TWI Nationbuilding Prompt Thread (OOC, TWI ONLY)

by **The Western Isles Office of Role-Play** » Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:03 pm

TWI Nation building Writing prompts

Welcome, TWI, to the Nation building prompt thread. Here you will find a monthly list of questions that will make you think about your nation in various ways. Whether it be transportation, cuisine, music (as Verdon did), or anything else, you will be prompted to think about the minute details of your nation that may simply be head cannon or never thought of before. It is my hope that you guys take these to heart and use them as inspiration. I know I certainly will.

The posts will be updated on a monthly basis and there will be a link to all prompts in this thread in the OP.

Thank you for your time,

Thuzbekistan

Nation-building Prompts:
1. August
2. September

by **The Western Isles Office of Role-Play** » Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:16 pm

TWI Nation building Writing Prompt: August, 2018

Hello, TWI! Welcome to the first nation-building prompt in many months. Today's pop quiz will be on your nation's transportation. A simple five questions may inspire a factbook on its own. Enjoy!

My answers:

1. Bus is the most commonly used means of transportation in Thuzbekistan.

2. Between 40 and 60 percent of the Thuzbek population own vehicles. Most vehicles are owned by suburban communities.

3. While there is a robust public transportation system in urban areas which can be counted on to the minute, rail is by far the most reliable means of transportation in the nation. Due to bad road maintenance off the highways and in the mountains of Thuzla, rail has taken precedence over both bus and personal vehicle in the last 20 years. As such, Parliament puts more money into rail maintenance than road maintenance which only serves to fuel the problem.

4. Rural communities primarily rely on low class trains for their transportation across the nation and use cars for local travel. However, due to the prioritization of cargo over passengers, rural individuals often find their cars riding along with coal or other cargo containers.

5. The Thuzbek Public Transportation Council was first formed in 1967 and has been funded more than most other "public" departments since. It primarily focuses on ride sharing programs and bus routes while allowing the FWC to control the rail and road routes.

by **Vancouvia** » Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:27 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?

You guessed it, trains. City owns, countryside owns, freight ones, you name it.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?

45% - most people in the Trio Cities don't own one. Most owners are live in small cities or towns where there are only buses for public transportation. Motorcycles / mopeds are very common in cities instead of cars.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?

Trains are kept reliable but there has been overcrowding recently.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?

Cars mostly. Yes.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?

The rail structure is relatively modern and continues to grow. Infrastructure is a high-tier category of government spending.

by **Torom** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:04 am

Tag, will post later

News · by **Samudera** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:30 am

1.What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
Minibus. As strange as it may sound, Samudera doesn't have a good coverage of train tracks because of its status as an archipelagic nation. Minibus are a cheap transportation and able to reach rural village.

Ferry and boat are another popular transportation mode for an obvious reason. It is more common on the western part of the islands where the bulk of the population live on scattered small islands.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
Around 90%. Motorcycles are cheap and reliable, able to traverse ricefield and narrow roads. Cars on the other hand are more common in big cities, where roads are better.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?
Ferry. Almost all ferry are owned by the government due to its frequent use. Trains, metro, buses are not as reliable or widespread as ferry is. It is really cheap because it is heavily subsidised by the government, although sometimes people complained because of the lack of quality and maintenance of the fleet. Yet, it remainrd Samudera's most reliable and widespread mode of transportation.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?
Yes. There exists metros and good trains connection on the big cities, while mass transportation is almost non existant in the rural area with the exception of ferry and minibus. Motorcycles are widespread among the rural population.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs
Transportation has become neglected since the end of socialism era, due to economic recesses and poor management, although it has received attention lately. Trains only connects big cities in Sanggar Island (biggest island), while metro exists only on the third biggest cities and the capitals. All are in a poor state of maintenance. Modernisation are planned, although it is still tentative.

by **Ostehaar** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:26 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
Bus. It is the main form of public transport common in all cities, and the most used form of public transport in the country. The largest operator of inter-city bus service in Ostehaar is Sjehn (Oster for speed), which also operates some of the urban bus services in the country. Other cities or municipalities usually have their own local bus service.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
Around 70%. Many residents of urban areas prefer to rely on the high-quality public transportation. Car ownership is more common in rural areas.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation?
Nationwide passenger rail, as well as the four rapid rail systems in Ostehaar's largest cities.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities?
Usage in rural area is divided pretty equally between rail, bus, and car (unlike the major cities, where usage of buses and rapid rail systems is more common).

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?
Most of the transportation infrastructure is early-modern. It was privatized almost completely in 2003, so it's mostly funded by private corporations. The Ministry of Transportation has an annual budget of almost a billion USD.

