Durium
21-01-2008, 08:58
Durium Factbook
Geography
Durium is a rather large nation, being in a region with only five other rivals, able to cover a large area of tropical jungle and a small polar area in its northern reaches. The majority of Durian land is covered by a dense, unforgiving jungle, which the authoritarian, militaristic government uses to train its young men into killing machines. The Northern Polar Wastes are equally unforgiving, constantly swept by a nigh never-ending blizzard. While few people live in this area, there are several government and private “lodges” that house hundreds of tourists and longer-term residents. Approximately seventy percent of the Durian population lives in the small region of open plains in the southwestern corner of Durium, separated from the jungle by a large mountain range that crawls up the western Durian border, then cuts across to the east to separate the Northern Wastes from the Jungle. A coastline snakes down the eastern border of the Northern Wastes and the northeastern Jungle.
Economy
The Durian Economy, while not the largest in its region, is very extensive and powerful. Primary industries include Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Beef-Based Agriculture. The GDP is approximately $28,000-30,000 per capita. The authoritarian government often provides for the majority of its citizens, resulting in only fifteen percent or lower below the poverty line, as well as free college education. The Durian Mark is an average currency in the region, neither inflated nor extremely valuable, with an exchange rate at about 0.8 DM per (1 USD). The Durian government is not at all charitable, believing that “charity” should be earned, resulting in humanitarian aid in exchange for trading concessions. Income Tax rate is fifty-five percent, with a one hundred percent rate for the wealthy.
History
Durium is a proud, nationalistic nation with roots in its region dating back to classical times. The Holy Empire of Durium is the result of years of reform and development from the ancient, Romanesque Duran Empire. Horus Vorbakan, who became the very first King of Duran, first founded the Duran Empire. After six-hundred fifty years of hereditary rule, the Vorbakan Dynasty became corrupt and immoral in its governing of the Empire, and was overthrown in the Industrial Revolution. Half a dozen prominent corporations led the Industrial Revolution, most of them arms manufacturers. As a result, the Industrial Forces were able to field a large, well-equipped private army, and were easily able to overthrow the last Vorbakanian King, Honulus Vorbakan, after the bloody, two-month long Siege of Orogoth. Jacob Greene, CEO of MagnaCorp Military Industries, became the Premier of the Industrial State of Duran. However, corporate rule quickly became a corrupt conservative regime, and was eventually thrown into the Great Civil War. The Great Civil War lasted a dozen years, destroying the majority of the domestic accomplishments of the Vorbakans and the Industrialists. Eventually, at the Battle of Megapolis (the industrial center of the Empire), the Imperialist forces were finally able to overthrow Jacob Greene and his regime. The Holy Empire of Durium is the present-day result.
Military
The Durium Military is the single most important aspect of the Durian way of life, making military service compulsory for every Durian citizen. The Military is well-equipped by the dozens of arms manufacturers, and is well-trained for combat by the unforgiving environment. The Military is made up of six common branches – the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Military Police, and the Special Operations Forces. In peacetime, 2% of the Durian population, approximately 2.7 million people, is on active duty, with 3 million more in reserve. The rest of the population make up untrained militias and the post-reservist National Guard. The military budget is enormous, with over $256,000,000,000 DM spent per year on wages, R&D, maintenance and upkeep, training, and equipment. The conscription age is sixteen, at which the citizen is required to register for military service and the draft.
Government
The omni-present, moralistic authoritarian government controls nearly all aspects of daily life – education, law enforcement, the economy, etc. Officially, the Durian government is a Moralistic Democracy, but in reality is an Imperial Dictatorship. The capital city of Orogoth is an enormous megatropolis that contains a huge industrial sector, innumerable middle-class housing, and three sprawling slums on the outskirts of the city, with suburbs and shantytowns bordering them. Other important cities include Megapolis (the industrial seat of the Empire), Mos Anor (the cultural center), and Citadel (the military headquarters of Durium). Government structure includes an enormous executive branch, consisting of the many departments that handle issues such as foreign and domestic affairs, defense and security, the environment, veteran’s affairs, etc., but the Imperator (Durian Head of State) has the final say in ALL issues and laws. The other branch of Durian government is the Judicial Branch, which holds sway over a small amount of district courthouses, regional courts, and the national Supreme Court, which, aside from the Imperator, holds absolute jurisdiction over legal issues.
Population
Total population as of January 20, 2008 is 135-138 million. Nationality is eighty-eight percent Durian, four percent Antethian, and eight percent Other. Population growth is steady, with a life expectancy of 70+ years. The government does not tolerate racism. Due to free education, the Durian literacy rating is 95%.
Communications
The government typically provides communication services, although some television and radio stations are privately owned. Telephone service is free and paid for by the government, enabling a convenient and reliable means of common communication. The government also employs experimental “radio buoys,” which relay communications and information by bouncing radio waves to the next buoy in the system, resulting in an elimination for the need of power lines.
