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Zyrika - Changing of the Guard; The Mighty New Empire, Marching Ever Onward
Topic Started: Jun 24 2015, 07:23 PM (160 Views)
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The People’s Democratic Republic of Zyrika

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Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
- Eternal President of the Republic Tsetung Mao at the Zyrika Reunification Ceremony, 2962.


Among the regions of the Old World, Synvounasia - “The Land Next To The Mountains” - is one of the largest and most diverse. Running from the prominent plains to the snow-covered high plateaus, all the way towards towering forests and massive burning deserts, the rich land has plenty to provide for the species that call Synvounasia their abode. Despite the beauty of the land, one should not equal it to peacefulness - just as the process of nature for the strong to prey upon the weak, the ambitions of industry and the machines of war continue to march ever onward in peace and war, violating the land in the name of the most self-important empire of all: the People’s Democratic Republic of Zyrika.

Born out of the blazes of a large Kosmopolitan war and the resultant warlord period, Zyrika is the “revolutionary citadel” of the ideology called “Absolutionism”. In the face of the communist dictatorship across the Mesogeios, Zyrika is “Kosmopol’s largest and most vibrant democracy”, “the People’s Democratic Dictatorship” with “free, fair and open elections” with competitors for the title of “Paramount Leader” frequently coming from the State Party and Opposition Party. Or so they have continued to describe themselves ever since “Democratization” after the death of their Eternal President: the gigantic and equally secretive bureaucracy of the People’s Democratic Republic is a national exercise at the games of secrecy and make-believe. The Paramount Leader and the State Party are the mouthpieces of chauvinistic propaganda to please the impoverished proletarian classes. The true power of control behind the nation, who supervises every aspects of life, oversees publicized governmental policies, regulates economic development and runs the machines of the military is the organization of the Black Guard - the remnants of a long-past chaotic postwar era. While the Paramount Leaders often resort to empty threats of nuclear warfare and hints the rest of Kosmopol of the potential of warfare breaking out, the Central Commission of the Black Guard maintains a quiet distance away from the international stage, polishing its nuclear weapons programs and tank chassis, making preparations to roll them out for whatever reason there may be.

The political empire of Zyrika, in its current form, was preceded by the Empire of Zyrika: a stubbornly-traditionalist absolute monarchy sired over by mad kings and tyrannical emperors who believed in the Manifest Destiny of the Central Empire to rule everything in the Universe, supported by shadowy parliaments of warlike chancellors. Its arrogance was the basis for its downfall, when its prestige came to an all time low, and from one of Kosmopol’s most powerful economies, the officials can barely even feed themselves. The war to save its economy and national unity through lies, propaganda and violence spelt the death knell for one of Kosmopol’s largest, longest-existing empires. The victorious countries, themselves having their own problems to contend with, hastily divided Zyrika’s grand landmass into temporary occupation zones, with promises to help rebuild the nation. Unable to recover the monarchy - murdered wholly in a coup d’état, the model for a democratic nation was set in Zyrika; one that would fall apart the instance the occupiers left. The ensuing Warlord Era spilled blood over Zyrika, with only one side emerging victorious. The People’s Democratic Republic was declared in the middle of the 30th century, established by “the State Party”. The rhetoric of populism and the scapegoating of the former occupiers worked to their advantage, and with salvaging the already-existent facilities of the former Imperial superpower, Zyrika was once again an unquestioned power. Through their amoral choices, the former Empire was reunited and restored in all but name. The horrifying consequences of the Great Reconstruction and the murderous chaos of the Black Frenzy never did contribute to damaging the young regime’s reputation - rather, it has helped to solidify Zyrika’s position as a Citadel of World Revolution.

