[TWI-ONLY] The Western Isles Nationbuilding Prompt 2020-2021

[Jeriga]

Who controls your crisis managment agencies and what government level has final say on what resources go where? Are you a federal state with strong state's rights that requires states to request the feds to come in or are you an authoritarian government who does what it feels it needs at a moment's notice? Who funds these services, how large and numerous are they, and what kinds of taxes go towards their budget? What is the history of your interior services? Have they been used recently? Has your nation faced a disaster or have they been sent to alleviate another nation's pain? What kind of reputation do they have?

Disaster response on a national level is conducted by the Office for Emergency Management, a subsidiary of the Ministry of the Interior. The OfEM conducts operations when aid is requested from local or provincial governments, or when authorized to do so by Parliament. OfEM is funded along with the rest of the national government, through a budget which is passed by Parliament yearly.

OfEM was founded in 1975 following the 1974 Coruka Earthquake and the haphazard response to it by the various agencies in charge of disaster management. It unified all disaster management into a single office, rather than having several offices in a few different ministries overseeing different or overlapping responsibilities regarding disaster responses. Originally, they were solely under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and Parliament, meaning that whenever they wanted to give aid to an area, they needed Parliament's permission. This changed under the National Government (Restructuring) Act 1987, which delegated a lot of national government power to the provincial governments, including giving them the power to request aid from OfEM independently.

Recently, OfEM was used to respond to the 2022 forest fires in Valhapia, which saw a rapid containment of the forest fires. OfEM has a reputation of being mostly helpful, but still intrusive as they only seek to prevent damages and rebuild new, rather than consider the history of the area.

Very nice. Besides the strange way you shorten it, (Office of Emergency Management would be OEM. Prepositions are removed from acronyms and are the only words not capitalized in a title), this sounds interesting. What were emergency management systems like before 1975? Were they mostly controlled by cities and provinces or was it really just a haphazard combination of independent national government ministries running emergency management before? If so, it sounds like your nation has a confusing relationship with its national government. The people don't know whether they want it big and caring or small and disunified, nearly intentionally badly run.

Diving into why the government was so badly run before 1975 would be a great way to help characterize your people.

[Jeriga]

1. Who controls your crisis managment agencies and what government level has final say on what resources go where? Are you a federal state with strong state's rights that requires states to request the feds to come in or are you an authoritarian government who does what it feels it needs at a moment's notice?

Emergency management services are centralized in the Ministry of Defense. While most nations separate the two, emergency management is deemed to be a critical aspect of the nation's defense systems as part of the nation's invasion defense. Provincial governments have their own police department and nominally control the fire and ambulance services as well as administer most of the day to day functions of the universal healthcare system. However, parliament and the Crown reserve the right to, by written notice, reassert control over these services in times of crisis. There will be no confusion on the chain of command.

2. Who funds these services, how large and numerous are they, and what kinds of taxes go towards their budget?

These services are funded primarily by the income, business, and property taxes. Fire and police services controlled by the provincial governments tend to have the property taxes earmarked for those services as that is the only tax directly made and collected by the provinces. Healthcare services, including ambulance, are funded by a special payroll tax and a 5 percent capital gains tax. They are collected and distributed by the federal government in the Ministry of the Treasury's Income and Tax Service.

The services have 6 provincial arms with both fire and police arms, 1 national police arm, and one centralized ambulance service with dispatch centers across the nation. These services currently employ between 10,000 and 20,000 people.

3. What is the history of your interior services?

The Ministry of the Interior does not control the Emergency services and has not since 1939. In fact, the Interior Ministry has had it's roles chopped up and served to other ministries since 1946 at least. It is now a glorified road, rail, and air service. This weakness is due to the nation being highly distrustful of the ministry since it once contained the Federal Police before the constitution of 1939. These police were brutal extensions of royal power and republican politicians have been keen to kill the ministry because of them ever since.

4. Have they been used recently? Has your nation faced a disaster or have they been sent to alleviate another nation's pain? What kind of reputation do they have?

The emergency services performed remarkably during the recent nuclear spill. Several gave their lives responding to the initial flood to retrieve workers, who also later gave their lives in service to the nation. But even more so, they organized and executed an evacuation of 10s of thousands without an issue while the highest levels of government floundered. The Minister of Defense awarded nearly 53 Meritorious Service Medals to units involved. As a result, they are still considered one of the best and competent services in government.

[Baumes]

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Crisis Managment in Baumes

Who controls your crisis managment agencies and what government level has final say on what resources go where? Are you a federal state with strong state's rights that requires states to request the feds to come in or are you an authoritarian government who does what it feels it needs at a moment's notice?

The Office of Public Safety (OPS) is an agency of the Ministry of Safety and Security responsible for emergency management in Baumes and is dispatched when such disasters are too overwhelming for local or provincial authorities or when requested by the federal government. Often, they require a formal request from the governor of the province to the federal government and the president unless an emergency occurs on federal property or to a federal asset.

Who funds these services, how large and numerous are they, and what kinds of taxes go towards their budget?

OPS has an annual budget of approximately $600 million IAD which are distributed accordingly to each province and their needs. For example, the province of Maldora is prone to earthquakes and landslides and as such, receives a set amount of money to help combat this issue. On the contrary, some provinces like Cresti may be less likely to experience major disasters and has a smaller budget than Maldora.

What is the history of your interior services?
The office was formed following the Government Reorganisation Plan no.5 of 1942 after it was realized that Baumes is extremely prone to many natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods and wildfires. This duty also expanded to man-made disasters such as the 1990 Danisa Nuclear Incident. Unlike its predecessors, the OPS incorporated all disaster management offices into one. The agency also played a key role during Baumes' involvement in IW1, helping save countless thousand lives. Since then, it has continuously been dispatched to respond to disasters in Baumes.

Have they been used recently? Has your nation faced a disaster or have they been sent to alleviate another nation's pain? What kind of reputation do they have?
It's hard to say when was the last time they were dispatched. The OPS are dispatched quite frequently actually to respond to Baumes' countless disasters. As Baumes lies between two tectonic boundaries, activities such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are rather common. Flooding is also frequent in the nation's wetter regions and forest fires have been known to occur throughout the nation. The last major disaster the OPS was dispatched to was during the 2022 Avancan Earthquake, which claimed 108 lives. It was handled successfully by the OPS, however, as it saw a quick and efficient response and many victims were rescued.

