NationStates Jolt Archive

Bjornoyan Demographics-

Age
1-10: 20.369%
11-20: 18.251%
21-30: 13.243%
31-40: 10.548%
41-50: 9.462%
51-60: 8.536%
61-70: 7.946%
71-80: 7.321%
81-90: 3.765%
91-100: .567%
100+ less than .001

Gender
Male: 49.347%
Female: 50.653%

Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual: 89.496%
Homosexual: 3.175%
Bisexual: 7.329%

Family size
Children: 3.571
Parents: 1.988
Grandparents: 1.378

Growth Rate
2.092%

Average Lifespan
Male: 85.281 years
Female: 89.451 years

Ethnicity
White (Pomor): 25.729%
White (Germanic): 12.204%
White (Latin): 4.486%
Black (Bubi): 5.310%
Black (Fang): 30.736%
Black (Annobón): 1.401%
Black (Zulu): 15.059%
Jewish: 5.071%

Religion
Deist (Freemasons): .567%
Deist: 25.214%
Christian (Eastern Orthodox): 17.238%
Christian (Lutheran): 32.302%
Christian (Roman Catholic): 10.531%
Islam: 29.210%
Judaism: 3.432%
Atheist: .506%

Language
Official: Bjornoyan
Public use of other languages is considered a misdemeanor in northern states
Known Minor Languages: Norwegian, German, Russian, Bete, Gibanawa, Kujarge, Laal, Lufu, Luo, Mawa, Wutana, Yauma, Yeni

Geography
Mainland: Archangelsk, Russia
Capital: Esthar (Archangelsk)
States: Bjornoya (Archanelsk, Komi, Nenetsia)
Bjornoyan Highlands (Novaya Zemlya, Franz Joseph Land)
Bjornoyan Equatorial (E. Guinea, Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo)
Bjornoyan Zaire (DRC, Angola)
Bjornoyan Zanzibar (Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi)

Unemployment
3.412%

Homelessness
.437%

Crime
Minimal in the north, contolled in Bjornoyan Equitorial, increasing within other regions. As soon as the Bjornoyan educational process is fully implemented crime decreases substantially.

Capital Offenses:
Rape (Age of Consent:18 years)
Murder
Homicide
Grand Theft
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse
Infidelity
Drug Smuggling
Cannibalism
Incest
Suicide
Abortion
Assault
Battery
Conspiracy
Espionage
Identity theft
Kidnapping
Perjury
Racketeering
Vandalism

Felonies:
Prostitution
Slander
Drug possesion
Breaking and Entering
Animal abuse
Sexual Discrimination
Racial Discrimination
Theft
Libel
Extortion
Arson
Blackmail
Burglary
Theft
Counterfeiting
Embezzlement
Fraud
Forgery
Larceny
Manslaughter
Stalking

Error Margin +or- .03%

Bjornoyan Federal Government

Head of State: Patriarch Sedaht Rand
Responsibilities:
-Co-ordination, maintenance, and growth of the powers within Bjornoya
-Creating and maintaining moral use of powers within Bjornoya
-Interpretation of powers outside of Bjornoya
-Willful support or suppression of above powers

The Patriarch rules Bjornoya with near omnipotence. The Patriarch can either implement his will via the construction of a universal and semi-negotiable decree or in the form a negotiable and flexible bill or ammendment. He is capable of summoning Federal troops for use within and outside of Bjornoya's borders, bringing new ammendments and bills to the Word and the Will's floors, creating and signing economic treaties with other nations, and in the event of the death of a Herrgott appointing new members to be voted upon by the Word and the Will. The Patriarch may not force other Herrgotts to step down.


