Norsund

Norsund ᚾᛟᚱᛋᚢᚾᚦ (Hellonian and Ellandic) ᚨVᚨᚾ'ᛇ ᚨᛇᚢᛋᛁᚾᛖᛇ (Naq'tua) ᚾᛟᛚᚨᛋᚢᚾᚦᚢ (Nakola) 𐌽𐍉𐍂𐌸𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳 (Vejorda)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "ᚱᛅᛏᛏ ᛟᚷ ᛋᚨᚾᚾᛁᛝ" (Ellandic) "Justice and truth" (English)
Anthem: Fjordarna i västen The fjords in the west
Capital	Kristianshamn
Recognised national languages	German, indigenous langauges
Ethnic groups (1990)	47.3% Indigenous peoples 37.7% Hellonic Norsunders 15% Others
Demonym(s)	Norsunder
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King	Kristoffer of Hellona
• Minister-Governor	Tesqua Iktasquat
Legislature	Bondsdag of Norsund
Establishment
• Hellonians begin to inhabite Norsund	950
• Integration within Hellona	1816
• Gained homerule	1869
Population
• 1888 estimate	35.075.200
Currency	Hellonian krona (HEK)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	right
ISO 3166 code	NRS
Internet TLD	.hl, .nr, .tri

Norsund is a constituent country of the Hellonian Realm located on Novallonda. It is the most sparsely populated country on Novallonda and in the entire Hellonian Realm. The capital and largest city is Kristianshamn, which together with surrounding areas are home to over two-thirds of the population.

According to Hellonian myths, settlement started at around 900, when Hellonian traveler Avnar Helgurson became the first permanent settler. In the next few centuries, settlers came from all over Hellona. This meant settlers could be of both Ellandic and Hellonic origin. Due to the large-scale immigration of Hellonians to Norsund, the indigenous people adopted many Hellonian and Ellandic customs and much of its culture. Eventually the number of Ellandic settlers exceded the amount of Hellonic origin, often due to the inequality between the eastern provinces such as Elland compared to the western Hellonic provinces. Due to this large amount of Ellandic migration, the most commonly spoken language of the colony became Ellandic, rather than Hellonian. When Norsund gained homerule in 1869, the official languages were named Ellandic and Hellonian. With the decentralisation to a federal state, the indigenous languages were declared official in the corresponding Special Region.

Due to this history, Norsunder culture is a mixture of Hellonic, Ellandic and indigenous cultures. The country also enjoys the tightest relations between itself and its former motherland, Hellona, due to its cultural ties. Together with the Menako Islands, it is said that these three countries form the core of the Hellonian Realma and cultural area.

Norsund has a open economy and has a rather low tax rate compared to Hellona, but maintains the same Nordic model standards as its colonizer and provides universal health care and tertiary education for all its citizens. Norsund has been a economically and socially stable country for some time, growing to become economically independent from Hellona starting from 1895.

Etymology

The name Norsund is a composition of the words meaning "north" and "sound", in this case meaning a water strait. The original name given to the land by Hellonian settlers was "Noortsond", literally meaning northern sound. This was translated into Ellandic as "Norsund", which later became the most commonly used form of the name in both Ellandic and Ellashian.

The adoption of the name by indigenous tribes ended up differing between tribes and nations. This resulted in names being either full translations of transliterations into the languages themselves. For example, the Naq'tua name for Norsund is "Avan'q aqusineq"; means northern way or strait and is a direct translation. The Nakola nation decided on a phonemic transcription, leading to the name becoming "Nolasundu".

History

Early cultures and pre-Hellonic era

In prehistoric times, Norsund was inhabitated by Norsundish natives. Tribes on the western side of modern-day Norsund, were largely nomadic and unorganised, while tribes at the coast are known to have created governments, or at least tribal councils to organise themselves. These coastal societies were based on agriculture, using techniques such as irrigation and terracing; hunting and fishing were also important. These societies are not known to have used any monetary unit, and likely redistributed goods based on ownership of land or goods. The Quantistua, the oldest most complex known tribe, flourished along the coast around 4.000 years before Cody.

It is known that around 1.000 before Cody, Vismaric peoples arrived at Novallonda, and established settlements. These Vismaric peoples arrived earlier than Hellonians, and as such developed different cultures and languages.