One will find it hard to challenge the fact that the People’s Democratic Republic has changed little from its Imperial counterpart. It continues to lord over the Synvounasian region, continues age-old rivalries against its neighbor Estia, and is unapologetic of war, violence and persecution. In place of an insane monarch “chosen by God” and assisted by a parliamentary structure is an extremist Paramount Leader “chosen by the People” and assisted by a uniformed presidential guard. Zyrika, a grand nation, has gotten around the heavy limitations on its armed forces: by choosing to popularize the myth that the “National Revolutionary Army” is a vigilant civil defense paramilitary, its numbers rise to the roof, allowing it to maintain one of Kosmopol’s largest standing de facto armies (and because it is not accepted as an official army, it is not subject to international rules of war). Meanwhile, the Black Guard functions in all capabilities as the nation’s elite paramilitary, commandos, gendarme and secret police through its many subdivisions. Zyrika’s economy consists of Black Guard-run committees that are almost identical to private corporations in their capacities. Previously closed and isolationist, the planned economy structure was broken and renewed into an “Absolutionist Market Economy”, integrating Zyrika into the “global market”. Such a move never presented itself as an act of willingness on Zyrika’s part to be an active, reliable market: it is being used as a stepping stone for the nation to enhance its reputation and power, perhaps to ready itself to accept the inevitable Manifest Destiny that the Empire had so long failed to realize.

A glorious new age awaits the world. Fateful it will be to the New Empire. Underneath the Black Guard banner: Strength in Unity.
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National Information

“Strength in Unity”


Official name
Formal: People’s Democratic Republic of Zyrika
Informal: Zyrika

Demonym: Zyrikan

Established: 4th day of the 9th month, 2962 SH

National Anthem: Yuchow Hei - The Universe is Black adopted in 2962.

Capital City: Alamo

National Symbol(s): The Pot-Bellied Pig, the Black Guard Banner.

Head of Nation: Paramount Leader Kinping Si

Ruling body: The People's Representative Assembly (de jure), Central Commission of the Black Guard* (de facto)
* In reality, while the People's Representative Assembly puts laws by State Party Politburo, People's Defense Committee or United Front into effect, it is the Central Commission that has the discreet final say.


Territorial Information

Total territory: ????
Land area: ????
Water area: ????
Total: ????
Territorial waters: ????


Population

Population: 885,054,990

Percentage of population according to:
Age: 0-15 (12.7%) 15-40 (44.9%) 40-65 (13.3%) 65+ (29.1%)

Sex: Male (53.7%) Female (46.3%)

Ethnicity: <Description Placeholder>

51.8% Pokopen - 25.9% Tsaoku - 13.2% Yusi - 5.3% Sudrians - 3.8% Others

Language(s): The only official language is the "Kwanhwa dialect" of Zyrikan. Despite there being many ethnic groups who speak various different languages unintelligible from Kwanhwa Zyrikan, the government enforces political correctness that they are indeed dialects of Zyrikan.

Religion: Tsingchenkiao
While the Government claims to be State Atheist and theoretically bans religions, Tsingchenkiao can almost be seen as a state-sponsored religion. It is hard to observe separation of church and state in Zyrika, and the government is behind most spiritual works in the nation.

Class: While feudal society already had Zyrika very clearly stratified into many different classes, classes according to wealth in possession are: <2 Rich, ~13% Middle Class, ~85% Poor.

The poor - the Proles - are segregated and forced into communes from a very young age, living away from the glamorous cities in squalid ghettos or one of the many State-run Gulags and left to fend for themselves; these ignoramus are the nigh-free (price-wise) source of labor running to keep up with Zyrika's industrial and agricultural quotas. The middle class, belonging to the Outer sections of the State Party, consists of propagandized intellectuals working in the massive bureaucracy that is the Zyrikan government, helping to run its State-run corporations, services and positions to serve the public. The rich of the State Party's Inner sections lead acceptably luxurious, opulent lifestyles, especially politicians and NRA generals.