[The Western Isles Office of Roleplay]

Nationbuilding Prompt February 2023

Welcome back to another nationbuilding Prompt! This month we are focusing on ethnic identity in your nation.

There are several major ethnicities in the region. Some of them like the Aprosians are simply refugees from hellholes and others, like the Ipachi, are ancestors to peoples across the region. In this nationbuilding prompt, we will explore one ethnicity and its history in your nation.

1. What is the most vulnerable or historied ethnicity in your nation?

2. How does that ethnicity define itself? By religion? Traditions? Language?

3. How do they differ from your majority ethnicities?

4. How have they been treated? If good, then great. If bad, then explain why and what that relationship looks like now.

Good luck!

(TY Baumes for the photo )

[Prvekjia]

Ethnicities of Prvekjia

What is the most vulnerable or historied ethnicity in your nation?
The Tradicnisci were once a powerful people, but through time, it was torn apart by revolutions and advancements in technology. Through centuries, their territory has slowly diminished, until they were completely consumed by the Baumish and sought refuge in Prvekjia. Currently, they encompass 14 percent of the Prvekjiansci population. They are mostly concentrated in southern Prvekjia, with the city of Gsjoravo acting as an ethnic hub for the Tradicniči

How does that ethnicity define itself? By religion? Traditions? Language?
Tradicnisci culture is very minimalist. Many traditional Tradicniči live by the belief that they are there to serve the future; to create a better world for the next generation. The Tradicnisci language is noticeably similar to Maurician, but many Tradicniči speak Prvekjiansci, making Tradicnisci a sort of lost language only few speak fluently.

How do they differ from your majority ethnicities?
They are the only other major ethnicity in Prvekjia that isn't Prvekjiansci, due to the fact that Prvekjia quickly expanded and conquered the area that they have today around the 15th century. This caused many ethnicities in Prvekjia at that time to be wiped out. Tradicnia was later conquered by Baumes, and by then, Prvekjia had abolished the monarchy, and many Prvekjianči urged the government to harbor Tradicnisci refugees. Eventually, Prvekjia gained Tradicnia back, but the Tradicnisci were more than happy to join Prvekjia.

How have they been treated? If good, then great. If bad, then explain why and what that relationship looks like now.
Good, since the 19th century, but usually killed on sight before the 15th century. This is because Prvekjia, during the "Warring States" period, in which the land Prvekjia encompasses today was fragmented in multiple Kralates, Prvekjianči were very hostile to basically all foreigners, due to the fact that they were fighting multiple wars on many fronts. The Tradicnisci were no exception to this hostility.

[Dragao do Mar]

1. What is the most vulnerable or historied ethnicity in your nation?
The various indigenous ethnicities which are being opressed for 2000 years by the native Tabajara empire, then the colonization, slavery, and the modern Marian monarchy.

2. How does that ethnicity define itself? By religion? Traditions? Language?
Some indigenous ethnicities are more traditionalists, called "traditional indigenous", living in forests and indigenous reserves, and keeping their ancients politheist religions, cultural practices and languages. These make up for 30% of the indigenous populations. In the other hand, other indigenous populations had their culture more influenced by the colonization, usually called "urban indigenous", and they live in big cities, most are adept to christianism and do not practice most of their ancient cultural manifestations.

3. How do they differ from your majority ethnicities?
The traditional indigenous are the most easily to differentiate, as their appearance, clothes, language, beliefs, cuisine and habits are easily seen as non-western. The urban indigenous count on their facial traits and surnames to affirm their identity, as they usually inherit slanted eyes and their ethnicities surnames.

4. How have they been treated? If good, then great. If bad, then explain why and what that relationship looks like now.
Awfully. They were considered non-citizens for most of Marian history, a part of the ethnicities was used as slaves by the colonization, and they still suffer from racism and social segregation until the present day.

[Solaryia]

The largest and by far the most historically notable minority ethnicity in Solaryia are the Eldana. Also commonly known as the Native Solaryi or Native Surovi, however those names are moderate generalizations as there are other (albeit far smaller) native groups scattered throughout the country.

The Eldana were originally a land based semi-nomadic people originating from far north of the Lysos mountains, and while their originals aren’t particularly known it’s theorized that they were a subgroup of the ancient Raelosi culture from around the area of Northern Vrisland and Gleston. Due to a volcanic eruption on Oasis Isle around 50 AD, and a general cooling down of the global climate around the same period, a substantial migration was triggered where the group went south and eventually ended up on the Surovian peninsula. After a few more years they came into contact and often conflict with the remnants of the Thematic peoples, although due to the aforementioned eruption and global cooling the largely city-based Thematic civilization had entered into a period of severe decline, and could no longer mount a serious threat to the Eldana. Due to continuous conflict the last of the Thematic cities were abandoned around 200 AD, and the population of the peninsula was reduced to just semi-Nomadic Eldana tribes, and some small mixed Eldana-Thematic villages.

By 560 AD the climate had improved, and population on the peninsula had grown to such an extent that larger agricultural based cities were once again viable (particularly on the coasts, many tribes in the mountainous/forested interior remained semi-nomadic), so various tribes started coalescing and forming new cities, preeminently on easily fortifiable hilltops or near the ruins of old Thematic cities. For example, the modern city of Eridanis was built on an easily defendable island near the ruins of the Thematic city of Erdroxania. These cities once again start to take up the practice of trading, and form various trade leagues that compete with each other, resulting in a few very large conflicts. However this was also the period where Eldana culture reached its zenith, with a substantial amount of art, architecture, and philosophy being discussed, as well as the clarifications of the local religion, eventually being named as Kilkatra-Ilhnísu.

The native religion is called the Kilkatra-Ilhnísu, which essentially means the Shardic/Broken People. This is because in the “beginning” there was simply one omnipotent god in existence, and nothing else, however eventually they decided to break themselves up in what was essentially the Big Bang, forming the universe out of the various parts of their body and soul. In particular, the physical universe was made from their body, as well as a more shadowy celestial universe formed from their pure soul. In addition it made all of the people and various other forms of life as well as all the pantheon of spirits and gods.

