Orleóis

Unión of Eothasi Socialist Republics Unión d’Repúblics Socialist Eothasi
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Equidat y Unitat
Anthem: Stand Together
Capital	Elidani
Largest city	Lithandril
Official languages	Eothasi
Recognised national languages	English
Demonym(s)	Eothasi
Government	Federal parliamentary republic
• Premier	Priscilla
• Chancellor	Chellick
• First Secretary	Valerius
Legislature	Congreso d'la Unión
• Upper house	Congreso d'la Unión
Establishment
• Unification Day	April 14, 1681 C.E.
Area
• Total	853,009 km2 (329,349 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 census	110.336.793
• Density	129.35/km2 (335.0/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	US$6.2 trillion
• Per capita	US$56.218,21
HDI (2019)	0.946 very high
Currency	Eothasi Credit
Date format	dd.mm.age:year
Driving side	right
Calling code	+7
Internet TLD	.eot

The Unión d'Repúblics Socialist Eothasi [translation: Union of Eothasi Socialist Republics], also alternatively referred to as the UESR (or ‘‘URSE’’) or Eothasia, is a federal parliamentary republic composed of seven semi-autonomous territorial divisions named Repúblics, as well as one federal district (the capital city of Elidani). The UESR is a sizeable nation at just over eight hundred thousand square kilometers and with a population numbering roughly 110 million. The country occupies a peninsula and is surrounded to the south by the Bay of Isa and, farther south, the Ocean of Sorrow. To the east is the Ocean of Reneria; in the north, the Bay of Elvira and the Ocean of Deris; to the west, the Ocean of Cylësen. In the center of the peninsula there is large gulf, known as the Sea of Auriel.

The UESR’s different members were largely known for their isolation to the outside world, preferring to interact amongst themselves — including through war — than interact with the rest of civilization in anything other than trade. This changed, however, after Duvaineth’s ascension to the throne of the Aterni Empire following its conquests in what is now known as the Eothasi Civil War; with the creation of the UESR, the Eothasi implications in the rest of the world became significantly much more apparent.

Today, the UESR is a member of the international community and is well-known for its preference of non-violence and diplomacy to settle disputes.

Etymology

It is unclear where the term “Eothasia” first emerges, although it has been found that it appears several hundred years prior to the creation of the first entity to occupy the entirety of the territory known as Eothasia today. The first registered appearance of the name is from -21:25, in an epic written by famous classical novelist and poet Fidena. However, historical accounts of her works and their popularity within Eothasi societies at the time indicate that it was unlikely she was the first to coin the name, rather implying she utilized a common phrase to refer to those inhabiting those territories.

Some scholarly studies have (inconclusively) concluded that the term Eothasia originates from Volsini, today one of the seven Repúblic of the UESR. It is believed that Volsini named the continent this way after its leader, Eothomas, who first led Volsini armies onto the mainland and began conquering what would eventually become the First Volsini Empire. This is uncertain, as it is believed that certain texts found prior to the ascension of Eothomas to the Volsini crown already mention this continent, despite their authenticity having been brought into question multiple times.

History

The recorded history of the dozens of kingdoms and empires that spanned the Eothasi territory is rich most notably in war and violence. Tales of glorious conquests of national foes are explicitly depicted in elaborate monuments erected in a variety of different locations, such as those in Iluma, the capital of Volsini, which vividly show the conquests of the First, Second, and Third Volsini Empires, or the ruins of ancient cities in modern-day Venza, carefully preserved as national landmarks. Though the Second Volsini Empire was the first to span from the eastern coast to the western coast (and the Antizoni Empire the first from north to south), to date the entirety of the continent has been in control of a single nation only twice with the conquer of the subcontinent of the Aterni Empire and the Unión d'Repúblics Socialist Eothasi.

Prehistoric Period

Historical data for the region goes back as far as 35,191 years Before the Common Era. This is when humans were first detected to exist in and around the regions of what is now known as Eothasia. It is unclear from where these humans came, exactly, although it is assumed that they travelled from some other continent through an available landbridge.

