Highton

File:File:Highton CoA.png

This article is in work in progress. Any information here may not be final as changes are often made to make way for improvements or expansion of lore-wise information about Highton. Please do not edit anything here without the consent of the article's creator. Please note that the article Goyanes was used as a base, so any incomplete sections of the article may show info about Goyanes. This was all done with Goy's permission.

The Crowned Republic of Highton Die Gekröntesrepublik Hightonisch
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Unitas pax libertas et securitas" "Unity, Peace, Liberty, and Security"
Anthem: "Liebe Highton"
Highton in Craviter
Capital	Highton City, North Highton
Largest largest city	Alexandria, A.C. Alexandria
Official languages	Aleman, Mercanti
Recognised regional languages	Rixion-Mercanti
Ethnic groups (2010 Census)	69% Aleman/South Gotic 20% Fenixian 6% Rixion 5% Others
Demonym(s)	Hightonian
Government	Constitutional Congressional Monarchy
• Crowned Prince	Diego II
• President	Alex Calabrese
• Speaker of the Legislature	James Vard
Formation
• Establishment of the Principality	1432
• Union of Highton and Aleman	1831
• Establishment of the Crowned Republic	1951
Area
• Total	244,004 km2 (94,210 sq mi)
Population
• 2010 estimate	12,280,000
• Density	50/km2 (129.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$0.73 trillion (IBU)
• Per capita	$59,487 (IBU)
HDI	.92284 very high
Currency	Block (HBK)
Time zone	UTC+1
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY AD
Driving side	right
Calling code	+237
Internet TLD	.hi

Highton, officially The Crowned Republic of Highton (Aleman: Die Gekröntesrepublik Hightonisch), is a constitutional monarchy on the continent of Craviter. It includes seven states and one autonomous city, and covers an area of approximately 244,004 km². It has a temperate climate that usually varies between 5 and 25 degrees. With 12.8 million inhabitants, Highton among the least populous nations in the Pan-Gotic Union. The country's largest city is the Autonomous City of Alexandria, which contains approximately two million inhabitants. Other major cities in Highton include the capital Highton City, Trier, Glöckenkirchen, and 3City-Victoria.

Around the year 500 AD, a group of South Gotic people originating from the region of Gottia in Gothis, arrived on the Phoenix Coast of Highton. This group, who were called the Aleman, spread out to a few regions of Craviter– some moved east and became the Cimmerians, while others moved south to become the Essalan. Back on the Phoenix Coast, the city-state of Ein experienced a period of massive growth which saw it become the Pobfénix Empire, a major power in the Strait. The Essalan, who had also rapidly expanded, came into direct contact with the Fenixian Empire but were defeated at the Battle of Trier, the deadliest battle in Hightonian history. The Empire's fall in 1432 saw the creation of new Kingdoms in the region: Aleman, Highton, Pobfénix, and Talansk.

In the seventeenth century, these four countries became two first when Highton annexed Pobfénix and second when Aleman was unified with Talansk. The Aleman Kingdom would then become a colonial trade power, taking control of Oclusia (Aleman North Meterra) and other ports scattered across the globe such as the Leuchtende Islands and Triererhaven. 1831 would see the birth of the unified Hightonian nation when Prince Thomas VI of Highton married Princess Eleanor of Trier– Aleman and Highton merged to become the United Principality of Highton-Aleman, which would proceed to annex Peuportîle in 1838. Highton-Aleman won the Eastern Wars and annexed much of the lands of the former Rixion Empire.

Highton played a small role in the Fascists Wars, primarily assisting the Syrixians in the Phoenix Strait against the Malorians. Highton was responsible for the liberation of its former colony, Peuportîle, from Maloria, which resulted in the signing of a free association agreement with the island. After the Allied victory in the Wars, Highton became a constitutional monarchy. Today, it is one of the richest countries per capita on Eras and remains somewhat influential considering its size. Highton's wealth has come in large part due to mineral riches in the east and automobile exports.

Highton is a member of a few alliances– it is a founding member of the Craviter Economic Association and the Luscova Pact, and is a member of the International Economic Forum and Pan-Gotic Union. The headquarters of the CEA's Infrastructure Community is located in Highton City, which will be the central hub of the continent's proposed interconnected rail network. The headquarters of the Confederation of Eras Football Associations (CEFA) is also located in Highton City.

Etymology

The origin of the name Highton goes back to the Highton Principality, which was founded in 1432. Although the original meaning is unknown, it is generally accepted that it is describing the Principality's capital of Santa Eliana's location on a hill. The name Aleman originates from the name of the first Gottiac tribes to arrive, meaning "Men United".

History

Highton has a rich history which goes back over a thousand years and has had a profound impact not only on how Highton looks today but also on much of Craviter and Eras.

Pre-Sixth Century History

Naturally, Highton is a very heavily forested region. Before the turn of the first millennium, human life was far and few between, mostly consisting of isolated tribes. Before the arrival of the Gotic groups, the Rixion people were actually ahead of the west. Although the Eastern regions of Highton were just as heavily forested, the Rixions were able to maintain control of a large area. Deep in the forest was the Rixion capital, Rixa (Rishia), which would later earn the nickname "Geheimestadt" ("secret city") for its isolation. Today, Rixa is known by an exonym– Rixion City. It is the oldest continuous settlement in Highton.

A Rixion "Highway" through the forests of Eastern Highton

Rixion City was the main hub in pre-Gotic Highton, and despite being isolated the locals traded greatly with foreigners from the region. The Rixion Empire began sometime in the second millennium BC, estimated around 1140. It started small, mostly concentrated around the city of Rixa, but it slowly grew. The Rixion Mountains proved a barrier for the growth of the Empire, and the further west they went the more they spread. Ultimately, a pattern would emerge in which the Rixions living outside the capital would struggle and settlements would be short-lived.

Arrival of the Gotic Peoples

In Gottia, a conflict broke out between two (both South Gotic) regions around the year 490. The group which emerged victorious were the Küfen, who would go on to found the city of Küfendach. The losing side was the Alemanni, the ancestors of the South Gotic people of Craviter. The Alemanni were forced to leave Gothis, and migrated en masse to Craviter on their longships, and eventually settled on modern-day Highton's Phoenix Coast. About 55,000 made the trip between 490 and 500. After arrival on the Coast, they began to disperse to different regions of the continent such as modern-day Essalanea and Cimmeria.

