Lindossë
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| State Motto | Ελευθερια μετα κοσμου | ||||
| • Ingliz | Freedom with order | ||||
| State Anthem | |||||
| • Ingliz | {{{nation_anthem_ingliz}}} | ||||
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| Official language | South Heloan | ||||
| Founding Date | 1917 | ||||
| Government • Type • King |
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| Capital | Lindos | ||||
| Administrative Divisions | 12 provinces | ||||
| Largest City | Ampelos | ||||
| Area • Total • % water |
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| Population • Total • Growth Rate • Density |
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| GDP • Total • GDP/capita • Growth Rate |
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| Currency |
Teska (Ŧ) | ||||
| Time Zones | Miotan Standard Time (AMT -3) | ||||
| Trigraph | LIN | ||||
| Calling Code | +71 | ||||
The Federal Kingdom of Lindossë is a Heloan nation located in south-central Miotus.
Contents |
History
More than two millennia ago, Lindossë was home to the indigenous pre-Heloan Oromo civilization, which collapsed due to the cooling climate of the early first millennium. The area was overrun by proto-Heloan invaders crossing the land bridge from Danetia in the ninth and tenth centuries, and subsequently brought under Antaran rule in the eleventh century.
The territory proved expensive to administer and control, and the Antarans withdrew from most of it shortly after the end of their imperial expansion in 1303. The ensuing “heroic age” of Lindossëan history was marked by ever-changing small kingdoms and the blossoming of Heloan art and song. In this period, the Arkanist faith imported from Antara put down roots in Heloan culture.
The heroic age came to an end with the arrival of the first Persii conquerors in 1775. These conquerors brought much of Lindossë under their rule. But the external threat accomplished what centuries of cultural development had not: the political unification of the area’s kingdoms, in 1917 – the founding of modern Lindossë.
Within fifty years the last Persii holdouts had been defeated. The next century brought great changes to the new state, including industrialization, a shift to a republican form of government, and increasing secularization.
More recently, a movement for a return to more traditional Lindossëan values led to a major constitutional reform in 2094. This reform came at the price of the secession of Lindossë’s largest and most industrialized province, which formed the independent republic of Zophos.
Governance
Lindossë is a constitutional monarchy with a federal system of government. Government powers are constitutionally divided into areas of national (or federal) and provincial jurisdiction, and legislators are democratically elected through universal adult suffrage.
The king has real but limited political power. He receives a fixed proportion of the federal budget to support his constitutional role of protecting and strengthening Lindossë’s parliamentary and educational institutions and providing symbolic leadership to the country. He also has the power to veto laws he deems unconstitutional (although this can be overridden by a 75% majority in the two legislative houses), and he takes an active informal role in Lindossëan politics and foreign affairs though his frequent meetings with the Prime Minister and other officials. Upon his death or his 80th birthday (whichever comes first) the king is replaced by a successor chosen by a special council made up of representatives of the two houses of parliament and the current king (a formal list is kept in the event of the sudden passing of the king). The successor must be drawn from a list of nominations made by groups of 100 or more citizens.
The national legislature (usually referred to as “parliament”) is, strictly speaking, bicameral, with the House of Laws serving as the main legislature. The ministers of government are drawn from the largest party or coalition in the House of Laws, and they exercise all federal powers not constitutionally assigned to other branches of the government. The executive is headed by the Prime Minister. Members of the House of Laws are elected by popular vote using a combined geographical and proportional representation system. Legislation passed by the House of Laws in most circumstances must be approved by the House of Provinces (a body appointed by the provincial governments). The executive is subject to ongoing scrutiny from a third chamber, the House of Account (a body appointed by the king).
Limited government is a core value of the Lindossëan system, which follows the principles of Keleuthist political philosophy. The system is designed to ensure that each part of government operates responsibly within its proper sphere and acts as a check on the other parts. The ultimate goal is that all parts of government respect the rights and freedoms of individuals and families. While this system does guarantee a high level of personal freedom and political stability, it does result in national governments with limited powers to do good or ill, and perpetuates the significant regional differences of the country.