For more on Oster public transportation - read here.

by **Roendavar** » Mon Aug 06, 2018 12:57 am

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
-Trains. Roendavarian cities, especially in the main island, Valdiari, are very close to each other, thus, trains are used for travel between them.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
-Approximately 40%. The auto industry in the country is strictly regulated and the populace is advised to take public transportation. Cars are more of a luxury item for well-off families.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?
-Trains have the highest number of users in the country. Some cities, especially the capital and state capitals, have an extensive subway system. Buses are utilized for inter-city travel as well as a cheap option for rural towns. Being an archipelagic nation, Roendavar also has a ferry system to connect Valdiari to the rest of the islands. Trams are also utilized and are mostly located in older cities, especially in the state of Andavar.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?
-Trains and buses. Buses are a cheap alternative to trains. In the case of vehicle ownership, no. There is very little rural area in Roendavar and most rural towns have their populace closely-packed. Plus, due to the high regulation, cars are very expensive even to medium-class citizens.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?
-Public transportation has always been a staple in Roendavarian culture and it is getting modernized up to the present day. It is very well-funded. The government gives subsidies to public transport companies in order to lower fares and make it more accessible to people.

by **Zeganas** » Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:16 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?

personal vehicles

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?

85% of households have a car

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?

subways and high speed maglev trains, the underprivileged move by goverenment-provided transit vouchers

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?

rural areas go by personal vehicles, and personal vehicle ownership rates are higher

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?

it's been open for decades upon decades and continues to evolve, all programs are pretty well funded so public transportation is about average

by **Dormill and Stiura** » Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:53 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?

Cars, followed closely by forms of public transport such as trains, buses, trolleys.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?

In the realm of 55-62%, over 80% of households own at least one personal vehicle.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?

Trains and Buses are the most reliable forms of transportation, with major cities such as Ile-de-Avillon, Kapolder, and so on, having extensive public transport and subway networks. There are also several inter-city and cross-republic commuter rail lines, such as the Sonnae River Commuter Rail System that connects cities like Altagene, Launey, Ile-de-Avillon, Boissieux.

The underprivileged can apply for a reduced cost or free metro system pass to use. Those not living in cities with extensive public transport typically walk or use bicycles.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?

Bicycles are the most common in rural communities, followed by cars. Individual car ownership is higher but household ownership remains around the same.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?

The various public transportation systems in the United Republics developed themselves over time, with the first instances of public buses appearing in Chery and Kapolder in the late 1880s. Trains were adopted early by the United Republics, with a known network of rail lines in the western parts of the nation and Michigonia being established before the 1840s. Finally, a large scale freeway project was initiated in 1996, shortly after reunification, uniting existing highways and building a new network of roads.

by **Funce** » Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:23 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?

Transit between cities is usually conducted by use of maglev trains while intercity transit is conducted with the use of monorails, high-speed subways, and buses.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?

33%, most of the population live in three major cities: Tusup, Funcan, and Revelo. Cars, trucks, and other motor-vehicles are more common in rural areas.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?

Maglev trains.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?

Personally owned vehicles and buses are the most common. Vehicle ownership is significantly higher in rural areas.

5. When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?

Public transportation received a boom in the 1925s, and ever since public transit has been an important part of governmental funding. Transportation in Funce receives a little more than $3.5 Billion USD.

by **Alteran Republics** » Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:39 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
The car is the most popular, though use of public transport is highly common in urban areas - particularly with office workers commuting into cities from suburban communities and within urban centres. Additionally, a portion of the middle and upper classes (around 13% of the population) live in fly-in communities, travelling via light aircraft from suburban areas to cities, towns or business districts built around an airfield (known as an aerohub).

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
Private car ownership is commonplace, with over 80% of working citizens owning - or having direct access to automobiles.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?
The rail and metro services are highly reliable, with over 92% of services arriving and departing on schedule.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?
Private car ownership is high in rural communities and most villages and hamlets have a regular bus service. Some of the larger villages have a train station, but it is more common for citizens to take a bus to a town to catch a train.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?
First train networks were built in the late 19th Century, with considerable support from Vancouvia and Noronica. Rail services and quality decline in the 1950s until the early 80's, when a programme of privatization and investment revitalised the ageing network. Complete electrification was achieved in the late 1990s. Public transport is funded mostly through private investment, though the government subsidies the use of rail cards and passes for the more vulnerable members of society - such as those in full-time education, the elderly and those with severe physical/mental disabilities. For those who can afford the slightly higher expense, the use of inter-city flights is more preferable - which are quicker and easier to board than flights from major airports flying out of the country. The O.141 S/VTOL airliner is the most commonly used aircraft in this role.

Relevant links:

Alteran Rail Network: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1016776
Rail Network Map: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispa ... 08629#rail
Transportation Map: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispa ... #transport
O.141 S/VTOL Airliner: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1030492
Aerospace Infrastructure (WIP): https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1025839

by **Dragao do Mar** » Wed Aug 08, 2018 2:06 pm

by **Storalia** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 4:50 pm

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
Trains! Or subways, in some of the largest cities like Storalisburg or Asio.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
66.2% specifically. Approximately 63% of that is gasoline powered, with the remainder being 27% diesel and 10% electric. The ownership of electric vehicles increases by roughly 2-3% a year. It's expected to hit about 25% in roughly 10-15 years.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?
Trains, as mentioned before, seeing as billions are spent on the rail networks to keep them running on time and efficiently. This results in the road systems not being as well maintained, however.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?
If train isn't available, usually buses or cars. This results in an obvious "yes" to the second question, with vehicle ownership being as high as 93% in some communities. It should be noted that most of that is actually diesel, rather than standard gasoline. Electric cars are only 2.4% of all rural vehicles.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?
Storalia had one of the earliest public transportation systems in the region thanks to Asio's booming rail industry, as mentioned here. The earliest publicly funded railroads began construction in the late 1870s, and by the 1890s had linked most of Storalia's main towns. Rural areas remained unlinked until the 1920s with the introduction of the Kesra Rail Unification Plan (Should really write a factbook about this. Damn these prompts are good.

