Zusea

The Vordic Imperium of Zusea & Ossintoria ᛰᚬᛡᛑᛁᛮᛂᛊ ᛇᛂᛚᛏᛡᚴᛁᚲᚺ Vordisches Welträich ᛤᛩᚨᛚᛉᛚᚨᚾᛑ ᚥ ᛨᛡᚨᚾᛊᛊᚢᛏᛉᛂᛡᛚᚨᚾᛑ Schvalzland & Ostentorgen
Flag Greater coat of arms of Zusea Greater coat of arms
Motto: "ᚦᚬᚾᚧᚢᛡᛡᛂᚾᛉᛚᚬᛊ ᛩᚬᛡ ᚸᚬᛏᛏ" (Zusian) "Konkurrenzlos vor Gott" (L.s.) "Unrivaled before God"
Anthem: "ᚸᚬᛏᛏ ᛂᛡᚺᚨᛚᛏᛂ ᚢᚾᛊᛂᛡ'ᚾ ᚶᚨᛡᛍ" (Zusian) Gott erhalte uns're Zar! (L.s.) "God Save our Emperor!"
Capital	Vordin
Largest	Falkenhaven
Official languages	Standard Zusian
Recognised national languages	Nerotysian Dauvish Gildish Dottish Zossic
Ethnic groups (2015)	71% Zusian 10.6% Neptic 4.7% Skavian 3.2% Nerotysian 3% Fennish 2% Snuvian 1.6% Kotaian 1% Celniki 2.9% other
Demonym(s)	Zusian
Government	Federal technocratic semi-constitutional monarchy
• Keyser	Wolfgang XIX
• Chancellor	Hans-Jürgen von Schulenbach
• Premier	Petra Vogel
• Royal President	Anna Rakoszalya
Formation
• Vordic Republic declared	102 AD
• Empire established	16 January 144
• Zusian Constitution	3 December 1799
• Punctation of Mützel	18 January 1818
Area
•	6,271,029 km2 (2,421,258 sq mi)
Population
• 2017 estimate	298,754,099 (3rd)
• Density	47.64/km2 (123.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$13.49 trillion (1st)
• Per capita	$45,154
Gini	42.5 medium
HDI (2017)	.91 very high
Currency	Taaler (ZUT)
Driving side	right
ISO 3166 code	ZS
Internet TLD	.zus

Zusea & Ossintoria, formally known as the Vordic Imperium of Zusea & Ossintoria and often shortened to Zusea, is a semi-constitutional dual monarchy in north-eastern Orros. It is the second most populous nation in the world with over 298 million inhabitants. The Imperium is a federal union of two co-equal nations: the Zusian Federation and Kingdom of Ossintoria, each possessing devolved administrations overseen and united by the common Vordic Imperial Government. The Zusian Federation is composed of 59 free states, most of them monarchies, including 6 kingdoms, 8 archduchies, 11 principalities, 10 free cities, and 24 duchies, in addition to 5 imperial districts. The Kingdom of Ossintoria, meanwhile, is a unitary state composed of dozens of districts.

Zusea is considered among the oldest cradles of civilization in the world, with documented settlement going back millenia and one of the earliest organized societies in the world, the Maudyrians, who first emerged around 2500 BC. After a succession of sociopolitical collapses and the obscurity of the Zusian Fog, a prosperous network of interconnected city-states emerged in the 8th and 7th centuries BC, which produced many ancient classics, the most notable being the Gausungaz and Sigmundradda. Following the rise of the Stossic Empire and its conquest of the Zusian coasts, the city of Vordin declared independence in 102 AD and rapidly expanded its power and conquered neighboring territory. Eventually, the Vordic Empire came to span the entirety of modern Zusea and incorporated various neighboring territories, culminating in several centuries of peace and prosperity. During this time, the Slavic and Skavian peoples in the southeast began adapting Vordic technology and urbanizing their societies. By 606 the warlord Krasimir had united the earliest Kingdom of Great Celnikar and threatened the Empire's borders. After several wars, and the Christianization of both polities, Keyser Karlofrid finally defeated the southern Slavs (now united as the Kingdom of Nerotysia) and absorbed them into the Empire. After a second golden age the Empire finally entered a period of religious divisions and decline, culminating in the Vordic Brothers' War and the fragmentation of imperial authority, which led to the Grand Reform and transformed the Empire into a confederation of mostly-sovereign states, with the Emperor as a figurehead.

