Wazheganon

Free Federated Nations of Wazheganon 10 official names Wazhewen: ᐤᕐᔾᒪᐗᒋᒪᐤᐳᓐᑌ ᐗᐤᔕᑭᑲᐊᓐ Wrymawaċimaubond Wauzhagigän Gexabarag: Basagenoa Mankomunitateag Federatuag Hązírat'e: ᒃ’ᐃᒐᓂᑭᒋᐱᕃᑭ ᑌ-ᐦᐃᒉᒉᒐ K’ijánįgijį́bìregi Te-hijejeja Jajigaq'mawi: ᒣᔅᑭ'ᑫᑯᔅᐯᒻᓪ ᒪᐎᐅ'ᒥ Mesgi'gqospem Mawio'mi Gm'tginal Masenomaweq: ᑲᒉᒪᒡᐦᑲᒡᓈᐦ ᐌᔥᒌᑫᓯᑕᐁᒻ Kachemachkacnāh Wēshcīkesitaem Nawymawin: ᒪᒪᐗᐳᐎᓐ ᓱᓀᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐦᒃ Mâmawapowin Sonesâkahikanihk Odoleqeneha: ᓪuᑦᑲᓂᓴᔅ ᑲᓐᔭᑕᓚᑫ:ᐊᒃᑕ Lutkanisas Kanyatalake:akta Onigamymowin: ᒪᒪᐎ'ᐊᑭ ᐗᔕᑲ'ᐃᑲᓐ Mamawi'aki Wazhaga'igan Umbiaans: Vry Federatieve Naties wan Vasegenen Wasooqwit: ᓄᑕᐸᓴᑕᓪ ᐒᓗᓚᑲᑕᒃ Nodabasadal Wololagadak
Flag of Wazheganon Flag Coat of Arms of Wazheganon Coat of Arms
Motto: «ᐊᓇᒻᔅᑦᕋᑦᕝᓓᕐ, ᐗᐸᒣ᙮» "Anamstratfler, wapame." "Beneath the pavement, the beach."
Anthem: ᐊᐌᐤ ᑎᔅ ᓚᓐᑌ ᒍᐦ ᓚᓐᑌ Aweu Dis Land Jou Land "This Land Is Your Land"
Location of Wazheganon on Earth, with claimed territory in light green.
Political Map of Wazheganon Political Map of Wazheganon
Capital	Moynrout
Largest city	Jabwegan
Official languages	none at the federal level
Recognised national languages	Wazhewen Gexabarag Hązírat'e Jajigaq'mawi Masenomaweq Nawymawin Odoleqeneha Onigamymowin Umbiaans Wasooqwit
Recognised regional languages	Commune level b Chainaq English Enyaman Enucitet Gariman Gharbaic Latin Meshwaq Mutli Nidawon Onodowe Ostro-Ludzic Tamashek Wabayan Wobenaq
Ethnic groups (2020)	List of ethnicities 59% Mezhte 17% Indigenous 15% Belo-Wazhe 3% Oxidentalese 3% Ochranese 2% Scipian 1% Malaioan
Religion	List of religions 56% Irreligious 21% Christianity 15% Midewiwin 8% Other
Demonym(s)	Wazhenaby Wazhenabyg (plural) Wazhe(g) (colloquial)
Government	Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy
• Chancellor	Dyodosha Wolf
• Speaker	Minegan Kovaric
Legislature	Federal Congress
• Upper house	General Committee
• Lower house	Federal Congress
Independence  from Tyrrslynd
• Declaration	July 8th, 1731
• Wazhenaby Federal Socialist Republic	July 8th, 1921
• Decentralization	September 21st, 1957
• Current constitution	November 1st, 1976
Area
• Total area	1,854,816 km2 (716,148 sq mi)
• Water (%)	14
Population
• 2020 census	47,703,216
• Density	25.71/km2 (66.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$1,327,580,501,280
• Per capita	$27,830
Gini (2015)	12.7 low
HDI (2015)	0.866 very high
Currency	Wazhenaby kroun (ᑲᕑ) (WZK)
Time zone	UTC -4 to -5
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+64
Internet TLD	.wz