), which linked the rest of the nation to it. Despite Asio's rail industry winding down in the 50s, rail remained the primary focus of the transportation ministry's funding. This results in close to 80% of the ministry's allotted funds going to it, with the rest divided up between buses, trams, and airplanes. Choo choo.

by **Torom** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 8:26 am

1. What is the most popular mode of transportation in your nation?
Cars, and motorbikes are the most popular with public transportation like subways, trains, and buses coming in after.

2. What percentage of individuals own a vehicle?
Around 85% of the population owns a vehicle of some sort be it a car, a motorcycle, or even a boat.

3. What are the most reliable means of public transportation? If none, how do the underprivileged move?
The most reliable are the bus systems in the country but subways and trains systems are still in common use. There are train and bus networks around the entire coast and someways inland.

4. What kind of transportation is used in rural communities? Are the vehicle ownership rates higher in Rural communities?
Rural communities tend to have higher ownership of vehicles due to the lack of public transport. There would be more motorcyclists compared to car drivers in more rural areas.

5. Finally, When did your public transportation system become operable and how well funded is it in comparison to other local programs?
The rail system is slightly modern but needs to be updated, same with subways. Bus systems are more reliable in comparison and more modern.

by **The Western Isles Office of Role-Play** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 4:01 am

TWI Nation Building Writing Prompt: September, 2018

Hello and thank you for being here for the second prompt of my (Thuzbekistan's) tenure! As always, this will be focused on some aspect of your nation that you may not have seriously considered, encouraging an attachment to your nation.

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?
How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?
How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?
Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?
If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?
Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?

My (Thuzbekistan's) answers:

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?

One of the most prominent aspects of Thuzbekistan is its preserved cultural minorities, especially in Turvin. While the rest of the nation has adopted a modern, urban life following the familiar career paths, celebrating Islamic and National holidays, there exists in rural Turvin a small, but preserved, culture. Travelling in Yurt villages from field to field, the Native Turvinian clans capture the values that have come to permeate Thuzbek life as they were created almost a thousand years ago. Though many of these villages have adopted Islam as their religion (by force in the 1880s), many continue their Polytheistic worship of ancestors. Headed by a single family head, most often male, they have a slow moving and natural lifestyle with voluntary exclusion from many of the modern conveniences. They are welcoming to outsiders and follow a strict moral code of friendliness. However, the native Turvinians are looked down on by most of the nation for their harsh system of punishment which includes banishment and beatings for simple sleights against the community, while the death penalty is liberally applied in an extrajudicial manner for more heinous crimes.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?

Thuzbekistan does not openly discriminate against rural Turvinians. In fact, they support these villages with subsidies and do not regulate the markets they sell their hand made rugs and pottery in. These arts are a staple of Thuzbek culture and have been exported all over the world, especially to Xrevaro. While the polytheistic holidays are not honored, they are not hampered either. The ancestral worship of these groups is simply seen as a novelty of a bygone era rather than a threat to Thuzbek culture.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?

Yes. The City of Carzil is the only town in Thuzbekistan which is not majority Islamic, though that has been changing in recent years. Though Islamic law can be strict there, Carzil has been a center of Native trade, gathering, and festivals since around 1200. Its continued use in this manner no matter who ruled from Ashluv is a testament to the effect that the Native Turvinian culture has had on the nation with many of its principles still upheld as an ideal outlook on life.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?

The Turvinian culture is absolutely preserved almost in its entirety. Even as war and revolution raged across the land in 1734, 1880-85, and 1952, the Native Turvinians have remained stubbornly unchanged in many parts of the land, the exception being the forced conversion to Islam in the 1880s, though this has only been partly effective. As Thuzbekistan grew, the native culture became more respected as its hard working and collective attitude showed a level of both compassion and harshness when either were necessary. Hospitality was always readily shown and their avoidance of conflict has inspired many political leaders as well as softened the Thuzlan effect on Turvinian life after 1885.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?

