Cavia

Republic of The Cavian State Cavia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Alaksiah ar manii lang'sadohn (Old Cavian) "The Child of Freedom Triumphs"
Anthem: Forward, Forward
Map of Cavia and the surrounding nations
Capital	Oscar City
Largest	Oscar City(33.5 million)
Official languages	Cavian
Recognised national languages	Cavian
Recognised regional languages	Abyssinian, Continental, Crested
Ethnic groups	90.8% Cavian 5.4% Aboriginal Cavian 2.8% Other
Demonym(s)	Cavian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional democracy
• Prime Minister	Mochi Williams
• Assistant Minister	Pippin Adams
Legislature	Parliament of Cavia
• Upper house	National Assembly
• Lower house	Senate
Independence  from the Great Ursilian Empire and Divine Empire of Kitsiax
• Declared	August 19, 1351
• Grand Kingdom of Cavia	September 1, 1351
• Treaty of Willstown	September 22, 1354
• Republic established	January 25, 1605
• Current constitution ratified	May 3, 1605
Area
• Total	3,021,837 km2 (1,166,738 sq mi) (3rd)
• Water (%)	0.61%
Population
• 2020 estimate	945,741,830 (3rd)
• Density	312/km2 (808.1/sq mi) (8th)
GDP (nominal)	2015 estimate
• Total	$53.510 trillion (1st)
• Per capita	$56,581 (3rd)
Gini (2020)	31.3 medium (7th)
HDI (2016)	0.930 very high (2nd)
Currency	Porcii (P)
Time zone	CST+10
	CST+11(DST)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+2
ISO 3166 code	CV
Internet TLD	.cv

The Republic of the Cavian State, commonly called the Cavian State or Cavia, is a constitutional republic on the continent of North Magnia on the planet of Animalia. The majority of Cavians are comprised of guinea pigs, formally known as the Cavian people. The western Cavian coastline wraps around the Latian Sea, while the less-expansive eastern Cavian coastline borders the Amican Ocean. It is bordered by Lupen, Stalliand and Equifer to the west, Skylia, Ursilon, the Ursilian territory of Ailuria, and Rubria to the north, and Vulpion, as well as the two Cavian protectorates of Cricetinia and Lanichia to the southeast. Cavia covers about 3.02 million square kilometers and has an estimated population of almost 948 million people. Cavia is divided into 20 political subdivisions, called provinces, as well as three royal protectorates, dependent territories belonging to the Cavian crown.

Cavia was established in 1351 when a group of large feudal states declared their joint independence from the Great Ursilian Empire and Divine Empire of Kitsiax who had colonized large swathes of the present-day nation, forming the Grand Kingdom of Cavia, appointing Oscar Ainsley Jamison, known colloquially as Oscar the Founder, as the first monarch and leader of Cavia. The combined forces of serfs amassed by the Cavian feudal states eventually expelled both colonial governments in a three-year conflict known as the the Cavian Liberation. Just a quarter-millennium after the nation's establishment, the fractious relationship between the monarchy and peasant class reached a breaking point, and resulted in the Cavian Insurrection, a commoner-led coup d'état that resulted in the overthrow of the Cavian monarchy as the head of government. As a result the Cavian Constitution was signed, establishing the Republic of the Cavian State and democratically-elected parliament while preserving the institution of the royalty by reducing it to a figurehead. The republic has survived to the present day, as has the majority of the framework laid out for the nation by the Consitution. In 1751, a dispute over the throne within the Cavian royal family resulted in the secession of Neo-Abyssinia, a breakaway state located in the eastern reaches of the nation. However, the Cavian Civil War put an end to the young rebel state when the Cavian army summarily defeated the Neo-Abyssinian forces and executed the rebel leaders.

Cavia is a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The monarch, King Oscar I, has reigned since 1980. The capital and largest city is Oscar City, a global city and financial center with a metropolitan area population of over 33 million.

Cavia's advanced economy, owing mainly of extensive international trade networks, abundant natural resources and specialized, skilled workforce, is the strongest in the world with a national GDP of $53.5 trillion. The per capita GDP of $43,019 ranks the nation third in Animalia, although the country also ranks near the top in income inequality for high-income countries. Cavia became the world's first industrialized nation and has since become a world power in the following centuries, establishing itself as one of the most prominent nations in the world, with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific, technological and political influence internationally. The nation ranks among the highest in Animalia in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, political freedoms, quality of life, economic opportunity, press freedom, and education.

Cavia is a nuclear state and its influence as a world power is evidenced by its status as a founding member of the Animalian Union and its permanent seat on the Union's Directive Committee, and member of major international organizations such as the Global Economic Council (GEC), Grisleton Cooperative Armament Pact (GCAP), Latian Economic Forum (LEF), and M6.

Etymology

The word "cavia" comes from the scientific name for the guinea pig, the species that comprises the Cavian people, the main ethnic group inhabiting Cavia- cavia porcellus. This is widely believed to have been a corruption of the Ruimon civilization's word for 'people', which was pronounced 'kaiva'. Formally, the nation's name as established by the Constitution is the Republic of the Cavian State, and many internal government documents utilize the name 'The Cavian State', however, the far more common name 'Cavia' is used publicly by the government. The standard denonym to refer to Cavia's people is 'Cavian', which can be used as a noun or adjective.

History

Prehistory (before the 9th millennium BC)

The continent of Magnia was formed after it broke off from the supercontinent of Centralis around 1.3 billion years ago due to continental drift. Around 300 million years ago the climate of the planet warmed substantially, giving the Cavia its generally temperate, milder climate.

Approximately one million years ago, animals believed to be the evolutionary ancestors of guinea pigs traveled from South Magnia hoping to find warmer biomes by migrating north. Smaller animals without thick, long fur, settled in present-day Cavia, due to its warm climate- a result of its location on the equator- while the ancestors of larger quadrupeds which exhibited thicker fur- namely bears and canines- settled further northward on the continent.

Over the subsequent one million years, these primordial animals evolved into the current species that occupy the nations of Animalia today. It is believed that the first modern guinea pig, cavia porcellus, settled within present-day mainland Cavia around 250,000 years ago according to the oldest discovered archaelogical records.

