Zaheran Factbook
Zaheran Factbook
Under development. Now open to comments.
Table of Contents:
1. Geography (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400457&postcount=1)
2. History (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400462&postcount=2)
3. Government (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400467&postcount=3)
4. Demographics (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400469&postcount=4)
5. Society (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400473&postcount=5)
6. Foreign Policy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400588&postcount=6)
7. Military (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400989&postcount=7)
8. Character Biographies (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400992&postcount=8)
9. Miscellaneous (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13400995&postcount=9)
Geography:
Zaheran is a giant island, by some judged to be a continent of it's own, in a ocean called the Zacheri Sea by the inhabitants. The terrain and climate varies greatly, from the mild coastal climate in the north to the desert in the middle of the island. The coastline is, with a few exceptions, consisting of cliffs and reefs. In the archipelago known as the Eastern Islands and in the area around the seaport Nakón-Chai however, vast beaches are usual. The mountains in the west and the north hides enormous quantities of mostly steel and coal, but also noble metals and various gemstones.
History:
Early History
Zaheran was discovered about 800 years ago, when prince Wilhelm Ironhand and his followers found the island on their journey from the mysterious Homeland. They met
the inhabitants of the island, an ethnic group of Mongolian origin, and befriended them. Wilhelm's daughter Claudia married the chieftain Jangir Khan's son Jahingir. Their son Albrecht united the country, turning it into a feudal monarchy.
Kings and Rebellions
For 300 years everything went well. Then, in the year 1523, count Gerhard von Vomelstein started a rebellion against king Wilhelm VI, throwing the country into the war known as ”the Blood Winter”. The king eventually won, but his forces were badly weakened.
In another rebellion in the summer 1526 the king was killed and the country was thrown into a 50 year civil war, ending with it being divided in three parts. This lasted for 90 years.
In the year 1666 king Manfred von Kaufungen defeated the other kings, uniting the country once again. The Kaufungen dynasty lasted for 200 years.
The Republic
In the spring 1854, the people revolted against the incompetent and cruel king Manfred IV, creating a republic. The first president was Nicolaus Klausing.
In the summer 2001, several groups revolted against the republic. Among them were the Northern Military Alliance, NMA, rebel military forces led by General Dieter Antonn, who later on became the first Emperor of Zaheran , the Workers Liberation Army, WLA, a communist guerilla and the Army of the Holy Cross, AHC, a christian terrorist group.
The AHC was destroyed early in the war through an intervention by Alfegos. The WLA lasted longer, but was later crushed by an coalition of various foreign states. The NMA and the governmental forces eventually merged, changing the country back to a monarchy. The last president of Zaheran took his own life in his bunker in Archos when he realized that he had lost.
Government:
Zaheran is a monarchy, ruled by Emperor Dieter Antonius I. The population are quite free to live their own lives and business is un-regulated. The government is divided into nine departments, sometimes called ministries, each ruled by a minister. The departments and ministers are as follows:
The Department of Foreign Affairs controls the foreign policy and the relations with other states. The department is one of the most powerful, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs often act as the Emperor's advisor and Zaheran's face outwards. The current Minister is Marius Stee.
The Department of Defence controls the armed forces. Alike the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence has a very strong position in the government. The current Minister if Lucifer Teufel.
The Department of Propaganda controls the massmedia and the information sources. In the past, most information was strictly censored, but in the latest decades freedom of speech and freedom of the press has been acknowledged. Still, as the Department owns one of the largest newspapers and the largest TV-station, propaganda and censorship is still easily distributed. The current Minister is Leonard Weiss.
The Department of Interior Affairs controls the police forces and the infrastructure. As society would collapse without the Department, it has a strong position in the Government. The current Minister is Conrad Sterling.
The Department of Commerce handles all economic questions. The current Minister is Johann Reichhart.
The Department of Social Welfare controls education, medical care as well as all public facilities not under jurisdiction by Interior Affairs. The current Minister is Paul Streckenbach.
The Department of Culture is one of the smallest and handles all questions related to culture. The current Minister is Walther Friedenthal.
The Department of State Security is Zaheran's intelligence service. It handles all matters of espionage and counter-espionage, as well as counter-terror operations. The current Minister is Richard Hotho.
Colonial Governors
All of Zaheran's colonies are controlled by a governor, who might be a Zaheranian noble or a trusted native. The four current colonial governors are as follows:
Jahan Chandraskatta, Zaheranian India
Richard Altzer, Zahrena
Ernst Külbeck, Zaheranian Eisland
Georg Bernstein, Zahmer
Erich Stee, Zatharia
Demographics:
Most Zaheranians are of German origin. It is believed that the first “white” settlers came from a Germanic tribe called the Scirii, migrating from their homeland. The reason of the migration is not known, but it believed that war was part of the reason. Archeological finds have proven that the lands were not empty when the Scirii arrived. The original inhabitants appear to be of Asiatic origin, a group of Mongolian tribes. Their descandents still live in the mountains in the south. The names of the tribes can still be seen in the names of cities, towns and villages. “Nakón”, the tribes name for “meeting place”, have become the Zaheranian word for city.
