In Brief: This factbook is an effort to better flesh out the NS nation of Lakeland using the decisions made in game as a foundation.
Contents:
- 1. Geography
2. History
3. Society
4. Demographics
5. Economy
6. Military
7. Government
8. Other
9. National Happenings
10. World Rankings
#001. GEOGRAPHY
1.2 Shore-board: The land immediately surrounding the lakes offer milder climates than further inland, making cultivation of various fruits and other warm weather crops such as wine grapes possible. Plentiful beaches and thousands of islands both large and small offer recreation and isolation for those that desire it. Most of Lakeland's largest cites sit directly on the shores of it's lakes or immediately inland.
1.4 The Outer Fringe: To the north and northeast there is no natural land boundary. Instead a vast archipelago of icy islands spreads out for several thousand miles, rather than ending abruptly Lakeland's influence spreads out over this area, ships with reenforced hulls and icebreakers ply it's many fjords and inlets. Mining and logging are the most common uses for this land.
#002. HISTORY
2.1 Beginnings: Initially a barren wilderness, Lakeland was settled by dissatisfied members of many nation states who all held a common conviction, the desire for freedom from the State and it's moral coercion, and the desire to become masters both of themselves and others. From this humble beginning the first tiny city states were settled on the remote Islands of Lakeland. Few laws existed save for the prohibition of murder or theft within city limits, despite this Lakeland remained relatively peaceful.
- 2.2.1 Wars for "independence"
#003. SOCIETY
3.1 Laws: Lakeland is remarkable due to the extremely small amounts of laws governing day to day life. Most laws that exist are regulatory in nature, governing the construction of buildings, width of roads, best manufacturing practices, disposal of waste, etc. Murder is justified in a fair duel, there is no minimum drinking age or age of consent, slaves are taken from neighboring lands in war or from poor families as form of debt payment. Out of this lawlessness has risen a certain order, based on the will of the strong.
- 3.1.1 Exceptions: Laws governing participation in government do exist, public titles are only open to citizens. Land and capital ownership is reserved for citizens.
3.2 Allied States: Lakeland is not an empire or nation state, rather it is a coalition of city states which cooperate to achieve a shared vision.
3.3 Citizenship: Citizenship is available to inhabitants who complete a tour of duty in one of the armed services. The training in the armed services is among the most demanding in the world and as a consequence favors men to such an extent that females comprise less than 1% of total citizens. Citizenship allows full access to the Lakeland economy and government.
3.4 Class: There are several relatively permeable and distinct classes within Lakeland society, in hierarchical order they are as follows:
- 3.4.1 Industrialists: Citizens which have completed their tour of duty and found success in the economic realm. Typically they own mid to large size companies and have incomes in excess of 100 times the average income of the populace. Most small business owners are considered honorary Industrialists despite having an income more similar to the Worker or Warrior class.
3.4.2 Warriors: Professional soldiers which stay in the armed services after their tour of duty or become mercenaries. Members of the warrior class can become extraordinarily weathly and influential, more so than the industrialists at times. Warriors gain their wealth through selling their services to anyone who can afford them and through raiding neighboring lands for war booty: cash, property, women, children, or pure extortion.
3.4.3 Workers: Citizens which complete their tour of duty and go back into private life, typically they work at a high paying blue or white collar job and own a house or rent a luxury apartment. The working class of Lakeland is essentially what is know as the middle class elsewhere.
3.4.4 Servants: Non-Citizens which are contractually bound to their positions, typically menial jobs like cooking, cleaning and other simple service work are done by these people. Many are foreign workers from third world counties on guest worker permits.
3.4.5 Slaves: Non-Citizens owned by Citizens, typically work in undesirable jobs, such as mine work, or as courtesans. Slaves make up the majority of the population of Lakeland roughly 75%
3.5 Social norms
#004. DEMOGRAPHICS
4.1 Lakelandian People: Lakelanders are generally fair skinned, have a wide variety of hair and eye colors and are relatively muscular. They are highly dimorphous partially due to centuries of selective breeding. Males stand on average 7 feet tall weighing 325 pounds, females average a height of 5 feet 2 inches and weigh an average of 105 pounds.
4.2 Religion: Lakelander's while not religious in the traditional sense of the word to have several philosophies which under certain interpretation could be viewed as religions.
- 4.2.1 Industrialism
4.2.2 Nietzscheism
4.2.3 Transhumanism
4.2.4 Positive Eugenics
#005. ECONOMY
#006. MILITARY
#007. GOVERNMENT
7.1 Overview: There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, pro-business individuals concentrates mainly on Defence, although Commerce and Law & Order are secondary priorities
7.2 Power: Governance in Lakeland is largely dominated by the Industrialist and Warrior classes however the working class has been effective
#008. OTHER