The prehistoric Eothasi were largely a nomadic civilization, with intense organizational structures amongst their tribes based on the merits of the individuals. Hunters, gatherers, and foragers were not separated by gender or other arbitrary features, but rather, but the individual skills young Eothasi demonstrated. This level of meritocratic organizational structure is key to understanding prehistoric Eothasi, as it was from this that they managed to gather, hunt, and feed the large populations that their tribes usually entailed.

There was very little technological progress recorded on the continent throughout this period until roughly 4500 years Before the Common Era. It is in this period that the Neolithic Revolution first arrived in Eothasia, and radically changed the way in which the Eothasi lived. The widespread discovery of agriculture on the continent allowed the tribes to settle in key locations with fertile soil and brought about the increased meritocratic specialization of the Eothasi populations, which grew exponentially.

The Neolithic Revolution not only increased Eothasi populations and trade, creating communities where there had previously been hunting groups roaming the land, but it also brought about the first inklings of written language and the first known civilization, settled near the modern city of Odiria, in Antizon, known only as the Essë. Finally, the Neolithic brought about the beginning of what is known today as the Bronze Age.

Bronze Age

The first well-known civilization in Eothasia was that of the Essë. They occupied lands in the central northern portion of the nation, near the modern city of Odiria. The Essën civilization expanded from the vast green plains that surrounded them, flourishing under the new agricultural techniques discovered in the Neolithic Revolution. It is believed that the Essë first arose in the 57th Ialë B.U., and it is suggested that they lasted several hundred years, at least until the 34th Ialë B.U. They were first discovered in the early 3rd Ialë by famed archaeologist Vivian Maroto. Evidence suggests that the Essë’s collapse was brought about by the conquest of other, more powerful civilizations.

After the fall of the Essë, dozens of civilizations began to emerge across the continent. Some, much like their earlier counterparts, settled and became traders and promoted the first commercial partnerships on the continent. Others were far more violent and established their dominance over other civilizations through war and conquest.

The most important civilization to emerge following the fall of the Essë was the Tatamolan civilization, in the 25th Ialë B.U., settled in the plains of Eothasia, with their capital erected slightly over two hundred kilometers east of the modern city of Viladell. They wrested control over much of Eothasia from other, smaller groups through force, wielding notable military strength against them. They were the first civilization of somewhat notable size, spanning from their capital in the desert to the shores of Newdell to their north, as far west as Viladell and as far east as the Marsier Rift, which today forms the border between Marsier and Espinar.

Despite their strength and size, however, by the 24th Ialë B.U. the civilization began a steep decline until it was finally conquered by smaller groups in the early 23th Ialë B.U. This new Ialë was characterized by the beginning of the new Era of Antiquity.

Era of Antiquity

The Era of Antiquity, as it is commonly referred to, was intricately marked by a number of important civilizations as well as the continents first imperial powers. These include civilizations such as the First Volsini Empire, which was the first imperial power, the Antizoni Empire, which spanned from the northern coast to the southern coast, the Second Volsini Empire, which spanned from west to east, and lastly, the Aterni Empire, which became the longest lasting empire in Eothasi history. Other notable powers include the Third Volsini Empire (which was the shortest lived of the three), the Empire of Venza, and the various Repúblic that confederated in Elvira.

First Volsini Empire

The First Volsini Empire originated in the city of Iluma, the capital of the Empire and the modern capital of the Repúblic of Volsini. The civilization first emerged in the 23rdh Ialë B.U., although the cities that incorporated the empire had existed for at least another hundred years prior. Under the rule of Empress Arnola, these cities were bound together in the continent’s first empire.

Records show that these cities first established a confederation and, initially, maintained their own governance and internal security forces, as well as their own treasuries. However, they all made contributions to a united military, agreed trade with one another, and became intrinsically linked. However, Iluma—because of its considerable size in comparison to the rest of the cities prior to the confederation—was viewed as the strongest. This was most fervently realized under Empress Arnola, who imprisoned the entirety of the united army and marched her own into each of the city states, conquering them all swiftly. Within just a short set of years, she had conquered the entirety of Volsini. Though it is implied she had plans to eventually begin conquering the surrounding areas and invade the kingdom of Santarrejo, she was killed by her son, Eothomas, before she was able to realize her plans.

