Ajax Regional Application and Recruitment Thread [MT; Open]

[Mniohuta]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: I am eternal
c) Other nations: ᔫᕒ ᒧᖧᕒ
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? god himself

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Kainuinoa
b) Brief description of your nation: A theocratic confederacy controlled by a ruling class of Māhū/Faʻafafine/Fakaleitī (Traditional middle genders in a few Polynesian cultures) religious scholars, teachers, and philosiphers, with a number of monarchs (elected/hereditary) that on a national level don't have much in the way of power, but on local levels have varying levels of authority depending on regional laws and customs. The first groups to settle on the peninsula were the !Malay, !Acehnese, !Batak, and !Minangakabau, likely existing independently prior to the arrival of the !Polynesians (Tokotahans) for hundreds of years. The Tokotahans arrived in several waves from Onekawa-Nukanoa and Kajera. While originally settling on the islands south of the peninsula, they would begin to push inland and along the southern coastlines eventually pushing inland.
These were not necessarily united groups, with divisions by rivers and other geographic obstacles leading to variations in languages and dialects that exist in the modern age.
Historically, the country has been repeatedly subjugated by foreign powers. First came the Tahamaja and the Bayarids, the northern end of what is presently Kainuinoa acting as a battleground between the two powers, with the Southern end and islands largely being subjugated by the Tahamaja. As the age of fire began to set in, a series of city-states that had become cultural centers during the rule of the Tahamaja began to develop more heavily, with a historically brief period where the area was largely unoccupied. Eventually the Mutulese and their Global Circuit arrived, playing a long and essential role in the nation's history and culturally influencing the region. With the end of the global circuit came a two-three decade period of Arthuristan colonization in the area as a result of disunity and squabbling between local Matai, which by the end of de-colonization led to the popularization of the religious council. Their institutional strength was further cemented by popular changes and a push for development, though seperatist movements amongst the !sumatran groups (besides the !Malay) has put the council’s role into question on more than a few occasions.

c) Nation's type of government: Confederated Noocracy-Theocracy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? !Hawaiian, !Tongan, !Samoan, !Fijian, !Tahitian, !Malay, !Mutli, !Acehnese, !Batak, !Minangakabau, !Anglic, (Several other less prominent Polynesian languages)
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Kānaka Maoli/Nihoan (Hawaiian), Gagana Aleipata/Aleipatan (Samoan), Lea Tafahi/Tafahian (Tongan), Na vosa Moala/Moalan (Fijian), Reo Faaite/Faaitian (Tahitian), Lambaneh (Malay), Lambri (Aceh), !Batak, !Monangakbau, Pulaui, Tsurushimese(?)
f) What are the major religions among your population? !Polynesian Traditional Faiths, Azdarin, N’nhivara, Indigenous Folk Religion(s)
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): Not an outstandingly large force, the navy is likely the most efficient and well equipped branch, with the addition of a corps of marines to compliment the navy while also functioning partly as a land force. It relies at least in part on Onekawa-Nukanoa for security, with a majority of the nation's military equipment purchased or otherwise supplied from ON. All-in-all, it largely exists as a force to ensure economic sovereignty and to put down unwanted insurrection, but isn't exactly a top tier fighting force to the same extent as its Māori ally.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Like many other nations in the region, Kainuiloa is a hub for tourism thanks to its sandy beaches, numerous rainforests, and major cultural centers. The birthplace of modern surfing culture, it also attracts surfers worldwide with its famous seasonal swells. The country also excels at the production of computer parts and cell phones, helping to foster a major IT industry to provide remote and direct assistance with both parts and programs. A history of sea-faring amongst the Tokotahan peoples has helped to foster a noteworthy marine engineering industry, mostly in terms of designing and repairing ships rather than outright shipbuilding.
In terms of military might, as mentioned previously a great majority of national security hinges on ON, though it has played a considerable role in maintaining sea-based security given its critical juncture point between the Ozeros and Kayatman sea. The country has little interest in terms of becoming a major power as far as military might goes, the status quo of reliance on the foremost military power in the region enough to keep the head honchos in charge of the military complacent. In the grand scheme of things this can lead to slow responses to secessionists and subversive cells which can lead to headaches and avoidable bloodshed, but is generally not a problem.
Overall, the country relies mostly on economic soft power to maintain the status quo, less focused on expanding any sort of hegemony and more on relative cooperation with its neighbours, with stronger pulls towards ON and Kajera and with a mixed relationship with Pulau Keramat and other AON states.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? I feel I did a good job balancing everything. Perhaps minor population reductions could be in order, though considering the diversity of the country and the land I'm taking I would argue that it's a fair balancing. Still, I am more than open to any criticisms or thoughts in that regard, whether it's land reduction or something else.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $17,400
b) Nation's IC population: 38,000,000
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Computer Parts, Cell Phones, Coffee/Tea, Cocoa, Logging, Ship Designing/Repair
d) What does your nation need to import? Petroleum, Appliances, Vehicles, Certain Grains
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Agriculture (Starches, rices), certain electronic parts.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=417994&p=40239951#p40239951

[Anyanwu]

Applicant Information

a) Time on NationStates: Too long.

c) Other nations:

• Fahran

d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? I've been a member of Ajax for awhile despite my lack of posting. Santh threatened to stab me multiple times if I didn't make this specific app and he scares me. Hiero has also applied much peer pressure and I'm habitually incapable of saying no when it comes to RP and social related things. It's a real personality flaw.

IC Nation & Lore

a) Nation's IC name: Anyanwu

• Imba: Mba Anyaanwū

b) Brief description of your nation: Anyanwu, called the Council Republic of Anyanwu by some international observers, is a diverse, multiethnic society that, while formerly bound together by a rigid caste system and an organized system of taboos and religious dictates, has developed a blossoming council democratic tradition characterized by non-partisan democracy, pluralism, and responsive local government.

The supreme spiritual force Ikenga, which comprises one's personal life force, clan ancestors, right hand, and power, guides social conventions and behaviors, at least among religious communities, though, with taboos losing much of their legal force in the past couple centuries, the effects are often not terribly severe at the political level. Wealth and success are broadly seen as marks of divine favor - or one's Ikenga standing upright. These sets of beliefs have created an individualistic culture that values resourcefulness, entrepreneurship, and market innovation.

Historically, Anyanwu was subdivided into a multitude of city-states, each corresponding to a tribal or clan lineage. These polities were nominally ruled by a chief or obi, the term being synecdoche for the meeting hall or "heart" of a village, who consulted with a council of elders and powerful men. These councils held substantial influence, giving the political organization of these polities a distinctive democratic character during peacetimes.

During the Bronze Age, the Owe, a tribe of the Atshiga, became wealthy and dominant through the overland trade in salt, silver, gold, and slaves with Yisrael to the north, exerting a loose hegemony over more southerly communities. The cultivation of yams and sorghum provided the staples of the Owe diet, though given their rugged subsistence on the savannah, these crops were often imported as tribute or through trade with peoples living on the alluvial flood plains.

The Owe themselves became important to the domestication and husbandry of goats and, eventually, cattle and elephants. Powers was concentrated in and around the palatial-complex and later city-state of Effium, which at its height included an expansive library, several hospitals, a sewage system, and a burgeoning temple district. Owe hegemony collapsed around 200 BCE as a result of a series of droughts and revolts that disrupted the supply of yams and sorghum, though their capital city of Ofu was eventually resettled around 935 CE.

Records after the collapse of Owe hegemony remain mostly limited to oral histories and legends up until 900 CE when organized polities reasserted themselves as the dominant form of socio-political organization. While the Owe had been ruled by priest-kings known as atta or eze, their civilizational descendants gravitated towards a more deliberative form of policy-making, with a common aphorism emerging from the time exalting that "the holy people have no king."

The Imba city-states of Onitsha, Ozuaka, and Isu, the Atshiga city-states of Ajaokuta and Imo, and the Owari city-state of Adwarra vied for political hegemony and economic dominance throughout the medieval and early modern period, when a series of treaties and compromises led to the consolidation of these loose-knit communities into a single polity under the leadership of the elder Nkiruka Odita, who hailed from Onitsha. She was one of the lead voicing behind the negotiation of the Peace of the Six Women, which has governed and shaped relations between the diverse communities of Anyanwu ever since.

In response to foreign influences, the ill-defined political factionalism that had begun to develop within the council of Onitsha was given form through the establishment of formal political parties and the enactment of a national constitution by the politician and general Uzoma Amadi, who managed to fully impose the Constitution of 1814 within six years of its ratification through careful diplomacy and the strategic use of military force. His National Constitutionalist Party would dominate much of the early Council Republic's history before ideological divisions between urban democratic and rural oligarchic interests resulted in a schism.

While the country experienced a series of civil wars and ballroom coups between 1884 and 1903, which saw the triumph of liberal and urban interests at the expense of landowning oligarchs and religious leaders, the return to peace and normalcy after the turn of the century allowed a string of democratically elected presidents to capitalize on the country's commercial ties to Sante Reze and its abundant population and land area to develop a substantial agricultural and industrial base. The past century has been largely peaceful, characterized, politically, by the growing importance of globalization, the increasingly desperate struggle against desertification in the north, and complex and often adversarial internal politics within a robust high-confidence system.

c) Nation's type of government: Federal Republic with strong elements of council democracy at the local level, where local communities, small businesses, farmers cooperatives, and workers' associations elect representatives to represent their interests. Policy is set through a process of consensus-building wherein each voice is afforded due consideration before voting occurs. While this often makes the process of passing laws long and arduous, it has historically led to a very high degree of public confidence in Anyanwan democracy, though frustrations over gridlock and obstruction have become more common in the past half century.

Councils for broader economic districts are nominated from among the localized bodies mentioned above, often being experienced tradespeople and communal leaders who enjoy the respect of their peers. Passage of a civil service examination is a requirement to even seek such a high office, as is super-majority approval by members of a representatives local council. As a result, well-educated men and women, with a career in both the private sector and public service, with relatively moderate views, tend to predominate at the state and district level.

Lastly, the Supreme Council is elected from among the representatives serving at the state and district levels, and rules in a similar fashion to lower bodies, exercising supreme authority over the whole country, albeit with a similar collaborative and consensus-based approach to the lesser councils. The system is broadly non-partisan, as a result of the traumas of the late nineteenth century, though this does not necessarily entail a lack of ideological motivations, especially when strong public support exists for a particular platform or ideology. Generally, representatives organize themselves into loosely-aligned "salons" rather than formal parties.

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?

• Imba (Igbo)
• Atshiga (Igala)
• Owari (Edo)

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?

• Imbalese (Igbo)
• Atshiganese (Igala)
• Ndiwe (Edo)

f) What are the major religions among your population? While the belief in ikenga, household spirits, and ancestor worship remain fixtures of Anyanwan spiritual life, and superstitions about taboos, witchcraft, and malicious nature spirits have yet to fade away in the countryside, the population has largely incorporated these beliefs into their own distinctive brand of Kirizyuntupao. There is also a large and growing minority of people who identify as irreligious, accounting for around 35% of the population.

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):

The Anyanwan Armed Services (AAS) is subdivided into four branches - the Anyanwan Land Army (ALA), the Anyanwan Navy and Coastguard (ANC), the Anyanwan Air Force (AAF), and the Anyanwuese Bush Rangers (ABR). The government imposes a policy of compulsory service on all high school graduates, with military service being a common assignment for those who are not conscientious objectors. As a result, the active military consists of approximately 200,000 personnel, with around 40% of these enlisting with the ANC, which is the most prominent branch of the AAS.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.

While not as sizable, populous, or economically prominent as its neighbor Sante Reze, the Council Republic has capitalized on the past century of political stability and constitutional rule to develop a robust service-based economy and a strong industrial base. It has achieved a particular competitive advantage in the areas of engineering, shipping, electronics, and telecommunication services, requiring extensive imports of natural resources and infusions of foreign capital and contracts to maintain its continual growth. Despite it's broadly seaward-facing trade policy, the Council Republic has also become a breadbasket of West Scipia, developing a robust agricultural industry that grows and exports sorghum, millet, yams, potatoes, bananas, tobacco, vanilla, and beef in addition to more niche foodstuffs and cash crops.

The Council Republic, despite it's not insignificant military size, is not a particularly bellicose nation, preferring to pursue commerce and business rather than war, and this has inculcated an international reputation for Anyanwans as pragmatic, entrepreneurial, industrious, and politically agnostic. This perspective, of course, has its flaws, with subtle political clashes occurring within the Council Republic's dynamic political system, but can function as a rudimentary understanding of where Anyanwu sits in the world. The past century has seen the Supreme Council, as often as not, rolling their eyes and chuckling at the sectarian conflicts waged to the north and east.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? My initial instinct would be to reduce military power or explore the internal political divides within the country. I intend Anyanwu to be one of several more pronounced regional economic powers, but, if push comes to shove, I'm willing to consider a more specialized economy with a lower GDP as needed. Lastly, if this remains insufficient, you know ya gurl can throw in a civil war that will usher millions into poverty and suffering.

IC Economics & Geography

a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $32,000

b) Nation's IC population: ~44 million

• ~27 million Imba
• ~8 million Atsiga
• ~ 4 million Owari
• ~ 3 million Immigrants

c) What does your nation excel in exporting?

• Ships & Shipping Technologies
• Telecommunication Services
• Engineering Services
• Heavy Machinery
• Electrical Equipment
• Iron & Steel
• Food Stuffs
• Textiles & Clothing

d) What does your nation need to import?

• Pharmaceuticals & Packaged Medicaments
• Copper
• Rare Earth Metals
• Diamonds
• Petroleum, Natural Gas, & Related Products
• Uranium
• Software
• Financial Services
• Phosphates & Fertilizers
• Furniture & Wood Products
• Automobiles
• Luxury Goods
• Computer Chips

e) What is your country self sufficient on?

• Foodstuffs
• Iron & Steel
• Textiles & Clothing
• Heavy Machinery

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1063643924331253780/1078178040175136908/Map_-_Anyanwu.png

Roleplay History You have seen what I can do.

Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. I cannot provide a sample. Because I'm lazy.

[The Fanboyists]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: 20ish combined years

c) Other nations:
Fanboy - Greater Ottonia, Untsangasar, & Yadokawona
Fahran - Fahran & Anyanwu (pending)

d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
Nope, we come with no recommendations. We should be considered extremely suspicious. Big ol' red flag right there.

IC Nation & Lore

a) Nation's IC name: Qavarjeri

b) Brief description of your nation:
Qavarjeri is the home of the Qavars, a Chuyan (!Turkic) people who migrated west during the Bayarid conquests and subsequently formed a powerful component realm of the Uluujoli Khaganate in the 15th through 17th centuries. As the Khaganate imploded in the late 17th/early 18th century, visionary military leader Yazar Tarkhan struck an alliance with religious authorities, led by the Rabbi Ephraim (ben Azariah) Mazor of Samiran, and convened a kurultai alongside several other clan leaders to form a new nation.

The Qavars, uniquely among Chuyans, are, more less as a whole people, converts to Judaism as a result of their extensive, early contact with the diasporic Dahti community and continued coexistence in proximity to them. Due to the influence of religious authorities in the construction of the new state, this resulted in the newly-independent Qavar realm taking on a semi-theocratic nature, especially as an outside prince (Nagid) was invited to serve as an arbiter and sovereign over the explicitly religious Sanhedrin and the more secular Kuraltai assemblies.

Over the ensuing three hundred years, while tensions flared between both the larger populace and the oligarchic government, as well as between secular and religious authorities, ultimately a balance was constructed, wherein the modern government is still split between the more-or-less secular Kurultai composed of a mix of representatives of prominent families and technocratic elites and the explicitly religious Sanhedrin, with the peace presided over by the Nagid. In practice, a significant amount of day-to-day authority is held by the Ilbeg, the leader of the Kurultai, although they ultimately answer to the Nagid. The Nasi and Av Beit Din serve as the leaders of the Sanhedrin.

Tensions exist along political lines between the dominant Qavar and Dahti ethnic groups, who, in modern times are more urbanized and represent an impetus for development, and the northern Yaka and Kanduyar peoples who largely cling to a traditional nomadic lifestyle, primarily oriented around reindeer herding.

Economically, the country is home to a fairly-diverse economy; a mix of animal herding (specifically reindeer, horses, and cattle) and agricultural collectives make up the main strength of the country’s food production (although it is still a net-importer), and while the country’s natural resources prompt mining and foresting operations to access them, they are also balanced by a reasonable manufacturing base and modest technology sector, with a decent ecosystem of various services, including financial and consulting ones, to provide for at least some of the country’s needs.

c) Nation's type of government:
Qavarjeri is governed by a theocratic pseudo-oligarchic parliamentary government, mostly unitary in nature although with some local devolutions, largely in the country’s northern and eastern reaches. The Nagid fulfills the role of a sovereign or monarch, while most legislative power is vested in the Sanhedrin (which also acts as a judiciary) and the Kurultai, which is currently made up of two chambers, a hereditary ‘house of lords’ and a more technocratic ‘people’s house’ whose members are appointed by local authorities to represent the country’s various polities as a form of democratic feedback.

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
The most common language and the lingua franca is Qavari (!Chuvash); most people in the country can speak at least some Qavari, enough to carry at least a relatively basic conversation. Regionally, Dahti (!Judeo-Tat/Juhuri), Yakan (!Dolgan), and Kanduyars (!Nenets) are commonly-spoken, and some devolved governments conduct business bilingually in both Qavari and the appropriate local language. Hebrew and Aramaic serve as the languages of the Sanhedrin, closed judicial proceedings, and the educated classes.

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
The two largest ethnic groups are the Qavars (approx. 45% of the population) and Dahti (approx. 26% of the population). They are largely concentrated in the more urbanized western and southern portions of the country, although the Qavars in particular are found throughout. There are also two major minority groups, the Yaka (approx. 10% of the population) and Kanduyar (approx. 7% of the population). There are also small [!Tibetan, see Kun & Spectra’s apps], Ludic and Azagartian minorities (about 5%, 2%, and 2% of the total population each, respectively).

f) What are the major religions among your population?
The single largest religion in Qavarjeri is Judaism, with religious authorities largely coming from the Albaniote tradition. This group makes up somewhere between 65% to 72% of the total population, depending on the criteria used (mostly in regards to irreligiosity). Approximately 15% of the population adheres to traditional (usually shamanistic) religious practices, and there are also Yen (specifically ‘Ilfae) and Sarpetic minorities constituting approximately 4% each of the population. Somewhere between 5 to 10% of the country may be considered non-religious (again, depending on what definition is used to define religiosity).

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
The military is approximately 220,000 persons-strong. It is divided into the Land Army, Navy, Air Force, and Internal Troops. The first three are fairly conventional defensive services; the navy has some modest power projection capabilities within the immediately neighboring waters, but by and large the army and navy are oriented towards deterring aggression by immediate neighbors, especially [nation to south], with the air force acting as a supplement to both, especially in providing direct support to the army in the area’s relatively flat topography. The internal troops are the most unusual part of the force, a kind of hybrid gendarmerie/national guard directly controlled by the Sanhedrin and acting both as an army reserve and police force as well as a political balance to the main army, a result of past power struggles between secular and religious authorities. Funding-wise, it's not a badly-funded military by any means but it's not exactly top-of-the-line, either. It mostly serves as a deterrent, combined with other factors.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
Arguably part of Qavarjeri’s appeal is that it’s fairly unremarkable in terms of military and economics. While it has the heft and development to not simply be rolled over by neighbors or ignored, neither is it a particular threat to most of its neighbors. Rather, it should serve as a conduit from East Belisaria to Western Ochran. This, combined with hard-won political stability should enable it to act as something of an anchor, In- and Out-of-Character, for the area it’s placed into.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
Either via the usual means (population/economics nerf) or by downplaying its internal stability and playing up the interethnic conflict.