Heart of State: Fraugott Lucy Rand
Responsibilities
-Public announcement and interpretation of decision made by head of state
-Primary advisor to head of state
-Interpretation, maintenance, and application of all information collected by Federal Government
-Heads all non-military educational processes within Bjornoya
-Leads all sessions within the The Word and The Will

Serving both as Heart of State and the Patriarch's sister, Fraugott Lucy Rand has perhaps the most difficult task amongst the Herrgotts. Lucy must present new ammendments and bills to the Word and the Will for discussion and signing, must interpret, rationalize, and implement various decrees, ammendments, and bills throughout Bjornoya, advise regional governors. Grievances from the populace are presented to her before being discussed within the floors of the Word and the Will.
Lucy alone has the power to challenge a decree by the Patriarch and bring it to a vote between the four Herrgotts. 3 of the 4 Herrgotts must vote in favor of a veto in order for it to nulify a Patriarchal decree.
Lucy is also in charge of the Federal Ministry of Truth. She is responsible for presenting information to the Patriarch collected by Wilhelm as well as Federal employees within The Will.
Lucy also bears the responsibility of determining successful curriculums for the various national schools and has the authority to cancel any educational readings or devices deemed unworthy for their purpose.
In the event of the Patriarch's death the Heart of State is first in line to take the position.

Right Hand of State: Herrgott Wilhelm Kaufmann
Responsibilities:
-Use of capital gained by Bjornoya
-Maintaining corporate monopoly within Bjornoya (Visara Co.)
-Proper redistribution of taxes as declared by the Patriarch

The CEO of Visara Corporation and Right Hand of State Wilhelm Kaufmann serves as the primary economical leader within Bjornoya. Capable of raising, cutting, and distributing taxes within the limits of the Patriarch he may bolster or ruin the economy not only of Bjornoya but the world. Visara is the only organization spared regulations by the Patriarch, and bills, ammendments, or Patriarchal decrees may not regulate the inner workings of Visara Co.
Secret IC: Wilhelm maintains an absolute monopoly of communication and with it he watches for subversive and illegal communicatiosn throughout Bjornoya.
Wilhelm Kaufmann is also single-handedly responsible for Visara Co. Security Forces which work entirelly independent from Bjornoyan Federal Forces.
In the event of the Patriarch's death the Right Hand of State is second in line to take the position.

Left Hand of State: Herrgott Jaksehn Hegel
Responsibilities:
-Logistical, tactical, and intelligent use of all Federal Armed Forces
-Education of Federal Peacekeepers
-Training of Armed Forces

The Left Hand of State Jacksehn Hegel bears the responsibility of educating, training, and mobilizing Bjornoyan Federal Forces. During states of emergency the Herrgott has absolute authority over the movement of all Federal Forces.
In the event of the Patriarch's death the Left Hand of State is third in line to take the position.


Governors of Federal States
Responsibilities:
-Enforcement of Bjornoyan morality and culture within their state
-Creation and enforcement of regional laws

Current Governors
Bjornoya Central (Archangelsk, Nenetsia, Komi): none (not necessary due to the Patriarch’s presence)
Bjornoyan Highlands (Franz Josef, Novoya Zemlya): Kristopher Noslen
Bjornoyan Equatorial (E. Guinea, Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo): Alma Ndugu
Bjornoyan Zaire (DRC, Angola): Inez Mackey
Zanzibar: Francoise Rubino
Maldives: Visvajit Bhima


Federal Institutions

The Word
Responsibilities:
-Creating, maintaining, surveying, and defining the Bjornoyan language
-Manifesting the Patriarch’s will into worded law
-Regulating communications within Bjornoya

Members: 13
Elected: Every 10 years
Headed by the Heart of State The Word is responsible for maintaining the Bjornoyan language and implementing it through Visara Corporation.
The precise meanings and complications that arise from Patriarchal decrees, bills, and ammendments are discussed and proposed solutions resolved here.
Secret IC: The Word is also responsible for nominating and appointing new members to the Freemason Illuminati.


The Will
Responsibilities:
-Enforcement of laws defined by The Word through courts, police, and prisons
-Regulating relational and individual morality within Bjornoya
-Advisor to religious leaders within Bjornoya

Members: 35
Elected: Every 5 years from each Federal State
Headed by Heart of State The Will is responsible for the Federal collection of intelligence, maintaining law and order, and providing their respective regions with appropriate prison centers.
The Will is responsible for monitoring all uses of power within Bjornoya and presenting grievances including any human rights violations which would be immediatly voted upon by the Heart of State and Head of State. Only one would need to acknowledge the use of power as abusive for the action to be cancelled.
The Will is also responsible for introducing issues to all religious denominations within the Federation to be presented and discussed by the populace.