Antiquity (9th millennium BC–5th century AD)

The bulk of primitive Cavian artifacts are concentrated around Abyss Bay and the Grayson River estuary. Based upon the age of discovered artifacts, it can be determined that early Cavians ventured up along the riverbanks of the Grayson River into the Cavian Lowlands during the Antelapic Era, the migration taking place gradually over a span of around a millenium- from 12,500 to 11,500 years ago.

The earliest discovered evidence of Cavian agricultural activity was determined to have taken place 8,500 years ago, with early agricultural communities forming and flourishing from the sixth millenium BC onward. Metalworking was discovered by the Ruimon civilization some eight thousand years ago, namely copper smelting conducted with deposits of the mineral which were located modern-day Lapishire, a Cavian region which remains a prominent mining area. The Ruimon are also credited for the invention of writing, as their writing system was standardized into the Early Cavian Logosyllaby around 5,500 years ago by the Ruimon people, and was utilized heavily for record-keeping. Its collapse in the 10th century BC allowed for the rise of the Abyssinian people and the Ar'tugenese Empire, the precursor to the Abyssinian Manor, whose direct descendants would later establish the Cavian monarchy and ascend to the throne.

The Ar'tugenese Empire is responsible for the foundation of the settlement of Ar'tugen- now known as Oscar City- which soon rapidly expanded due to its role as the center of Ar'tugenese government and culture. The hasty development and urbanization of the surrounding areas established Ar'tugen as the first true Cavian city, and despite the gradual decline of the Ar'tugenese Empire's influence over Cavia, Ar'tugen survived as a stronghold of early Abyssinian culture. The Ar'tugenese Empire is also responsible for encouraging the dispersement of the Cavian people throughout much of the current nation's territory, and for developing many of the first permanent settlements in Cavia. By approximately 55 AD, the Empire had completely disintegrated, leaving most former Ar'tugenese cities to govern themselves, with Ar'tugen itself being the largest city-state.

Feudal history (5th century AD–1314)

Well into the Classical Era, the Cavian people developed a manorial system, in which successful agriculturalists with profits generated from crop surpluses attracted workers who tended the fields for their barons or lords, with the lord responsible for providing their serfs with the basic needs required for survival and labor. The manorial system became widespread over the 5th century. The sudden increased need for infrastructure to support serfs and the economic production of manors gave rise to the rapid development of Cavian cities, while the creation of a new aristocracy enabled a blossoming of early Cavian literature and academics, resulting in the First Cavian Golden Age. The four main manors quickly grew into outright civilizations- the Abyssinians, Continentals, Shelties, and Texels each controlled well over a million workers apiece, with the largest, the Abyssinian Manor, recording over nine million subjects at its height. Smaller communities existed outside of the manorial system, however these Cavians only amounted around an estimated two million in number.

After repeated, extensive skirmishes took place between the Manors from c. 910 to 1065 AD, mostly between the Abyssinian and Texel Manor, the two most powerful feudal states, which resulted in large losses of manpower and infrastructure for all parties, all four major Manors, joined by eight smaller states, congregated to discuss and eventually pledge to the Ar'tugen Accords, essentially a non-aggression pact that put an end to the costly conflicts between rivalling Manors, while adding provisions for the promotion of regular trade between states. The Accords, which took effect in 1068, normalized relations between almost all influential parties within the Cavian feudal system, and laid the groundwork for the future establishment of the modern, united Cavian state.

In the centuries following the Accords, the general prosperity of the Cavian feudal states increased, and the population rose to an estimated total of fifty million. The Texelians developed early versions of steelmaking in the late 11th century. The eruption of Mt. Silverback in Lupen, which cast a thick cloud of volcanic ash over North and Central Magnia for the majority of 1175, resulted in widespread crop failures and famine across the continent, however, significant Cavian agricultural production prior to the eruption and food preservation methods are credited with preventing the extensive starvation recorded in neighboring civilizations.

Colonial Cavia and independence (1314–1354)

Main article: Cavian War of Independence

While the Accords, which had been observed relatively closely by all signatories for almost a quarter of a century, had ensured relative peace in the Cavian mainland, the lack of conflict between the feudal states had resulted in a severe lack of military equipment at the disposal of all parties to the treaty. This meant that Cavia was virtually defenseless, even more so outside cities that had natural defenses or fortifications.

In 1339, Jules Kitsiax seized control of the Vulpian throne, establishing the Divine Empire of Kitsiax and proclaiming himself Emperor Kitsiax I. Kitsiax was a major proponent of divine subjugation, using this as his justification to carry out invasions of modern-day Latranos and Muridia. However, due to the relative lack of ground gained in both campaigns, Kitsiax instead directed the attention of the Empire's forces towards Cavia. In May 1341, Vulpian forces entered Lanichia, quickly seizing the microstate before continuing on to the territory of Coronian Manor, in present-day Emersfield. Lord Coronet XVI, quickly realizing he was being completely overwhelmed by the technological advantages possessed by the Vulpians, surrendered after less than two weeks of fighting. The Vulpians pressed onward, overwhelming the rest of southern Cavia with little resistance. Three months later, King Blancton of the Great Ursilian Empire decided to exploit the weakened state of the Cavians, and mounted his own invasion of the Cavian lowlands, swiftly defeating the Texelian and Abyssinian Manors. By the spring of 1342, Cavia had been conquered in its entirety by Vulpion and Ursilon, who installed colonial governments headquartered in the cities of Rockliffe and Ar'tugen respectively.

Both foreign powers would remain unchallenged in Cavia for a little over nine years. In April 1351, Oscar Ainsley Jamison, son of Ainsley Charles Jamison, who had been Lord of Abyssinian Manor up until its de facto dissolution upon its surrender to Ursilon, traveled to Lupen and upon being granted an audience with King Lycaon IX, managed to successfully negotiate the monarch into assisting the Cavians in waging war on both the Ursilians and Vulpians, exchanging Lupine military equipment and manpower for Cavian grain, teas, spices and herbs, as well as a large portion of fertile Abyssinian land in the western Cavian borderlands.