The ships, destined for the Craviteran continent, mostly washed up on the Phoenix Coast of Highton. Many small villages were constructed using wood from the longships as they were no longer necessary. The first permanent settlement in Highton by the South Gotic people was Ein. It was located just south of the Bay of Alexandria and sat along the shores of the Phoenix Strait. Other cities would emerge in the following centuries, with the notable ones including Victoria and Lincoln. Around this time, a smaller number of Aleman folk migrated east into what is now Cimmeria and became the Cimmerians. A religious minority amongst the Aleman, the Ziuists, dealt with some persecution in the coastal regions and migrated south onto the Craviteran steppe where their culture became radically different from that further north.

It would be in the centuries between 600 and 1000 where the seven kingdoms would emerge. Of all the cities, a small number would grow into larger, more powerful entities controlling big areas. Nearly all of these states were ruled by a King, and most were staunchly pagan. Victoria (Victex) and Lincoln were located further inland. Glöckenland was a small kingdom in modern-day Aleman. Ishtagland was another small kingdom, located in the north. Talanskia was centered around the modern city of Calabria in the south. Finally, Nola was considered the second most powerful behind Ein, as it controlled a vast territory and its capital city was surrounded by powerful walls. Ein and Nola occasionally fought, but the notable distance between the two made wars short and tiring. The population of Highton was still very low at this time though, and each of these Kingdoms had barely any people. This would change with the emerge of the Fenixian ethnic group, a Ceretian-Aleman mix. The brief stay of some Ceretians in Ishtagland resulted in the births of many ethnically mixed, Aleman speaking children. This group, the Fenixians, began in modern-day Pobfénix, but quickly multiplied and spread throughout the region, mostly along the coast. By 1000, the Aleman were a minority. The city of Ein eventually became ruled by the Fenixians, who further increased the city's power.

The Pobfénix Empire

In 1268, King Paulus of Ein expanded the area of control south to take over the city of Tillm, modern-day Port Phoenix. It now had control of most of the Hightonian Pobfénix region, and the Pobfénix Empire was declared (Pobfénix literally meaning Phoenix Coast). In 1277, Paulus marched further south to conquer the Narsit and Bannet regions of modern-day Callise. After conquering Narsit and Bannet, Paulus turned his attention eastward and took over some inland regions of the Highton Valley. The city-state of Nola was the toughest, which were a significant blow for the Fenixian army, and actually forced them to retreat, but with the expanded territory Pobfénix was able to recruit reinforcements. In 1278, Paulus returned and finished off Nola.

The events of 1299 would be one of the longest-lasting effects of the Empire’s existence. The Alexandrian Order, based out of the small port village of Alexandria, sent a set of envoys to the Emperor’s Palace in Ein. The emperor at that point of Eckhard, who was dealing with much division within the Empire. The southernmost regions were extremely Ceretic while the easternmost regions were heavily influenced by the Rixion Empire. The Fenixian-Rixion Pact of 1280 came after a period of significant Fenixian Expansion eastward after conquering Nola where both sides wanted to avoid war with one another at all costs, but the easternmost regions still were influenced by the Rixions. The envoys led by Saint Vincent (from Ceretis) arrived at the palace and tried to convince the Emperor to convert the Empire to Courantism. After several days of discussion, Eckhard finally decided that conversion to Messianism would be the best way to unify the divided Empire. He was baptized the next day and the Alexandrians set out to convert the rest of the Empire. Not only was the conversion successful at increasing the Courantist population, but it also accomplished its intended task of unifying the Empire. The biggest mistake of the Alexandrians would follow.

In 1304, they continued beyond the borders of the Empire and sent missionaries to the Essalanean Steppe south of the Empire. The presence of the missionaries angered the Essalaneans, which would see the rise of the great warrior chief Þurderic, who expanded the Essalanean Empire greatly. After expanding into Burgundia, Þurderic set his sights on the Pobfénix Empire. The Essalanean forces took over small villages in Talanskia and sent a message to Eckhard by burning them to the ground. When the city of Calabria was sacked by Þurderic’s army, Nola surrendered itself hoping to not receive a similar fate. Eckhard was forced to react. The Pobfénix troops suffered many losses as the Essalaneans expanded into Aleman, but the Fenixians fought back. The Aleman War culminated with the long and bloody Battle of Trier, which was the biggest loss of life in Hightonian history. The Battle ended hours after Þurderic’s death– he was assassinated in his sleep by the Aleman martyr Saint Eliana, who was caught, tortured, and killed by Essalanean soldiers. The Essalneans were forced to retreat without their leader and the period of expansion came to an end.

In the years following the conclusion of the Aleman War, attempts were made by the Fenixians to expand into the former land of the Essalanean Empire. These were largely unsuccessful, as attempts to gain land in Burgundia failed miserably. Although Talanskia and Nola were regained, Nola was punished for betraying the Empire and fighting alongside Þurderic. The destruction brought by the Aleman War would have a lasting impact, though, and the Empire would never truly recover.

The demise really kicked off in the 1420s when the Callisean provinces seceded. The large territory that the Fenixians had gained in Janapadha was also lost. There were many efforts to save the Empire from total collapse, but it could not be avoided as in 1432 it totally fell apart. The Kingdom of Talanskland, the Kingdom of Aleman, and the Principality of Highton all declared independence within a few weeks of each other and the Fenixian Empire became just the Kingdom of Pobfénix.

Highton and Aleman Grow

Those four states would constantly get into minor wars, but there was never a major war. Pobfénix grew in might, and there was much fear among the other kingdoms that it would attempt to restore the Pobfénix Empire. In 1687 the Naab Valley League was created between Highton, Aleman, and Talanskland to combat the growing power of Pobfénix. War eventually did break out. This war, which lasted almost a decade, became known as the Nine Years' War. Aleman mostly fought alongside Talanskland in the south, while Highton fought in the north. Aleman gained the cities of Port Phoenix, Ein, and Lincoln, while Highton gained the rest of Pobfénix including the cities of Jefferson, Alexandria, and Bolton. The Kingdom of Pobfénix was dissolved when peace talks were held in Rixa.

