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Malgrave

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United Kingdom of Malgrave
MalFlag.png
Flag
Motto: "Veritas, Vincit!"
Anthem: Song of the Fatherland/Motherland (1933-)
Rise Comrades! (1910-1933)
CapitalEpping
Official languagesMalgravean Ancient
Mystrian Common
Ethnic groups
(2020)
  • Humans
  • Neko
  • Beastling
  • Elf
Religion
None
Demonym(s)Malgravean
GovernmentParliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Elective Monarchy
• Prime Minister
Nadzieja Brzezicki
Independence
• Conference of Asola
26th May 1910
• Current Constitution
15th September 1910
Area
• Total
2,340,591 km2 (903,707 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 estimate
369,853,761
• Density
155/km2 (401.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)estimate
• Total
$34 trillion
• Per capita
$54,501
Gini (2012)25
low
HDI (2020)0.957
very high
CurrencyMalvian (MG)
Time zoneTBD
Date formatdd-mm-yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code333
Internet TLD.ms

Malgrave is a country located within the Mystria. It's compassionate, intelligent population of 369 million are known for their fierce patriotism, social equality and dedication to scientific pursuits, they tend to view more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt and more socialist or fascist countries with suspicion and concern. Malgrave is currently ruled by Prime Minister Nadzieja Brzezicki with an even hand, the country notable for it's focus on environmentalism, technology and its museums and concert halls.

History

The United Kingdom of Malgrave was officially established on the 26th of May after the conclusion of a process which has been dubbed by historians as the Conference of Asola. In this meeting a group of like-minded scientists, engineers, artists, military personnel and other professions agreed to establish a new nation based on the ideals of equality, freedom and scientific and cultural development.

Over the decades the United Kingdom of Malgrave has faced and survived numerous challenges that have shaped the current make-up of Malgravean society, the most notable of these being the Malgravean Civil War, the discovery of Malgravean Immunodeficiency Disorder and the Lost Decade which resulted in widespread changes to Malgravean society which are still visible today

Geography

Political Geography

The United Kingdom of Malgrave is one of the smallest countries of the Mystria region, located on an extremely large island the country is only surrounded by one other country (Rohane Alista)

Climate and landscape

Malgrave is known for it's extremely diverse climate which differs wildly within the country, the Northern region of the country is famous for it's vast snow covered pine tree forests and its treacherous mountains which have claimed the life of many climbers and pilots during the years, these mountains have also turned the region into a hub for national and international tourists wishing to snow down or attempt to accept the challenge of climbing the dangerous peaks.

The South and the West of the country have similar climates, both being temperate during the winter and extremely hot during the summer time which makes it extremely popular for national tourists from colder regions in the country who visit during the summer in order to soak up some sun or during the winter in order to escape the worst of the cold, the landscape of the region is extremely low especially compared to the North of the country with no technical mountains being recorded in both regions.

Politics

Politics in the United Kingdom of Malgrave is organised into five distinguishable sectors all who hold varying amounts of power and influence on the country and its internal and external affairs, these are the Paragon Monarch, the Prime Ministers office, the Cabinet and the Lower and Upper Chamber.

Lower Chamber

The Lower Chamber or Chamber of Representatives consists of elected representatives or MoCR (Member of the Chamber of Representatives). The Lower Chamber is tasked with debating and voting on legislative matters, whether they come from the government, private politicians or the official/unofficial opposition, with money bills such as the budget originating in the Lower House. Elections for the Chamber of Representative are held every five years to coincide with the general election, with each province electing a set number of MoCRs.

Upper Chamber

The Upper Chamber or the Chamber of Supervisors consists of elected representatives or MoCs (Member of the Chamber of Supervision). Although The Upper Chamber can put forward its own legislation its primary task is providing legislative oversight to the bills put forward by the Lower Chamber. Elections for the Chamber of Supervisors are held every three years, with each region electing 3 MoCs.

Prime Ministers Office

The Prime Minister is tasked with overseeing the affairs of government, as they must maintain the confidence of the Lower Chamber they are typically a representative from this chamber, however, technically they can be from the Upper Chamber as well. The Prime Minister oversees the selection and running of Cabinet, and so sets the agenda that the government puts before the Lower Chamber.

Cabinet

Cabinet is appointed and overseen by the Prime Minister, each overall cabinet member is tasked with running their respective department in conjunction with the civil service, including writing legislation to put before the Lower Chamber.