A joint Lupine and Cavian resistance, led by Jamison and Lupine Commander Alexander Lycophon soon made significant inroads into northern Cavia, culminating in the Siege of Ar'tugen, which began on June 13, 1351, lasting for just over ten weeks before the Ursilian bastion within the city walls surrendered. The remaining feudal lords convened at the retaken city of Ar'tugen, and decided to formally unite as one sovereign state, establishing the Grand Kingdom of Cavia. Jamison was appointed as the first monarch of the new kingdom, with the city of Ar'tugen renamed as Oscar City to commemorate Jamison's coronation and the city's new role as the seat of government for the now-united nation and her people. Now organized under the banner of a new sovereign nation, the weak opposing military garrisons installed in Cavian cities, mainly due to the Ursilians' perceived inability of the natives to mount any sort of significant resistance, resulted in decisive Cavian victories. Despite Ursilian reinforcements, whose arrivals were delayed and fatigued due to the natural barrier of the Northern Lapishire mountain range preventing quick and efficient deployment of troops, by December 8, 1352, the last remaining Ursilian garrison in Rogerston fell to the Cavian resistance, who then quickly set their sights on the Vulpian-controlled portion of Cavia.

While Vulpian forces, who were greater in number than their Ursilian counterparts, posed more of a challenge for the Cavians, their relentless assaults of Vulpian strongholds resulted in a steady progression south, with more and more territory falling back under the control of the Cavian government. By early 1354, the only Vulpian forces that remained within Cavia were located in the colonial capital of Rockliffe and in settlements near the Vulpian border. Cavian forces launched another wide-scale siege, this time targeting the seat of Vulpian power in Cavia, beginning on February 25, 1354. However, on April 10, Emperor Kitsiax was assassinated by members of the Royal Guard- the culmination of the widespread sentiment among Kitsiax's government that his rule was illegitimate. As a result, the newly-installed Vulpian government extended a formal peace treaty to the Kingdom of Cavia, which was accepted on April 29. Despite this, Vulpian forces at Rockliffe remained under the belief that Kitsiax was still in power of the Vulpian crown, and thus continued to follow his orders, enduring the Cavian siege despite Vulpian messengers notifying the Rockliffe garrison that a peace treaty had been ratified- these messengers were disregarded as Cavian attempts to trick them into a surrender. As a result, the Vulpians at Rockliffe would continue to hold out against the Cavian siege, in a vain effort later known as Kitsiax's Final Stand. In total, the garrison at Rockliffe continued to defend the city for 134 days after the peace treaty, finally surrendering on September 10, 1354, putting an end to the Cavian armed conflict for independence after three and a half years of fighting.

The end of the Cavian War of Independence was codified at the Willston Convention, where the Cavians, Lupines, Ursilians, and Vulpians all declared an official end to the conflict, with the joint peace treaty, the Treaty of Willston, taking effect on September 22, 1354. It is for this reason that September 22 is celebrated as Cavian Independence Day.

Grand Cavian Kingdom and Insurrection (1354–1605)

Main article: Cavian Insurrection

King Jamison, who later took the title Oscar the Founder later on into his reign, would rule as the Cavian monarch for almost 38 years until his death at the age of 66 in November 1388. Jamison was also responsible for drafting and enacting the various bills that would collectively form the framework for the Cavian government. Jamison's various decrees sanctified various civil liberties for Cavians, including the freedom of speech, petition against the government, and provisions banning false imprisonment. These bills, which took effect early into Jamison's reign between 1354 and 1357, have collectively become known as the Articles of Common Authority.

Jamison is also credited with establishing the Cavian Court of Final Appeal and other levels of the judiciary, guaranteeing Cavians the right to due process through trial in a court of law. The passage of the Royal Charter (which was also written by Jamison and enacted in 1358), which outlined the circumstances for the line of succession to the Cavian throne abd establishing the Cavian monarchy as a male-preference primogeniture, dictated that upon Jamison's death, the crown would be passed down to Jamison's firstborn son, Stephen Alfred Jamison. Stephen was coronated in a lavish ceremony at the Oscar City Public Square, which now sits in front of City Hall. Later that year, Stephen would order the construction of Hartstead Palace, which has housed the royal family since its completion in 1392.

Later Cavian monarchs would attempt to roll back the liberties that Jamison granted the people through the repealing of the various laws that comprised the Articles of Common Authority. One of the most alarming annulments of liberties to the Cavian people, King James III's decision to repeal the right to petition the government in 1512, allowed him to order the execution of his most prominent critic, author Robert Blacke, on charges of treason. James is recorded to have executed at least 350 people on charges of treason during the remainder of his reign.

Murmurs of an organized rebellion began to circulate throughout the Cavian populace as early as the 1550s, when King Crawford I refused to aid farmers whose livelihoods had been affected by the severe flooding that struck the central Cavian region. Many farmers petitioned the government to provide assistance in the form of tax relief and regulating the prices of steel in order to make equipment such as ploughs and horse collars more affordable. However, Crawford refused to consider either of the farmers' main proposals, culminating in the Alaister Rebellion of 1600, where a group of approximately two hundred farmers in Abysshire, led by revolutionary Joshua Cook, refused to pay taxes to the provincial government in protest of Crawford I's rebuff. The rebellion was violently quashed after royal forces killed a majority of the rebels in a standoff at Cook's farmhouse, including Cook himself. Cook was quickly martyrized by dissenting agriculturalists, and soon became the face of the reform movement as a whole.

Cook's adjutant and romantic partner Felix Kennedy traveled throughout central Cavia for over four years following the death of Cook, steadily amassing a much larger rebel force with which he planned to stage a coup d'état to remove Crawford from the throne. This culminated in the storming of Capital Fort on November 29, 1604, in which the rebels overwhelmed royal forces, seizing weapons and other military equipment. Crawford then convened an emergency meeting of the King's Council to determine a course of action to suppress the rebellion, but the rebels had breached the Hartstead Palace grounds. Crawford was soon located and executed at the hands of the rebels, with apocryphal legends asserting that Kennedy himself was responsible for executing Crawford.

