Official Factbook of the Halcyon Empire

Roleplay Library OOC RP Library
,
1

[spoiler]! - Important Disclaimer About This Factbook - !
This factbook is designed to serve as an introductory piece for my primary roleplaying entity in http://www.nationstates.net/region=The_East_Pacific,
the Halcyonic Empire of Greater Massuica, or simply http://www.nationstates.net/nation=Masuicca for short.

Though I will attempt to establish a certain measure of consistency in the information presented herein,
some discrepancies may arise due to collaborative accommodations with other players or changes in the regional community.

Please feel free to use the layout of this factbook at your leisure, and reference the information on Masuicca as needed.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns about the information presented, please do not hesitate to http://www.nationstates.net/nation=Masuicca![/spoiler]
[hr]
https://i.imgur.com/3XqKndr.png

  • THE CALL OF MASUIC -
    “We are the Remnant of a halcyon era gone by; the keepers of eternity.
    We tread where mortals dare not trek, and we fight where the strongest of men cower in dread panic.
    The recreancy of the weak is our sustenance; the blood of our foes our sacrifice; the lamentations
    of the conquered, our treasure. Hail the victorious of Masuicca, for they are numerous, and they are great.
    Glory to the slain, for their sinew paves the way to Paradise!”

- Nenin a Kron, The Arbaul Kizrosh, Canon I, Book IV, Ode 45

The Halcyonic Empire of Greater Massuica (Ascotian: Hacyii Arnas a Belgaer Masuiccai[halsee armoz ol bil’gair maswea’ka]), known colloquially as the Halcyon Empire or http://www.nationstates.net/nation=Masuicca, is a theocratic monarchy and territorial empire located in http://www.nationstates.net/region=the_east_pacific. The capital of the country is located in the Ascotian city of Celestus, though its true seat of power lie thirty miles south at the Imperial Palace, Auhzal Lau; it’s largest city is Aesa Hanne, Ascotia. The empire is comprised of four primary districts, with the consolidation of power based around the largest and most populous of these, Ascotia. The remaining three territories, former client states absorbed into the Empire - Akadia, Andalucia and Basira - account for roughly thirty percent of the land area in Masuicca, and approximately a quarter of the overall population. The country also possesses smaller international territories, largely through its primary economic consortium or its national military forces. The diversity of Masuicca’s topography, along with its cultural diversity and eclectic fauna and flora make it a diverse state within the larger region.

Significant academic and archaeological contention exists as it pertains to the origin of the Masuiccan people, though the most pervasive theory as of 2017 ascribes the origin to a highly-advanced, paleo-indigenous seafaring culture who first appear in the archaeological record around 20,000 years ago. It is believed that the arrival of these first peoples, the ancestral progenitors of the Calumeti peoples contributed to the strong maritime tradition in the area dating back to the early ancient period. Ascotti mariners followed the ancient Calumeti to the region around 10,000 years ago, though it is believed that significant cultural exchanges between other ethnic groups on the continent played a larger role in the development of the Ascotian culture than it did the Calumeti. The Andalucians (to whom the Altamir owe their existence) would arrive several centuries later, establishing trading colonies in the north, leading quickly to increased tension with their southern neighbors. The first nine millennia of Masuiccan history would see constant infighting and tenuous, fragile alliances between the four major states.


Niras Col, a national heritage site and archaeological research zone near Aesa Hanne, Ascotia.

The beginning of the Empire traces its roots to the rise of Krol Masuic (1698-1775 CE), a brutal warlord who was renowned among the four states for his ‘all-seeing’ oracle, the mysterious Neithriel of Celestus. Through the guidance of Neithriel, Masuic quickly consolidated his claim as Sovereign King over the Ascotian city-states, then began to expand his influence over Andalucia and Calumet, who had been greatly diminished in materiel strength after enduring the virulent Plague of Articas in the first years of the 18th Century CE. The pandemic had reduced the Andalucian population by almost a third, and in some communities more than sixty percent of Akadian and Basiran citizens would perish. Taking advantage of his weakened enemies, Masuic quickly brought the rival states to heel under his grip, forging the genesis of the Halcyonic Dynasty that would reign over them for the next three hundred years. Both the name ‘Masuicca’ and the central religion of the Empire - Neithrienism - owe their heritage to Masuic and his reign: much of the Empire’s canon of laws date back to the reign of Masuic and his first heirs.

