NationStates Jolt Archive

The Divine Tourism Board Proudly Presents: A Tourist's Guide to Novar Ohan (And the Sunset Isles)

A hearty greetings to you, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to our lovely home, and am glad that you witnessed our new radio and pamphlet campaign: 'Beautiful Novar Ohan'. We would like to apologise to everyone who suffered injury, and/or death, from our previous campaign, 'Wildlife of Novar Ohan', in which we encouraged tour-groups to pay visits to the gorgeous wildlife parks of our homeland.

We are grateful that only 750 people died, and that the injury rate was below 1000. We apologise most sincerely to the German Reich for the unfortunate death of Mr. Speer's grandson at the hands of a pack of dire-wolves.

Do not worry, this year will be far more succesful, and that you will enjoy our hospitality.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/Roania/NovarOhan.bmp

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/Roania/TheSunsetIsles.bmp

* Under no circumstances is the government of the Divine Imperium or its representatives responsible for any loss of currency and/or life which may be occasioned by attempting to bargain with Guild Merchants.

*Under no circumstances is the government of the Divine Imperium or its representatives responsible for any accidents which may be occasioned by skiers, including being attacked by firebirds, Dire Wolves, thunder birds or 'wendigoes'.

*Under no circumstances is the government of the Divine Imperium or its representatives responsible for loss of life or injury due to sandstorm, sandworm attack, or any other unlikely occurence.

*Under no circumstances is the government of the Divine Imperium or its representatives responsible for any unfortunate occurences which may result from tourists looking too closely at the topless native-women, not paying attention to warning signs, or giggling unnervingly.

People

Total Population: The total population of the Divine Imperium and its empire is almost 3 billion. Of that, only 2 billion live in Metropolitan Novar Ohan.

Life Expectancy at birth: The average is around 75, unless you add inhabitants of the INM. Then it, you know, drops.

Nationality: The proper term is 'Novarian', or, at the very least, calling people Altaran, Aguan, Roanian, Derricker, etc. Most foreigners just call everyone Roanians, something that really gets up the noses of the Aguans, who make up the majority of the population.

Ethnic Groups: Slavonic and Slavonic-derived ethnicities make up 75% of the population. 10% of the population consists of Asians, primarily of distant Chinese ancestry. 5% of the population consists of Arab migrants, and the remainder is mixed groupings of Pacific Islander.

Religions: The official religion, the Catholic Church of Novar Ohan, has the support of approximately 50% of the population. The second-largest religion/denomination is the Aguan Orthodox Church, 30% of the population being worshippers there. The remainder includes Buddhism (especially in Northern Altara), Judaism, Islam, and native beliefs.

Languages: Aguan, a Russian Dialect; Chinese; Arabic; Novarian, a Polynesian dialect.

Government

Long form of Nation: The Divine Imperium of Novar Ohan and the Sunset Isles
Conventional short forms: Roania, as differentiated from Roan.

Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy; Westminsterian-derived democracy.

Capital: Tarnaqin

States:

*Principality of Roan
*Grand Duchy of Agua
*Archduchy of Derricks
*Internal Republic of Altara
*Kingdoms of the Sunset Isles

Territories:

*Divine Capital Territory
*Isles of the Dead
*Imperial Native Mandate
*Free City of Novaya Archangelsk

Empire:

*Divine Northern Colony of Zemyla; formerly Alaska, until it was conquered from the USA in 1949 and restored to Slavic rule. Governor: Boris Jansky
*Principate of Hawai'i; conquered from USA in 1949. Hereditary Governor: David Kapu'a
*Protectorate of the Micronesian Peoples; Imperial Possession since 1887; Granted Home-Rule in 1918; Micronesian War fought between 1938 and 1941. Presidium: Ky'lan Nose -Micronesia-, Ke'i Noste -Marshall Islands-, Johnathan Regesmania -Palau-, Frederico Babadoz -Mariana Islands-, Ano Tonge -Kiribati-. The Protectorate (and its Overlord) is continually on the look-out to expand its jurisdiction to include all Micronesian Islands in the Pacific.
*Sheikhdom of Mogadishu; Imperial Possession since 1922, when Sheikh Mohamed invited Divine Imperium in to aid him in taking control of his neighbours. Sheikhdom expanded to include remnants of Italian Somaliland in 1924. Expanded to British Somaliland in 1925, act of future unity signed with French Somaliland. French Somaliland annexed in 1940. Sheikh of Mogadishu declared to be Autocrat of the Imperium in 1941. Current Incumbent: Sheikh Abdullahkassim
*Yemen; Transfered from British to Imperial sphere of influence in 1921 for over 5 Billion Imperial Marks (1 Billion Pounds Sterling at the time). Imam: Ahmad

Former Forms of Government: [i]After Tsar Fyodor Drakharn III, in a fit of regrettable madness upon his deathbed in 1767, split the nation between his sons and nephews, there followed fourty years of brutal internecine warfare, which came to an end when Rasputin Macyaveli united the entire continent in a brutal conquest from his powerbase in Altara. The years of his rule are referred to as the Years of Tears.