Kennedy and his forces then occupied the palace grounds as King Crawford II who was in Rogerston at the time of the coup and had been automatically ascended to the throne upon Crawford I's death, led royal forces in a battle against the rebels. However, after fifteen days of fighting, the situation remained deadlocked between the two sides. Recognizing that the public sentiment was beginning to heavily favor Kennedy and his men, Crawford proposed a ceasefire and entered negotiations with Kennedy over a restructuring of the Cavian national government.

The two sides reached an agreement on January 25, 1605, with the Papers of Reformation formally ending the Grand Kingdom of Cavia and establishing the Republic of the Cavian State in its place. The institution of the monarchy was preserved, with the King's powers limited to an advisory role to the newly-formed office of Prime Minister. The King was also granted a permanent voting seat in the Cavian Senate, but this has since been reduced even further to an observing member of the Senate.

Early Cavian Republic and Civil War (1605–mid-18th century)

Main articles: Cavian Civil War and Neo-Abyssinia

The Papers of Reformation outlined the Cavian election system, as well as defining the twenty main constituencies in Cavia. These constituencies were to hold elections in which all Cavian-born men over the age of 16 could participate. These elections formed the composition of first Cavian Senate, who would later codify the mandated form of government set forth by the Papers of Reformation into the Cavian constitution. The Constitution was ratified unanimously by the Senate on May 3, 1605, and officially established Cavia as the first-ever democratic nation. The date is now celebrated annually as Democracy Day, a national holiday.

Over the next century, various amendments would be made to the Constitution to ensure a more complete democracy and representative government. This namely included the creation of the National Assembly, which turned the Parliament into a bicameral legislature, and a change in the role of the Senate.

Industrialization and the Cricetinian War (mid-18th century–20th century)

Main article: Cricetinian War

In 1910, the Cencirculish Tensions to the north of Cavia involved the nation of Cricetinia, which was fighting against Bearilea, a neighboring nation attempting to annex Cricetinia. Cavia agreed with the Cricetian government to help protect the nation in exchange for Cavia annexing the nation but letting its government remain autonomous as a protectorate. Under these terms the Cavians turned the tide of the war and pushed the Bearileans back to its previous border. However, when a new government was being elected in the nation, the previous government which was expected to be voted out of office tried to regain governmental control. This failed, however, resulting in the government-in-exile. A clause in the Cricetian(renamed Hamster's Region from 1910 onward) Constitution allowed the nation to leave Cavian borders if the government so chose. The newly-elected government(along with the majority of voters) chose to stay, however the government-in-exile chooses to leave. All Animalian nations recognize the current government and therefore Cricetinia as part of Cavia.

Contemporary era (20th century—present)

During the 1969 fiscal year, the Cavian economy completely crashed, inflating the Porcii to eleven thousand percent of its value one year prior. In order to combat this, taxes were temporarily lowered and the currency was re-denominated. Through government efforts, employment slowly rose from 52% in 1969 to 88% in 1975.

In 1977 Cavia, alongside Bearilea, Foxtia, Sphenland, and Antleria, founded the Animalian Union, a global peace-keeping force aimed to provide diplomatic solutions between international debates. Within the end of the millenium all 18 nations had joined the Union.

Geography

The total land area of Cavia is 3,021,837 square kilometers. Of this area, 2,982,782 square kilometers form contiguous land, which is known coloquially as the Cavian mainland. The remaining 39,055 square kilometers is made up of Cavian islands in the Latian and Amican Seas, with the majority of total Cavian island area being Sealen Island, an island off the western Cavian coastline with the Latian Sea, which is 34,883 square kilometers large.

Cavia is the third-largest nation in the world in terms of total area, with only Drakkony and Ursilon possessing larger total areas. Of Cavia's total size, approximately 0.61% is comprised of water, namely lakes in the Cavian mainland, with some notable examples being Manorside Lake and Calculia Lake. Cavia's largest lakes tend to be located in the Cavian lowlands. However, if only land area is counted in terms of nation size, Cavia overtakes Ursilon as the second-largest nation in the world, edging out the Ursilian land area by just a few thousand square kilometers.

Cavia also possesses jurisdiction over three protectorate states and five outlying islands, which altogether have a total land area of 112,670 square kilometers. This is not counted in the total Cavian land area due to their semi-autonomous state, and are counted as separate entities in lists. The land area of Cricetinia, the largest Cavian protectorate, is 93,089 square kilometers, while Lanichia and Choiroland are 18,899 and 668 square kilometers large respectively. The five Cavian outlying islands- Greensea Island, Kennedy Atoll, Northumber Atoll, Thomas Atoll, and Edward Bank- amount to 14 square kilometers in total.

Climate

The large size and global location of Cavia, as well as its varying biomes and geographical features, contributes to the fact that the nation encompasses most climate types.

The western and southern areas of the nation enjoy a generally Mediterranean climate, with low humidity year-round, hot summers and mild winters. The eastern coast has a temperate climate with small seasonal differences and rare extremes in temperatures, as well as significant precipitation year-round. However, for the northern, mountainous areas of the nation, a colder, alpine climate sees no summers whatsoever with a normally colder temperature than the rest of the country, as winters can see the temperature drop near or freezing.

Elevation

The highest point in Cavia is Crested Peak, located in the eponymous Crested Peaks Autonomous Province, with a height of 18,750 ft (5,715 m). The lowest point is the Niximian Valley, created by collapsed limestone caverns, and is located in the Cavian lowlands, with an elevation of −132.1 (-433 ft). Cavia has three peaks that measure over 5,000 meters (16,404 ft), all located in the Crested mountain chain. Low elevations can be found across the Cavian lowlands and Palustria, near the border with Vulpion where Beaker Lake can be found, its lowest point measured at around -78.3 m (-257 ft).