Some of the most important gods out of all of these are:
-The Sun god, one of the “purest” gods and seen as the closest reflection of the OG god. They act as the overseer of the mortal universe and caretaker of all of it, as the sun provided life and warmth and all that stuff that’s marginally important for the survival of life. However occasionally they were bound by other duties and needed to head out to do godly bureaucratic work during the winter, leaving less time to help the world prosper. Technically made out of one of the original god’s eyes.
-The Moon god, another one of the purest gods however this one straddled the border in between the mortal universe and the celestial universe, basically balancing on a magical tightrope which explained the phases of the moon as they swayed from one side to the other. Their power in the mortal universe was strongest during the full moon, when they were entirely within the mortal universe and could theoretically walk among it. Also seen as a protector of humanity. Technically made out of the other one of the original god's eyes.
-The god of the stars, who acted as the overseer of the celestial realm, into which all the souls of humanity would eventually come into. If you were seen as a worthy caretaker of the world (get into that later) then you’d be able to become a star when you died. Groups of people were separated into different constellations of stars, so they would always be able to be together, even in death. Occasionally the star god would manifest into the mortal universe as the aurora borealis. Technically made from the original god’s freckles.
-Variety of various nature gods that embodied various aspects of nature, such as the oceans (blood), rivers (veins/more blood), trees (lungs), rocks and mountains (bones), and the seasons (winter and summer for his last inhale and exhale). These gods would all oversee and ensure that their respective aspects of nature were taken care of, however they’re far less powerful then the big three and require extra help from both humans and various spirits.

Spirits are those beings made from the OG god, but technically don’t have anything from its soul. This includes the consciousness of individual animals/plants/trees, all of the “individual” things that the nature gods oversee. They nominally have some sort of soul/intelligence, but it’s an intelligence that can’t be compared to humans or gods, lacking reason. However, occasionally gods can come down to inhabit the body of a particular spirit (and you’d never know that they were unless they revealed it either directly or through their behavior), so in general it’s good to be nice to everybody.

Humans were a special case among everything that broke up from the god, and they’re technically not made from any body parts of them, but purely of the gods spirit. This leads to humanity lacking any sort of power (at least in the mortal universe), however it gives them the light of sentience/knowledge/reason, and they’re assigned to be the primary caretakers of the mortal universe “on the ground” so to speak. Eventually they die and become fully integrated into the celestial realm where they have a lovely old time for the rest of eternity. (Or until the original god theoretically decides to reform, there’s some theological debates regarding that topic)

The Eldana tribes existed in this golden age for roughly another 500 years, however internal instability and economic problems eventually caused weakness within the civilization. This was taken advantage of by the Roendavarian based Empire of Daciara. A Davari noble from the house of Elearhie-Iralethias had gotten into a conflict with the Emperor and was forced to flee, so subsequently invaded the weakened peninsula in 1222. This kingdom came to be known as Deleiaseth Soladhris, which governed a substantial part of the eastern peninsula under a more rigid class system which favoured the Davari aristocracy over the native Eldana. The occupation wasn’t all bad however, as the kingdom brought about stability and connections to the wider Empire of Daciara, as well as a substantial cultural exchange.

In the mid-1500s, a succession crisis caused chaos among Deleiaseth Soladhris, as well as causing increasing unrest among the native Eldana population. This was easily taken advantage of by newfound European settlers from Norway, arriving in 1541. The Nordic settlers slowly allied with the Eldana, who together launched a over decade long independence war, finally ending in 1580. The Eldana and Europeans agreed to a treaty of joint government of the old kingdom, however over time with the increasing adoption of Christianity and increasing Nordic populations combined with disease, the natives were gradually phased out of governance and overtaken in population. The Nordic settlers didn’t treat the Eldana badly however, primarily aiming to peacefully convert them and assimilate them under the supervision of the Surovi Catholic Church. There were occasional wars with interior tribes in the west, who had primarily stayed independent and isolated for most of the peninsula’s history, however the superior technology and use of native Eldana as shock troops ended these wars rather quickly. When the Commonwealth of Solaryia was created in 1808, various Eldana leaders were given some seats to participate within the government and elect the monarch, and this is still paralleled in the modern republic, where the Eldana-majority region of Isopunaa has 4 special voting seats in the Senate.

In modern times, the Eldana peoples define themselves primarily by lineage and language, as well as participation in their native religion to an extent. Many Eldana can trace their families back to the particular tribe or city state that they originated from, even before the Davari occupation. Language is also a notable aspect of the modern cultural identity, particularly since it has contributed a substantial amount of vocabulary to the modern Solaryi language. Many Eldana, particularly within the interior, also still practice the old Kilkatra-Ilhnísu religion, at least in conjunction with Christianity. There are also many ancient pieces of art, architecture, and literature that remain famous within Solaryia and Raedlon as a whole that forms the basis for modern Eldana culture, which has experienced a revival since the closing of the Imperial War and subsequent democratization of the country. They’re primarily differentiated from the European based Solaryi in modern times through appearance, particularly in regards to clothing and hairstyle since the revival of the culture. In regards to economics, many native Solaryi groups including the Eldana are known to have higher rates of poverty and a lower average income however, although that could be due to a substantially larger portion of their populace living in more isolated rural areas as opposed to the more metropolitan European-descended populations.


As seen from the history, treatment of the native Eldana populations has historically been very varied, coming from owning the peninsula, to being a lower caste in a foreign kingdom, to being integrated into the modern Solaryi state. Their relationship with the modern Nordic and Polish descended Solaryi is very close, particularly after formal unification in 1808 and the various mutual struggles they’ve undergone since, preeminently the Imperial War.

[Ardchu]

1. What is the most vulnerable or historied ethnicity in your nation?
Probably the very small population of Golden Poison dart frogs we have living in Arnok (refugees)
2. How does that ethnicity define itself? By religion? Traditions? Language?
Their food is different from most Ardchuan staples, as they like to eat the insects of their homeland, and their religion is still Naturaeism. Traditions differ from some of our species, generally around mating and stuff. Their language is a form of poison dart frog, but with a very heavy accent.
3. How do they differ from your majority ethnicities?
They’re quite similar to the other poison dart frogs around here
4. How have they been treated? If good, then great. If bad, then explain why and what that relationship looks like now.
They have been treated very well, as speciesism is illegal in Ardchu. Their population here is growing, which is good, and some may move back to Panama.

