Razulican Regional Recruitment [Open]

[Razulican Warden]

A Modern Technology Region

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Razulica is a Modern Technology, application-only, closed-world region beginning in the year 2020 CE. More broadly: Razulica is a worldbuilding and roleplaying project initiated in December of 2019 by Kyrusia (otherwise known as Kyrusja, the original Razulican Warden) with the considerable assistance of several associates and friends. As a region, Razulica is built upon the principles of intraregionally consistent and cohesive worldbuilding, collaborative roleplaying, and player creativity. The region is currently being actively operated by Santheres, Kyrusia, and Transnapastain

Razulica employs two levels of population capping: global and national. These are used to maintain a grounded sense of reality and immersion in the world, albeit with some differential tolerances as afforded to fiction. For that reason, multi-billion (or even a single billion) national populations will not be accepted. For the 2020-2022 roleplaying period, Razulica's global population is hard-capped at eight (8) billion persons. Similarly, national populations are soft-capped at no more than 250 million persons - ideally less. Applicants should also keep in mind when declaring their initially desired population that it may be subject to change during the application process. We accept states large and small, and have begun creating extensive lore for alternative religions.

When applying, please be aware that you are not expected to create a finalized product. You will work with region members on your concept after application to ensure that it fits into the region as seamlessly as possible while providing you with a nation in which you are interested and which we can all readily interact with. You will also note that Razulica makes use of customized religions, ethnicities, and languages - that is not to say you must conlang or construct a religion entirely of your own devising, but it does mean that each will have at the very least its own IC name and may differ greatly from real life.

Regarding RP history, please note that if you lack history or do not wish to use previous RPs as your primary samples, you may write something new for us on Google Docs. Do not include links to other RPing sites. If you have an IIWiki account, please also link us to it so we can review that, though it may only take the place of a single example. IIWiki usage is not mandatory, but will greatly help establish lore and coordinate with other players.

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[b][u]1. Applicant OOC Information[/u][/b]
[blocktext][b]• Current Region if any (please use nation tags if still extant)[/b]:
[b]• Previous regions? (please use nation tags if still extant)[/b]:
[list][*]Example [/list]
[b]• Are you known by/played other nations besides your current one? (please use nation tags if still extant)[/b]:
[list][*] Example [/list]
[b]• How did you hear about Razulica?[/b]:[/blocktext]

[b][u]2. Writing History: please give 3 examples[/b][/u]
[blocktext][b]•[/b]
[b]•[/b]
[b]•[/b][/blocktext]


[b][u]3. Proposed IC National Information (basic)[/b][/u]
[blocktext][b]• IC name[/b]:
[b]• Government type[/b]:
[b]• Economic type[/b]:
[b]• IC population[/b]:
[b]• IC GDP per capita[/b]:
[b]• What is your ideal location on the regional map?[/b] [Please link a rough visual idea (imgur preferred), or just state a general area/closeness to an existing IC country (e.g. "West of Tsarkariya, bordering")][/blocktext]

[b][u]4. Proposed IC National Information (Continued)[/b][/u]
[blocktext][b]• Summary of your nation (touching upon its history, culture, politics, society, geography, or other relevant phenomena)[/b]:
[b]• What language(s) are spoken in your nation? Is there an official language? Other recognized languages?[/b]: [Please keep in mind that custom names or conlangs are vastly preferred, but for the purposes of the app, state what the RL equivalent would be]
[b]• What ethnic and racial group(s) are present in your nation?[/b]:
[b]• What are the major religion(s) among your population? Any notable minority religion(s)?[/b]: [Please keep in mind that all religions will be customized somewhat, but for the purposes of the app, state what the RL equivalent would be]
[b]• Summarize your nation’s military (including the name, size [by percentage of the population], strategic role(s), service branches, etc.)[/b]:
[b]• Summarize your nation’s domestic politics (including political factions, national/subnational relationships, political history, etc.)[/b]:
[b]• Summarize your nation’s economy (notable imports/exports, any good/service you are self-sufficient on, desired international trade policy/ties, etc.)[/b]:[/blocktext]

[b][u]5. IC Regional Dynamics[/b][/u]
[blocktext][b]• If asked to reduce the power and national strengths of your country, how would you do so?[/b]
[b]• What role do you see your nation fulfilling within the region ICly?[/b]:
[b]• Neutrally discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your nation (esp. military, political, and economic) and how they may affect existing IC geopolitics:[/b][/blocktext]

[b][u]6. Futureproofing Canon[/b][/u]
[Blocktext][b]• If you choose to leave the region or focus on a new concept, are you willing to give this application's IP to the region as a whole for continued use? This is [i]not [/i] mandatory, but we would like a firm yes or no:[/b][/Blocktext]


Application courtesy of Tarsas; modified.