The medieval period saw a flourishing of classical music, art, literature, and science across Zusea, as well as the earliest standardization of the Zusian language when the Siptzang voted to formalize the Drang Brothers' Schvalzes Wörterbuch, the largest Zusian dictionary ever created. The Enlightenment swept through the aging Vordic Empire in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, fueling calls for a national rejuvenation and a restoration of the old Empire. The Vandish Revolt in 1782 sparked the National Springtime, a wave of pan-nationalist and liberal uprisings, which paved the way for Alexander the Magnificent to seize power in Vandary and unify the nation under a new constitution: the old Imperial dynasty was ousted in favor of Alexander and his family, and many of the old imperial institutions were revitalized to create a modern nation-state. Following a second revolutionary wave in 1878, the young nation industrialized rapidly, becoming one of the foremost economies of the world by the advent of the 20th century. Zusea later saw many of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century, including the launch of the first man-made satellite into space and the first man in space.

Today, Zusea & Ossintoria is considered to be among the foremost Great Powers, possessing the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the largest defense budget, as well as the largest navy. It is a recognized nuclear state and possesses the world's second-largest nuclear arsenal.

History

Prehistory

The Frucht 1 mandible establishes an earliest date for human settlement of Zusea, at 800,000 years. The intervening period has produced thousands of artifacts indicating continued human occupation of the area. Most of these early fossils are connected to Neanderthals: the earliest modern humans appear to have arrived around 55,000 years ago. Extensive caches of modern human tools have been discovered in two places in Zusea, both dating from around 40,000 years ago: the Gildish Lichter caves and two coal mines in Süßingen.

Classical and Zossic periods (750 – 102 BC)

Zusea is home to one of the oldest advanced civilizations in the world, beginning with the Maudyrian civilization on the southern ''Weißklipp'' islands, which dates to around 3500 BC. This was followed by the flourishing of Naussic civilization on the northern Weißklipps, and finally Dotzi civilization across much of western Zusea, which was itself supposedly named for the great Dotzi king Zusindis. The Maudyrians pioneered a writing system, Parallel A, which is believed to have been the basis for the Dotzi-derived Dotzi script, the earliest-confirmed form of the modern Zusian alphabet. The Dotzi appear to have gradually absorbed or else destroyed the Maudyrians, while the Naussic appear to have remained mostly isolated. Nonetheless most of Dotzi civilization collapsed around 1100 BC, giving birth to the obscure period known as the Zusian Fog. The Fog represents a considerable decline in written records in Zusian societies: only a small handful of sources exist, and they derive mostly from two surviving Naussic cities and a single Dotzi settlement.

The rebirth of Zusian civilization is traditionally marked by the composition of the Gausungaz and its partial sequel, the Sigmundradda, by Gomolf in the 7th or 8th centuries BC. The end of the Fog brought about the flourishing of a variety of city-states across the western coasts, which gave rise to classical Zusian civilization, an unprecedented period of wealth and prosperity over western Zusea. This classical civilization was composed of hundreds of kingdoms and city-states, many of which began settling inland, expanding into what is today inner Vandary. Classical Zusea also became a major cultural center, developing complex architecture, mathematics, drama, science, and philosophy. Remarkably, many of the ancient city-states were organized as democracies, following traditional Zusian practices of relying on a hierarchy of councils, known as Aldings, for governance. The city of Tafa pioneered the concept of the Volksstadt, roughly translated as “people’s city,” as their system of governance, after their leader Drutmund abolished their dual-kingship and awarded all power to the Alding. This reform preceded the Golden Age of Tafa, lasting from the mid-6th century BC to its defeat and destruction by the Augish Coalition at the end of the Vandish Wars in 402 BC. However, the victorious military state of Augen and the rest of southern Vandary soon after succumbed to the Zossic Empire, which later conquered the Zusian coast under the leadership of Widukind the Great. The Zossic expansion marks the first incursion by Zusian peoples into the eastern mainland, as Zossic-sponsored settlements followed Widukind’s conquests inland from the coast, especially during the 3rd century BC.