IC Economics & Geography

a) Nation's IC GDP per capita:
Approx. $15,800 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h750hCyP2T2SjiriS_feJHNpLE35gQfJGzkjM80NZ3o/edit?usp=sharing)

b) Nation's IC population:
Approx. 25 million

c) What does your nation excel in exporting?
Meat/fish. Specifically beef, mutton, and reindeer. Lumber/paper products.

d) What does your nation need to import?
Cereal grains for raw caloric needs, high technology/electronics, most heavy machinery.

e) What is your country self-sufficient on?
Energy; between a modest natural gas supply, wind turbines, and probably a nuclear plant, Qavarjeri can produce enough electricity to meet its needs and probably have a modest export flow. Besides that, a fair number of minerals: iron, copper, zinc, maybe aluminum.

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
A rough ballpark of desired area/size is indicated on these two maps: https://imgur.com/a/b4ou5Zt

Roleplay History

Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. Bruh you know us.

[Cyrassinia]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: Over 7 years
-
c) Other nations: Astronea, Altsea
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? N/a

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Cyrassinia
b) Brief description of your nation: Cyrassinia is a Gharbaic country in the north of Scipia, a cultural and economic bridge between various ethnic groups. It is a constitutional monarchy with Azdarin as its state religion. Its head of state is the Emir, the head of the royal family, who wields far reaching political power, including the ability to declare war, peace and dissolve parliament. Its history can be traced back thousands of years, its current royal family with a lineage dating back to the 10th century. There is evidence of human habitation in Cyrassinia as far back as the Paleolithic Age, up to 200,000 years ago. Various kingdoms laid claim to the territory of Cyrassinia as part of their holdings and empires, its water ways proving a vital hub of trade and culture.
c) Nation's type of government: Unitary constitutional monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Gharbaic
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Levantine Arab (also TBC), Turkic, Afro-Arab (analogues/Ajax ethnic groups welcome)
f) What are the major religions among your population? Azdarin, Christianity, Judaism, Druze (Also TBC with Ajax religions)
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Cyrassinain Armed Forces' formation has changed dramatically since the 1950s, going from divisions and light infantry formations to brigade size combat and maneuver units assigned to regional commands. These commands are split between Norther, Central, Eastern and Southern commands.

The Emirate's military is comprised of 1970s-80s era western equipment, which it has been gradually replacing since the late 90s in an effort to thoroughly modernise the Armed Forces. Part of this initiative is introducing new capabilities that the Emirate did not previously have, such as unmanned aerial reconnaissance, C4i integrated command infrastructure, strategic air lift capabilities, anti missile defence, active protection systems, counter-drone systems and anti-ship coastal batteries. In addition, it has sought to replace its old stock of weapons for modern systems utilising intermediate cartridges, and equip its brigades with modern anti-tank munitions.

The CAF is comprised of several branches: The Cyrassinian Ground Forces, The Royal Cyrassinian Navy and the Royal Cyrassinian Air Force. They number some 110,000 personnel in total, with the majority (75,000) assigned to the Ground Forces, while 20,000 serve in the Air Force and 15,000 in the Navy. In wartime the Emirate can call up its 65,000 reserves, all of whom are former military who undergo yearly retention training for a period of 4 years. In wartime the Emirate can call up its 150,000 reserves, all of whom are former military who undergo yearly retention training for a period of 4 years.

Manpower is made up of professional soldiers. Men between the ages of 18-26 are eligible for a loose form of conscription. Those who are properly motivated are selected, while those who object to military service can be assigned to civil services such as firefighter brigades, where they will be assigned to in reserve after their training is complete. Women are eligible to volunteer for military service, where they may select any branch and serve in non-combat roles. The key exception to this is in the Quick Reaction Forces, a Special Operations Capable rapid deployment infantry brigade. There, they may serve in female engagement teams which carries the risk of frontline combat. Students of professional subjects (doctors, psychologists, pharmacists, dentists, etc.) may serve their conscription after completing a six weeks course, receiving lieutenant ranking when they begin their service.

The CAF's yearly expenditure is 3.1% of GDP, or $18,000,000,000 annually. A large portion of this is spent on administration and training. The average pay grade for an enlisted service member is a competitive $62,495, with housing and higher standards of healthcare guaranteed. Basic recruit training is 15 weeks, costing an average of $56,200 per service member, while advanced placement training takes an additional 15 weeks and costs on average $73,500 per service member. It has 5,100,000 citizens who are fit for military service.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Cyrassinia has often played the role of peacemaker in the region, being a neutral ground for the ratification of numerous treaties and truces between rival nations. It maintains strong ties with other Gharbaic-speaking countries as a matter of policy, and seeks good diplomatic relations with other Azdarin nations.

In a bid to attract foreign investment, Cyrassinia has special economic zones with favourable tax rates for businesses. This has given Cyrassinia a high rating for "ease of doing business."

Being seen as a strong proponent of democratic reform, Cyrassinia enjoys good relations with liberal democracies, while also retaining ties with more autocratic states such as absolute monarchies and authoritarian states. This allows the Emirate to retain its global trade position, maximising profits with various government types. It does draw the line however when a nation is recognised as an international pariah. There are states where embargoes are placed that Cyrassinia will not break.

Cyrassinia's military cohesion is thought to be very high among its peers. This is achieved by a combination of thorough and advanced training as well as attractive benefits, which has kept Cyrassinia's military retention so high, allowing for a highly competent force and a skilled and experienced corps of NCOs forming the heart of military units.

While mining and uranium exports make up a large part of Cyrassinia's economy, it has diversified significantly towards an advanced service sector. It is home to a robust manufacturing industry that produces domestic automobiles and heavy machinery under foreign licence, as well as an engineering sector in fields of geological engineering specifically, with contributions from metal fabrication. As Cyrassinia's middle class expanded, so too did its disposable income, and market for consumer goods and entertainment. The nation's capital Alhadara has become a significant hub of designer jewelry, as well as fashion made with imported textiles.

The Emirate is a widely popular tourist destination both within Scipia and internationally. Its rich history and blossoming entertainment industry attracts tourists from all over Ajax, while its religious status brings in religious tourism from Azdarin pilgrims. Cyrassinia's government has gone to great lengths to highlight its national artists and musicians, to show its individual culture, separate from a commonly perceived hegemony. Tourists can also experience a "traditional Cyrassinian nomadic experience", riding camels and visiting some of the oldest settlements in the country, experiencing a taste of Cyrassinian cuisine and folk music.

Despite its many museums exploring its rich history and excavation sites of ancient settlements, Cyrassinia is home to a number of art schools and music venues. Numerous hotels and resorts dot Cyrassinia's various beauty spots, especially along its coast and inland towards the forested regions of the eastern and southern governates. There is a vibrant night life in the more populated cities, especially the entertainment centre of the country in Queyma, where some of North Scipia's most popular television shows and movies are filmed.

Science and technology is a rapidly emerging sector of the Cyrassinian economy, with ICT becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Various government programmes aim to enhance this progress, through scholarships in engineering and computer sciences, and the funding of grants and construction of research facilities.

Cyrassinia's key challenges include its continued suppression of free speech and troubled human rights record. It has a high human development index for the region, and has the status of "partly free" according to independent observers. Cyrassinia has a high quality of life, in part thanks to extensive investments in infrastructure and the establishment of a welfare state. This in turn has led to a sizeable middle class and a domestic market for various consumer and luxury goods with brands from abroad.

Cyrassinia has spread itself thin economically, and is juggling to meet its populace's needs for continued economic growth, welfare and infrastructure, while also attempting to address its defence needs. Cyrassinia faces the key issue of water access, and is spending billions of dollars annually on a aquifer project that pumps millions of gallons of water from underneath the Fashir steppe and distributes it among the urban population and agricultural centres. Desalination plants also address water shortages, costing more money and leaving less for projects such as military modernisation.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Most likely economy and economic output, reducing its share of exports and diversification. I'd also be happy to reduce military numbers as required.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $29,900
b) Nation's IC population: 20,325,580
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Uranium, diamonds, finished automobiles, commercial vehicles, some services (design, manufacturing, film, tv and engineering) , geological machinery
d) What does your nation need to import? Fertiliser, metal products, household goods, luxury goods, electronics
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Basic services, water
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? Requested area marked in red. My original idea for area was some 673,295 km2, subject to change of course.

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
Worldbuilding: Cyrassinia's factbook, Astronea's Wiki from a previous region.
Roleplay: SF military RP as Astronea

[Gristol-Serkonos]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: 2012-2018, 2019-present
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c) Other nations: Gristol-Serkonos
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d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? A second attempt at an alt.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Lusoña (Official: Ikatlong Republika ng Lusoña, Third Lusoñan Republic)

b) Brief description of your nation: The Lusoñan Republic is a country in the process of transitioning into a democracy following the fall of the previous dictatorship of Isagani Bolante.

Historically a collection of small Lusoñan polities, the modern Lusoñan state started when the Tundo polity unified every single Lusoñan polity into a feudal absolute monarchy with the Blood Compact of Tundo of 897 (Sanduguan ng Tundo sa 897), Lusoña transitioned into a republic in 1932 when last Datu of Lusoña; Datu Manaig, died without issue. It's transition to an republic was violent when a faction of the Lusoñan aristocracy under Lakan Joriz Bolante and its loyalist Maharlika forces turned against Lakan Benilda Panganiban's faction. This dragged on into a brutal civil war that lasted five years.

The war was about the abolition of the class system which the Bolante faction opposed. Panganiban's faction favoured a more egalitarian society and the freedom of the serfs (aliping namamahay) and slaves (aliping saguiguilid). Benilda Panganiban would prevail over the civil conflict, forcing Bolante into a treaty that concluded the conflict. The Alipin class would be freed and allowed to participate in society as free people, beginning the transition into the First Lusoñan Republic.

The First Lusoñan Republic was a period of rapid industrialization and social progress. Universal suffrage was granted to all Lusoñan citizens in 1944, which saw its first general elections the same year. Dáyao Orense was the first elected Lakan of the First Lusoñan Republic, from the Maharlika class of the deposed class system. He was one of the four Lakan that led the republic, all enacting sweeping economic reforms, the promotion of social justice and the creation of the social security system. Further reconciliation efforts were made by the Lusoñan government and the mountain clans.

The First Lusoñan Republic would come to an end when Lakan Viray Ragasa was killed in a plane crash in 1977. Dakila Bolante would be swept into power against the Pansamantalang Lakan Rayos Ubalde and his government in the 1978 snap elections. The Second Lusoñan Republic would be start under Dakila Bolante. His term was marked with increased industrialization and the construction of nationwide infrastructure as well as the expansion of the national healthcare service. It would however be marred with abject cruelty and the massacre of several mountain clansmen, sparking an insurgency in the northern provinces.

Dakila Bolante won an unprecedented second term in many observers consider to be the dirtiest election campaign in modern Lusoñan history. Bolante would disregard any pretense of democratic process when he declared a State of Martial Law in 1984. The Martial Law was declared following the sovereign debt crisis and social unrest that crippled the country. Atrocities were committed by the Armed Forces as the Bolante government dispensed with constitutional protections, basic rights, the due process and evidence.

Bolante unilaterally rewritten the constitution in 1989, de facto returning the Lusoñan Republic into an absolute monarchy when he designated his son Isagani Bolante as his successor. Isagani Bolante was elevated to Lakan in 2002 when his father Dakila died. The younger Bolante attempted economic reforms to stabilize the economy following decades of high public spending. However, the country continued to suffer from massive and uncontrolled corruption.

Seeking an end to the Bolante regime, in mid-2012, opposition factions in the National Assembly (Batasang Pambansa) secretly met with Defence Secretary Pamagát Concordio Taguiwalo and a corps of officers of the AFLR to set into motion a coup attempt against Isagani Bolante. Concerned with being overcome by Bolante's loyalist forces, Taguiwalo and the opposition factions barricaded themselves on the Department of Defence Building, protected by reservists of the 9th Infantry Division. Taking control of the Armed Forces Radio, the opposition appealed to the public for the support for the coup, in the hopes of preventing Bolante from destroying them. Large-scale protests in support of the coup took place all over the capital city, with the largest group gathering around the Department of Defence Building. The large civil resistance in the capital soon spread across the southern cities with insurgencies intensifying in the north.

The relatively peaceful protests against Bolante was soon marred by the shooting of several protesters by CAPCOM snipers as they tried to approach the Malakañang Palace. The shooting of the protesters was the straw that broke the camel's back as by the end of the day, majority of the Army with the support of all Navy and Air Force personnel quickly defecting to the coup leadership. Within a week, the Bolante dictatorship collapsed, forcing Isagani Bolante and his family and loyalists into exile.

Following Bolante's exile from Lusoña, the opposition factions proclaimed the Third Lusoñan Republic and installed a Provisional Government, with Taguiwalo being given the provisional title of Pansamantalang Lakan.

The Lusoñan people's values are deeply rooted in personal alliance relationships. It is centred around maintaining a degree of social harmony motivated by a desire to be accepted by a group. The main sanction against diverging from these values is the sense of shame.

Reconciliation and the end of the Iyeta insurgency is another concern for the Provisional Government. Cultural as well as physical differences has been a major sore point between the Ahlran people in the southern lowlands and the Iyeta people of the northern mountainous regions.

c) Nation's type of government: Lusoña is currently governed by a provisional revolutionary government following the collapse of the dictatorial government of Lakan Isagani Bolante.

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
Ahlranese is considered the official language, with Hatang Kayi language spoken more in the northern regions. Other regional languages are the Samtoy and Ibalo.

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
56% Ahlran, 24% Iyeta, 10% Asinyan, 8% Lukungulod, 2% Ibalon

f) What are the major religions among your population?
Ahlran Anitism, is widely practiced religion in Lusoña. N'nhivara is closed second, with the religions from Belisaria being a small minority.

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):

The Armed Forces of the Lusoñan Republic (native: Sandatahang Lakas ng Republika ng Lusoña) are the professional military service of the Lusonan Republic.
It consists of three main service branches;

• The Lusoñan Republic Army (Hukbong Katihan ng Republika ng Lusoña)
• The Lusoñan Republic Air Forces (Hukbong Himpapawid ng Republika ng Lusoña)
• The Lusoñan Republic Navy (Hukbong Dagat ng Republika ng Lusoña)
  
  • Also includes the Lusoñan Republic Marine Corps (Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Republika ng Lusoña).

The AFLR is comprised of 143,100 active personnel, with over 770,000 reserves of which 250,000 is considered Ready Reserves. These Ready Reserve units that can be activated and organized in five days. The Lakan of the Lusoñan Republic is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFLR and forms the military policy with the Department of Defence (Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa). As of 2023, $19.3 billion or 3% of the GDP is spent on military forces.

The combined forty-five year rule of Lakan Dakila Bolante and his son Lakan Isagani Bolante were considered to have marked a decline for the AFLR. The Bolantes preferred promoting officers based on their loyalty and connections to the Lakan and was involved in human rights violations against the mountain clans of the northern mountainous regions and in corruption. The end of the Bolante dictatorship and the transition to democracy saw the Provisional Government purge the officers considered too problematic.

The purging of disloyal officers has thrown the AFLR in disarray as the loyalist officers to the Provisional Government are reorganizing the Armed Forces. Between the growing insurgency in the north and the current reorganization, the military is stretched thin.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
Previously a major agricultural economy, the Bolante regime followed a strategy of industrialization, rapidly growing the textiles, clothing, metalworks, machinery and petroleum sectors. Introduction of a high-yielding rice variety to the Lusoñan agricultural sector produced a rice boom. However the economic downturn and social unrest in the mid 80's and the implementation of Martial Law severely impacted the Lusoñan economy. Further corruption and mismanagement of crony-controlled sectors of the economy, severely contracting the economy for several years. Poverty incidence by the end of the elder Bolante was around 44.9%.

The younger Bolante attempted to resuscitate a failing economy by ending Martial Law and begun the process of repaying its debts. A further opening and market liberalization caused some economic growth, though hampered by the continued mismanagement and corruption. The Bolante government introduced new measures to strengthen the economy as Lusoña became a hub for Business Process Outsourcing and a Tourist destination. The younger Bolante however, would be deposed by a coup, once again throwing the economy into chaos as a provisional revolutionary government took over.

The new provisional government would privatize state-owned entities and further reduced trade barriers. The economy of Lusoña in post-Bolante era is primarily a service-based economy, accounting for 60% of the country's labour force.

The military was previously one of the best-equipped forces in the region before the Martial Law. Following decades of mismanagement and corruption, the Armed Forces is in the process of reorganization and modernization though process is slow.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
All aspects of the country is up for discussion. I am willing to make changes.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita:
$19,900 (GDP nominal: $643.2 billion)
LUP 1,084,351.00 (GDP nominal: LUP 35.047 trillion)

(Economic data calculator here: LINK)

b) Nation's IC population:
32,322,093

c) What does your nation excel in exporting?
Semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits.

d) What does your nation need to import?
Electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic

e) What is your country self sufficient on?
Energy, agriculture, mineral and marine resources.

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
Another location adjustment. In red, west of Ankat. (fourth iteration) (by Lacus Magni)

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
- https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Gristol-Serkonos (current main nation in Ajax)
- viewtopic.php?f=5&t=500072 (most recent RP)
- viewtopic.php?f=4&t=417994&p=40269236#p40269236 (most recent news posting)

Addendum:

The issue of the island of the Baog-na-Bato will be a major issue for the new Lusonan government.

Historically, Baog-na-Bato is a trading hub to the Tahamaja and eventually an island controlled by the Mutulese Ochran. For most of its contemporary history, the island has been fraught with political instability and civil unrest. In 1974, the island government decided to put it into a political process to decide the island future. A referendum was announced by the government and its process to organize the referendum was difficult. In mid-1979, Lakan Dakila Bolante signed Republic Act 1077, unilaterally incorporating the island under the control of the Lusoñan Republic. A few days later, the Lusoñan Republic approved that an AFLR occupation force to be deployed.

The Pulaui government disapproved of the actions of the Lusoñan Republic, provoking an armed confrontation between the two countries over the island. The conflict ended with the permanent partition of the island that lasted until the downfall of the Bolante Regime. The Provisional Revolutionary Government that succeeded the Bolante regime, wanted the issue of the island settled. The Provisional Government however is divided on the issue, and becomes unresolved pending the return to the democratic government. Following the first Senate and Lakan elections, the country begun the process of accession to the AON.

The issue of Baog-na-Bato becomes a major issue for Lusoñan Republic's accession and will be a major issue for the Auza and the current adminstrations.

[Russian Homeland]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: Since 2014 (varying)
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c) Other nations: N/A (All ceased to exist)
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d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
Yes, by member Blackguard47(Gresnaya)

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Federation of Laudesia
b) Brief description of your nation: The Federation of Laudesia is an amalgamation of ethnic groups and small countries that were united after the Laudesian Unification War of 1949. The nation closely resembles its real life contemporary of Yugoslavia - with growing ethnic tensions and fierce political climate. The nation is ruled fiercely by a right-leaning police/military state in order to maintain control of the various ethnic groups and opinion groups. Press censorship is on the high and the only media in the country is the state-run media organization "Veritas". Any and all protests are usually put down with strong government force.

