Factbook of Kaledoria
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:14 pmTable of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Geography
3. Economy
4. History
5. Military
6. Government Structure and Political Structure
7. People and Population
8. Communications
1. Introduction
The Holy Empire of Kaledoria is a young recently stabilized nation in the Sui Generis region. It is a developing nation, with old outdated workshops and traditions next to modern factories and ideas.
2. History
To understand the culture of the Holy Empire of Kaledoria one must understand its recent history. Just 50 years ago the region of the nation today was separated into 3 different territories: One was the City-State of Röken, the next was the so called Republic of Fororia and last the extraterritorial Kaledionian Mountains.
Röken was a city of philosophers and religious isolationists lost by the time. They had sophisticated agricultural knowledge and medicine but lacked on other fields of science. Their military defense was underdeveloped due to the facts that they could expect not to be attacked from the surrounding Nation of Fororia, who was likewise military weak and economically dependent on a cooperative relation with Röken.
During a time of multiple minor conflicts in other parts of the world, the tribal men from the Kaledionian Mountains attacked. The attack was planed by a long hand, it started with a series of assassination of the Fororian Dictator and his obvious successors. With Fororia in disorder, the Kaledionian Warriors, armed with advanced weapons acquired on the international black market, headed straight for Röken and took the city within only 2 bloody weeks. Not much later the new emerged Fororian Leader accepted an offer to give up his independence and become part of the new Kaledorian Empire, aware that he was in no position to defend himself military should Kaledionian-Röken attack.
In the early days of the new empire, it was ruled by a council of the most successful Kaledionian warlords and chiefs. They invited a few cooperative Rökensh nobles and Fororian chiefs to join them, over time resulting in the Council of Warlords as it reigns the nation today.
One of the earliest decisions was the establishment of a caste system, something that in a similar form existed in Röken prior to the war, separating the population in scientists, politicians, clerics, servants and outlaws. It got reasonable support from the Labor-centered Fororians and the strict warrior-culture of the Kaledionians. Yet in the final vote the proposition failed by one vote. Even thought not formalized or enforced, the idea is still on the minds of more traditional Kaledorians.
Despite being a based on conquer, the new government found reasonable support in the population and the number of acts of political terror dropped to average numbers for a third world country within 15 years (and dropped a further 50% in the 35 years since then).
Key factors were:
- A governmental commitment to the state church, that was largely based on the Rökensh Levantine religion. Changes were steps backwards on the Christianization, this pagan religion underwent during the late 19th and early and mid 20th century and a focus on the Moloch that held many similarities with the Kaledionian chief deity.
- Strong technological advancement due to the opening of the borders to foreign companies and founding of domestic companies.
- A number of propaganda campaigns with unexpectedly good success.
The head of state Warlord Marhault used his position to solidify his power. During his 42 year lasting reign he survived 19 assasination attempts, then resigned due to health issues in 2002. He proposed his son Maraxus to be his successor and the Council supported him with a clear majority of 41:0 (with 10 abstentions).
3. Geography
Location: World of Sui Generis
Area: 357,022 sq km
Land boundaries: 4,100 km
Coastline: 1,900 km
Climate: cool and marine; cloudy, wet winters and summers
Terrain: lowlands in north, hills in the southwest, rough mountains in the southeast.
Point of highest elevation: Gödadorn 4,200 m
Arable land: 27%
Natural hazards:Flooding
4. Economy
The late development and the fact of not having been stripped during the age of colonization was a boom to the mining industry. Keldoria has a good output of iron, great tin and copper and some gold and uranium mining.
The engine of the economy has traditionally be the heavy industrial machines and vehicles industry but has lately been replaced by cheap electronics, household devices and most of all arms and military equipment.
At multiple instances Leader Maraxus has expressed his displeasure with foreign companies and favor of the domestic ones. Governmentally-owned companies exist and challenge private companies to keep prices stable and reduce corporate power.
Multiple cooperations claim that Kaledoria supports industrial espionage.
Taxes are low. Imports and exports are balanced, although only the customs only take import duties, export is not regulated. Combined with the low regulations of drugs, weapons and about everything else, this has made smuggling a serious problem in Kaledoria, although the Leader Maraxus denies this.
5. Military
The people of Kaledoia - and especially those of Kaledionian tribal origin follow a strict military tradition. Military service is compulsive, usually starting at the age of 17 but can possibly delayed up to the age of 25 (most often in case of early parenthood). The service is seen as a last step in education with lessons on discipline, military tradition and the honor codex of Kaledonian Warriors taking almost as much time as weapon and tactics training. Mandatory service is 1 year for woman and 2 years for man, longer terms are common, especially among soldiers aiming for a political career.
Backbone of the military is the Army and it's strong infantry. The Air force is mediocre, the Navy critically under-financed due to the small coastline and thus low priority. Counter-intelligence is receiving over-proportional parts of the defense budged and, as speculated by WA-Supervisors, so is the military intelligence department.