The Zossic Period lasted for more than one-hundred years, and represented the first unification of all Zusian peoples under a single king. This marks the earliest point at which the Zusian language was standardized: the Zossic kings enforced their dialect as the single administrative language, and their control of the seas transformed it also into the language of commerce. Zossic settlement of what is today mid-eastern Zusea also proceeded incredibly quickly, under a deliberate program of colonization sponsored by the Zossic government. The pre-existing Zusian cities were overtaken by Zossi in the so-called Zossic Migration, which further perpetuated the spread of the language. The future superpower, Vordin, was a small Taugish city until it was massively expanded by Zossic migrants.

Early Vordic period (102 BC – 570 AD)

After a devastating civil war, the Zossic realm was split into three parts, each awarded to a son of the late King Theoderic III. However, this split-realm soon lost control over the mainland, which splintered into hundreds of city-states and small kingdoms, thus setting the stage for the rise of the city of Vordin, which ousted its Zossic King in 102 BC and turned itself into an oligarchic republic under the Siptzang, mirroring the Volksstadt of ancient Tafa. Over the next several centuries the Vordic Republic expanded rapidly, marking the second phase of the Zusian Außensiedlung as they expelled various Celtic tribes from the Gaufen catchment area and expanded their southeastern border to the Schurfen river. These fertile lands were then resettled by Vordic Zusians, and awarded to the oligarchs. Despite this rapid expansion the Siptzang frequently faced riots and rebellions of the Kossir, those free Vordic citizens who were not part of the oligarchic class, the Drassir. Furthermore, the republican state struggled to control the generals on the frontier, who frequently awarded conquered lands to their soldiers and officers without approval from the Siptzang.

Rampant political and economic tensions exploded into violence in 144 AD, when a group of Drassir assassinated the popular Volksrichter Ingvar Gardradis. In the ensuing chaos the powerful and charismatic general Ragnar Kaesir Magaldradusis marched on the city, promised reforms, quelled the riots, and proclaimed himself Vordin’s first King in more than two-hundred years. The Drassir submitted to the transition, but later assassinated Ragnar and triggered a civil war between generals for control of the city. Ragnar’s grandson Sigmar Wandefrid eventually won, took his father’s name, and reorganized the Vordic state as a centralized imperial bureaucracy under himself as Kaesir. For the next two centuries Sigmar and his successors oversaw rapid expansion of the Vordic state, conquering the rest of the mainland and Verdammtland by the end of the 3rd century. For more than 200 years the Empire was domestically stable and prosperous, and gave rise to a flourishing Zusian art, architecture, and science. The reign of the Sigmarling Emperors also established most of the traditions which would become associated with the later Empire, such as the usage of the phrase “Exalted, Godly, and Zossic” in the Emperors’ titles and a vast bureaucratic and court apparatus to bind the various provinces together.

The golden age marked the period when the Vordic Empire was at its peak, covering more than six million square kilometres of territory and possessing one of the largest and most proficient armies in the world. Additionally, the Vordic Empire became a great maritime power, based in the mercantile prowess of the formerly-independent cities of western Zusea, and established a large navy. The Vordic Empire also oversaw an architectural and infrastructural legacy which persists in modern Zusea: its famed road network provided the basis for the modern Zusian highway system. By the time of Emperor Thusnelda’s death in 570 AD, the city of Vordin had more than a million residents, placing it among the largest in the world.

Late Vordic period (570 – 1440 AD)

Upon Emperor Thusnelda’s death in 570 a vast crisis paralyzed the Vordic state. His various sons, all accomplished military leaders, fought for control of the Empire as it descended into anarchy. This culminated in the Year of Nine Emperors in 622 and the victory of Waldemar Kunimundis in 645. After a second political crisis in which Waldemar executed nearly one-third of the Siptzang and battled another commander who had marched on the city, he proclaimed himself Kaesir and liberated the Christians of the Empire. The Walding line ruled for more than 300 years, and oversaw a second period of stability in the Vordic realm. As they themselves were Augish Christians, they enacted a series of liberal reforms: the famous Karling reforms, the work of Waldemar’s son Karlofrid, made Christians legally equal to Zusian pagans, thereby laying the foundations for religious liberty in Zusea. The Waldings also sponsored vast architectural projects, and generously funded cultural expression of all kinds.