[The Western Isles Office of Roleplay]

Nationbuilding Prompt: March 2023

Welcome to the next Nationbuilding Prompt, where the Office of Roleplay encourages every TWI member and those wishing to join to pull the curtains back on their nation and teach us about how you do things.

For this month, in the spirit of Spring Renewal, the Nationbuilding Prompt is:

New Nations, New States, New Regimes

Reflect on the most noteworthy time your nation has undergone a transition in the state organization, regime, or government. This can span from coups and revolutions to peaceful transitions, new constitutions, and more. You are also encouraged to share how this affected the people living in your nation, how they responded, and other changes in society affected by the transition.

You may particularly answer the following questions:

1. What was a time when your nation experienced a dramatic or noteworthy transition in its state organization, government, or regime?
2. Was this transformation violent or non-violent?
3. Was this transformation permanent, or was it reversed or superseded by another transformation?
4. How did your population react to the transition? Reflect especially on the level of both individuals and community groups.

[Nhoor]

> What was a time when your nation experienced a dramatic or noteworthy transition in its state organization, government, or regime?
For Nhoor, there may have been two (or three):
- The 1644 unification of the archduchies and the creation of the Dominion of Nhoor, which exists until today
- The 1792 Feast of Amercement, which ended nobility rule (as they were all killed)
- The 1978 change of the constitution, which reduced the King's powers to a mostly ceremonial one and created the self-regulating executive branch of the government that still exists today.

> Was this transformation violent or non-violent?
1644 was mostly non-violent; there was some opposition but that didn't last long. 1792 was violence galore. 1978 was not violent at all.

> Was this transformation permanent, or was it reversed or superseded by another transformation?
All transformations were permanent, even the one of 1792; although the Kings (and Queen) after that moment could of course have created new nobility, they haven't done so yet.

> How did your population react to the transition? Reflect especially on the level of both individuals and community groups.
1644: Some nations that were conquered or annexed by the newly created Dominion weren't all to happy about it at first, but since all of them spoke Nhoor and had the same culture, the transition wasn't too traumatising.
1792: Members of the nobility protested for a couple of days, but that protest ended very abruptly.
1978: There were protests by democracy groups that criticised the new constitution for not being democratic enough. As it was however more democratic than the previous one (where the king appointed the government), the number of protests and the number of people attending them slowly shrank. There are still minor organisations that host weekly manifestations to ask for more democracy but these attract only a handful of people nowadays. For some context: Nhoor are allowed to vote for their local and provincial parliaments, the latter of which elect the national parliament. The government itself decides which ministers join and leave, although parliament can have a binding say in this if it thinks this is in the national interest.

[The Western Isles Office of Roleplay]

Nationbuilding Prompt: April 2023

Welcome to the next Nationbuilding Prompt, where the Office of Roleplay encourages every TWI member and those wishing to join to pull the curtains back on their nation and teach us about how you do things.

For this month the Nationbuilding Prompt is:

National Vices

Explore the most common addictive substances or vices in your nation or within communities; this can include drugs, gambling, or other things that are considered vices within your nation (or subnational groups) that are frequently engaged in. You may also explore the history of addictive substances or vices in your nation, how the government(s) have attempted to respond to them, and the success of such efforts.

You may particularly answer the following questions:

1. What are the most common addictive substances the people of your nation consume?
2. What is the legality of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and prostitution? How does the legal system respond to the nation's vices?
3. What organizations, legal or otherwise, provide these vices?
4. Is there regionality with these vices? Reflect particularly on if, and where, different vices are prevalent geographically or culturally.

[Bavarno]

By far, the two largest vices in Bavarno are marijuana and alcohol. Marijuana has been fully legalized since 2011, and in the almost 12 years since it has been legal, consumption and production have spiked. This, along with the popularity of alcohol, has led to an increase of DWIs and fatal car crashes. Driving while under the influence laws include all sorts of intoxicating substances, from drugs like cocaine and heroin, to marijuana, and alcohol. The government, led by the Conservatives from 2013 to 2021, instituted strict punishments for driving or operating heavy machinery under the influence, including up to 20 years jail time if a fatal incident occurs. The recently deposed grand coalition between the Social Democrats and Conservatives moderated these laws somewhat, but most of the strict anti-intoxicant laws remain.

Alcohol has been popular since Bavarno became one united country. It is subject to high sin taxes, along with marijuana and tobacco products, which produce a large amount of revenue for the government. As a consequence of its popularity, alcoholism is a major problem, especially among low-income groups. As a response, the Public Health Service, Bavarno's public healthcare service, has made treatment for alcoholism completely free, and the government has removed most of its subsidies to alcohol manufacturers.

Prostitution is completely legal, and has been since the Constitutional Court decided it was constitutional in Haran v. Bavarno, under the part of the Constitution providing a right to bodily autonomy.

[Corindia]

Corindi alcohol sales are dominated by several large companies which produce both hard and soft drinks. The largest example of such a company is Zuca-Cola which produces traditional beers, seltzers, as well as pre-mixed cocktails based on its popular sodas and teas. Some of these products have been criticized for being too similar in appearance and taste to their soft drink counterparts from the same company and being easy to mistake for one and another, as well as being too tempting to children who are be exposed to advertisements for both from a young age. It is illegal to directly market alcohol to children and Zuca-Cola technically abides by this, but some argue that when the two products are so similar and united under one brand, an advertisement for one is effectively an advertisement for another.

Spirits popularly produced in Corindia include large amounts of rum, cachaça, vodka, gin, and floraverde, which is a clear spirt brewed from the roasted buds of the sepulio plant which is grown in large plantations in the arid portions of eastern Corindia. It can be consumed immediately after distillation or aged, which gives it a more smoky and complex flavor. It is commonly imbued with floral and herbal flavors, some of the most popular being basil, rosemary, wormwood, and pine. The latter results in a flavor which is similar to gin. Floraverde and similar sepulio based drinks have been distilled by the native Iza since their arrival on the island, and their are many variants which are significantly less alcoholic which are drank similarly to wine. The Corindi government has enacted standards for how it must be produced, bottled, and sold, the most notable being that it must be distilled and bottled in Corindia to be sold as floraverde.