Talanskland was a small state, and it voted to join Aleman in 1698. Later that year, Bianca, the Queen of Talanskland, was married to King David IX of Aleman. The two kingdoms merged and George I, born in 1699, would be the first Aleman King to rule over the Talansk lands, including the city of Nola.

The Aleman Empire

The Aleman Kingdom always had its sights set outside of its borders; it constantly sent ships around the Strait region to grow its naval power in the region. Some ships began to be sent outside the Phoenix Strait, and to regions such as Iteria and Meterra. The first Aleman settlement elsewhere was on the eastern coast of Demescia. Neu-Aachen was a small trade outpost, but it would be the first of many. Triererhaven was a tiny port on the western coast, surrounded by the Syrixian parts of the island. König-Ottoland was further north and was made the first part of the Empire which wasn't just an individual port city and was established in 1699. A year earlier, a ship on the way to the Demescian colonies was blown off course in the Meterran sea and landed on Groß Leuchtende. An Aleman trading post was set up on the island.

A few years later in 1704, the Aleman Crown purchased the entire archipelago, including some smaller islands, as well as a small uninhabited volcanic island to the southwest. The two islands were a key stopping point for Aleman ships moving south in the Meterran Sea, and it allowed Aleman to trade with mainland Iteria through Astragon. Some Gotic residents of the islands even moved to the mainland, a group which would eventually become the Valan minority in Astragon. It was in 1774 when the Aleman ship Einestadt crashed into the rocks on the eastern side of the previously uninhabited volcanic island. This island was named St. Eliana and while the sailors were marooned there they set up a settlement. A year and a half later, help finally arrived but some remained and the village on the tiny island would eventually grow to a population of a few thousand but was often forgotten about. The two main islands continued to grow as crucial ports as many goods traveling between Craviter and Iteria would stop through there.

In 1706, Aleman soldiers landed in the city of Irostima, near Demescia. They initially planned to conquer some of the city-state's territory but instead, they made a deal with the local government which would allow Aleman to hold a military base and port on the peninsula, in exchange for defense. Alemanerhaven became the next member on the list of ports. What was by far the largest of the Aleman colonies was Alemaner Nord-Meterre. In 1733, an Aleman ship was wrecked on the coast of northern Meterra. The crew of this ship decided to stick around and created the settlement of Einestadt, named for the Aleman city of the same name. Over time, this evolved into an Aleman colony as the Aleman Meterran Territory. It became a major stopping point for trade between Craviter and Gothis. Its valuable location allowed it to grow wealthy.

"Die Vereinigung"

"Die Vereinigung" was one of the most significant events in the history of Highton. It roughly translates as "the Unification" and refers to the merger of the Highton Principality and the Aleman Kingdom. There had actually been attempts to unify the two states much earlier, way back in the early sixteenth century. Prince Thomas III of Highton arranged the marriage of his son, Maximilian II, to the heir of the Aleman throne, Eleanor of Mannheim. Eleanor was the only Queen to ever rule over Aleman during its 399 years as an independent kingdom. Their son, Otto I, and grandson, Alexander I, were the monarch of both countries. There was even some talk of full unification back then, but that was halted when the twins David and Maximilian were born, and the states were divided between them with the four minutes-older David VI taking Aleman and the other going onto be Prince Maximilian III.

The nineteenth-century attempt to unify the states was different– the plan was a total unification. Just a few years after Highton and Aleman had fought directly against each other in the Second Nordic-Imperial War, David XI of Aleman sought peace by marrying his daughter, Eleanor of Trier, who was to be the Queen, to Prince Thomas VI of Highton who was unmarried. Thomas agreed, and he first met Eleanor in 1830. Thomas agreed to marry Eleanor, under a condition that he made in private with her– that when Eleanor was to ascend to the throne, she would renounce her titles in Aleman and sign an Act of Union. She agreed to this and on the 5th of September, 1831, they were married. Less then two years later, David XI died. The very next day, on May Day of 1833, Eleanor signed the Acts of Union and renounced her title as Queen of Aleman, becoming the Princess-consort of Highton-Aleman and abolishing the Kingdom. The new state was known as the United Principality of Highton-Aleman.

In 1838 Thomas annexed the port island of Peuportîle. The rest of the colonies had also been assumed in the merger. While Aleman was more powerful overseas thanks to its empire, Highton was the more powerful force on Craviter. In 1848 Thomas died and his daughter Lucia took the throne. It was at this time that war broke out in the East, with the Rixion Empire fighting against Centralia (a breakaway province of the Rixions). The war itself between the two was terrible. Almost half the male population was killed on both sides. In 1850 Lucia took Highton-Aleman into its first major war, siding with their allies from the Rixion Empire. Within a year the war was over. Although Highton-Aleman had assisted the Rixion Empire in the war, it would be unfair to call the Rixions victors. The Empire was so destroyed that after almost three millenniums of existence, it was absorbed into the United Principality. Highton-Aleman doubled in size and now stretched from the Phoenix Strait all the way to the Rixion Mountains. Lucia was unmarried and only had one illegitimate son. Her son was known as David "XII", the Pretender. He unsuccessfully tried to claim the throne twenty years later when he was an adult. Lucia herself had died in 1851 just months before the conclusion of the war when she died of disease visiting a battlefield.

The rightful monarch was Thomas VII. He reigned for 46 years, and he led the nation to industrialize. In 1871 the capital was moved away from the five-hundred-year-old castle at Santa Eliana, and the planned city of Highton City was built a few kilometers away. In addition, Thomas had City Palace constructed in the heart of Highton City. Thomas VII died in 1897 as one of the most important Princes in Hightonian history. Sophia II, his daughter, who took the throne after him, had a reign of only 13 years, but she was also very influential. She was one of the most progressive monarchs, promoting women's rights. There was some backlash, though, against her progressive actions and opposition to the monarchy grew. The first democratic institution in Highton was created by her two years before her death when she created the Hightonian Diet, which held no actual power and was really just advisory. When she died, she left a large sum of money to be used for flying technology, as the airplane had been invented just a few years earlier. This money would be used a few decades later to construct Highton City International Airport, later renamed Sophia II International Airport.