The golden age of the Late period ended with the assassination of the last Walding Kaesir, Gunnhild Framsindis, and the subsequent outbreak of the Fifty Years’ War between the various Christian sects of the Empire. After decades of bloodshed and the collapse of central authority, Gausbolda Dertrudis, a Zossic general, conquered Vordin and destroyed the surviving factions to re-unite the Empire. Hoping to prevent another outbreak of violence, he then reconstituted the Siptzang with representatives from across the Empire, and enacted the Gausling reforms, greatly weakening the central government and awarding considerable rights to the provinces. Despite later attempts to reverse the reforms, the Gauslings oversaw a prolonged decline of the Vordic state, as many of its bureaucratic institutions were dis-empowered and constrained by successive actions of the Siptzang. The provinces began to consolidate their own armies, and frequently paid only lip service to the Kaesir in Vordin. Their conciliatory attitude did however enable the Gauslings to foster an economic recovery across Zusea, and a renewed era of peace began.

The final end of a unified Vordic state came during the Brothers’ War from 1421 to 1438, triggered by the attempted expulsion of Christians from the city of Klarboden by its local government. The war concluded only with the passage of the Grand Reform in the Siptzang, which effectively dissolved the Vordic government and revoked the few powers the Kaesir still possessed. Immediately following the reform, several provinces declared themselves Kingdoms, and the central government found itself powerless. The Vordic realm was effectively transformed into a feudal confederation with minimal obligations to the Kaesir.

The National Springtime

In the period before the Nerotysian Uprising, known in Zusea as the Vorlenz, Zusian intellectuals began to emphasize new ideas of nationalism and patriotic loyalty in their writings and thought. The Nerotysian writer Johann Gottstalk originated the term “nationalism” in 1772, in his “Treatise on the Origin of Language,” in which he stressed the concept that “he that has lost his patriotic spirit has lost himself and the whole worlds about himself.” Johann Dörr and Franz von Zeiderau were two other early nationalist figures: Dörr compiled a comprehensive nationalist history of the Vordic Empire, and von Zeiderau declared that “our esteemed Empire cannot survive without a national rebirth, a national springtime,” coining the term itself (Völkerschaftslenz in Zusian). Influenced by these growing national ideas, the Nerotysian King Friedrich IV proclaimed himself president of the Zusian Confederation in 1780, formalizing his conquests into a network of puppets that directly challenged the traditional legitimacy of the Kaesir, and the independence of the various states of the Empire.

However, Nerotysia's conquests eventually bankrupted Friedrich’s realm, and following several poor harvests which deepened the crisis he was forced to call a meeting of the High Congress in 1787 to propose solutions to the problems. After weeks of legislative gridlock, the representatives of the Kossir forcibly removed the vastly over-represented Drassir from the chambers and proclaimed themselves the new People’s Assembly of Nerotysia, and pledged to create a new constitution and a new state. By January of 1789 a constitutional draft was already being debated in the new Assembly, and spontaneous uprisings across the Kingdom of Nerotysia were overturning the previous social order and pledging allegiance to the new assembly.

Initially the Nerotysian king indicated his willingness to work with the Assembly: however, he soon left the Nerotysian capital of Altentorf and took up residence in the Tulpenhof in Vordin, the official residence of the Kaesir. Coupled with news that an emergency meeting of the Siptzang had been called, the revolutionaries feared a coordinated monarchist counterattack from within and without Nerotysia. Fueled by these fears, the Neckties (Vordic Empire), the most radical faction, organized a march into Vordin composed mostly of disgruntled city folk and peasants from the surrounding countryside. The March quickly descended into violence after the Emperor’s guards fired on protesters, leading to the first-ever sacking of Vordin and a bloody assault on the Tulpenhof. Eventually the Kaesir's guards capitulated after the mobs stole weapons from nearby prisons: the Kaesir and the Nerotysian king were both taken captive and later executed for “crimes against the revolution.”

Appalled by the murder of the Kaesir and the anarchy in the old capital, the various Vordic states signed the Declaration of Nausitz and pledged to “destroy the radicals and murders in Nerotysia.” The ensuing coalition wars not only weakened the young revolutionary government, they also provided the impetus for the rise of Alexander Trotschka, a brilliant and charismatic artillery commander who was placed in charge of the Nerotysian Revolutionary Army in 1795 by the People’s Assembly. As various governments and radical factions fought for power in the capital, Alexander repeatedly trounced the Vordic coalitions: first, in the Battle of Försterbach in 1798 he routed a numerically-superior coalition army, and in the Battle of Kautz in 1802 he destroyed the two largest coalition armies and forced an armistice.