Wazheganon (/wɑːˈʒɛɡənɔːn/ wah-ZHAY-guh-nun, -⁠ZHEH-,-NAWN), officially the Free Federated Nations of Wazheganon, sometimes colloquially referred to as the Wazhenaby Federation or Wazhenaby Union, is a country in northeastern Norumbia. Its 15 commonwealths cover a peninsula of approximately 1,854,816 square kilometers (716,148 square miles), situated between the Sea of Dakmoor, across from Ghant, in the north and northeast, the Salacian Ocean in the southeast, and Winivere Bay in the west, sharing land and maritime borders with Awasin in the southwest and Moxaney in the southeast. Most of Wazheganon's population of 47,703,216 people live in the watershed surrounding the Kaċecameg lake system and the river Mazhesepeu. The capital of Wazheganon is Moynrout, while its largest city is Jabwegan. Other major cities include Victorya, Menawa, and Zorai. Wazheganon is a highly multicultural country, with the majority of the population identifying as Mezhte, a creole group drawing from indigenous, Belisarian, Oxidentalese, and Ochranese heritages.

Various indigenous peoples have inhabited what is now Wazheganon since the last ice age. The earliest written records from Wazheganon are found on birchbark scrolls dating back to the 12th century. Historically, the dominant political model was that of the mawaċimauweg, in which kinship groups formed loose confederations based on cultural ties. While contact with Belisarians was made as early as the 12th century, incursions into modern Wazheganon were largely repelled until the Great Lake War in the late 16th century, when Ottonian Tyrrslyndic colonizers advanced on weakened and disorganized coastal confederacies, forcibly displacing local populations and repopulating newly conquered land with Kamryker settlers from Onneria. Several of these Tyrrslyndic gained independence in 1733 as Valzia, and expanded into the continental interior in a series of protracted and deadly wars with indigenous polities, culminating in the Asherionic Wars.

The Waltzing Coups period dominated Wazhenaby politics for much of the 19th century, causing significant political turmoil and popular unrest. Beginning in the 1880s, the country saw a series of socialist reforms and uprisings which eventually culminated in the Wazhenaby Civil War from 1919 to 1921. Afterwards, the new Wazhenaby Federal Socialist Republic experienced several smaller ideological upsets before finally galvanizing into the contemporary political structure in 1957. Significant reforms in pursuit of decolonization took place in the 1970s and 1980s.

Wazheganon is a libertarian socialist federation in the communalist tradition, consisting of 1,732 autonomous communes and 14 nominally independent commonwealths, with a unicameral legislature which elects a steering committee to carry out executive functions, in a system of council democracy. It maintains a decentralized hybrid-socialist ecomomy in which basic needs have been decommodified and most businesses are either worker-owned or state-operated. Major industries and products include foodstuffs, forest products, commercial vehicles, industrial machinery, telecommunications, and tourism. Wazheganon ranks highly in international measurements of political freedoms, government transparancy, education, and quality of life. It is a member of several international organizations and alliances, including the Forum of Nations, Joint Space Agency, Kiso Pact, Global Observatory of Labor, Common Congress of Oxidentale and Norumbia, and Osawanon Community.

Etymology

The origins of the name Wazheganon are obscure and debated in academia. It first appears in written records in the late 17th century, as Mashagagon, used by Umbier traders as an apparent indigenous name for the region between the River Mazhesepeu and Lake Ataluca. Despite superficial similarities, it is believed to be unrelated to the modern word Matagamon, which is considered by lingusits to have derived from a Wobenaq word meaning "far on the other side".

Older belocentric folk etymologies held that the name was related to the name of explorer Dietrich Valza, for whom the historical region of Valzia is named, but this has been rejected by scholars since the late 19th century.

The most likely origin with widespread scholarly support today is that the word derives from a clipped compound of the words Mazhe (a form of Mezhte) and jiigi-zaaga'igan, an Onigamymowin word meaning "by the lake shore". Thus, the name would roughly translate to "the Mixed by the lake". This would make sense, as in the 1600s the area around northern Lake Ataluca was an entrepot of trade which would have featured significant populations of early mixed Belisarian-Indigenous people; it is possible that this name was used by Onigamyg to refer to the locals, and misinterpreted by Umbier colonists as the name for the region.