Today, the Halcyonic Empire boasts a highly developed mixed economy, with its dirigisme policies contributing to rapid modernization of the country’s agricultural and industrial economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Through the country’s exercise of international investments via its national joint-stock consortium Thandis Wel, Masuicca has become a major proponent of limited state capitalism and neomercantilism. Despite its vast economic growth, social inequality remains high in Masuicca, and financial mobility for the poorest citizens remains limited. Much of the nation’s political power is vested in a small, but powerful aristocracy, though supreme authority has remained exclusively under the auspices of the Imperial throne. The current Taethon of Masuicca is Her Grace the Empress Calyca Meidl IX of House Rikka-Roskam (b. 1976); she ascended to the throne upon the death of her father Malchius III in 1999. The current head of the national government, the Aegion or Chamberlain is the Honourable Draven Milas Lothridge (b. 1968), serving his fifth consecutive term in the position of Chamberlain.

[spoiler]https://i.imgur.com/ZvuVpGl.png?2
NATIONAL FLAG OF THE HALCYONIC EMPIRE:


NATIONAL CREST OF THE HALCYONIC EMPIRE:

Official Country Name:
The Halcyonic Empire of Greater Masuicca (Hacyii Arnas a Belgaer Masuiccai)

National Motto of the Halcyonic Empire:
“Virtus et Labor” (Virtue and Labor)

National Anthem of the Halcyonic Empire:

Capital City of the Halcyonic Empire:
The Imperial Capital of Celestus

Largest City of the Halcyonic Empire:
Aesa Hanne, Ascotia

National Demonym:
Masuiccan (formal), Halcyonian (informal)

National Population:
32,592,813

Largest Ethnic Group:
Ascotian (77.3%)

Recognized Minority Groups:
Andalucian (11.7%), Akadian (6.4%), Basiran (2.1%)

Official State Religion:
Neithrienism

Official State Language:
Ascotian

System of Governance:
Theocratic Monarchy and Territorial Empire

Head of State:
Her Grace the Empress Calyca Meidl IX

Head of Government:
Chamberlain Draven Lothridge

National Currency:
Amestri ($A)

GDP (nominal):
TBD[/spoiler]

[hr]
FACTBOOK DIRECTORY AND TOPIC INDEX

http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034806

[edit_reason]Added Directory[/edit_reason]

2

Though the first Taethon had insisted on christening his new Empire Greater Ascotia, regents of his territory were quick to rename the dominion after Krol Masuic. The first recorded appearances of the term Masuicca date to the late-9th Century CE, when traders and merchants would address Ascotian ports as Masuicasland. By the time Krol’s great-granddaughter Erilyn came to power, the Ascotian title Masuicca had entered the national lexicon as the realm to which the Ascotians claimed dominion. By the 11th Century CE, Masuicca was the common title for the Empire as a whole.

Because the early relations between the Ascotian overlords and their Altamir, Andalucian and Calumeti subjects were rife with violence and cruel repressions, the term Low Masuicca came into parlance as a means of denigrating Celestus’s unruly charges. As relations improved between subject and master, however, the diminutive term fell out of favor within the Empire. As a means of exhibiting inclusion within the framework of the dominion, the phrase Greater Masuicca began to gain traction, particularly in Altamira, where acceptance of Celestusian rule had been more readily-received than in the independent Andalucia and Calumet.

Many scholars mistakenly-attribute the term Halcyonic Empire to Masuic, who was known by the sobriquet “Warrior of Halcyon Days” during his consolidation of power in Ascotia-proper. In reality, the term ‘Halcyonic Empire’ was first coined by Jaran I (1421-1470), the first Taethon of the House of Marakai. Much was made about the five hundred-year anniversary of the first Taethon’s death, and the first Emperor not to have descended from his lineage had created a minor scandal within Jaran’s court. To compensate, he ordered all official decrees to address his realm as the ‘Halcyonic Empire’ as a means of creating a spiritual connection between Masuic’s lineage and the new lineage now sitting upon the Throne of Auhzal Lau in Celestus.

A citizen of the Halcyon Empire of Greater Masuicca is known as a Masuiccan, and this demonym applies as an adjective descriptor of the various manifestations out of the Empire (i.e. Masuiccan Culture, Masuiccan Cuisine, Masuiccan Music). Though early citizens of the Empire in the subjugated territories would sometimes address themselves as Altamir, Andalucian or Calumeti Imperials, this designation has faded over time as the distinction between the four states of the realm have faded. However, for purposes of identification, ethnicities are still identified (i.e. Altamir Masuiccan, Andalucian Masuiccan, Ascotian Masuiccan, Calumeti Masuiccan).

[hr]
FACTBOOK DIRECTORY AND TOPIC INDEX

http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034782 | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new[edit_reason]Added Directory[/edit_reason]

3

The climate and geography of Masuicca is as varied as the cultural richness of the nation itself, with each region of the country experiencing its own unique climate models, fauna and flora, geographic features and weather patterns. The first serious scientific endeavor to categorize the uniqueness of the Masuiccan landscape and its variable conditions was conducted by Dr. Qinian Jouns (1481-1553) as part of a Celestusian initiative to create a national codex of information on the Halcyonic Empire from region to region. The result was the first nationally-sponsored encyclopedia of Masuiccan information, the Halcyonis Crypa, which became the foundation for scientific discovery and research in Greater Masuiccan society for the next two centuries, and upon which modern Masuiccan Climatology would soon develop.