Natural Resources
Durium is primarily self-sufficient, as many vital resources are often found in the deep reaches of the Jungle or the frigid Wastes and Mountains of the Polar Regions. Common natural resources include:
Plentiful
Iron, Oil, Copper, Tin, Timber, Rubber
Average
Gold, Natural Gas, Uranium, Fresh Water, Titanium
Sparse
Aluminum, Fish, Silver
Geography
Durium is a rather large nation, being in a region with only five other rivals, able to cover a large area of tropical jungle and a small polar area in its northern reaches. The majority of Durian land is covered by a dense, unforgiving jungle, which the authoritarian, militaristic government uses to train its young men into killing machines. The Northern Polar Wastes are equally unforgiving, constantly swept by a nigh never-ending blizzard. While few people live in this area, there are several government and private “lodges” that house hundreds of tourists and longer-term residents. Approximately seventy percent of the Durian population lives in the small region of open plains in the southwestern corner of Durium, separated from the jungle by a large mountain range that crawls up the western Durian border, then cuts across to the east to separate the Northern Wastes from the Jungle. A coastline snakes down the eastern border of the Northern Wastes and the northeastern Jungle.
Economy
The Durian Economy, while not the largest in its region, is very extensive and powerful. Primary industries include Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Beef-Based Agriculture. The GDP is approximately $28,000-30,000 per capita. The authoritarian government often provides for the majority of its citizens, resulting in only fifteen percent or lower below the poverty line, as well as free college education. The Durian Mark is an average currency in the region, neither inflated nor extremely valuable, with an exchange rate at about 0.8 DM per (1 USD). The Durian government is not at all charitable, believing that “charity” should be earned, resulting in humanitarian aid in exchange for trading concessions. Income Tax rate is fifty-five percent, with a one hundred percent rate for the wealthy.
History
Durium is a proud, nationalistic nation with roots in its region dating back to classical times. The Holy Empire of Durium is the result of years of reform and development from the ancient, Romanesque Duran Empire. Horus Vorbakan, who became the very first King of Duran, first founded the Duran Empire. After six-hundred fifty years of hereditary rule, the Vorbakan Dynasty became corrupt and immoral in its governing of the Empire, and was overthrown in the Industrial Revolution. Half a dozen prominent corporations led the Industrial Revolution, most of them arms manufacturers. As a result, the Industrial Forces were able to field a large, well-equipped private army, and were easily able to overthrow the last Vorbakanian King, Honulus Vorbakan, after the bloody, two-month long Siege of Orogoth. Jacob Greene, CEO of MagnaCorp Military Industries, became the Premier of the Industrial State of Duran. However, corporate rule quickly became a corrupt conservative regime, and was eventually thrown into the Great Civil War. The Great Civil War lasted a dozen years, destroying the majority of the domestic accomplishments of the Vorbakans and the Industrialists. Eventually, at the Battle of Megapolis (the industrial center of the Empire), the Imperialist forces were finally able to overthrow Jacob Greene and his regime. The Holy Empire of Durium is the present-day result.
Military
The Durium Military is the single most important aspect of the Durian way of life, making military service compulsory for every Durian citizen. The Military is well-equipped by the dozens of arms manufacturers, and is well-trained for combat by the unforgiving environment. The Military is made up of six common branches – the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Military Police, and the Special Operations Forces. In peacetime, 2% of the Durian population, approximately 2.7 million people, is on active duty, with 3 million more in reserve. The rest of the population make up untrained militias and the post-reservist National Guard. The military budget is enormous, with over $256,000,000,000 DM spent per year on wages, R&D, maintenance and upkeep, training, and equipment. The conscription age is sixteen, at which the citizen is required to register for military service and the draft.
Government
The omni-present, moralistic authoritarian government controls nearly all aspects of daily life – education, law enforcement, the economy, etc. Officially, the Durian government is a Moralistic Democracy, but in reality is an Imperial Dictatorship. The capital city of Orogoth is an enormous megatropolis that contains a huge industrial sector, innumerable middle-class housing, and three sprawling slums on the outskirts of the city, with suburbs and shantytowns bordering them. Other important cities include Megapolis (the industrial seat of the Empire), Mos Anor (the cultural center), and Citadel (the military headquarters of Durium). Government structure includes an enormous executive branch, consisting of the many departments that handle issues such as foreign and domestic affairs, defense and security, the environment, veteran’s affairs, etc., but the Imperator (Durian Head of State) has the final say in ALL issues and laws. The other branch of Durian government is the Judicial Branch, which holds sway over a small amount of district courthouses, regional courts, and the national Supreme Court, which, aside from the Imperator, holds absolute jurisdiction over legal issues.
Population
Total population as of January 20, 2008 is 135-138 million. Nationality is eighty-eight percent Durian, four percent Antethian, and eight percent Other. Population growth is steady, with a life expectancy of 70+ years. The government does not tolerate racism. Due to free education, the Durian literacy rating is 95%.
Communications
The government typically provides communication services, although some television and radio stations are privately owned. Telephone service is free and paid for by the government, enabling a convenient and reliable means of common communication. The government also employs experimental “radio buoys,” which relay communications and information by bouncing radio waves to the next buoy in the system, resulting in an elimination for the need of power lines.
Natural Resources
Durium is primarily self-sufficient, as many vital resources are often found in the deep reaches of the Jungle or the frigid Wastes and Mountains of the Polar Regions. Common natural resources include:
Plentiful
Iron, Oil, Copper, Tin, Timber, Rubber
Average
Gold, Natural Gas, Uranium, Fresh Water, Titanium
Sparse
Aluminum, Fish, Silver