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~ Basic Information ~
The Principality of Zegrondi Mahr is a newly minted, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its compassionate yet cynical population of 18 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; the population still have deep tribal and spiritual roots and generally share a skewed outlook on the world compared to its neighbouring nations.
The enormous, socially-minded government is mainly concerned with Social Welfare, although Education and Healthcare are secondary priorities. The average income tax fairly low, with government trying to keep bureaucracy down to a minimum. Crime, especially youth-related is totally unknown, this is partly down to an almost zealous national pride coupled with a strong sense of moral duty to society.
The Aakir is Zegrondi Mahr's national animal, which can be likened to a pale haired wolf with feathered wings, it frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests but prefers open plains, of which there are many, and the national currency is called the Zegri.
~ Geography ~
Zegrondi Mahr nestles in the remains of an old, almost forgotten nation that fell apart after a grand storming of giant space-balls, the new populace know nothing but myth and rumour of this time of destruction, some tribes even claiming it was a vindictive god of sport that tortured the old nation for being lame at dodging balls.
Zegrondi Mahr has very big boots to fill and has only just started to expand towards its borders, to the south is Krytenia, south west is the lands of Eystrck, north west is a huge unexplored expanse, filled with micro land deeds and the wild Aakir, east is the land of Starblaydia...
The people of Zegrondi Mahr are natural forest dwellers, even those who have adjusted to a more sophisticated way of life, still have an affinity with the woodlands and forests that kept them safe during the dark days of destruction. Because of this the sea-worthiness of Zegrondians is kept to the small lakes, rivers and streams even though the nation has many points of access to large bodies of water.
The northern Neyman Straits is as solid as a wall for the unadventurous Zegrondians, its brutal rip-tides and cross-currents are a challenge even for veteran sailors, but the more tame waters of Lake Bekk is seen as an unlucky body of water that few ever attempt to sail on, this is a shame as most of the trade is done via lake bekk.
~ Economy ~
Zegrondi Mahr has a sizeable trout farming industry; this is audited by the Zegrondi Mahr Trout Association (ZeMTA) who is entirely funded by member farmers and suppliers. Zemta provide legislative framework for the industry, providing support research and development and also promote/stimulate export in the product. In a single year, Trout sales in Zegrondi Mahr reached a staggering Zg25.3m in a single year of which over 90% was fresh. The Zemta have recently began organising the logistical improvement of mass export of this natural resource, though animal welfare groups have been unsurprisingly quiet about the treatment and environment that trout are raised in because of the high standard of care and stunning natural beauty of the lakes. And this makes the fish part of the national dish as well as the place in the world for the source of good tasting trout.
Newer to Zegrondi Mahr is the Auto-mobile industry, currently everyone is becoming motorised and this has caused a huge surge in this sector. Nearly everyone can afford a car for two reasons, firstly, there is hardly ever any need for the individual to pay for driving lessons as this is usually part of their mandatory secondment as a young adult, secondly, the state provides so much support to people’s income that the poor can usually afford a car just as often as someone in a middle to higher income bracket.
The third most popular industry in Zegrondi Mahr is door-to-door salespersons, this may sound a bit peculiar but the people of Zegrondi are unfamiliar with choice or with the concept of changing a well known household brand, with new imports coming in and not being widely accepted in the nationalistic general stores, new companies have been sponsored or encouraged by neighbouring nations to promote their wares – if/once this proves successful then new stores will open up all across the country, but until that time, people still stick to the home-grown, home produced brands they know and love until there is a knock on the door...
~ History ~
The region now known as Zegrondi Mahr was once a much older nation that fell apart and its people migrated away from the cities and towns they had built up over the generations – surrounding nations such as Krytenia and Starblaydia didn’t pay this much heed and thought nothing of the wilderness left behind this fallen nation, however a native tribe of sub-humans began to re-populate the region, as nature abhors a vacuum…
The tribes themselves never really developed much until the coming of the ‘Princeps’ this group were from the old nation who believed they could live without society (and without taxes) out in the wilderness, little did they realise their proposed ‘alternative’ lifestyle was not as alternative as they first assumed. The tribes united against this outside threat, never before having anything to do with the peoples beyond their borders, they didn’t know how to react… the meeting they held was the first steps towards a political system.