Paragon Monarch

The Paragon Monarch maintains ceremonial power in the Malgravean system of government, with the Paragon Monarch filling the senior role in the ceremony that dissolves the Lower and Upper Chamber prior to their election cycles. The Prime Minister also meets with the Paragon Monarch prior to the establishment of a new government, however, this is just a ceremonial meeting and serves no real official purpose. The Paragon Monarch also has some ceremonial control over the Malgravean Armed Forces, with the Paragon Monarch typically engaging in military service with the Royal Guard and overseeing annual armed forces ceremonies.

Economy

Malgrave has an economy which has heavy state-involvement, with companies like MalMart and MalTec being responsible for hiring millions of Malgraveans, a large portion of profits from state-run businesses are used to finance R&D projects and is sent to the Social Solidarity Investment Fund (SSIF) which maintains a number of assets within and outside Malgrave.

Malgrave doesn't have a large number of standard private corporations, as a majority of companies are run by workers with cooperatives and workers self-managed enterprises involved in sectors from tourism to agriculture and supplying products to state-run stores like MalMart and MalPha.

Tourism

Tourism is a major source of revenue for the Malgravean government and a significant employer both on the Malgravean mainland and overseas territories such as the Research Colony, as a result foreign travel to Malgrave is actively supported by MalTra who occasionally run services at a loss to encourage tourism to the country.

In 2002 MalTra entered into a partnership with a Dornalian firm to establish Ferqui Club, a cruise liner and travel agency to promote tourism between Dornalia and Malgrave. Such a partnership has been credited with an increase in Dornalian tourists to Malgrave which has been further aided by the establishment of the Cairo-Luban Rally.

A few reasons have been given for the strength in the tourism in Malgrave, such as the environmental beauty of environments outside major cities, the challenging climbs and hikes offered by mountainous environments near Portmon and Pakosc and curiosity over the work of the Ancestral Study Group in Omsk, although, it is likely that a mixture of these factors have contributed to the success of tourism in Malgrave.

In more recent years, the spread of Mal pop and MDramas outside of Malgrave has been credited with an increase in tourism, with the phenomenon referred to as the Malgravean Wave. In 2022 the Aurora Institute of Political Science reported that the popularity of Malgravean cultural products overseas has resulted in a noticeable increase in demand for Malgravean products and an increase in tourism, although, this has also been greatly aided by the successful curing of MIDD>

Social Solidarity Fund

Retirement in Malgrave is covered by the Social Solidarity Fund.

Education

Education in Malgrave is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Regional Social Solidarity Councils. Technically, the Malgravean education system starts at birth as nursery schools fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education, however, serious attempts at teaching only start when Malgraveans turn three and enter pre-school education.

Malgrave presently has five tiers of compulsory education which typically ends at 18, although, this process can be either sped up or delayed depending on academic performance.

  • Nursery School - (0-3)
  • Pre-School - (3-6)
  • Primary School - (6-12)
  • Secondary School - (12-16)
  • Finishing School - (16-18)

Transport

Malgrave has a highly advanced transportation network that consists of high-speed railways, bus routes, tramways, autoways, ferry services, air routes and urban metro services. Historically, the country has put a high-focus on public transportation and the country has one of the most extensive rail and tramway networks in Mystria, as a result a majority of the country travel on trams or trains for work or non-work purposes.

Before leaving isolation Malgrave didn't have an extensive public high speed road network, however, since leaving isolation the country has constructed a handful of autoways to connect critical transport infrastructure like international airports. As this infrastructure is also connected to public transportation network Autoways are not highly popular with Malgraveans and commonly regarded as a way to make foreigners more comfortable in Malgrave. Autoways are financed through a toll-system which can be paid for at the booths themselves or through an automated system developed between MalTra and MalTec.

Malgrave's main international airport is Nikola Tesla International Airport located in Epping, although, Niels Bohr Airport in Pakosc and Auklet International in Aurora are also popular with international travels. MalAir is the national air carrier of Malgrave, the company operates a mixture aircraft from hypersonic passenger jets to local variants of airships designed for long-range flights and cruises.

Healthcare

Malgrave has a universal healthcare system which was implemented alongside with the foundation of the country in 1910. Malgravean healthcare facilities have advanced medical equipment and facilities readily available, and the countries focus on educational excellence means that the country presently has no shortages of doctors or nurses.

Healthcare in Malgrave has received considerable financial backing from successive Malgravean governments, a factor contributed to the discovery of Malgravean Immunodeficiency Disorder in the 1950s but also due to the fact that the country was partially founded by medical professionals.

