The Tribal Confederate of Hresejnen

[Hresejnen]

Country name (long): The Tribal Confederate of Hresejnen
Country name (simple): Hresejnen (Icelandic hrá-séní - 'raw opportunity)
Population: ~3 million
Government type: Direct representative democracy
Date of foundation: November 9, 2025 (NOTE: All dates are -80yrs for AMW RPs)
National animal: lödkatt (domestic cat turned wild and adapted to the harsh nigh-Antarctic conditions of Hresejnen)
Motto: "Gefendr Heilir!" (Old Norse: Hail to the giver!)

Regions (in order of most populated):
Reikstad, Gerfán, Mérjland, Ershand, Mavúryvik, Lánðr, Forfás, Börsheim, Bil, Runr, Kilsjungen, Vorvo, Gjallrók, Blon, Þúnnan, Skon, Umjä, Stók, Ragrhölm, Ísfling, Läksák, Oran, Gammol, Érvinn, Kájrland, Ðibil, Loksþort, Lokr, Vikning, Kämnen

Geography
History
Government and Politics
Economy
Law
Religion and Culture
Civil Politics
Food and Holidays
Language
Military

[Hresejnen]

Location: 52⁰S,145⁰W
Area: 202,976km²
Coastline length: 5009km
Terrain: Largely flat farmland and urban area. Synthetic forests and hilled areas.
Natural resources: Various crops and livestock, fish, whaling, off-shore oil.
Environmental concerns: No pervasive environmental problems

Hresejnen is literally an island about the size of Great Britain, floating anchored in the south Pacific. An artificial landform, it was originally desert when it was settled, but through hardship and faith-driven determination, its occupants have transformed much of it into viable farmland, ranching territory, and forest, slowly modifying the landscape itself to meet both their human and their spiritual requirements.

[Hresejnen]

The colours of Hresejnen's flag were originally blue, yellow, and black, representing the sea, land, and reaction against Abrahamic faiths respectively. During Hresejnen's formation, everyone was feeling very nationalistic and highly reactionary towards the places they'd left for it. The colours were altered to red and white to emphasize a strong home faith rather than a strong opposition towards other faiths (red was historically considered the answer to Christianity's white in Europe), and democracy (with white, here, as a combination of all colours).

The most obvious aspect is the symbol in the middle, an Icelandic Thor's Hammer, representing the Norse polytheism that remains at the core of our society.

Hresejnen, at its origins, was and is a state built on tribalist pagan principles. Individuals as early as the late nineteenth century imagined a revival of what they perceived to be the “great Aryan heritage”. These famously gave rise to the Third Reich in Germany, with such notions continuing to affect White Power movements in the west even half a century and more later. However, the groups that would eventually form the nation did not arise officially until the 1970s, with individuals claiming to be “religious and philosophical reconstructionists” of the old Northern European ways. As organizations, particularly in Scandinavia, gained more and more members, and acquired official recognition, they began to set their goals higher. The first public temple was founded in Iceland in 2012, with another completing construction in Uppsala, Sweden just two years later. Two more years later, a self-proclaimed “Asatruar” was elected to the US senate. It was around this time that the various communities pledged to forn sed or “ancient custom” began discussing the possibility of a heathen nation.

The Ásatrúarfélagið – the largest Norse religious organization at the time – first started talking deals with a business constructing new land in the middle of the Pacific. By 2020, the estimated number of European pagans numbered at nearly one million worldwide, with numbers continuing to grow in reaction to a quickly spreading global culture. By 2025, funds through various religious organizations in cooperation were raised, enough to purchase synthetic land about the size of Vancouver Island. The new land was without any land access, or airports of any sort, but nevertheless, heathens worldwide sailed in historical fashion halfway across the largest ocean in the world in a bid to become part of the new tribal era.

The newly formed Hresejnen was little more than desert at the time, its name chosen tentatively as a meaningless amalgamation of present Nordic languages. People had brought with them hardy plants and simple technologies for water purification, as well as cattle and building materials, but life was difficult. The people, instead of striving together as a single community, branched off into different tribes through paths of language and previous origin. Representatives – typically distinguished goþar – met regularly to discuss globally affecting matters. This was not due to any sort of political decision, but purely because these individuals all tended to speak a common language – English – and so could communicate more fluently than large bodies of unilingual citizens. Meanwhile, the people tried to eke out a new existence far from their homelands, but this proved difficult. Most of the nation’s food had to be shipped in from overseas, and as radical religious organizations in North America and Europe, as well as the Middle East, displayed increasing aggression towards the fledgling Hresejnen, it became apparent that the island may be doomed before it had even begun.