The official language of Zaheran is Zaheranic, a mix of Mongolic, German and Latin. Most Zaheranians speak excellent English and German. A rising number also speak Fegosian to some extent, a fact reflecting the importance of Alfegos as a trading partner.
The Zaheranian people have many religions, the largest being Protestantism and the various churches of Oceanism, the worshipping of the ocean. Most of the remaining faiths are represented to some larger or smaller extent. The government is strictly secular.
Society:
People:
The average Zaheranian is a quiet, hard-working person and uninterested in politics, prefering the stability under the current regime to the chaos in the former republic. Many are interested in sports, soccer and ice hockey being the largest. Theater plays and movies are always popular, and so is music. Bands like Seven Oaths and Scirias Call have sold millions of CDs, while the concerts of the classical orchestra Nostratus Asterius are very popular among the upper class.
The fashion industry has flourished after the creation of a rich nobility, currently employing thousands of people. Streets like the Silver Boulevard have become expensive shopping areas, where those with money can buy jewelry and clothes.
The laws of Zaheran are harsh, with long prison sentences and death penalty for serious crimes. Members of terrorist organisations and spies are treated extremely harsh, both by the authorities and by other prisoners. Torture is often used in terrorist and espionage cases, while other prisoners can expect justly rule of law. Crime rates are low, as police forces are both numerous and effective.
The people of Zaheran are fiercily patriotic, proud of being what they are. Folk tales, myths and legends are numerous, with the heroes/heroines sometimes worshipped as minor gods. Still, the people are mostly positive to international cooperation, and the foreigners living in Zaheran are as accepted as the natives.
Economy and Infrastructure:
Zaheran has a healthy and stable economy, with a sizeable trade surplus. From the mines in the north and west comes various metals, most high quality iron ore, and coal, from which 95% of the country's electricity comes. Gemstones, especially amethysts, emeralds and opals, are also mined. From the forests in the west and south comes timber, from the fields in the east agricultural products. The largest industries lays in the north, where massive factories spew out black smoke. The arms industry is one of the largest, competing with the ever-growing automobile manufacturing. Oil is one of the main imports, as the country only has enough to cover 60% of it's needs. 171.36 billion barrels of oil are consumed every year. The agricultural products are of high quality, and the same goes for the products from the clothing industry. Massive quantities of cotton and silk are imported from the fields of Zaheranian India. Fishing is too a major industry, and the country's fishing fleet is gigantic.
The free-trade agreement of the Fegosian Union has speeded up the economy even more, Zaheranian corporations competing with foreign companies on both Zaheranian and foreign soil. The most important trade partner is Alfegos. The island Oraz, called Neo'Ilos by the Alfegosians, has become a major trade port, with a population of 89,000.
The infrastructure in Zaheran is, especially in the cities, well developed. Most of the travel is done in car or other motorised vehicles. The larger cities often have subway systems. The country has eleven international airports and a myriad of national ones. At the coast, boat travel is very common. The port facilities in the coastal cities are often large, as Zaheran depends much on sea-trade.
Foreign policy:
For long the Foreign Policy of Zaheran was isolationism. The civil war, however, changed this. For the first time since the founding foreigners fought and died on Zaheranian soil. The victorious NMA, having recieved massive help from foreign countries, realized the importance of allies. This new standpoint led to the Zaheranian joining of the Fegosian Union when the latter was formed. Both before and after that, Zaheranian forces fought on foreign soil, aiding those that had come to their help during the darkest of times. Most of the missions were peace-keeping ones, and the country has never fought as a invader.
Zaheran has five colonies: Zaheranian India in distant Asia, Zahrena in Southmire, Zahmer in the Zacheri Sea, Zaheranian Eisland in Europe and Zatharia in Corithia. Trade is flourishing and the people in the colonies has no reason to complain. They enjoy the same rights as all other citizens and make more money than they did before the colonisation.
Military:
The armed forces of Zaheran is divided into five main branches: the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, the Imperial Airforce, the Imperial Storm Legions and the Werewolf Militia.
The Imperial Army: The main Zaheranian ground force, it employs roughly 6 million men, logistics included. Is currently undergoing modernisation and reorganisation.
The Imperial Airforce: Handles all air-related issues. Was seriously damaged in the civil war and is undergoing reorganisation. Manpower roughly 8,000.
The Imperial Navy: The main focus point for the last few year, it is well-equipped and well trained. Manpower roughly 700,000.
The Imperial Storm Legions: A special military force, separated from the Army and absolutely loyal to the Emperor. The soldiers have been trained since childhood to be soldiers and have the best equipment their country can provide. They are under the Emperor's direct control, and can be used for everything from dealing with riots to defeating rebellious army units. Manpower roughly 500,000.
The Werewolf Militia: Consisting of every citizen who have recieved military training, Werewolf units can be mobilised in times of absolute need. They have mostly old equipment, but their strength lays in their numbers and patriotism. Estimated manpower is 75-100 millions.