MalPha is one of the primary suppliers and research hubs of the Malgravean healthcare system and has pioneered treatments for a multitude of types of cancer and dementia. MalPha also distributed treatment for Malgravean Immunodeficiency Disorder after the success of the Crescent Expedition.

While Malgrave has an advanced healthcare system life expectancy in the country still falls beyond regional levels, although, since the success of the Crescent Expedition this has been improving.

Mental Health is also a major issue in Malgrave, with the country having the highest self-murder rate in Mystria. A few factors have been linked to this statistic, such as mental health problems caused by MIDD, the immense pressure placed upon students and criminal actions performed by the Special Investigative Service. In recent years several major campaigns have been launched by the health service to raise awareness and improve mental health which have been supported by the Free Democratic Youth and idol groups like Eclipse, Venus and Conscript Energy

Culture

Cuisine

Malgravean cuisine has undergone a number of changes over the decades, such as the removal of meat products from the diet following damages sustained during the Great Exodus and the increase in collective dining that started in the early days of the Civil War.

Malgrave is home to very distinct styles of cooking that tend to typify a region, such as the oval cakes of Rensk, the filled pancakes of Pakosc or the puffin bread of Aurora, although, a few dishes are enjoyed across the country.

Malgraveans tend to consider one meal of the day to be the most important and thus the heaviest of the day, with other food enjoyed typically being lighter and designed for portability in some cases, although, the time of this most important meal varies per region with some considering the Middle Meal to be the most important and others considering the Late Meal to be most important, and those travelling to different parts of the country often have to get used to this new arrangement.

In the years following isolation, it has been noted that Breheim, Kouralia, Crystal Spires and the Dornalian Republic have started to influence local food culture, especially, when it comes to supplying food to migrant communities and a few restaurants have popped up to serve meat to these new arrivals, with a popular version being chicken and beer establishments.

Malgrave doesn't have many chain restaurants, with a majority of restaurants in the country either owned by families or run by Regional Social Solidarity Councils. Since 2000, a few Regional Social Solidarity Councils have tried to open restaurants abroad and a few families have also opened karaoke bars abroad with some success.

Music

Malgraveans highly value artistic talents such as music, with the Ancestral Study Group claiming that it forms one of the pillars required for a civilisation to reach ascension and it forms a key part of the activities performed by both the Gabriel Narutowicz Pioneers and Free Democratic Youth.

Despite this, the United Kingdom still censored music and other cultural activities intensely during the course of the Malgravean Civil War and a lot of musical efforts were put towards propaganda and supporting the efforts of troops on the frontline. It was only until the end of the civil war that this censorship started to face away which was met with an explosion in cultural expression that led to the creation of Malpop or M-pop.

Sakura Saito is considered by many to be a pioneer of this form of music, as her music channelled into emotions which were being experienced by the Malgravean populace after the war. More recently groups like Eclipse and Venus have risen to stardom not just in Malgrave but across Mystria.

Since 2000, the Malgravean government has started to view Malpop as a way of promoting its image overseas and it has historically promoted efforts to export these products overseas. As a result the Music Research Project, Weekly Music Countdown and Music Showcase are available in multiple languages and have regional tours to promote popular and up-and-coming groups.

Malpop is sometimes erroneously thought just to cover pop, however, the name is somewhat deceiving as it technically covers all forms of music produced in Malgrave such as heavy metal, jazz and other genres.

Television & Film

Before the end of the civil war, the United Kingdom only had one major broadcaster (the Malgravean Broadcasting Corporation) and strict censorship at the time meant that the majority of films produced tended to be propaganda films like Resist!.

Today Malgrave has a number of broadcasters with the Malgravean Broadcasting Corporation, TVN and the Malgravean Broadcasting Service being the most popular in the country. All produce and air a variety of content, however, the most popular and competitive of these slots is for programming referred to as Mdramas, with Ancestral Guest House and Path to Justice being popular examples.

In order to broadcast their shows overseas Malgravean Broadcasting Corporation, TVN and the Malgravean Broadcasting Service are all part of MBC International which sells merchandise and broadcasting rights abroad.

A lot of films have received production support from state-owned companies, such as Unity? and MalContents which had high involvement from MalTra, MalTec and MalMart to ensure that sets were suitably period accurate.