[Cyrosia]

Vices in Cyrosia vary a bit between the two dominant ethnicities of the country. Amidst the Kirushaar people of the island of Kirush (Cyros), alcohol, and drug consumption are the two biggest vices, along with gambling. This is due to the widespread popularity of beer, wine, and a traditional liquor derived from goat milk, similar to the Mongolian Airag(Ayrag) or Arkhi, as well as to both commercial consumption of cannabis and religious consumption of opium and magic mushrooms, and the huge popularity of the casino scene in Tundrasha and Eoragya. Commercial consumption has been legal in all states and special federated districts since 2016, after the district of Krisbrin legalized commercial use on the district's representatives' council.

On the other hand, religious use of opium and magic mushrooms has been protected since the 1940's, and has been traditionally tied to the Church of Izmit as a purifier of both the place of worship and the body and soul of who worships, mainly seen in the provinces of Izmitia, North Tulshinshir, South Tulshinshir, and the special district of Krisbrin. This kind of use, although it is protected, is usually frowned upon by practitioners of other religions, and is usually only permitted to monks, nuns, priestesses, and priests of Izmit. The Geröshaar people of the island of Gerösh (Geros) don't enjoy gambling and drugs like marijuana as much as the Kirushaar people. The Special Federated District of Silberiash, as well as the provinces of West and East Geros, are known for their consumption of tobacco and the same goat milk liquor that the Kirushaar enjoy. Religious consumption of Opium and "Magic Mushrooms" are not as widespread in the Geröshaar branch of the Church of Izmit, only happening on private ceremonies at monasteries, and usually replaced by sandalwood and pine incense, and goat milk liquor.

There have been cases of consumption of "religious drugs" outside of practice, that have used the law that protects this practice as a legal argument to prevent judging. However, the Supreme Criminal Courts have developed a wide set of institutions and special judicial regimes to identify and process these cases where drugs whose commercial use is not permitted are excused through religious use. Aside from that, there are standardized regulations for alcohol and marijuana production and distribution, as well as special regimes for casinos in the special district of Tundrasha, and the province of Dhitsenya, where Eoragya is located. Tobacco is also standardized and regulated under similar laws as those that regulate alcohol consumption and distrubution.

[Nhoor]

What are the most common addictive substances the people of your nation consume?
Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are consumed by Nhoor throughout the country in various degrees.

What is the legality of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and prostitution? How does the legal system respond to the nation's vices?
Tobacco is the least legal of the three; it is restricted to members-only clubs with smoking permits. Alcohol has no legislation regarding consumption, but it can be sold only in special shops where entrance is prohibited to citizens under 21. Beer and wine can be sold in bars to anyone older than 16, stronger alcoholic beverages only to citizens older than 21. Legislation surrounding drugs is confusing (although the government has in recent years tried to add some structure). Certain types of drugs are legally purchasable at drugstores.

What organizations, legal or otherwise, provide these vices?
Apart from the aforementioned institutions, there are (of course) dodgy establishments, particularly in the cities but also in remote areas of Nhoor, that provide addictive substances outside legislation.

Is there regionality with these vices? Reflect particularly on if, and where, different vices are prevalent geographically or culturally.
Real addiction is more common among problematic families (divorced parents, one-parent families, families in poor areas of cities), but not unknown among spoiled rich people either.

[The Western Isles Office of Roleplay]

Nationbuilding Prompt: May 2023

Welcome to the next Nationbuilding Prompt, where the Office of Roleplay encourages every TWI member and those wishing to join to pull the curtains back on their nation and teach us about how you do things.

For this month the Nationbuilding Prompt is:

Pop Fiction and Media Darlings

Explore your nation's most well known works of popular fiction, specifically film, television, magazines, etc. You may specifically explore works that were not recognized during their original publication but have since become cult classics, or the presence of tabloids in your nation's media. You may also explore popular media personalities in your nation or the presence of foreign media as part of your nation's media ecosystem.

You may particularly answer the following questions if you wish:

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)
2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?
3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?
4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?
5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

[Nhoor]

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)
Television, although streaming is an emerging format, especially among the younger part population.

2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?[/font]
The television breakfast programme Cirvasan Ataypese̦m Tā̦r? (‘Would you like a croissant?’), which has existed in a continuous running since 1988, except for one day in 2017 following the death of King Armhad V.

3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?[/font]
No.

4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?
Two hosts of Cirvasan Ataypese̦m Tā̦r? are among Nhoor’s most known people: Ɵriƨytus Juvey (m) and Gerto̦ Se̦nir (f), who presented the programme together from 1988 to 2011, when Juvey retired. Se̦nir retired in 2017. Both are still frequently invited as guests in talk shows and other programmes.

Weatherman Qārd Gonhomher gained notority for his charming style of presenting the weatherforecast between 1991 and 2015. In addition, it emerged in 2018 that Gonhomher did all presentations by heart; that year he confirmed to be severely dyslexic, which rendered the teleprompter useless for him.

The fictional character Brēd Badorgeqh, the evil antagonist as played by actor Numā Urtwrws (1925 – 2008) in the 1973 film adaptation of the detective novel Lwswq pw Borhws (‘Dark Motive’) by writer So̦nī Cheresuqh-Vayda (1896 – 1969), set a standard that created some sort of a crisis in acting, as few great actors dared to burn their fingers on evil antagonists until well in the ‘90s, with the result that most bad guys in films and series in the last two and a half decades of the 20th century were not convincing at all.

5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?
Not really.

[Dormill and Stiura]

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)

At the moment, TV remains the most popular media format in Dormill and Stiura, though streaming has been making significant inroads since the 2010s. As an extension of a highly developed subculture of reading, magazines are also uniquely popular in Dormill and Stiura, particularly tabloids but including more serious forms of news magazines. This large magazine subculture has also paved the way for the ongoing popularity of pulp fiction and comic books.