The Kingdom of Laudesia was a successor nation to the medieval Mesogeian Empire. It lasted from the medieval era all the way up until a civil war between 1884-1887 known as the Laudesian Civil War, when King Pavlichenko was overthrown in a coup d'état that saw the collapse of the nation. After the war, the many provinces of the nation were taken over by various warlords and pop-up governments trying to seize power. Many of these countries were incredibly corrupt, and it wasn't until the early 1920's when the region became stable. In the 1937, the Laudesian Unification Movement (LUM) was formed and quickly started gaining traction, with various groups with different political opinions being formed in the years after. In 1947, there were three major groups; the Laudesian Unification Movement, Tauri and Azagartian Allied Front (TAAF), and the Laudesian Socialist Society (LSS). Riots broke out in the Republic of Swanovia, located in southern Laudesia which ultimately culminated in a government take over by LUN forces. This soon caused a domino affect, and by early 1949 the majority of the southern part of the country fell under the rule of the three major groups, now one major alliance known as the Laudesian Unification Front. The remaining strongpoints against the LUF banded together to form the 'Northern Alliance'. The Northern Alliance attempted diplomatic talks to try and create a peace treaty and recognize the legitimacy of a new Laudesian state. However, it was revealed that the Northern Alliance would attempt to assassinate the major heads of state that attended the meeting. Following the revealing of this, public support for the Northern Alliance fell substantially and within the year, most of the country had fallen to LUF control following a widely successful military campaign. On January 1st, 1950, the Federation of Laudesia was proclaimed and shortly thereafter on January 18th, the country was fully reunified. The following 30 years would be filled with a growing and prosperous economy, however it was not to last.

The gradual decline of the Federation of Laudesia can be attributed to a series of events in the 1980's following the election of General Theodore Atlas in 1981. Prior to this, the nation was thriving economically with large amounts of exports revolving around the manufacturing of coal, steel, and some manufactured goods. It also was a large exporter of weapons. It was widely believed that the election that saw General Atlas rise was fraudulent, as General Atlas ran both as his own party (Laudesian Workers People Party) and didn't have the backing of the majority of the Parliament. Following the election, General (now President) Atlas enacted a law that reduced the wages of all members of Parliament, along with raising up a secret police force known as the "Securus". This was met with fierce resistance from the Parliament, who on April 10th, 1981, secretly voted to have President Atlas overthrown. Atlas was informed by Secretary of Defense, Admiral Vasilis Primou of the planned attempt. President Atlas later that day surrounded the Parliament building with military forces and ordered the arrest of every member of Parliament who partook in the secret vote. This became known as Dark Friday and the end of Laudesian Democracy. Elections were temporarily cancelled, although in reality it was truly a permanent closing of the door to democracy. Over the next two years, the Laudesian Army engaged in combat against several elements of rebel forces loyal to the exiled/imprisoned Parliament. The war, while short took an immense toll on the countries economy, and President Atlas began printing money in an attempt to keep the country afloat economically. At the same time, Atlas also cut spending on various government sponsored programs, such as welfare and social benefits. This caused great uproar within the nation, leading Secretary of Defense, Admiral Vasilis Primou to turn on the President. In a scene that almost recreated 'Dark April', Admiral Primou overthrew President Atlas and proclaimed that Laudesia would undergo a ten year rebuilding plan in an effort to save the economy. While several plans and projects were initiated, the economy never truly recovered and the nations growth was forever stunted.

The trend of economic downturn would continue slowly for 20 years until 2003. Newly proclaimed President Yasin Erkin (former Head of Agriculture) opened up the nation on a large scale to foreign investment in a new turn to try and save the nations economy. Cheaper labor and easy manufacturing costs were the marketing goal, and this did help substantially in the nations overall growth. However, members of Erkin's parliament abolished several pre-existing labor laws; and in several labor disputes leveraged against protesting Alcaenian minorities. In the present day, the Laudesian Federation struggles in its goal of finding balance between the three ethnic groups, and floating above the water economically. It can count on its strong police and military force to maintain order, but massive improvements must be done in order to maintain the nations integrity.

c) Nation's type of government: Federal Republic
d) What languages are spoken in your nation?:
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Tauri/Tauric, Azagartian, Alcaenian
f) What are the major religions among your population? Nazarism
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Laudesian Military is somewhat well equipped in certain areas. Domestic weapons make up the bulk of the national armory equipping its forces, but it will have to rely on foreign military investment. It's offensive capabilities are competent, but extremely limited. The main premise of the military is to safeguard the nations borders, but more often than not find themselves as a reinforced police force. The military has a combined strength of roughly 180,000 active personnel, and twice that amount in reserve. The Laudesian Military is divided into three major branches, and several subbranches. This includes the Laudesian Army, Air Force, and Navy. Subbranches include groups such as the Laudesian Koruma Ajansı ('Protection Agency', the Laudesian equivalent to the Marines which fall under overall military control), and the Laudesian Silahlı Ev Savunması ('Armed Home Defense', which is the Laudesian equivalent to the National Guard').

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. The Federation of Laudesia is not strong economically, and has a moderate industrial base to rely on for both self-preservation and economic needs. The military is a well trained fighting force and maintains a high level of discipline - due in part for the need to it to step in during political strife. The Federation of Laudesia can offer a well-priced industrial base for the manufacturing of low and medium quality products. Laudesia would play a role similar to that of the waning Yugoslavia of the 1980's.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Reducing economic and military strength until deemed suitable, along with other major factors.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $17,000
b) Nation's IC population: 32,430,000
14,000,000 Tauri
12,260,000 Azagartians
4,000,000 Alcaenians
2,170,000 (Mixed/Foreign Nationals)

c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Raw and processed minerals, such as coal, steel, aluminum, and manufactured products.
d) What does your nation need to import? Electronics, luxury goods, and rare mineral resources.
e) What is your country self sufficient on?
Oil:
The nation has a relatively limited source of oil that is used solely domestically. Located in the eastern part of the country, the majority of the oil is drilled under the guise of the National Laudesian Oil Company. The company has been a major point of conflict, being the root cause of several environmental disasters in the region. The nation is able to produce just enough for domestic use, with any surplus going into the strategic reserves. During a military crisis in 1986, oil usage exceeded the production capabilities, and the nation was forced to import great amounts of foreign oil. It comes without question that the nation is just floating above the water when it comes to self sustainability on oil. However, it is widely suggested that the country will outgrow its current production of oil as the population grows.

Heavy Machinery/Manufacturing:
The Federation of Laudesia can sustain itself in the production of heavy machinery and equipment without needing to import the equipment or materials to manufacture them (with the exception of electronics). This is helped by the large repurposing of a once large military industrial complex, and the heavy use of railroad infrastructure in the use of national industrialization.


f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? The eastern most point of Belisaria next to Mesogeia.
Roleplay History
I cannot provide a roleplay history on nationstates directly from the past two years, as our group had moved to discord. However, I can answer or roleplay a prompt if requested.

[Tyreseia]

a) Time on NationStates:
- The Western Isles (2017-2018, 2018-2020)
- Ajax (2021-present)
c) Other nations:
- Brulafi (now CTE'd)
- Tyreseia (active)
- Pulacan (active)
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? I was not recommended here by anyone. I found this region through the "Random article" button on iiWiki.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: The Most Serene Republic of Dzhuvenestan (also translated as Celestial Republic of Dzhuvenestan)
b) Brief description of your nation:

Dzhuvenestan is a nation saddled in western Ochran, across the sea from Mesogeia and bordering Halys to the west. Inhabited originally by groups predating modern Halysians and Balecians, their numbers were pushed into the minorities by first the Azagartian Empire, which expanded rapidly into the area and pushed the Balecians and Halysians to the fringe as they dominated the highland, and then the Perateians in short order. Even as the Empire itself retreated, the groups involved in its expansion remained, gradually splitting into the tribes of the Dzhuveni and the Gerki. This period also established a theme for Dzhuven history, with much of the western fringes of modern-day Dzhuvenestan becoming a battleground for Perateian and Azagartian imperial forces.

The region saw brief occupation by the Qavaris, a !Turkic horde moving westwards in the time of the Bayarid Empire. They found the lands of Dzhuvenestan (and, at times, the plunderable riches of the communities around it) much to their liking, and they quickly established themselves to stay. They hardly governed; preferring to live on the move or in small settlements, they would trade with or raid their neighbors and only control what it was economical to hold. In time, they too found a niche within the region’s multiethnic patchwork. Various Ochranian empires came and went during this period, exerting some ephemeral influence on the area but often failing to control it substantially. The Dzhuven ethnic group in this time was able to establish itself in the dominant majority for the region.

In the mid-17th century, however, the balance of power in the region was shaken by an ascendant Mesogeia, which recruited some Dzhuveni domains into a war that saw the former gain control of the region. The Mesogeians exacted a heavy toll on the region, or so post-independence historians would have you believe. The production of agriculture was exponentially increased as the emperors sought to create an Ochranian "breadbasket," while the mountains were stripped of their natural resources. There was sudden political pressure from increased extraction, along with the enforced spread of the Apostolic Church, co-official use of the Alcaenian language, and swift promotion of local Balecian and Alcaenian fringe figures as client rulers or nobles. A system of nobility and serfdom developed in Dzhuvenestan, with some nobles created out of old, local families while others were transplants from the Imperial motherland. The region was shaped by Mesogeian policies heavily as a result of the imperial desires to control the heartland of the Azagartian Empire, from which they claimed to have inherited the right to rule. As such, for a time, no price was too high to pay to hold the region—though strategies in governing varied wildly.

By the time of the Thirty Years’ War (1770-1802), the Dzhuveni provinces had developed a reputation for lawlessness and disorder as the eastern fringe of the empire. It was there that an equally troublesome and reckless royal, Prince Michalis, was posted during the war. Seen as nothing but a rowdy troublemaker and a burden on the efforts to produce royal prestige, Michalis was effectively punished by being appointed to command garrison troops in Dzhuvenestan instead of on the front lines. Feeling slighted, and that he could turn the tides of the war that the Mesogeians were losing against the enemy, Michalis began plotting his revenge for being so sidelined. He rallied his troops against his familial overlords as a gamble to showcase his argument through military prowess. Though successful in large-scale ambushes such as at the Battle of Arvemshahr in 1797, Michalis' campaign instead solidified his reputation as a disloyal traitor, burning his bridges with the Imperial Family. The renegade royal continued his campaign to great success, wielding his smaller force in guerrilla tactics against a numerically-superior but beleaguered Mesogeian army. Following the famous (and perhaps apocryphal) hailing of "Caesar; nay, Imperator!" by his troops in 1800, he crowned himself Anax Michalis I, Prince of the Dzhuvens and shortly after signed the Treaty of Pharapoli, which established Dzhuvenestan's independence.

His military victory, and promise of relief from Mesogeian overbearing, saw the new so-called "Anax" Michalis I of Dzhuveneia be lauded by many a local noble who had disdain for the squeeze placed on them by Alexandropolis. Many nobles placed by the Mesogeian Exarch that felt more loyalty to the old order then revolted at various stages, but were quickly routed by Michalis' near-genius. This intelligence was largely limited to military affairs, however; he largely made a poor ruler, and delved ever deeper into psychosis as he tried desperate measures to keep the nation unified. This nearly caused a split; successive and more tame Anases were unable to right the course, and by the late 19th century, many of the remaining nobles realized that both the Mesogeian Exarch and all the Dzhuveni monarchs were pushing for nearly the same thing: autocratic centralization, with the ancient rights and privileges of the nobility systematically stripped away to make room for the all-consuming State. Many nobles began scheming to overthrow the monarch and lead the nation for themselves, often appropriating ideas of Belisarian liberalism and ideas of plutocracy to suit their own ends of maintaining liberty for the upper classes.

Eventually, a group of army officers dramatically overthrew the final monarch, Anax Constantine II, in October of 1864 as he was en route to his coronation. The nation descended into anarchy as a brutal, decade-long civil war ravaged the country. Finally, the nobles proved victorious; Constantine was hanged via show trial and the rest of the royal family, led by his son fled into exile in Mesogeia, where they groveled and pleaded to be allowed in. The ensuing Grand Republic of Dzhuveneia harnessed the nationalist and Romanticist movements of late-19th-century Belisaria and mixed them with local ideals to create a constructed sort of national identity apart from Mesogeian or Alcaenian influences. A new religion, Yazdanism, was “reconstructed” from numerous indigenous traditions separate from local Sarpeticism and Yen groups, with a heaping spoonful of Romantic pseudohistory. The new regime spun itself as the true expression of these new national ideals of freedom from tyranny and protecting its way of life. A new constitution enshrined the rights of the aristocracy; many positions of old nobility and ancient tribal allegiances were fused together in a near-anachronistic fashion to simply government. Also created was a powerful Senate, which in effect ruled the nation (though a Council of Ministers, complete with two first-among-equals Minister-Presidents, at least nominally headed the executive branch). This political framework largely remains to this day, though it was most severely altered in 1984 following a series of riots, student protests, and internal disturbance amid an economic crisis that threatened to topple the noble system.

Of course, a political framework only matters if all parties agree to build within it. The 1984 reforms failed to satisfy many in the army; numerous junior officers that were from lower on the government-tribal hierarchy still felt unrepresented by reforms made from the top down. Repressed ethnic and religious minorities, long sidelined under the Dzhuveni nation, began clamoring for autonomy or even independence, hoping to push the stopgap reforms of 1984 even further. Continued border conflict with neighbor and enemy Halys also threatened to boil over into war, and with the government losing its control over much of its politicizing officer corps, the nation looked unable to effectively defend itself should the conflict go hot. As a result, with encouragement by charismatic Air Force colonel Afran Zomorodi, a coup d’etat was launched that placed Zomorodi in charge of the country and the Senate “temporarily resolved” for national security purposes. What followed was a dramatic purge of many dissenting elements and the solidification of rule by Zomorodi, whom quickly became a military dictator.

It is now the 32nd year of Zomorodi’s rule. Decades of absolute power have corrupted him absolutely. He consults an astrologer provided by the leadership of the secretive Yazdani sect he follows more than his own staff or commanding officers. The numerous ethnic groups, long relegated to the fringes of the Dzhuveni imperial scheme, have by and large resorted to forming militias. Ostensibly for their own protection, they now wage war against the central government, and a resolution to the crisis seems now about as distant as the memory of the short-lived promises of ‘84.

c) Nation's type of government: Dzhuvenestan de jure is a constitutional republic, with an intricate form of government co-opting traditional tribal governance as an element of romantic nationalism. De facto, Afran Zomorodi is a strongman ruling through fear, intimidation, manipulation and division of interest groups, and control over the army and media. Exiting the nation legally is tightly controlled and citizens are subjected to as much of a surveillance state as this broke nation can afford. Certain sects of Yazdanism have close influence on Zomorodi, with an astrologer guiding many of his policy decisions, especially in the last decade.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Dzhuveni (Kurmanji Kurdish, the only official language of the country), Gerki (Sorani Kurdish), Qavar, Balecian Hellenic, Balecian (!Albanian or another Illyrian language), maybe Halysian or other ethnic groups pushed out by Halys' [REDACTED] behavior
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Dzhuveni, Qavari, Balecian, [some kind of Hellene], Halysite, some others (see note above)
f) What are the major religions among your population? Yazdanism (official), Aletheic Church, Manichaeism, Albaniote Judaism, Ecumenical Church
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Army of the Celestial Republic of Dzhuvenestan (ACRD) is a force of 670,000 troops in total and comprises of the Ground Forces, the Air Forces, the Naval Forces and the Celestial Guards (think Internal Troops). The Ground Troops and Celestial Guards receive the lion's share of manpower, funding, and attention while the Air Forces get a moderate amount of both and the Naval Forces receive a pittance. This largely stems from the simple fact that Dzhuvenestan's leadership have been solely focused on beating the nation back into shape for over three decades now, and such a singular focus has totally warped defense planning and strategy.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
Militarily, Dzhuvenestan is moderately good at beating the tar out of its own people. Less than being a pan-Ajaxi foil, Dzhuvenestan is meant to symbolize a long-running regional conflict, something will exist in the low level for a long time. It will also be a window into a state without a full monopoly on violence, as some more isolated and rural areas under control of guerrillas have managed to function on their own, less-advanced economies. Eventually, Dzhuvenestan might steer its way out of this mess, but it will probably take a long time and lots of careful roleplaying.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? I don't exactly see this nation as being strong. In a way, the current ethnic chaos is probably what's keeping Halys from invading out of the sheer practicality of dealing with all the various armed groups. This also means the ACRD is effectively handicapped, and beyond token contributions, has been unable to exercise any sort of meaningful foreign activity since at least 1991 if not earlier. To lower strength, I might boost tinpot factor or internal conflict to lower economic development.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $9,624 (open to adjustment)
b) Nation's IC population: 47,004,212 (also open to adjustment)
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Steel, hardware like power tools, and other basic metal products. Some ores or processed iron like taconite might be exported as well. Dzhuvenestan could also serve as a more localized counterpart in the sweatshop goods trade.
d) What does your nation need to import? Firearms, various kinds of food, technology and engineering (brain drain moment), other and more complex manufactured goods, vehicles
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Fish and timber
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Tyreseia
https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Pulacan

[The Yremia Corporate]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
-Much
c) Other nations:
-Alanahr
-Ludvosiya
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?

Recommendations are an illusion.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name:
Zilung Chen

b) Brief description of your nation:

Zilung Chen is centred on the Kathang plateau, a great expanse of grasslands and glacial lakes, and the Yangra mountains to the nation’s north and east. The vast and varied lands of the plateau join onto the coast of the Chulha, dominated in the western part by the river Men. In addition, Zilung Chen maintains two territories on the Chula, heirlooms of the empire of old. One a series of islands long since colonised by the Zilungpa, the other a strategic port and its surrounding land.

For much of the history of where Zilung Chen now is the plateau and lowlands were divided into smaller states. These states ebbed and flowed in power and influence. They resisted and fought against many invaders of their home however when the Bayarids swept through the region, they were incorporated into its Empire one way or another. However upon the end of the Bayarids, independent states began to reassert themselves. After some time one state rose to unify the plateau, known as Zilung Chen Po (this older name is subject to change and for ease of writing I will be referring to it as the Great Republic from now on).

From this point between the years of the 1600s-1700s the Great Republic invaded the lowlands, Chulha coastal regions and incorporated them into its new Empire. The 1800s saw it expanding further abroad into the inland regions of Western Ochran. All the time competing with Bayarid successor states including Uluujol and eventually Untsangazar, both of which it competed for control over Jade Road revenues. The Great Republic would force its language, script, religious beliefs, culture upon those it would conquer. Considering them to be inferior. In addition over the life of the Great Republic many Zilungpa migrated and moved to other regions of the empire.

In the 1800s however the Great Republic found itself increasingly bogged down by internal power struggles. While a major revolt occurred near the turn of the century, the defeat of that revolt convinced many that the worst was behind them. However they would be proven wrong and in the 1910s, an all out civil war would erupt in the heartland of the Great Republic. As forces were drawn to participate in this conflict, the control over the non-Zilungpa regions was shown to be weak and the few troops remaining were not enough to keep control of the situation. Non-Zilungpa military formations turned coat and joined ethnic rebels. Over the course of a year the entire empire fell apart. The civil war raged on for years, allowing the newly independent states carved from the empire to establish themselves and prepare for the return of the Great Republic.