In 1833, the increasingly erratic and mad Rasputin was overthrown by his Chief of Staff, a young Roanian officer named Edward Black. While at first he seemed an improvement, the constant wars he led the Shattered Imperium into meant no one was overly investigative when he died five seconds after his young son left his room on the 7th of September, 1876. Even though Edward's doctors, before their mysterious disappearance, said that his last words were, "What did he put in my dri..."

Alexander Black brought tranquility to the Imperium, declaring himself to be Prince-Regent. Oddly enough, anyone who looked like they'd be able to claim the throne as direct descendants of the Last Tsar were found to be traitors and executed before their claims could be investigated. The Prince also set up a corrupt democratic system, and, tyranny and wanton acts of mass-murder aside, proved himself to be a great ruler. Every city and town, no matter how small, has a Prince Alexander memorial something. Port Agua has a Prince Alexander Memorial Palace, for example.

About 1907, a civil war broke out between supporters of Warlord Matthias, who wanted a return to the good old days of Rasputin, and the democratically elected government of Alysanndra Ellestrea. While Alexander first wanted to stay neutral, the pleas of his close friend, Simon Darquis II, convinced him to enter the war on Alysanndra's side and kill Matthias, who reciprocated by hamstringing the prince and forcing him to spend the rest of his life walking with a cane.

That translated into about 10 years, mostly spent strengthening and rebuilding. Because, in 1920, while Alexander was opening a memorial to the dead in the civil war, an anarchist assassin shot him at point blank. His last words were, "Would that I had... but one more day..."

To be fair, Alexander had just written up Imperial Command #25, which said that any anarchists in the Divine Imperium were to be hunted for sport.

His daughter, Malissa, became Princess in 1920, married her beloved Prince John of Tarlachia in 1921, and promoted herself in 1922. She then spent the next twenty years acting like a good royal should, opening buildings, waving graciously, etc.

During her reign, the first Social Democrat Prime Minister, Clarissa Bencenoff, came to power. Also during her reign, the National Socialist Imperial Workers party began to grow in strength, mimicking the rise of the NSDAP in Germany. In about 1942, there was a fascist coup.

Malissa was assassinated by her younger son, Damien Alexander Black (Who had no intention of behaving like a good royal should), in 1949. What followed were the most horrible years in Imperial History since Alexander Black decided that it would be amusing to spend a few days burning villages in Altara just to hear people scream. Alexander, at least, was polite about it and admitted he had problems.

Damien just took it for granted that everyone else had the problems, and that he knew how to solve them. His reign was an orgy of slaughter and 'purification' across the whole Empire, with thousands of Jews and Arabs being executed under the command of the NSIWP head, Grigor Hans Kroenen. The Dark Tsar was about to make his brutal reign permanent by killing his only real challenger, his older brother, Daniel, when the one woman he loved, Kathryn Finsternis, shot him.

That brings us to the present day, 1959, when Prince Daniel Black is about to take the throne of his ancestors as the first true Constitutional Monarch.

Founding of the Modern Imperium: 6th of February, 1922, when Malissa Black declared herself to be Tsaritsa/Kaiserine and the other noble houses publically acclaimed her.

Suffrage: Universal.

Executive Branch:
Head of State: Daniel Edwards Black; Tsar Daniel IV
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sir Simon Octavius Darquis III; Coalition Government

Legislative Branch: Imperial Duma, consisting of the House of Burghers, and the House of Nobles.

Judicial Branch: The House of Nobles (more specifically, the Law Lords there-in) is the highest court of appeal, followed by the High Court, the state and territory Supreme Courts, and so-forth.

((You ought to make all this into an NSwiki (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) entry, man.

Oh, and tag. Because I don't want to use the subscribe feature, dammit.))

Does Roania follow the BCE/CE (BC/AD) system?

Tourist information

Currency Exchange: At the time of writing, one NS$ was worth four Imperial Marks on the official market. Currency can be exchanged in all major cities, airports, and sea-ports. Duty-free and souvenier stores accept NS$, as will the Guild. Hotels, restaurants and other retail-outlets will not.

Women Travellers: Women travelling alone in most parts of the Divine Imperium can expect to be treated with absolute courtesy. While this may have a great deal to do with penalties for sexual harassment ranging from imprisonment (for abuse) to castration and execution (for rape), it is also a sign of the intense respect for women felt by the average Imperial Male. Of the 7 Prime Ministers since the institution of the parliamentary system, two of them (Alysanndra Ellestrea, Central Democratic Party, and Clarissa Bencenoff, Socialist Party) were women. As well, a sizable minority of the Premiers of Agua-Roslin, and the majority of the Presidents of Altara have also been women. Still, in rural areas, especially in Derricks, women are advised to take caution and to inform the politsya that they are in their jurisdiction.

