, and (more scarcely) teak, mahogany and ebony occur as well. Deforestation for housing and agriculture is a major problem due to the delicate ecosystems that are sustained in this biome.

The nation has an average elevation of 560 metres or 1,860 feet. The southwest is mountainous. The Kastel Mountains form the longest and largest mountain range, where the tallest mountain, Mount Amalia, has a height of 2,100 m or 7007 ft. This area has an alpine climate. Snow covers much of the area for large parts of the year, while permanent glaciers exist at the summits.

The south and south east form a highland that is largely made up of grassland. The high elevation, acidic soil and cold temperatures restrict the formation of well developed forest networks. The Vena River Basin forms an area low elevation in a diagonal from the southeast to the north west of the country. This is a catchment area for much of the precipitation of the country. This area has a high humidity and fertile soil that facilitates the growth of numerous endemic plants such as the Hershey’s cliff daisy, a rare perennial plant of the Chaetopappa hersheyi - Wikipedia[/url species).

The wetlands are a fairly small, making up only 4% of the area, but a prominent feature of the southeastern part of the country. The land remains waterlogged for almost the whole year, probably as a result of the drainage of water from the south east highlands via the Aster River system.

Biodiversity

Deer are ruminants of the family Deer - Wikipedia. They form the largest and most diverse population of the class Mammal - Wikipedia within the extant boundaries of Thalria. Red deer (or Red deer - Wikipedia), fallow deer (or Dama (genus) - Wikipedia) and elk (or Elk - Wikipedia) are the most populous and widely distributed species. They are popular for their pelts and meat and form the primary diet of the wolves. There are also wild boar (an omnivorous mammal of the Suidae family particularly the Sus scrofa) is prevalent in the north and forms a major source of meat along with its domesticated cousins. They have been known to hunt livestock or eat garbage when food is scarce.

The gray wolf (or Wolf - Wikipedia) is the largest predator by size, distribution and population of any amount. They are hunted for sport and their pelts as well as the fact that they attack livestock and, rarely, people due to human encroachment on their habitats. They also prey on birds, and rabbits and hares (or members of the family Largamorpha).

Ducks (waterbirds of the family Duck - Wikipedia) form the largest family of birds. A variety of species populate rivers and lakes such as the mallard (or Mallard - Wikipedia and mute swan (or Cygnus olor). Some duck species are domesticated and are the most widely consumed fowl after chicken. Pheasants (or Pheasant - Wikipedia), plovers (or Plover - Wikipedia) and larks (or Alaudidae) are also prevalent.

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Politics

The politics of Thalria take place in the framework of a multiparty democratic republic. Although the nation had been occupied and governed as a separate entity from the rest of what once was Ethalria by the United Kingdom, the formal independence of the nation was declared in late November 2017 after a referendum vote of 78%. Furthermore, the UK-written constitution was approved in a referenfum held about a week later by 61% of the population.

The Constitution forms the basis of the political system. It divides the government into three branches, and divides the country into three levels, while also recognising human rights that protect the rights of minorities and males. While this has been a marked advance for democracy in the nation, gender inequality and exclusion of males and minorities continue to be pervasive problems. The legislature has only 27% male representatives and only 10% of cabinet posts are filled by men and none of the “top six” national leaders are male.

The President is the head of state and head of government and commander in chief of the armed forces. This is currently Gertrude Amaliadotter, the leader of the Conservative Party. She has the power to appoint the cabinet, veto laws, dissolve the legislature, declare war and sign treaties. Her policies are pro-Staynish, courting UK investment, supporting its geopolitical interests along with the conditions placed on the nation as a result of its capitulation in the Auroran Pacific War.

The Folksting (or People’s Assembly in Staynish) forms the law making body. In elections held in early December 2017, the Conservative Party won by a comfortable majority of 57% due to its pro-market, and gender and racially inclusive platform. The opposition is divided among the extreme right National Party which opposes male and minority rights, while the leftist Liberal Party supports affirmative action, social welfare and state regulation.

The Supreme Court is at the apex of the largely civil system. The body of law is derived from the Ethalrian system of law. This is prominently seen in procedure such as the presence of a peer-formed jury in the decision-making process. The nation does not observe the principle of stare decisis, but relies on the Lambertian Code. The Lambertian Code is a codified set of laws and rules named after the High King of the United Kingdom, Lambertus VII Constantine. This eliminates the broad-stroke delict with individual torts and refines the concept of consensus ad idem.

The age by which one is an adult is 18. This enables one to vote, own property, get married, have sex, consume alcohol, adopt children and serve in the military. The age by which one can give consent is 14. This enables one to drive a car, and consent to medical treatment. Males received qualified voting rights in 1991, and soms voting rights in 2003, but the right to equal pay, fully equal inheritance, property rights, and custody were granted in 2017.