History of Bjornoya:

The earliest artifacts of Pomarian ancestry date back to 300 B.C. The region now known as Bjornoya was first inhabited by a group of nomads called the Pomars. For nearly 700 years the Pomars lived within a hunter-gatherer society, never settling or creating large agricultural cities. The various Pomarian tribes lived in harmony, living isolated from one another and from the rest of the world.

This created a problem for the Aryans, who had made their way to the Bjornoyan territory sometime during the 2nd century. The Aryans were masters of combat, but in Bjornoya found no concentrated regions of the Pomarian inhabitants to attack. Archeological evidence suggests Pomarian tribes defended themselves with primitive weapons. The lack of any major recorded battles during this time suggests the Pomarians never engaged the Aryans in large-scale combat. The Aryan invaders gave up trying to conquer the region, and settled the first known Bjornoyan town, now known as Esthar. Along with the introduction of tactical combat, the Aryan settlers brought with them the wheel, the horse, and their religion.

For the next 300 years, these two groups resided in the same territory without conflict. With the exception of a few trading posts, the Pomars and Aryans never interacted. However during the 5th century the Pomars could not sustain their growing population within the limits of a hunter-gatherer society. During this time the town of Baum was founded by Pomarians in Nenetsia. Many Pomars immigrated to the Aryan town of Esthar as well.

The Aryans were at first unwelcoming to the Pomarians. However, the Pomars proved their worth by introducing the Aryans to seafaring. The Pomars had been constructing longboats for centuries. For the Pomarians, the longboats served as a means to acquire fish. For the Aryans, the longboats served as a means to conquer.

The Aryan population in Esthar had been dormant for over 400 years, and they grew restless. Some sought adventure, others sought combat. Longboats, navigated by Pomarians and manned by Aryans took sail. Many met a watery fate within the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, but others were more successful. Archeological sites in Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland all suggest a Bjornoyan presence. More astonishingly, recent sites suggest Bjornoyan longboats made landfall in Bioko, South Africa, Sri-Lanka, Singapore, Wallis, and Futuna.

Back on the Bjornoyan mainland, the populace was coming under attack by a new threat. Gothic armies made their way from the west to Esthar, and a bloody fight ensued in 812 A.D. The Goths and Bjornoyans fought valiantly, but in the end the Pomarian knowledge of the terrain coupled with the ferocity of the Aryan spirit drove the Gothic invaders back. During the battle, the Aryans successfully implemented sophisticated cavalry tactics, combining their horsemanship with their marksmanship, a crossbow-man on horseback. The Goths would return later for trading purposes.

After the Battle of Esthar, the Aryans were overzealous. Eager to expand, the Bjornoyans looked westward. On horseback and in longboats, the Bjornoyans set out like the Vikings and Huns. The Bjornoyans ransacked the upper coast of Finland, Sweden, and Norway and made their way through Eastern Europe and Western Siberia in a period lasting from 814 to 867. The Bjornoyans were eventually driven from the region by fierce Cottish and Pushkan warriors. Epic poems written in the ancient Aryan language survive to this day, describing the battles between the Bjornoyans, Goths, and Cots.

Bjornoya relaxed and flourished for the next 400 years, surviving various foreign invasions and the introduction of new diseases. However, in 1236 the Mongol Horde made their way to the frozen Bjornoyan north. The first city to fall was Baum, located in the far eastern Nenetsia. Reports of the ruthlessness of these new invaders reached Esthar. The local legislature in Esthar called an emergency meeting, summoning the leaders of the surrounding cities. The cities of Reise, Thyma, Gelt, Vutelty, and Esthar each sent their local magistrates. The Council of Esthar agreed the only way to defeat this new threat was to unify the armies of these 5 city-states.

The Council could not decide who would lead this army. Turning to the most ancient Bjornoyan texts, the Aryan scribes discovered the first system ever implemented in resolving such matters, the Lottery. On that day, the Bjornoyans entrusted Ascenda, the Bjornoyic goddess of fate, with deciding the leader of this army. The entire population over the age of 13 was entered into this lottery. After a series of drawings, lasting three days the Council declared Samanya Zadora, a 14 year old Aryan girl, the leader of the Bjornoyan Army. No-one dared question the ancient texts, or the sages who professed it.

