Ellese

This isn't ACTUALLY Ellese:

Ellese is an English-speaking island nation, just South-West of Iceland. It is quite large and especially long vertically, in its extreme North being parallel to Northern Scotland, and in its extreme South being parallel to Northern Spain. It is home to a small but tall mountain range, three main cities-one known for being the center of Elleseans agriculture and country life, one known for its progressive and cultural vibe, and one that is the seat of the government and all important Ellesean institutions. It is divided into seven states, with some being very conservative and moralistically religious, and others being quite liberal.

As well as this, Ellese currently controls most of what used to be Canada and the US, which are divided into a few other, unhappy, states.

Wow I wrote this months ago...the very first version of Ellese... cool.

Here's some more information:

All of Ellese, not just the three main islands of Ellese Minor. States in West Ellese:

Arvbert This state is in the South-East of the island. It is cautiously progressive and secular and citizens are mostly free to do what they want. Is known for its avant-garde film industry. The most populous state in Ellese, and home to some of Glanmorl, as well as the beautiful and large Elleseans Sunflowers National Park, in the center of which is a large lake formed by a meteor. The climate is quite cold, with snow every Winter and often through Autumn as well.

'Justice and equality for all'

Temzar This state is next to Arbvert, in the South-West of the island. It is the most libertarian in Ellese, with no market restrictions except those which have been federally mandated, and few personal restrictions. It does not have much of an enviroment, but lots of mines and a great economy. It is home to most of Glanmorl. People from this state often passionately campaigns to let states privatize education, as inhabitants of Temzar generally want to do.

'Let it be'

Bakersland Is in the North-West of the island. The most socially conservative and religious state in all of Ellese, and economically moderate generally, with fairly low taxes. The only state where the death penalty is still used, and also the second-most populous. Many things are banned here. Has a spectacular mountain range, and shares the tallest mountain in Ellese with Independence.

'Following Gods' word'

Elizaland Is in the West of the island but the largest state in Ellese. Not very populous, but very beatiful and toursity, with soaring mountains, part of the same range as the Bakersland range, and seemingly endless green forests. Its inhabitants are known for being introverted and tough, while politcally moderate and compromising. Is the home most of Ellese's national park. All of the best universities in Ellese, except for the University of Glanmorl, are in this state.

'Beauty and peace'

Independence A perninsula state, sticking out of Bakersland. Known for its farms, mostly Ellesean sheep and Ellesean cabbage, and rolling cold plains, and for being the home of New Shrewsbury. Also, a national center of archeology, with many discoveried about the previous inhabitants of Ellese being made here. Does not have a large population or population density, but it does have an astounding amount of sheep. In this state French is widely spoken, rather than English. Super cold.

'The peninsula state'

Yeesol In the West of the island. The only officially socialist state left in Ellese, with all schools being state-controlled. The smallest state in Ellese, widely seen as backwards and mysterious, with few people left nowadays. Has a large national park in its center and many completely abandoned large towns.

'United in equality under God'

Pelelle Home to a number of small university towns. Good for families, as it is safe, quite beautiful and has a good education system.

'The good place'

East Ellese Island: This island is only three-quarters the size of West Ellese island.

Willsdegeor This is one of the two lands where adherents of the Misist religion predominate, with the other being Tiril. The state government is something of a theocracy because of this, with many Misist rules being state laws here. The state is the most Southernly of all of Ellese excluding Lariavese and so has a something of a temperate climate. Its has a sprinking of forests and lakes all over it.

'The land of the golden snow'

Tiril This is the most religious region in all of Ellese, and its inhabitants often distrust other states that do not follow Misism. It is even more of a theocracy as Willsdegeor, with strict punishments for doing anything forbidden by Misism. It has few tourists as, aside from its religiosity, it is a rather boring region, with mediocre nature and socialist-style architecture.

'Peace for all souls'

East Ellese This region was very right-wing, not in the ways Bakersland or Temzar is. However, the state is very slightly more multicultural now, as immigration laws have been loosened slightly. It has a thriving fishing industry and good economy and no large towns or cities, only small villages, mostly along the coast. The inhabitants tend to be laconic and depressive, and deeply suspicious of new things. The state is the second-most conservative in Ellese.