Economic Information

Size of labor force:
Total: 590,733,000
Without men conscripted into the army: 588,448,000

National Currency: Tung (de jure), Estian Yen (de facto)
While Tung is still the official currency of Zyrika, its hyperinflation resulting from the failures of the economic renewals of the State forced the economy to adopt a more feasible method of trade. The Estian Yen is officially used in all of Zyrika's transactions, despite the nation's territorial ambitions and fierce rivalry against Estia along with its inability to print the Estian Yen.

Economic Model: "Absolutionist Market Economy" - in practice: a nigh Laissez-faire capitalist economy nominally run under the State's name.

Nominal GDP: $3.056 trillion

Nominal GDP per capita: $3,453

Gini: 82.3

Major exports: Crude oil, natural gas, rice, tobacco, rare earth, precious metals, coffee, cocoa, wood, silk.

Major imports: Uranium, iron/steel products, rubber, metal alloys, meat, fur, textiles, pharmaceuticals, coal, organic chemicals.


Military Information

Standing Army strength: 2,850,000

Reservist Force: 3,000,000

Paramilitary forces: 5,889,000
This number includes security forces, interior troops and militias armed in times of war. When Kaitjan engages in total war, all men aged 18-55 are eligible for unconditional draft. Females are exempt from the conscription, but can join as volounteers to both fight and provide support.

WMD arsenal: In possession of around 2,500 (known) warheads in total, over 2,000 of which are active, Zyrika is one of Kosmopol's recognized nuclear powers - achieving this status despite international blockade. It's also verified to have of roughly 33,600 tonnes of chemical agents (including Mustard Gas, Sarin and VX) and unknown amounts of biological weapons.

Top ten populous cities:
In total, these cities hold 164,259,000; ~18.56% of Zyrika's population:
1. Alamo, Capitol - 26,063,000
2. Teli, Yintu - 22,242,000
3. Shanghoi, Kaohsien - 20,860,000
4. Peiking, Peiyang - 17,311,000
5. Menpai, Penkung - 16,910,000
6. Kwangchow, Yuehoi - 16,827,000
7. Kaketa, Penkung - 14,374,000
8. Shenchen, Yuehoi - 11,885,000
9. Tientsin, Tunglong - 8,922,000
10. Chennai, Penkung - 8,865,000
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Demographics

Total Population: 885,054,990

Sex: 53.7% male, 46.3% female.

Percentage of Main Ethnic Groups
Pokopen Zyrikans - 51.8% 458,458,485 members
Tsaoku Zyrikans - 25.9% 229,229,242 members
Yusi Zyrikans - 13.2% 116,827,259 members
Sudrians - 5.3% 46,907,915 members

Pokopen
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Tsaoku
Spoiler: click to toggle


Yusi
Spoiler: click to toggle


Sudrians
Spoiler: click to toggle


Age of Population
Age: 0-15 (12.7%) 15-40 (44.9%) 40-65 (13.3%) 65+ (29.1%)

Languages
Official:
Kwanhwa (referred to by other nationals as "Zyrikan") - The sole official language according to the Constitution, used in politics, economics, education, etc. Its status as the sole official language was especially heavily enforced during the Black Frenzy period, when speaking another language - even another Zyrikan language - was branched as "counterrevolutionary". Nowadays, speaking Kwanhwa is not forced upon the populace, but one's life would fare much easier with proficiency in Kwanhwa.

Unrecognized:
Pa'tsao - While widely spoken by Tsaoku communities, it is not popular nationwide. It having many speakers has won the language appearances in local newsreels and economics alongside Kwanhwa.
Hansan - Another language spoken exclusively by the Tsaoku in Kaohsien Province, local populations have used the language as the reason that their autonomy should be increased. Its even more ambiguous status than Pa'tsao has caused headaches to politicians in Zyrika - especially officials of Kaohsien Province.
Various related Yusi languages - Only spoken within the separate Yusi tribes. They usually do not gain the attention of anyone beside members of their tribes and Yusi cultural/linguistic enthusiasts.
Sudrian (Kiuchenspeak) - A tonal language related to both Estian language and the Tsao-Seric language family, Sudrian is the minority language most cracked down upon by Zyrikan authorities. Sudrian is spoken by Sudrians since times immemorial, and since their annexation, although the language was not outlawed, speaking it was a sure sign to be branched by the citizenry as "treasonous", "counterrevolutionary" or "heretical".