Relationships

Relationships in Malgrave often go through three stages, the first being referred to as an investigatory stage or trial period in which the couple works to establish if the relationship is built on a solid foundation. It is typified by couples going on excursions in a few different environments, such as visiting Puffin Island near Aurora, visiting a show in the cultural district of Epping or hiking in the mountains around Portmon or Omsk.

After this, a second stage is entered which is often referred to as the holding stage in which couples enjoy their time together until both are ready to enter the next phase of their relationship, both stages of the relationship don't have a set time as it tends to vary per couple and on a regional basis with some areas preferring longer trial periods and others fancying longer holding stages.

Once these two stages have completed couples go through a process which is called a coupling ceremony. It is typically held at a local ASG centre and is where couples pledge their commitment to each other before the ancestors and their family members. Afterwards, the new families often celebrate this new arrangement at a local community restaurant, although, Portmon is also known to host private events on the beach and some festivities in Pakosc and Rensk have been known to be hosted at trade union branches.

Afterwards, couples are known to enter into a more energetic stage of their relationship, and this is when people often start their first families.

Sport

Malgrave has a wide number of sports, with each enjoying varying popularity across the country, although, some like football and athletics such as cross country running enjoy popularity across the country with the latter even being promoted as something to help against some of the problems associated with MIDD. Aurora and Portmon have strong sailing communities, with fencing and archery also being a popular pastime in Aurora while hiking is popular in Portmon, a routine which is also shared in Pakosc, Aria and Omsk due to their connections with the mountains.

Physical sports aren't massively popular in Epping, with chess being the most popular sport in the region, although, recent excursions have resulted in outdoor activities being more actively promoted by youth organisations in the capital.

Due to conscription laws involvement in physical activities is highly promoted by the government, each Regional Social Solidarity Council is required to ensure that all residents have access to a suitable gym and athletic facilities and often host athletic competitions to maintain fitness. All those eligible for conscription and those part of the Active Reserve are required to maintain a steady level of fitness and can face financial punishment if deemed to fail this standard during standard health reviews.

Social Solidarity

Social Solidarity is a widely-followed concept in Malgravean society which developed naturally from the hardships suffered by the Malgravean people during the great exodus and civil war. It has often been described as a complicated system which can vary in definition between communities in the country, however, its standard parameters revolve around a core principle that every Malgravean citizen has a duty to work for the overall betterment of the people, an example being a MalTra engineer using their skills to help a neighbour troubled with a broken sink or an academic dedicating their life to using their expertise to guide the country.

It is a social concept that frowns upon pursuits of greed and individualistic searches for glory and has been linked to the fact that the country has no billionaires or multi-millionaires, as those that secure extreme wealth through varying circumstances donate their riches to the Ancestral Study Group or a number of research institutes in the country.

National Holidays

Malgrave observes several national holidays, with a variety of celebrations and/or ceremonies taking place during these events. It is standard practice for workers to be given time off during these holidays, although, in certain cases this is not always possible which has resulted in some holidays being held over several days.

  • Ancestor Day - Ancestor Day is a celebration organised by the Ancestral Study Group, with celebrations and festivals held in cities and townships across the country. It is designed to remind citizens of their connections to the Ancestors, although, it also serves as a celebration of Malgravean culture as the streets are full of food stalls and a variety of live musical performances play throughout the festivities. Ancestor Day used to last for a day, however, since the end of the Lost Decade celebrations have started to last for a longer period of time. It is now held between the 10th and 13th of March.
  • Unity Day - Unity Day is a celebration that was started after the conclusion of the Epping-Rensk Agreement in 1984. It was initially focused on the territories of the Socialist Republic and National Workers' Republic, however, during the Lost Decade it was expanded to cover the entire country. During Unity Day, a cultural swap is expected with people from Portmon often enjoying dishes from Pakosc or Rensk and similar exchanges happening across the country to showcase and celebrate the unique variations in Malgrave and recognise the spirit of togetherness and unity. It is held on the 1st of August.
  • Exodus Day - Exodus Day is a solemn occasion for many Malgrave, with events being organised by the Regional Social Solidarity Councils and the Ancestral Study Group. Exodus Day is split between recognising the hardship that many Malgraveans experienced in the process of establishing a new homeland, and remembering the sacrifice of those that were left behind and subsequently killed and enslaved by the new occupiers of the island. Historically, such a celebration has resulted in an increase in anti-Imerian sentiment, however, the normalisation of relations between Imeriata and Malgrave has seen efforts to stop this and replace it with outreach and support to Malling communities. It is held on the 20th of April.
  • Day of the Proletariat - Day of the Proletariat is a national holiday organised by the Most Illustrious Glorious Confederation of Proud Malgravean Proletarians (MIGCPMP). It is designed to celebrate the achievement of workers across the country, with numerous festivals and social events being held by trade unions across the country showcasing the talents of workers with food, drink, music, art and other cultural expressions being shared freely. In spite of the name, the Day of the Proletariat is actually held between the 1st and 5th of May to ensure that even essential workers get time off.
  • Education Day - Education Day is a national holiday organised by the Confederation of Teachers and Assistant Teachers (CTAT). It is designed to honour the work performed by teaching staff and provide students an opportunity to relax after exam season. Education Day is one of the smallest holidays in the country, however, a few restaurants and ASG centres across the country can be seen hosting parties and feasts over the holiday. It is held on the 1st of November.
  • Day of Progress - The Day of Progress is a holiday organised by the Ministry of Science & Engineering. It was originally established as a day to recognise the work being done by engineering teams and scientific institutes across the country, however, it has since expanded into a festival to recognise the work that all Malgraveans are doing as part of the current three-year plan. On Progress Day, Malgraveans hold special musical festivals and have special feasts in apartments in which they remember the year and express hope for a brighter future together. Progress Day is also known as a day of gifts, with presents being exchanged between friends and family members to prepare them for the new year. It is held on the 31st of December.