The army is again divided into three branches, the city guards of Röken - mostly trained in urban warfare and clearly the most numerous branch, the mobile provincial defenses and the Kaledonian Mountaineers, elite troops trained in (and often coming from) the mountains and equipped with the best weapon- and electronic warfare- systems this moderately advanced nation can afford.
6. Government Structure and Political Structure
As the first elected (by the Council of Warlords) leader Warlord Maraxus formalized his title to be "Supreme Leader". After a holy inspiration by the Oracle in the city of Röken, the church added the title "Chosen one of Moloch". With his military reforms of 2006, his third title of Warlord was extended to be "Lord of the Warlords". It's formally correct to address him simply as "Leader Maraxus" except for the first time he is addressed during a formal ceremony.
The second political instance is the Council of Warlords. Despite the name only about 50% belong to what should be called the military junta, although all members are expected to have served more then the minimal military service. The other half of the council consists of working class-, academic- and religious representatives of about equal parts. Should a member of the council retire, he proposes his successor and the council decides by vote to accept this successor or to demand another one.
On the lowest level of the government mayors of small towns or city districts are elected by the public. The elections are rather informal, terms range from a few years to unlimited. While council members and the Leader of Kaledoria have the right to ignore the election and place as mayor whomever they want, this right is rarely used, not little due to the fact that they have little interest in this low level of their administration, as long as the people in the district are productive, taxpaying and happy.
7. People and Population
Population: About 50 millions, over 16 millions of them in the capitol of Röken (no other city even reaching 2 millions)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.1% - 15-64 years: 76.9% - 65 years and over: 9%
Median age: 39.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.95%
Net migration rate: 4.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Urban population: 92% of total population
Sex ratio: 0.95 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: 80.06 years
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2%
Nationality: noun: Kaledorian(s) - adjective: Kaledorian
Religions: Levantine 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Christian 12.5%, Jewish 4%, other 4.8%, none 21.9%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write 92.5%
Education expenditures: 11% of GDP
8. Communications
About every single household has a telephone, mobile cellphones however are rare (About 1 per 5 people)
Nearly 120 mostly private and local radio stations compete in Kaledoria but only 6 public plus 10 private television channels.
The capitol of Röken and a few other cities have broadband Internet access in nearly every household in the rest of the country accesses the Internet at basic ISDN speed only, a problem the government aims to change during the next years. The Internet country code is .kldor.
1. Introduction
2. Geography
3. Economy
4. History
5. Military
6. Government Structure and Political Structure
7. People and Population
8. Communications
1. Introduction
The Holy Empire of Kaledoria is a young recently stabilized nation in the Sui Generis region. It is a developing nation, with old outdated workshops and traditions next to modern factories and ideas.
2. History
To understand the culture of the Holy Empire of Kaledoria one must understand its recent history. Just 50 years ago the region of the nation today was separated into 3 different territories: One was the City-State of Röken, the next was the so called Republic of Fororia and last the extraterritorial Kaledionian Mountains.
Röken was a city of philosophers and religious isolationists lost by the time. They had sophisticated agricultural knowledge and medicine but lacked on other fields of science. Their military defense was underdeveloped due to the facts that they could expect not to be attacked from the surrounding Nation of Fororia, who was likewise military weak and economically dependent on a cooperative relation with Röken.
During a time of multiple minor conflicts in other parts of the world, the tribal men from the Kaledionian Mountains attacked. The attack was planed by a long hand, it started with a series of assassination of the Fororian Dictator and his obvious successors. With Fororia in disorder, the Kaledionian Warriors, armed with advanced weapons acquired on the international black market, headed straight for Röken and took the city within only 2 bloody weeks. Not much later the new emerged Fororian Leader accepted an offer to give up his independence and become part of the new Kaledorian Empire, aware that he was in no position to defend himself military should Kaledionian-Röken attack.
In the early days of the new empire, it was ruled by a council of the most successful Kaledionian warlords and chiefs. They invited a few cooperative Rökensh nobles and Fororian chiefs to join them, over time resulting in the Council of Warlords as it reigns the nation today.
One of the earliest decisions was the establishment of a caste system, something that in a similar form existed in Röken prior to the war, separating the population in scientists, politicians, clerics, servants and outlaws. It got reasonable support from the Labor-centered Fororians and the strict warrior-culture of the Kaledionians. Yet in the final vote the proposition failed by one vote. Even thought not formalized or enforced, the idea is still on the minds of more traditional Kaledorians.
Despite being a based on conquer, the new government found reasonable support in the population and the number of acts of political terror dropped to average numbers for a third world country within 15 years (and dropped a further 50% in the 35 years since then).
Key factors were:
- A governmental commitment to the state church, that was largely based on the Rökensh Levantine religion. Changes were steps backwards on the Christianization, this pagan religion underwent during the late 19th and early and mid 20th century and a focus on the Moloch that held many similarities with the Kaledionian chief deity.