Beliefs
Since the Heroic Age, the predominant religion in Lindossë has been Keleuthism, the Heloan version of Arkanism. The term is derived from South Heloan keleuthos (κελευθος), or path, which metaphorically means the way of life that is in accordance with the moral order of the universe. The major teachings of Keleuthism are the same as those of Arkanism, but were developed in a particular direction by Heloan thinkers during the Heroic and Persii periods. At the end of the Persii period, a majority of Lindossëans were at least nominally Keleuthist. The last fifty years have seen a resurgence of Keleuthism in Lindossë, and this has deeply influenced education and politics.
A substantial number of Lindossëans, concentrated in the west, are avowedly secular and adhere to a materialist worldview. Before the reforms of the late twenty-first century, this minority dominated public life in Lindossë, and many nominal Keleuthists became secularists.
A small minority of the population, concentrated mostly in the eastern part of the country, continues to observe some variant of the ancient polytheistic religion that developed out of a synthesis of proto-Heloan and Oromo beliefs. Sometimes these beliefs also show the influence of Keleuthism.
In the 2111 census, Lindossëans reported their belief systems as follows:
Keleuthist (59%)
Secularist or “none” (27%)
Polytheistic (12%)
Other (2%)
People and Culture
Almost all Lindossëans are of Heloan ethnicity and culture, although this heritage has been influenced by the Persii, Antaran, and even Oromo periods.
Ethnicity
Nearly all Lindossëans claim a Heloan background, although in reality this represents a genetic mix of proto-Heloan, Oromo, Antaran, and Persii elements. The typical Lindossëan is of medium build, with dark eyes and hair. Straight, wavy, and curly hair all occur with regularity. Lighter colorings of skin, hair, and eyes are not uncommon in the north and east.
Language
The standard language of Lindossë is South Heloan, based on the dialect of the central highlands, but the spoken language varies widely. The dialect spoken along the border with Sinoptikon resembles the West Heloan spoken there, but this is barely intelligible to speakers of the dialects of the extreme south and east of the country. South Heloan differs from West Heloan primarily in the significant influence at an early date of the Oromo language. The periods of Antaran and Persii rule also left their mark in the presence of numerous loan-words.
Food and Drink
Due to the agricultural abundance of the country and the custom of households growing much of their own food, Lindossëans probably eat as well as anyone in Aurora. Freshness, quality, and variety of produce is highly prized.
Different regions of the country are known for their distinctive cuisines. Hearty salads of chopped vegetables, olives, oil, and feta are eaten nearly everywhere. In the western interior no meal is complete without fresh or cooked fruit, while both coasts feature unique styles of seafood. According to many travelers, the lamb dishes of the interior highlands and mountain regions are without parallel.
The interior fruit-growing region produces a number of quality wines, but the quintessential Lindossëan drink is priezo, a plum brandy consumed in small doses after meals as a digestif.
Education
There are regional differences in the educational system, but there are also a number of common features. Education is compulsory and fully funded by the government from age 5 to 15. The 2094 constitution enshrines the right of parents to choose their children’s education, so most provinces have a system where funding follows the student. Anyone can set up a school, provided it meets certain basic standards and participates in standardized exams. This system has led to a great deal of variety in the school system, especially in more heavily populated areas.
Depending on career path and aptitude, some students enter additional vocational training or university preparation after basic education. These are partially funded.
University preparation takes place at two-year “bridge schools”, after which students can enter universities. University education is also partially funded. Lindossëan universities, especially those in the Association of Keleuthist Universities, are widely renowned and attract students from not only other parts of Miotus but from overseas as well.
Geography
Lindossë straddles the southern part of Miotus, with coasts on the Topal Sea in the west and the Patronic Ocean in the east. It borders Zophos and Sinoptikon.
The physical geography of the country can be roughly divided into five regions. The southwestern lowlands are characterized by tropical jungles, numerous large and small rivers, and the large Lake Otoko. The central uplands are mostly covered by temperate deciduous forests, although much of this has been cleared for farming. The western edge of this upland region is the richest agricultural area of the country, known in particular for its production of fruits and grains. The eastern coastal region is semitropical and slopes down from the central uplands to the shore of the Patronic Ocean. In the northwest the valley of the Kipos River (known in Sinoptikon as the Onkyios River) forms its own region of temperate forests. The fifth and final region, in the northernmost part of the country, is dominated by the Elessian Mountains. The mountains create a cooler climate of alpine forests and temperate grasslands, known to Lindossëans as the “high country.”