And upon conclusion of the civil war they were right, the Great Republic did return. Declaring war against the newly independent states, however almost every single one of these wars resulted in failures of varying degrees for the so-called Great Republic. Only a few very small separatist states were reincorporated and their peoples subjected to harsh reprisals. In the end the Great Republic was forced into many concessions. And with that it wasn’t long before the Great Republic met its end. Reforming into Zilung Chen following further internal power struggles in the 1930s-40s.

Nowadays the nation is much more reserved in its interventions in the states of its former Empire. But it cultivates the idea that these states are a brotherhood of peoples, something not much recognised outside of it. There is also a belief in the right of Zilung Chen to intervene to protect ethnic Zilungpa, regardless of whether those people want their intervention or not. There is a perverse view of the former empire that it was of great benefit to the former residents of it and that they should be grateful and welcome modern institutions resembling it. Ultimately the political leadership of the modern state understand the dangers of taking these popular views to their natural conclusions but still attempt to come as close to fulfilling these desires without tipping the limited hand of Zilung Chen.

Despite a unifying idea of Zilungpa, the culture of the land is quite varied from place to place. There is a great degree of social stratification, largely determining rifts in wealth and class. Education is highly thought of. Gender roles are highly socially enforced, but are weaker the lower down the social ladder. Military service, or conscription, provides great benefits for those who have served. Welfare is heavily focused on women and children and reasonably generous. All of these things are combined with the general social beliefs to create an invictist-like (or maybe entirely invictist) society that is struggling to come to terms with the limits on reclaiming its former territories.

c) Nation's type of government:
Zilung Chen, long having a democratic tradition, is governed by systems of elected officials and assemblies. In theory these provide many checks and balances and good governance, although in practice they often provide for corruption. On a basic level it could be called a Republic.

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
Zilungke, probably some minority languages too

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
Zilungpa are the vast majority, there are probably some localised minorities but the point is that the end of their empire meant almost every non-Zilungpa people got independence

f) What are the major religions among your population?
An as yet unnamed Tibetan-inspired religion, cult of saints bodhittsavas type thing that might steal some aspects from sikkism. Probably some oppressed religious minorities too.

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
Zilung Chen’s military is built around the hubris that no nation would dare attack them. Roughly 160,000 people serve in the military in its entirety and it is largely built in an expeditionary format. The navy and air force get a lot of priority, with the intention of controlling the Chulha sea and facilitating expeditions across it if necessary. Conscription exists and is generally used to fill the ranks of light infantry roles while heavy infantry are careerists. Conscription could theoretically be used to raise large formations however the system is not designed to train or equip large numbers of troops, even though the materiel may be there.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
Zilung Chen’s strength is largely in the shadow it casts. It will offer a major anchor and link to central Ochran. It also provides a lot of vital goods to many former parts of its empire. It will also offer dynamism to central Ochran by being able to be both a boogeyman and a disruptor. However, unknown to any but a few internal officials, it is somewhat of a paper tiger when it comes to hard power.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
Probably drop the combined stats down to below 1 trillion econ, open to other adjustments that are more lore based

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: ~26k
b) Nation's IC population: 60 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting?
Refined oil and gas (there is no Ochran oil and gas supplier outside of Unzangazar), Heavy machinery, Electronic goods, Animal products, Food products, Consumer products, (not an export but it provides a lot of the shipping fleet for the Chulha and it’s kind of an export)

d) What does your nation need to import?
Agricultural raw goods, mineral raw goods, consumer products (clothing, furniture, etc.), uranium, advanced electronics, construction goods

e) What is your country self sufficient on?
Machinery, shipbuilding, military products (whether they are good or not)

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
See my post in the app thread.

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

Help.

[Syalat]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
-Years
c) Other nations:
-Charnea
-Zacapican
-Merovia
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?

Each time you ask, the answer is the same. Fin sent me. Fin is sending me. Fin will send me.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Syalat (Stewardship of Syalat, Syalat ko Bhandari, SkB

b) Brief description of your nation:

Syalat (coming from Syala -Jackal- and Tata - Coast) exists as a series of slopes down from the roof of Ochran, the great mountains of the south which run through Shimlar-Pashmir and the border with Ankat, slowly making their way down the level of the Chulha (formerly Chuyan) seashore, the eponymous Jackal Coast. This land is scored with grooves, monumental valleys and landforms where the villages, towns and cities of the Syalati people can be found.

The country is diverse, fractured by the mountains and hills, yet united by its shared history. The Jackal Coast is a borderland between three great historical civilizations, and has frequently been brought into the fold of these outer powers either as a vassal, a satellite state or a province dominated by military force. The first of these were the Azagartian people, then followed a period of a strong independent Syalati polity in late antiquity. Then came the Bayarids, and their Bayar and Chuyan successor states, and in their wake came the most recent conquerors, the Zilungpa from across the inland sea.

These periods of foreign rule, the many conquests and attempts to assimilate the tribes of the valleys and hills created the Syalati people, a people born in a culture of defiance to authority, of Dakus, the lawless people, the bandits of the mountain roads who escaped the authority of the potentates and governors of the great Chulha port cities and the high valley strongholds. The invaders had also themselves settled in the hills and mixed with the local tribes, bringing with them their customs. Azagartian food, the Bayarid way of war, the Zilung scholarship and religious order, all becoming part of Syalat.

In the last century, the power of the Zilung Chen Po came crashing down and rebellion exploded in Syalat. When the rising of the mountain folk finally came, it came at the hand of the Agamana School, a local sect of the Zilung religion who firmly believed that only the divine could lord over men and on this basis denied the authority of the outsiders to govern Syalat. Where rebel feudal lords and bandits had failed to throw out foreign rulers, the Agamana and their armed monks and followers of the Agragami Sena (“Army of the Vanguards”) swept down from their high mountain fortresses, pushed the authorities from the valleys and seized most of the coast, denying the Zilung Chen Po the capacity to land reinforcements and retake the lands (although some exclaves remained under their control, which the Agragamiharu couldn’t capture)

The Agamana established a monastic government over Syalat, the first indigenous government in centuries. The monks believed in a minimalistic approach to governance, in keeping with their religious doctrine and denying their own right to rule the lives of the people and accepting only the role of Stewards keeping the peace and protecting the land from invaders in the name of the divine. Many essential services are provided by Guild associations, such as the association of travelers which control the postal services and run many inns, hotels and bridges across the country, or the Electric guilds in the major cities which run the electric grid. These Guilds are separate from the Agamana administration, yet closely interrelated to them, receiving the Agamana’s patronage and in exchange paying tithes, renting lands from the monks and funding religious festivals in their local regions.

c) Nation's type of government: Religious Oligarchy of the Agamana school. Styled as the “Monastic CCP”, behaving somewhat like a one party state with a bunch of monks instead of any formal party.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Nepalese, Tibetan, Pasto
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Khas tribes (Nepalese groups), Zilungpa (Tibetans), Pashtun minority
f) What are the major religions among your population? As yet unnamed Tibetan-inspired religion, cult of saints bodhittsavas type thing.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Syalati military, the Agragami Sena, is not actually the national military of the government of Syalat but rather the “party military” of the Agamana monks, similar to how the PLA is the military of the CCP not of the state of China. Its members, the Agragamiharu, are the only people in Syalat permitted to bear automatic weapons and military gear, with police bearing batons and non-lethal arms, and hunters only allowed to own single-shot rifles. The Agragami Sena recruits through the religious school system, operating a combined force of some 125,000 men armed with older small arms and equipment, relatively light vehicular forces adapted to the highly mountainous terrain, and a fleet of chronically outdated aircraft. They also have a navy of patrol boats and light ships to patrol the longest coastline of all the Chulha sea nations.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. The red-headed stepchild and resource whore of the Chulha sea area. Probably on par or weaker than every nation around it, militarily speaking - somewhat capable of mounting a defense of its territory, but don’t expect much past that.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Make them less based and monk-pilled

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 7,354
b) Nation's IC population: 20 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Foodstuffs (grains, spices, fruits, etc), textiles and clothing, machine tools, certain minerals (copper, iron)
d) What does your nation need to import? Most electronic goods and advanced components such as chips and other computing equipment, heavy machinery, military equipment, energy resources (coal, gas)
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Construction goods, steel, wood, electric wiring, metal products.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
Claim in Red. Note the exclave to Kunarians app in blue

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

What is worldbuilding

[Mutul]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: Your guess is as good as mine at this point
-
c) Other nations: Mutul, Drevstran
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? I genuinely cannot remember

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Shirazam
b) Brief description of your nation: On the edge of the Chuyan Sea, the lands known as Shirazam are an oasis stuck between the desert and the steppe. A vast wetland known simply as the “Green Triangle” at the mouth of two great rivers: the Bozorg-Darya and the Sin-Darya. Their history is rich and ancient, going back to the time of the Azgaratian Empire. It was the cradle of the Avestani, or Zend, culture, which gave birth to the Azgaratians and all other related ethnic and cultural groups. Shirzamites thus boast with pride of remaining a center of civilization and culture throughout its long history, even as many foreign empires, from the steppes or the mountains, invaded and dominated those rich lowlands.
The latest of these foreigners were the Zilung Chen who had built an Empire of their own and taken over all the Chuyan Sea’ shores. A staunch repression of Shirazam’ religion, customs, language, and culture turned it into a country of constant uprising and revolt, which in turn only aggravated the repression. By the 19th century, Nationalism had become a strong, unifying feeling across all classes of Shirzamite society, which directly led to the People’ Spring, the empire-wide event that led to the messy partition of the Empire in a continent-wide civil war.
During the chaos of the civil war, Shirazam fell back unto its traditional leadership: tribal chiefs, city mayors, non-Zilung Chen religious officials. It’s the tribal warchief Sarbarshir Khan Hardur who managed to league around himself and his tribesmen a large religio-nationalist coalition. However, once he died, the weak state he left behind proved incapable of maintaining itself. Different solutions were attempted to keep the finances afloat but oppositions from both the elites and the people successfully shot them down, leading to a crisis. The situation would devolve into the Shirazamite Revolution and change the face of the country.
While at first the events only led to the Hardurid regime becoming a constitutional monarchy, it quickly spiraled out of control and led to the death of the last Hardurid monarch, executed for treason, and the establishment of the First Republic which itself went through successive forms until (short lived oligarchy, directory, dictature…). It’s current iteration, the Fourth Republic (Chaharom Jomhuriye Shirazam) is a democracy famed for its highly active political life, with a system of universal voting based on the principle of Majority Judgement leading to a great number of smaller political parties.
c) Nation's type of government: As a political system, elections in Shirazam happen under a system of Majority Judgement, with universal and mandatory voting. Its unicameral parliament is the Khaneh-e Valika, « House of the Deputies ». A third of the parliament is renewed every three years. The Primate (Avvalin-e Shirzam) is elected for a mandate of seven years and is both the Head-of-Government and the Head-of-State, Commander-in-chief of the military and President of the Supreme Court. The government (Dowlat) itself is made of a number of « Viziers » led by the « Grand Vizier » (Vazirazam). Each Vizier has under him a cabinet of Secretaries (Dapir).
Shirazam is famous for its « Bill of Rights and Duties of the Citizen » (Madanchi o Taklifa ye Azatana) which serve as the Constitution of the country.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Aryazaban has always been the most important language of Shirazam, and the oldest still spoken one, but two centuries of mandatory schooling have trully made it hegemonic. Some other Avestani dialects survive, although critically endangered, and certain nomads still speak Chuyan dialects. Zhilung is the most common second language although Tsurushimese has gained in proeminence over the past three decades.
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Close to 90% of the population consider, or is considered, to be "Shirzamites" or, as they call themselves, Skarts. Many different people, especially Chuyan and Bayar nomads, have lived or even dominated Shirazam over history, but nowadays they have faded away, integrated into the broader Avestani culture.
f) What are the major religions among your population? Aletheic Nazarism is considered central to the culture of Shirazam. It notably regained in fervour in the wake of the Revolutionary Wars against the Zilung Chen and their own state-religion. The "Aletheic fever" that coupled itself with Shirzamite Nationalism died down afterward and was even victim of its own backlash. Nowadays the population that isn't irreligious remain in the Aletheic Church, with a very developed cult of saints inherited from the Zilung Chen.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): Shirazam' military is divided into three forces: the Land Forces, the Air Defense Forces, and the Naval Forces. Because of Shirazam' very flat geography, the Air Defense Forces receive priority funding with the aim of protecting a Land Army built to fight in the Steppes (rapid deployment troops, mobile artillery, etc...). The "Navy" is essentially fluvial and lacustrine. It's main purpose is to secure the Green Delta, defend against attacks from the Chuyan Sea, and only then attempting to secure control of the Chuyan Sea altogether. Due to the presence of at least once historically difficult neighbor, Shirazam maintain a conscription system. Once mandatory (for men) and purely military, a civilian service is now possible, as well as civil protection.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Shirazam offer an "iranian" heartland to Ajax. As an economy it developped in the second half of the 20th century as a "secondary manufacturing" center, producing computer hardwares, machineries, and vehicles licenced from other nations and aimed at central Ochran markets. Nowadays Shirazam is now home to companies capable of handling their own R&D as well as the conception and development of their own products, especially in informatics. Its ressources in water and arable lands also make it a breadbasket for other central Ochraneses countries.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?Take out engineering capacities to turn Shirazam' enterprises into "workshop" for foreign enterprises, increase agriculture' share in its economic output to the detriment of manufacturing and services, reduce air and naval defenses capabilities to match the smaller GDP.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 21,800 USD
b) Nation's IC population: 24 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Gold, copper, gas,computer hardwares and softwares, phones, monitors, electronic parts, vehicles, agricultural products (fruits and melons)...
d) What does your nation need to import? Ferrous Minerals, Copper, Rare Earth Minerals, Uranium, Coal, Refined Oil, vehicles, heavy machineries, computer hardwares and softwares, electronic parts...
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Raw wool, gold, certain specific fruits
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. You know me.

[Communist Xomaniax]

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: The Democratic People's Republic of Phansi Uhlanga (Yeningi Eyakozi Riphabhulikhi ngaPhansi Uhlanga)/DPRPU (YERnPU)
b) Brief description of your nation:

Phansi Uhlanga (“Outer Heaven”) is a middling, developing nation in the central south of Malaio. The eastern portion of the nation, bordering Pulacan, is dominated by the Wolo kiN’nangu (“golden mountain peak”) mountains, the tips of which are high enough as to bear snow throughout the year. This gives way to rolling hills and eventually the lowland Moonaledi eWetseng (“where the star fell”) basin, from which the Naledi rainforest that covers much of Phansi Uhlanga takes its name. Deeper into the western interior, the Nalendi gives way to an increasingly dryer and flatter savanna, whereas the north of the country becomes increasingly dominated by mangrove wetland of the Imihlume (“mangrove”) Depression closer to the coast.

The region of Phansi Uhlanga has been inhabited since time immemorial. Its indigenous peoples, the Bakhoeli (“moon people”), have historically inhabited the area for many thousands of years, forming complex polities that survived even into the age of colonialism. While “Bakhloeli” is the unifying identity of its peoples, it is made up of several ethno-linguistic subgroups, historically divided between the wetter, more mountainous northeast and the hotter, flatter interior.

Prior to the end of the eighteenth century, much of what is now Phansi Uhlanga was dominated by the Bakonji Empire. Named for its founding *Mwene* (“king”) Konji, whose dynasty would go on to be known as the “Mwenekonji”, the Bakonji empire was a confederation of chieftancies in perpetual fealty to a central ruler that built a complex polity which included cyclical agriculture, advanced metalworking, developed urban centers and a rich astrological tradition built around careful study of the movement of celestial bodies. The Bakonji Empire represented the zenith of the region’s pre colonial development, actively participating in a network of trade that spanned the Ozeros sea, and did so entirely without ever having developed a written language.

Instead, the Bakonji relied on a rich tapestry of oral traditions and complex beadwork, producing both tales and works of art they are renowned for even today. The Bakonji empire would however begin to decline over time, the origins of which are myriad but principally lie with two things: firstly the rise of colonialism, which gradually shut off access to the expansive trade network the Mwenekonji dynasty enjoyed access to and facilitated a number of wars with colonial powers such as Zacapican, and especially its colony in Pulacan to the east. Secondly was an event known as the Hasanya (“scattering”), a period of intense and near genocidal military conflict brought upon by the migration of the Iqozi people into the western Bakonji interior.

The Iqozi took their name from their leader Inkosi Iqo (lit. “King Star”), who had previously challenged unsuccessfully for the chieftaincy of M’Biruna before marching southeast with his host in approximately 1800. For fifteen years the Bakonji interior was beset by successive migratory waves of peoples fleeing the Iqozi. Though many would go on to be assimilated within the kingdom, the destruction of the Hasanya would devastate the agricultural output of the interior. The Iqozi would eventually invade the Bakonji empire in 1810, forcing the latter to eventually accept the overlordship of Zacapican in exchange for their protection.

Though Inkosi Iqo would die in the resulting conflict, the sweeping reforms he brought to both the *impi* and society at large, including the adoption of colonial technologies and guerilla fighting methods, would allow his successors to militarily stalemate the Zacapican Empire and establish a fledgeling kingdom in the interior. The region, rich in material resources, would be important in Zacapican industrialization and resulted in fierce fighting by Heron forces over the colony in 1900. The latter would end with the Siege of Lwakanwanga which, despite fierce colonial determination, decisively ended the colonial period of that region.

The northern coastal portion of the region would gain independence from Pulacan as a number of Konji statelets, the largest of which was centered around the coastal capital of Dikasa. Between 1900 and 1920, Iqozi would go on to violently annex a number of the bordering Konji states in what historians would go on to call the “First Uhlangan Civil War”, with what remained of the independent Konji states formed into the Konji Free State. Iqozi gained Konji’s coastal territories, rendering the latter a landlocked mountain state.

Between 1930 and 1950, Iqozi would undergo the “Second Uhlangan Civil War” in which first the monarchy was overthrown and a series of stratocratic republics was established, culminating in the eventual ascension of the Communist Party of Iqozi seizing the capital of Bhekizizwe (“Look After The Nations”) and establishing the People’s Republic of Democratic Iqozi. Under the leadership of Supreme Chairman Kalala Ulwazi, Democratic Iqozi would build a unitary Wernerist republic governed solely by the CPI, seeking out technical experts from across the socialist world to aid in building a centrally planned command economy based centrally around mineral extraction and agriculture.

In 1960, Ulwazi would be succeeded upon death by Mulopu Falakhe, who was the leader of the Gang of Eighty-Eight, a cabal of bureaucrats and military officers who sought to open up the economy to market forces. In 1965, Democratic Iqozi invaded and brutally annexed the Konji Free State in what was eventually termed the “Third Uhlangan Civil War”. Upon his return to the capital as a hero, General Njiba Impisi would coup the central government and install himself as Supreme Chairman in 1968.

Among other things, General Impisi would repeal much of the market reforms implemented by his predecessors in favor of a more traditional planned economy, abandoning the hyperinflated internal currency entirely in favor of a voucher system itself an outgrowth of war era rationing programs. The name of the nation was changed to “Phansi Uhlanga”, meaning “Outer Heaven”, essentially “utopia”, and the government officially made a federation between Iqozi and Bakonji, both socialist republics.