2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

The experimental horror film Bosse dans la nuit (Bump in the Night) (1977), set in the 70s and detailing the fictitious saga of Protacist cult kidnappings and ritual sacrifice, has a remarkable cult following in Dormill and Stiura, and is particularly held in high regard by the Roendavarian-Doraltic community. The film was critically panned in its day for the excessive focus it paid to explaining Protacism to its audience, though it was reexamined in recent years and was praised for its authentic depictions of Protacism.

3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

While the majority of media consumed in Dormill and Stiura is from local origins, there is an appetite for foreign media in the United Republics. The most popular sources of foreign media include Roendavar, San Jimenez, Ainslie, and Veldhaven.

4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

On the real side, Miranda Paget, actress and frequent hostess of the daytime talk show Le Café des Amis (2005-) is consistently regarded as the most popular female media personality in Dormill and Stiura. She was made famous for her section with pop singer Royston Lucas where she convinced him to make up with his on-again-off-again girlfriend Baylee Phelps live on the air.

As for fictitious, the current title is held by the character Jackson Thornton, the lead protagonist of the current iteration of the science fiction franchise Années-lumière, subtitled Les Héros de la Constellation (Lightyears: Heroes of the Stars) (2013-) who has captivated readers and watchers as the stoic and reclusive space captain in the Alliance Navy with a deeply held soft side since "Heroes of the Stars" premiered in 2013. The current depiction of Jackson by voice actor Vincent Michel in the animated series that has run parallel to the print comics has also landed Michel stardom in his own right.

5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

Most Dormill-Stiuraians regard the 1990s as one of the greatest eras in media as the counter-culture that had been growing since the Gael Crash had reached its zenith. This era is also marked for highly experimental art as post-modernism broadly crashed over Dormill and Stiura at the same time.

On a related token, media from the 1930s and 40s is considered some of the worst ever produced by Dormill and Stiura. This is entirely the result of Fraternalist propaganda infecting Doraltic culture and its efforts to establish roots in the cultural consciousness through propaganda are considered to be as artistically revolting as they are politically.

[Renet]

Media Prompt

1. Television is the most popular form of media in Renet, followed by the streaming industry.
2. "Dark Ages of Renet" is considered a cult classic in Renet due to its faithful adherence to the documented history of the Time of Troubles, alongside the writing and acting. It received average viewing during its run from 2007 to 2015 but surged in popularity in 2021 when it was made available for streaming devices.
3. Renet is a free country so our citizens have a variety of options for viewing from foreign countries. The four most popular countries are San Jimenez, Coldwoods, Dormill, and Ainslie.
4. Kenneth Braith and Kevin Smith are two of Renet's leading journalists and both hold prime time slots on the Logan News Network and the Cary Broadcasting Company, respectively.
5. The modern Republic of Renet is considered the heyday of Renetian media since there is no censorship. The National Republican regime (1951-1983) is considered the lowest point of Renetian media due to the strict censorship laws by the government and the amount of state propaganda spewed by the shows that were allowed to run.

[Belantica]

1.What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)

Television has been a popular way to consume media in Belantica for decades, and remains in the top spot. However in recent years, streaming has gained more popularity, and thus prompted many networks to start syndicating their over-the-air shows with various streaming platforms. Magazines have been in decline since the 1990's, but there are many still in production.

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2.What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

One show that can be considered as such would be the animated show Steel Police Patrol. While this animated show was popular during the 1980's, it was almost forgotten once the contract for the show expired in 1989. The show centered around a fictional unit of the Federal Police Service known as the "Mechanized Response Unit" who used a variety of vehicles and mechs to fight mech-related crimes. Interestingly, a 2 hour movie was released in 1996 and is considered a cult classic. The movie naturally focuses on the MRU, but director Gerome Hysathka interjected several ideas about Belantica's isolationism and how the peace within Belantica is almost a farce due to how the concept of war is kept relatively away from it's shores and how the media and government often downplays the concept of military action, yet still contributes to many of the issues facing the world at the time due to this notion. However, there are currently plans to revive SPP for a new era, as many original fans begun sharing it with younger generations, who are now pushing it back into the spotlight as a true unsung hero of Belantic animation.

As for movies, one that stands out would be Murder on The Emerald Express (1971), while it may have not been too successful in theaters, it is often regarded as a movie that serves as a "turning point" between old and new methods, as the director Sean Kramer employed new filming techniques that were copied into later films, and thus could be considred the first "modern" film made in Belantica.

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3.Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

While foreign media may not be too popular, there are several networks and streaming services that have sydnicated programs from other nations. Most of these come from other nations within Raedlon, such as Nhoor and Solaryia. Some Gaeltic media may be popular in Belantica, but generally most consumers have a preference for media that is considered "local" or "regional"

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4.What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

A personality who is real would be Jake Sellers, who through his long career made several appearances in movies and television shows, as well as earning the nickname "the man with a million voices" due to his skill of being able to replicate almost any sound using his tongue. While he may not be as active as he was in his youth, fans both young and old still appreciate all the work he has done over the years.

A fictional non-live action personality that is popular would be the main character of SPP, being Mary Ellis. Mary is often seen as a character that embodies the values of Belantica, as she believes in justice, fairness, perseverance, honesty, and dedication. Despite the show no longer being in production, she still serves as a role model for young women and remains as one of Belantica's most popular fictional characters. Ellis is still sometimes used by the police and military as a mascot for recuitment.

As for a fictional live-action character, Mario Peppone from the show The Peppones is a popular personality. Many say that he emboides the ruthlessness and brutality of a mafia boss, who struggles with his own personal and issues with both his family at home and his "family" of wise-guys. Many critics will say that Mario Peppone is "the best gangster to grace our television screens".

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5.Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

There really isn't an era that can be considered as the "peak" of Belantic media, but during the economic boom of the 1980's, the nation saw a large amount of growth within the media industry, as networks and publishers were interested in producing almost anything. During the early 200's however, several shows came under fire from critics and the general public, most notable being the cancellation of the prank-based show called Jinx'd where during the filming of the final episode, one of the show's hosts suffered major burns and injuries from a prank involving a car, in which the car cashed and caught fire despite warnings from several staff that it was unsafe to perform, resulting in the producers who greenlit the stunt to be jailed for 14 years, and for CRTV to be fined 2.3 million IAD. Moreso, many also have criticisms with the show On The Beat due to what is described as "applying a rosy tint" to Belantic law enforcement and not bringing up controversial topics in regards to law enforcement.