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Foreign Relations

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Military

The Thalrian National Military is made up of the Thalrian National Air Forces and the Thalrian National Army. The military is under civilian control. It is commanded by the President on the advice of the Secretary of Defence. The military has a manpower of 130,000 soldiers. Over two thirds of soldiers are women. The military is financed by a budget of 7 billion KRB from the national government.

The Thalrian National Army is equipped with the Leopard 2 - Wikipedia main battle tank with a weight of 62 tonnes and one 20mm Rheinmetall Rh-120 - Wikipedia. The standard issue infantry rifle is the Heckler & Koch HK417 - Wikipedia battle rifle. It is fairly light weight and can be adapted to conventional and urban warfare.

The Thalrian National Air Force makes use of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - Wikipedia as the primary air defence fighter jet. It has developed its air defence around the jet. It consolidates this with the Northrop F-5 - Wikipedia fighter jets. The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar - Wikipedia is the primary utility helicopter, a medium sized helicopter for a diverse range of jobs.

The Thalrian defence capabilities as well as UK support make a land invasion unlikely. The Auroran Pacific War has proven, however, that a well placed defence is not a deterrent for ambitious governments. Thalrian maintains a firm system of fortifications to prevent attacks from Kostromastan. As the country is small, the military cannot fall back in the event of an invasion. As such its capacity for immediate deployment remains a priority by focusing on logistics, emergency preparation drills, personnel training and early warning systems. The Thalrian Military Intelligence is equipped with electronic reconnaissance aircraft to monitor troop movements.

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Demographics

Thalria has a population of 12,400,000 people. The population grows at a rate of 1.5% a year. Infant mortality rates are very low. They hover around 1 out of 1000 babies born every year. Immigration has been low due to restrictive immigration laws, but has increased dramatically as refugees from Kostromastan flooded into the country after the Auroran Pacific War as a result of conditions placed upon Thalria to take in refugees from this country as a result of Ethalrian defeat in the latter war.

The most widely spoken language is Thalrian. Thalrian presents a linguistic conundrum in the sense that it is mutually intelligible with Ethalrian, and is considered to form a dialectic continuum with Ethalrian. The most widely spoken second or third language is Staynish. It is taught in schools and prominent in media. Kostrom and Tuvalt are spoken by communities on the border with Kostromastan and Tuvaltastan, and by immigrants.

The most widely practiced religion is Ethalrian Catholicism. While the religion was less popular in the rest of the country, it is popular in Thalria. The term “Thalrian Church” is misnomer. It does not describe a different denomination, but describes the organisation of the Ethalrian Catholic Church in Thalria. It is practiced by 61% of the population. 25% are irreligious. Some 9% practice Jubliakism, 3% practice Kostrovanianism while 1% practice other religions. In theory the Codexian Pontiff is the head of the church, but in practice it is the Bishopress of Rivendell.

The nation has one of the highest rates of homosexuality in the world with about 9% of the population practicing. Most of these are males. The nation has the highest rates of female to male gender violence in the world. 2,000 cases of violence against men are reported every year. A further 100 murders of men are recorded every year and 173 rapes of men. The nation has the highest rates of male prostitution in the world. 4,300 men work as sex workers. Many of these are Kostrom migrants.

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Culture

The national sports of Thalria is association netball. The Thalrian Netball Association took over the management and organisation of professional netball in the country. The Amalda Netball League is the highest national netball league. Thalrian players have competed in international competitions as part of Ethalria. The second national sport is table tennis.

The music of Thalria is dominated by classical music. Thalrian opera has largely been sung in the Staynish language, but some singers and composers in the Thalrian language have risen to prominence. The absence of male singers has led to the prominence of female contralto singers, which is unique in classical music. The Thalrian school of music has been lauded for its mastery of the violoncello. Electronic dance music and pop music have been popular with the younger generation.

The Thalrian school of art has been dominated by Etharian realism. Ethalrian realism has been characterised by its angular portraiture and naturalist subject matter. Thalrian painters are particular adept at fresco painting. Thalrian art is prominent in state buildings.

Gothic architecture became popular in the former Matriarchal court and came to influence the styles of building in Thalria as well. The vaulted ceilings, buttresses, pronounced eaves and masonry of Gothic architecture feature on various buildings such as palaces, churches and state buildings. Modern architecture reflects the minimalist, cuboidal, glass and concrete building of much of the world.

The fashion of Thalria is similar to most of the clothing of West Aurora. The Ethalrian Matriarchal court influence dress for a long time, and was in turn influenced by the Royal Court of Staynes. This is retained in the corsettes and large gowns worn by women at their weddings and swallowtail jackets that men wear in formal settings. Staynish tweed is popular.

The most popular grain is wheat, used to make pastries and bread, followed by oats, maize, rye and barley. Thalrian spirits are known for their aroma and potency. Whisky, followed by brandy, gin and larger, is popular. Pheasant and duck are popular, as well as venison. The indigenous range of sausages is characterised by a smokey and meaty flavour. Thal pheasant pot pie is a hearty and delicious meal. Thal steak and kidney pie, and Thal mince and cheese pie are favoured foods as well. Thalrian cheeses are notoriously sour and bitter, while butter is infamously rich.