Within the first year of being ascended as emperor, Volsini military forces began conquering new lands, most notably the islands to the north and east of Iluma. Over the following decade, the Volsini military continued its military campaigns, conquering much of what is now eastern Venza and the southern tips of Marsier. The Volsini conquests were swift, and before the end of the 13th Ialë B.U., controlled most of modern-day Espinar, the eastern half of Venza and all its surrounding islands, and had made inroads into Marsier.

The First Volsini Empire collapsed after the death of Eothomas, who was felled in battle during the First Siege of Torrevilla. Though there had been much tension in Volsini since the late 14th Ialë B.U., it had largely been suppressed by Eothomas and his armies, whilst others were silenced by the riches arriving from the eastern conquests. His death was followed by a marked increase in insurrectionist activity, which culminated in the murder of Eothomas’ heir apparent during his coronation. This event sparked a civil war, and troops were recalled from Volsini holdings, leaving behind only token garrisons, which were then themselves conquered by liberationists in the occupied territories.

The civil war continued for at least two decades, and at its end, all cities lay in ruin, most intensely of which was Iluma, the first imperial capital, which had been under siege for nearly four years before the war ended.

Antizoni Empire

The Antizoni Empire emerged following the collapse of the First Volsini Empire from the Kingdom of Odiria. Prior to its expansionist period, it spanned from the city of Odiria in the east across to the Norcrestan regions; all of this would be maintained in the Antizoni Empire, as would a path through the center of the land to Venza and occupying parts of Volsini. It was the first empire in the history of the continent to span from north to south.

To its south, the weakened states that had been occupied by the First Volsini Empire were left in ruin by the revolutionary conflict that sprout from the death of Emperor Eothomas. Even before the public murder of Duinenor, the Kingdom of Odiria began minor conquests into Marsier, starting with the island of Amafiel. When civil war broke in Volsini, a full invasion began and swept down the entire peninsula. The conquest was brisk, and before the end of the decade, Antizon territory had been almost doubled.

The Antizoni Empire achieved its maximum extension under Empress Allethia. By then, the nation had become the single-most powerful empire on the continent and was unrivalled in military project, economic strength and political influence. Its courts held dignitaries from dozens of smaller kingdoms seeking clemency from their strongest neighbor. Its strategic geographical location made it impossible for continental trade to flow without coming into contact with the Antizon tariff authorities, whether it be through land or at sea.

It was the Antizoni Empire that beat down the rebellious Repúblic in Elvira and established puppet states, and threatened Aterni with invasion if it did not withdraw military forces from the Bay of Isa and permitted free travel for all Antizon warships. In every sense of the word, the Antizoni Empire became the continental hegemony.

And so, it is especially shocking to historical scholars that the Antizoni Empire’s downfall came in less than five years. Very little data exists on the exact circumstances that led to the weakening of the Antizoni border, but what is known for certain is that the city of Norcrest was ransacked and by-then-abdicated Empress Allethia and her successor, Empress Vestelle, were beheaded in the city plaza, as per the tales collected in various poets’ works in the following decades.

Current theories on the fall of the Antizoni Empire center on its military. Given the size of the empire, the Antizoni population was alarmingly small; as such, the military was also of reduced proportions. The Antizoni Empire attempted to circumvent this issue by the conscription of young children from occupied cities of their empire, but even then their military was unable to cope with the large military demands of a country of their size.

Though there is no data—neither from the Antizoni Empire nor from Volsini—it is unlikely to be a coincidence that the fall of the Antizoni Empire coincided with the rapid emergence of the Second Volsini Empire. Some theories, working in conjunction with how thinly spread the Antizoni Empire’s military forces truly were, state that it is likely that the Second Volsini Empire funded and equipped revolutionary forces in Antizon hoping to weaken their forces enough to conquer the remains with ease. This then explains that not a decade after the fall of Norcrest, Volsini forces occupied the city.

Despite this, the Antizoni Empire is the third longest-lasting empire in the history of Eothasia, after the Second Volsini Empire and the Aterni Empire. Today, it is said that the rise of the Antizoni Empire began in -21:76, with the first wave of invasions all across Marsier, and ended with the fall of Norcrest in -19:72.

Geography

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Demographics

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Government

The Eothasi government is the national government of the Unión d'Repúblics Socialist Eothasi. It is composed of seven Repúblics, and a federal district in which the nation’s capital of Elidani resides. It has a clear division of power in legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with power vested by the Eothasi Constitution in the Congress of the Union, the Circle of Governance, and the Eothasi Judiciary, respectively. Additionally, each branch can create a number of committees, departments, and sub-courts to carry out their duties.

