Saakalistal

The People's Republic of Saakalistal "Ṡa'aķaliśtäl Ituķur"
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Va'kaśtir vix́ härenka um nërin raki, Ṡast ķi'ërassik tärir ki'ro tëķra q́a alķalë!" "Undimmed by cloud or shade of night, Here shone forever fair and bright!"
Anthem: Winds of Home
Map of Saakalistal
Status	Independent state
Capital	Țälis
Largest city	Vi'ëra
Official languages	Saakish
Recognised national languages	Saakish
Ethnic groups	57.3% Saakishan 20.9% Parudan 13.6% Knizan 8.2% Other
Religion	81% Naraism 12% Other 7% No religion
Demonym(s)	Saakishan, Saakish
Government	Sortition Democracy
• Premier	Ķäṡ'ek Na'käri
• Chancellor	Iṡrëķa Ag-Óțrall
Population
• Estimate	71,820,000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$2,896,405,079,400
• Per capita	$40,328.67
Gini (2017)	25.1 low
HDI	0.781 high
Currency	Ķerel (ĶRL)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+501
ISO 3166 code	SKL
Internet TLD	.skl

Saakalistal [Saakish: Ṡa'aķaliśtäl], officially the People's Republic of Saakalistal [Saakish: Ṡa'aķaliśtäl Ituķur], is a sortition-based democratic state located in Southern Ardentia with its neighbours being Anheldac and Aquitinia to the north across the Magnumare Sea, Cenagrad to the east, Novaya Equestria to the west and Greater Avaria to the south. The capital of Saakalistal is Țälis, located in the southern part of the country, the city has a population of around 3.7 million meanwhile the largest city in Saakalistal is Vi'ëra, which is located on the north-western coast of Saakalistal and is sometimes referred to as the nation's second capital due to its immense size, the population of 5.1 million and equal if not larger importance compared to Țälis in governmental affairs.

Etymology

The name Saakalistal comes from the Saakishan words "ṡa'aķal", meaning haven or sanctuary, and "śtäl", meaning a fortress or fortified city, combined these words generally translate to "Haven's Fortress". The name has been linked to the unification of the Saakishan kingdoms and city-states during the 14th century where the newly formed union was named after the old name for the rainforests and it's protection of the Saakishan peopkle.

History

Prehistory

Human settlement in Saakalistal is dated to have first appeared around 10,000-12,000 years ago with small human tribes inhabiting coastal areas and rivers. The oldest known settlement among them is the Ķaši'śiri'a settlement, on the bank of the Óțrë Lake in northeastern Saakalistal. According to radiocarbon dating the area was first settled around 11,000 years ago.

The earliest human habitation during the Mesolithic period is connected to the Ķušri' culture. At that time the country was covered with forests, and people lived in semi-nomadic communities near bodies of water. Subsistence activities consisted of hunting, gathering and fishing. Around 9,000 years ago ceramics appeared from the neolithic period, known as Lurx́c culture. Starting around 8,000 years ago began the Chalcolithic period alongside new activities like primitive agriculture and animal husbandry. Around this time, the first examples of what would become Naraistic religion appeared, with many settlements having what are believed to be temples upon surrounding high places with large 50-centimetre tall clay effigies, most depicting female figures, placed inside similarly sized alcoves in the temple walls.

Along with the growth of Saakishan culture, began the Saakishan Bronze Age, which started around 7,500 years ago and was characterised by the use of bronze, the use of writing in some areas, and other features of early urban civilisation. Some inland settlements around this time also developed hill forts.

Antiquity

At around 6,000 years ago during the Late Saakishan Bronze Age, the first major Saakishan civilisations started appearing along the northern coast of what is currently Saakalistal. These civilisations are characterised by their general use of stone as a construction material compared to the wood and thatch of homes and hillforts during the early bronze age. Some of the largest ruins of these civilisations are around current day Vi'rëa.

Ancient cities had large stone temples carved into steep hillsides and cliff faces. These temples contained a central chamber with alcoves dedicated to the main goddesses and smaller gods and goddesses, along with a lone altar for offerings to spirits.

A significant development occurred at the end of the Saakishan Bronze Age as multiple city-states formed small leagues or unions to protect themselves from other states. This collaborative effort led to the establishment of some of the earliest major states in Saakalistal.

Medieval Period

The beginning of the medieval period in Saakalistal began in the 7th century and is marked by the use and making of iron compared to the previously imported iron tools and the beginning of the formation of larger nations, notable amongst these being the western Queendom of Kirovia, the northern Okomi Federation and Southern Kiithates of Siven. Due to an increase in the concept of preserving historical events and independent historians, a general increase in historical knowledge began around the medieval period for Saakalistal. The increase in the size of states also contributed to the increase in the size of conflicts, where battles now increased from a few hundred on either side to armies of thousands and wars lasted generally longer.