It is unclear precisely when or where the switch from "mash" to "wazh" occurred, but, by the 1730s, the spelling Wauzhegigan was common, anglicized as Wazheganon, and the word was used to refer to the general borderlands region in what is now east-central Wazheganon. It was adopted as the name for the country with the establishment of the Federal Wazhenaby Socialist Republic in 1921.

Demonyms

Numerous demonyms and nicknames are used officially and colloquially to refer to people from Wazheganon and various groups therein. The official noun and adjective for an individual from Wazheganon is Wazhenaby (plural: -g). '"Wazhe/y (plural: -g) is acceptable shorthand for Wazhenaby.

A majority of Wazhenaby identify as Mezhteg, derived from the Umbiaans word Mëschtes, meaning "mixed". Although they may consider themselves part of this larger creole group, it is also common for individuals to simultaneously identify with various Belisarian or indigenous groups based on their ancestry.

Wazhenaby descended from Belisarians ("Belo-Wazhe"), primarily Umbiers (of primarily Ottonian but also general Belisarian descent) but also Gexabans (of Ghantish descent), are often called mooks (from Onigamymowin: gichi-mookomaan, literally "long knife") by indigenous peoples, while indigenous peoples are frequently nicknamed bylies (from Umbiaans: byl, literally "ax") by Belo-Wazhe. These terms occasionally carry negative connotations, but are also frequently used affectionately or neutrally in recent decades and so depend mostly on context.

Indigenous Wazhenabyg as a whole can be referred to as First Nations (Ashinatig), Indigenous Wazhenabyg (Inhëmwazhenabyg), or Nebeseuweg (derived from an old term meaning "lake people").

Official title

Officially, the country is known to as the Free Federated Nations of Wazheganon (Wazhewen: Wrymawaċimaubond Wauzhagigan, ᐤᕐᔾᒪᐗᒋᒪᐤᐳᓐᑌ ᐗᐤᔕᑭᑲᐊᓐ). Colloquially however, as well as in some official settings, the country is referred to be many other titles, including, the Federation, the Union, and the United Nations. Another moniker is that of "the Republic", or "the Fourth Republic", which are usually considered poor taste, as they associate the current Wazhenaby state with that of previous failed governments with wildly differing ideologies.

Geography and climate

Wazheganon comprises the northeastern corner of Norumbia, occupying approximately 1,854,816 square kilometers (716,148 square miles) lying approximately between the latitudes 48° and 72°N and longitudes 76° and 103°W. Despite its position and cool climate, no part of mainland Wazheganon lies above the Boreic Circle; the only part of Wazheganon to extend so far north are the islands of Wanleussenland and Nijau Kisinatin in Misiqwan. Wazheganon is situated on the northern end of Norumbia's northeastern peninsula, surrounded by Winivere Bay to the west, the Sea of Dakmoor across from Ghant to the north, and the Salacian Ocean in the east. It shares land and maritime borders with Awasin in the southwest and Moxaney in the southeast.

The geography of Wazheganon is dominated by a series of freshwater lakes and rivers called the Kaċecameg (ᑲᒉᒐᒣᑫ), literally meaning the Great Lakes, which connect to the Sea of Dakmoor via the River Mazhesepeu. They consist of, in order of largest to smallest: Kaċecam (ᑲᒉᒐᒻ) , Ginögama (ᑭᓄᐅᑲᒪ), and Ataluca (ᐊᑕᓗᐅᒐ); the southern bay of Kaċecam is called Hoshicyra (ᐦᐅᔑᒐᔾᕋ) and often treated as a separate lake, despite not being an independent body of water. Ontaraqy ᐅᓐᑕᕋᑫᐁ), part of the Mazhesepeu, is also usually included among the Kaċecameg. Kaċecam is the second largest lake in Norumbia, with a surface area of approximately 64,352 square kilometers (24,846 square miles), and one of the deepest lakes in the world with a maximum depth of 706 meters (2,316 feet). The collective watershed of the Kaċecameg encompasses the majority of mainland Wazheganon, with thousands of rivers flowing into the lakes. The longest of these is the Mineshösh River, which flows over 1,133 kilometers (704 miles) from norther Misiqwan to Hoshicyra. The Kaċecameg flow out into Chigïgö Bay, the largest estuary in the world, from the Mazhesepeu and Lake Ontaraqy. Not including Lake Ontaraqy, Mazhespeu is one of the widest rivers in the world, standing 40 kilometers (25 miles) at its widest point. Not including the estuary, the Mazhesepeu is approximately 252 kilometers (157 miles) long.