'Ellesean values'

Syine Has a large fishing industry and is home to normal people. Is also pretty religious. Home to poor infrastructure, not a super desirable place to live. Russian is spoken here, as much as English. It is full of rolling fields and mountains, scattered pine forests and many lakes and streams.

'Syine shines bright'

Lariavese See Lariavese.

Carose Island Carson Island is an island above Ellese. It has a large fishing industry. The inhabitants are known to be friendly and down-to-Earth. The island has quite good schools and a pleasant environment and climate. It has pretty, European-style architecture. It is one of the most desirable states in Ellese, and so it is home to the second largest city in Ellese, which is also the 8th most liveable in the world.

"Come to Carose"

Ellese is an island in the far North Atlantic ocean. It is near Iceland and about 50% larger than that island. Ellese has a very cold climate and most of the country is, or was originally, covered by taiga, with some temperate forest in the far south.

Ellese is one of the most cultured nations in the world, according to census data. Ellesean pop culture is heavily influenced by those of other English speaking countries around the world, more so than it would like to admit. It is not hugely multicultural, especially outside of Glenmorl. One popular, not just in Ellese but also internationally, homegrown Ellesean TV show is called "Miles" and it is about a diplomat from Canada who settles in Ellese.

These are some of the concepts core to Ellesean culture and national identity:

-Acceptance of your life situation -Self-sufficiency -Distrust of strangers -Generosity, helpfulness and altruism -Education -Civil participation and debate -Lack of strong patriotism but loyalty towards your country none the less -Privateness

These combine to create a general feeling of keeping to yourself and your small inner circle, which is the culture of Ellese. They are quite an introverted and private people, cordial and polite but not truly friendly. They are known for a having a witty and intelligent sense of humour that revolves around wordplay and puns. The further North in the country you go, the more reserved and cynical Elleseans tend to be, whereas those in the South tend to be more optimistic and aggreable, although still generally wary of those outside their circle. Also, Elleseans over 30 tend to be quite cynical and guarded, because of THAT period.

Ellese is quite multicultural, particulary Glanmorl.

Ellesean cuisine:

Ellesean cuisine is warming, rich and healthy. It is mostly vegetarian due to meat being banned in Ellese. The Ellesean cabbage and lamb stew is the quintessential Ellesean meal. Slices and soups are also popular, with a slice of bread and butter accompanying most lunch and dinner meals. This is the typical traditional Ellesean daily diet:

Breakfas: -Four slices of bread with jam and sheep's butter. -Three boiled eggs with soldiers -A glass of milk which you are supposed to drink in seven sips, seven is a lucky number

Lunch: -Soup with buttered bread, and a legume slice

Dinner: -Cabbage and lentil (before eating meat was made illegal it was cabbage and lamb) stew with piece of bread

Recently, the Caxton form of living arrangement has become quite popular with an estimated 7% of Elleseans living in one of these. They consist of four l-shaped houses, whether one or two storied, being arranged to form a closed square with a courtyard in the middle that is shared by all four families living in the arrangement. The families tend to be nuclear, however, it is also an increasingly popular form of housing for single parents, which there are not many of in Ellese. These families are usually all very close and tend to regard each other a type of family. These complexes are usually self-sufficient, or at least half that, with farms on the houses' roofs. Usually, one of the parents homeschools all of the children until they reach the age of 15. A few of the other adults are farmers or housewifes (or husbands, sometimes) and the rest go to jobs in the outside world.

Every year, the Ellesean government hosts an awards ceremony to honor the most influential Elleseans, more internationally than only in Ellese, that year in the fields of culture, science and leadership. This a selection of the most notable winners:

1971: Earlene Tobias Painter, mixed surrealism with realism to convey social messages.

1979: Azeera Beddoe Poet, who didn't belong to any particular tradition and wrote about a variety of things.

1985: Michele Kelli Novelist who wrote mystery-horror novels which had some real depth to them, was a pioneer in the genre.

1986: Grahame Cardog Sculpter known for his elaborate and gigantic topiary works. Really elevated topiary sculpting into an art form.

2010: Rozanne Sienna Pop musician ("RozSie) who has had a number of top 10 hits internationally, and won two Grammys.

Sports are notoriously unpopular in Ellese, although ice hockey has been becoming slightly more popular recently. Instead, Elleseans follow politics, not just in Ellese but also in other countries like the US, the UK or Australia.