For the next two week, Samanya studied battle-tactics, leadership, and logistics with the elders. By the time she was proclaimed worthy to lead, the Bjornoyan Army along with its leader was fortified in the town of Reise. The Mongols arrived at Reise within a month of ransacking Baum. The city was buried within a deep forest. A lone, wide stretch of flat dirt, then covered with snow was the only reasonable approach to the city on horseback. As the Mongols charged across the plain, they saw the Bjornoyans were employing catapults. This was nothing new. However, when they realized what was being catapulted, they grew tense.

Samanya grew up on a small farm in Vutelty. It was there she aquired an abnormal fascination with the animals not being domesticated, particularly the Common adder. She had been keeping many of these snakes as pets, until she was called by the Council of Esthar. After studying the various tactics known and created by the Bjornoyans, she did not much care. She knew that the Mongols rode horses, and she knew horse hated snakes. Putting two and two together, Samanya armed the seven catapults with the Adders she had been collecting, along with others gathered by the army. As the Mongols charge across the field during the Battle of Reise, the catapults rained hundreds of adder snakes down on their position. As the beasts panicked, they threw their riders off, who were picked off like prey by the Bjornoyans, waiting in ambush within the forests flanking the open field.

The Mongols were soundly defeated, and the Bjornoyan citizens celebrated. The Council of Esthar determined by means of the Lottery if the leader of the battle defeated the enemy on a full-moon, and if during the battle the leader never spoke the word, “nothing,” she would be proclaimed the matriarch of a unified Bjornoya. Amazingly, Samanya defeated the Mongols on a full-moon, and never said the word “nothing” during the battle. Bjornoya was officially unified as a nation under the leadership of Matriarch Samanya Zadora on July 7, 1236.

The Bjornoyan Patri-Matriarchy flourished for nearly a century. In 1323, a group of foreigners never seen or heard of by the Bjornoyans made landfall. The group called themselves “Byzantines,” and brought with them various things to Bjornoya. Most importantly were Christianity and the plague.

The two spread at about the same rate. The old Bjornoyan pagan religions could not predict or stop the plague, but Christianity at least offered a reason for the plague. “You are all born sinners, and this is what you deserve!” proclaimed the Christian priests. This asceticism became very popular amongst the Bjornoyans. Approximately 65% of the population perished to the disease over a period of 30 years. During the plague, the Byzantines founded two cities that were eventually assimilated into the Bjornoyan nation, Necropolis and Geopolis.

Bjornoya fell into a cultural, economical, spiritual, and scientific slump for a century. Little is known or was recorded amongst the various city-states from 1323-1412. Bjornoyans either lived as powerful landlords or powerless serfs during this time. In 1425, the Bjornoyans recovered some of the stability that was so admired during the first years of the Patriarchy. Bjornoyan Patriarch Fillip Angosta looked to the stars, and to the sea. Thinking that Bjornoyan ships might find their way to heaven, he sent four Carracks under the leadership of Captain Theodore Burnside. 3 years and 7 months later, two of the ships returned to Esthar, the first to ever circumnavigate the globe.

Many texts were recovered from 1535 when the Christian church became split into the Orthodox Church and followers of a man named Martin Luther, whose writing were being spread by the newly introduced printing-press.

At about this same time, a shadowy and entirely unknown until recently group known as the Freemasons began to gather. They began as a well-educated group of elderly men, who carefully criticized the existing social assumptions, language, arts, and religion. This group, although not well known, held an enormous amount of power. During the religious split, the freemasons used their various connections with the hierarchies of both sides to successfully over-throw the Bjornoyan Patriarchy. A brief civil-war ensued, and out of the chaos, the Bjornoyan Republic was founded, based on the ideas that all men were created equal, and all deserved to be free so they might be happy in life.

The Bjornoyan Freemasons were the first to introduce the philosophies of empiricism and utilitarianism. During this time, Bjornoya gave birth to some of the world's most brilliant scientists. Breakthroughs in astronomy, physics, chemistry, and philosophy abounded. What is now known as “Newtonian” physics was established in the Bjornoyan cities of Geopolis and Reise. A crude theory of capitalism was first established in the Bjornoyan city of Necropolis.