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Society

Within the social norms of Thalria, women have dominated the country for centuries. Women have dominated every aspect of life from art, to politics, to business, to academia. Broader Ethalrian society has juxtaposed the social norms of much of the world. Roles typically played by men are played by women.

Women are considered the heads of households. A husband will take his wife’s surname and their children will receive her surname. A man will be walked down the aisle by his mother on the wedding day. A women will make a wedding proposal to a man. A women will court a man.

Ethalrian Catholicism venerates women and femininity. God is feminised as Goddess, he is referred as she, as Queen instead of King, Lady instead of Lord, Mistress instead of Master. The Virgin Mary is venerated almost as much as Jesus Christ. Priests and bishops are typically women and are referred to as priestesses and bishopresses respectively. Female saints such as St. Mary Magdalene and St. Aiya are venerate more than their male counterparts such as St. Peter and St. Paul.

Education is compulsory for all children from grade one to grade nine. From grades one to three basic skills in language, maths and life skills are taught. Subjects over a broad range of topics are taught from grades three to nine. Classes are gender segregated. From grades nine to twelve students select their own subjects and learners are segregated according to achievement into higher and standard levels. Gender discrimination has been noted in how learners are graded and taught. Higher education is even more unbalanced as women outnumber men in undergraduate places two to one and three to one in postgraduate places. The University of Isenborg is the most prominent institution.

Universal healthcare is available to all people for most basic procedures. Specialised surgeries are paid for by both the state and patient. Medical insurance is paid for by the employer and by the patient equally. Companies can opt out of paying medical insurance if they can demonstrate significant financial loss.

Maternity leave is guaranteed for pregnant women. The law mandates that people should have 30 days leave a year, and work a maximum of 40 hours a week. Anything above that is overtime, but employers are not obliged to allow overtime. Collective bargaining and striking is permissible within certain limits, often favouring the employer. Management positions are generally occupied by women. Most jobs as minimum wage labourers are occupied by men. Women earn more than men and have higher chances of being promoted.

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Economy

Thalria has a free market economy with a GDP of 355 billion KRB and a GDP per capita of 26,665 KRB. This makes it a developed country. The state puts in place regulations to protect human rights, environmental and public health, and promote sustainable development. It also undertakes entrepreneurial activities of its own by providing basic amenities such as electricity, water, sanitation and public housing.

The agricultural sector makes up a tenth of the economy. The largest sources of income are grains, meat and dairy. The mining industry makes up a fifth of the economy. The biggest parts of this sector are coal, iron, nickel and copper. The manufacturing sector makes up another fifth of the economy. This includes heavy machinery and metallurgy. The services sector makes up the remaining half. This includes the financial services, information technology and tourism.

The legacy of a matriarchal system is inequality between genders in wealth, income, access to employment and promotion opportunities. While laws have been put in place, the imbalance has yet to be corrected. The ten richest people are women, the wealthiest of whom is Anna Blomholm who has a portfolio of 2 billion KRB.

The unemployment rate is 8% of the adult population. The consumer price index inflation rate is 12% of the average price. Extreme poverty is rare due to state sponsored healthcare, education, housing and financial grants, as well as subsidies on basic foodstuffs, water and power. The Auroran Pacific War harmed the economy, causing a contraction of 2%.

The Kirib is the legal tender. As the power to issue the currency lies with the Auroran Bank, the newly established Thalrian National Bank acts as a lender of last resort, manages the banking sector and acts as a banker for the state. Thalria is a net borrower of funds. Total debt hovers around 71% of GDP. The trade deficit especially with the UK has widened damaged the liquidity of Thalrian securities and steady pace of debt repayment.

Limited austerity measures, aid and loans from the UK, privatisation and fiscal consolidation of crucial state owned businesses has enabled the country to avoid financial ruin, but has failed to remedy longterm damage done to the economy. The country is on a program to attract investment and encourage entrepreneurship.

The biggest trade partners are the United Kingdom, South Hills, the former Ethalrian states, and Kostromastan. The biggest exports are coal, heavy machinery and foodstuffs. The biggest imports are oil, cars, electronics and high tech equipment. The nation benefits from its location at the nexus of trade paths between different parts Aurora.

Energy is generally made up of coal, then oil and then hydroelectric power on a much smaller scale, over which the Thalrian National Electric has a large sway. The Thalrian National Telecom is the biggest provider of telecommunications. The country has a developed internet network. Roads and rail are the main conduits of travel. A speedy rail sector enables efficient movement of goods and people. Expansion of the transport network has faced some challenges. The biggest airport is the Thalrian International Airport near Isenborg and Thal Air is the flag carrier, formed from fragments of the old Ethalrian Airways.