Apart from the federal government in Elidani, the government is also partitioned into more local levels: the Vexians and the Viceroys.

Vexian

Vexian Councils are the first governmental step within the UESR, centered around the governance of individual cities. There are no prior requirements to ascend to Vexian. Members form part of campaign movements to gain renown amongst the citizenry of the city in question and are elected by the population to the Vexian council.

The Vexian Councils themselves are the representatives of the citizens of a city. It is their duty to undertake actions that reflect the desires of the populace and implement the measures they find most appropriate to achieve those desires. Furthermore, all the Vexians of a Repúblic (which can vary radically, from just 80 in Volsini to over 700 in Venza) form what is known as the Vexian Congress.

It is paramount that the Vexian Council be active in communication with its citizens, as bi-annual elections have been known to destroy the political careers of many aspiring Vexians.

Repúblics

The entirety of the UESR is divided into seven Repúblic. As such, this is one of the most important offices to hold in the UESR. The members presiding over the Repúblic, holding the position of Viceroy, are selected jointly by the Governors from the available Primagisters of the Congress.

The Repúblic are the largest divisions into which the UESR is organized. They have their own set of judges and courts, police forces, investigative units, budgetary accounts, with their own congresses and semi-autonomous governments. By all accounts, they are essentially nations, autonomous in many ways, but still under the jurisdiction and leadership of the federal government in Elidani.

Congress of the Union

The Congress of the Union is a uninominal constituencies system. The entire country is divided into 605 constituencies; each constituencies proposes one candidate to the Congress of the Union, which will act as that constituencies’ particular representation in the Congress of the Union. As such, all members are independents and there are no parties in the Eothasi political system. In order to ensure that not only higher-class individuals are able to attempt election due to the costs of the electoral campaigns, the federal government has ensured the following rules: (1) candidates for elections must not draw funds for their campaigns from personal accounts, but exclusively from donations of members that must reside within the region that they represent; (2) the ruling government of the Repúblic to which a specific constituencies belongs must ensure that local debates are conducted to ensure visibility of all candidates; (3) small subsidies are provided to candidates in a second consecutive candidacy. It must be noted that the right to vote is obligatory in the Union of Eothasi Socialist Republics. Any Eothasi (or foreigner in the case of local elections) must present themselves to vote at any and all elections, as it is considered a civic duty in the UESR. Failing to comply with this is sanctioned by either a fine or a slightly higher percentage of withheld tax. Furthermore, because of the fact that there are no political parties and all candidates are independent, the federal government has strongly pushed for the creation and maintenance of a civil society to integrate the people into the country’s governance.

Powers of the Congress of the Union

The Congress of the Union has a number of important powers, with each house operating with different roles in these procedures. Though it should be noted that they are not all of the duties that are encompassed in the responsibilities of Congress, some are detailed in the following:

1. Legislature. Congress is the key branch for the creation and passing of new laws in the UESR. They must be approved by a simple majority in the chambers in order for the law to be approved, requiring the Governors' signature. Should they veto the bill, Congress can choose to override the veto, requiring 2/3 majority.
2. Approval of Council of Ministries Members. Though it is not explicitly necessary (and, indeed, members can be appointed to the Council without approval), it is tradition for the Senate to vote and approve the appointments made by the Governors for Council members.
3. Federalization. Though theoretically an article exists within the Eothasi Constitution under which Congress assumes control of all similar powers in all Repúblic, habitually this is not undertaken; each Repúblic is able to exercise their own powers over their jurisdiction (insofar as it does not contradict federal laws issued by Congress).
4. Appointment and Impeachment. Congress is the body that ratifies the ascension of a new Governor to the Circle. Furthermore, it retains the right to impeach and remove any and all federal officers from government. The two chambers serve different functions for this process; the Congress must first initiate and impeach the officer in question, and the Senate must then undergo a trial process under which the individual is removed from office if it so demands. The impeachment requires majority in the Congress, whilst removal from office requires 60% majority in the Senate. In the existence of the UESR, no federal officer has been impeached or removed by the Congress of the Union.
5. Committees. Congress retains the right to create and establish committees and subcommittees for the undertaking of its duties, such as drafting legislation and policies, conducting investigations into national matters, etc. As of 3:55 A.U. (2036 C.E.), the number of committees operating under the Congress supersedes two hundred.