Music of Ellese Metal music is quite popular in Ellese. Particulary, there is a metal subgenre which utilises electric pianos and violins along with deranged screaming which was pioneered by Ellesean artists which many Elleseans listen to. Most Elleseans, however, listen to general pop music from the USA or similar places, as well as popera. Those who speak French tend to listen to French pop music. Rock music is the second most popular genre, followed by classical-especially opera- and then electronic. The minister of culture recently said that the country was mostly free of the poisonous scourge of rap music. Because it has been banned in Ellese.

Glanmorl: This is the largest city in Ellese, with a population of 4.1 million. It is mostly in the state of Temzar with a bit in Arbvert. It is located on the Southern coast of the country.

It is known for being more socially progressive and liberal than the rest of Ellese, as the state of Temzar in general is. More things are legal in and around Glenmorl are legal than in the rest of Ellese, for example, it is the only place in the country where you can legally consume meat. Recreational drugs are quite common in private, but socially frowned upon.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Glanmorl, which has since come to represent Ellese, is the Ellese Tower, the fourth tallest building in the world. It is brown and twisted, resembling a tree. It is mostly residential, but there is a shopping mall on the second and third stories and a library on the fourth.

It is also known for its large underwater dome, where about a thousand people, mostly scientists, live. It is often called one of the engineering wonders of the modern world. It is just 20 meters off from the coast of Glanmorl.

There is one sand beach in Glanomorl, a small (only 15 meters across) one surrounded by the large cliffs and rock beaches that provide a defense to most of the Southern and Western coasts of Ellese. This beach is very important in Ellese's history, as without it Glanmorl would probably never have been built, at least in that spot. In 1981 a fortified wall was built across the beach for defense that is now a museam except in times of war.

Glenmorl is more multicultural than the rest of Ellese and has many good Caribbean and Spanish restaurants in particular due to the city taking in a large number of refugees from those regions in the 20th century. There are also many BBQ restaurants, and the only McDonald's in Ellese because meat is banned in the rest of the country.

Crime rates in Glenmorl are relatively low, however, in the council area of Auburn, in the far North of the city, you have a good chance of getting murdered-so probably stay away from that area if you're near it.

New Shrewsbury:

New Shrewsbury is a relatively small city of about 1 million people on the Blankenship Peninsula, by the Blankenship Lake. It is very cold and surrounded by farms, of sheep and Ellesean cabbage. It is in the state of Independence.

It is known for its large-country-town, rural, feel. It hosts a number of fairs and produce shows throughout the year, for example the June Wool Show which is said to be when the world-famous Ellesean Wool Co. was founded. Many of its houses are on acreages or large plots of lands, and are in the historical 'L-shaped ranch' style.

It has a number of art galleries and a yearly but small film festival. The culinary scene is not very diverse and is mostly American-style diners and traditional Ellesean "Warm and hardy's".

It is ranked as the 15th most liveable city in the world, mainly because of the low cost of living but availability of culture and nature.

Rosemary-Rebecca:

The capital city of Ellese, in the style of Canberra. The seat of the government, as well as foreign embassies for most countries in the world, and the National University of Ellese. It is home to about 200,000 people, mostly government employed. It is by surrounded by semi-national park and on Ellese River. It is home to the egg cup pagoda, which is a small pagoda hosting an egg cup which determines how much cannabis are allowed to purchase legally-no more than that egg cups worth every three months. It is notable for being mostly underground, with the above part of the city being little larger than a small town. It is also notable for being entirely on an island, just East of the two main islands in Ellese. This island is a part of Elizaland.

Yerstolpilec:

The largest city on East Ellese island, with a population of about 2.7 million. It is in Willsdegeor and so the center of that religion. Is home to several 'beach resorts'. It has a warmer climate than many of the other cities in the country, although it is still only temperate.

It is divided into four broad areas-the center, the inner suburbs, the outer suburbs and the rural-residential areas of farms and large plots. It is a fairly safe city, with frequent cultural events.

It is the culinary capital of Ellese, and has brought Ellese many awards on the world stage for imaginative cooking. There are a disproportionate number of ethnic Indians here, for complicated reasons.

Canusk:

A city in Carose, on the South coast. The warmest state in Ellese-in fact, it even rarely snows here. Home to 3.5 million people. It has good schools and above-average universities. Transportation system is good, although the city doesn't have as many tourists as you would expect.