Following these victories Alexander’s popularity skyrocketed and he led his army into Vordin in a triumphal procession mimicking those of ancient Vordic generals. He later dissolved the People’s Assembly and held a plebiscite on his own leadership, which concluded strongly in his favor. He proclaimed himself the new Kaesir, ennobled himself and founded a new imperial dynasty: the House of Trotschka.

Alexander then embarked on his famous Wars of Unification, and by 1810 he had subjugated the entirety of the mainland Zusian Empire. Following a yearslong standoff with the Galasi Kingdoms, which had long ago broken from the Vordic Empire, he marshaled the resources of his conquests to construct the a massive imperial fleet. He appointed the fierce nationalist Diedrich von Zuncker as grand admiral, and soon his fleet had defeated the Kingdoms in the Battle of Verdammtland and imposed a blockade. Only after his maritime victory did Alexander personally lead an army into Galasi land: they capitulated by 1816.

Seeking to cement his victories and lead a reborn Vordic nation-state, Alexander invited the various princes of the Empire, as well as democratic representatives from across Zusea, to the grandiose Volkstagung (“People’s Congress”) in February 1817, which met in a section of the Tulpenhof. Months of contentious negotiations and discussions ensued: at several points, Alexander’s troops surrounded the palace to prevent delegates leaving prematurely. Nevertheless, on 8 November 1817, the Congress published the Constitution of Zusea, which laid out a new, liberal government for the Vordic Empire, and renamed the nation “the Vordic Imperium of Zusians,” emphasizing their desire to create a modern nation-state out of the old Empire. Later, the alternative name “the Zusian Imperium” would be added in an amendment.

Finally, on 18 December 1818, the delegates unanimously passed and signed the Punctation of Mützel, which vested the old institutions of the Empire with their traditional powers, as well as a host of new ones. In particular, the Punctation provided for the consolidation of the various independent armies into the new Imperial military, which would be under the command of Kaesir Alexander and his descendants. This marked the formal beginning of the Zusian nation-state, sometimes called “the Zusian period” in the history of the Vordic Empire.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Zusea

File:Gottschild 1.png

Schloss Volkspeer, the Kaesir's official residence, center of Zusea's military and security structures, and home of the Zusian Mint.

The Staatshaus, home of the Siptzang and workplace of the Grand Prince.

The Palace of Justice, where the Guardian Court sits.

The Räichspitze (center), where the Räichstag meets and the Chancellery is housed.

The Zusian Imperium is a federal technocratic semi-constitutional monarchy, governed according to the historical traditions of the Vordic Empire, which were documented and expressed in the Constitution of Zusea and the Punctation of Mützel. Due to the complicated heritage of Vordic and Zusian history, as well as diverse political desires influencing the writers of both documents, the Zusian government is unlike most others in the world. The Constitution establishes the Räichstag as having supreme authority over “all matters which are not the rightful historical inheritance of other institutions,” the so-called “imperial clause,” as it refers implicitly and, later, explicitly to the institutions of the Kaesir, the Emperor’s title, and the Siptzang. As such the Räichstag is primarily associated with the youngest parts of the government, and elects a Chancellor to oversee various offices and ministries, most notably the Labor and Economic bureaus, and the Education, Health, and Transport ministries. The Räichstag is an assembly of representatives elected according to districts drawn according to population, and all Zusian citizens over the age of sixteen are eligible to vote for representatives, or serve in the assembly.

The duties and privileges of the “elder institutions” of the Kaesir and Siptzang are clearly defined not in the Constitution, but in the Punctation, which is the Treaty under which the various realms of Zusea pledged loyalty to the Emperor and the new nation-state. Under the Punctation, the Kaesir retains his traditional role as head of the military, which he exercises through the Hofkriegsrat, the Court War Council. Also included on the War Council is the Imperial Scriptorium, which functions as Zusea's foreign affairs ministry. In addition to the military and diplomacy, the Zar also oversees the nation’s various federal security services through the Hofschutzrat, the Court Protection Council, as well as the nation’s currency through the Hofmünzrat, the Court Coining Council. The current imperial dynasty is the House of Trotschka, and the current Kaesir is Wolfgang XIX.