For the next 500 years, Bjornoya was an imperialistic power, setting up trading posts and colonies throughout the world. In Africa, Southeast Asia, and the New World, Bjornoya created thriving colonies. The progresses made by the arts and sciences now helped the Bjornoyan economy flourish. An age of colonialism was followed by mercantilism, industrialization, and finished by full-grown capitalism.

Throughout the 20th century, the Bjornoyan economy flourished with amazing strength. The citizens were happy and industrious, the cities grew, the children played, the adults worked, everyone was reasonably happy, except for two people.


For the rest of Bjornoya's History, see "Creating the Übermensch" (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=446513)

Bjornoyan Federal Armed Forces

Army
The Bjornoyan Army is well suited for sub-zero combat conditions. The army is trained specifically for defense and peace-keeping missions. All members of the army are supplied a set of skis, and regularly practice cross-country skiing to swiftly move through Bjornoya’s Arctic climate.
Within the army are 4 specialized units. Urban Combat unit is specialized in defensive tactics within Bjornoya’s major cities. Airborne troops are trained to parachute behind enemy lines if needed. Marines are trained for amphibious assaults. The Arctic Fox unit is comprised of the most well trained and well conditioned soldiers within the army. Members are taught how to survive alone and without supply in Bjornoya’s snowy barrens. Along with being trained in advanced survival, Arctic Foxes are experts of camouflage, and are nearly impossible to find when fighting in snow.

Members:
Peacetime: 2,289,000
Wartime: 6,750,000
Conscripts: 735,000
Specialized:
Arctic Fox unit: 4,500
Urban Combat unit: 21,000
Airborne: 15,000
Marine: 26,250

Primary Firearms:
HK USP Pistol
HK UMP SMG
HK G36 Assault Rifle
AG36 Grenade Launcher
HK MG-43 Machine Gun
HK CAWS Shotgun
PSG-1 Sniper Rifle

Artillery:
L118 x 600
M777 Howitzer x 1350
M198 Howitzer x 900
M270 MLRS x 750

Land Vehicles:
All Arctic Adapted
M2011 Scout x 7500, 500 AT variants, 3,000 AA variants
Marder APC x 13,500
Leopard x 9,000
M110 Howitzer x 900
AS 90 Braveheart x 600
M813A1 5-Ton Truck x 19,500
Humvee x 21,000

Army Air Support:
AH-64D Apache x 135
AH-64D Apache Longbow x 45
SH-97 Serpent x75
UH-95 Huey II x 75
UH-96 Panther x 105
C-130J Hercules x 75
CH-47D Chinook x 105
MH-53M Pave Low IV x 75
RAH-66A Commanche x 75
RQ-4A Global Hawk x 165
RQ/MQ-9A Predator B x 75

Land Based AA Defenses:
MIM-171A Piranha site x 1,050
M163A3 EADS x 1,500
M2019A2 Layarteb 88 x 600
M2020 Towed Layarteb 88 x 300
MIM-72G Chapparal x 1,200
MIM 104E PAC-2 GEM x 60
MIM-23F I-Hawk x 345

Navy
The Bjornoyan Navy spends its time patrolling the regions between the mainland and its outlying island holdings. Any offensive operations are usually carried out with naval forces.

Members: 2,534,000

Surface Battlegroup x 30
AEGIS Flight IIA Guided Missile Destroyer x 10
Vampire class Carrier x 2
Viking class x 8
Archangel class x 25
Verrazano class x 15
Twin Towers Flight IA class x 25
Bismark II class battleship x 4
Hades Class submarine x 10
Liberty II class x 20
Emory land class x 1
Henry J. Kaiser class x 2
Elestee class landing ship tank x 5
Nightengale class hospital ship x 3
Moengen class refueling vessel x 2

Airwing/Carrier:
AH-1W Super Cobra x8
AV-8B+ Harrier II x12
C-2A Greyhound x2
CH-53E Sea Stallion x6
E-2C Hawkeye x2
EF-2000 Typhoon x16
HH-60H Sea Hawk x
SH-60F Sea Hawk x4

Arctic Security Battlegroup:
Hades class Sub x 30
Crow class Sub x 30
Tennessee class submarine x 20
SSBN Tactial Nuclear Missile x 80

Coastal Patrol:
Spectre class PT boat x 60
Twin Towers Flight I Class Frigate x 30
Shield class Sub x 15


Airforce
The Bjornoyan Airforce is concerned primarily with protecting the homeland. It has limited offensive capabilities. When called upon, the Bjornoyan Airforce will assist the navy as it patrols the Arctic Circle.