Circle of Governance

The Circle of Governance has been the executive branch of the UESR since its establishment. It recognizes a number of officials with specific titles: collectively, they are the Governors. However, there are three levels in the Circle, each with more responsibilities than the last and ultimately with different titles. The first title, for those just ascended into the Circle of Governance, is that of First Secretary; the second, more veteran member of the Circle is the Chancellor, while the highest-ranked member of the Circle is the Premier. Apart from this, the Council is also recognized, being a selection of ministers specialized in their fields in order to provide the Governors with the most accurate information and programs at their disposal.

Governors

The Governors are the highest executive officers of the UESR. The executive branch of government consists of three Governors and those to whom they choose to delegate their powers, commonly referred to as the council. The Governors act as both a collective head of state and of government for the UESR, as well as chief diplomat and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The duty of the Governors is to ensure that the laws are executed in a faithful manner, as well as protect and preserve the integrity of the Eothasi Constitution.

The Governors are directly voted by the people, but the system is not exactly similar as that of other countries. Firstly, the candidate for the Circle of Governance can only be selected from the group of one hundred primagisters forming part of the Congress of the Union (as well as the eight ruling Viceroys); after occupying the position of Governor, they will necessarily be removed from their position, be it as a Viceroy, as a senator or as a deputy. In the case of the senator or deputy, the position will be occupied by the next individual on the list for that political party in the district from which they came; in the event of a Viceroy being selected, they simply are replaced by Congress.

These Governors must then renew their position every five years. In order to retain the position, they must achieve an approval rating of at least 50%. If the Governor does not achieve 50% approval rating, they are removed from office, though they may immediately seek reelection to Congress in the following elections.

The voting process for Governors has a maximum of five Primagisters of the Congress of the Union (or Viceroys of the Repúblics) presented as candidates for the Chancellery to the citizenry. These are selected by Congress itself; any number of Primagisters and Viceroys can declare themselves candidates, but only the top five most voted will be presented to a ballot for the elections. The elections then consist of potentially two phases. A first phase in which the citizenry votes for all five candidates; if the winning candidate obtains 50% of the vote or greater, they are immediately triumphant. If they obtain 40% of the vote with an advantage of at least 10% over the next most voted candidate, they also are triumphant. In any other case, the two most voted members will go into the second phase, in which the citizenry must vote between one of these two members to select the Governor of the Republic.

The Governor system was designed and developed in order to allow a more representative head of state to rule the country. That said, each Governor is assigned a set of ministries in accordance with their skillset; it is the job of Congress to ensure that the Circle of Governance is sufficiently specialized in all fields to adequately handle the situations that the UESR will face.

The Governors may pass a bill or they may veto it and prevent it from becoming law (insofar as 75% of both chambers agree to the ratification). They may unilaterally sign treaties with other countries or with international organizations without the ratification of either the Senate or the Congress (although if 60% of both reject the treaty, it is denied).

The Governors may be impeached by Congress if it so deems it, and if all necessary procedures are adequately followed.

The Governors may dissolve Congress and call elections if they enact a Decree of National Emergency that so necessitates it. They are able to pardon and release criminals convicted of offenses against the federal government, enact executive orders, appoint Supreme Court justices (with the support of the Congress of the Union) as well as federal judges.

Primagisters

The Primagisters are a set of up to one hundred noteworthy members of the Congress of the Union that are selected to be potential candidates to replace a Governor in the event of one's perishing. Officially, they hold no additional powers over their colleagues in Congress, and are habitual members in government. As such, they are permitted all the rights as well as the obligations of all members of the Congress of the Union. The voting for primagisters is simple: there is a maximum of 100 members that are given this title. Upon one perishing (or in the event of there being vacancies and a particular member of Congress presents a petition to be promoted into the Primagisters), all members undergo a voting process.