The Road to Democracy and the Fascist Wars

In 1910, Princess Emma assumed the throne. Six months later, in February of 1911, she was dead. In her short reign, she dissolved the Hightonian diet and attempted to take direct control of the entire nation. While visiting Alexandria, she was shot and died a few hours later. Her brother, Karl, took the throne. Karl married Jasmin, the granddaughter of David "XII", his second cousin once removed, which ended the claim of the pretender line. Karl first reinstated the Hightonian diet. Early in his reign, Highton was on the brink of civil war with communists threatening a takeover as well as republicans. He calmed tensions, though, and the Royalist Party continued to get the most seats in the diet, maintaining the royal family. Karl and Jasmin were unsuccessful in having children and Karl died in 1931, so the throne passed to his niece Gabrielle.

Princess Gabrielle was married to the Cojedean prince Álvaro Corazon. Gabrielle, who took the throne at age 30, had a long and eventful reign. In 1938, Cojedes was invaded by the Andrennian Imperyk. As Álvaro served in the military there, Highton was inclined to side with Cojedes in the Fascist Wars. When the Northeastern Theater of the war kicked off in 1940, Highton became fully involved on the side of the Allies. Highton used its relative naval power to assist the Syrixian Empire for control of the Phoenix Strait. In 1944, the island of Peuportîle, which had become independent in 1885, was invaded and occupied by Maloria. In 1946, Gabrielle authorized the creation of a nuclear weapons research program, which was unsuccessful in developing any warheads but did result in the creation of several usable rockets. As the Dominion's war crumbled, Hightonian forced landed on Peuportîle in 1948, liberating the island from Maloria. Peuporîle was an essential port used by Highton and Syrixia in the latter part of the war. In 1949, the diet election in Highton resulted in a narrow republican victory and the republican leaders began to pen a new constitution, however, they would not publish it until the end of the war.

In 1951 the war ended with the Treaty of Mitta and an allied victory. The weapons program was ended, and Peuportîle was put under temporary Hightonian administration for five years. Later that year, the constitution was published and signed by Princess Gabrielle. This created the modern Crowned Republic, essentially a constitutional monarchy. The first election was held in 1951, with the Republican Party again winning the majority of seats. Thomas Bolton was elected the first president.

The Modern Age

The Republicans seized power and saw the overseas colonies as no longer necessary. Bolton famously said that "the colonies will now be free, whether they like it or not". Peuportîle and the Demescian colonies were held for a few years after the end of the war, but Leuchtende, Nord-Meterre, and Alemanerhaven were all released that year. Nord-Meterre became the independent nation of Oclusia, while the other two were ceded back to the nations that had been bought from. St Eliana was the only overseas possession to remain a part of Highton.

The Treaty of Mitta forbid Andrenne from possessing any rockets, which posed a problem less than a decade later when its space program had advanced to a point where it was prepared to send satellites into space. In a move which was somewhat controversial in Highton, the newly-formed HSA, which had taken possession of the rockets, announced it would begin collaborations with the Andrennian Space Agency with the objective of sending a man into space within a decade. It was controversial because just a few years earlier, the two had been on the opposite sides of one of the deadliest wars ever seen. In 1959, an Andrennian satellite was sent into orbit on a Hightonian rocket, followed by several other minor missions in the next few years. After just 4 years of collaboration, the first man was sent into space– an Andrennian astronaut named Elias Haaldversson. He orbited the planet for just over two hours before landing off of the coast of Goyanes.

In the early 1970s, there was a significant split in the Republican Party. It was split into Conservative and Liberal factions, which resulted in Royalist candidate Phillip Regal winning the 1969 presidential election. In 1977, Liberal Republican candidate Steven Hayes pushed for the institution of the alternative vote as the three-party system emerged. Princess Gabrielle died in 1978 at the age of 77 and her funeral was attended by leaders from around the world. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Diego, who married into the Syrixian royal family through Princess Achara. They didn't have any children and the crown passed to Diego I's nephew Timothy five years later in 1983 through Diego's sister Julia. In 1989 Philip Bäcker became the President, and he was succeeded by his twin brother Roman. In 2001 Bäcker lost the election to Liberal Ida Schönau. Schönau is considered a Libertarian and still remains in politics nearly two decades after her single term ended. In 2010, Prince Timothy abdicated and passed the throne to his son, Diego II. The president was Felix Colombo, who was elected in 2009 as a Conservative. In 2013, he was reelected with Alex Calabrese as his running mate.

The Calabrese Years

In 2016, Colombo grew ill and resigned the presidency. Vice President Calabrese became the President on January 1st. His early presidency was relatively uneventful, but in his first year, he met with the leaders of Syrixia and Goyanes, among others. He won the election for this first full term later in 2016. In 2017, he oversaw Highton's hosting of the CEFA World Cup. In early 2018, he negotiated Highton's admission to the Phoenix Union, but the Union fell apart a few months later. For this reason, Calabrese negotiated Highton's ascension to the Pan-Gotic Union. Highton joined the PGU and became a full member. He also was a part of the creation of the Craviter Economic Association (CEA) and Luscova Pact (LP).

Geography

Highton is located at the geographic center of the Craviterian continent. If borders Gavria to the north, Kardonyszlav to the east, Cimmeria to the southeast, and Callise to the southwest. Highton has a coastline along the Phoenix Strait in the west, and the eastern border is marked by the Rixion Mountains. Western Highton is home to a large river system centered around the river Naab. The Naab continues further into the central part of the country, but in the west is also has major branches such as the River Nat, Highton River, and Krünes River. In the east, the Rixion River flows south, through Rixion City, and deep into Rixionland. The highest point in Highton is the Kreuzspitze, standing at 4,232 meters high, with other tall mountains including the Vaasanspitze and Stadelhorn.

The Naab Valley in the west, which is where most of the population lives, is a low region, with some of it below sea level. There are, however, some rolling hills particularly in North Highton and near the cities of Glöckenkirchen and Trier. The largest natural exports come from transition metals, primarily cobalt, copper, nickel, and zinc. There are small traces of gold and silver, but they are much rarer.

Climate

Highton's climate is temperate and marine, with cold, cloudy winters and warm, often hot summers. The greater part of Highton lies in the cool/temperate climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. In the west, the climate is oceanic and rain falls all year round. Winters in Highton are relatively mild and summers comparatively cool. In the east, the thick forests sometimes lead to extremely humid summers, but it also has mild winters. The Rixion Mountains can grow very cold at their peaks, particularly in the South Vaasa region.