Political geography

Cavia is bordered by Lupen, Equifer, Stalliand, Skylia, Ailuria, Ursilon, and Rubria to the north, moving west to east respectively, while it is bordered by the Amican Ocean to the east. To the south, Cavia is bordered by Lanichia, Vulpion, and Cricetinia, moving west to east respectively. To the west, Cavia wraps around the easternmost point of the Latian Sea.

Cavia's land border stretches 11,861 kilometers in total. Moving in a clockwise direction, the westernmost point of Cavia is located in the province of Raffield. The border runs for 915 kilometers, running north from where it meets the Latian Sea, moving east to the border with Equifer. From here, the Cavian border roughly follows the peaks of the Crested mountain range, which begin roughly on the tripoint of Cavia, Equifer and Stalliand. The Cavia-Stalliand border, which stretches 1,870 kilometers, sharply deviates right to continue following the mountain chain around 16° N. It then continues northeast to the tripoint with Skylia, and continues mostly due east until it meets the tripoint with Ailuria. From there, the border curves southeast, running for approximately 545 kilometers before beginning the border with Ursilon proper. The Cavia-Ursilon border, the longest border Cavia shares with a neighboring nation, continues for an additional 3,310 kilometers, cutting through mostly flat grasslands, until reaching the border with Rubria, which is inversely the shortest border Cavia shares with another nation, at just 228 kilometers. The border then arrives at the Amican Sea in Lapishire province, the easternmost part of Cavia at Johnstone Peninsula. Now moving southwest, the border runs along the Cavian protectorate of Cricetinia for around 1,403 kilometers before meeting a tripoint with Vulpion. The border cuts through thick woodland, running mostly south-southeast until it reaches the source of the Chincharion River, which the border follows for an additional 2,250 kilometers until it reaches the tripoint with Lanichia. The Lanichia-Vulpion border continues along the river to the Chincharion Delta, while the Cavia-Lanichia border instead follows the Flectere River until it flows into the Latian Sea.

Demographics

Population and species

Cavia has an estimated population of around 945.7 million, which makes it the third-most populated Animalian nation. A national census is conducted every five years with the first recorded data from 1750, most of it extrapolated from a smaller sample size. According to the Realm's Book, a factbook about the Cavian people compiled in 985, the total number of Cavians was estimated at 25 million. By the beginning of the 18th century, the Cavian population was predicted to have been approximately 118 million in total, with the 1750 Cavian census estimating a total Cavian population of 168 million. Cavia, along with most of the developing world during the Industrial Era, experienced a significant population spike, with the 1850 Cavian census putting the total population at approximately 409 million. This number would continue to increase into the 20th century. The 1960 census estimated the Cavian population to a figure of 771 million. Cavian birthrates have since leveled off, and Cavian deaths are forecasted to begin outpacing births sometime in the 2040s, with an estimated peak Cavian population near or just over one billion.

The Realm's Book also estimated that around 8% of Cavians lived in urban areas. This number has since increased to 85.5% as of the 2020 Cavian census, with the largest increase coming in the late 18th to early 20th centuries, which saw rapid expansion of urban areas and the creation of new cities around industrial hubs across the country.

The Cavian people are ethnically made up of the guinea pig species, known scientifically as cavia porcellus. Ethnic Cavians make up approximately 90.8% of the total population. Of the ethnic Cavian people, the vast majority are of Abyssinian descent (52%). Significant Cavian racial minorities include the Continentals (19%), Shelties (12%), Texels (8%), Coronets (3%), and Rexians (2%). 4% of ethnic Cavians did not identify with any of the aformentioned racial backgrounds.

Around 5.4% of Cavian citizens identify as Aboriginal Cavian, who are ethnically separate from the Cavian people. The overwhelming majority of Aboriginal Cavians are concentrated in the Crested Peaks Autonomous Province. Around 55% of Aboriginal Cavians are of Crested racial background, with the vast majority of remaining Aboriginal Cavians identifying as Sheltie. The most distinguishable feature between Cavian and Aboriginal Cavian peoples are the natural fur length of both ethnic groups- Aboriginal Cavians have evolved longer fur lengths to compensate for the colder climates of higher altitudes.

3.8% of the Cavian population are not of the guinea pig species, whose families emigrated to Cavia at some point in time. Of these, the most prominent immigrant ethnic group are of Lupine, Ursilian and Vulpian descent, which comprise 89% of the Cavian immigrant population combined. The majority of these groups reside in the border regions of Cavia, or in the Oscar City-Mochiville metropolitan area.

Language

The Cavian language is the national language of Cavia, and it is by far the most widely spoken language among its citizens. The Cavian government also recognizes three languages at the federal level, namely Abyssinian- a Cavian dialect, Crestish, and Sheltish. This is due to the fact that certain provinces have declared languages and dialects spoken by a majorite of the local population as the official language. These provinces include the Crested Peaks Autonomous Province and the province of Greensmanor, both of which list Cavian, Crestish and Sheltish as the official provincial languages, and the Abysshire, Bay East, Sheltshire and Kingsland provinces, which recognizes the Abyssinian dialect as an official language alongside Cavian. Old Cavian is also used in some official research and governmental documents as part of procedure and decorum.

The Cavian language is spoken by approximately 98% of the Cavian population, with 94% speaking it as a first language. The second-most commonly spoken language in Cavia is Abyssinian, spoken by around 19% of Cavians, mainly concentrated in central Cavia. The Abyssinian dialect, while very closely related to Cavian, is mutually unintelligible. It is taught alongside Cavian in schools of provinces where Abyssinian is a commonly-spoken language, but due to Cavian being the lingua franca of these provinces, its role is diminished in comparison to Cavian in day-to-day usage.

Inversely, Crestish and Sheltish are the lingua franca and first language of the inhabitants of the Crested Peaks mountain range, who are generally ethnically Aboriginal Cavian. Due to national legislation enacted in 1970, Cavian is also taught in majority-Aboriginal schools, resulting in almost all younger Aboriginals being able to speak Cavian fluently, despite it not being used in either casual or professional settings. It is spoken by about 5% of Cavians, and are overwhelmingly the most commonly spoken languages in Crested Peaks Autonomous Province and Greensmanor, where it is spoken by 90% and 57% of the population respectively.