Members: 155,500

Aircraft:

AC-130H Spectre x 75
AC-130U Spooky: x 75
AN-225 Cossack: x 15
Boeing 747-400 x 45
C-5B Galaxy x 115
C-130H Hercules x 245
E-2C Hawkeye x 245
E-6 Mercury x 60
E-10 MC2A x 115
EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon x 240
F-15D Eagle x 225
F-15E Strike Eagle x 300
F/A-22A Raptor x 360
F-23A Black Widow II x 135
F-35A JSF x 610
F-35B JSF(STOVL) x 275
F-35C JSF x 320
F-111F Aardvark x 180
F-117A Nighthawk x 105
FB-22B Manta x 75
KC-10A Extender x 45
S-3B Viking x 75

Visara Co. Security Forces

Visara Co. is a Bjornoyan based super-corporation. Although the Bjornoyan Federal Government and Visara Co. work side-by-side, Visara is not under any legal obligation to do so. That being said, Visara Co. is able to maintain its own security forces, and use them as they please. Visara Co. may use its forces without an official declaration of war by the Bjornoyan Federal Government.

Visara Co. Naval Security Forces

Members: 105,000

240x Ragnorok class battleship
240x Tiger class battleship
630x Hordaland class heavy guided missile cruiser
900x Kubler class guided missile cruiser
420x Rothsky class ASW destroyer
630x Bergen class air defense frigate
150x Mjelde class frigate
720x Defiant class frigate
120x Invincible Class CV
160x Nimitz Class CVN
360x Devlin class destroyer (Flight II)
900x Trident patrol boat

Visara Co. Air Security Forces

Members: 8,638

F-35A: 780
F-35B: 430
F-35C: 410

B-8A Vulcan IIx 210
B-9A Sphinx x 120
B-5A Lightning x 240

Sub Histories:

Lingual

The Bjornoyans had more or less succesfully unified their language by the time of its unification in 1236. The Aryans, when they invaded brought with them their pride as well. Like so many of the other regions they conquered, they distinguished good from bad as the difference between themselves and the rest of the world. They had light, blond hair, the Pomars had dark, black hair. For centuries, this prejudice was held in the language itself, darkness was considered inferior to light. Since the Aryan culture was dominant at the time, the Aryan language was dominant as well. For centuries, the language and thought revolved around viewing differences, conflicts, and dialectics. Although the language was perhaps a bit more truthful than what emerged, it was not beneficial to the populace or the government.

In 1935, a radical re-development of the Bjornoyan language was spearheaded unknowingly at first by the master of communications, Visara Co. Because of its divided loyalties to so many different corporations, people, and ideas, the company held within itself so many inconsistencies, and much hypocrisy that the very moral and logical conscieousness of the company was threatened. As an example, Visara Co. would advertise the use of newfound pesticides and the messages of organic naturalists at the same time. The new forms of communication; the telephone, radio, and television only further dissilusioned the public's trust within the corporation that would soon overshadow the incompotent Bjornoyan Republic. A harsh reaction to the unwanted freedoms granted by capitalism was brewing within the public. Visara would not stand for it, they had worked and studied too hard to succesfully predict the actions of the populace to let it change; they did not want to start over again. An emergency session was called by Visara CEO Wilhelm Kaufmann to discuss the possibilities of resolving the conflict.

The solution; slowly dissolve certain words from the Bjornoyan language. Words such as 'conflict,' 'war,' and 'opposition.' The plan was if such words could be removed, the very thoughts of them would perish. This along with the omnipresent communications from Visara and a stranglehold on the entire educational process due to privitization of education helped immensely with implementing the plan. At first, nothing seemed to change, but as the generations passed, those of the older generations were almost unitelligible to the re-educated youthful generations. By 1984, the majority of older Bjornoyan dictionaries had simply disappeared, and the new less comprehensive and complicated language was in place.