Infrastructure. Due to their nomadic nature, villages are often without easy access to information, good roads, hospitals, or other services. Their children are usually uneducated and are illiterate for the most part. This makes the native Turvinians especially vulnerable to natural disasters and sickness, which can practically destroy a village before help is sought. So independently minded are these natives that seeking help is often considered a weakness. This has made every part of the central government's job harder as they cannot set up any sort of emergency system for the natives without determined push back against the idea of a stationary lifestyle that such systems work best with. While there are services to aid these villages, the horrible state of roads in Thuzbekistan renders them practically incapable.

by **Dragao do Mar** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:33 am

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?
Yes. At least 27% of the Marian population, 5.9 millon, has influences from other ethnicity or culture apart from the Portuguese.
Mixed or undefined are 9%, Xrevarans are 4%, Athara Magarat-related are 8%, New Totzka-related are 5.1%, Kemorans are 1% and Indigenous are 0.9%.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?
Non-Portuguese cultures, specially Eastern ones, are almost always treated as foreign cultures, even through the Portuguese aren't native from Dragão do Mar. The police is frequently more vigilant on persons and neighborhoods with ethnicity from poor background, specially the Totzkan ones. However, the laws of the country attempts to guarantee the same rights for every person born in the country, even through it doesn't work sometimes.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?
Dragão do Mar became a secular state in 1946, but in favor of the major ethnicity and for cultural purposes, the Catholic national holidays were maintained. Apart from the Catholicism, the country have other five main religions, the Jacirianism, Buddhism, Heyúva, Gurung Dharma and Whindism, and neither have national holidays, but the government frequently finances religious and cultural celebrations.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?
Due to historic reasons as the existence of Tamuwan between 1121 and 1417, the southern coast and province of Messejana are regions with large presence of Athara Magarat-related ethnicities, mainly the Tamu, having Pirambu and Messejana as main cities. Due to geographic reasons, the border of Dragão do Mar within the Totzkan Union in the west and the province of Solaria are the regions with bigger presence of Totzki ethnicities. Other cultures as the Xrevaran and Keomoran are mostly spread in the country.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?
Marians with indigenous ancestry still living in the country, with a population of approximately 200 thousand persons. 40% of them live in rural areas as tribes and sometimes in small towns, 60% live in urban centers and big cities. The most part of them want more indian reserves for the few tribes that still live in forests. The Marian native culture influenced major artistic movements in the 19th century and musical movements in the 20th century that helped to shape the national identity of the Marian population, and almost every person in Dragão do Mar believe it its important to keep the native culture alive.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?
Persons from foreign cultures or with indigenous ancestry might fell poorly represented by the education system, the media and the government, sectors heavily administrated by Portuguese-descent. Economic inequality rates shows that Portuguese-descendant have a higher average income in comparison to persons of other ethinicities. Prejudge and intolerance are quite rare, but they still happen, mostly in the province of Aldeota in the northeast, in the most situations coming from conservatives(a minority) who considers the immigrant people as invaders, mostly from the Totzkan Union, and sometimes claims that they should return to their country. However the most part of the Marian population is very welcoming and cosmopolitan, and the government tries to provide the same opportunity of being educated and getting a job to any person born in the country.

by **Alteran Republics** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:44 am

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?
Yes, generally the most widely regarded minority is the Nyssic population. However, despite being in the minority, they hold the majority of the political power in Altera [either overtly as seats of power, or covertly by controlling non-Nyssic puppets subconsciously). Culturally the country is a melting pot - with most citizens being bi-lingual with Nyssic and Alteran - though Nyssic is the language of choice. Most films, movies are produced in Nyssic with Alteran dubs and subtitles where possible. This isn't seen as anything negative by most of the populace, who generally see Alteran as a beautiful, but unnecessarily complex, language.
61% Alteran*, 22% Noronican*, 10% Xrevaroian, 5% Kirat-Limbus, 2% Gael Decent
*A not-easily specified proportion of these are mixed Alteran-Noronican/Nyssic - possibly making up as much as 40% of the population total

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?
There is no overt discrimination and most suggestions of racism are scoffed at by the general populace. There is no legal discrimination, again, overtly. It is possible for non-Nyssics to get into seats of political and economic power - but there are usually other invisible barriers that prevent them from doing so. Promotions denied or withheld for longer, 'sideways' career progression, changes in taxation, etc.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?
Religious holidays are generally not celebrated and there is no discrimination towards one religion over another [nearly all religious holidays aren't celebrating] - with the exception of a [names pending] Yuletide/Winter Feasting holiday, New Spring holiday and other seasonal holidays Fireworks particularly common in Autumn/Fall. Several bank holidays are offered throughout the year.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?
No.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?
Alteran culture (a mix of !Hong Kongese/Korean) was the native culture. As Nyssic influence grew since the 1600s, Alteran culture has been 'Westernised' over time, with much of the original customs now near non-existent. There isn't much cause for sadness though, as many see the original culture as being old fashioned and not modern enough for today's society. Modern Alteran culture, such as A-Pop (!K-Pop), anime and cuisine still exist - either standing on its own or blending with its Nyssic/Noronican influence.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?
The covert and subtle suppression of Alteran people has been slowly degrading over time, with Alteran holding much more power and influence than they could even a century ago. Largely due to successful Alterans creating and in charge of large corporations, outside of political influence, but also with a grass-roots resurgence of propelling the positive impact of Alteran culture. Lately, a minority of Alterans have been more active in their aggressive attempts to politicise the race issue - with many Alteran and Nyssic peoples demonstrating for greater political rights and an end to the 'subversive tactics' of the pro-Noronican Curia government (even if the Curia isn't actually to blame). Most citizens, of both Nyssic and Alteran race, are confused by these actions, as - as far as they can see - there isn't a race issue. "Our music is Alteran, signs have Alteran on it, even the weathergirl is Alteran - so what racism are you talking about?"