Alfred Mayer and Chief Zegrond were both considered leaders amongst the leaderless; the tribal chiefs had sponsored Zegrond to go forth and attempt communication with these aliens, under the ‘win-win’ theory that it is better to loose a single man to this possible invasion than to be ill-prepared or if it is not an invasion then these immigrants will not get the wrong impression – for how can one man be considered an army? Alfred Mayer on the hand was the big-van driver of the new-agers, he didn’t own the van, and in fact like the others in this make-shift mobile commune he didn’t own anything!
And so it came to pass that Zegrond met Alfred by chance, and the culturally superior ‘old’ worlders were elevated into a state of royalty, each of the new-agers accepted the tribal faith as though it was spoken by some strange smelling guru and in return they were given full power over the tribes, the chieftains retained their traditional role but would serve the greater princes, or Princeps… And through their guidance the major tribes saw through their differences and set aside basic squabbles, within the space of three generations the Princeps became the ruling caste and the petitioners slowly replaced the tribal chiefs as the secondary tier of the political system.
The new age was officially started as the death of the last tribal chieftain, though many tribal descendents are proud to share a native surname, like Luca Bearwakkahill and John Hamsterwind the Nation of Zegrondi Mahr came into existence when the last of the tribes accepted a modern way of life, as of writing this we are now only in the year 94 N.A - noted by the sad parting of Chief Zalzahu Viggivodhu who gave his all to the Princeps and spent the latter parts of his years trying to convince the more remote tribes to seek employment in the larger more urban areas of Zegrondi Mahr, to those outlying areas he is seen as a saint, to the new age of petitioners and the Princeps he is seen as a man with vision without par.
Over the past 94 years since its founding, organisations and prosperity has grown dramatically. There has yet to be an actual war in Zegrondi Mahr and the tribal roots have yet to expand beyond the borders of the Old Kingdom, diplomats and emissaries along with merchants and trade embargoes have been sent around the world, along with religious shaymen on international missions of worship, but so far the nation is still hidden in the wilderness of the Atlantian Oceana generally.
~ Military ~
Zegrondi Mahr has no real military; it has hardly any need for one. It uses internal military force to keep a sense of discipline, but this force is more of an in-house militia. Youths as young as 5 or 6 years of age can be enlisted to 'houses' if they are unruly or lacking in respect, but mandatory enlistment to the army, religious doctrines or educational residences comes at the age of about 15 to 17 depending on individual circumstances.
Everyone must serve their country, it provides a sense of value, allows the country to harness the power of loyal volunteers, this man power is used to cover a lack of actual police, fire or emergency health services. But that is not to say that this Militia is not well trained or equipped, the money saved on wages goes into ensuring these volunteers are given skills, knowledge, influence and connections so that once their time is served they have the ability to set up their own commerce, trade or skill.
There are a few people who disagree with being forced into one of the three clear avenues, but most of these people are liberal fundamentalists like Steffan Rubin who is a renowned Civil Rights Activist and founding leader of Zegrondi Union and Civil Rights Association, an independent organisation that is in place to monitor the actions of the Principality to ensure that the peoples voice is heard, this ZUCRA organisation acts as an open access level to government so that everyone has a chance to be heard.
~ Government ~
The Government structure of Zegrondi Mahr is a totalitarian socialist regime, with a governing body of Princeps at its core and other independent ‘auditing’ organisations acting as satellites to the governing body, organisations such as Zucra is a prime example of this and they are similar in style to unions of a work force, except for the fact that they are politically orientated. The Princeps can never be voted in or out of power, they are a constant illumination that made Zegrondi Mahr the independent nation it is today. However, it has recently been put forwards that the people of Zegrondi Mahr are not just entitled to a vote, but that voting should be compulsory.
The Elections would have a direct influence on the independent organisations, allowing the public to decide key members of Zucra and other lobbying unions. In turn it is hoped that these political institutions (or at least the individuals within them) will be able to influence the Princeps, in the name of the people, or perhaps even be chosen amongst the Princeps to become a Princeps themselves.
Three of the largest players in current politics (aside from Aurielius Chicago who is currently Princep Dominus) are, Steffan Rubin – a right wing socialist with a huge vested interest in Zucra. Sue-Ann Love, once a political editor for the national newspaper after graduating from the Monastery of Defactus but now a member of the Journalistic Union of Public Interest, or Jupi. And also Larry Chicago who was once the tear-away brother of the current leading Princep, he voluntarily gave up his hereditary position for reasons unknown. |
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