Cavian schools are mandated to teach Cavian from primary school up until college, as well as a foreign language from secondary school onwards. The most widely taught foreign languages are Lupine (45%), Ursilian (27%), and Vulpian (21%). About 74% of Cavians claim to speak Cavian and a second language, while 43% claim to be able to speak a second language to a fluent level.

Family Demographics

About 45% of Cavian adults are single. Due to homosexual marriage being legalized since 1922, about 8% of all registered couples are homosexual. 34% of married Cavians have no children, while 22% have one, 34% have two, 8% have three, and 2% have four or more. It is reported that around a third of Cavian marriages are inter-breedor inter-species marriages.

Income

Due to having the highest average income in Animalia, coupled by minimum and overtime wage laws, the average Cavian wage totals at $68,877. The bottom 10% of incomes average at $43,019 and the top 10% of incomes average at $119,721. This makes for an income disparity rate of 1.75, giving Cavia a medium Gini score.

Religion

Cavia is religiously diverse. The right of the Cavian people to practice their religious beliefs freely is enshrined in the Cavian Constitution, and Cavians are allowed to freely congregate and worship accordingly, without interference or limitation. Religion is now mostly viewed as a private matter in Cavian society. Porcianism was the most dominant religion in Cavia for almost three millennia, and was widely integral to Cavian society, daily life, and culture. However, while it is still the most practiced religion, Cavia is now a post-religious, secular state, a result of the Cultural Explosion in the 1960s. According to the 2020 census, only 36% of Cavians attend church or worship regularly, with 59% of Cavians considering religion to not play an important role in their lives.

Census statistics also state that 61% of Cavians believe in a God or higher spiritual power, with 44% identifying with the Porcian faith. Of these, the most common Porcian denomination is the United Cavian Church of Porcianism, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of Porcians in Cavia. Other significant denominations include the Holy Porcian Church, and the Royal Branch of Porcianism.

The most commonly practiced non-Porcian religion is Cuyalan faith, which is an integral part of Aboriginal Cavian culture. It is practiced by around 4.5% of Cavians, chiefly in the Crested Peaks and Greensmanor provinces where a vast majority of the citizens align with Cuyala. Inaranity, practiced by 3% of Cavians, is most common in the provinces bordering Vulpion, the religion's place of origin. This is most visibly evidenced in the province of Palustria, where 62% of Cavians practice the Inaranian faith.

19% of Cavians identify as atheist, 16% identify as agnostic, and 5% list their religious beliefs as "spiritual but not religious" (SBNR).

Education

As national law dictates fifteen years of formal education must be administered, the Cavian national literacy rate is reported to be at 99.3%. About 94.1% of Cavians have received full education, and 71% have received tertiary education, with 59% receiving a full five-year diploma.

Healthcare

Due to universal healthcare laws, virtually every Cavian citizen has healthcare. Around 28% of Cavians rely on the free, basic coverage provided by the government. The average healthcare cost for citizens with private healthcare totals at around $291 per month.

Largest Cavian Cities

Rank	City	Metro Population	Province
1	Oscar City	29,813,000	Oscar City
2	Mochiville	8,812,000	Bay East
3	Texelton	5,257,000	Texelia
4	Rogerstown	3,838,000	Bay North
5	Sealen City	3,612,000	Sealen
6	Port-au-Porcii	3,194,000	Bay North
7	Williston	2,904,000	Bay South
8	Stonewall	2,549,000	Riverton
9	Crested Point	2,144,000	Mountain North
10	Northhills	2,058,000	Plains West

Government

Cavia is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. Parliament, the main legislative body composed of two houses(the National Assembly and Senate), is elected by members of the province that they represent. The number of seats in the National Assembly for each province is outlined in the Constitution to balance population and size for seats and each Province receives 2 seats in the Senate.

Cavian citizens must follow three levels of government- National Government, the highest level which regulates international and domestic affairs, creates basic laws and civil liberties, and protects the nation by managing national ministries, Provincial Government, the second-highest level which is responsible for basic provincial infrastructure, collecting and reporting data to the national government, and taxing its citizens, and the lowest level of government, Local Government, in which citizens can make laws that amend but not contradict national laws. Local government is also responsible for managing infrastructure within its borders.

The court system of Cavia is composed of a lower court, a provincial court, a national court, and the highest court, the Court of Final Appeal. Most criminal trials settle through lower city courts through trials or plea bargains. However, civil suits may reach the highest possible court, the Court of Final Appeal, if the plaintiff or defendant challenges the ruling. The Court of Final Appeal is named such as its decision is final and cannot be challenged. Its members are appointed by the ruling Prime Minister and must be approved by the Senate only by majority vote. The Court of Final Appeal's judges are appointed for life. However, the Court may not hear all cases as those are selected by the Cavian Grand Judge(chosen by Parliament 2/3 vote), who writes the majority or minority opinion depending on how they rule, and the Senior Judges, the next three oldest judges.

The executive branch of Cavian government is led by the Prime Minister. As there are more than two major parties(there are considered to be four influential Cavian governmental parties) a multiple-vote ranking system is used. Each candidate with more than a sixth of the Cavian voting population's support in the first round of voting is eligible to appear on the ballot. More than one candidate from each political party may appear on the ballot unless the two or more candidate's votes added are more than one third but less than one half. The Prime Minister appoints Cabinet Ministers, responsible for advising him or her on the issues they are appointed to represent. The Ministers are led by the Assistant Minister, who is chosen before the electoral campaign as a running mate. The Cabinet appointments are approved by Parliament by a simple majority vote.

Military

The Cavian military, with 6.7 million active service members, or 0.4% of Cavia's population, is the largest in Animalia by size of active military personnel with the second-largest being Bearilea with 3.3 million. When Reserve duty members are taken into account Cavia places second in the world with 25.3 million behind Bearilea's 27.1 million. The top six nations by total military personnel size are all treatised allies of The Cavian State.

