Adrinian
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The Republic of Adrinian La Republica de Adrinían | |
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Motto: With the pen and the sword, we are mighty | |
Capital | Adrinian City |
Largest city | Puerto de Arcos |
Ethnic groups |
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Religion |
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Demonym(s) | Adriño |
Government | Parliamentary Republic |
• President | Zephyros Enseñador |
• Prime Minister | Ana Garcinuño |
• Defense Minister | Pilar Jimenez |
• Finance Minister | Dioselin Sara |
• Foreign Minister | Manuel Aurora |
• Minster of Space and Exploration | Martin Gonzalez |
Establishment | 2003 |
Area | |
• Total | 895,152.67 km2 (345,620.38 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 23,453,000 |
• Density | 26.2/km2 (67.9/sq mi) |
Currency | The Marca |
Driving side | right |
Adrinian, also referred to as the Republic of Adrinian, is a medium sized, tropical nation in the southern Aestes Sea region of Anteria. The 23.4 million Adriños reside within nine distinct provinces and one federal district, and share a rich but violent history. The nation is dominated by lush rainforests and stunning beaches, and is governed by the relatively small capital Adrinian City.
Government
The Government of Adrinian is classified as a Parliamentary Republic. The members of all three branches are elected by popular vote, and wield power related to internal governance, foreign policy, and national defense. All elected positions are voted on the last Friday of November, with those candidates who triumph being officially sworn in January 1st.
President
It is the duty of the President to serve as the nation’s guardian and chief diplomat. All business with foreign nations is done through them, and the President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in times of war or insurrection. It is also the duty of the President to approve any law or treaty passed by Parliament, unless they feel it is unconstitutional, in which case the disagreement is settled by the Supreme Court. The President resides in the executive mansion in Adrinian City, and is obliged to address parliament in a "State of the Republic" speech at least once per year. The President may serve for a maximum of two six year terms, and is eligible for pension after their term. In order to be eligible to be elected President, a person must have been born in Adrinian and may not have dual citizenship with any other country. They must also be at least thirty years of age but no older than seventy, and have served in at least one elected position prior to their Presidency.
In the case a President has been found to have committed a crime either prior to, during, or after their administration, they are to be subject to the same treatment as any citizen before the law. A President may only be removed from office if there is reasonable evidence that they committed a criminal offense and are under investigation. In that instance, a simple majority from the Supreme Court and a two-thirds majority of Parliament is necessary to expel them from office.
Parliament
It is the duty of Parliament to create legislation that will better the nation and its people. The body is elected by a system of proportional representation, with each party appointing representatives based on the percentage of votes they earn in a given province, with one seat being available per every 100,000 residents. (Example; in Adrinian City, where 400,000 citizens reside, Party A earns 50% of the votes, Party B earns 25% votes, Party C earns 15% and Party D 10%. Party A would then appoint two of its representatives to Adrinian City parliamentary posts, while Party B appoints only one. Since neither of the remaining parties earned the necessary votes to attain a seat, the last representative goes to Party C since they earned the majority of the remaining votes.) The amount of representatives may change every ten years when the census is enacted, however the amount appointed will always stay proportional to population regardless of actual voter turnout.
In order to be eligible to be a representative, a person must have been a resident of the territory they wish to represent for the past five years and be at least twenty years of age but no more than seventy. A person may serve in parliament for a maximum of six two-year terms.
It is also the duty of the parliament to appoint a Prime Minister from among its members with a majority vote. The Prime Minister will serve as a direct liaison between the other two branches and the citizens, as well as governing the proceedings of parliament. At any time, any member of parliament may call for a vote of no confidence to remove and replace the Prime Minister should they feel they are not executing their duties fully and honorably. Such a motion must immediately be put to a vote, and should the majority of representatives in session agree with the motion, then the Prime Minister must immediately vacate their position and a new vote will be held. However such a motion may only be made once per week, and should a member be found to be excessively and baselessly calling for a Prime Minister’s removal, this can be considered grounds for expulsion.
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will be made up of ten judges; one from each province and Adrinian City. Each judge will be appointed to one ten-year term by the governor of their respective province (or mayor in the case of Adrinian City), and will be limited to that one term. It is the duty of this court to settle constitutional disputes between the other branches as well as in lower courts. Rulings are delivered by a majority vote of the judges present. In the event of a tie, the President will cast the deciding vote.