In Highton City, the capital, the climate is slightly continental, with cold (but not freezing) winters and pleasantly warm summers. In the warmest period of the year (May to September), Highton City is the warmest large city in Highton. The daily average temperature ranges from 1.5 °C (34.5 °F) in January to 23 °C (74 °F) in July.

Biodiversity

At present, the appearance of Highton's forests is characterized by spruces, pines, beeches, and oaks on a total of 73% of the timberland. Many species of animals can be found in Highton, including foxes, ibex, chamois, grizzlies, moose, and sheep can all be found. Highton is also the only country to Craviter to still have a significant monkey population after many nations drove theirs to local extinction. The Hightonian Coco Monkey is the national animal.

Highton has 8 national parks, 7 of which can be found in the western part of the country. The other, Rixion National Park, comprises nearly 40% of the nation's land area and was created to preserve the forests in eastern Highton.

Urbanization

In recent decades, the majority of the Hightonian population has moved in or near major cities such as Alexandria, Trier, and Highton City.

Politics and Government

Diego II
Prince

Alex Calabrese
President

Highton is a constitutional monarchy operating under a federal system. Prince Diego II is the monarch and head of state of Highton. The Prince has very little constitutional power, however, he remains an influential figure and he has an important role in foreign affairs. The constitution, which was signed by Princess Gabrielle in addition to 21 delegates in 1951, divides the Republic into three branches while keeping the Principality as a separate entity without lawmaking power. The three branches that the Republic is divided into are the executive branch, led by a President, the legislative branch, divided into the Senat and Versammlung, and the judicial branch.

The President is the head of the government, and his official title is "President of the Republic of Highton". The president is elected separately from the legislative branch every four years, and it often affiliated with a different party than the legislature.

Grand Emperor Anthony I is the monarch and head of state of Goyanes, as well as the Emperor of the Ascalonian Dominion. The monarch has guaranteed powers codified in the Supreme Law. The Goyanean political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1703 constitutional document known as the Storrektlov (Supreme Law), which establishes the foundation of each branch of government to originate within the power of the monarch. Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the Landesdag; the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing citizens' rights, the separation of powers, the federal structure, the powers of the monarch, and the rule of law are valid in perpetuity.

The Prime Minister of Goyanes is the head of government. He or she is usually the leader of the party with the plurality of seats in the Stortinget. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the Leader of His Majesty's Opposition and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check. Each of the 338 members of parliament in the Stortinget is elected by simple plurality in a constituency. General elections must be called by the Grand Emperor, either on the advice of the prime minister, privy council, or on their own, or if the government loses a confidence vote in the Stortinget. Constitutionally, an election may be held no more than five years after the preceding election. The 118 members of the Riksdag are elected by the members of their constituent kingdom assemblies to fill the seats allocated to the constituent kingdoms in the Riksdag.

The Landesdag Building in Goyanes' capital city, Gojannesstad.

Goyanes' federal structure, laid out in the Supreme Law, divides government responsibilities between the federal government and the thirteen constituent kingdoms. Constituent legislatures are unicameral and operate in parliamentary fashion similar to the Stortinget.

The Gojan Riksbank is the central bank of Goyanes. In addition, the Minister of Finance and Minister of the Workforce utilize the Imperial Goyanean Census Agency for financial planning and economic policy development. The Gojan Riksbank is the sole authority authorized to issue currency in the form of Goyanean bank notes. The bank does not issue Goyanean coins; they are issued by the Imperial Foundry and Mint.

Law

The Supreme Law, as is implied by the name, is the supreme law of the Imperial Goyanean Federation. The Supreme Law, signed in 1703, affirms governance based on parliamentary precedent and divides powers between the federal and constituent kingdom governments. The Supreme Law also guarantees basic rights and freedoms that cannot be over-ridden by any government within the Goyanean realm.

The Supreme Court Building in Gojannesstad.

Goyanes' judiciary plays an important role in interpreting laws and has the power to strike down Acts of Parliament that violate the constitution. The Supreme Court of Goyanes is the highest court in the realm, and is the final arbiter in all cases. It has been led since 2005 by Chief Justice Alfred Kinnings. It consists of fourteen members, one from each constituent kingdom, and a chief justice. Its thirteen members are appointed by the Grand Emperor on the advice of the prime minister, privy council, and minister of justice. All judges at the superior and appellate level imperial courts are appointed after consultation with the Ministry of Justice. The appointment of justices to superior courts in the constituent jurisdictions is the responsibility of the Grand Emperor, after consultation with the Minister-President of the constituent kingdom in question.

Common law prevails everywhere in Goyanes, with elements of Nordic Traditional Law in certain areas. Criminal law is solely a federal responsibility and is uniform throughout Goyanes. Federal statues are codified in the Imperial Goyanean Legal Code. The judiciary process is a constituent kingdom responsibility, conducted by constituent and raion courts.

Law enforcement is delegated to two main bodies in Goyanes. First, The Gojan Nasjonal Polizei (GNP; Goyanean National Police) are responsible for the policing of large towns and cities, and in that context it conducts security operations (patrols, traffic police, identity checks), in addition, under the orders and supervision of the raion courts, it conducts criminal inquiries, serves search warrants, etc.

Second is the Kæsernet Rikspolizei (KR; Imperial Gendarmerie), which is a paramilitary force under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The KR has various missions ranging from traffic police to military police. Firstly, the KR is responsible for general police functions in small towns, rural areas, countrysides, rivers/fjords, coastal areas, and at sea. This "general policing" mission involves upholding public order, safety and traffic checks, assistance to people in imminent danger, protection duties, and other normal police roles. Their jurisdiction over all of Goyanes' maritime areas gives the KR the distinct responsibility of being Goyanes' Coast Guard. The KR is also responsible for security at transportation centers, such as train stations, airports and seaports. They conduct security checks on passengers at all Goyanean airports. The KR, as a national gendarmerie, is responsible for the execution of search warrants and investigations as requested by federal and constituent magistrates. In addition, the KR is responsible for high-level security, including Military Police, and security at high-risk events and locations, such as nuclear power plants and government buildings.