Race is a complex issue in Altera, not something I can easily explain. I hope this goes some way to shed light on this complex issue.

by **Roendavar** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:05 pm

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?
Roendavarian culture has a different approach to cultural policies and groupings. In general, citizens of Roendavar are called Roendavarians, however, they are also legally bound to be associated with their respective states: Andavar, Sudever, Tillianan, and Vastaros. Therefore, in terms of which state has the least population, then the Tillanorai are the cultural minority of Roendavar, comprising about 10% of the country's population. It is followed by the Vastarosi at 21%, Sudeveriari at 28%, and the Andavarian majority of 30%. These state cultures have sub-cultures within them, as such, if the sub-cultures are counted, then the Fareizhetanye people of Vastaros are the cultural minority with only 0.87% of Roendavar's population. It is followed by the Catedreianai of Tillianan at 3% and Eireaie with 3.8%.

Being a country made from four states that have different cultures with one another, it is hard to define Roendavarian mainstream culture. Many would argue that mainstream Roendavarian culture is primarily the culture of the Andavarians with slight influences of the rest of the states' culture and this is, in fact, supported by scholars around the country. If we recognize the Tillanorai people as the minority, then mainstream Roendavarian culture is vastly different from Tillanorai culture. Tillanorai culture is rooted on Catholicism and religion while Roendavarian culture is a blend of secular and Protacist, the old religion of Roendavar, traditions. If the Fareizhetanye are recognized as the cultural minority, then its culture is not that far off from mainstream Roendavarian culture. The only difference is that the Fareizhetanye culture is much older, as it stems from the old Erindiae traditions and pre-Vastarosi culture.

The remaining 1% of the population is a mixture of Ahnslen and Samuderan. They are not regarded as cultural minorities in Roendavar, however, they are a recognized culture and have broad rights in practicing their traditions.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?
Roendavar's cultural policies have shown to be damaging to these state cultures as the central government promotes the "One Roendavarian Culture" strategy. The government uses an approach that tries to blend these state cultures into one, creating the mainstream Roendavarian culture seen by other countries. In terms of legal discrimination, there is none in the country. The government highly respects these traditions and seeks to preserve them, even though the aggressive promotion of the new culture set upon may imply otherwise.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?
Religious holidays are celebrated in Roendavar but instead of seeing this as a religious event, they see holidays as a way to connect with their roots, explore cultural diversity, respect traditions, and promote unity and brotherhood. Roendavar has always been a secular country since its formation after the War of the Mandrake in the 1880s.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?
The ancient walled city of Făreizhe in Vastaros State is regarded as "The Last Remnants of Erindiae Culture". The city was built during the times of the Empire of Daciara and still survives up to this day.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?
The cultures of the four states are struggling to survive amidst shifting of cultural views over the past decade. The popularity of adopting the common Roendavarian culture, especially with the youth, is slowly eroding these cultural boundaries in the country and is setting the stage for a cultural revolution in the Kingdom for years to come.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?
The biggest threat to cultural minorities and state cultures in Roendavar is the growing popularity of Roendavarian culture. In the past, citizens of the Kingdom would call themselves by their state first before considering themselves as Roendavarians. The youth, however, has been very vocal against this classification and are seeking to unite cultures with the other states, adopting the mainstream Roendavarian culture. The government has seemed to side with the youth, massively funding cultural programs that promote being a Roendavarian rather than being a Tillanorai or Andavarian or whatever state they belong to. Despite this, the government denies that they are erasing state cultures, stating that they are promoting unity within the different cultures of the country not the removal of these cultures.

by **Masurbia** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:48 pm

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?
The general minority of Masurbia are the Native Americans. Though they were the founders of Masurbia, high increases of Hawaiian immigrants and white settlers pushed them into the minority spot of Masurbia. Currently the Caucasian race holds the majority with just over 47%, Hawaiian gets second with 29%, Native American is 11% and then various other culture groups and foreign immigrants make up the last 13%.

The largest religion in Masurbia is Christianity, but with the cultural similarity of Hawaiians and Native Americans the mainstream culture maintains balance.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?
All government policies are made for the good of the country as a whole. The current administration has adopted a hands off policy, leaving the nations deepest and oldest traditions alone to make sure nothing can alter the past. This means the government won't promote any negative publicity towards these traditions but they also won't promote any positive either. Older generations like this idea and appreciate the lack of government involvement while younger people would like to see government promotion of minority culture.