Regions of Wazheganon that are not part of the Kaċecameg basin are typically separated from it by hills and mountains. The eastern coast is primarily flat and rocky, characterized by many inlets and islands, most notably Hesepuq Bay. The Oscandowa Mountains run along the east coast from Sangweny in the north to Oscandowa in the south. They transition into the larger and more rugged Osawanon Mountains along the Oscandowa-Jenasy border. The Osawanons begin in northern Matagamon and go both south into Moxaney and west along the southern border. The Gerögera Mountains run along the west coast from northern Misiqwan into Awasin, forming the easternmost segement of the Winivere Cordillera. The highest mountain in the Gerögeras, Dolidaq, is also the highest peak in Wazheganon at 5959 meters.

Climate

Köppen climate types of Wazheganon.

Wazheganon is dominated by a humid continental climate, of the hot-summer variety on the east coast and the warm-summer variety in the interior. Cold air from the Boreic and warm air from the Kayamuca stream produce dynamic, frequently extreme weather patterns. The Kaċecameg produce a strong moderating effect for much of the region, but heavy and frequent lake-effect snow is common in the winters, where snow can remain on the ground for as long as six months. Summers are typically warm and mild, although heatwaves are not uncommon. The region around the Kaċecameg hosts fertile farmland and extensive forests, ranging from the Lotharian forests on the east coast, to the Kaċecameg Northwoods in the interior, to extensive boreal forest in the north.

Wazheganon's northern regions have a subboreal climate which transitions to a tundra zone along the northern coast and Boreic islands. Along with boreal forests, cold wetlands, extensive lakes, and rolling hills dot the landscape. Some of Wazheganon's most iconic fauna, such as the pygmy forest mastodon and greater hodag, are found in the north.

The west coast of the country is part of the Winivere Cordillera, a sweeping, interconnected series of mountain ranges that spans almost the entirety of the coastline of Winivere Bay throughout Norumbia. In Wazheganon, this region features a subpolar oceanic climate along the coast, with subboreal conditions found in the Gerögera Mountains.

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  The highest mountain in the Gerögeras, Dolidaq, is also the highest peak in Wazheganon at 5959 meters.

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  The lakeshore of the Kaċecameg is a popular domestic and international tourist destination and an important economic hub.

• Pygmy forest mastodon.png

  The pygmy forest mastodon, once critically endangered, has recovered in the past century and is an iconic mascot of northern Wazheganon.

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  Cranes taking flight in a marsh in southern Wescouseq.

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  Urban forests and greenways are common in Wazhenaby cities.

History

Main article: History of Wazheganon

Government and politics

Dyodosha Wolf
Chancellor

Minegan Kovarich
Speaker

Wazheganon is a federal, libertarian socialist council republic in the communalist tradition. Despite a turbulent history, democratic norms are strong in Wazhenaby politics, with human dignity, social consciousness, and individual autonomy enshrined in the constitution. Although the federal constitution makes certain provisions and mandates various rights, each constituency at every level is considered theoretically and nominally independent and sovereign; this means that, so long as the core concepts of the Wazhenaby system (namely consensus, free association, and militant democracy) are not violated, there is a wide variety of political and economic organization possible within Wazheganon, ranging from traditional indigenous hereditary councils to syndicalist workplace-conglomerates.