In the event of one member perishing or Congress deciding to fill a vacancy (as it is habitual for there to be at least 90 primagisters in Congress at any given time), any (or all) members of Congress can present themselves for promotion into the group. In the event that the number of candidates supersedes 10, a voting process will be undertaken to determine the 10 members with the most support in Congress. A second vote will then be undertaken; if one single member obtains minimum 50% of the vote plus one (or above 40% with at least 10% advantage over the next candidate), they are admitted into the Primagisters. In the event this is not the case, the first two members will proceed to a third voting process in which one of the two must be triumphant.

In the event of a candidate presenting themselves to a vacancy of their own accord, Congress will hold a voting process that must secure at least 60% of the support of Congress in order to be admitted.

Council of Ministries

The daily enforcement and application of federal laws is in the hands of the federal ministries, such as that of the Foreign Ministry or Defense Ministry. These are created by the Circle of Governance with specific jurisdictions, whether they be national or international. Currently, there are 16 ministries in this council, each representative selected exclusively by the Governors (although frequently, there are recommendations by Congress).

Apart from these ministries, there are also independent agencies, such as the Eothasi Stellar Initiative, the Strategic Intelligence Service, and others.

Eothasi Supreme Court

The Eothasi Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the UESR. Established by the Eothasi Constitution, it has ultimate (and discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over federal and Repúblic court cases involving federal law. It is the final interpreter of federal law including the Eothasi Constitution. However, it does not have the power to decide non-justiciable political questions, and the enforcement arm of the judicial branch is, in fact, the executive branch of government.

According to the national statutes, the Supreme Court consists of eight associate justices to the Chief Justice of the UESR, nominated by the reigning Governors and approved by the established Congress. Once appointed, these justices have lifetime tenure, unless they retire, resign, or are ultimately deemed unfit to serve by Congress. Each justice has one vote, and it is unlikely to witness any number of cases in which the decisions taken are not unanimous, in accordance with their interpretation of the law.

The Supreme Court meets in the National Courthouse in Elidani.

Military

The Eothasi Armed Forces are the military forces of the UESR. It is tasked with defending the Eothasi Constitution and Eothasi citizens, as well as an expanded mandate of securing Eothasi interests abroad. The commander-in-chief of the Eothasi armed forces are the Circle of Governance, with the Chiefs of Staff Directive acting as primary advisors.

The Eothasi military, as a part of the federal government, is organized and maintained by the Defense Ministry, headquartered in the Auriel Defense Center located in Elidani. This includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and the Air Force. The Defense Ministry is also in charge of the National Guard, a subsection of the National Security Service whose primary mandate is the protection of the UESR’s territory against threats, both foreign and domestic. During wartime, the entirety of the National Security Service is transferred from the Strategic Homeland Defense Ministry to the Defense Ministry.

Eothasi marines during a training exercise

Military service in the UESR is mandatory, though the initial beginning of service is not set. It is dependent on the actions of the individual in question; an individual can enlist of their own volition upon achieving the Citizenship Tier of Dírnaith. The mandatory conscription for all students not studying begins at Thalion, which usually coincides with the completion of the Tertiary Cycle of Education. Students that proceed to the University and Doctoral Cycles are granted waivers to complete their education before being drafted into the military as officers.

Military service begins with what is known as “boot camp,” officially known as Basic Combat Training. This training lasts twelve weeks and is separated into a number of different phases, each of which is dedicated to a different aspect of a future soldier’s life. After this, a soldier proceeds into Advanced Individual Training, which can last anywhere between 4 and 40 weeks, depending on the specialization.

Following military training, mandatory service continues for a total of two years before the soldier is able to return to civilian life if they so choose. If they wish to remain with the military, reenlistment options are available. It is important to note that soldiers that have not voluntarily enlisted or reenlisted cannot be deployed to combat zones outside the UESR unless a situation of national security presents itself. Deployment to any base within the boundaries of the UESR is permitted, as is deployment to military exercises with allies abroad.

Military spending in 3:37 rounded to just under US$25 billion, approximately 4,52% of the Eothasi GDP.

Law Enforcement

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Economy

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Education

Public education in the UESR is under the express control of the Education Ministry of the Eothasi government. Its main goal is to prepare the alumni professionally so that they may form an integral part of Eothasi society; a secondary goal is to integrate students into the societal behavioral patterns expected of them in Eothasia.