To try and describe the Bjornoyan language in English would be impossible, let alone how one thinks in Bjornoyan. Imagine not being able to believe in opposite values, that "good" and "bad" could exist within a single object at the same time. The terms "lovingly hateful," "disgustingly beautiful," "powerfully weak," "unneccesarily vital," or "truthfully deceptive" are all coherent and explainable within the language scheme.

Religious

Until the introduction of Christianity by the Byzantines, a nearly universal pagan religion unique throughout history thrived in Bjornoya. Bjornoyic, as the religion is referred to now, centered around three major deities. Those deities were Janda, goddess of Destruction, Lazuli, god of Time, and Ascenda, goddess of chance and fate.

The roots of the system are not well known, although it is suspected the Pomars had already established the religion, customs, and rituals by the time the Aryans came. The most ancient of these rituals dates back to the first century B.C. The first ritual from whence the rest of the Bjornoyic pagan religion sprung was a game. The game involved tossing four sticks into the air, and depending on how they landed, certain debts and payments would be made. The debts could vary from meager possessions such as tools or beasts, to more intense consequences, such as the loss of a body part, or the loss of a family member. In time, the game became extremely popular. The thrill of uncertainty that was the basis of the game caused it to grow in popularity. Those who refused to play were considered weak and cowardly.

As time passed, the game became more and more complex. Pre-games would be played to determine the chances for other pre-games. Silent games were played by the priests. The consequences of their games engulfed nearly every aspect of the ancient Bjornoyans' lives. After hours of deliberation, agents of the priests would disperse to enforce the consequences of the their games; a lock of hair was snipped and burned from an infant, a tree was planted amongst the vast native forests, a stone was cast into the Arctic. Even further, the games decided who had power over others. A profitable game could lead to the acquisition of a slave for a week, the chance to be an executioner or torturer, a night with a woman (or man) you had an eye on, or in very rare circumstances, the chance to play a game with the priests themselves. An unprofitable game could lead to branding, temporary servitude, various forms of torture or death, and in the worst possible case banishment.

The Aryan presence ruined the omnipresence of the Bjornoyic religion, but the system was still practiced for centuries in a lesser degree. When important decision needed to be made, for instance, the Bjornoyic priests were called upon to play a game.

The introduction of Christianity to the region in the early 14th century would doom the influence and mystical aura of the Bjornoyic religion. Through this religion, or perhaps even before, the Bjornoyans held the decision and whims of fate in high esteem, being unusually at peace with the terrors around them. The plague would not allow them to play their games of chance anymore, everyone suffered the same fate. Millions died, and everyone suffered. There were no winners, and the Bjornoic religion could not hold. Christianity offered a solution; the more you suffer here, the more you will get in heaven. Heaven was an idea formerly unthought of by the Bjornoyans, who viewed Bjornoya itself as a sort of heaven. This Christian idea resembled a game, and thus Christianity spread. This gaming appeal, along with an unknown joy in suffering, the asceticism that is so apparent in Christianity became vastly popular and dominant.

Until recently, Christianity was the dominant religion in Bjornoya, but recent cultural and economic phenomena yet to be dissected have forced Christianity to yield to a new form of religion that is not entirely contradictory to it. Deism, and the thought of a clockwork universe, has become an ever more popular religious movement. Some say it is an antithesis to the Bjornoyic pagan religion; insofar as it eliminates alternatives and with it chance. Others view it as an extension, even a perfection of it. Bjornoyan deists strive to predict the future in the belief that all things behave by certain predetermined laws; that everything is fated. Their ancestors tried to predict the future, to abide by nature's laws of chance. Modern deists simply have better means of discovering a person and the world's fate; genetics, economics, physics, etc.