Federal executive and legislative powers are combined together and vested in the Federal Congress, a unicameral body under a delegate model of representation. Congress vests executive power in a General Committee, empowered to act on Congress's behalf in coordinating government departments (called Federal Public Services (FEDeg), as well as making decisions when Congress is not in session or during emergencies where time is of the essence. Members of Congress (LwK(eg)) are elected by sagamy directories every two years, although the specific electoral systems which build to the sagamy level vary considerably. Presently, Congress consists of 500 members (each representing approximately 100,000 constituents each). Congress is presided over by the Speaker, who oversees debates and votes and is elected by the other members. The speaker also serves on the General Committee as a liaison and watchdog for the rest of Congress. Due to its bottom-up formation, Wazheganon is prone to what has been termed the "house of cards effect", in which a particularly controversial decision by Congress can lead to the instantaneous recalling of dozens or hundreds of representatives at all levels, effectively collapsing the government and spontaneously forcing a new round of elections at any time. The current speaker is Minegan Kovaric.

  Mass Party for Werner-Tsenpoism: 47 seats

  United Socialist Coalition: 80 seats

  Revolutionary Asherionic Committee: 29 seats

  Koleno Society: 13 seats

  Movement for Central Pricing: 4 seats

  All-Wazheganon Industrial Union: 81 seats

  Federation of Left-Socialists: 106 seats

  Councils for Local Autonomy: 24 seats

  Seventh Fire Front: 40 seats

  Christian Socialist Convention: 11 seats

  Coalition for Market Liberation: 22 seats

  Movement for a Mutual Society: 43 seats

The secretary-general of the General Committee, appointed by Congress, is considered the de facto Chancellor of Wazheganon and the highest-ranking Wazhenaby official. They preside over Committee meetings and serve as the head of state in conducting official visits abroad, as well as usually serving as a public figurehead for the platform of the governing coalition. They also have the possibility of assuming emergency powers to make decisions for the Committee as a whole in instances where the Committee is dispersed or quick reactions are vital. Apart from these roles, the chancellor is a first among equals, having no power above and beyond the other members, and also serves as a regular commissioner of a Federal Public Service. The General Committee typically consists of 17 members, those being the 15 commissioners of the Federal Public Services and the Speaker of the Congress, with the possibility of other members being appointed by Congress as needed. The Committee is appointed by Congress every two years following elections, and the Chancellor is appointed at the beginning of every year, with a term limit of five years. Committee members in general are limited to ten years. All Members of Congress have a term limit of 20 non-consecutive years, meaning that only half of a representatives time in Congress could conceivably be spent on the Committee, and of that time over half of it could be spent as chancellor. The current chancellor is Dyodosha Wolf.

Political parties in Wazheganon function as caucuses (breukeg, literally "fractions") in which numerous regional parties form overarching conventions at a federal level. For example, the Federation of Left-Socialists is comprised of nine smaller groups, each of which is in turn an alliance of various regional and local political organizations. Congressional parties are therefore mostly a convenient estimate of the current political climate, rather than concrete institutions. Due to their imperative mandate, Members of Congress are not obligated to vote along party lines, and can be instantly recalled by their sagamy directories if they attempt to vote out of line with their constituents' wishes. Thus, while voting along party lines is common simply due to the similar agendas that formed them, it is also possible for portions of caucuses to individually work with groups from other caucuses. An example of this is the current "War Kettle" coalition, formed from an alliance of individual members from most of the major parties, united by a common desire for military intervention in the Enyaman Civil War and more aggressive foreign policy measures. Since uniform coalitions are not strictly needed to form administrations, this can lead to curious political formations that would be unusual in other parliamentary governments, such as the melkommity ("milk committee"), where an unorganized majority elects a General Committee of uncontroversial delegates who will not pursue any meaningful political action.

Since the 1970s, modern Wazhenaby coalitions have typically been divided between libertarian and ordosocialist blocs, led by the Federation of Left-Socialists and United Socialist Coalition, respectively. Market elements such as the mutualist Movement for a Mutual Society and market anarchist Coalition for Market Liberation have historically sided with the libertarian bloc in opposition to centralized federal economic planning and mass nationalizations of industries. The syndicalist All-Wazheganon Industrial Union, which is also Wahzeganon's largest labor organization, has historically acted as a kingmaker, with large wings of both ordosocialists and libertarians.