Religion
While Freedom of Religion is nominally guaranteed in the Constitution, in practice, most religions - organized or grassroots - are cracked down upon harshly, with the only religion virtually permitted being Tsingchenkiao, supervised by the State-owned Great Church. Silver Heliandism also has a very minor presence in Zyrika, tolerated by the State - though not so often true for the locals.

The following list is a Black Guard estimation of adherents of certain religions, or those of ancestral religious backgrounds:

Chengtung Tsingchenkiao: 49.6% - 438,987,275 (Nationwide)
Paipieh Tsingchenkiao: 8.8% - 77,477,448 (Nationwide)
Silver Heliandism: 1% - 8,850,550 (Concentrated most in Kaohsien)
Atheists/Agnostics: 35.2% - 311,946,747 (Nationwide)
Other: 5.4% - 47,792,970 (Mostly in Kiuchen)

Basic information
The Pokopen are the dominant "race" (as described in textbooks) of Zyrika. For millennia, they have lorded over its imperial dynasties and theocratic bureaucracies - albeit several occasions where their rule was challenged and/or disrupted. With the tides of politics turning in the 30th century, Pokopen religious leaders were presiding over one of the most powerful empires in the history of Kosmopol. A status that didn't last, and after the first few decades, things start taking a turn for the worse. Eventually, they were the most heavily-affected race in Zyrika when the wars of the Empire were over with their nation brought down in utter shame, suffering from starvation and extreme impoverishment. Things started to look better again for the Pokopen after Chairman Tsetung Mao came into power, and they once again regained their position as the "rightful sons" of the worthiest nation. Nowadays, the Pokopen are a prideful, fiercely patriotic, race-conscious and religiously-fanatical people who view themselves as victimized martyrs who rose once again to prepare for their Manifest Destiny of bringing "Absolution" to all corners of Kosmopol.

The Tsaoku, meanwhile, can be viewed as the second-most dominant race, their population having contributed in laying foundations to a unified Zyrika, participating in politics even since the infancy of the imperial realms, and even creating their own denomination of Tsingchenkiao, its popularity spreading outside of their own communities. Their breaks from Pokopen conventions, however, are regularly frowned upon by the Pokopen-dominated society, and while it is rare for the two major races to clash, such violent incidents are not unheard of.

The Yusi are in fact, many different sub-collectives lumped together into a single large group. They share their dark skins, short heights and speak generally similar - sometimes mutually intelligible - languages. Nominally, they contributed to creating the first Zyrikan nation, electing their war-chiefs as warrior kings. Despite initial successes in ruling over the other two groups, the Yusi's internal disunity and their own unwillingness to adopt changes in policy and flexibility resulted in their eventual downfall and assimilation by the other major groups. While once or twice, their own Tsingchenkiao representatives can get into ranks of leadership, the Yusi continued to remain politically powerless after the ancient times. Many of the tribes have chosen to stay the way they were since those long-past ages; others have moved on and integrated themselves into Zyrikan culture in general. While lumped together as a race by textbooks, they were and are in fact, never one unified ethnic group, and it is not rare to see the Yusi insulting each other for "following savage monsters" or "believing in primitive dogmas".