The Siptzang is the third branch of Zusian government: it also claims to be the oldest continuous institution in the world, with its founding date as 727 BC. Since the 14th century, the Siptzang has served as a council of representatives from each of Zusea's realms: each realm was historically entitled to a single seat on the council, with recognized Kingdoms entitled to two more than others, for a total of three. The Punctation granted the Siptzang its traditional powers, which included its oversight of the age-old Räichschatzamt, the Imperial Treasury, which is responsible for collecting all federal taxes and overseeing lower-level taxation across Zusea. Additionally, the Siptzang oversees the Räichsrechtsamt, the Imperial Justice Bureau, and its leader, the State-Attorney or Staatsanwalt. Finally the Siptzang handles all federal disputes between realms, and oversees the Central Federal Office which receives complaints and lawsuits from realm governments.

The fourth branch of Zusian government is the Zusian Judiciary, whose independence is enshrined in both the Constitution and most of the Siptzang’s foundational documents. The Zusian justice system is divided into a network of local and regional courts which operate under a common law framework and handle most low-level judicial matters. The Guardian Court is the top-level federal court in Zusea, and it is empowered to overturn laws it finds unconstitutional, as are the various lower federal courts. The decisions of the Guardian Council frequently set important legal precedents which then provide a model of interpretation for all lower courts. The Guardian Court is composed of eleven Guardians, and is headed by the Chief Guardian. The current Chief Guardian is Franz von Kortig.

Parties and elections

	Political Party Name	Representation in the Räichstag	Alignment	Ideological Tenets
	The Hanzis Volksfreiheitsgesellschaft (People's Freedom Society)	349 / 988	His Majesty's Government	Social liberalism, economic liberalism, fusionism, federalism
	The Zossi Freizöschegewerkschaft (Free Zossic Labor Union)	156 / 988	His Majesty's Government	Social market economy, Zossic nationalism, federalism, reformism
	The Volzis Volksszepterbund (Union of the People's Scepter)	285 / 988	Opposition	Traditional unionism, ultranationalism, centralism, national conservatism
	The Futurists Zukunftistverein (Futurist Club)	153 / 988	Opposition	Futurism, popular unionism, paternalism, neoconservatism
	The Longcoats Gewerbeforschungruppe (Industrial Research Group)	47 / 988	Opposition	Social democracy, social liberalism, Reformism

Military

The Zusian Military is represented by the Hofkriegsrat, the "Court War Council," which is under the jurisdiction of the Kaesir. Zusea's armed forces are divided into three branches: the ground forces of the k.v.k. Scharmacht, the naval forces of the k.v.k. Siegsmarine, and the air force, the k.v.k. Lufttruppe. As of 2016, there are a total of 2,407,082 personnel on active duty, with a further 593,116 personnel in reserve.

Zusea has the second-largest nuclear stockpile in the world. It maintains the largest and most capable navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage, the largest aircraft carrier fleet, and the largest nuclear submarine fleet. Its army is large and well-equipped, and maintains an offensive doctrine. The Lufttruppe is large and well-funded, and is considered among Ordis' most potent air forces. Most Zusian military equipment is produced domestically, and the nation is also a major arms exporter.

Demographics

Religion

Main article: Vordic Church

Culture

Main article: Culture of Zusea

Zusian culture is rooted in the traditions and practices of the Zusian people, the nation's primary ethnic group. The Zusians originated as those Valkish occupying the western islands and coasts of modern Zusea. During the various stages of the Außensiedlung, the Zusians migrated and expanded out of their original homeland, settling the Goldgrenze ("Golden Frontier") and the Frostlands, which later became central components of the Zusian nation-state.

Historically, Zusea is often called das Land der Gesang und Geschichte, (“the land of song and story”) because of its abundance of influential writers and composers, and richly developed literary and musical traditions. An important component of Zusian arts are folk traditions - traditional liberal arts education in Zusea always emphasizes Bauernkuschten, which literally translates as “farmer-arts,” or “rural-arts.” Usually, Bauernkuschten are coupled with studies of Großkuschten, or “grand-arts.” In many academies, these two categories function as the primary distinction between subjects and classes.

Classical Bauernkuschten include quilting, bladesmithing, woodworking, metalworking, glassblowing, tailoring, and cookery. Zusea is however better known for its Großkuschten, which includes traditional Zusian lieder, various forms of classical opera, especially the Zusian concept of Gesamtkuschtwerk, other forms of classical art music, poetry and prose, and architecture.

Folk culture

The Zusian language is pluricentric, representing the immense diversity within both the Zusian heartland and the home regions of the Außensiedlung. Modern Standard Zusian is derived primarily from the Nerotysian dialect, instituted by Alexander the Magnificent during the unification of Zusea. However, prior to unification and especially before the 11th century, the Dauvish dialect dominated, which helped spread Dauvish cultural traditions throughout the nation. Also influential were the Gildish-speaking peoples of the south-east.