The Great Kiithate Schism

Beginning around the 9th century, after a surge of minor schisms between differing temples amongst Saakalistal's Southern reaches,

Government

The government of Saakalistal consists of the Premier, Chancellor, Ministers and the People's Round. The main legislative body is the People's Round which is made up of 100 people and divided into 4 groups with 25 people each: the Impoverished, Lower Class, Middle Class, Upper Class. These four groups are made up of individuals selected at random via sortition when a council is called and are only in the People's Round for 1 day.

The Premier, Chancellor and Ministers are the only long-lasting officials with Premiers and Chancellors being chosen every 2 years with a 1-year offset. Ministers are chosen every 4 years and are selected from a walk of life that best fits their ministry.

Administrative divisions

Containing 54 municipalities divided into 9 counties. The nation also gives a fair amount of devolution to local authorities, which all have their councils which hold similarly sortition-based democratic votes on topics of local laws, new large constructions such as new roads, power generation facilities, schools etc.

Military

The military of Saakalistal, Saakish Defence Forces, consists of 4 branches, the Saakishan People's Ground Forces, the Saakishan People's Air Force, the Saakishan People's Naval Force and the Saakishan Special Operation Forces. It contains the highest amount of magic and arcana in the entire country, which it uses to enchant shells, vehicles, weapons or armour in ways technology would have made costly such as imbuing tanks or soldiers' equipment with spells to temporarily make them harder to hit by blurring their silhouette or making shells explode into a massive fireball upon impact.

Demographics

Saakalistal's population grew rapidly from about 15 million in 1956 to about 71 million by February 2029. However, Saakalistal's fertility rate has dropped dramatically, from 6.5 children born per woman to about 1.7 two decades later, leading to a population growth rate of about 1.39% as of 2025. Due to its young population, studies project that the growth will continue to slow until it stabilises around 105 million by 2070.

Culture

Art

Saakalistal has one of the richest art heritages in history and has been strong in many media including painting, music, stonemasonry, weaving, calligraphy and sculpture. At different times, influences from neighbouring civilizations have been important, and latterly Saakishan art gave and received major influences as part of the wider styles of it's neighbours.

Music and dance

Traditional Saakalistal music generally consists of stringed, wind and percussion instruments and a heavy reliance on vocals. The most popular folk instruments are the kamar and qhura', slender stringed instruments, both of which are meant to be played on one's lap. Modern folk songs contain heavy vocals, strings and occasionally wind instruments. Most folk music is oral tales and poetry, including tales of forest spirits, nature, the nation or notable events. There exists also a form of Saakishan music known as rain songs, which have their own musical "language" derived from 2 to 3-letter words with a consonant and vowel order of "Consonant Vowel" or "Consonant-Vowel-Consonant" respectively. These short words usually mean simple concepts, ideas or things and are so short as to "mimic the sound of raindrops". It is unknown when rain songs first appeared but their provenance in Saakishan musical society is monumental in cultural rituals and festivals.

Saakalistal has known dance in the forms of music, play, drama or religious rituals since at least three thousand years ago. Artefacts with pictures of dancers were found in archaeological prehistoric sites. Genres of dance vary depending on the area and culture of the local people, and can range from sophisticated reconstructions of refined court dances to energetic folk dances. Each group, region, and historical epoch has specific dance styles associated with it. The earliest researched dance from historic Saakalistal is a dance worshipping Țëmi'.

Cuisine

Saakalistali cuisine includes a hefty amount of greens, spices and bread as locally they are known as "gifts of the Green Grove" and a "sign of its hospitality towards the Saakishan people". A herbal tea called "Ķanenhëti-ķa'ih" is also commonly provided for each meal as it is believed to have health benefits. Along with green, spices and bread Saakishan cuisine involves a lot of crustacean and redmeats with a large portion of Saakishan dishes being herbal meat stews, curries and soups.

In Saakalistal, food is not considered a commodity. It is a requirement for everyone, and most households make more food than generally needed or take any sizeable leftovers to share with their neighbours at the coming of the night. Doing this is thought to foster a neighbourhood of "good spirits" and to ward away "greedy spirits."

Magic

In Saakalistal, magic is a well-taught subject; many industries of the nation even revolve around its use. Technology is used in conjunction with magic, as with enchanting. Though not all magic is permitted, things involving necromancy or death are seen as a disruption and an insult to the way of life and are banned, meanwhile a popular form of rift magic amongst Naraistic shamans, known as "Ķëx́erakśärr" or "Atramenty" in common, is only allowed by individuals who have proved themselves to the Mages Round to be capable of handling it due to the effects of its use on the user.