Salvation came, once again, in the form of external aid: in 2031, an arms manufacturer by the name of CalCo sent representatives to the island to negotiate a foothold there. With the UN controlling the creation of weapons, it was being forced to relocate from the United States. The decision to allow it was nearly unanimous: not only did the CalCo arms (renamed Brokk & Sindri Arms in a somewhat jocular honour of their new home) deter any half-cocked assault on Hresejnen by religious opposition, but the excess arms developed could be traded at a premium. Soon, not only did Hresejnen have running water and electricity, but more land could be constructed, air transport made possible, schools built, soils and fertilizers imported, and more and more pagans flocked to its swiftly growing towns and sprawling homesteads.

By the third generation of Hresejnskar, the Germanic languages spoken had mixed into something of a creole, which allowed a more democratic society to emerge. The multilinguists who held the power beforehand gave it up willingly when confronted, partially due to heathen values of democracy, and perhaps a little due to how well armed the general population was. However, when Magnus Arisson, the head goþi of the Ásatrúarfélagið during the formation of Hresejnen, passed away in 2039, his son was named theregin: king of Hresejnen, and the young nation nearly saw its end from a popular revolt. But before the citizenship could take militant action against this sudden shift of power, Thorvald Magnusson publically announced the resignation of his power to the people. While the populous stewed, Thorvald and the 283 goþar then living in Hresejnen – along with a few holders of PhDs in political science – formulated the legislative and judicial system that persists to this day.

[Hresejnen]

Hresejnen can be described as a direct representational democracy. At face value, its legislative system is highly disorganized, requiring a large allthing and state-of-the-art communications technology to keep it running smoothly.

The power lies almost entirely with the people, who meet regularly face-to-face with fellows of their local area to discuss political matters. These meetings are led and organized by the goþi, and everyone regardless of age, sex, or social status is encouraged to attend. The goþi himself is only allowed to speak, first to sacrifice to the appropriate god or gods preceding the debate, and second for the sake of organization during these meetings: presenting issues to the gathering and keeping tempers in check. Once an issue has been presented (all of which together may take days), all those who A) own property, or B) are attending an institute of higher education, may present their votes on each issue to the goþi, who will then route these votes to the appropriate level of allthing. Typically, these votes are simply “for” or “against” a proposition. Those who did not attend the entirety of the respective debate are not eligible to vote.

The regional and federal allthingr (governments) work essentially the same way, merely attending to different aspects. Allthing officials make no money for themselves from their positions, but enjoy the full respect and hospitality of the nation. Regional allthingr typically apply to such things as education, health care, and some lower-profile laws dealing with civil rights and minority groups falling under their jurisdiction. Federal allthingr are concerned with such things as communications, social equality, immigration, transportation, external affairs, military, and criminal law.

Regional allthingr are composed primarily of all the goþar of the region (a position that tends to be hereditary), as well as law enforcement agents and treasurers. Each regional allthing also has a jarl: a landowner with a hereditary position, holding just symbolic and advisory power, and is expected to represent the region on the federal level. Laws are passed purely via direct democracy. Each vote is counted and weighed by their respective goþar, who report the numbers, and the decision is carried out according to majority. New laws are presented (or old ones suggested removed) in quarterly meetings consisting of all goþar, who are expected to present the concerns of their congregations. By majority, these issues are presented again at each goþi’s next meeting.

The federal allthing is made up of the regin and each region’s jarl. Since a political scandal in 2044, goþar are also invited to attend biannual meetings, though most do not attend. Laws here are passed in a similar fashion, and meetings are held primarily to get each region “on the same page”, so to speak, so that each jarl can better advise the goþar of their region.

This system has been relatively stable for generations. The regin, however, reserves the power to modify it at his will. This power is theoretically only used in times of emergency, but one Bor Jorðsson foolishly disbanded the federal level of allthing, allocating all national power to himself. Thursday, August 9th, 2082 – nine days following this bold move – Bor’s corpse hung from Áseik – Thor’s sacred tree in the region of Mérjland, the seat of the regin at the time – and a new king was elected in Reikstad before Jul.