- Strong technological advancement due to the opening of the borders to foreign companies and founding of domestic companies.
- A number of propaganda campaigns with unexpectedly good success.
The head of state Warlord Marhault used his position to solidify his power. During his 42 year lasting reign he survived 19 assasination attempts, then resigned due to health issues in 2002. He proposed his son Maraxus to be his successor and the Council supported him with a clear majority of 41:0 (with 10 abstentions).
3. Geography
Location: World of Sui Generis
Area: 357,022 sq km
Land boundaries: 4,100 km
Coastline: 1,900 km
Climate: cool and marine; cloudy, wet winters and summers
Terrain: lowlands in north, hills in the southwest, rough mountains in the southeast.
Point of highest elevation: Gödadorn 4,200 m
Arable land: 27%
Natural hazards:Flooding
4. Economy
The late development and the fact of not having been stripped during the age of colonization was a boom to the mining industry. Keldoria has a good output of iron, great tin and copper and some gold and uranium mining.
The engine of the economy has traditionally be the heavy industrial machines and vehicles industry but has lately been replaced by cheap electronics, household devices and most of all arms and military equipment.
At multiple instances Leader Maraxus has expressed his displeasure with foreign companies and favor of the domestic ones. Governmentally-owned companies exist and challenge private companies to keep prices stable and reduce corporate power.
Multiple cooperations claim that Kaledoria supports industrial espionage.
Taxes are low. Imports and exports are balanced, although only the customs only take import duties, export is not regulated. Combined with the low regulations of drugs, weapons and about everything else, this has made smuggling a serious problem in Kaledoria, although the Leader Maraxus denies this.
5. Military
The people of Kaledoia - and especially those of Kaledionian tribal origin follow a strict military tradition. Military service is compulsive, usually starting at the age of 17 but can possibly delayed up to the age of 25 (most often in case of early parenthood). The service is seen as a last step in education with lessons on discipline, military tradition and the honor codex of Kaledonian Warriors taking almost as much time as weapon and tactics training. Mandatory service is 1 year for woman and 2 years for man, longer terms are common, especially among soldiers aiming for a political career.
Backbone of the military is the Army and it's strong infantry. The Air force is mediocre, the Navy critically under-financed due to the small coastline and thus low priority. Counter-intelligence is receiving over-proportional parts of the defense budged and, as speculated by WA-Supervisors, so is the military intelligence department.
The army is again divided into three branches, the city guards of Röken - mostly trained in urban warfare and clearly the most numerous branch, the mobile provincial defenses and the Kaledonian Mountaineers, elite troops trained in (and often coming from) the mountains and equipped with the best weapon- and electronic warfare- systems this moderately advanced nation can afford.
6. Government Structure and Political Structure
As the first elected (by the Council of Warlords) leader Warlord Maraxus formalized his title to be "Supreme Leader". After a holy inspiration by the Oracle in the city of Röken, the church added the title "Chosen one of Moloch". With his military reforms of 2006, his third title of Warlord was extended to be "Lord of the Warlords". It's formally correct to address him simply as "Leader Maraxus" except for the first time he is addressed during a formal ceremony.
The second political instance is the Council of Warlords. Despite the name only about 50% belong to what should be called the military junta, although all members are expected to have served more then the minimal military service. The other half of the council consists of working class-, academic- and religious representatives of about equal parts. Should a member of the council retire, he proposes his successor and the council decides by vote to accept this successor or to demand another one.
On the lowest level of the government mayors of small towns or city districts are elected by the public. The elections are rather informal, terms range from a few years to unlimited. While council members and the Leader of Kaledoria have the right to ignore the election and place as mayor whomever they want, this right is rarely used, not little due to the fact that they have little interest in this low level of their administration, as long as the people in the district are productive, taxpaying and happy.
7. People and Population
Population: About 50 millions, over 16 millions of them in the capitol of Röken (no other city even reaching 2 millions)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.1% - 15-64 years: 76.9% - 65 years and over: 9%
Median age: 39.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.95%
Net migration rate: 4.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Urban population: 92% of total population
Sex ratio: 0.95 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: 80.06 years
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2%
Nationality: noun: Kaledorian(s) - adjective: Kaledorian
Religions: Levantine 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Christian 12.5%, Jewish 4%, other 4.8%, none 21.9%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write 92.5%
Education expenditures: 11% of GDP
8. Communications
About every single household has a telephone, mobile cellphones however are rare (About 1 per 5 people)
Nearly 120 mostly private and local radio stations compete in Kaledoria but only 6 public plus 10 private television channels.
The capitol of Röken and a few other cities have broadband Internet access in nearly every household in the rest of the country accesses the Internet at basic ISDN speed only, a problem the government aims to change during the next years. The Internet country code is .kldor.