In the sense of discrimination, any kind is illegal. But many large businesses have been encroaching on tribal land belonging to traditional Native Americans in order to expand business and profits.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?
Masurbia recognizes September 1 as a national holiday. While the exact date is unknown, this date symbolizes when the first Masurbian's landed on the island. Most government employees get this day off while a majority of the private sector allows low-level employees to take off. Native Americans celebrate a three-day Powwow from August 31st to September 2nd. The Masurbian High Council passed a law in 1982 allowing Native Americans to celebrate this holiday with no repercussions.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?
In the most remote places of the Boulder Mountain, Masurbia's largest mountain, lies many century's old Indian villages and tribal lands. Many Native Americans hold this land sacred and holy to them. Coyote National Park protects most of these sites and volunteer archaeological digs have surfaced artifacts showing how life was like for Masurbia's ancient founders.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?
Deep in the inlands of Masurbia and in the high mountain tops there are still some Native American tribes who live like their ancestors. Albeit they do utilize technology such as cell phones and cars, a large part of their society remains untouched. But as years move on it is becoming inevitable of their need to assimilate into modern society.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?
An easy answer would be infrastructure, but this affects not only minorities as there are also Hawaiian tribes that have secluded themselves from society. A damaging aspect is growth. Foreign and domestic investments have pushed businesses to expand inward. The Masurbian government has prioritized business for over half a century making it very hard to stop them from going right over an unprotected cultural site. Popular Native American politicians have drafted bills to stop this destruction of culture with little success.

by **Verdonnia** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:18 pm

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?

Yes. While successive, spasmodic waves of immigration of White (European) Americans have ensured that many Verdonnians have a predominantly White background (38 percent), sizable waves of non-white immigration have also shaped the nation's character. Along with increased American migration in the early 20th century, as many as 45,000 Japanese came to Verdonnia, followed by small waves of Korean, Mexican, and Mexican-American peoples.

The mainstream culture of Verdonnia is particularly shaped by western and southern U.S. cultures and identities, with very strong Japanese and German influences. Over time, immigrants to Verdonnia have historically sought small, libertarian socialist societies, communes, villages, and co-ops.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?

Since volunteerism is an important cultural notion in Verdonnia, discrimination is seen as deeply immoral, but also foolish or counter-productive. This volunteer nature, however, means that groups, whether ethnic, social, religious, etc. often choose to create de facto homogenous organizations. Laws at both the municipal, prefectural (bioregion), and national levels protect minorities of all types.

Historically, White and Latino, and Japanese and Korean groups, have clashed especially during spurts of growth and immigration.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?

Verdonnia and its constituent prefectures, have many festivals. There are, however, no Commonwealth-wide recognized religious holidays. In the city and prefecture of New Comfort (Neu Komfort), Christmas is an important and massive celebration, much beloved nationwide, and is a recognized holiday.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?

There are numerous crossing points and ports along the "limit" (coast, frontier, border) with significance to various groups. Three "autonomous communities" exist, cities with extensive levels of legal autonomy and distinct local culture: New Comfort (German/"Verdonvolk"), Jiyū Town (Japanese), and Frescavida (Mexican-American). Many Verdonnians have some, albiet distant, connection to many of the nation's cultures, and cultural and historical travel is very popular.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?

A presumably mythic people, the Verdonnii, supposedly inhabited the area that became Verdonnia. Most scholars, and indeed most people, believe this is a national creation story, reverse-engineered to fit the nation's character and history.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?

Despite devolved, voluntary democratic institutions, some Verdonnians still harbor vicious attitudes, and can try to sway democratic processes to benefit a certain group—a move seen as deeply immoral in Verdonnian political culture.

by **Cosie** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:12 pm

Cultural Minorities
A TWI Nation Building Writing Prompt

Updated: 4 October 2018

Does your nation have any cultural minorities? If so, how many and how different are they from mainstream culture?

Although a whole bunch of diverse heritages can be identified on the Layman Island, it's safe to say that the vast majority of Cosians subscribe to a lifestyle similar to what's practiced in the Caribbean nations (both Anglophone and Hispanophone). For the purposes of this prompt, we'll focus on the cultural minorities that are a bit more distinct from mainstream Cosian culture. This does not include buccaneers or buckaroos: subcultures of the island's more populous heritages.

The most prominent example of a Cosian cultural minority is that of the indigenous quoci people. Practiced by over 4 % of the country's population, their customs and traditions have somewhat diverged from those of their ancestors, whose own customs and traditions diverged from their Late Classic Mesoamerican roots. Quoci culture's adherence to "primitive" living practically keeps it apart from mainstream Cosian culture. Not that it's seen as a problem, though; plenty of tourists praise the natives for their commitment to "maintaining cultural authenticity", and the Cosian tourism industry is happy to encourage quocis to continue with their animistic ways.

Other notable cultural minorities in Cosie include the padeurs, French-speaking descendants of long-ago French voyagers, and the Chinese, descendants of not-that-long-ago Southern Chinese migrants. They, along with a minor Polynesian community and people from elsewhere in the Western Isles, make up the bulk of "Other Heritages" present in 6.5 % of the Cosian population.