From 1968 to 1975 the country underwent the “Cultural Revolution”, in which purges to civil and military society eliminated virtually any challenges to Impisi’s rule, including the mass destruction of colonial artifacts, abolition of colonial social constructs, and the formation of “Abe Inqaba” (“be a fortress”) as the national ideology. “Wernerism applied to Uhlangan material conditions”, Abe Inqaba stresses self-reliance wherever economically possible, full exploitation of natural resources for the purposes of development, and the necessity of a “permanent cultural revolution” to bring about the germination of communism.

In the modern day Phansi Uhlanga is a developing state still led by an elderly General Impisi. The smallest organizational unit is the commune, followed by the district, then the socialist republic and finally the Communist Party of Phansi Uhlanga as the national government. It is a centrally planned command economy focused on the exporting of mineral & agricultural commodities, heavy industry and increasingly since the beginning of the 1990’s low to medium-end consumer goods destined for foreign markets. As a consequence in Phansi Uhlanga the mining, agricultural and heavy industrial sectors of the economy are the most robust and represent the largest portions of the economy as well as exports, whereas consumer manufacturing is a smaller but faster growing minority.

Much of the country is still rural and dependent on farming on Phansi Uhlanga’s many farming collectives. In recent years the nation has become plagued by widespread pollution as a result of rapid industrialization and urbanization. The latter in particular is a consequence of Phansi Uhlanga’s deliberate program of focusing as many people into cities as possible to free up rural land for economic development in general and resource exploitation in particular.

c) Nation's type of government: Federal union of constituent one party socialist republics
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Uhlangan (Kituba), Iqozi (Zulu-Songye), Bakhoeli (Sotho-Kikongo), Bakonji (Tshiluba-Kikongo), various minor indigenous languages
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Iqozi (Zulu-Songye), Bakhoeli (Sotho-Kongo), Bakonji (Tshiluba-Kongo), Batwe (Twa), Mbizi (Mbuti), various minor indigenous languages
f) What are the major religions among your population? The Iqozi, Bakhoeli & Bakonji, and Pygmy peoples all have distinct folk religions unique to their cultures. Shared attributes across these traditional belief systems include animism, a veneration of nature, the dead and ancestor spirits, belief in divination and communication with a hidden supernatural world, a number of greater and lesser gods, and the use of magic.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):

The Revolutionary People’s Front of Phansi Uhlanga is divided up into four branches: the RPF-Red Guardians, RPF-Naval Forces, RPF-Air Forces, and RPF-Strategic Missile Command. The Red Guardians are the ground forces of the Uhlangan military and its largest branch, based on a universal system of conscription. The Naval Forces is the navy and focuses primarily on coastal defense and secondarily on operational capacity in the Ozeros sea. The Air Forces is the independent aviation branch of the armed forces and receives nearly as much focus as the Red Guardians. The Strategic Missile Command is a special branch that oversees Phansi Uhlanga’s missile development program as well as its satellite network.


j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.

Phansi Uhlanga is among the most resource rich nations in the Ajaxi world, with a metaphorically endless sea of natural gas and precious minerals just under the surface. This provides PU with considerable political leverage as it is willing to sell access to these natural resources to the highest bidder, or to even undercut market rates in exchange for technical aid and technological transfer. Further, it has a large (but developing) manufacturing base thanks to decades of Wernerist policy boosting its industrial capacity that, since the eighties, it has sought to turn into a “factory of the world”, where cheap goods bound for foreign markets are made. Decades of intense investment of research have even yielded a growing domestic chip and semiconductor industry which drives the Uhlangan missile development program.

Despite these strengths however Phansi Uhlanga’s authoritarian government prevents it from properly cozying up to much of the socialist bloc and left-liberal Ajaxi world, while its hardline communist ideology makes the capitalist and monarchic blocs implausible bedfellows. Phansi Uhlanga instead seeks to juggle relationships with many different nations in order to develop itself, build a projection capacity throughout Scipia-Malaio and, as a foreign policy goal, the expulsion of all colonial forces from the region and the eradication of all its remnant colonial polities.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Probably a reduction in population or GDP

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $12,000
b) Nation's IC population: 65,000,000
c) What does your nation excel in exporting?

-Natural gas & minerals: cobalt, coltan, chromium, copper, tin, iron & steel, lithium, uranium tungsten, rare earth elements, precious metals and gemstones
-Agricultural products: foodstuffs such as grains (especially sorghum, corn, millet and rice), vegetables (especially pumpkins, root vegetables, onions and okra), fruits (especially oranges, coconuts, plums and dates), and animal products (especially milk, cheese, beef & all of its byproducts) and processed food products
-Chemicals: fertilizers, plastics, rubber, petrochemicals, pesticides, adhesives & sealants, industrial gases, catalysts and cleaning chemicals, acids, etc
-Construction materials, equipment & machinery
-Agricultural and heavy manufacturing equipment and machinery
-Low-to-medium end electronic parts
-Consumer products: manufactured items meant for personal use of simple-to-moderate complexity, usually under contract from foreign companies


d) What does your nation need to import? Precision machinery, consumer & luxury goods, complex electronics, personal vehicles, advanced telecommunications technology, etc

e) What is your country self-sufficient on? Energy (natural gas & coal), food production, steel, industrial chemicals & gases, low-to-medium end military arms & equipment (small arms, towed artillery, etc)
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? Yeah gimme the Congoshaker

[Santheres]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
- Since time immemorial
c) Other nations:
- Sante Reze, The United Dominion
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
- This app was recommended by Tarsas

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: United Kingdoms of Peuramaa and Lumisaari
b) Brief description of your nation:
Two kingdoms in a now-perpetual personal union which are considered to be effectively a singular nation. Lumisaari is a sparsely populated island (and its nearby tiny islands) renowned for its fisheries and biotech and software industries, while Peuramaa is the continental kingdom, known for its tree-based economy and infrastructure built around defense in depth. Peuramaa should have some tumultuous history with Velikoslavia and Hvalheim in particular, and likely newer concerns with Ostrozava; Zamorodna is a toss-up, as are Ordennya and Erishlands. This can be worked out during the app process.

The two kingdoms likely were joined together in the 1800s though local history may change that. Up until the mid-20th century, Lumisaari was seen more as a wilderness getaway for royals and the court, inexpensive since they didn't have to pay the locals very much. However, it was able to modernize its economy faster than the more traditional mainland, which has lagged in development since approximately the same time period. Ideally, Peuramaa in particular would have earned the respect of Velikoslavia throughout history such that its opinions do matter to the Velik court.

They maintain separate legislatures, administrations, national laws, and their own armies/air groups with a shared navy. Their currencies are only recently unified. Foreign policy has typically been handled through the Peuramaan foreign ministry, though Lumisaari does retain a ministry of its own and lately it is rumored that their statuses will swap.
c) Nation's type of government: One constitutional monarchy and one absolute monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Finnish, Sámi
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Finnish, Sámi
f) What are the major religions among your population? Some form of non-Fabrian Christianity, Sámi shamanism
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
This would depend on its relationship with its neighbors. If it has a lot of risk of invasion, it will have to be larger. Either way, they will be organized like Finland. Their primary purpose is defense. It does have a navy to protect Lumisaari but these are mostly smaller ships, most not intended for open ocean. For the sake of RPability, we will probably want to work out some sort of expeditionary force for coalition deployments.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
The goal would be to have a nation that can sit between Hval and Velik (and, metaphorically, between Ostro and Velik and Ostro and Hval) and offer what strength it does have in defense of the sovereignty of each in pursuit of regional stability. Ostro and Zamo would probably benefit most from this if they were on-board. It is, however, not an exceptional nation militarily or economically so it's hard to say it "brings something" other than creative addition. It's additive. Any nations not onboard with its mission of stability have further opportunity for conflict since it won't appreciate nations not appreciating it and will be very clear and open about that.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
It's already under-strength compared to all of its neighbors. I don't think it can be reduced without losing its ability to interact. Its geographic size is significantly more than Zamorodna enough to justify the increase from Zam's 15m to 20m, and is similar to Erishland which is 20m. The economic figures below would make this the 44th largest economy in the world just above Kembesa and below Greznea. I'd switch to be populous and poor but this nation is in a bad location for a high population.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita:

Lumisaari	60,000
Pueramaa	30,000
Total	30,515.97

b) Nation's IC population:

Lumisaari	350,000
Peuramaa	20,000,000
Total	20,350,000

c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Aluminum, fish, paper, wood, machinery
d) What does your nation need to import? Energy, most raw minerals, flat-packed furniture
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Fish, reindeer, nets
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/ ... /image.png
Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. iiwiki.us

[Greater Antillia]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
- many centuries,
c) Other nations:
-Mesogeia
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? already a member, as Meso.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: The United Kingdom of Greater Anteliyea
b) Brief description of your nation:

History
-Ancient Ophiran Empire (1080 BC-550 AD) need to work on this, basically there was an ancient civilization extending down to the southern Scipian coast holding sway over various cities and states.

-Ophiran Dark Ages (550 AD-711 AD) With the final collapse of the Ancient Ophiran empire the region is plunged into instability. This period is also characterized by a rise in power of Ophir’s northern neighbor Itayana

-Era of the three Kingdoms (711 AD- 1190): A period of independent rule for the three kingdoms of Makouria, Alodia and Simpafo; with the principality of Wagadou.

In the intermediate period between the decline and final collapse of Ophiran civilization, three kingdoms and a principality were carved out of its territory.

First the earliest of these kingdoms Makouria emerged in 550 AD in the northern region of the country centered around the city of Soba originating as a breakaway state of the ancient Ophiran empire. This was followed a century later in 657 AD, when the gold rich tributary state of Simpafo based in Kumasi in the eastern part of the Ophiran Empire broke away and even defeated the Ophiran king in battle.

Finally in 691 the severely weakened Ophiran empire was defeated once more, this time by the warlike Wagadi who established the principality of Wagadou. The armies of Wagadou even managedto sack the city of Ophir itself ending almost two thousand years of Ophiran rule.

From the ashes of the old Ophiran empire emerged the kingdom of Alodia, its successor based in the heartland of the old state in what is present day south western Greater Antillia. Antillian royal historians and chroniclers attest to a widely reported legend that the son of the last King of the Ophiran empire Mari Djata was spirited away from the burning Ophir into hiding near the city of Kangaba where he later established the Kingdom of Alodia in 711.

By 1190 Alodia had wrested control over the northern half of the peninsula away from Makouria while forcing Simpafo into tributary status until it too was conquered between the 13th and 14th centuries by an expanded Greater Antillia. The Kingdom of Alodia would later subjugate the principality of Wagadou, with the title becoming the principal title of the heir apparent of Alodia. Makouria and Alodia are joined in a personal union. While Simpafo is not fully conquered until the establishment of the United Kingdom of Greater Antillia.

-Kingdom of Greater Antillia (1190-present): The Keita dynasty, the reigning clan of Alodia-Makouria establish themselves as the ruling dynasty over the whole of the three kingdoms. Formally ending the regions tributary status to Itayana.

-1400s-1600s: Possibily do some imperialist shit on mainland Scipia and Malaio, trade with big scary colonial powers like Zacapican and Sante Reze. Alternate between friends and foes with them and surrounding neighbors.
-1600s-1900s: Attempt to establish colonies in Oxidentale isles, to extract cocoa and other native resources. Kingdom abolishes slavery, industrializes and adopts constitution

Government and Politics

The intertwined legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government are divided into various councils which serve various functions including the Asantemanhyiamu, the Inner Council, and the Asanteman Council.

The Asantemanhyiamu or the “National Assembly” consists of two houses the Gbara and the Kotoko Council, meeting annually to develop legislation. The lower house the Kotoko Council consists of 300 elected representatives who are led by the Nkwankwaahene; while the upper house or the Gbara is composed of 150 members drawn from the 38 historic clans, the nobility, and adult members of the reigning dynasty. The head of the Gbara is the Belen-tigui.

The Inner Council of the Pramakeseso meeting daily functions as the Supreme Court of law and determine all matters of justice even acting as the court of final jurisdiction for all nobles, with appeals being heard by the King himself in the Mansa’s Court

The Asanteman Council is the executive arm of the government councils functioning as an advisory council to the King, it consists of paramount chiefs, the council of ministers, and senior members of the reigning dynasty acting together to advise the sovereign.

The Council of Ministers is composed of ten ministers collectively forming the Council of Ministers

-Gyaasehene: Head of the National Treasury and the civil service, functioning as the Premier of the realm, presiding officer of the Council of ministers and having responsibility for the general financial budget of the kingdom.
-Sanaahene: The Finance Minister or Royal Treasurer and the deputy of the Gyaasehene, historically responsible for smooth running of the state finances with oversight over the Adaka Kesie (Big Box) for government’s current account, the Apim Adaka (Box of Thousands) used by petty cash, the Royal Mint (Ebura), Monies Office (Damponkese), Royal Tax Collection Office (Atogye)
-Kronithene: the supreme War Chief or Commanding General of the Armies functions as the minister of war, with oversight over the army, navy, and air forces.
-Akyeamehene; The Spokesman of the King or Chief Linguist functions as the minister of foreign affairs having oversight over the Afenasoafo (ambassadors), and the Nhenkwaa (diplomatic corps) who engage in matters of diplomacy and communication between the national government and both foreign and sub national governments.
-Ankobeahene; The senior most official of the Royal Court and caretaker of the palace responsible for the management and smooth running of the Royal Court and household.
-Nseniefo: Historically the Sovereign’s Chief Herald functions as the supreme authority on law and order within the three kingdoms.
-Manwerehehe: the head of the interior, responsible for the smooth running of the internal affairs of the nation, with oversight over the Ankobia, the secret police responsible for protecting the sovereign and carrying out various matters related to espionage and intelligence gathering.
-Nkosuohene: Minister of Public works, responsible for all matters related to infrastructure, and public development.
-Batahene: Historically the Kingdom’s trade chief and the person responsible for the Asokwafo or civil service, the body responsible for the education and training of prospective government officials, currently functioning as the Minister for trade and commerce.
-Bantamahene; Historically responsible for the upkeep of the Royal Mausoleum, currently functioning as the Minister of Religion with oversight over the nation’s education system.

Administrative Divisions (WIP)
The United Kingdom of Greater Antillia is divided into the three kingdoms of Makouria, Alodia, and Simpafo along with the principality of Wagadou, which are in turn further subdivided into 63+ provinces.

Provinces are governed by Dyamani-tigui (province-master) or in some cases directly by a Farba (a royal viceroy), below them are the Kafo-tigui (county master), below them are the kun-tiguis (district masters), and below them at the lowest level are the dougou-tigui (village master)

-The Kingdom of Makouria: Dongola, Dotawo, Pakhoras, Qupta, Kalabsha, Nobadia, Napata, Kewa, Kerma, Jebel Addah, Gezira, Gagara, Menkesa, Borra, Soba, Butana

-The Kingdom of Alodia; Ophir, Tirafka, Damura, Zagha, Banbara, Kabura, Gao, Niani, Kangaba, Djenne, Kri, Boure, Dajakalan, Anizco, Gobir, Sonyo, Nsundi, Mema,

-The Kingdom of Simpafo: Kumasi, Adanse, Abuakwa, Kotoku, Akuampem, Akwamo, Asen, Fante, Gyaaman, Abron, Denkiyra, Tabon, Galam, Akim, Dagban, Tabon,

-The Principality of Wagadou: Koumbi Saleh, Wangera, Zafun, Sanghana, Zarqatabana, Walata, Zaghari, Jalo, Awadaghast, Kaniaga, Do, Taghara, Galam.

Monarchy and Royal Court
The Keita dynasty has ruled Greater Antillia since its inception in 1190 AD, more then 800 years ago, although the dynasty itself has actually existed since 8th century AD when the Keita dynasty established themselves in the first of three kingdoms that would later unite to form the modern kingdom of Greater Antillia. The Keita dynasty actually claims descent from King Solomon and Queen Kandake, the last reigning Queen of the ancient Ophiran Empire.

The Golden Stool is a symbol of the monarchy and is often used to refer to the institution itself.

The current King is Mamadou XII, the xth member of the Keita dynasty to sit on the Golden Stool. The royal court is based in Niani, with royal residences at Kangaba, Kumasi, Ophir, Djenne, Anizco, Koumbi Saleh, Dajakalan.

Culture and Society
The kingdom’s society exists in a hierarchal social structure, with the upper classes known as the highest orders (Sikapo) possessing a privileged position in relation to the commoners or the lower classes (abiato). Positioned between the higher orders and the lower orders are obirempon (big men), whose successful enterprising in business, education or skilled abilities placed them somewhere significantly above the lower classes of commoners but not quite on a equal level of the noble blooded Sikapo whose wealth they might have rivaled at times.

Historically speaking in traditional Antillian society clothing was a indicator of a person’s social status and rank, with the certain colors symbolizing different things; with yellow/gold being exclusive to royalty, white being associated with purification, red associated with death, green being associated with growth and so on.

The national costume of Greater Antillia consists of the Antillian smock or Dashiki a thigh length shirt which can be worn in both formal and informal settings with trousers and a cap (Kufi). In more formal settings a wide sleeved robe is worn over the traditional Antillian smock; while the handwoven silk or cotton kente cloth garment is worn exclusively by the royal family, the aristocracy and the members of the nobility.

Nobility and aristocracy
The Antillian aristocracy and nobility known natively as the “Sikapo” emerged out of the traditional chieftaincy battle organization of ancient Antillian battle formations, with the highest chieftaincy that of Amanhene a paramount chief being loosely equated to a non-royal Prince; Ohene the divisional chief a loose equivalent to Duke; Adontehene who commanded the vanguard equated to Marquess; Nifahene who commended the right flank was similar to Count; Benkumhene who commanded the left flank was akin to Viscount; the Nkyidomhene or rear chief was akin to a local baron; while the Odikro or local village chiefs was akin to a non-titled feudal lord presiding over the village council .

Cuisine
The traditional cuisine of Greater Antillia revolves around rich staple foods that include millet, sorghum, yam, cassava, plantain, sweet potatoes, and beans. Recent additions include rice, maize, and tomatoes.

Economy

The Economy of Greater Antillia is a mixed market economy with a heavy dependence on its natural resources, agriculture and a robust tourism and service sector which forms the three pillars of the kingdom’s economy. The national currency of the kingdom is the Cedi (meaning cowry shell), named after the historic unit of currency used along the coastal region.

There is a significant private sector dominated by reputable privately held corporations in addition to government owned corporations operating in key economic sectors such as mining, airlines, media, and entertainment. Greater Antillia despite its relatively small size is rich in natural resources such as oil, iron, gold, salt timber, and diamonds

Agricultural products include barley, wheat, sugar beets, sweet potatoes, potatoes, tomatoes, tangerines, maize, rice, millet, yams, cassava, and sorghum. Greater Antillia produces a significant amount of hash and is one of the world's largest producers of cannabis. The country also possesses a substantial livestock population and several ports along the coast which are excellent for fishing.

The mining sector is considered to be one of the three pillars of the Greater Antillian economy with the other two being agriculture and tourism and service. Greater Antillia mines such minerals as diamonds, gold, copper, iron ore, salt, and zinc.