Constituent Kingdoms

Goyanes is a federation composed of fourteen constituent kingdoms and one grand duchy (Kongsland). The constituent kingdoms and the grand duchy (collectively known as constituents) have responsibility for social programs such as health care, education, and welfare. Together, the constituents collect more revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among federations. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas, such as the National Health Act of 1985; the constituent kingdoms can opt out of these, but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are made by the federal government to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer constituents. The newest constituent is the Kingdom of Vasterfriesen, which was annexed from Gottia after the Gotmark War in 1988.

The term Constituent Kingdom and Grand Duchy refers to the fact that they are small constitutional monarchies within themselves, with the Grand Emperor being the head of state of each constituent kingdom, and the Minister-President being the head of government. It should be noted that Kongsland is a grand duchy "belonging" to Nyhett. Nyhett itself exerts no control over its internal functions, but simply is a remainder of a bygone era, in which some constituents shared their monarch with Nyhett. Each constituent kingdom government is chartered in a Constituent Supreme Law. Constituents are subdivided into raions, which are between the municipal and constituent levels in Goyanes' federal system. Some large cities comprise the entire raion. Goyanes has a total of 433 raions.

Foreign Relations

Goyanes is recognized as a great power for its role in international affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral solutions. Goyanes' foreign policy based on international peacekeeping and security is carried out through leading coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous federal institutions. Goyanes' peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its global image, as well as it's role as being a major victor in the Fascist War.

Foreign Minister Ken Lorge speaking at an international conference in 2017.

Goyanes was a founding member of the Pan-Gotic Union and Iterian League (currently an observer), and is also an observer member to the Trillium Compact. The Imperial Goyanean Federation is also a member of the Eras Health Council, and multiple other multilateral associations. Goyanes also maintains a relatively positive relationship with its former colonies and a good reputation with South Iterian nations for its role as a peacekeeping force in the region. Goyanes is also party to multiple free trade agreements, the most recent being the Goyanes-Valamo FTA, signed on January 1, 2019.

Military

Several HMS Bædurfjord-class destroyers on patrol in the Næsser Sea.

Goyanes' military, the Forsvarsmakt, is organised into the Haren (Army and Jaktallkader special forces), Seeharen (Navy), Flygstyrke (Air Force), and Ridderkår (Knights' Corps) branches. For FY2018, military spending is at ∆4,462,048,800,000 ($446 billion IBU), about 6.0% of the country's GDP.

As of 2017 the Armed Forces and Ministry of the Interior employed roughly 1,139,071 service members. This number comprises of 716,960 regulars, 231,111 reservists, and 191,000 paramilitary troops. Compared to the total population, 0.8% of the population comprises the total number of servicemen and women, while when only accounting for active, this number drops to 0.5%. Reservists are available to the Armed Forces and participate in defense exercises and deployments abroad. Since 2016 women may serve in all functions of service without restriction, except the draft, which while inactive, is only open to men. Men between the ages of 17 and 26 must still register for the draft, or face fines, despite the draft being inactive. In peacetime, the Forsvarsmakt is commanded by the Minister of Defence, with input from the Grand Emperor and Prime Minister. In state of defense, the Prime Minister and Grand Emperor would become joint commanders-in-chief of the Forvarsmakt.

In 1987-1988 the Goyanean military was involved in the Gotmark War. The Goyanean air force and navy were extremely successful at crippling the Gottian air force and navy, as well as much infrastructure. The war resulted in the partition of Gottia and the annexing of West Frisia. From 2008-2011, the Goyanean government assisted the Andrennian and Skandan Governments in the Bari Intervention in combating Maru terrorist efforts in the region. The Goyanean government was able to battle-test new tactics and technologies on the battlefield for the first time, and they proved very effective. In late 2016 and early 2017, the Goyanean Military was involved in PACA, the Pact Against Cimmerian Aggression, which was involved in deterring the aggressive acts against Cogoria committed by Cimmeria in the Crown Conflict. In 2017 and 2018, The Goyanean Armed Forces were involved in the rebuilding efforts following the Prydanian Civil War. This operation, titled "Red Sunset," also involved numerous skirmishes with Syndicalist remnants.

Economy

Gojannesstad is a leading economic center on Gothis and the largest single municipality on the continent.

Goyanes has a free market economy with a highly skilled labour force, a large capital stock, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It is one of the world's largest exporters of goods, and has one of the largest national economies on both Gothis and the world.

The engineering desks at the VAV factory in Lisden, Dåren, with the assembly line visible in the background. Goyanes has one of the largest automobile industries on Eras, exporting hundreds of thousands of cars every year.

The service sector contributes approximately 71% of the total GDP (including information technology), industry 28%, and agriculture 1%. The unemployment rate published by the Ministry of the Workforce amounts to 3.4% in January 2018. According to some private research institutes, Goyanes has one of the highest labor productivity rates in the world.

Goyanes is part of the International Economic Forum, the PGU, and observes the Iterian League and Trillium Compact, giving it more global access to consumers and economies. Goyanes uses the Imperial Dram, which is also used by Ascalon and Yalkan. Monetary Policy is set at the Ministry of Finance-Imperial Bank headquarters in Gojannesstad, one of the financial capitals of the world.

Being one of the earlier inventors of the car, the automotive industry in Goyanes is regarded as one of the most competitive and innovative in the world, and is one of the largest by production. The top 10 exports of Goyanes are motor vehicles, computerized machinery, general electronics, precision apparatus (medical, optical, technical, etc), heavy industry (Ships, oil rigs, etc.), basic metals, chemical goods, pharmaceuticals, aircraft, and transportation equipment (trains and trams).

Companies

Many of the world's major companies are headquartered in Goyanes. Well-known international brands include VAV, Polykor, Gojan Teknikgruppe, R.M. Veisstein & Odinsson, Gojan Jårnbaner, KreditNyhett, Luftreederei, Hysende Linje, Sons of Nordika, Rynoven-Radisson, General Aerospace, and Standard Resources.

Goyanes is known for its large portion of specialized small and medium enterprises, known as the Midelspør Businesses. More than 1,000 of these companies are global market leaders in their segments and are labelled "hidden champions" by some economic analysts. Gojannesstad and Naderfjord developed a thriving, cosmopolitan hub for startup companies and became a leading location for venture capital funded firms in Gothis as of recent years.