[Hresejnen]

[empty spot/double post]

[Hresejnen]

GDP: $129 billion
GDP per capita: $42,984
Population below poverty line: 10%
Unemployment rate: 10%
Inflation: 5%

Exports: $26.140 billion
Export goods: arms, produce, industrial supplies, oil, medicines, textiles, furniture, books
Imports: $57.928 billion
Import goods: industrial supplies, oil, fruit, computers, vehicles, lumber, chemicals, books, telecommunications

Public debt: $302.72 billion
Revenues: $134.01 billion
Expenses: $97.44 billion

Currency: Hresejnensk steina
Currency code: St
Exchange rate: 1St = $0.11 USD

Brokk & Sindri Arms is still the powerhouse of Hresejnen’s economy, though as Hresejnen evolves in whatever direction takes its fancy at the time – as happens with new nations – people jump on opportunities, particularly tourism (due to the nation's unique culture and rich geography) creating microbursts of income. Agriculture has also been consistent. Fishing and whaling persist along Hresejnen’s coasts, and offshore oil is being exploited at a growing rate.

Trade remains incredibly important to Hresejnen. Its coasts are lined with ports filled with well-maintained state-of-the-art liners carrying goods to and from the islands. It has traded in some form or another with nearly every nation on the planet. Trade also continues in a less kosher fashion, as the tradition of coastal raiding lives on in the nation’s heathen heart. Officially, the alþing of Hresejnen denies any involvement with these raids and does not advocate their continuation. However, it has done relatively little to quell them.

Focus on financial gain varies from region to region. Larger, more heavily populated regions tend to focus more on individual profit, whereas smaller regions are arguably communistic. Gerfán, home of B&S’s headquarters, is the nation’s richest city-region, and also the most virulent.

Those who are noticeably more wealthy than those surrounding them tend to be viewed with suspicion. This is sometimes welcomed due to its nature, but most who have wealth invest it for their families or else use it to influence causes they feel appropriate.

Both sales and income tax are non-existent in Hresejnen; government funds are typically from taxes on trade, and potentially less scrupulous methods.

These taxes tend to be spent primarily on incentives for the apprenticeship programs replacing public education, but also on health care. Welfare is non-existent; those who have little money are expected to either go to school and eventually join the workforce, or else surrender themselves into slavery. Taxes also go to the nation’s formidable socialized health care, available to every native of a region.

Slavery in Hresejnen is not too dissimilar from much unskilled labour in North America. However, slaves are not allowed to own their own land, instead living in quarters at their work site. They are paid, and are expected (and nearly always able, due to regulations) to meet their own basic needs. Hourly pay is regulated, as are living conditions, but hours less so. Slaves make up the minority of the population, and their number is decreasing as businesses become more automated. Most slaves remaining are immigrants and criminals.

[Hresejnen]

Hresejnensk law is enforced by an efficient police force backed by the federal alþing, which is checked and balanced by a larger and heavily armed population. Crime is, however, extremely rare, due in no small part to values drummed into the heads of new citizens. Capital crimes include murder, large-scale destruction of property, kidnapping, and grand theft; these are dealt with in various fashions, usually by local courts headed by the local goþi and elected jury, and usually end in either outlawry or ritual sacrifice. Smaller crimes tend to be dealt with via fines. Prisons are nonexistent.

All crimes must have a victim; victimless crimes are never considered in court. It is not considered a crime unless an individual steps forward to proclaim it in the court. It is considered a rule of thumb that unless an act infringes on the freedom of an individual or group of individuals, it is legal, though the exact measures of each different offense are rigid and very complex.

[Hresejnen]

Despite the regional and even local separation, in what the people of Hresejnen consider a tribal society, there is a relatively universal culture that thrives in every region. Small variations in this culture exist, predominantly in ritual form, but they are considered negligible to all but the pickiest of anthropologists.

By far the majority religion of Hresejnen remains Germanic paganism, and it lays the basis for the nation’s values. Hospitality and honour are of the utmost importance to the vast majority of citizens; the nation’s founders originally dreamed of a place where these ideals could be practiced to the same extent as their ancestors once did, and many would argue that Hresejnen has lived up to this goal: travelers are commonly welcomed into the homes of strangers, even to spend nights, and it is very rare that this hospitality is not repaid. A man’s word is considered as good as a contract in civil cases, and honesty is prized so highly that at least three perpetrators of otherwise quite heavy crimes have been let off by their victims by coming clean and making amends prior to the trial.