Character Biographies
Name: Emperor Dieter Antonius I.
Age: 53
Height: 1.9 m
Weight: 92 kg
Bio: The first Emperor of Zaheran, Dieter is a former Army General. He led the rebellion against the Republic, and is now the supreme leader of all Zaheran. He is a principled man, loyal to his friends and merciless to his enemies. He is beloved and supported by a majority of the Zaheranians, as the country has flourished under his rule.
Name: Marius Stee
Age: 49
Height: 1.85 m
Weight: 87 kg
Bio: Former a Admiral in the Navy, he is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is one of the Emperor's oldest friends and supported him in the civil war.
Name: Lucifer Teufel
Age: 51
Height: 1.87 m
Weight: 93 kg
Bio: A former General, he was one of the three main NMA leaders during the civil war. Is now the Minister of Defence. Originally named Lucius, he has gained his new name with his military brilliance and ruthless hunting of the enemies of his Emperor.
Name: Michael Vollmer
Age: 47
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 76 kg
Bio: One of Zaheran's most famous generals, Michael Vollmer is in charge of the Storm Legion known as Totenkopf. He has transformed the legion to a fearsome elite unit and has led it to victory on numerous occasions. His loyalty to the Emperor is absolute and his military genius is undisputed.
Name: Richard Hotho
Age: 30
Height: 1.82
Weight: 86 kg
Bio: As the head of the Zaheranian intelligence service, he is one of the most feared men in the country. In the civil war he was a NMA spy in the republican headquarters. The information he supplied the NMA with was a major key to their success. He is a very intelligent man and have made the DSS a fearsome weapon.
Miscellaneous
Images
Marius Stee, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Image (http://www.leesuits.com/man%20in%20suit%202.jpg)
Leonard Weiss, Minister of Propaganda, ouside his home in Zahran.
Image (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama/images/costume/war3.jpg)
Conrad Sterling, Minister of Interior Affairs, in an interview in Zaheran Times.
Image (http://www.netspacelive.com/uploaded_images/IMG_1312blog-717448.jpg)
Two Navy corvettes on patrol.
Image (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/HMS_Visby_and_HMS_Helsingborg.jpg)
A captain of the Imperial Airforce.
Image (http://www.airfrance.com/double6/file/Y1/file_Y1.nsf/(Lookup)/Upilot300/$file/unipil.jpg)
General Michael Vollmer. Artist's impression.
Image (http://www.uwm.edu/Library/arch/digital/Portrait.jpg)
Johann Reichhart, Minister of Commerce, in an interview in Daily Finance.
Image (http://www.entemp.ie/corporate/ministersoffice/martin2.jpg)
Legionaries from the Eisenkruz Storm legion parading.
Image (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Russian_paratroopers_9_may_2005_b.jpg/800px-Russian_paratroopers_9_may_2005_b.jpg)
A group of Army officers walking the streets of Zahran.
Image (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Russian_soldiers_on_the_Champs_Elysees_DSC03310.JPG/424px-Russian_soldiers_on_the_Champs_Elysees_DSC03310.JPG)
A Jaegerkommando, a member of an elite light infantry unit
Image (http://www.nato.int/kfor/media/photos/1999/lr/pic00152_lr.jpg)
A Marinekommando, a member of the Coastal Rangers.
Image (http://www.specwarfare.it/sito/multimedia/foto/marinejegerkommandoen/grandi/mjk0212cx.jpg)
Castle Grünerwald in northern Zaheran
Image (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Castle_Neuschwanstein.jpg)
Jahan Chandraskatta, the governor of Zaheranian India
Image (http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44278000/jpg/_44278239_anilambaniap203.jpg)
Relevant links
Embassy Program (http://http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=543904)
Government Details (http://nsdossier.texasregion.net/main.aspx?nation=zaheran)
Official Seal (http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/1717/sealxr7.gif)
Map (http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/trert/?action=view¤t=Zaheran.jpg)
Political Map (http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/trert/?action=view¤t=Zaheran-PoliticalMap.jpg)
Yep. It is coming tomorrow.
Edit: Timewarp. Damn you, Jolt.
Errikland
26-01-2008, 22:59
This is interesting; do you have a map?
A section possibly on economy? Another on Infastructure?
Should fall under society, maybe. Hmm. Yes, that will be on my to do-list. Thank you.
How about you link all the different sections up to that list at the start of the thread, to allow for easier navigating?
As well as deleting the comments that disperse the factbook.
Great factbook! I especially enjoyed the map.
Red American Army
02-04-2008, 02:55
Cool factbook! I'll make one someday.
Thank you. Soon to be added: Updated map as well as a political one.
Mokastana
02-04-2008, 15:14
just a question, how can they be fiercely patriotic but uninterested in politics?
"Uninterested in politics" as realizing that the current ruler, dictator as he is, is at least bringing stability to the country, as opposed to the various democratic presidents that preceded him. Therefore, the general opinion is that democracy isn't worth fighting for. "Patriotic" in the sense that they like waving flags and stuff.
Updates: Updated geographic map and added a political map.