If interested, please apply and also join our Discord. When joining, you will have to verify through NSVerify as a requirement for participation on Razulica's Discord and joining the region.

[Finium]

1. Applicant OOC Information

• Current Region if any (please use nation tags if still extant): Kumuso (Kylaris)
• Previous regions? (please use nation tags if still extant):

• Ajax
• Greater Dienstad
• Gaia

• Are you known by/played other nations besides your current one? (please use nation tags if still extant):

• Finium (various region)
• Geara (GD)

• How did you hear about Razulica?: iiwiki discord server

2. Writing History: please give 3 examples

• Emilio and the Gearans
• House of Dread
• User:Finium

3. Proposed IC National Information (basic)

• IC name: Karadon
• Government type: Unitary Presidential republic
• Economic type: Mixed market
• IC population: 7-15 million
• IC GDP per capita: $10-15,000
• What is your ideal location on the regional map? West or Northwest of Kabylistan, a coastline is not required, but is acceptable.

4. Proposed IC National Information (Continued)

• Summary of your nation (touching upon its history, culture, politics, society, geography, or other relevant phenomena):
The Sarienes populated the area in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, descending into the area they now inhabit from northeast Evaesia. They established the Mek Confederacy, which ruled over them for the brief transition period, but once the natives to the area had been displaced, the confederacy evaporated and was replaced by several chiefdoms. The Sarienes occupied the fertile lowlands around the River Mithen, especially the medieval city of Otde.

The highlands were later populated by the Valts, a romance-speaking people who practiced husbandry and thrived in the hills east of Mithen. The Valts were welcomed, begrudgingly, by the Sarienes of Otde and other small states during the collapse of a neighboring empire. The Valts were mostly not allowed to own property and were instead forced to live on “waste” land owned by the various kings where they were kepts in perpetual poverty by a kind of roving law enforcer called Vtsepeters, or colloquially “valt-scepters”. The Valts were mostly pastoralist; living close to Sariene towns and villages in the winter and then moving up into the hills and highlands during the summers. Conflicts emerged concerning the use of common land, especially during the winter when the population was more heavily concentrated around the river. Violence along ethnic lines caused mutual distrust.

During the migration period, many Valts opted to ally with foreign forces instead of resisting, although many also served in the Sariene armies. The city of Otde, center of the organized resistance of the migration, was destroyed entirely, permanently destroying a large part of Sariene culture as well. Under the Valtic alliance, land was redistributed along ethnic lines, largely favoring the Valts. This system persisted briefly under successor states, but broke down into several smaller states during the early modern period. The Sarienes were able to organize a new and powerful kingdom around the city of Staratsaria, while the Valts were broken up into three other states that were vulnerable to occupation. This fractious period eventually brought about a lag in development as the rest of the world began to industrialize.

Socialism had the strongest appeal to the impoverished Valts and the emerging industrial working class of Staratsaria, who formed a revolutionary core that overthrew first the weak federal Valtic government in Byalistan and then the kingdom of Staratsaria. Ethnic tension remained, although the government took many measures to eliminate it, perhaps the cruelest of which was the ban on teaching Sariene writing, which was the language that the monarchists used to write in. Vala was promoted as the virtuous language of the working people. After the fall of the socialist regime, Sariene was reintroduced optionally to school curricula and the new republic has attempted to smooth over the crimes of the past. Staratsaria today is a multi-ethinc industrial city as well as the capital.

• What language(s) are spoken in your nation? Is there an official language? Other recognized languages?: Vala (Romanian), Sariene (Bulgarian)
• What ethnic and racial group(s) are present in your nation?: Valts (Vlachs) and Trefundi (Southern Slavic), potentially minorities of Italians and Tyuman peoples.