Wazheganon's federal system has historically drifted between varying levels of centralization and control. Federal control reached its height in the middles of both the 19th and 20th centuries, while it experienced its lowest points in the 1730s, 1910s, and 1970s. Some consider Wazheganon a de facto confederation due to its bottom-up formation and the legal autonomy of its various subdivisions, while others consider the overarching federal government, which enforces certain standards and obligations for all members, to soundly disqualify it from this category. The country has self-styled as a federal entity since its inception, and the federal-confederal debate is one of the most prominent, regular political issues throughout all of Wazhenaby political history.

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  Western Moynrout is dominated by the Commonwealth Commons, a district of government buildings, cultural centers, and public spaces.

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  The Donehogawa Building in Moienrout is the official office and part-time residence of the General Committee.

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  The Commonwealth Building is the meeting place of the Federal Congress.

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  The Woss Center, colloquially called "the Trapezoid" (Trapezyem) is the headquarters of the Federal Public Defense Service.

Foreign relations

the Northern Common Development Agreement and Antipodal Military Design Bureau

The Wazhenaby embassy in Karsko, Ostrozava.

Military

The Federal People's Defense Forces (Federalewolkswyrmageg, FWWM), colloquially the Fedemageg are the armed forces of Wazheganon. It is a professional, volunteer force of approximately 200,000 active personnel and 400,000 reserve personnel. It is comprised of four branches: the Federal Army, Federal Navy (which also performs the functions of marines and coast guards of other nations), Federal Air Force, and Federal Reserves (which has three sub-organizations accommodating reserve forces for each of the other branches). The FWWM is descended from the Federated Revolutionary Defense Councils (FRWR), a provisional force of military units and civilian paramilitaries formed in response to the Emergency and the vocal support of the coup within the traditional military. After the end of the Emergency, the FRWR was adopted as the new defense apparatus of the federal government. Wazheganon's military expenditure was $49 billion in 2020, approximately 3.5% of national GDP and 7% of the federal budget. Conscription has been illegal since 1955. Commanders are elected at all levels, with semi-regular assemblies of military units and their delegates guiding internal policy and organization. The chain of command descends from the General Committee, to the Federal Public Defense Service, to the Federal Security Council, to myriad regional commanders, advised throughout by the Federal General Command (Federalesalgemenbewel, FAB), consisting of high-level elected commanders and technical specialists, trained officers, diplomatic staff, and other experts appointed by Congress. The Revolutionary Defense Councils (RWR), colloquially the Revolutionary Guard (Rewolutiewag, RW or Rewag), are also directly descended from the FRWR, being a federal program in which locally organized militias are subsidized, trained, and overseen by the Fedemageg, ultimately answering to the Federal Congress so that they may be called up for territorial defense, disaster relief, and other functions. However, the RWR are a distinct organization from the FWWM.

Left to right: An S98 Makteqwab artillery system and two M5 Bizheu main battle tanks at a training exercise in 2017.

Wazhenaby equipment is typically purchased or licensed from allies, such as the PAL-WZ, a variant of the Ottonian-Ostrozavan PAL rifle, which was the standard issue rifle of the FWWM from 1961-1993, and the M5 Bizheu which is an improved variant of the Ostrozavan OPU-S65/G2 in use since 1982. However, some indigenous development has taken place, most notably the AG-93, which became the standard service rifle in 1993, and the Ferron B10 Cojgé, a multirole fighter-bomber that entered service in 1994. Wazheganon is party to several international arms development and sharing treaties, most notably the Northern Common Development Agreement and Antipodal Military Design Bureau.

The Wazhenaby intelligence community is generally recognized to play a major role in strategic military and foreign policy decisions, historically being decisive tools for political agitation, proxy warfare, and military and economic intelligence. The Federal Intelligence Group (Federalesintelligensegroup; FIG, stylized as INTEGR) is the primary intelligence gathering apparatus, encompassing numerous disciplines such as signals intelligence, measurement and signature intelligence, and geospatial intellignece. The Center for Permanent Revolution (Sentrum jou Perminentrewoluty; SjPR, stylized as ZEPHYR) is the primary espionage and human intelligence organization. The Institute for Counter-Hegemony (Institut jou Contrahegemony; ICH, stylized as CONTRA) is a sister agency to ZEPHYR which specializes in distributing economic aid and propaganda, as well as, allegedly, the arming and training of insurgents and destabilization of governments in other countries. The main counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism body is the Center for Internal Review (Sentrum jou Interneresensy; SjIR, stylized as SEER), and the Security Intelligence Office (Sekuritytintelligensekantor, SIK, stylized as PSYK) is the primary military intelligence agency.