How does your nation treat these cultures in general? Is there any legal discrimination?

Cosians like to talk up the island's cultural diversity, especially the part where they haven't had a nationwide ethnic crisis for some time now. The government also considers this diversity to be a point of pride; they've taken plenty of opportunities to show off their cultural variety for the world to see.

The Cosian government does much to accommodate the needs of its various cultures; even then, some cultures are given a little more attention than others. As the island's native children (and a major source of tourist money), the quoci way of living is something the Cosian government is constitutionally obliged to protect. They're willing to spend on luxuries like 4K televisions to appease the quoci chiefs, lest the quocis end up doing something nasty to the tourists who flock to their territories.

How does your nation approach religious holidays? Does it favor one religion over another or do minorities also get things like days off?

Adding holidays to the national calendar is, in itself, cause for celebration across the Layman Island. The people of Cosie cling on to holidays the same way a puppy clings onto its owner's leg; they'll gladly accept any occasion if it means an extra day off work, no matter if the occasion is religious or secular. Christmas? Obviously! British Independence? Of course! Dos de Agosto? Nos gusta!

Unsurprisingly, holidays celebrated by Cosie's cultural minorities are also celebrated by the rest of the island populace. The quoci Harvest Festival, Checoyahuitl, takes place annually around August; many tribes gather at the Quozco regional capital of Denatli to celebrate a bountiful harvest with loved ones all across the community. Cosie's Chinese community also celebrate their grandest cultural holiday, Chinese New Year, with gusto; people who venture into Chinatown around this time get to witness a whole host of celebrations, including the Chinese's signature lion dance.

Does your nation have any prominent sites that would be considered exclusive to a minority culture?

Many of Cosie's minority cultures make their presence most felt in some cities' cultural enclaves. For the padeurs, it's the French Quarter of Cie Mardesur. For the Chinese, it's the Chinatown of Reunion. For the Polynesians, it's the Pacific Gardens of Alegria.

For the quocis, it goes one step further; the Cosian government has marked the inland region Quozco as a special territory where quoci tribes are free to set up camp, no questions asked... in theory. The terms set still leaves many Cosians free to take part of the land for their own needs; this predictably results in scuffles between the quocis and the buckaroos looking to claim more roaming area for their livestock.

If any native cultures are still existent, how well preserved are they and how have they affected the mainstream culture?

The particular form of indigenous quoci culture we see today actually came to prominence in the 1960's. Before that, the quoci lifestyle was virtually wiped out by centuries of European colonialism; full-blooded quocis gave up their Quocitl names and their pagan ways of life in exchange for better treatment by their colonial masters.

The Quoci Renaissance came just a few years after Cosie won its current independence. Free from the shackles of colonialism, groups of influential quoci figures came together to bring back their ancestral lifestyle. It took a herculean amount of activism to bring their quoci family and friends back into the fold, and it was well worth it; the Cosian government recognised their efforts by setting up a whole slew of laws to preserve quoci customs and traditions.

To this day, the quoci community is still trying to uncover long-dormant practices to revive in contemporary quoci society. Quoci culture has come a long way since it was resurrected over fifty years ago, and pretty much everyone is hoping that it'll live on for the foreseeable future.

Finally, what are the major struggles a minority culture might experience in your nation?

The aforementioned land struggles against the buckaroos is a major sticking point for present-day quocis. All too often, we get stories of quoci tribes forced out of their settlement to make way for a rancher's growing need for land; the government has done little to temper the two parties' ongoing hostilities.

In addition, the quoci community have found that more and more children who've grown up under the indigenous lifestyle had assimilated themselves back into mainstream Cosian society; in other words, the quocis are struggling to ensure their youth would help maintain the community. The average age of many quoci tribes have been increasing steadily since their reestablishment; some quoci parents have gone as far as to hold their children back from joining the public school system in their efforts to keep them involved in the community.

Struggling to retain people within the community is something most other cultural minorities in Cosie also have to deal with. As these minorities are considerably smaller, the effects of losing their members are more pronounced: there's plenty of shortages within these communities for fulfilling essential cultural roles. Some have begun to train outsiders to continue their time-honoured traditions; most others, though, find entertaining such an idea to be unthinkable.

CosiecheckForEN

by **The Western Isles Office of Role-Play** » Tue Oct 02, 2018 3:49 am

TWI Nation building Writing Prompt: October, 2018

Hello again, TWI! Here we will have a few questions on your Justice system! Prepare for small essays on criminal ideology and prisons!

1. Is your Justice System considered independent from other branches of government or is it part of an existing branch?

2. How do your people view the Justice System? Is it viewed as an objective and trustworthy institution or a failing, corrupt one?

3. How does the Justice System handle punishment? Is rehabilitation considered feasible or does your nation view punishment and isolation as the purpose of the prison?

4. Is there a separation in your Civil and Criminal Codes?

5. Is there a way to objectively investigate politicians and judges in your system?

by **Vancouvia** » Tue Oct 02, 2018 3:05 pm

1. Is your Justice System considered independent from other branches of government or is it part of an existing branch?

It's not even a branch. Justice is downplayed and arbitration is required for civil suits.