• What are the major religion(s) among your population? Any notable minority religion(s)?: Primarily Islamic (the equivalent from Glas), but with some Infinite groups who live in closed communities surrounding religious establishments.

• Summarize your nation’s military (including the name, size [by percentage of the population], strategic role(s), service branches, etc.): The small army is not well armed, mostly using foreign surplus gear, and the military police are often deployed to troubling hotspots by the overzealous president. The air force consists of several dated fighters and a small fleet of helicopters, which can often be seen circling Staratsaria in non-lethal law enforcement support roles. Less than .01% of the population serves in the military, which has a budget of 4% of GDP.

• Summarize your nation’s domestic politics (including political factions, national/subnational relationships, political history, etc.):
Modern politics are poisoned by ethnic tension, historical revisionism on both sides, and a highly divided business environment. The government is often incapable of regulating the market as it is seen as a return to the socialist ways of the past. The largest member of the governing coalition is the Daughters of Mithen, which has earned the trust of the Valts and the Sarienes through its negotiations of several agreements on land disputes, but the Valtic president, Volskola is known to favour the Valts in his policies as well as being friendly with international businesses that push for a better regulated, competitive market. The president is technically independent by law, but has found supporters in far right and centrist factions, even within the governing coalition.

• Summarize your nation’s economy (notable imports/exports, any good/service you are self-sufficient on, desired international trade policy/ties, etc.):
Historical industries in Karadon include tanning, dairy, and other agriculture, which continue to hold a large share of the labor force; approximately 20%. There are some other primary operations, including mining, although the coal seams have mostly been exhausted now. The largest share of GDP is driven by the service sector--financials and healthcare being the most notable--but the state university system struggles to keep up with demand for educated workers. The nation overall tends to import professionals and export laborers; this costly imbalance has led to many businesses having foriegn owners.

5. IC Regional Dynamics

• If asked to reduce the power and national strengths of your country, how would you do so?
Reduce population to 3-4 million.

• What role do you see your nation fulfilling within the region ICly?:
As a developing economy, it can be the target of manipulation by international business interests or spark conflicts through its ethnic conflicts spilling over national borders.

• Neutrally discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your nation (esp. military, political, and economic) and how they may affect existing IC geopolitics:
The strength of the nation comes from its firmly entrenched governing coalition of centre-right and centre-left parties, which is resistant to upsets and can make difficult decisions with the support of the public. Unfortunately, this unspoken agreement involves the government avoiding sensitive issues like ethnic bias in businesses and the many smaller political groups formed on disinformation campaigns. Its fractious past and small economy are important weaknesses as well its lack of ability to participate in multilateral military operations.

6. Futureproofing Canon

• If you choose to leave the region or focus on a new concept, are you willing to give this application's IP to the region as a whole for continued use? This is not mandatory, but we would like a firm yes or no:
Yes

[Kabylistan]

1. Applicant OOC Information

• Current Region if any (please use nation tags if still extant): N/A
• Previous regions? (please use nation tags if still extant): Terrafirma
• Are you known by/played other nations besides your current one? (please use nation tags if still extant): Terrafirma, Glasgwegistan
• How did you hear about Razulica?:

Discord

2. Writing History: please give 3 examples

• The Moulted Snake
• Taxi!
•We were never heroes

3. Proposed IC National Information (basic)

• IC name: Kabylistan
• Government type: Semi-Presidential Republic
• Economic type: Mixed-Economy
• IC population: 38’382’700
• IC GDP per capita: 23’270
• What is your ideal location on the regional map? Already accounted for