An elected Chief Marshal(not always, but more often than not the Prime Minister) holds the title of commander-in-chief of the nation's armed forces and appoints its leaders, the Royal Chiefs of Staff. The Cavian Ministry of Defense administers the armed forces, including the Army, Special Operations, Navy, and Air Force. The Coast Guard is run by the Department of National Security in peacetime and by the Royal Navy during times of war. In 2015, the armed forces had 6.7 million personnel on active duty. The Reserves and Royal Police Corps brought the total number of troops to 25.3 million. The Ministry of Defense also employed about 850,000 civilians, not including contractors.

Military service is voluntary, though conscription may occur in wartime through the Conscription Lottery Service. Cavian forces can be rapidly deployed by the Air Force's large fleet of transport aircraft, the Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, and Special Ops' expeditionary units at sea with the Navy's ocean-going fleets. The military operates 45 bases and facilities abroad, and maintains deployments greater than 100 active duty personnel in 14 foreign countries.

The military budget of Cavia in 2013 was $1.8 trillion, making Cavia the highest-spending nation in the world on defense. At 2.1% of GDP, the rate was the fourth-highest among the 18 Animalian nations, after Bearilea, Felinus, and Foxtia. The proposed base Department of Defense budget for 2018, $2.3 billion, was a 27.2% increase over 2013.

International Relations

Cavia is active in the Animalian Union, an international peace-keeping organization whose members include all 18 Animalian nations. Cavia was a main founder of the organization in 1977, and per its charter, funds one-sixth of the organization's budget.

Cavia is neutral in all international conflicts not involving itself or its allies, signifying a change from Cavia's interventionist policies earlier in its history. Cavia's international relations are relatively peaceful, and it is considered to not have any current enemies besides the rogue state of Felinus.

All diplomatic relations are approved and scheduled by the Prime Minister but specifically managed by the Minister of Foreign Relations. The monarch will usually host all incoming ambassadors and envoys visiting the country.

Law enforcement and crime

Law enforcement in the United States is primarily the responsibility of local police departments and sheriff's offices, with royal police providing broader services. The Oscar City Police Department (OCPD) is the largest in the country. Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Cavian Investigation (BCI) and the Cavian Royal Police Corps have specialized duties, including protecting civil rights, national security and enforcing Cavian federal courts' rulings and federal laws. At the federal level and in almost every province, a legal system operates on a common law. Provincial courts conduct most criminal trials; federal courts handle certain designated crimes as well as certain appeals from the state criminal courts. Plea bargaining is very common; the vast majority of criminal cases in the country are settled by plea bargain rather than jury trial.

In 2018, there were 5,118 murders which was 158 more than in 2017, a 3.1% increase. The murder rate in 2015 was 1.7 per 100,000 people. In 2016 the murder rate increased by 8.6%, with 5,413 murders that year.

Economy

The Cavian economy, due to large governmental subsidization and no government restrictions(except anti-trust and environmental laws) is viewed as one of the most, if not most efficient economy in Animalia. Cavia is home to over 150 of the 500 largest corporations in Animalia, and attracts large international companies to set up headquarters in the nation.

The main Cavian industries include automobile manufacturing, fishing, and information technology. Cavian imports include raw materials, plants and other organic matter. Cavia exports automobiles, machinery, foodstuffs, furniture, and household items.

Cavia engages in trading with many of its Animalian allies. Cavia's chief trading partners include Foxtia, Bearilea, Anubis, and Antleria. Cavia exports $116 billion more than it imports, making it more economically independent than other Animalian nations. Only Foxtia has a higher trade surplus.

Science and technology

In 2016, Cavia spent approximately $131.5 billion on domestic research and development, of which around $48 billion was provided by the federal and provincial governments. As of 2018, the country has produced 77 Campbell laureates in fields including physics, chemistry, and medicine, and was ranked second worldwide for scientific research quality in a major 2012 survey of international scientists. It is furthermore home to the headquarters of a number of global technology firms. Cavia has one of the highest levels of internet access in the world, with over 1.5 billion users, equivalent to around 97.8 percent of its total 2015 population.

The Cavian Aeronautics and Space Program(CASP) operates a highly active space program, conducting deep-space, planetary, and aviation research, and developing rockets and satellites. Cavia was the second country to design and construct a satellite after Bearilea, with the 1955 Oscar 1 launch. Cavoa is a participant in the Animalian Unified Space Station(AUSS), and is a pioneer in space robotics, having constructed the Caviarm and AmbiDextre robotic manipulators for the AUSS and CASP. Since the 1960s, Cavia's aerospace industry has designed and built numerous marques of satellite, including SurfaceSat-1 and 2, GIMS and HORS. In 1959, William Briggs became Cavia's and Animalia's first-ever astronaut. Cavian also became the first nation to put animals on Glacia, which they achieved with the 1966 Porcellia IV mission.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is managed by national and local government. Cities report for the funding they need for infrastructure projects and the provincial government, which is responsible for tax, funds the cities. National projects or projects on government-owned land or unincorporated territory are paid for by government coffers and are managed by national government.

Transportation

The Department of Transportation is the government body responsible for overseeing transport in The Cavian State. There are many motorways in Cavia, and many other trunk roads, such as Highway 1 linking Oscar City and Northhills, runing through all of western Cavia (much of this section is motorway) and onward to the Cricetinia border. The longest motorway in Cavia is Highway 5, from Oscar City through Stonewall and Rockcliff to the northwest up to the Cricetinian border, a distance of 4,580 miles (7,371 km). Other major routes include: the C2 from Oscar City through Mochiville to Rogerstown, the C1 which encircles Oscar City, the SE8 which encircles Texelton, the S4 from Oscar City to Crested Point, and the S33 from Williston via Rogerstown to Port-au-Porcii.

Bus transport across the country is widespread; major companies include Royal Express, Destina and Capital Metro Buses. The blue Oscar City scenic buses have become a symbol of Cavia. There is a rapid transit network in five Cavian cities: the Texelton Metro, Port-au-Porcii Transit Network, Island Metro in Sealen City, Crested Point Metro, and Cavia's largest rapid transit network- the Capital Metro, servicing Oscar City, Mochiville, and Rogerstown.