In addition to this the kingdom's major exports include diamonds, oil, lead, cannabis, sugar, tobacco, cotton, and timber.

c) Nation's type of government: constitutional monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Antillian (creole/latin???), Makourian (Yoruba), Alodian (Mandinka), Simpafan (Akan), Wagadi (Soninke)
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? demonym is Antillian; but these are the ethnic groups Makourian, Alodian, Simpafoni, Wagadi
f) What are the major religions among your population?
A majority of the population, some 75% of the kingdom adheres to the national Church of Greater Antillia, which claims to to be in communion with the Kembesan Orthodox Nazarist Church and by extension the Perateian Ecumenical Church.

Although various aspects of the Antillian church are not considered to be inline with the teachings of the Perateian Church, particularly the local veneration of ancestors, the belief in spirits, divination, witchcraft and the interweaving of other traditional Vudun traditions throughout the daily activity of church affairs.

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): With cities all along the coast and with its nation being located at the crossroads of trade with large enemies and neighbors on either side the Kingdom developed a strong navy from its early days in 12th century AD, with the army and later Air Force playing lesser albeit still important roles.

The navy is composed of 17,800 personnel.
The Army is composed of 165,000 personnel; with an additional 150,000 in reserve
The Air Force is comped of 12,300 personnel.
The Antillian Royal Guard is composed of 5,000 personnel serving as the personal bodyguard of the King, members of the royal family, and key members of government.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Open to discussion to determine what the best fit is for the country. I would like for the nation to play a role in the Scipia continent as a middle power with a developed economy; historically pitting the Rezese and Zacapican empires against each other in order to carve out a place in the world and survive.

I would like for Greater Antillia to be a once great trading empire that has long since declined and remolded itself to fit into the modern age.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? lower the population, per capita, GDP, military, etc.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $30,260
b) Nation's IC population: 33,733,936
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? oil, gold, timber, diamonds, clothing & textiles, agricultural products, tobacco, fish, non-ferrous metals, automobiles,
d) What does your nation need to import? refined petroleum, telecommunications equipment, plastics, industry supplies, machinery, fuels, military equipment, chemicals, pharmaceutical equipment, Foodstuffs (they still import excess food)
e) What is your country self sufficient on? food
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? Terrible at linking images, but south of Itayana. With a possible islands outpost in Oxidentale for colonial fuckery. Will send pic in app tbh

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/ ... G_0902.png


Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. I did a Jubilee thread once, still in process.

[Arcanstotska]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
- I joined NS in October 2016.
c) Other nations:
- Other than Arcanstotska, there is also Saevia. Though Arcanstotska is the only account I ever really use.
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
- I was recommended to the Ajax region by Nev.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: the Republic of Asazeh, or just Asazeh.
b) Brief description of your nation: Asazeh is a multi-ethnic democratic federation located in southwestern Ochran, with a long coastline on the Ozeros Sea. It borders Dzhuvenestan to the northwest, Shirazam to the east, and Zilung Chen to the northeast. The capital city of Asazeh is Abhanabad. Other major urban areas include Ardalkhal, Daravar, Deylaneh, Abadbar, Rezvanshahr, Astahran, and Abyeneh.
c) Nation's type of government: Asazeh is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic, made up of twelve member polities with varying degrees of autonomy. Some provinces are more directly controlled, whilst others (mostly those primarily inhabited by ethnic minorities) have some more leeway with regard to their self-governance.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Azagartian is the official, national language - however, Gharbaic, Dzhuven, and Zilungpa are more predominant in minority regions of the country.
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Azagartian, Gharbaic, Dzhuven, and Zilungpa.
f) What are the major religions among your population? Azdarin is the largest religious demographic, followed by Christianity. There are also significant Melekist and non-religious communities.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Asazehi Armed Forces, are the military forces of the Republic of Asazeh. They consist of the Asazehi Army, the Asazehi Navy, the Asazehi Aviation Forces, and the Asazehi Marine Corps. Currently, in peacetime, there are roughly 802,000 total members of the Asazehi military between all four branches, of whom only around 220,000 are on active duty whilst the rest are in reserve. However, this number may be rapidly increased in the event of war or national emergency, as all able-bodied men between ages 20 and 35 are obligated for conscription if deemed necessary by the government. Asazehid military doctrine is principally focused on defense, with offensive capabilities being less of a primary concern. Between thirty and forty percent of Asazehid military personnel are not assigned to combat arms of the military, but rather logistics, administration, command and control elements.

Reservist personnel are part-time personnel; they maintain their civilian jobs while partaking in military training and duties on a part-time basis. This is in contrast to active duty, full-time personnel. Reservists may be called up for active duty assignment, aka "activated," if deemed necessary by the Government - be it for natural disaster relief and response, or to defend Asazeh from external invasion. Reservists must still go through basic training for their branch of choice just like active duty personnel. However, upon completion of basic training, reservists are not immediately assigned to a duty station and may return home, and must participate in monthly (reserve units across branches typically have exercises and training on one weekend per month) as well as annual (two weeks per year) training regimens and exercises. Typically, contracts for reservists, just like contracts for active personnel, range between three to eight years of required service in the military, with longer contracts usually offering better benefits both during and after the contract period.

While the Asazehid Armed Forces are small in comparison to more militarized states, they are instead structured and organized to make up for in quality what they lack in quantity. In peacetime, the ultimate jurisdiction of the military falls under the Minister of Defense. However, in times of war, that authority is transferred to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Asazeh.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. In terms of the nation's strengths, I'd say Asazeh has a decently wealthy economy (though not too wealthy so as to be completely unreasonable), a decently powerful military (certainly strong enough to keep the country defended, and largely built for that purpose, but Asazeh is not going to spring out to conquer a modern empire), and is all around a decently well-off society. High literacy, high-quality education, etc. It's by no means a remarkably well-off nation, it's by no means a superpower, but it'd be a pretty decent place to live, work, or study.

In terms of weaknesses, some areas of the nation are plagued by religious, political, and ethnic sectarianism and violence that the federal government has not yet been able to successfully resolve. There is worsening political polarization within society between more conservative and progressive sociopolitical currents, rising inflation, and wealth inequality. Social issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights, are fiercely divisive in many circles and legal progress is painfully slow - especially for trans Asazehids who are frequent targets for the growing far-right within the Republic.

After decades of staying isolated from international affairs, Asazeh is looking to become more proactive in its neighborhood. The Republic is looking to position itself as a major regional force in diplomacy, economics, trade, and defense as per the foreign policy of Asazeh's new President, Hassan Modiri. However, given the internal problems facing Asazeh, it remains to be seen if these aspirations will stay just as that: aspirations.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? If asked to reduce the strength of the Republic Asazeh, I would, first and foremost, come to understand what specifically is flagged as an issue needing to be resolved and address them. Though beyond that, I would lower the GDP per capita by some, lower the population by some, re-evaluate Asazeh's strengths, and expand even more on its weaknesses.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $27,676.
b) Nation's IC population: 42,360,000 people.
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Textiles, agricultural produce and foods, machinery parts, heavy machinery, transportation equipment, household appliances, iron, steel, and coal.
d) What does your nation need to import? Aluminum, pearls, precious stones and gems, nuclear reactors, vehicles (cars, vans, trucks, etc.), oil products like rubber and plastics, pharmaceutical products, medicines, copper, oil, and natural gas.
e) What is your country self-sufficient on? Primarily agricultural produce and mining.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
Here,
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/326836776909930496/1141876207948943462/Ajax_map_nation_idea_4.png

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
Here are RP posts that I have written in The Girl of the Sun, an RP thread in The North Pacific's medieval fantasy setting, Sorras:
https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9197149/
https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9197149/post-10595262
https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9197149/post-10600578
https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9197149/post-10602538

[Lawston 2]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: 6 years
-
c) Other nations:

• Lawston (My two Lawston accounts are for OOC purposes; Account name does not represent anything IC anymore)
• Pargesia

-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? Ajax was recommended to me by Nev (Sans Frontieres)

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Kiram
b) Brief description of your nation: Kerajaan Kiram (Kingdom of Kiram) is a unitary state. Historically, Kiram was made up of thalassocratic city-states called kedatuans and lakanates. It was united by Kedatuan Kiram, one of the dominant city-states in Kiram, through military domination of neighboring states in the 17th Century.
c) Nation's type of government: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

The ruler of Kiram is the monarch or "raja." He exercises executive and legislative power jointly with a bicameral parliament, represented by a council of ministers approved by the raja. According to the constitution, the raja could only appoint from a list of nominees for the council of ministers proposed and approved by both houses of parliament: A mixed hereditary and royally-appointed State Council (upper house) and an elected People's Assembly (lower house). This allows the majority party to form a government. If they control only one of the houses, the majority parties of either house must negotiate power-sharing agreements or form a coalition.

But if the raja does not favor the majority party, a system of cohabitation occurs: The raja usually takes personal charge of foreign and military affairs while the prime minister controls legislative agenda and most domestic affairs. This depends on the power-sharing negotiations between the raja and the majority party, which holds significant leverage as they exclusively determine the government budget. Parliament has supremacy over financial affairs.

Cohabitation is usually avoided in a coalition government with a party favored by the raja.

d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Court/High Kiramese (Bahasa Lambaney), Market/Bazaar Kiramese (Not!Indonesian), River/Tagalog Kiramese (Ahlranese)
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Lambaneh, Ahlran, Muti Ara

Because the state advocates Kiramese nationalism, members of the Ahlran ethnicity and other minorities are expected to assimilate. Kiramese nationalist interests are represented by two major parties, Kesatuan Demokratik Kiram and the Kiramese Nationalist Party. These parties, their associated groups, and their most vocal supporters have allegedly coordinated political and military actions to commit genocide of Ahlran people. Kiramese nationalists argue that the Ahlran people, as Kiramese subjects, enjoy the same rights as other people in Kiram do. They are required to learn the Market Kiramese language. Schools offering River Kiramese classes are only a select few, authorized by the government on a case-by-case basis. Attempts to grant devolution for Ahlran self-governance have all failed and many were declared unconstitutional because the courts argued that Kiram is a "unitary state, one and indivisible," according to the constitution. This has been exacerbated by Ahlran terrorism. As a result, most minority parties tied to Ahlran nationalism are banned, notably Lapiang Katagalugan.

f) What are the major religions among your population? Azdarin is the official religion. The two other major religions include N'nhivara and Ahlran Anitism.

The latter two major religions are tolerated but they are prohibited from proselytizing. Azdarinin clerics, despite being an official religion of the state, are divided on Kiramese nationalism. Originally, the Azdarinin clergy was completely against nationalist rhetoric and advocated a multicultural "Pan-Kiramese" civic nationalism. Overtime, the state centralized control over all religious institutions. Azdarinin interests are divided between two political parties: The nationalist "Kiramese Supreme Religious Council" and the Pan-Kiramese "Hizbul Azdarinin." Minority religious interests support secularist and minority parties such as Pusat Tenaga Ra'ayat, Parti Komunis Kiram, and Pan-Kiramese Farmers' Front.

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): The Kiramese Armed Forces has more than 100,000 active personnel. Its role is mostly defensive. The armed forces have an army, navy, and air force.

Despite adequate modernization of technology and tactics, the competence of the armed forces are doubtful due to the lack of professionalism and meritocratic promotion in its ranks. Officers are promoted based on their aristocratic background. Reforms to reorganize the military are half-measures or unimplemented due to unwillingness in the military bureaucracy. No government has been proactive in making sure the necessary reforms are put into place due to the raja's refusal to cooperate with parliament in what he saw as his personal responsibility. He also insists the the traditional leadership of the aristocracy should not be restricted any further.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. I could see Kiram playing a future regional economic and/or diplomatic heavyweight. Currently, it is unlikely that they could influence regional politics on their own. To counter the influence of other geopolitical blocs, perhaps in a bid to build foundation for its future regional dominance, it would pursue policies and international actions that would support regional political unity. But it is more likely that they would align themselves with a regional power with the right geopolitical capital to accomplish this.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Anything down to the abolition of the armed forces and/or the status of failed state.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: $18,313
b) Nation's IC population: 32.46 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Electronic components, palm oil, general manufactured goods, furniture
d) What does your nation need to import? Petroleum gas, electronic products, appliances, industrial machines, vehicles
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Most Agricultural products
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? Preferred location

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
Worldbuilding #1
Worldbuilding #2
Worldbuilding #3
Roleplay #1 Post 1, Post 2
Roleplay #2
Space Roleplay #3

[A familys nation]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
-6 years but first time role-playing
c) Other nations:
-none
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? no

IC Nation & Lore Back in 1491 5 tribes got to together and met up to get to know each other figure how they are going to rule the country one wanted democracy and the other 3 monarchy but who was going to rule the Blanco family decided to after The Grey's declared war on all the tribes and to kill them or surrender the land, the Blancos was not going to let the Grey's kill everyone or submit so they fought for 10 years after the Grey's surrendered and Fled. In 1503, 2 years after downfall of the United Faction Aaron Blanco who helped establish the land for 9 years and his brother David Blanco decided one night to throw party celebrationing all the hard work his brother did, drinking partying Aaron the next morning was found dead mysterly poisoned,After the death of Aaron Blanco,David Blanco took over some say he hated his brother others say he loved him.
a) Nation's IC name: a familys nation
b) Brief description of your nation: a familys nation is ran by the monarchy family the "Blancos" they ran the county fir over a 100 years, the Queen Deja is in power and wants to clean up the country from her moms mistakes. The people in the country are kind smart and love the new Queen but kinda of worried to from the last Queen who hated her people who almost took the thrown down but the new Queen made promises and the people gave her a chance
c) Nation's type of government: Monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? English
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
80% African
20% White
40% Asian
f) What are the major religions among your population?
Christan
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
Royal Air force:they defend they nations air
Royal Navy: defend the national water
Space Force: Helps with science of space
Royal Army:defend her royal highness and its people
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Are army is strong because everyone has to join right along woth our economy because everyone has to pay raxes
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
Yes
IC Economics & Geography We have exports on Our tigers and Clothes.
To the East we have a ocean with a port that we're we get most of exports and we're our navy sits
The north is a beautiful mountain and the capital of a familys nation and we're the Queen and her family live
To the south there is Dessert we're the oil lays at and the scientist live to develop new things
The East of the country we're our rice fields and our natural animals tigers live along with a jungle ( don't get lost trying to discover it)
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 3,780
b) Nation's IC population: 7.8 billion
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? coco,fruits, rice,tigers, tiger jerky,Cars, Clothes, Electornics and oil
d) What does your nation need to import? Wepons,
e) What is your country self sufficient on? We mostly run on science and oil
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
Malrio
Roleplay History Gta 5 rp second life
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation. I use to play second and Gta 5

[Tarsas]

Applicant Information
Ongoing Wiki Development for greater detail

a) Time on NationStates:
Longer than I’d care to admit

c) Other nations:
Tarsas, Orun Redisus, Velikoslavia

d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
Latin himself sent me a court order demanding I apply.

IC Nation & Lore

a) Nation's IC name:
The Glorious People’s Republic of Ganzak

b) Brief description of your nation:
The Glorious People’s Republic of Ganzak is a Inqabist state located in the Ozeros Sea. It borders Halys to the west, Asazeh to the east, Dzhuvenestan to the north, and the Ozeros Sea to the south. It is ruled by the generous and magnanimous Bahar Akbari, patriarch of the Akbari family. In the 140s, the great hero of the revolution and First Proletariat, Abbas Akbari, lead the people of the nation on a glorious journey towards freedom from the oppressive capitalist pig-dogs and united the nation under one glorious banner. The nation currently serves as a bastion of protection for its people against the vile Belisarian and Ochrani oppressors that threaten their very way of life.

Ganzak will contain a few ethnic groups but will be mostly Persian. Language and culture continuity will be enforced, and distinct culture groups will be suppressed in the interest of furthering the agenda of the state. Farsi will be the primary language of the state and will be the only language taught in schools. Other languages will exist, but will not be encouraged by the state which is aiming for homogenity between all groups. There will be the classic Juche personality cult and aggressive propaganda newsposting that we all are lacking.

c) Nation's type of government:
Unitary one-party socialist republic under a totalitarian hereditary dictatorship

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
Farsi, Perateian, Dzhuven, Halysian

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
Persian, Dzhuven, Halysian, Perateian, Gharib, [[Armenian]]

f) What are the major religions among your population?
None, Melekism, Azdarin

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
The military of Ganzak is fully based on the national siege mentality that is perpetrated by the propaganda machine. Its major foreign suppliers include Elatia, Velikoslavia, and several others and it is divided into the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, and National Special Operations Unit. As a heavily armed state that actively tries to spread its ideology, there are 330,000 total active personnel in the military. In the event of a total war scenario, the nation can call up a large conscription force. Ganzak shrouds these numbers in a veil of secrecy, but the planned economy means that the state is believed to be able to amass somewhere between 800,000 to 1.5 million total conscripts if industries that do not directly support the war effort are shut down.

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
This nation is designed to basically be a Juche style dictatorship. It is designed to be a sort of pariah in the Ozeros and act as an activity boon for the area. Ganzak is very oppressive and will actively spread its ideals given the chance. It is also very inward focused, however. Central planning will be inefficient, and people will have just enough, in terms of food and essentials, but luxury items will be sparse. Wealth distribution will be extremely top heavy, as it is typically in long running planned economies, and many things will be corrupt and inefficient. The military is large, but by no means does it have significant numbers of modern platforms and is structured more as a defensive force. Industry will be significantly slanted towards agricultural and industrial production, rather than a modern service economy.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
Let’s discuss it and see what it is I need to reduce.