4. Proposed IC National Information (Continued)

• Summary of your nation (touching upon its history, culture, politics, society, geography, or other relevant phenomena): Kabylistan is a post-socialist nation with a monarchist heritage. The modern republic is young, and has faced a lot of challenges since the fall of socialism. Ethnically and culturally diverse, the republic is home to many peoples. Groups such as the Arani and Rashwyn are the original natives of different parts of Kabylistan, while the Tyuman and other traditionally nomadic groups such as the Khurjai arrived from the 11th century onwards. For better or worse, Kabylistan is shaped by its geography. The rive Avizh runs the course of much of the nation and bridges the north/south geographic divide. The south is a very geographically varied area that consists of hills, flood plains and marshes, while the north consists of difficult, mountainous terrain, with many valleys and rivers. The north is invariably more rural while the south is more urbanised. The capital, being a medieval city midway down the length of the Avizh, is in a position between the two. While the Tyuman would dominate the political landscape of what is now Kabylistan for centuries, their status as the dominant ethnic group would only be cemented when the diaspora of Tyuman beyond their borders convalesced in their new homeland, and their national identity was galvanised by the growth of Tyuman nationalism in the Monarchist period. In the early 20th century, the country would be struck by revolution, and the subsequent socialist government, at least initially, saw itself as being a force to unify the various ethno-cultural groups of Kabylistan into a cohesive nation. Since the fall of socialism, the country has had to deal with a drugs crisis, economic stagnation, and civil violence. Two decades of hardship eventually came to a close in the late 2000’s, and the country has steadily recovered over the last decade. Modern Kabylistan exists as a functional, if somewhat brittle republic. The economy is growing, but suffers from overreliance on a handful of key industries such as agriculture and hydrocarbons. The republican democracy is functional, though the extremes of the political spectrum have been persistently agitated since the fall of socialism, and authoritarian strongmen can be found at every level of the political system. Questions regarding the representation and opportunities afforded to the countries various non-Tyuman ethnic groups persist, and the nation is grappling with uncertainty over what its place in the world should be.
• What language(s) are spoken in your nation? Is there an official language? Other recognized languages?: Tyuman is the official language, though under socialism, and subsequently in the modern republic, Arani is also recognised as an official language. On a sub-national level, the languages of the various tribal entities in the north also receive limited recognition.
• What ethnic and racial group(s) are present in your nation?: The Tyuman are the most populous ethno-cultural group, however they can further be divided into ‘high’ and ‘low’ Tyuman, though the distinction isn’t officially recognised. ‘High’ Tyuman are the more Asiatic Tyuman, descended from the original horde that settled in the former Arani Empire, while ‘Low’ Tyuman are descendants of the diaspora that spread west, before migrating back to Kabylistan; they are generally paler, and have more Europeanised features. Other key ethnic groups include the Khurjai, which are related to the Tyuman and similarly have nomadic roots, and the Rashwyn and Arzhamite peoples, both of whom have inhabited the north since before the Tyuman arrived. Other smaller tribal groups and minorities exist throughout the north, and in border regions.
• What are the major religion(s) among your population? Any notable minority religion(s)?: The regional equivalent for Islam is the majority, albeit in a slightly different local form of it, a la Alevism in Turkey. Religious minorities mostly exist in the form of animist communities in the north and pre-islamic Arani religion in the south.
• Summarize your nation’s military (including the name, size [by percentage of the population], strategic role(s), service branches, etc.): The Kabylistani Armed Forces is split into three branches of service; the Army, Navy and Air Force. The duties of the Army comprise border protection, combat operations on land, and security in occupied territories. At various points, the army, especially elements of the Special Forces groups, have taken on duties in supporting domestic law enforcement in times of crisis. The Air Force is charged with airspace defence, interception, airborne forces, and management of strategic weapon systems, space assets and warfare. The Navy’s duties comprise maritime security, escorts, naval force projection, counter-piracy, search and rescue and marine forces. The interests of the Armed Forces have historically been a determining force in the government, and to this day the Army and Air Force maintain a close working relationship with the civil government. It is widely suspected that that control of the country rests not with the civil government at all, but with the Army. The police also function as a gendarme to an extent, as regional departments are militarised to a greater or lesser degree as a results of the historic drugs crisis and civil violence of the 1990’s. Civil protection groups, styled as deputised citizens augmenting the police forces, also serve as a semi-official paramilitary in northern regions, and are another holdover from the 1990’s. The total size of the Armed Forces, not including deputised paramilitary elements, is approximately 550’000 men, spread across all three branches of the military.
• Summarize your nation’s domestic politics (including political factions, national/subnational relationships, political history, etc.): Kabylistan has regular Presidential elections every five years, and elections to the lower house, the Peoples’ Assembly, every five years, though the dates for the two elections have yet to coincide. The President is the head of state and appoints the prime minister, who is the head of government, with the approval of the lower house. The upper house, the National Jrzgha, is a smaller assembly that is elected on a regional level, with very large electoral districts. Legislative power is split between the lower and upper house, while the president and cabinet have executive authority. The ruling party since the fall of Socialism has been the Blokh Byrnekh, or “United Bloc”, formed as a continuity party of the old socialist Byrzhult party. Byrnekh consists of many rightist elements of Byrzhult, and has yet to be defeated in the Presidential or Peoples’ Assembly elections, although it has faced notable challenges in the Jrzgha. Byrnekh’s policies of social conservatism, a mixed-market economic policy and Kabylistani nationalism, as well as its security and modernisation agendas, make it a broad-church, if somewhat centre-right party, often criticised as being a party of strongmen. The main opposition party is Khurkha Siliya, or “Democratic Society”, often abbreviated to ‘K-S’. K-S policies include secularism, social democracy, environmentalism and federalism; it is considered a left wing party and draws much of its support from the urbanised south, and the largest city of Zamikbui in particular.
• Summarize your nation’s economy (notable imports/exports, any good/service you are self-sufficient on, desired international trade policy/ties, etc.): The Kabylistani economy has been able to depend on several core pillars of the economy for decades, even during times of hardship. These have been its strong agricultural, manufacturing and hydrocarbon sectors. The crucial waterways of the nation provide for excellent agricultural land on which a variety of crops can be cultivated, while a pastoralist economy flourishes in the north. On and offshore hydrocarbon resources are relatively plentiful, and extraction costs are low enough that the hydrocarbon sector has proven resistant to price shocks. While these three sectors have been strong across the decades, many other key areas of the national economy are only just now recovering from the catastrophic events of the 1990’s. Key areas of weakness that are in desperate need of investment include the shipbuilding, tourism and insurance sectors, while vulnerable areas that have shown strong signs of recovery include the financial and service sectors.