[Kravato]

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)

The most popular format of media in Kravato is TV. However, as has become a global trend, streaming is overtaking TV as the leading format of media.

2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

There are three major cult classics in Kravato always discussed when the term comes up:

1. Panned by critics during its debut in 1961, World Man was a movie called out at the time for being dull, boring, and seemingly thinking it was more than what it was. The movie tells the story of an everyday man who feels that the government didn't care for what he meant, and who decided to engage in crime as a means to be independent. The 60s were a highly patriotic time for Kravato, so this movie was despised by many until it was reevaluated during the late 70s.

2. Out Late and Staying Up was released in 1994, a movie about college students trying to chase a long-lost friend, however they get tangled into several other plots that all end up well in coincidental ways. The movie, seen as the pinnacle of 90s Kravatoan media, found difficulty with 1997 being the release year for blockbusters such as Agent Gava: His Majesty's Eye, Zlabeno Kal, and Return to Space.

3. Big Town was a documentary-style movie filmed in the 70s and released in the early 80s documenting the city of Kaplo's drug problem at the time. The movie didn't take off until the late 80s when more attention went to the truth of 70s Kaplo. Notably, people noticed that the documentary crew accidentally captured several important things, such as interviewing the man responsible for the 1977 Veniva Bomber, who was involved in the local drug trade, and several notorious killers, mobsters, and drug dealers. The most notable accidentally featured was enigmatic musical artist Sam Novena. He overdosed on heroin in 1981, and the filmers who didn't know who he was gave the best look into the life and thoughts of the man.

3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

Kravato isn't a huge consumer of foreign media, but a high English literacy rate has created large market for the consumption of English, American, and Canadian media. This can range from music, TV, movies, and books.

4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

The biggest star in Kravato is Mikel Bruvni, who is nicknamed "Jack" by the media because of his ability to play so many different types of roles. Another is comedian Jorv Iedik, who hosts Kravatoan comedy program The Expose, and has since 2017. Perhaps the most famous fictional character in Kravatoan media is Doctor Pokpo, the villain to Agent Gava. This series of movies is based on the Agent Gava books written from the 1940s to the 1980s by ex-spy Linolo Turnvin. Agent Gava movies have been made since the first, Agent Gava: Meeting Shadows, in 1963. The character's portrayers have been well-chosen since his first depiction in 1963, and his classy evil is always welcome in the Kravatoan media headspace.

5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

The "peak" of movies is considered the late 80s and early 90s period, when a certain style had emerged, and good times economically and culturally during the era also made that style iconic. There were also a large number of movies made druing the time in consideration with other periods, so its "peak" status is also due to that. The late 50s early 60s era roughly 1954-1962, though loved at the time, is considered to be the worst era of movies because of pure politicism featured throughout. Movies at the time were also mostly focused on war and Kravatoan pride, which feel wrong after the war that came later in the 60s.

[San Jimenez]

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)

Due simply to its availability, radio is perhaps the most popular form of media in the country. While a majority of San Jimenez has access to television, it is not common for rural/low-income areas of the country to have such access. However, radio is seen as a cheaper alternative. Radio is how a majority of Jimeneans receive local news and listen to music.

2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

The popular romantic film La Reina de Santa Isabel is a popular classic about two teenage boys competing for the love of the same girl. Despite its failures to gain popularity at its initial release in 1987, it has since gained fame due to its nostalgic nature of Jimenean culture during the 1960s. Although it is generally considered "overtly and excessively sweet" by older Jimeneans, it has gained a decent following from the 21st century born Jimeneans.

3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

Because of the "old fashioned" nature of Jimeneans, it is generally difficult for foreign media to successfully appeal to a majority of Jimeneans. However, foreign media from Gael tends to appeal to niche audiences of the younger segments of the Jimenean population. These younger audiences have become so receptive that the popular music industry magazine Beat Today has, in recent years, began publishing a "non-Jimenean" monthly issue covering the biggest musical hits from overseas.

4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

One of the most prominent figures in Jimenean media is Fr. Agustín Carita, O.S.J., who is known for his evangelization efforts on television and radio. At age 26, Fr. Carita has become one of San Jimenez's most popular priests. He began his media ministry with hour long programs addressing topics of religion and national issues. His youth, charisma, and zeal made him appealing to the Catholic majority in San Jimenez and his broadcasts quickly gained fame across the island.

5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

Jimenean media reached a memorable peak during the early 20th century as radio became mainstream in San Jimenez, allowing musical genres from rural and urban centers of the country to be distributed to the entirety of the population. Jimeno music in particular experienced a rise in national interest as the rural genre gained a foothold over a more national audience. This peak in media would decline with the introduction of the Imperial War. Another, much smaller peak in media, occurred in the years following. Since these two peaks in media, there has been little modernist innovation in terms of artistic and musical production giving rise to modern critics labeling Jimenean media as "stagnant" and "outdated" while leaving its proponents to label it as "timelessly classic."

[Veldhaven]

1).What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)

Streaming is now the most popular media format in Veldhaven, quickly overtaking TV as it offers a more flexible way of consuming and is also ad free. Most major tv stations pivoted to be producing content for streaming due to increased revenues and expanded markets in both genre and style of the shows as well as user demographics. Radio still remains popular among older generations. Magazines and periodicals (zines and monthly comic books) are seeing an increase in popularity fuelled by younger generations. The VO (national broadcaster) TV channels are one of the most watched TV channels, mainly for its quality of production and ad free watching.

2). What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

The tv series Dark Metallic, originally released as a dark comedy about vampires between 1981-83, was mostly ignored during it's initial release. However, since it has come to streaming it has seen a revival in fans. There have been talks of a spin off and film. The film Tears of Gael, released in 1985 following a Doraltic immigrant family and their integration into Velder society has also recieved the same treatment. Initially seen as droll and too emotional it is now seen as an intimate portrait of the immigrant experience in Veldhaven.

3). Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

A lot of Doraltic media is consumed both due to the language similarity and due to it's percieved status as being more prestigous. Alteran media has become more consumed, being mainly english speaking and due to a sudden increase in interest. Martyenikan films and tv shows are enjoyed among the expat community, but Velders from wider society have also formed interest in it. With some people regularly keeping up to date with new productions.