IC Economics & Geography

a) Nation's IC GDP per capita:
$3,500
$109,872,714,000 GDP

b) Nation's IC population:
31,392,204

c) What does your nation excel in exporting?
Raw materials such as iron, steel, agricultural goods, vehicles, heavy industry related manufacture, ship building

d) What does your nation need to import?
Amenities, service economy goods, many food items, modern electronics, things that require advanced tech and advanced modern industries to produce, computers, etc

e) What is your country self sufficient on?
Basic agricultural goods such as grains and some fruit and some types of raw materials such as iron

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History

Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
It me

[Havmark]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: Over 12 years
-
c) Other nations:Rajyaghar
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?No, was looking through IIWiki

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Havmark (the Kingdom of Havmark)
b) Brief description of your nation: Havmark, officially the Kingdom of Havmark, is a constitutional monarchy located in the continent of Belisaria. The country is home to over 17 million Havmarkians, the majority of which live within the northern provinces of the realm. The nation is dominated by its geographical features; the Ryggrad Mountain range acts as a major barrier between Havmark and Ottonia to the east (see map below for proposed geographical features - Ryggrad Mountain Range in green). The northern coastline is dominated by the fjords which provide safe haven for the major northern cities and have historically provided them with shelter from invading forces and security to develop the major trade routes that have allowed the Havmarkic economy to flourish. To the south east, the landscape becomes less extreme and develops into the flat lands which are home to the majority of the countries farms and have historically been the site of expansions of the realm. The natural geography resulted in a heavy reliance on fishing in the northern provinces which continues to be a major industry in modern Havmark as well as the mining and forestry industries of the central provinces. Due to the majority of the population being situated along the coastline, the cities that lie along the coastline have developed, over the centuries, into major trading ports with the capital and second cities of XX and YY continuing to be major trading ports in the modern era with their status as free ports being protected under the Havmarkic Constitution.
Altc) Nation's type of government: Constitutional Monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? !Norwegian
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? !Norwegian
f) What are the major religions among your population? Troen (based off of Norse Mythology - still requires a lot of development), Christianity
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): There are 3 major branches of the armed forces; Royal Havmarkic Navy, Grand Army of the Realm, Royal Air Force. Due to Havmark's maritime and trading history the Navy continues to be seen as the most prestigious of the branches. All 18 year olds, both males and females, are required to perform at least one year of compulsory military services and many remain within the reserve forces for years to come. In secondary schools (11yrs-18yrs), there are cadet groups which encourage enlistment into the military. The main purpose of the military is the defense of the Crown and Realm and ensuring territorial integrity. The realm has not sought to expand its borders since the 19th Century.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
- Military: a very strong navy but this has often been at the expense of the army and Air Force. Due to the historical importance of the navy in protecting major trade routes which have been the primary source of income for the Kingdom, the Navy continues to play an important role in protecting modern trade routes. In recent decades, the Air Force has grown in size and strength as the domestic military industrial complex has expanded but the army has typically relied on the geographical advantages of the Kingdom to aid in its defence. The size of the army has dramatically changed during the nation's history with it reaching it's peak during the south-eastern campaigns which led to its south-eastern expansion. But since the late 20th century it has significantly reduced in size with defensive measures taking priority.
- Economy: strong reliance on trade with other nations although the fishing, agricultural, mining and forestry industries are also very strong which provides some self-reliance the nations economy. However, the major boost to the economy has been the oil fields which have allowed the country (which has fully nationalised the oil industry) to use these reserves to improve infrastructure and develop other industries. However, as time goes on the inevitable depletion of these oil fields and the transition to greener economies will significantly affect the economy which has caused many successive governments to purse major green initiatives such as the creation of numerous nuclear power plants and wind farms.
- Economy: similar to that of a RL Scandinavian nation
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
- Numerous ways such as reducing the strength of the military, increasing reliance on foreign imports

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 58,000 Krona
b) Nation's IC population: 17,167,000
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Oil and Gas, Fish, Pine, Coal
d) What does your nation need to import? technological components, manufacturing components, etc.
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Energy, agricultural products
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Map claim:

Roleplay History
https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Rajyaghar

[Pulau Keramat]

Applicant Information
a)Time on Nationstates: like 5 or 6 years?? Been a hot sec lmao
b) Other Nations: Pulau Keramat, my beloved
c) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? Manifestation of the Neo-imperial decadence. And also a flyer on Craigslist.

IC Nation & Lore

a)Nation’s IC Name: Tacuave Róga

b)Brief description of your Nation:
Founded by socioeconomic revolution against the previous governance in the mid 20th century, the Altepetl Federation of Tacuave Róga saw a model of powerful families and commercial control taken from entrenched wealth and systems. The nation was turned into a semi-dictatorial republic built by a generation of internationally educated scholars whose combined expertise in energy technologies and models of governance formed the roots of Tacuave Róga.

Now, the three city-states along the coast of the Oorupaqi serve as hubs of a highly technically educated population specializing as a hub for information and communication services, digital storage and security, and IT-centric digital services. The state depends on a process of exploitative wage labor from refugees, calling in populations from war torn and unstable areas in Norumbia, Scipia, and other bordering regions to serve as a manual labor is crucial to the state. This population serves to generate enormous areas of data storage and labor to sustain the needs of an academic population. Because this labor is covered, the average citizen is deeply ingrained into digital economy based professions.

With robust digital privacy and security, to the point where these databases are sought after internationally for the promise of nigh-incomparable online security, Tacuave Róga has in the past prioritized relations between the northern and southern hemispheres. The state has invested time and money into drawing in thinkers and actors from Norumbia and Oxidentale alike to consistently fuel a migrant based labor economy. It keeps a positive image by hosting a series of celebrations like cross-cultural festivals and hubs of language service provision, especially language preservation projects for those facing unstable political environments akin to the fractured Enyama and refugees from Elatia.

Critique to the state’s labor practices have been significant, seeing a wave of reforms in the 21st century concerning the treatment of foreign and immigrant workers as having their status and residency dependent on their employment; and while progressive labor laws are enacted, they are nearly entirely only for legal citizens, meaning that exploitation of foreign and migrant labor is still a prominent issue. The state has been receptive to these protests, and highlights performative ‘progressive’ steps it has made, especially if it means that more partnerships are developed for the sake of filling their data servers and logs of online clientele.


c)Nation’s type of government:
A democratically elected republic in name, the degree of authoritarian polity from which the central government is organized points to a bureaucracy and mechanism of policy dependent on entrenched decision makers. The current President/Oñe'êva, Amapytu of Guacira-Iria, has served in office for nearly 20 years, and has made no indication of ending her time in office.

d)What languages are spoken in your nation? !Guarani, !Charruan, !Purépecha, !Anágan, !Quanitigan, !Udayen,


e)What ethnic groups are present in your nation? !Guarani, !Charrua, !Purepecha, !Anagan, !Quanitigani, !Kel Udayen

f)What are major religions among your population? Cozauism, Kirizyuntupao, Biya-Kamiseiwa.

g)Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):

Stuck between a genuine need for defense internally vs. externally and appeasing foreign partners, the division between policing services and military is negligible. By nearly exclusively having purchased or commissioned naval vessels and weaponry from international actors, the relationship building of the purchase of arms has kept Tacuave Róga as a prominently considered partner by the nations it sells information and data storage technology to. This proximity to military populations and engineers creates a familiarity with what concerns of security services are needed by those respective nations. Of note, compulsory service can be served in either military service, or in government-company based ICT programs. Many choose the latter.

Focus is heavily internalized affairs management and disaster prevention. Little open practice for force abroad.


j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.


Tacuave Róga is at its base, an IT nation. Ingrained heavily in a contemporary evolution of an indigenous identity tied to the digital economy, engaging with globalism is a means to better the position of an ethnocentric majority. This comes at a warped sense of utilization of immigration. The state is one that praises itself on being at a place of wealth so that it can begin to afford to act progressively on labor laws while ensuring its niche role in the world is not threatened. By prioritizing data privacy storage and large amounts of international clientele, Tacauve never seeks to be a changemaker or challenger, but rather a ‘happy adopter’ of growth when it can come to expanding its role in interwoven global economies. The economic conditions prior to this was heavily extractive based with a VERY small clade of very rich individuals using heavy metals extraction and the ilk. This population had practically a full clade of rich people go out with the money to get educated, and to bring back those mechanisms/learning facets. There's a shadow of it still but it's definitely decaying more then the new governance.

Alongside with the other forms of digital commerce, in call centers, date storage, app production, and the physical manufacturing of tablets, servers, routers, and other accessory goods, the economy has a range of goods that are still confined to a small realm of utilization. The country acts as a latch to its large neighbors in SR and Zacapican as complimenting their economies, but also has the bronze tier work in government-associated companies so as to fill the gap of partners that wish to deal with neither.

A historical focus on North-South relations can provide interesting historical building on connections from the extent of Norumbia and Oxidentale in yet explored connections. This can add in exploring the role of migrants and refugees internationally and historically as being offered refuge tied to labor, and issues this may present. Between Zacapican and Sante Reze, this collection of city-states happily leaves the dynamics abroad to the larger nations, content with perfecting and honing the standards of its niche. This comes with the secret and unspoken development of data privacy exploitation and hacking services that are always at a level under what their companies provided, which could be fun for RP purposes.



h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?

Can like, cut gdp or population to extents as needed, but I like this aggressive little IT economy holding its own as a stable small state in Oxidentale against these big economic actors. Can also have contemporary labor revolts/protests acting as stagnation of current productivity. The state being in a sense of stalled activity and the potential threat of leaks can help to diminish its international appearance and start a spiral of contracts. Because of the small range of economy there is some vulnerability already to use.

IC Economics & Geography
Nation’s IC GDP per capita: 32,340
Nation’s IC population: 8,107,000.
What does your nation excel in exporting? IT Services, digital economy based services in accounting, legal services, business services, data storage and data privacy.
What does your nation need to import? Foodstuffs, labor, clothing, and near all agricultural goods, medicine.
What is your country self sufficient on? Raw materials (glass, sand, concrete, stone), fuel.
What is your preferred location on the regional map?

https://imgur.com/ivjqCUC

Roleplay History

Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

There are very few ways to interpret the nature of a quality assurance test other than as a framework expecting failure. Quality, a subjective thought based on what one values and is taught to need as ‘essential’ for the status quo of an imagined life and epsiteme, is easily consumed by the realm of efficiency. Faster, comprehensive, clarifiable, secure, and all the other buzzwords that sell. Stories of personal experience, of stoking fear in theft and loss - because by all that divine and wretched the worst thing that can happen is that your financial quarter stagnates for a second of a life riddled growing endlessly - makes the test a bastion, and a promise that you are invincible.

A momentary Achilles, because the moment the test exists, the flaw in it does too. The moment the test is given, someone makes a cheat sheet. The minute you say you’ve accounted for nearly a million or so different security concerns, someone makes the millionth and one way to brick your screen, and scam your elders, and teach your children how to be a good, god-loving fascist.

But it isn’t about stopping everything. It’s about stopping the bogeyman. It’s about stopping the tumor you pretend not to be, and the mirror warped just enough to think it fun-house, rather than a blurry visage of what you are in kind. A slightly twisted decision on how to control, and produce, and kill, and suddenly the republic isn't the monarchy isn't the fanatic isnt the other.

It's why testing against Halys is perfect. Because no civilian, no veteran, no national who raises a hand for a flag or a family or a rotting crown, ever thinks that their world is like Halys, and henceforth Halys is the evil other to avoid becoming, or being influenced by. All one needs is to test their mettle against the esoteric, the invictivist, the monster waiting a html link away. You have to say you have broken their hackers, and their demons, and their ability to see you unending, and you have the most important thing.

Not the cash that flows in from an alphabet of currencies.

Not the deals that ring in choir with death rattles of opposing companies and once-future competition.

Not the prestige that grows, like the tumor, until exercising it means ripping the host into shreds.

No. Congratulations, you have job security!

And with security, we have life. With security, we cannot be invisible beyond how we choose to be. With security, we breath another tomorrow and love the sand and shore and skies the way WE want to.

With security, they can never take us the way we know they can. With security, we can never be taken the way we know how to now as well.

With security, in a binary screen and encrypted multi-media thread through email, intentionally corrupted obscure margins of a pdf, social media image proxy, and chatroom of a now-dead video game forum with the Halys agent who can conveniently throw their systems uselessly against tinsel firewalls, you are another cog in the mechanical flesh of the divine.

And you love the way you are worshiped.

[Aureumterra III]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: Started in 2012 on first nation, been RPing since 2016
-
c) Other nations: Skogaland, Aureumterra in Esvanovia
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? Yes, through Ghant, and have spoken to a Fahran and Syd about applying to the region

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: The Empire of Aureumterra (Endonym: Aureustáð Stórveldi)
b) Brief description of your nation:
Born in the late 11th century AD, Aureumterra is in many ways a time capsule in the modern world. The Empire is inseparable from the clan that has ruled it, the Åltæden, and its faith, the Veldikirkjan (Imperial Church). Emerging from one of many warring Germanic tribes on the vast plains of the North, the Åltæden were a clan led by a man named Cnut Akselsson in the late 11th century. He was the first one of the various clan leaders in the region to convert to Christianity, albeit a heavily bastardized version of the faith that practically synthesized Old Germanic Paganism to creating the Veldikirkjan. Following his conversion, he began a major military campaign that unprecedentedly united the clans in the region and swiftly conquered much of the surrounding areas. More than half of Aureumterra’s modern borders were conquered just under the reign of Cnut I.

The importance of blood is central to the faith, deriving from prior traditions. As Cnut I conquered, he began to see himself as destined by God, believing his bloodline, the Åltæden, to be divinely elect, and bestowed upon himself the title of Hæstirétt, roughly translated into English as Emperor, although it doesn't fully capture the nature of the title. At best, it can be described as a combination of a Tsar, Patriarch, and General. While Aureumterra is nominally Christian, in practice the practices of the Veldikirkjan would be considered heretical if not heathenistic by most mainstream denominations, due to the role of the monarch as the divinely elect representative of God on earth, and hence the ultimate source of all religious doctrine in addition to their role as a temporal ruler. Furthermore, the Hæstirétt is considered the spiritual father of all followers of the Veldikirkjan outside of his temporal authority, these are known as Enme.

Since the time of Cnut I, the Åltæden clan has ruled Aureumterra without interruption, maintaining the absolute authority of the Divine Monarchy (Heiløregla) and the Veldikirkjan in society. As a result of being born out of conquest and a faith rooted in conquest, the culture of Aureumterra can be described as militaristic, with all men required to serve in the Imperial Armed Forces when they come of age. Despite the progress of the ages around it, the Empire, somewhat stubbornly remains an absolutist government, with each successive Hæstirétt maintaining and consolidating their reign against ever encroaching revolutionary ideas and "atheistic influences." In the modern world, it is somewhat of an enigma, a near-theocratic, militaristic absolute oil-exporting monarchy in a world of pluralism.

c) Nation's type of government: Absolute theocratic monarchy
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Aureumterran (North Germanic), Põjhamen (Finno-Ugric)
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Aureumterrans, Põjhamaa
f) What are the major religions among your population? Veldikirkjan (Imperial Church)
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
The Imperial Armed Forces is composed of the Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, and Imperial Air Force. The Imperial Army is the largest branch in terms of active personnel, with around 300,000 active duty personnel and 500,000 reserves (largely from men serving their mandatory period in service). The Imperial Navy is a blue water navy primarily designed for cold waters, equipped with icebreakers for winter time freezes, and has a doctrine of coastal defense of the mainland and protection of ports rather than active naval power projection. The Imperial Air Force is a fairly standard air force, specialized to work in conjunction with the Army and Navy in their operations.

The most interesting part of Aureumterra’s security apparatus, however, is the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard as an institution evolved from the Åltæden’s Housecarls, and today essentially serves as a paramilitary/parallel army commanded personally by the reigning monarch. The Imperial Guards is all volunteer, usually recruiting young men who don’t have much of a direction in life, it is an intense and specialized body that has served as the arm of the Åltæden against potential agitations from within the Imperial Armed Forces and of course, the public. Members of the Imperial Guard are considered much more fanatical and ideologically/religiously driven.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. Aureumterra is in an interesting position of being an extremely militaristic, historically antagonistic power that is somewhat of a relic of the past in its government system, likely viewed by much of the world as overly archaic and even somewhat insane or cult-like. While its military focus is its strength, it is just as equally its weakness, as this focus on societal militarism often comes at the expense of other sectors of the economy, which has led to many crises in the past and left the Empire somewhat vulnerable to shocks in the global economy, especially oil markets.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Toning down the strength of the military and the population would be a start, I would be amicable to reducing Aureumterra’s oil wealth although I’d still prefer to having it be a net exporter at the very least.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 14,000 USD
b) Nation's IC population: 64 Million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Oil, Minerals
d) What does your nation need to import? Agricultural Products, Some Manufactured Goods, Textiles
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Oil
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
Currently ongoing RP
Good Posts
Some News Too!

[Veliksaria]

Applicant Information

a) Time on NationStates: 1-3 Months
-
[b]c) Other nations:
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
Suggested and recommended by Kase for learning the ropes of a more detailed and fleshed out form of NRP after being denied in Anterra.

IC Nation & Lore

a) Nation's IC name:
The Federal Republic of Veliksaria or Veliksaria

b) Brief description of your nation:[A]
Federal Republic consisting of various regions inhabited by Finno-Ugric Speaking/Northern Slavic Inhabitants with the North being majority Finno-Ugric and the South Keeping a Northern Slavic Majority,

c) Nation's type of government: Parliamentary Democracy

d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
Finno-Ugric Languages such as Finnish and Estonian in Certain regions and also including Russian Ukrainian Belorusian and Polish.

e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
Finno-Ugric(Finns and Estonians)

Northern Slavic(Belorusian Polish Ukrainian Russian)and a few Tribes

f) What are the major religions among your population?
Tribal Religions Christianity/Orthodoxy Islam and Judaisn/Pagan Religions

g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):

162,000(Active Duty)
120,000(Reserve Duty)

Military Equipment and Structure(Polish/Finnish)

70℅ Modern(Western and Soviet/Russian Era Equipment)
Branches:
Veliksarian Army(Finnish/Polish Equipment/Slow Transition to West)
Veliksarian Navy(Russian/Soviet Era Ships/Slow Transition to West)
Veliksarian Marine Corps(West/East Equipment/Transitioning to West)
Veliksarian Air Force(Western/East Bloc/Transition to West)
Veliksarian National Guard(Same As Army)
Veliksarian Coast Guard(Same as Navy)

j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.

A huge producer in terms of Wood Metals And Minerals and provider of Cheap and Sustainable Energy and possible transformation into a regional power with Military Power being Above average and can possible support peace Keeping or offensive operations with allies.

h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
Reduce Military Spending and focus on Economics and Self Sufficiency on energy Agriculture and overall food production

IC Economics & Geography

a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 24,591

b) Nation's IC population:
36,654,986

[b]c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Metals such as Silver Zinc Iron
Copper and Reserves of Rare Earth Elements
Fish such as Salmon Trout Tuna Shark Cod Turbot and Flatfish and Construction Materials such as Granite Diorite Limestone and Slate and other Minerals for home Construction

d) What does your nation need to import? Fresh Agricultural Produce such as Wheat Barley Maize Fruit various Vegetables Electronics Oil and Medicine

e) What is your country self-sufficient on? Nuclear Energy Aquaculture Metallurgy Wood Telecommunications
and Parts for Electronics

f) What is your preferred location on the regional map? Neighboring West of Hvalheim
[img]link[/img] https://i.imgur.com/w7FOQt2.jpg

Roleplay History

[b]Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation https://tinyurl.com/RPApplicationGoogleDocs (Shortened Google Docs Link)

[Charnea]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
- many
c) Other nations:
- Charnea
- Zacapican
- Syalat
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Roda - the Rodese Republic
b) Brief description of your nation: Roda is a state that emerges from the decline of the Latin Empire as an independent city state and probably one of the oldest republics in the world still hanging around (depending on your definition of that word). Its rises to prominence trading salt and textiles, builds its wealth by connecting into the trans Salacian trade to Norumbia. They take over a bunch of important cities in their neighborhood to control the artisans and farmlands and thereby secure trade goods themselves, plus securing strategic islands to serve as trading outposts as well as timber rich areas to supply their shipyards with lumber to build their navy. The Rodese elite become fabulously wealthy for a time, although it all comes to an end when their trade empire is pulled out from under them by competitors and closing markets brought on by the rise of mercantilism and trade barriers. The collapse of the trade empire brought a low point to the history of the city, one of consolidation and decline. The rebound comes slowly from the tourist economy in Roda proper, slowly rebuilding new enterprises that overcome the inertia of the old trading elite that have become stagnant, landed aristocrats by that time, to push the Republic back into a dynamic state.

As a state as well as an economy, the Rodese have always depended on the surrounding powers of Latium, Audonia, Arthurista, and the wider west Belisarian community. It was their market demand that allowed them to become rich off trade in the first place, and now it is their populations whose tourist income fuels the modern service economy.
c) Nation's type of government: An ancient, somewhat arcane republican system incorporating monarchic elements (a Ducal figure as head of state, who is elected but serves for life), oligarchy (a grand legislature made up of those whose family names are in the Golden Book), plutocracy (you can buy your way onto the Golden Book), and democracy (referendums to the citizens requiring approval for certain things, kind of like direct ballot initiatives).