Zusian folk culture is traditionally rooted in music, and the nation has produced a number of popular folk songs. The oldest and most notable include “Edelweiss,” “Im Wald im grünen Walde,” “Die Eisenfaust am Lanzenschaft,” and “Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss,” all part of traditional Dorflieder (literally “Village-songs”). There is also much overlap between Dorflieder and military songs, and many folk tunes have been adopted by Zusian military formations as marching songs: the most popular of these include the famous “Osterwaldlied,” which celebrates the Osterwald region on the right bank of the river Skaus. These musical traditions inspired the later Volkslieder movement, beginning in the 18th century, in which writers sought to produce a canon of patriotic songs in pursuit of Zusian consolidation. Notable examples include “Was ist des Schvalzen Vaterland?” and the “Schvalzlandlied,” both written by August Hoffmann von Falkenhausen, considered one of the principal leaders of the Young Zusea Movement. More modern Volkslieder include songs like “Die Zukunft ist für die Frei!,” written in 1925 by Maximilian Krause.

Ethnic clothing is also an important part of the folk culture of Zusea. Among the most iconic Zusian garments are two styles of breeches: Lederhosen and Bundhosen, as well as two varieties of socks: boys’ Strumpfeln and men’s Loferl. Traditionally, Zusian boys wear the shorter Lederhosen and longer Strumpfeln until they are married, at which point they switch to the longer Bundhosen and two-piece Loferl socks. Girls and women wear a variety of traditional dresses, most notably the Dirndl, a circular-cut skirt that falls below the knee. Other forms of traditional dress include the Torgenrock, a white surcoat with a black cross originating with the Torgish Knights.

Zusian folk tales and folklore are traditionally called Hochdichtung, or “High Fiction.” They consist of any traditional stories written or told before the onset of the Baroque period in the 17th century. Many later writers collected or adapted traditional fairytales: the most notable example being the Drang brothers’ book of fairy-tales. Many Zusian fairy-tales have achieved modern fame, including Hans und Hilda, Rapunzel, and Hansel und Gretel.

Music

Zusian composers are among the best-known of the Baroque and classical eras. Johannes Goch and Alexander Schenkel are some of the foremost Baroque figures: Goch’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor and the first prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier, in addition to the menuets of Schenkel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks are among the best-known Baroque pieces in Ordis. The renowned Fennish composer Ludwig Kyreus briefly lived in Zusea, where he met a native Zusian composer named Wolfgang von Gaussen who would become a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras.

Lukas von Nerzeneuben and Franz Vogel were two important Romantic composers: Vogel’s Lieder were particularly famous, most notably Die Bootsmannsracht and Erlkönig. Another important romantic figure was Franz Joseph Glichten, whose stature is such that he is frequently counted among the Three Gs along with Goch and Gaussen for their supposed primacy in the Ordan musical canon. Michael Wächter was among the most influential Romantic composers, and his concept of Gesamtkuschtwerk has become a central focus for Zusian art. Michael von Strattmann was a leading composer of the late Romantic era.

Zusea is the second-largest music market in the world, and possesses a vibrant popular and modern musical scene. In the early 20th century Zusea rapidly absorbed and adapted foreign styles into the domestic market, especially jazz, which originated in Zusea's then-colony of Rhodanthian and spread quickly to the mother country. Georg Erzader mixed classical Zusian styles with modern jazz: his most notable work, Rhapsodie im Blau sold more than a million copies and was performed worldwide. Mixing traditional Zusian folk and country music with jazz and blues, Rockmusik was pioneered in Zusea in the 1950s by artists like Sofia Tscherning, and later popularized by Zusian artists like Karl von Blomberg and Egon Prinz. Since then Zusea has remained a center of musical innovation, and has produced many top-grossing artists of all time, including Michael Janko and die Falken. More recently, Zusian artists have helped pioneer electronic music, and the Zusian bands Schicksalwerk and Yashiman Dream are frequently considered among the founders of modern electronic music. Recently, electro-swing has flourished in Zusea, led by groups like die Jäger.