4).What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

All media personalities are fictionial.
Jans Klerksen is a tv host and presenter of VO 1, known as the most trusted voice of the nation. He delivers the evening news and any major news events. He has also appeared as a guest in many political talk shows and pundits. The 64 year old has been recently approached to star in a biopic about his time in the broadcaster and the major events he has covered. He most recently covered VO's reporting of the situation in Baumes.

Maddison Blakely is an actress who has starred in numerous Velder productions and currently has a large following. She is seen as a fan favourite both for her looks and wide range of characters she portrays. She most recently won the Veldhaven Media Personality Award as well as best actress for her role in Lost Nation, a show about the revival of Alhuata culture in Veldhaven in the 1970's.

5). Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

The Golden age of Velder media is considered to be both the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as the 2010s. There was an explosion of high quality productions centering on topics that people felt were important. Many have attributed this to social changes and younger studio execeutives. Some still say that the Golden Age is not yet over, while others reject the label altogether.

Media produced in the 70s is considered to be worse quality, due to the more repressive media regulations and lack of funding at the time. They generally reflect the more bleak situation the country was in at the time. There is however, still an internet following for media from this era as people like to dissect and analyse it.

[Biaten]

1) What is the most popular format of media in your nation?

In Biaten, the most popular format of media varies depending on the age group and personal preference of individuals. However, television and online media are generally the most widely consumed forms of media in the country.

2) What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?

Biaten has a rich and diverse media landscape, but it does not have a specific cult classic that is widely recognised on an international scale. However, there are certain films, television shows and literary works that have gained a dedicated following within Biaten. For example, the Film "The Yelling", released in 1967, Directed by Wilhelm Skinner, is a popular war film named after the 1463 historical event of the same name, depicting the unification of Biaten. While it is not a cult classic in the traditional sense, "The Yelling" holds a special place in Biatenian cinema history and is often referenced and remembered fondly.

3) Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?

Biaten consumes a significant amount of foreign media. Biatenians have access to a wide range of international media sources, including films, television shows, music, literature and online content. The specific countries from which foreign media is consumed in Biaten can vary, but there are a few notable sources that are popular among Biatenian audiences. Biatenians consume a lot of its media from countries such as Ioudaia, Ainslie, Roendavar, Altera and Dormill and Stiura.

4) What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?

Here is a list of several media personalities in Biaten:

• Dietlinde Paige is a television presenter, actress, and singer. Her infectious personality and hosting skills has made her a household name in Biaten. She has hosted numerous popular TV shows and events in the country.
• Flannery Kuhn is a well-known Huonian television presenter and journalist. She hosted the long-running talk show "On The Air", where she interviewed prominent Biatenian personalities and discussed various topics of interest.
• Merrick Chance is a Leocaean singer-songwriter and musician who has achieved success both in Biaten and internationally. With his distinctive voice and unique musical style, he has garnered a loyal following over the years.
• Daley Milford is a Leocaean singer-songwriter who gained popularity with her melodic pop songs. She has released numerous albums and has a significant fanbase in Biaten.
• Gearóid Keeley is an Auvian singer and actress who has released several successful albums and has appeared in musicals and theatre productions.
• Lambert Beitel is a Biatenian football legend who is widely regarded as one of the most successful and popular athletes not only in Biaten but globally. His charisma, talent and sportsmanship have made him a beloved figure both on and off the field.
  
  

5) Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation?

Biaten doesn't have a specific era in its history that is commonly referred to as a "peak" for media. However, there have been significant developments and shifts in Biatenian media landscapes over time. During the 19th century, Biaten experienced a surge in print media, particularly newspapers and journals, which played a vital role in disseminating news, political commentary and culture discourse. In the 20th century, the invention of radio and later television brought about a significant transformation in the media landscape, providing news, entertainment and educational content to the Biatenian population.

[Taonee]

1. What is the most popular format of media in your nation? (eg. TV, Streaming, Magazines, etc.)
Television. On the whole, radio is still quite popular, especially amongst the older population, due to a deep sailing tradition. Lots of people spend a lot of time at sea, especially on offshore gas extraction platforms.

2. What is considered a cult classic of your nation's media? Was it panned during its original publication or simply forgotten in a sea of other media?
It's a complicated question. This country does not have much cultural influence in the world, but something can still be highlighted.
1. "Probyvajučt lid" (Breaking the ice) is a TV show consisting of 6 episodes of an hour and a half each. Directed by Andre Willnus in 1987. It tells about the flora and fauna of the Taonее Islands. Later, this director will make several other nature documentaries, but will not achieve the success of his first one.
2. "Pryhody v sviti Vechornytsi" (Adventures in the world of the Evening) by Marta Tomaszewska in 1983 - "Vertep" studio's second full-length animated film, which tells the story of a boy's adventures in the spiritual northern world.
3. "Ryba" (The Fish), made by Maria Kowalska in 1981, is a horror film in an isolated space on an abandoned oil platform.

3. Does your nation consume a lot of foreign media? If so, where from?
On the whole, domestic product is popular, but international films are also hitting television screens and cinemas. Because of the differences in language with other countries in the region, the nation has developed a very thriving translations industry that produces some of the best dubbing in the world.

4. What are the most popular media personalities in your nation, fictional or real?
Fictional.
Marta Tomaszewska - a local director who set up "Vertep" animation studio in the 1980s, which creates full-length 2D cartoons. Even in today's days of 3D animation, this studio is using hand drawn 2D animation. She is known for her love of folk traditions, and colourful detailed animation (which costs her and her staff a lot of overwork).

5. Was there an era in your history where media was considered to be "peak?" (eg. the Golden Age of Hollywood) What about eras where a certain kind of media had a particularly bad reputation
The 1980s were a time when a number of young directors and actors started a new era in the dawn of local film production, which ended in the early 1990s with the arrival of foreign mass-produced films. The boom times may be over, but many of the studios that started at that time are still making films, just not as massively anymore. There were no particularly bad periods, unless you count the very early 30s, when a flood of patriotic propaganda in films nearly killed this sector of the economy.