A.) THE CLIMATE OF MASUICCA
Masuicca possesses a tropical climate, owing to its proximity in the lower latitudes. Much of the country falls under the tropical monsoon climate classification, receiving upwards of 1,000 millimeters of precipitation per month during the summer Monsoon season. Much of Masuicca, including all of the central plains and the southern highlands average a median temperature above 18 °C year-round; however, there can be wildly-divergent temperature averages depending on location and, more specifically, altitude. It is not uncommon for the temperatures during the winter months to remain warm and humid in the lowlands, but approach the freezing mark at the higher elevations. Though the country’s mountainous terrain is dominated by rainforests, small swaths of conifer forest exist above 1,800 meters.

1248×723 18.1 KB

(CLICK MAP FOR ENHANCED VIEW)
Masuiccan weather is largely driven by prevailing winds from the west, driving warm, moist air through most of the country’s lowlands and foothill regions. The extreme-eastern and northeastern border regions of the country tend to be drier due to the mountainous terrain’s moderating influence on moisture, and thus enjoys a climate much more similar to the neighboring Caliphate to the east than it does with the remainder of the Halcyonic Empire. Even so, precipitation remains fairly consistent with the changing seasons even in the east, as summers tend to be long, humid and moist with shorter, drier winters. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Masuicca occurred in this border region near the town of Teavul, with a record high of 48.3 °C registered back in 1988 (the lowest temperature was recorded at Cravis Peak in January 1931 at -30.5 °C.

B.) THE GEOGRAPHY OF MASUICCA
Information coming soon.


Nalas Sor Park near Luollond is sometimes known as the ‘Gateway to Ascotia’.

C.) THE WILDLIFE OF MASUICCA
Information coming soon.

[hr]
FACTBOOK DIRECTORY AND TOPIC INDEX

http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034782 | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034806[edit_reason]Added Directory[/edit_reason]

4

Throughout its history as a geopolitical and sociocultural entity in NationStates | The East Pacific, the Halcyonic Empire of Greater Masuicca has eschewed conventional economic thought in favor of utilizing unorthodox constructs which have not only made it an historical outlier comparative to other Empires of the Ancient period, but also made it appear both as having possessed an antiquated economic model and a progressive, forward-thinking system of finance depending on the era. These unorthodox constructs have also helped ensure the fiscal solvency and general prosperity of Greater Masuicca, at the cost of rising social inequality and the stratification of a powerful new aristocratic oligarchy that exercises heavy influence over the government of the state. This confluence of divergent factors, in keeping with the religious virtues of the Neithrien faith system that dominates the cultural development of Masuicca, has made the Halcyonic Empire a unique economic engine to study within the larger region, to say nothing of the drive by scholars to understand how their unique system works, and how it could be amended to solve deliberate problems.

The Halcyonic Empire of Greater Masuicca is classified as a mixed economy, with the strong influences of Dirigsme policies, Neithrien fiscal values, Neomercantilism and State Capitalism driving the amalgamated system since its first adoption following the Panic of 1885. This system, relying heavily on agriculture and forestry, the natural resources of the country and petroleum production has created a sharp division between the poorer agrarian north and the wealthier, more-industrious south. It has also provided the means for Economic Diversification beginning in the early-20th Century, as the national consortium Thandis Wel was reconstituted into an international investment brokerage working as a fulcrum for national investment in foreign corporations and industry. As a result of this unique government program, successful foreign investments began to funnel billions into the Masuiccan economy, allowing for greater expenditures on infrastructure improvements and increased economic diversification, both of which contributed to overall-increases in the national gross domestic product while deepening the oligarchy’s hold on political power.

A.) ECONOMIC SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Information coming soon.

B.) ECONOMIC POLICY IN MASUICCA, 1885 - PRESENT
Information coming soon.

C.) NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE
Information coming soon.

D.) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Information coming soon.

E.) OTHER MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Information coming soon.

F.) THE THANDIS WEL CONSORTIUM
Information coming soon.

G.) TAXATION AND CORPORATE PROTECTIONISM
Information coming soon.

H.) BANKING IN THE HALCYONIC EMPIRE
Information coming soon.

I.) SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN MASUICCA
Information coming soon.

[hr]
FACTBOOK DIRECTORY AND TOPIC INDEX

http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034782 | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/#new | http://forum.theeastpacific.com/topic/7016347/1/?x=0#post10034806