Sacrifices are held often, if spontaneously, by the local goþar. These typically involve a celebration of deities, local wights (typically land spirits), and ancestors, through feasting and drinking. Toasts are made to gods and people, oaths are made, and stories are shared. The people have, however, made it unlawful to sacrifice or toast to any non-Germanic deity in several regions.

Environmentalism is also high in the priorities of the public, partially due to the beliefs in beings that inhabit the natural world, and also due to Hresejnen’s history of building a vast and fertile country from a lifeless desert island. The economic spike during the 2080s can be attributed to the people fencing off a sizable forest and lumber companies, which would otherwise be out of business, using their trails and well-informed workers as aids for tourists.

[Hresejnen]

Minority peoples, and minority religions along with them, do exist, including Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims, but they are extremely small. These groups are usually regarded with more interest than suspicion, but at times such groups have challenged Hresejnen’s form of government, which has led to some inward-looking xenophobia. Hresejnenskar in general view other nations as at least intriguing, though, regardless of official stances, while at once remaining nationalistic.

Alcohol, much to the chagrin of most minority religions, is considered a major part of Hresejnen’s culture, which children being introduced to it at a young age. Drunkenness is heavily frowned upon, but so too is an individual’s refusal to drink at least one or two glasses during their evening meal.

Marriage is considered more of a legal institution than an expression of love, and arranged marriages are not unheard of. They form bonds between different families and regions, allow extra pull in private enterprise, and also make the couple eligible for more health benefits from the government, especially if one spouse is from another region, as well as benefits for any children.

Children are commonly fostered out between families. Particularly in the case in which a mother has a child while unmarried, it is all but expected of a capable family close to the mother to take in the child. Children are also fostered from married couples for similar reasons to marriage. In Hresejnen’s relatively small land area, it also serves to keep the gene pool from growing stagnant.

[Hresejnen]

Food tends to be simple and, for most, there is a strong preference for homemade food and drink. Vegetarianism is quite uncommon, though there are some in more heavily populated regions, and diet consists a great deal of hardy crops, bread, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, eggs, and fish. The two main national holidays are Midsommarsnät (June 23) and Jule (Dec 21-Jan 2).

[Hresejnen]

Hresejnen’s language is unique to the nation, having lost enough of any mutual intelligibility it may have had with the Germanic languages it is descended from. Luckily, it has also lost much of its inflection in comparison to the Old Norse that was first spoken officially. It retains the Elder Futhark alphabet, employing diacritics to form unaccounted for vowels.

ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲᚷᚹᚺᚾᛁᛃᛇᛈᛉᛊᛏᛒᛖᛗᛚᛝᛟᛞ

It does, however, have a very large number of vowel sounds, each mercifully written with diacritics (which are not normally considered separate letters):
ᚢ = [u]
ᚢ` = [ʏ]
ᚨ = [a]
ᚨ’ = [aʊ]
ᚨ, = [o]
ᛁ = [ɪ]
ᛁ: = [i]
ᛇ = [æ]
ᛖ = [ɛ]
ᛖ: = [e]
ᛟ = [ɔ]
ᛟ` = [ɔʊ]
ᛟ: = [œ]

Consonants are thus:
ᚠ = [f]
ᚦ = [θ]
ᚦ: = [ð]
ᚱ = [r] (rolled)
ᚲ = [kʰ] – [ʃ] when preceding ᛁ: ᛇ ᛟ:
ᚷ = [g]
ᚹ = [w]
V = [v]
ᚾ = [n]
ᛃ = [j]
ᛈ = [pʰ]
ᛉ = [z]
ᛊ = [s]
ᛏ = [tʰ]
ᛒ = [b]
ᛗ = [m]
ᛚ = [l]
ᛝ = [ŋ]
ᛞ = [t]

[Hresejnen]

Hresejnen’s military is mostly a militia, as every citizen is expected unofficially to own and be able to use a firearm, and to carry at least one weapon on them at all times. Hresejnen has never been at war, but it can be expected that if a war were ever to come home, assailants would have a difficult time pushing through the strongly nationalistic and well-armed general populous.

However, the small standing army that Hresejnen does keep is well-trained and well-funded, using up-to-date equipment and containing soldiers, pilots, and marines that have been conditioned since birth. For war to be declared, the regin must concur with the jarls.