The Vejorda settlement grew into a large state in the north, and became a dominant power in the region. In the south, the Naq'tua became large, and mastered agriculture in colder areas.

Hellonian settlement

One of the last remaining buildings from the first settlement of Hellonics in Norsund

Hellonians found the Norsundish colony around 950, around modern-day Möskholm, but never intended to colonize the area. They peacefully traded with both the Naq'tua and Vejorda. It was not until 1069 when Hellonian really settled on the land, with Derrik Musterlingen being the first permanent settler. Small settlements were founded on the east coast and southern parts. The biggest being the Ny land settlement, which is now where modern day Möskholm is located. The areas became mostly populated by Ellandic settlers, which intermixed with the local people. Slowly new cultures raised and the people began heading south. The Ny land settlement was still inhabited and thrived as trading point for Hellona and the native tribes. And around 1815, Norsund was officially declared Hellonian territory again.

Self-rule

In 1869, Norsund gained self governance, and a parliament was set up. Hellona still controls foreign affairs, as Norsund continues to be in the Hellonian realm. Nowadays, Ellandic is spoken the most, with a small Hellonian speaking minority in Moskholm. Ellandic was declared official state-language on the 18th of February, 1875, with Hellonian and German being secondary languages.

In 1890, several native languages were declared as official secondary languages.

Cooperation with Hollweg

When Hellona and the USGS joined together in 1886, Norsund has been working more with Hollweg to open up borders and create transportation through both countries. Both countries are now working on the Nor-Hollweg railroad, which runes from the west coast to east coast from Novallonda, through both countries.

In 1939 the Norsundish government passed the Provincial Reform Act, changing the provinces drastically. Most western provinces changed to Indigenous Special Regions, designated by ethnicities.

Geography

Norsund has a cold climate, with only the south and east coast being inhabited. The major towns are the capital city of Möskholm on the eastcoast, along with its outlying towns of Nyavikan, Hafnarhem and Yedelhem in the south. Many Fjords line the north and eastern coasts, this also where most settlements are located.

The climate of Norsund's coast is subpolar oceanic. The warm Danonian Current ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the land's coasts remain ice-free through the winter.

The climate varies between different parts of the land. Generally speaking, the south and east coast are warmer, wetter and windier than the north. The Central and Northern Highlands are the coldest part of the country. Low-lying inland areas in the north are the most arid. Snowfall in winter is more common in the north than the south.

The highest air temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) on 22 June 1887 at Blugheim on the southeastern coast. The lowest was −37 °C (−35.4 °F) on 22 January 1789 at Ísland in the north.

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  Sondr glacier, at the northern coast

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  Moskholm, east coast

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  South coast, around Blugheim

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  The south-northern mountains

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  Central Highlands, one of the most deserted and coldest areas in Svalland

Bio diversity

Nordic horse in north Svalland

Most mammals on Norsund have been imported, like the Vismaric horse. The only mammals before humans from Vetterra came were Muskoxen, Polar foxes, polar bears and seals. With killer whales and Norsundish whales being the only marine mammals. There are no native or free-living reptiles and only 1,800 known species of insects are known living in Norsund.

The animals of Norsund include the Norsundish sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, the sturdy Vismaric horse, and the Vismaric Husky-dog, all descendants of animals imported by Vetterans. Wild mammals include the Arctic fox, mink, mice, rats, rabbits and reindeer. Polar bears are common in the north, together with seals. Marine mammals include the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Many species of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Norsund, and the fishing industry is a major part of Norsund's economy, accounting for approximately half of the country's total exports. Birds, especially seabirds, are an important part of Norsund's animal life. Vismaric seagulls, Norsundish Pengabird, and kittiwakes nest on its sea cliffs.

Politics

Norsund is a part of the Hellonian Realm, this means that in foreign policy, Norsund largely is represented by Hellona.

Government

Like in Hellona, the monarch also only acts as a ceremonial head of the other countries in the Realm, and holds no real powers. Norsund has its own parliament, and elections are held every five years, with a whole new cabinet every five years, with the head of government being the minister-governor, usually the leader of the majority party in Parliament. Current minister-governor is Tesqua Iktasquat. Like the mainland, Norsund is very liberal, with relaxed laws on Euthanasia, abortion and LGTB rights.