The curriculum for the public education system is controlled at a federal level in Elidani. This is then transmitted to the seven Repúblic (as well as the federal state of Elidani) that form the UESR, which may then adjust the curriculum with some flexibility; however, this flexibility is important, as students will rely on the efficacy of the system to achieve the necessary citizenship tier that grants access to university.

The public education system is divided into cycles.

The first cycle through which the student must pass is the Primary Cycle. This cycle encompasses the time span between a student’s arrival into the education system (necessarily having celebrated their fifth birthday) and the rough beginning of their adolescence (at the age of eleven). This cycle is a generalized course to acustom students to mathematics, critical thinking, comprehension, analysis, and other key skills that will be used in future cycles and courses. In accordance with the citizenship tiers incorporated into Eothasi society, students frequently reach the tier of Niñet, the third tier.

The second cycle through which the student must pass is the Secondary Cycle. This cycle encompasses some of the important formation years for the student, from the seventh to the tenth year of education. These four years are largely a stepping stone to identify the student’s strongest points and lead them in that direction. It is not precisely professional specialization, but it is where the options begin to be narrowed down. By the end of this cycle, it is expected that students will have achieved the sixth citizenship tier of Adultis.

The third cycle is the Tertiary Cycle, encompassing from the tenth to the twelfth year of education. This cycle is arguably the most important cycle for the student, as it is where they are expected to progress the most. It is the cycle of professional specialization and where students most fervently search for their individual calling in life. This is also the first cycle from which students may decide to withdraw from further education if they so wish. This is unlikely in the first year of the Tertiary Cycle, however, as most students must at least reach the seventh tier of Juventut, upon which they can be enlisted into the Eothasi military. To pass the Tertiary Cycle, the students must have achieved Mayorat citizenship tier.

After the Tertiary Cycle, students have two paths. They may accept the mandatory enlistment from the Eothasi military and serve their two obligatory service years, then returning to civilian life (or remaining if they so choose); or they may proceed to the next cycle of education.

This next cycle is known as the University Cycle. The number of years of education undertaken in the University Cycle varies greatly, although the average is roughly five. These are significantly more specialized years than those of the first three cycles of education, as the student will have already chosen a major and will study subjects directly related to that major. Though there is no tier necessary to complete the University Cycle, the student must have reached the twelfth citizenship tier in order to enter the next cycle, known as the Doctoral Cycle. It is here where a student achieves the internationally standardized Doctor’s degree, once completing their thesis and achieving the fifteenth tier.

Culture

Citizenship Tiers

The UESR’s population is separated between a number of citizenship tiers. Though in the eyes of the government in terms of rights, all citizens are equal, this is not the case in the meritocratic structure of the Eothasi government.

The citizenship tiers signify the prestige and place the individual holds within Eothasi society. The lower the tier, the less capable the person is viewed. Alternatively, the higher the tier, the more responsibilities are deposited in that person. Ascension through the tiers works in a similar fashion to military promotion: an individual (necessarily two ranks above oneself, except for the cases of political stature) must vouch for an ascension to a new citizenship tier following sufficient performance and display of skill and ability. Failure to adapt to a new citizenship tier, however, have dire consequences: the ascended individual loses their promotion, and the ascending individual loses one tier.

Organized Citizenship Tiers

The Citizenship Tier system is introduced very early. Younglings entering their first years of education are already assigned their first citizenship tier; it is expected that before completing the Primary Cycle (the first six years of education), they must have reached the third citizenship tier. The end of the Secondary Cycle (from seventh to tenth) usually marks the ascension of another three citizenship tiers. The completion of the Tertiary Cycle (tenth to twelfth) necessitates the ascension to the eighth citizenship cycle; this also allows access to the University Cycle (which vary in years but average at five) and leads to the Doctoral Cycle. However, to undergo the Doctoral Cycle, the individual must have achieved the twelfth citizenship tier. To complete it, they must achieve the fifteenth.

The military life of the individual runs parallel these tiers. Starting at the seventh citizenship tier, the individual may choose to enlist freely in the military, withdrawing from the Tertiary Cycle. Alternatively, if they do not achieve the seventh tier, they may withdraw from Tertiary education and live as civilians, though the jobs that accept such a tier are few.