Literature

Zusea boasts an ancient, rich, and continually-developing literary tradition which extends back centuries and has produced some of the greatest works in the history of the medium. Zusian literature is rooted in the Pagan period prior to the rise of the Vordic Empire, and the coming of Christianity. Sometimes called “Ancient Zusea,” this period saw the emergence of many literary genres, including lyrical poetry, odes, dramatic presentations of comedy and tragedy, historiography, and various philosophical forms. The two monumental works of Gomolf mark the beginning of this period: the Gausungaz and Sigmundradda. Two major lyric poets also emerged during this time: Arfrid and Grimwald. This period also saw the dawn of drama, with a few surviving tragic and comedic works surviving to this day. The only surviving tragic works are those of Adalbrun, Ernulf, or Sindolf, and the major surviving comic writer is Octolindis.

Following the Pagan period is often considered to be the birth of Modern Zusian literature, which emerged in the Middle Ages after the fracturing of the Vordic Empire. A number of popular and influential poets and lyricists emerged in the tradition of the Minnesang, composing and performing works centered on courtly love for the courts of various Zusian princelings. Two of the most notable, and enduring, Minnesänger were Paul von Escherich and Wolfram von Mausenheim.

The Romantic movement swept across Zusea following unification in the first half of the nineteenth century, producing many of the seminal works of Zusian and world literature and, according to some, sparking a golden age in artistic expression. Originating in the Donnerkrachen movement, its earliest proponents included Konrad von Tursenhausen and Johannes Schreber. The collections of folklore published by the Drang Brothers invigorated the Romantic movement and popularized Zusian folk tales on an international level. In the later period, the Romantic tradition came to be defined by writers like Klaus von Hoxen and Hans-Jürgen Tarr. A variety of new literary styles and genres emerged in the latter half of the 19th century; some of the most influential writers from the period include Karl Zweig, Walther Ungar, and Sophia von Presselberg. Around this time the idea of the “Gesamtschvalzerroman,” or “Total Zusian Novel,” took root in Zusian society, describing the aesthetic ideal of a novel capturing the totality of the essence or fundamental character of the Zusian nation at any particular time. In addition to Zweig, the novels of Zusian writers Erich von Vinckenhagen and Hedwig Matzinger are also frequently cited as examples of this “Total Novel.”

Some of the most influential post-Endwar writers include Josef Olprich and the writers of the beat generation led by Alix Glasser, and Wilhelm von Kurtzau, who only attained widespread popularity following the war. The later rise of postmodernism was spearheaded by Zusian writers like Tobias von Fritsch and Philipp Winkelhock. Some of the most notable modern Zusian writers include Sepp von Metruschka, often considered an heir to von Kurtzau, and Michael Draxler.

Cuisine

Like much of Zusian culture, the nation’s cuisine is extremely old and has roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Heavily influenced by surrounding Fennish, Galasi, and Taurivian cuisine, Zusian foods have historically been derived mostly from wheat, especially following the massive expansion of Zusian agriculture in the Außensiedlung. However, items such as tomatoes, potatoes, and maize, the latter of which were introduced from overseas, has deeply impacted Zusian food in the last two centuries. Generally, Zusian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity and abundance of different tastes.

Central to the Zusian diet are its many Tockels, which are pastas: usually prepared with traditional sauces and accessories. The diversity of sauces is particularly notable: in southern and eastern Zusea, Flammtockel is most common, making heavy use of tomato, garlic, and herbs. Native to northern Zusea meanwhile are many varieties of Weißtockel, either made with white sauces or butter. In terms of accessories, one of Zusea's most popular dishes is Wursttockel (“sausage-pasta”), which is normally a variety of Flammtockel prepared with bratwurst, or some other pork-based sausage.

Bread is another significant part of Zusian cuisine, and Zusea boasts a towering diversity of more than 600 types of bread and more than 1,200 different pastries and rolls. Zusea is also one of the world’s most proficient producers of cheeses, and milk is frequently cited as the most-drunk beverage in Zusea. Aside from sausage Tockels, Zusian sausages are regularly eaten alone, and the nation also prides itself on a variety of bratwursts and weißwursts.

Beer and wine are important parts of Zusian cuisine: the nation is known more internationally for its wines, which are produced mainly in the southern and eastern regions of the country: however, beer is vastly more popular in the northern realms. Zusian alcohol consumption per person stood at 110 litres in 2016 and remains among the highest in the world: however, after a stringent temperance campaign from the 1930s to the 1950s, the nation no longer suffers excessive issues with alcoholism.