Administrative divisions

Norsund is divided into five Hellonic Provinces and 10 Indigenous Special Regions (the ISR). The ISR's have special rights, like advocating local languages, giving special protection laws for certain ethnicities and can have a small government of their own. Each state has its own assembly, called a Provincial Thing (Hellonian: Gewestelijk Ding, Ellandic: Landskapsting) for the Hellonic provinces and a Nation Thing (Hellonian: Volksding, Ellandic: Folksting) for ISRs.

Hellonic Provinces

Flag Province Capital Largest city Möskholm Möskholm Möskholm Sermersök Tyren Dalar Kvekät Breukelen/Brökarna Breukelen/Brökarna Dalera Jalaka Jalaka Trollkusten Sydkust Sydkust

Special Regions

Flag Province Capital Largest city Nakola Region Nakola Nakola Nujota Region Yomano Yomano Naq'tua Region Yu'quato'a Ma'qua Chi'quak Region Chi'Wa Chi'Wa Lutah Region Nokah Nokah Kalaak Region Kulaak Kulaak Niskiaak Region Baliaak Baliaak Pushniqua Region Ma'qua Ma'qua Marakara Region Marastee Marastee Vejorda Region [[Nurastad] Nurastad

Demographics

Demographics of Norsund

  Indigenous (47.3%)

  Hellonic Norsunders (37.7%)

  Other ethnicities (15%)

Naq'tua woman with child

Norsund is one of the former colonial countries with the most indigenous peoples, with 47.3% identifying as of indigenous origin. 37.7% identify as Hellonic Norsunders; mainly Ellandic-speaking, with them mainly being concentrated in the coastal provinces. 15% are ethnically different peoples.

Under the indigenous groups, the Naq'tua, who mainly live at the northern coast in the Naq'tua ISR. Of the indigenous population, 35% identify as Naq'tua; the second biggest group being the Vismaric Vejorda, with 20% of the native population identifying as such.

Though there are many different tribes and indigenous populations; many can be grouped as ethno-linguistic groups. The Nakola, Nujota and Marakara peoples are related as the Najomara ethno-graphic group; the same is for Naq'tua, the Chi'quak and Pushniqua as the Quatual people, as is for the Lutah, the Kalaak, the Niskiaak make up the Aneut group. The Vejorda are the only Vismaric group in Norsund that is distinct from Hellonic cultures.

When Norsund was granted home rule, Ellandic and Hellonian became the main official languages. Later all (standardized) indigenous languages were declared official as well. Each indigenous language is the primary official language in its equivalent ISR, with secondary being either Hellonian or Ellandic. Hellonian and mainly Ellandic is in practice however still in use for administration. A majority of the population is as such bilingual or even trilingual. There is a continuing trend of promoting indigenous language in the ISR, and the literacy and knowledge of these is increasing.

Culture

Norsundish culture is a mixture of indigenous and Hellonic culture. A lot of native cultures are well preserved compared to other colonial nations, because of a large indigenous culture preservation movement happened in the 18th and later in the 20th century also. Norsundish architecture remained simple, most used materials being wood. Brightly painted houses can be found across the country, in traditional Hellonian countryside style. The biggest cities, like Möskholm, have large buildings in a baroque-style inspired by Andusian houses and the Royal Palace of Owidal, but also influenced by local culture.

Hellonians brought their traditional arts, foods and styles to Norsund, and natives began to adopt and adapt them for their own cultures too. This created interesting mixtures in both architecture, the aforementioned indigenous inspired baroque. But also paintings, songs and foods. Woodcarvature techniques were especially adopted by indigneous peoples for their own temples. Hellonians also brought with them their religion, Asatru, which is know practised by around 65% of the country, with the remaining people following indigenous beliefs (20%) or being agnostic or atheist (15%).

Cuisine is largely simplistic. Both Hellonian and pre-colonial Norsundish meals were simple and fulfilling, as both had climates that didn't allow for spices or large quantities of fruits to be harvested. With Hellona becoming a trading power, spices, fruits and vegetables were introduced to Norsund also.