5. IC Regional Dynamics

• If asked to reduce the power and national strengths of your country, how would you do so? As the economy is still fairly brittle, any sufficient shock such as comprehensive sanctions or a partial or total failure of a single major sector would be enough to cause a significant domestic crisis which would reduce the nations power and strength considerably. The far right and left of the political spectrum could make huge gains for any number of reasons, which would invariably carry implications such as the return of the monarchy, or the return of socialism respectively, with their own implications for domestic stability. In a worst case scenario where a drastic reduction of the nations power is needed, a descent to civil war can always be engineered.
• What role do you see your nation fulfilling within the region ICly?: At present, Kabylistan is still finding its feet again as a nation. The debate of whether or not to try to take on a leading role internationally would be something to explore IC’ly. Regardless, Kabylistan would aim to commit to peacekeeping, relief and counterterrorism duties internationally as part of multilateral efforts when it suits the interests of the state. Until IC tensions develop more, Kabylistan would aim to encourage multilateralism, in opposition to unilateralism, regardless of the extent to which this reflects the general behaviour of the Kabylistani state.
• Neutrally discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your nation (esp. military, political, and economic) and how they may affect existing IC geopolitics:The main strength of Kabylistan is in its core economic sectors; agriculture, hydrocarbons and manufacturing provide a steady source of viable export products, however the relative isolation and turbulence of the 1990’s has cast a long shadow over its economic standing. Confident export partners would have been hard to establish, and external investors may still be cautious to invest in a country dominated by political strongmen with murky, if progressively less so, rules for doing business. The Army and Air Force are exceptional, with modern equipment, training and a solidly experienced pool of manpower, however the Navy is sorely lacking, with many ships being obsolete, foreign-built or in a state of disrepair; the Navy is in critical need of modernisation if it is to meet the defence needs of the nation. As a result, the immediate defence of the nation is strong, but it lacks force projection capabilities overseas, and as such has a somewhat limited ability to defend its interests abroad unilaterally.

6. Futureproofing Canon

• If you choose to leave the region or focus on a new concept, are you willing to give this application's IP to the region as a whole for continued use? This is not mandatory, but we would like a firm yes or no:Yes

[Razulican Warden]

1. Applicant OOC Information

• Current Region if any (please use nation tags if still extant): Kumuso (Kylaris)
• Previous regions? (please use nation tags if still extant):

• Ajax
• Greater Dienstad
• Gaia

• Are you known by/played other nations besides your current one? (please use nation tags if still extant):

• Finium (various region)
• Geara (GD)

Welcome to Raz!