Contact Numbers for Women Travellers are available at all government and travel offices. Dialling 751-423-7661, in any state, will automatically connect you to the local Women's Welfare office

Homosexual Travellers: Are generally advised to stay the hell away from all Imperial Territory. Imperial preference for public uniformity means that the gay and lesbian culture has been not only kept in the closet, but locked in the closet. Which is itself inside a maximum-security prison.

Homosexuality is by no means illegal. Neither State nor Imperial governments care what you do in your own time provided it doesn't harm others or involve drugs. It's when men start parading down the street in woman's clothing that the Politsya become involved, much to the detriment of the offender's physical and mental health.

The general effect is to turn the DI into one of the most inclusive nations on the planet. Homosexuals of both sexes are fully integrated into normal society, though the various religious groups all continually complain about this acceptance and refuse to allow homosexual religious marriages or homosexual priests/imams/muftis/rabbis/popes/pastors, etc. The downside of this, though, is that homosexuals from more 'tolerant' regimes might find their Imperial counterparts to be drab and 'straight', and in-turn be considered overly obnoxious.

The exact ruling from both the courts and parliament is that it doesn't matter if homosexuality is genetic or a lifestyle choice, so long as gays and lesbians keep within the bounds of generally accepted decorum.

Hunting: Rather than go on and on about the laws from the Imperium covering hunting, which will be given to you in booklet form anyway when you purchase a license, we'd thought we'd just give you an extract from the Speer expedition's final radio-transmission.

Our weapons are useless! RELIANCE UPON THEM IS DEATH!
IT IS THE DESTROYER OF WORLD...<end of fragment>

Bring AT guns.

Medical Assistance: Before you travel to the INM or Southern Altara, it is advised that you take the normal precautions for visits to jungles and/or swampy terrain. Medical facilties, especially in the INM and the swamps around Whiteharbour, are often relatively primitive to those found in the other states. It is advised that you travel with a radio-operator and medical professional any time you leave Alaitsburg or Whiteharbour on the ground. In the Sunsets, there are occasionally outbreaks of tropical diseases in the less populous and more remote islands. Medical assistance will be with you as soon as possible, though. It is advised that sections of the Isles of the Dead are International Quarantine Zones and that travel is strictly prohibited without clearance from the Kingdoms' state government.

In the Central and Misty Mountains, it is often difficult to reach medical attention in time. Thus, a radio could save your life as the Imperial Air Force maintains a Search and Rescue Wing in all major Derricks cities. In general, though, health care is excellent. Medicine is socialised, and where-ever you go in Northern Altara, Roan, or Agua, you can be assured that you will be in good hands. Displaying your passport will greatly speed up the process, as is usual, and for foreigners there is a slight, waive-able, fee.

Drugs: Don't. Under any circumstances. This is not a Politsya matter, but rather an Okrahnka matter. And from the second their 'Shadow Angels' break through your door, your vacation is either over, or extended while you serve a minimum of ten years imprisonment. For 'soft drugs'.

For hard drugs, you could be executed, or, at the very least, put away for 25 years with no hope of bail and very little chance of appeal.

Security: Internal Security falls under the purveigh of both the DBII and the Interior Ministry. The Divine Bureau of Internal Investigation is the Imperial Equivalent of your local intelligence agency. While on the whole it's an investigative body, its plainclothes and armed section, the Okrahnka, is charged with taking care of organised crime, drugs, and terrorism.

If men in black uniform walk up to you on the street or are waiting for you in your hotel room, be polite, obedient, and pray to your God you haven't unknowingly commited an act that would make them angry.

In general, though, tourists will be likely to meet the Interior Ministry's police. The politsya are the ordinary cops on the beat. They deal with everything from pickpocketing to murder, and are always helpful. Don't worry that you're wasting their time with asking for directions. There are plenty more of them around. They're the boys in the green uniforms with the Imperial Standard in grey over their heart.

The Riot Politsya are easily recognisable by their white uniforms and black bullet-proof armour. If you see them coming your direction, than go hide somewhere.

Visas: Tourist visas can be obtained from any Imperial Embassy or Consulate. A tourist visa is not required if you have travelled from Weshield into Novaya Archangelsk and will be staying only within the free city, and then only for a maximum of 70 days. You will be obliged to sign the registry at the docks.

A tourist visa, once obtained, is good for 90 days.

A Business Visa, and a Work Permit, can be obtained from any embassy. You will need an invitation.

Immigration: Immigration is covered by the Ministry of State's Pamphlet: So you want to become an Imperial Citizen, available from all good embassies and consulates.

Internal Travel: The Imperial Internal Transport System is one of the finest in the world, with all major cities connected by twice-daily commuter flights and hourly express trains. Express tickets may be purchased at the station up to an hour in advance, and generally cost 20-30 IM.

To travel to other points of interest, generally the only option -apart from personal travel- is a standard train ticket, which can be purchased from any station at any time prior to the departure.

Aerodyne tickets must be booked at least 3 days in advance, and prices vary seasonably.

Driving: Imperials drive on the right side of the road. Rental vehicles can be found in all major cities.