The Sudrians - known in Zyrika as the Kiuchenjen - were originally an independent nation with warm cordial relations with Estia, and thus became the subject of hatred and jealousy of the Zyrikans, alongside their Estian neighbors. A resourceful people with access to fertile riverside plains and the Inland Sea, Sudria was once a nation with flourishing trade, and alongside Estia, established flourishing trade routes and gave Sudria a significantly better commercial reputation than its large imperial northern neighbor. Zyrika never succeeded in conquering either Estia or Sudria, and Zyrikan loss of the war with both - whose original cause was a desire to re-empower the Zyrikan economy through occupation of both countries - even discouraged them for a while. The security enjoyed by the Sudrians didn't last: border harassment continued during the warlord period and picked up its pace after the reunification of Zyrika. The energy crisis in Sudria was taken advantage of by Zyrika; the destruction of infrastructure caused by NRA-funded terrorist campaigns and border clashes have exhausted the erstwhile-peaceful Sudria, which was still being torn between either saving itself militarily or economically. Chaos prevailed when the NRA effortlessly marched into Sudria in 2974 SH. In the middle of the live broadcast of Sudrian leaders signing the unconditional surrender, a third of the Sudrian population was being slaughtered, mansions and estates burnt, women raped en masse on the streets and men's bodies fed to the ditch wolves. "Peace" has since returned after "liberation" of the renamed Kiuchen Province, and the Sudrians continue to spend their days reduced to street beggars, sex slaves and all-purpose playthings living in squalid ghettos, the mountains of the western borders with Estia, the poorly-maintained sewage systems reused since the days before Sudria's fall, and Black Guard-run prison camps; but the Sudrians now hate Zyrika and all of its many ethnic groups more than ever.

Inter-ethnic Relations
Zyrika was always a historically multi-ethnic country. Occasionally, one group becomes master over all others; however, the one with the longest history of dominance has been the Pokopen Zyrikans - who call themselves "Cleanbloods" in the face of the "Dirtbloods".

The formation of ancient Zyrika was, in large parts, due to "union" between the Pokopen and Tsaoku. When their loose confederacy of tribal chiefs was conquered by the then much more powerful Yusi coalition, the Pokopen and Tsaoku blamed each other for the fall. Generations past, however, and incompetent rule of the unified realm by the Yusi war-chiefs did not satisfy either of the conquered groups, who were actively competing to culturally influence their rulers, and thus to gain dominance one day. The Pokopen emerged as the victors of the power struggle, and proceeded to systematically establish their dynasties and confirmed their lordship over other groups through the use of either brutal force or proactive assimilation. The empires put together by the Pokopen expanded south, stretching from the mountains of the west to the Inland Sea of the east. Its territorial ambitions for Estia and Sudria, and later the entire world, was never realized by the increasingly weakened feudal theocratic dynasties. It was not until the formation of the People's Democratic Republic and its "miraculous economic recovery" that it begins to make steps into overpowering Sudria. The events of the "Liberation of Kiuchen" in 2974 that killed off a third of Sudria's population and destroyed the Sudrian political system, finally let Zyrika to proudly incorporate one of its most vocal enemies into its territory.

Ethnicity-wise, the Zyrikan government has done a great job in suppressing the masses. For most, they have continued to use the policy of "One Nation, Many Races", and deny that any ethnic group rule over the others since they are all part of a Zyrikan identity. The most heavily-affected of the ethnic policies are the Sudrians; what remains of them being forced to either collaborate with their new nation or be forced into the mountains, city ghettos, sewage systems or prison camps. Propaganda about there being no other identity than Zyrikan fills their daily lives, schools now teach entirely in Kwanhwa, and there are more Pokopen than there are Sudrians in their ancestral homeland - now known as "Kiuchen Province". There has never been peace since the "Liberation of Kiuchen", with terrorist attacks and civil unrest being considered everyday staple in Kiuchen - especially the regions bordering Sihu Province to the north. Surprisingly, while notoriously repressive regarding racial matters, the Black Guard is in fact indifferent towards the rebellious attitude of the Sudrians, leaving local authorities and the National Revolutionary Army to resolve the situations almost entirely on their own. An uprising always looms on the horizon in Kiuchen, and this holds true even in 3015. It remains to be seen whether the population can be pacified or a violent revolt is inevitable; and if so, whether it will be quelled or Sudria will be a nation of its own again.
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