Transport

With its focal position on the west end of Gothis, Goyanes is a transport hub for the western side of the continent, being the focus of the "C" shaped trade routes that wind across Gothis. Goyanes' road network is among the densest in the world. The Autobaner network ranks as one of the highest worldwide in length and is known for its lack of a general speed limit.

The Høyhastikettog E/H 5 entering Norstad station, north of Gojannesstad.

Goyanes, starting in the 1960s, has established a polycentric network of high-speed trains. The Høyhastikettog, or HHT network of the Gojan Jårnbaner (GJ) serves major Goyanean cities as well as destinations in Gotmark with speeds up to 400 km/h (250 mph). The Goyanean railways are subsidized by the government, receiving a large amount of funds, but also generating profit that is used to alleviate taxes nominally and improve service.

The largest Goyanean airports are Gojannesstad-St. Olaf Airport and Naderfjord Airport, both hubs of Luftreederei, while LuftNord has hubs at Gojannesstad Kongsberg and Hosen Sæg. Other major airports include Jægerstrom, Hofsvægr, Mukakstad and Dagenfjord/Gorlingstad. The Port of Jægerstrom is one of the top container ports in the world.

Energy and Infrastructure

The Hinsdal Nuclear Power Station near Gorlingstad, Nyhett.

Goyanes is one of Eras' largest consumers of energy. Nordgojan Elektrisk, Sørlands Vasserfall, and Kapital Vasserfall, among others, are the largest producers of electricity in Goyanes. In 2016, they produced over 90% of the nation's electricity, which was derived primarily from nuclear power.

The Krajnafjord Dam in Hysende

Around 72% of the nations electricity is derived from Nuclear power, with the other largest contributors being hydroelectric and wind power. Due to this, Goyanes emits much lower CO2 levels than other nations of comparable size. Nuclear power comes from 114 nuclear power plants around the country. Hydroelectric power comes from dams such as the Krajnafjord Dam and the Vallinger Dam.

Science and Technology

Since the middle ages, Goyanes has been at the forefront of academic and scientific achievement. Research and development efforts form an integral part of the economy. Goyanean higher education institutions also produce more STEM majors than most other nations. Goyanean universities are also some of the oldest and most influential in the world in their fields. Goyanes has also been at the lead of the development of numerous scientific fields, with academics participating in the creation of scientific technologies and practices.

The Rohe Space Station viewed from orbit by an approaching capsule.

Goyanes was one of the first countries to achieve nuclear capability and has possibly the largest nuclear weapons arsenal in the world. It is also a leader in civilian nuclear technology. Goyanes was also one of the first nations to launch its own space satellite and send a man to orbit and even sent a crew to the moon in 1980. In 2018, two missions returned to the moon, with several more planned for the future. Goyanes also actively maintains a manned space station, Rohe. Companies such as Rynoven-Radisson and Gojan Teknikgruppe design and develop civil and military aircraft as well as communications systems, missiles, space rockets, helicopters, satellites, and related systems. Goyanes also hosts major international research instruments such as large hadron colliders and particle accelerators.

Demographics

With an estimated total population of 128 million people as of October 2017, Goyanes is one of the most populous countries in Gothis and on Eras. It is also one of the most populous countries in the Pan-Gotic Union

Goyanes is an outlier among developed countries in general in having a fairly high rate of natural population growth: by birth rates alone with the natural growth rate (excess of births over deaths) rising to 300,000, although in the late 2010s it fell to 200,000. This was the highest rate since the end of the baby boom in 1975, and coincides with the rise of the total fertility rate from a low of 1.7 in 1994 to 2.0 in 2010. As of January 2017 the fertility rate was 1.93. The population growth rate is stagnating though, but is still on the positive side. It is unknown when the growth rate will become negative, and many sources have differing opinions.

Goyanean society is, for the most part, linguistically, ethnically and culturally homogeneous, composed of 93% ethnic Gojan/Nordic, with populations of foreigners and other Gotic peoples. Frisians, Hessunlanders, Cojedans, Valamians, Ascalonians, Demesicans, and Syrixians are among the minority groups in Goyanes. The National Statistics Office compiles data on ethnic ancestry and produces results that corroborate the average Goyanean person's idea of a monocultural society. Former Prime Minister Natan Krømejer described Goyanes as being a nation of "one race, one civilization, one language and one culture", which drew criticism from representatives of ethnic minorities such as the Ascalonians.

Religion

Religions in Goyanes
Courantism			87.58%
Lutherans			7.10%
Other faiths			1.28%
Irreligious			2.41%
Numbers from the National Statistics Office:

In 889 AD, Grand Emperor Ingolfr accepted Messianism, specifically the Ceretian Courantist Church. Since then, Goyanes has been a predominantly Courantist nation, however in the latter half of its history, religious tolerance was an important part of the political culture. Early after the transition, there were many crusades against Pagans and Aed Kaene by the armies of jarls and other local nobles. It was during these years that Goyanes became very homogenous in its religious activities. In the 16th century, a change in the political climate led Grand Emperors to issue and renew edicts allowing for religious tolerance, which allowed sects such as Orthodox and Lutheran Messianists to freely worship in Goyanes. Religious toleration was codified in the Supreme Law in 1703, however it explicitly states that Goyanes will have Courantism as the state religion. Religious education is taught at public schools, however parents may opt students out in favor of an ethics class.

The altar at St. Ingolfr's Cathedral in Gojannesstad, the seat of the Goyanean See.

In 2014, an estimated 87% of the population belonged to the Courantist Church. Though rates of religious observance are lower at 52%, Goyanes remains one of the most religious countries in the Gotic world. Contemporary religious minorities include Goyanean Lutherans and Goyanean Orthodox, Shaddaists, and Ascalonian and Yukkiran Pagans. There are also several thousand Nordic neopagans, some of whom are members of the Nordic Rebirth Church.

Since 2018, Thor Vjullnur has reigned as Supreme Pontiff of the Ceretian Courantist Church, taking the name Pope John IX. He is the first Goyanean pope in the history of the church.

Languages

Gojan is the official and predominant language in Goyanes. Gojan is a Nord Gotic language and is most closely related to Andrennian and Prydanian Makari. It is more distantly related to other languages such as Gottian and Hastfradic, and to an even lesser extent the Gotic language spoken on Ajovulka. It is one of the working languages of the Pan-Gotic Union, and is one of the most widely learned languages in the world behind Mercanti, with over 250 million people speaking it as a first, second, or third language. The Sons of Nordika organization works to promote the language, as well as Andrennian, on an international level.