Rail transport in Cavia is the oldest in the world: passenger railways originated in Cavia in 1825. Cavia's 59,000 miles (95,000 km) of rail network covers the country fairly extensively, although a high proportion of railway lines were closed in the second half of the 20th century. There are plans to reopen lines such as the Peak Line between Rogerstown and Crested Point. These lines are mostly standard gauge (single, double or quadruple track) though there are also a few narrow gauge lines.

Cavia has extensive domestic and international aviation links. The largest airport is Oscar City International, which is the world's busiest airport measured by number of international passengers. Other large airports include Mochiville Metropolitan, Northhills Airport, Rogersville Airport and Port-au-Porcii Airport. By sea there is ferry transport, both local and international, including to Cricetinia, Bearilea and Aviatia. There are around 19,400 miles (31,220 km) of navigable waterways in Cavia, half of which is owned by the Royal Waterway Trust, however, water transport is very limited. The Whitecap River is the major waterway in Cavia, with imports and exports focused at the Port of Oscar City in the Ancient Bay, one of Cavia's four major ports.

Energy

The Cavian energy market is about 166,000 terawatt hours per year. Energy consumption per capita is 4.8 tons (4,354 kg) of oil equivalent per year. In 2005, 25% of this energy came from petroleum, 23% from coal, and 15% from natural gas. The remaining 48% was supplied by nuclear power(29%) and renewable energy(19%) sources. Cavia is the world's largest consumer of petroleum. The United States has 37% of global coal reserves. It is the world's largest producer of natural gas and crude oil.

Nuclear power is the largest source of Cavian energy, and has been for well over a decade, since 2001. Cavia is the world's largest producer of nuclear energy, and produces the second-most solar energy in the world. Many rural Cavian households are powered by wind energy.

Culture

Culture Cavian culture and traditions hold its roots to the customs celebrated by agricultural lords from tribal times. These include cuisine, sport, daily rituals and customs, etc. Other factors include its long history as a power and symbol of democracy.

Sport

Cavia places much emphasis on sport. It has been the creator of armball, holeball, hunt-dueling, and Cavian-rules football. Many of these sports were developed in the late 19th century or early 20th century. International Sport Organization President Zachary Fowler was quoted as saying "Animalian culture holds its roots within this grand, enduring nation which has sprung forth a crucial form of what helps shape our image- sport. Cavia is the birthplace of Animalian sport." for the centenary of the Cavian Armball Association.

In international competitions, Cavia, Cricetinia(called the 'Cavian Protectorate of Cricetinia' at competitions) and overseas territories compete under separate flags and teams. The Royal Department of Cavian Sport administers Cavian teams, the Hamster Bureau of Sport organizes Cricetinian teams, and the overseas territories of St. Terry's Island and Greentree Island have their own state sporting organizations.

By far the most popular sport in Cavia is football, affirmed overwhelmingly by the 2010 census(65% listed football as their favorite sport). Football has been played professionally in Cavia since the 19th century after its invention. Cricetinia Region have split their football system, resulting in a different football association and league system. Cavian football is administered by the Cavian Football Federation. The league system is extensive composing 21 tiers of professional, semi-professional and amateur teams with over 8,200 teams and 140,000 people involved in the system. The top league of Cavian football is the Cavian Super League. Average attendances average around 56,000 with hundreds of thousands more watching via television. The CSL is the most-watched league in Animalia by far.

The Cavian national football team is ranked first in Animalia by the International Federation of Animalian Football, Animalia's football governing body. In international competitions, Cavia has won the Animalian International Cup five times(1960, 1968, 2000, 2012, 2016) and the Confederational Cup three times(2014, 2015, 2017).

The second-most popular Cavian sport originates from the country itself, armball. Since its creation in 1919, armball has been played professionally in Cavia. Twelve other Animalian nations have formed official armball teams. Cavia consistently ranks in the top three nations for armball, but has not won an international armball competition since 2011. Cavia, Bearilea, Ramsdale, Foxtia, the Savannah Republic, and the Hog Federation annually compete for the Six Nation Open. The top Cavian club armball league is the Cavian Armball League composed of fifteen teams from around the nation.

Holeball, the third-most popular sport is another sport originating from Cavia in 1913. Holeball is contested by club teams in Cavia but is not played internationally due to its lack of attention abroad. Armball's top club league is the Armball League of Cavia. The league does not function in a league system format with the same ten clubs contesting for the league title each season.

Another Cavian sport, developed by rich Cavian landowners, is hunt-dueling. Developed in the 12th century, the purpose of the sport was to settle claim disputes to land and property. Played over four square kilometers, wealthy landowners with deeds to more than thousands of square kilometers found this easy to play. During the King Roger I era of land redistribution in the 17th century, the popularity of this sport declined. However, it has made a resurgence with thickly-wooded parks dedicated to professionals and amateurs of the sport. Regular tournaments are held for hunt-duelers domestically and internationally.

Symbols

The flag of the Cavian State was conceived in 1881 by MP Sir Cameron Dawson. The red stripe running vertically represents the struggles of the nation, mainly the Great Struggle and the revolution for independence. The blue stripe running horizontally represents the sea, and at the top of the flag, represent the boundaries of the land and civilization, as guinea pigs are not accustomed to venturing into water. The blue stripe is also said to represent peace and stability, marking no attacks from war on Cavian soil for over eight centuries. The three stars represent the three triumphs of the nation and are put over the blue stripe to represent overcoming the boundaries that were needed to achieve such triumphs which were independence, the writing of the Constitution, and the Recovery period of Cavian history. The national anthem, "Forward, Forward", was written by poet Arthur Cranston in 1702, embodies the spirit of Cavian cheerfulness, resilience, and perserverance.

The national personification of the nation is usually Oscar the Founder, the leader of the revolution against the conquering forces. Characterized as an abyssinian, shorthaired guinea pig with a sword and red robes. He is associated with government posters released during crises cheering and rallying the nation's people forward. As the symbol of the nation he has been used in political cartoons or advertisements and PSAs. He also appears on the nation's monetary system on the five-Porcii bill and the ten-Porcent coin.

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