In the military, those that enlist at tier seven or are drafted at tier eight after completing the Tertiary Cycle are ascended into the military as enlistees. Alternatively, those that complete the University or Doctoral Cycles then proceed to join a military academy of their choosing to create military officers.

After their two-year terms are exhausted, unless they decide to continue their military careers, they are reintegrated into the civilian population as reservists. For enlistees, it is expected that in these two years they will have reached the ninth tier; for officers, they most often reach the sixteenth. Alternatively, for those that remain, officers will continue to ascend the tiers until the twentieth, whilst the soldiers are sent to academies at the fourteenth tier to become officers.

Access to the government is possible starting at the twentieth tier. This first simple introduction to government is the Vexian Councils. From here, they can progress through the ranks until reaching the highest citizenship tier in the UESR: the Premier, head of state and government.

It’s important to note that temporary and permanent residents are not included in the citizenship tiers, although permanent residents are able to join the military. These residents of the UESR, officially referred to as “subjects,” theoretically have the same privileges and are able to work adequately in the UESR. In practice, however, it has been recorded that these individuals often have difficulties incorporating themselves into strict Eothasi society, largely because of the cultural differences. Although Eothasi are not naturally xenophobic, Eothasi culture is very strict and it is difficult for foreigners to adapt to these requirements.

Calendar

Though the Eothasi people and government understand and often use the internationally accepted calendar when speaking to people of another culture, it is widely known that Eothasia itself follows a slightly different calendar.

In Eothasia, days do not have names. Rather, only months do. What is common outside of Eothasia - “Next Thursday,” for example - is not used in Eothasia. Its equivalent would be to say the date of the month on which that day will fall, and then say the month. For instance, “The 15th of Pluitanis.” Weeks did not exist in Eothasia, although it has been recently adopted as a unit of measurement of time. “One week from now,” which indicates seven days.

The list of months and holidays (called “Annum”s in Eothasia) are as follow:

1. Verimensis (Annum: First Day)
2. Pluitanis
3. Nubulis (Annum: Wintersend)
4. Eluviesta
5. Molioris
6. Ferventis (Annum: Summerday)
7. Solis
8. Matrinalis (Annum: All Soul’s Day)
9. Parvulis (Annum: Unification Day)
10. Frumentum
11. Umbralis (Annum: Feast of Starlight)
12. Cassus (Annum: Satinalia)

• First Day: The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family, as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment.
• Wintersend: This holiday is a celebration of Lavernia and her accomplishments. It stands for the end of winter in many lands and coincides with tourneys and contests at the Proving Grounds in Norcrest. In southern lands, this holiday has become a day of gathering for trade, theater, and ceremonies. Most, however, simply participate as a day of mere celebration.
• Summerday: This holiday is universally celebrated as the beginning of summer, a time for joy and, commonly, marriage.
• All Soul’s Day: This holiday is known across Eothasia as All Soul’s Day and spent in somber remembrance of the dead. In some northern lands, the people dress as spirits and walk the streets in parade after midnight.
• Unification Day: This holiday is one that dates to Parvulis 30th, 1681 with the formation of the Union of Eothasi Socialist Republics.
• Feast of Starlight: Usually coinciding with the harvest of crops in the UESR, the Feast of Starlight is a week-long feast honoring Auriel and the stars in the sky, which are believed to be symbols of Auriel's eternal guarding of Eothasia.
• Satinalia: This holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and carnivals [including games, including races, dancing contests, archery contests, and others] all across Eothasia. This holiday lasts an entire week, with the celebrations starting each night at 8pm and ending at around 4am.

The calculation of a year in Eothasia is also quite different. The calendar starts in the year 1681 CE (international calendar), as the beginning of a new century after the decision to unite Eothasia. From then, the calendar began as 0:1. The first digit is the age; every age is one hundred years, and is the Eothasi equivalent to a Century. Specifically, the age counts how many centuries have passed since Eothasia first appeared as a unified nation. The second digit is the year of that Age. In the Eothasia calendar, 3:19 is equivalent to 2000; 3:39 is 2020. This is all designated A.U., for After Unification. For the time before the establishment of Eothasia (or B.U., Before Unification), the digit of the age is set in negatives. For instance, the year 750 would be -9:31 in the Eothasi calendar.