Constituencies

The most fundamental political subdivision in Wazheganon is the ward, a conglomeration of households, apartment complexes, workplaces, dormitories, and in some cases even military barracks, typically numbering around 100 people, or covering 1-4 city blocks.Template:Enf These wards handle the most basic responsibilities of governance, such as ensuring individuals' needs are being met. As the foundation of a council republic, wards then form neighborhoods, typically containing 200-2000 people, which then confederate into quarters (or parishes, in rural communities), which then form boroughs, a catch-all term referring to various rural and urban population centers which consider themselves one corporate unit; depending on the population density of the region, these might encompass cities or entire rural regions. Neighborhood councils elect delegates to serve on a borough council, which in turn facilitates the confederation of buroughs into communes. Communes, of which there are 1,732, are widely considered the most ubiquitous and relevant level of government, far-reaching enough to allow multiple boroughs to pool significant resources and interact with higher levels, but localized enough to allow for swift communication between citizens and delegates as well as direct involvement by citizens in legislation and implementation of policy. Communes then confederate into sagamies, which are expected to encompass a population of roughly 100,000 people (and htus tend to shift borders after the census every decade), with some special exceptions made for extremely rural regions, and are the only level whose councils elect delegates to two other levels: both the Federal Congress and the commonwealth level. Commonwealths, of which there are 14, represent the highest level subdivisions, which interface with the federal government and each other on behalf of their constituencies.

Culture

Architecture

Walzenia has a rich architectural history. Traditional First Nations architecture was characterized by the wigwam, tipi, or snow house in nomadic cultures, and the longhouse or plank house in cultures with permanent settlements. Historically, major cities housed upwards of 50,000 people with complex, specialized economies. In the south-central region of the country, large earthworks and mounds were constructed by some groups. After the beginning of Ottonian colonization, some First Nations enthusiastically adopted log, timber frame, and post-and-plank construction techniques. These were often influenced by Tsurushimese elements from the east.

Belo-Valzian architecture followed similar patterns for much of the 16th-18th centuries. Stone structures did not become common in Belisarian-descended communities until the early 19th century. The 19th century began with the vernacular Federal Style, which was soon overtaken by the zealous growth of the Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival styles, which, alongside Beaux Arts influences, dominated the Valzian architectural landscape until closing decade of the century. From the 1890s on, Art Nouveau was the most prominent style until the end of the Valzian Civil War in 1921, when it was replaced by state-sponsored modernist styles, especially Art Deco, WPA Moderne, and stripped classicism. Since the second half of the 20th century, Wazhenaby architecture has been characterized primarily by the International style and Expressionism. In particular, wooden, brick, and concrete styles of expressionism led to the emergence of the First Nations-inspired Woodlands style in the 1980s, characterized by round corners, integration of greenery and public art, and high density usage.

Wazhenaby cities are unusually dense for many parts of Norumbia, somewhat comparable to that of Sante Reze or western Belisaria. Walkable neighborhoods and public transit infrastructure are considered essential to everyday life, with high density mixed zoning being the norm even in relatively small cities. Biking is widely encouraged, even in winter. Cultivation of communal life and public activity is central to modern Wazhenaby architecture and civic planning. Many cities also feature extensive underground cities, ranging from concourses connecting buildings to expansive underground complexes hosting businesses and public spaces. This allows public life to safely continue through the cold, snowy winter months, even on bitterly cold days.

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  Traditional thatched roof houses in eastern Wazheganon took inspiration from Tsurushimese architecture.

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  Timber-frame, log, and post-and-plank construction were extremely common throughout the 17th-18th centuries.