Various dialects of Gojan are spoken, however due to globalization and media culture, have mostly faded. These include Nordgojan, Sørgojan, Jalkan Gojan, Gotmark Gojan, Prydanian Gojan, and Demescian (Jaanun) Gojan. All public schools require students to take Gojan and at least one or two other languages, which are usually Andrennian, Ascalonian, Yukkiran, or Mercanti.

Education

Education in Goyanes has a rich history, with private education institutions dating to the ancient times, and publicly mandated schools dating to 1763. Nowadays, children are legally mandated to attend school until the age of 18, and public schooling is offered by the various constituent kingdoms of Goyanes. In 1763, the Grand Emperor of the UKAG, Kristian III, assented a decree written by Naderfjord University scholar Anthony van Athelstein. This changed the way public education happened in Goyanes, and laid the foundations for modern Goyanean schools.

Preschool in Goyanes is known as Kinderskøle. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 attend Kinderskøle, which are not part of the mandatory schooling years. They are often run by municipal or raion authorities, churches, or registered societies and charities. Attending a Kinderskøle is neither mandatory nor free of charge, but the cost can be partly or wholly refunded, depending on the local authority and the income of the parents.

Primary school is the start of mandatory education in Goyanes (ages 5 or 6). State schools do not charge tuition fees. The majority of students attend state schools in their neighborhood. Schools in affluent areas tend to be better than those in lower-class areas. Once children reach school age, many middle-class and working-class families move away from lower-class areas to try and get a better education for their children.

After children complete their primary education at 11 years of age (grade 5), children will proceed into the two stages of secondary education.

Mittelskøle is the first stage, and serves as a preparation for Oversteskøle, which is a college-preparatory school. Students attend Mittelskøle from grades 6 to 8, or from ages 12 to 14. At Mittelskøle, students learn valuable skills for Oversteskøle, as well as more advanced mathematics, sciences, and humanities from Kleineskøle. Faculty in both Mittelskøle and Oversteskøle are separated into departments based on teaching subject, that operate fairly independent from one another. Students in Mittelskøle will begin diverging into advanced and regular tracks, which will specialize their education further in preparation for Oversteskøle.

Oversteskøle is the final level of mandatory education in Goyanes. Students attend from ages 15 to 18, or from grades 9 to 12. Oversteskøle is organized fairly similarly to Mittelskøle, including both advanced and regular tracks for students. In the last two years of Oversteskøle (grades 11 and 12), students begin selecting courses more suited towards their personal preferences, such as an emphasis on science or the humanities, as they work towards entering university.

Goyanes’ universities are internationally recognized, and among the best in the world. Some Goyanean universities are public, meaning low tuition costs, and even with the ones that are not, there is a zero-interest government-sponsored loan program that helps pay for tuition. Universities and Colleges in Goyanes grant 2- and 4-year degrees, known as Assosierad and Kandidat, respectively, for a wide variety of majors. In addition, most colleges offer doctorate and master’s programs for continued education.

Admissions into Goyanean universities are based mainly on the student’s performance on the Modenhet examinations. Most university programs have a prerequisite score on the Modenhet to enroll. Students apply to one or more colleges or universities by submitting an application which each college evaluates using its own criteria. Goyanes uses a common application system that simplifies making multiple applications. The college then decides whether or not to extend an offer of admission (and possibly financial aid) to the student. The majority of colleges admit students to the college as a whole, and not to a particular academic major, although this may not be the case in some specialized programs such as engineering and architecture, and maybe more impacted in certain majors. The system is decentralized, and each college has its own criteria for admission, even when using a common application form.

Health

Goyanes has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, at 82.1 years for those born between 2010 and 2015. In 2010, the principal cause of death was cardiovascular disease, at 41%, followed by malignant tumors, at 26%. In Goyanes, cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease, responsible for 7.8% of the total mortality and disease. Ranked second in preventable causes is hypertension at 7.6%, with obesity third at 7.5%.

Total expenditure on health (including private sector spending) is around 9.8% of GDP. Goyanes introduced universal health care in 1912. Known as Medicare, it is now nominally funded by an income tax surcharge known as the Medicare levy, currently set at 2%. The constituent kingdoms manage hospitals and attached outpatient services, while the Imperial Government funds the Pharmaceutical Benefits Program (subsidizing the costs of medicines) and general practice.

Culture

A traditional Christmas market Jøgsby, Osanhalt.

Culture in Goyanes has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in the Umbrial-Gotic world, both secular and religious. Goyanes is well known for such folk festival traditions as Oktoberfest and Christmas customs, which include Advent wreaths, Christmas pageants, Christmas trees, fruitcakes, and other practices. Many properties are also listed as National Heritage Sites, and are treasures of architecture. There are a number of public holidays in Goyanes, including Christmas, Military Day, and National Day.

Music

Goyanean classical music includes works by some of the world's most well-known composers. Freidrik Vilhelmsberg composed oratorios for organ, which influenced the later work of Johann Ransom and Ole Kiersson; these men were influential composers of the Baroque period. During his tenure as violinist and teacher at the St. Madeline cathedral, Gorlingstad-born composer Thor Demørdby composed some of the most popular classical compositions. Anders Viergarten and Felix Sålkvist were important in the early Romantic period. Maria Elbertsson and Johannes Vasterås composed in the Romantic idiom. Kristoff Elmherst was known for his operas. Samuel Strauss was a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. Karlheinz Ovenstein and Hans Aldemar are important composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Karlheinz Ovenstein, arguably the most famous 20th Century Goyanean composer.

In addition the jazz style is very popular, and much development was made in Goyanes in the 20th century. There are disicntive styles within jazz, and there is fusion with traditional styles from around the Goyanean empire such as Ascalonian and Demesican-Lithonian fusion. Famous jazz combos such as the Vildebrant 5 and the Mosnar Sedalgreve Combo are some of the most famous, having sold millions of records, CDs, and MP3s.

Goyanes is one of the largest music markets on Eras, with tens of millions of tracks sold and streamed every year. The domestic music market is also very colorful and vibrant, with new and up and coming artists featured in publications and music charts.