Provinces
There are 12 provinces in Lindossë: Elessia, Ialora, Setua, Kipos, Lindos, Secoa, Anuela, Tophoron, Hepheron, Uciauan, Otokos and Ephalos. Each one is sovereign in its own area of jurisdiction and appoints three representatives to the House of Provinces in the federal parliament.
Provincial government does not follow any prescribed pattern, and like many things in Lindossë, varies greatly from province to province. Tophoron, for example, has been governed as a principality by the same noble house since before the founding of the country, although various democratic reforms have been introduced. Most of the provinces, however, follow an elected parliamentary form of government similar to that used at the national level.
Economy
Lindossë is classified as a top-tier second-world economy. After a period of instability following the reforms of 2094, the economy has enjoyed strong growth rates and living standards in many areas are approaching first-world levels.
Resources
Agriculture is the main strength of the economy. Fruits, grains and livestock are produced in abundance, some of them for export.
Lumber and rubber are the primary resource exports. The country is also endowed with significant coal deposits, most of which goes to support the needs of local industry and electricity generation.
The growth of Lindossëan industry has been hampered somewhat by the national lack of exploitable oil and iron ore deposits.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is one of the main responsibilities of the federal government, so the country’s roads, railways, and electrical transmission lines are generally in good repair. The more populated areas are very well served, although some rural and remote areas are not well connected. This is notably true in the dense jungles of the south, where some villages are only accessible by boat and electrical power is out of the question.
Over the past several decades, large hydroelectric projects in the mountains have increased the availability and decreased the cost of electricity. This hydroelectric power has also indirectly reduced the cost of coal by reducing the need for coal-fired generation.
Foreign Relations
Lindossë follows a non-interventionist foreign policy. In other words, it attempts to achieve its foreign policy objectives through persuasion, not coercion, and holds the sovereignty of other nations in high respect. The leading party in the current federal parliament, the Reformist Party, is opposed to the use of the military for any purpose other than defense of Auroran territory from foreign invasion.
Diplomacy
- Main article: Foreign Relations of Lindossë
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to promote peace and stability in Miotus, maintain active relations with all non-hostile Auroran nations, and generally encourage the adoption of Lindossëan political principles such as the rule of law, constitutional government with democratic representation, and the respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Two major challenges facing Lindossë at present relate to its immediate neighbours, Zophos and Sinoptikon. Until 2094, Zophos was a province of Lindossë. Since then, it has followed a divergent political philosophy. The two nations have maintained friendly relations but are still finding their footing in the new relationship.
Sinoptikon poses a more serious problem for Lindossë. The leading political parties and public opinion are both strongly opposed to the Communalist government and favour the Democratic Republican Insurrection (DRI), but the desire to aid the latter runs counter to the country’s non-interventionist values. The governing Reformist Party has allowed trade with, and humanitarian aid to, DRI-controlled areas, but has not provided military aid or allowed weapons to cross the border between Lindossë and Sinoptikon. The Conservative Party, upon which the Reformist Party relies to pass legislation, has been pushing for more vigorous aid to the DRI, potentially including weapons and military training.
Defense
Lindossë is a regionally significant military power, but in keeping with its foreign policy, lacks the means to project force much beyond southern Miotus. The national land, sea and air forces are designed primarily as a deterrent against foreign attack, and they are well enough equipped and trained to make any attempt at invasion or blockade a costly proposition for foreign powers. In addition to the standing army, almost all males of fighting age are required to complete rudimentary military training, keep a rifle, and serve as reservists for the provincial militias. Since these militias can only be called up by provincial governments, and only in the event of an imminent invasion of the country, they act as more of a guarantee against domestic tyranny and foreign invasion than as any kind of military threat to Lindossë's neighbours.