The main idea is there is a very large (500-1000 members) central body, that is the city's sovereign assembly, a subset of which forms a smaller senatorial body to write laws, and various sub-councils to do certain tasks like form executive committees for policing or military emergencies. The elect the Duke, and appoint their own number to the Duke's council (without whose approval the Duke is powerless). The central body is dominated by a mercantile elite. Traders and merchants in the old days, mainly financial elites these days. Names of new rich families are added to the Golden Book, names of families too insignificant to defend their positions are cut from the registers. Of the medieval old guard, only those who are still relevant and powerful remain in their places. Keeps the oligarchy dynamic.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Used to be several regional Latin-based dialects in the country, but the dialect of the city of Roda was always prevalent thanks to the city's hegemony and became universal after the institution of a national education system.

Ooc, Rodese is a mishmash of castillian, New World spanish dialects, and Aragonese. Funny Spanish. Derived from the mixture of Latin and celtiberian languages from the region.
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Rodese people are the comfortable majority, with minorities including ethnic Latins, Gelonians, and Audonians.
f) What are the major religions among your population? Fabrianism is dominant.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): Probably a limited national-defense type of force, mainly focused around a militia-mobilization system based on national service to get away with a small peacetime force. Navy based on submarines and coastal defense ships with AShMs all up on there, basically a sea denial force focused on blocking interlopers from forcing the straights and narrows leading to our inner home waters. Country's not super big and its call packed around this inner gulf so overlapping SAMs and AShM batteries on land probably a good bet for cost-effective defense.

Not a lot of projection (or any) but, pretty cost effective defense force I think.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region: Archaic government model (well, average by Belisarian standards) creates some popular discontent from lack of direct representation for most people, but on the other hand its well-built with anti-despotic and anti-coup measures so it has internal stability at least. Roda has never fought an all out civil war. The economy was pretty much built on commercial and financial wizardry from the start, which has its perks and its drawbacks. Makes money when it works, but its also kind of amorphous and fickle, prone to fluctuations and funkyness. (Hypothetically, a pandemic or a regional war hitting would fuck this economy up real bad).

Militarily and as a power, Roda might have been a serious contender at some point in the early modern period, but its pretty minor these days. Dwarfed by Latium, Arthurista, and whatever becomes of the Audonian empires surrounding it.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Make them less based and dripped out. Population is already pre-cut by near 30% compared to Merovia, which this is replacing, and set to give me ~110 people per km2 given the claim area which is what I wanted. Economy is just based on the calculator. A significant nerf would require some more foundational rejiggering.

IC Economics & Geography

Right around the time the merchant elite started to decline because markets started to close and the Rodese lost their influence in the Norumbian trade links, tourists started to become a thing around the start of the 19th century. Roda (like its Venetian inspiration) has been a wealthy city for quite some time and is full of loot, beautiful buildings and artworks, and the Rodese leverage this to become the original, the mother of all tourist traps, and rebuild the economy with tourism as the main engine. This expands into other services like hotels, restaurants, then the entertainment industry blossoms based on the tourist market. The elites of the city, already sitting on Scourge-esque fortunes all squirreled away in various assets, naturally get into moving money around, taking their place in the international financial bourgeoise - so that's what the financial services is representing, the rich making money by moving money.

Outside of the prosperous service sector, Roda is not super developed. Its industrial base is mid, mostly making textiles, furniture and sustaining construction and marine shipping business. Agriculture still represents a big chunk of the economy population-wise.
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 31,163
b) Nation's IC population: 24,382,384
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Luxuries like wine and entertainment pieces, furniture, fine textiles. Stock market pyramid schemes
d) What does your nation need to import?
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Likely roughly neutral in net food import/export balance. Enough fishing and agriculture the country has access to, imports (likely bulk cereals) balanced by exports of citrus, tea, grapes and such.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

I'm more of a worldbuilder, sasa ke?

[Neo-Western East Korea]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates:
- 2 Years, approximately- would say I've probably only been writing for about a year and a half of that
c) Other nations:
- The Confederacion Del Rame
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?
- N/A

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name:
The Republik Bebas Ketiga (Third Free Republic)
b) Brief description of your nation:
Functionally, the (modern, to note) history of the Second Free Republic starts with the colonization of the region by the Mutli in the 1600's, with the consolidation of the lands bordering the Badan Kembar (Twin bodies- a term for the two bodies of water the early Murut people of the area would find themselves most familiar with) into a singular (if exploitative and generally somewhat dysfunctional) state (separated into internal provinces owned by a collection of native collaborators in the form of princely states) allowing for the seeds of later federation to begin growing- although their bloom would only come with the collapse of such a presence within the state in the 1800s alongside the collapse of the rest of the Mutli presence in the Global Circuit, with underground independence organizations (most especially for the purposes of this historical overview, the Kesatuan Rakyat Bebas, or Union of Free Peoples) taking a governing role in the new republic- hastily organized after the pulling-out of the Mutli along confederal lines based on the pre-colonial boundaries of the statelets which had existed upon shores of the Badan Kembar- with the end of the civil war between the KRB and these remnant forces (1805-1850, although most of this was low-level insurgency) bringing about the the First Free Republic, and though it would last for only a short period of time (1850-1853, its existence as the first truly independent state would be an inspiration to later leaders.

This period- the "3 Glorious Years" would be brought to an end by the [insert second colonial power here when that's agreed upon], with the First Republic being abolished and a [work out how this colonial government worked] taking charge- although this government would be riddled by internal conflict as the taste of independence was sought once more, and it would last a far lesser amount of time than the original colonial period- the 1900's bringing about the end of this period and the beginning of the Second Free Republic, which would last far longer than its predecessor (approximately 1930something to 1969)- although not until the modern day. It would be the election of a member of the PRP (Parti Rakyat Popular, a descendant from the KRB)'s left wing in 1969 that would bring about the end of the second republic- with a short-lived military coup which devolved into a conflict between the military and the civilian state- which would end with the eradication of the PRP's left wing, and its re branding into the PRPK (National Popular People's Party, or the Parti Rakyat Popular Kebangsaan), which would end the war by pardoning those involved in the military coup- excluding its leader, who was forced into (a comfy) retirement (where he can still influence politics), with the Third Republic being established in the aftermath by the dominant PRPK.

It has been 29 years since then- and yet, it seems things are in motion once more, with the recent parliamentary elections showing strong support for the Kesatuan Demokratik Popular Baharu (New Popular Democratic Union- consisting of the leftmost figures of modern politics (although their policies burn alike to a candle in comparison to the flame of the old days), which began to gain electoral prominence after the 2018 South Kembar Scandal, wherein it was discovered that millions from the government budget were going to assist in the funding of long-term "vacations" for key military and political officials- the scandal resulting in the collapse of the Watiq Farhaan government). The military, of course, is looked upon with fear as these matters proceed- and yet it itself faces factionalism from a radical core of younger officers demanding a far more permanent change in their interaction with the nation, and an older core who believes that this new government will not truly threaten their interests in a fashion severe enough to warrant expending the political capital an intervention would. The storm clouds gather- and it remains to be seen if the skies will clear.

c) Nation's type of government:
Three-Body Parliamentary System, consisting of a State Parliament (consisting of officials appointed by the leaders of the states of the federation), the Federation Parliament (consisting of individuals elected directly by all members of the nation) and the Popular Parliament (consisting of officials appointed based on the share of votes they received during the last election for Prime Minister)- all three possessing the ability to introduce legislation, and additionally requiring the consensus of all three to pass legislation.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation?
Modern Murut (Malaysian), Mutli, Other
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation?
Murut, Mutul, [Chinese Equivalent], Other (smaller groupings mainly separated from Murut majority by linguistic differences)
f) What are the major religions among your population?
Furózin, N'nhivara, Asailism, Azdarin, The Sarpetic Religions (with the three listen first having a slight majority over the combined grouping of Azdarin and Sarpetic Religions within the country- although this combined grouping leans heavily towards the Azdarin and is an arbitrary grouping for the purposes of census taking. The largest singular grouping within the RBK is those who categorize themselves as nonreligious, at a solid 20% of the population skewed towards the younger sections of the slowly-urbanizing population)
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
The Angkatan Pertahanan Diri (Self Defense Forces) are the main military body of the nation- consisting of one branch and two subbranches, with the navy and airforce being subordinate in regards to leadership and funding- although the military as a whole is relatively overfunded as a result of the military's influence in politics, allowing for a somewhat functional distribution of resources despite the funding priority of the army. Role wise, it indeed follows it name- existing near exclusively for the purposes of self-defense, with a low power projection capability and a green-water navy.

It numbers approximately 105,000 men in total, with a reserve of 20,000- 65,000 being in the army itself, and the navy and airforce each numbering 20,000- the navy possessing approximately 30 ships, consisting of corvettes (5), offshore patrol vessels (15), submarines (3), and minesweeping craft (7). The airforce mainly uses foreign craft- although it is relatively small, and experts have been concerned over the lack of flying hours necessary to prove the actual competence of the pilots in the current period.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region.
Generally, I want to write the RBK as a minor power doing its best to modernize- and in this sense mainly pursuing self-defense militarily and interacting more through the means of trade with the major powers of the region than through violence- which is why I want to keep the military generally small by the standards of the region, depending on what that actually manifests as. Economically similar- the civil war is to have done a severe number on the economy, and the military's size despite such is a sign of the overfunding it is currently gaining as a result of said civil war- although that's negotiable too if it's too excessive.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?
I'd be more than willing to discuss the political situation and how it can negatively effect the capabilities of the military- and, of course, I would be willing to reduce the gdp and numbers of the military itself if that makes it more reasonable to participate with the rest of the region.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita:
GDP total is 75 Billion, so GDPPC would be 4,117
b) Nation's IC population:
18,216,198
c) What does your nation excel in exporting?
Cobalt, Copper, and agricultural products
d) What does your nation need to import?
Raw material for manufacturing, Oil, Natural Gas, Military Equipment, Electronics
e) What is your country self sufficient on?
Fish, Agricultural Products
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

This thread has my most recent posts.
This thread has some of my other recent posts
This thread has some milposting on my part

[Western Confederation]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: 12 years
-
c) Other nations:
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying? I originally came from Pardes, a lot of nations i RP'ed with now went over to Ajax so I decided to join them.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Citizens' Sangoi
b) Brief description of your nation: It's a semi Vietnamese based nation in Ochran. It is rooted in the ideology of Citizenism, which is a far left communist Khmer Rouge like ideology with simultaneously having a huge emphasis on democracy (on paper) and therefore became a pariah state for most of its time.

The revolution which was led by a kabal disguised as "revolutionary governers" but then later known to be led by Lenh Kalpot, known as citizen nr. 1 took place in 1972 after a bloody civil war that shred the nation apart for 21 years. The Sangoi monarchy led by king Un Kol Tip was toppled when Citizenist forces gained populous support. The capital Un Kol Tip City after 7 days of siege by 6 June 1972. The capital was captured and subsequently the citizenists renamed it to Kek, which in Sangoi language means an expression of joy. The country was renamed "Citizens' Sangoi"

Citizenists came to power because of alleged widespread corruption by the King. It was a far left populist uprising that wanted to eradicate any type of authoritarianism within its country, it attracted many farmers and people from the low class, and to a lesser extent the middle class. People who were deemed high class, bankers, people with high position within the government or those that had any suspicion of working for foreign intelligence agencies or the ousted government were rounded up and brought before a trial where they were executed or exiled. The latter of which they were dropped in the dense tropical forrests of the country where they would usually die from starvation or decease,

While initially being anti-authoritarian itself and imposing direct democracy where people would attend mass rallies and get petitions for amending the legislature, citizenism run in Sangoi became the exact opposite after the death of the so called "Citizen nr. 1" Lenh Kalpot in 1995. The kabal, or "revolutionary governors" were now the de facto authoritarian rulers of Sangoi. Open field direct democracy was still traditionally put in power, however the peoples were constantly watched by the Qon-Shó (the state's secret police) which made sure the citizens would always vote in favor of what the revolutionary governers deemed necessary, and it was either that or being lined up to a firing squad of the Qon-Shó. The other option would be set afront the citizenist trial, which wouldn't really be a particularly good outcone. Hence why the government was largely ostrocised by the international community and even condemned by (TBD?).

Crippling sanctions and the need of economic prosperity started in early 2005 made some adjustments within its constitution and its leadership becoming more moderate making trade and bilateral relations possible with other nations. Although this remains a slow but steady progress, the economy has grown exponentially ever since 1995.

c) Nation's type of government: Citizenist state with direct democracy (the latter being just de jure)
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? Sangoiese
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? Sangoi People (89%), the main ethnic group of Sangoi, after which it is named. Teht (5%). Historically the Teht had hariarchy during the times of the monarchy, their numbers have ever since declined, mainly because of early said persecutions by the Citizenists. Post 2000s however, although enduring discrimination, the Teht are more integrated in todays society.
f) What are the major religions among your population? Irreligious (90%) - mainly Sangoi, Fabrian Catholicism (5%) - mainly Teht, other 5%
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.):
Conscription is outlawed, as it is deemed counter-revolutionary by the citizenists.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces - 85.000 active personnel - 200.000 reserves
The Revolutionary Citizens Army - 55,000
The Revolutionary Citizens Air Force 15,000
The Revolutionary Citizens Naval Force 15.000
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. This nation seeks to be a regional power, that means mainly Ochran influence militarily.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so? Yes

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 7,506 USD
b) Nation's IC population: 56.6 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Wood and wooden products
Textile goods, Rice, Tea, Poppies, Chicken.
d) What does your nation need to import? Machinery, Automotive
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Wood, Rice, tea abd poppies.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?
Citizens' Sangoi

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.
https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=414661
https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=368874
https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=365739

[Legatia]

Applicant Information
a) Time on NationStates: 12 years, on and off- have been active recently consistently since late 2022.
-
c) Other nations: Meridon, which is ran on this account.
-
d) Were you recommended to Ajax? If so, by whom? Has any member of the region spoken to you about joining or applying?: Ghant, Neo-Korea and Aureumterra, as well as many of the folk in the Ajax lobby.

IC Nation & Lore
a) Nation's IC name: Casambre/Casambria/ United Casambrian Kingdom (Royaume-Uni Casambrois)
b) Brief description of your nation:
Casambre is a nation emerging to the future. It originated as a land housing disparate !Gallic groups, principally among them the Casambrii, from where the nation takes its name. It emerged as one feudal state among many in medieval Belisaria. It was subjugated under the Holy Audonian Empire in its early days under Lothair I. It remained in the Empire as a nation primarily oriented with some more affluent merchant cities in the southern ports, with the more northern areas of modern Casambre were by and large pastoral. In the late 16th century, the ruler, (prince/duke) Jean/John I, came to power upon a nation that had become increasingly centralized administratively by its predecessors and had experienced internal religious divisions as a result of the Protestant reformation. When called to aid the ruling Audonian emperor Charles III, John did so until he/his issue was spurned from a marriage pact in favor of another lord. John revolted, and the Audonian emperor was unable to prevent the separation of Casambre from the greater Empire. John I ruled independent Casambre peacefully and began colonial ventures continued by his son, Phillip I. Phillip ruled peacefully and even saw some expansion of the realm, however late in his realm he plunged the new Casambrian realm into turmoil however when he declared separation from the church when an annulment to his marriage was denied by the Pope. The war plunged the realm into chaos, with most of its territorial gains evaporated as it was lead into a seven-year long civil war, which more petered out than it was decisively won with Phillip’s son, Robert I, managing to cobble together enough support from allied nobility and merchant groups to end the open conflict.

At the expense of much of its former ability to project power outwards, Casambrians turned inwards, averting further strife by rendering bits of its privileges and powers unto the people. Casambrian monarchs have been content to maintain their eyes inwards until only recently. The current King has had an inclination towards charting a less introverted path for Casambria, though he grows older in age.
Casambria occupies a similar niche to Switzerland- not a hermit nation but more staunchly neutral, and only fairly recently beginning to emerge out of this shell towards closer geo/political integration with other neighbor nations.

c) Nation's type of government: Unitary semi-constitutional monarchy- though this is subject to change in specifics, I plan on the country having a constitutional monarchy of some form.
d) What languages are spoken in your nation? French (dominant/legal)- likely some smaller dialects as well, incl. Latin.
e) What ethnic groups are present in your nation? French, Swiss, some smaller groups.
f) What are the major religions among your population? Christianity- primarily a localized !Anglican offshoot of Catholicism.
g) Briefly describe your nation’s military (including size, role, branches, etc.): Size: As designed, slightly larger than the Dutch/Swiss military but well smaller than those such as France, Germany, or England.
branches:
Army, consisting of a force that is undergoing a transformation from a conscript-augmented force to a fully professional army. Consists of 4 maneuver brigades, tactical air defense groups, helicopter aviation, howitzer artillery, maybe tanks.
Air Forces- small but modern, consisting of fixed-wing fighter aircraft, transport aircraft both tactical and VIP, aerial refueling capabilities, and a handful of airborne sensors platforms. The Air Forces also operate more long-ranged air defense missile systems.
Navy- an entirely blue-water force, with coastal patrol and enforcement handled by the Maritime Gendarmerie. Operates one through-deck helicopter carrier/amphibious ship, four air warfare destroyers, six frigates, two multipurpose replenishment ships, six diesel-electric submarines, two amphibious warfare ships, and nine corvette/OPVs. Aviation consists of maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters.
Gendarmerie- Serves a very similar role to the National Gendarmerie, these forces provide an enormous array of services to Casambre- rural policing, specialist services such as SWAT/bomb disposal, search and rescue, border and customs enforcement, ceremonial duties, and others. The Gendarme is armed and equipped as a paramilitary force, with the most militaristic gear it has access to being some weaponized naval vessels, weapons-capable helicopters and armored vehicles such as APCs.
Guard Regiment- A hybrid formation that is part independent and part seconded to the Army. Ceremonial soldiers are rotated in from senior guard units, while the Guard Regiment maintains a professionally-trained and equipped staff of close protective agents, security forces, drivers, and other such personnel that provide security to the Royal Family.
j) Critically discuss the strengths of your nation (esp. military & economic) and what role you see your nation fulfilling in the region. While not a significant regional or global power, I would like Casambria to be capable of participating in potential military conflicts both as a small, independent force; and in league with allied nations if a larger conflict arises. As designed, I do not see Casambre being a power broker or highly influential nation, rather instead a canvas to worldbuild upon and a 'force multiplier' in diplomacy rather than a lynchpin.
h) If asked to reduce the strength of your nation, how would you do so?- Reduction in most overall statistics, or specific statistics if requested.

IC Economics & Geography
a) Nation's IC GDP per capita: 37,000
b) Nation's IC population: 24 million
c) What does your nation excel in exporting? Precious metals (gold, platinum), manufactured goods including machinery and luxury goods (and potentially aircraft). Financial services of some sort possible, open to being discussed.
d) What does your nation need to import? Machinery, chemicals, petrol and oil, plastic, textiles, foodstuffs.
e) What is your country self sufficient on? Most manufactured luxury goods.
f) What is your preferred location on the regional map?

Roleplay History
Please provide examples of previous roleplays or worldbuilding. If you are unable to do so, please provide an explanation.

Worldbuilding: Any page here
Roleplays: Military
Diplomatic