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  Gothic and Renaissance facades became extremely popular in the 19th century.

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  The distinctive roof of the Verrier Building is iconic of mid-20th century Wazhenaby Art Deco.

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  The WPA Moderne style was characterized by symmetry, smoothness, and monumentality.

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  Woodlands style architecture incorporates rounded features and ecological design.

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  The Underground City in Jabwegan is one of the largest underground complexes in the world.

Cuisine

Wazhenaby cuisine embodies the inherited tastes and aspects received throughout the nation’s history of Belisarian immigration as they are adapted to a rich, native cuisine, whose domestication of bovidae and early access to dairy coincided with the prolific use of cornmeal. Fluctuating between points of full autonomy and international influence, Wazheganon’s culinary atmosphere emphasizes a savory profile that delves into earthy accents and highlighted sweetness, with a variety of nuts and berries often being used as accentuating enhancers over the core of dishes in contemporary cuisine. Wazhenaby culinary patterns share many similarities to those found in Awasin and Moxaney, to where many restaurateurs and culinarians infer to the styles of cooking and recipes as "Osawanon cuisine", noting that whilst clear deviations appear between each nation based on how cooking changed in their environments, base similarities are entrenched in a common historical culinary landscape.

Staples often reflect notes of Tyrrsylndic and Ghantish presence and impact, but endemic boreic fish, temperate vegetables, and several key herbs are reflective of Wazhenaby cuisine, most notably utilized in their compound butters, accentuating herbs such as fennel, yarrow, sage, and nettle. In savory dishes, aromatic herbs are often smoked and utilized akin to charcoal in order to imbue flavors into many proteins or baked goods, with cheese-baked pastries unique to the northeastern Norumbian corridor often being internationally coveted; examples include Natalanuq, a cheese and onion bread that’s stuffed with sage butter, and Mesemenapwan, a Cornbread that uses dried apples and cherries. Vegetables are primarily root vegetables, and as such, are starchier and commonly assist in making the many heavy stews that have spawned regional variations throughout the nation, with eastern territories often incorporating flavors from Oxidentale as well, with chilis and citrus being unique, and contemporary additions. One reflection of this is in the popular Nystol Chili, which was first created in Nystolmarqsted after the smokey meat of the ‘Muskusrund’ was stewed with beans and dried chilis garnered through the Kayamucan trade routes. In terms of grains, both corn and wild rice were crucial, harvested in several areas and utilized in stews, desserts, and as an additive for stuffing, such as in smaller poultry and game. Agunömin, a fried rice from the Winivere Bay, uses the wild rice with squash and nettle butter, and is often served at celebrations as it is a rich and heavy dish.

Most impressive is the expansive dessert culture and ‘raw’ culinary experience within the area, with the many berries and winter fruits (such as apples and cranberries) from the temperate forests and plains forming many hybrid blends for the many jams and preserves that are served with simple platters, or with the cornbread that is commonplace throughout any area in the region. Syrups derived from these berries were often complemented with maple syrup, making a popular additive not only in deserts, but also in cooking meats, such as the many bacon types that are cured, like Muskox, Duck, and Elk. The Nyniwa sandwich is a staple for many in larger, urban centers, with maple-infused bacon being served with butterhead lettuce and tomato between cornbread slices. In addition, Wazhenaby cheeses are some of the most diverse in their taste profiles and preparation methods given the multiple, deviant sources they come from. With different cheeses of all types, from various blue, soft, semi-firm, and crusted regional variations, high culture and important events can often be embodied by expensive cheese platters to accompany finer culinary aspects, such as Winivere caviar and wild mushroom tarts.

Cuisine is typically divided into one or two general groups; divided into those that seem to derive further from coastal Winivere Bay groups, and those in the Dakmoor sea. Whilst this distinction is most obviously perceived in the sea food utilized, it also takes a further emphasis in the cooking methods often used; with the western coast often developing shorter cooking times and more immediate results, and the eastern coast using longer cooking methods in stews and preserves. Owomewo sticks out as a fish dish from the Western coasts, being baked in maple, and served with wild onion-turnip jam, and served at many fancier settings.