Colonial

a) Bjornoyan Equitorial: Colonialized in 1565. A small slave trade was established between the region and the elites of the Bjornoyan mainland. Slavery and the trade was abolished in 1745 during the Bjornoyan Republic.
The most loyal and modernized region of Bjornoyan Africa, Bjornoyan Equitorial is rich with countless natural resources that are shipped daily to the Bjornoyan mainland.

b) Maldives: Colonized in 1642. The island became and remained distinctly Bjornoyan. The Bjornoyic religion is still practiced here, and valuable herbs and spices are shipped from these islands to the mianland.

c) Zanzibar: Colonized in 1685, lost to a revolt in 1767, reconquered in 1832, lost again in 1901, and re-administered into the Federation in 1965. A notoriously rebelious island Zanzibar is considered the roughest neighborhood within the Federation.

d) Chagos Archipelago: Colonized in 1667 the region shares similar characteristics of Maldives. Currently the most popular resort amongst the Bjornoyan colonies.

e) Channel Islands: Colonized in 1632 the islands were all but forgotten until a hundred years later when the great grandson of the original explorer Captain Spencer Burnside made his way back to the Bjornoyan mainland, horribly mapping the Pacific coastline on the way.

f) St. Helena Island: Colonized in 1799, the islands were and are some of the most remote in the world. Recently the entire populace of 300 citizens and employees were evacuated for the testing of a massive Layartebian WMD.

f*) Ascension Island: see St. Helena Island

h) Kangaroo Island: Conquered in 2005; After Terronian forcibly removed the population of Aboriginese from their nation Bjornoya declared war on the nation and in the peace treaty acquired this island as a permanent reserve for the populace. Currently a protectorate of the Federation

i) Cocos Islands: Colonized in 1801, these islands are notable only for the naval bases established in the region.

So many, many young people. :fluffle:

Kreynoria']So many, many young people. :fluffle:

Yes, glad someone noticed. The trend is due to a combination of a large birthrate, and a general shifting of wealth from organizations once meant for the elderly towards the youth (the Patriarch holds children in much higher esteem than old people) This trend will shift when the new generations have replaced what the Patriarch views as "corrupted" older generations, raised entirelly before the revolution. Hell, I'll explain all in the history section soon enough.

*update 12/1/05 (and bump, I worked hard on this)*

*update 2/20/05 (and bump, open for comment)*

*bump 3/25/06, and for the love of all things holy can someone please tell me what they think of my factbook? Even pointing out stupid spelling mistakes would be appreciatted*

good job, could you get on AIM real quick?

It's so very compilicated but good. It's a wee bit...authoritarian for my tastes but I can see the detaisl written in it.

It's so very compilicated but good. It's a wee bit...authoritarian for my tastes but I can see the detaisl written in it.

Complicated I don't mind just so long as I didn't screw up and leave a contradiction that I didn't mean to. Authoritarian, yes, but more importantly responsible. I want the Bjornoyan Government to believe that if something is wrong in the country it is their resposibility to fix it, to actively eliminate evil, not leave the country to decay under the guise of 'freedom.'

Thank you both for commenting.

Now there's a good nation. Great place to live.

My nation is pretty similar, except I am a bit more advanced in my "create utopia" mission. Good work. But yeah... the only difference I see is that you have more religion than I do! (60% of my population is athiest.)

Now there's a good nation. Great place to live.

My nation is pretty similar, except I am a bit more advanced in my "create utopia" mission. Good work. But yeah... the only difference I see is that you have more religion than I do! (60% of my population is athiest.)

How so advanced? Technologically, culturally, politically, economically?

For religion Bjornoyan elites view it as a means to an ends, not an ends in and of itself. Religion, when used in certain communities, can create very strong family bonds, and a strong sense of community pride. In other words we use religion to create a loving community rather than to get everyone into heaven.

The Bjornoyan leadership is itself mostly deist, and the elite leaders (Patriarch and Herrgotts) are atheist, but with a respect for what religion can accomplish.

*Bump for more insight*

*double bumpage for double insight (maybe...)*

*sigh*

Just out of curosity (using western legal definitions), why is assault and battery (which can be as little as threatening someone or causing fear for someone) a capital offence while manslaughter (inadvertantly killing someone) a fealony?

Just out of curosity (using western legal definitions), why is assault and battery (which can be as little as threatening someone or causing fear for someone) a capital offence while manslaughter (inadvertantly killing someone) a fealony?

Intentionality is heavily equated when determining punishment (semi-Kantian I suppose)
Although I might just split the two as they should be, place assualt as a felony and battery as capital.