Religion

Malgrave has no official state religion as the government professes neutrality to respect the multitude of religious beliefs that have emerged in Malgrave over the decades. Serionism is the most popular faith in the country, a factor contributed to its linkage to the pursuit of knowledge which aligns with the founding values of the Malgravean state. Beyond Serionism Æhrycreda, Silver Harmonism, Forntianism and the Breheimian Universal Church have popular followings in the country which were exported to Malgrave through migrant and refugee populations.

Language

Malgravean Ancient is the most widely spoken language in Malgrave and considered the primary language of the country, a result of work performed by a precursor of the Ancestral Study Group prior to the establishment of the country. Mystrian Common is also compulsory in Malgravean schools, however, a majority of Malgraveans prefer to speak Malgravean Ancient in day to day dealings and often struggle with idioms and popular sayings in Mystrian Common.

High Kouralian is also widely taught in the Malgravean education system, and the language is seen as an incredibly useful tool due to the tight connections between Kouralia and Malgrave, with Breheimian also being compulsory in the Research Colony due to the high number of Breheimian migrants. D'rɑgolɛth, Necrontyr, Draconic and Silverdalean are optional additions.

Foreign Relations

The United Kingdom of Malgrave established contact with the international community shortly after it's foundation in 1910 and established a few embassies and consulates across Mystria, however, after the Great Exodus the country entered a short period of isolationism which was extended by the start of the Malgravean Civil War. In this period, Malgrave reportedly sent out scouts and undercover operations supported by the Royal Navy to maintain an awareness of actions occurring across Mystria which has been explained as the reasoning behind sightings of isolationist era Malgravean products overseas, however, for the most part the country had limited contact with outsiders aside from contact with Kouralian refugees and accepted journalists let in during the collapse of the National Workers' Republic of Malgrave.

In the 80s this position was changed, as Breheimian negotiators were accepted as neutral mediators to try and put an end to the civil war with the Epping-Rensk Agreement including provisions which stipulated that Malgrave had to end isolationism by 2000. In the years that followed such a policy was highly controversial, however, the catastrophe that became known as the Lost Decade ensured that the country reestablished contact with the international community in 2000 as stipulated in the peace agreement.

Since 2000 Malgrave steadily engaged with the international community establishing trade connections with fellow Mystrian states such as Silverdale, Kouralia and Crystal Spires. Malgrave is also a large contributor of international aid, and through organisations like the Ancestral Study Group has several charitable missions designed to assist people in both Mystrian and non-Mystrian nations.

Outside of Mystria, the United Kingdom of Malgrave has established strong relations with The Yohannesian Commonwealth, Commonwealth of Norvenia, The Second Empire of Anemos Major and the Dornalian Republic.

Armed Forces

The Malgravean Armed Forces is divided into several distinct branches, each tasked with individual and collective duties that ensure the defence of the nation and the completion of a variety of potential missions abroad. These are the Malgravean Air Force, Malgravean Royal Navy and the Territorial Defence Force. It is comprised of a mixture of conscripted and professional soldiers as each Malgravean citizen has to perform two and a half years in the Armed Forces once they reach the age of 18.