2. How do your people view the Justice System? Is it viewed as an objective and trustworthy institution or a failing, corrupt one?

Our culture has kind of made it very in the background. Crimes aren't televised and we have a bit of that Asiatic shame for criminal and crime in general.

3. How does the Justice System handle punishment? Is rehabilitation considered feasible or does your nation view punishment and isolation as the purpose of the prison?

Rehab is a big priority. It takes a serious crime that is not the first offense to go to prison.

4. Is there a separation in your Civil and Criminal Codes?

?

5. Is there a way to objectively investigate politicians and judges in your system?

The all knowing Vancouvian Congress

by **Cosie** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:02 pm

The Justice System
A TWI Nation Building Writing Prompt

Updated: 13 October 2018

1. Is your Justice System considered independent from other branches of government or is it part of an existing branch?

Cosie's judiciary runs independently from other branches of government. This means the Supreme Court of Cosie has full say when it comes to administering the island's justice system, and they're even able to elect their own justices without involvement from the other branches.

2. How do your people view the Justice System? Is it viewed as an objective and trustworthy institution or a failing, corrupt one?

Cosians viewing the judiciary as corrupt is nothing new; in fact, some Cosians welcome their presence as it provides them more opportunities to win their trials without having to argue over the evidence (or lack of evidence). Once in a while, however, some unlucky Cosians in court might find their cases handled by judges who aren't so easily swayed; such objectively-minded judges come few and far between.

3. How does the Justice System handle punishment? Is rehabilitation considered feasible or does your nation view punishment and isolation as the purpose of the prison?

Under Cosian criminal law, adults guilty of committing major crimes (e.g. assault, trafficking) will find themselves whisked away to prison.

This really doesn't sound as harsh a punishment as you'd expect; Cosie's prisons feel more like college campuses with all the activities the wardens let prisoners do over there. It's a common sight to see prisoners spending their time at the gym or the library, chatting with the wardens and other inmates about the latest happenings in the outside world. Of course, there'll be times when the wardens will whip out the batons when a scuffle pops up, but for the most part, Cosie's prison populace know how to keep cordial with their fellows behind bars.

As far as criminal rehabilitation is concerned, the justice system's efforts consist of hoping that the guilty party had learned their lesson.

4. Is there a separation in your Civil and Criminal Codes?

Civil and criminal suits are handled separately by two distinct chambers under the Supreme Court; the First Chamber and the Second Chamber.

The First Chamber deals with civil matters, which covers pretty much any dispute that doesn't fall under the criteria for trials under criminal law. Infringement of contracts? First Chamber. Divorce settlements? First Chamber. Land claims? First Chamber. It can get frivolous at times; one case simply had the judge decide whose jerk chicken was superior among the conflicting parties.

The Second Chamber deals with criminal matters, which involve people accused of threatening or damaging public wellness. Acts of murder, thievery, and fraud are just some of a slew of offenses liable to get one charged under criminal law. Some of these trials are broadcast live on TV; viewers get to enjoy the histrionics of attorneys, witnesses, and defendants as they await the verdict of a hot-topic criminal case.

5. Is there a way to objectively investigate politicians and judges in your system?

There are laws set into stone that prevent the government from escaping the law's scrutiny; at time of writing, it's only been a few months since the President of Cosie came off the winning end of a year-long criminal case. Though these laws are being enforced as intended, people have complained about judges winning their own cases at higher-than-average rates.

CosiecheckForEN

by **Kowani** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:09 pm

The Western Isles Office of Role-Play wrote:
(Image)(Image)(Image)
TWI Nation building Writing Prompt: October, 2018

Hello again, TWI! Here we will have a few questions on your Justice system! Prepare for small essays on criminal ideology and prisons!

1. Is your Justice System considered independent from other branches of government or is it part of an existing branch?

2. How do your people view the Justice System? Is it viewed as an objective and trustworthy institution or a failing, corrupt one?

3. How does the Justice System handle punishment? Is rehabilitation considered feasible or does your nation view punishment and isolation as the purpose of the prison?

4. Is there a separation in your Civil and Criminal Codes?

5. Is there a way to objectively investigate politicians and judges in your system?

1. Yes. They still have to go through all the bureaucracy that doing anything requires in Kowani, but the only tie it had to any other branch is appointment, which is done by the Halls of Lawmaking, with the High Leader having no influence at all.

2. The higher up you go, the less corrupt it gets. The bottom’s pretty bad, though.

3. Rehabilitation is the objective, although we technically maintain the death penalty. Hasn’t been used in years.

4. Yes. And another separation for political and international as well.

5. Politicians yes, judges is a bit harder. Since judges are required to serve on every provincial court before becoming eligible for a seat in the High Judiciary, nepotism is a thing, but it’s inverse exists as well.

TWI Nationbuilding Prompt Thread (OOC, TWI ONLY)

TWI Nationbuilding Prompt Thread (OOC, TWI ONLY)

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