In order to be eligible for this position, a person must have been a judge for at least ten years in the province they are to represent.
History
Pre-History
It is not known precisely when the first settlers arrived in what is now Adrinian. It is widely accepted, though, that the Romana-speaking population arrived from elsewhere and settled the northern coast and islands and that the populations of Tianssoulesse and Danouian populations predate their arrival. Ironically, more is known about the native groups than the northern settlers, which historians largely believe to be due to the fact that these first Adriníandos where almost entirely illiterate and cared little for recording their history, while the Tianssoulesse and Danouians had some forms of writing as well as a tradition of storytelling. Eventually, the northern communities would coalesce into distinct provinces and come to form the First Confederation.
The First Confederation, 1699-1750
Founded in 1699, the The First Confederation of Adrinian was composed only of the northernmost three provinces, Puerto de Arcos, Nueva Imperia, and Vendria. These three states unified primarily due to monetary reasons, with each province wishing to gain more influence in the Aestes Sea trade network. The nature of the confederation was an interesting one, with each province sending ten delegates to a yearly council in Plantania to discuss trade and monetary policy, but with each province governing itself completely separately from the others.
Another defining aspect of this era was expansion. The First Confederation sought to expand Adrinian's influence on the regional as well as global stage, resulting is various projects being undertaken. These mostly included simple trading missions, however the more notable actions were the colonization of Khirmania and the conquest of Las Islas Pacificas. Both efforts were incredibly costly, and exposed deep divisions within the Confederation as infighting broke out over how the spoils of were to be divided. In 1750, Nueva Imperia and Vendria. Simultaneously announced their departure from the confederation, leaving Puerto de Arcos alone to govern Las Islas Pacificas and by extension Khirmania, which quickly gained independence anyway. This break-up was largely due to the members seeing no more benefit in continued cooperation and competing interests, with Nueva Imperia in particular seeking to expand further south and west into the interior of the continent.
The legacy of the First Confederation is mainly used to exemplify the early difficulties of unification and cooperation despite a shared language and similar culture. Almost all of the First Confederation's accomplishments would be undone or undercut when the Normen Empire successfully conquered Las Islas Pacificas in 1773, robbing Puerto de Arcos of their profits for many years to come.
Southern Expansion Period, 1750-1823
This period saw great competition between Nueva Imperia and Vendrian, with both seeking to exploit the resources rumored to lie in the interior. The two states would establish rival colonies, with that of Vendrian eventually becoming Platalta and that of Nueva Imperia becoming Tierra Worden. While the militaries of Nueva Imperia and Vendria frequently skirmished with one another in frontier territory, the settlers of each colony got along fairly well despite different backgrounds. Despite trade being officially prohibited between the two colonies by their respective governments, this decree was largely ignored by the populace simply due to the fact that trade was necessary for each to survive the frontier environment. Plataltan beef was traded for Wordenese coffee and cocoa on a thriving black market that only grew when colonial authorities attempted to stomp it out. This interference would end up being a large contributor to the First Adrinian Civil War.
Notable figures of the Southern expansion period include Pedro Worden, who is credited with being the first person to explore through the interior to the Fresian Gulf. He would go on to extensively map the gulf as well as the land between it and Nueva Imperia, and is also thought to be the first leader to meet the Tianssoulesse and Danouians in an official capacity. These numerous feats would earn him a permanent spot in history as the land he explored would eventually be name after him.
In terms of military leaders, Admiral Símon Caceres was famous for his exploits during the war between Puerto de Arcos and Wetterside Territoaria, leading the fleet that recaptured Las Islas Pacificas. Additionally, Caceres is credited with being the first to step foot in Angelesca via the Hylian Sea, establishing the colony that would become Cape City.
The First Adrinian Civil War, 1823-1830
Though technically not a civil war as the provinces were not unified at the start, this is universally referred to by historians as Adrinian's first Civil War. The war began after a body of respected citizens from Tierra de Worden and Platalta, the Congress of Platalta, declared independence from their colonial overlords on September 21st and elected to join together in The Republic of Worden.
Though unified, the colonials were significantly outnumbered and underequipped, lacking any meaningful military training or modern weaponry. However, the colonials initially saw much success. Their knowledge of the terrain and use of guerilla tactics saw them turn away many Vendrian and Imperian armies. The colonials were also very unified in the field, being led by Pedro Worden II. This initial success also earned the Republic the support of the newly formed Fresian Confederacy, who supported the rebels through arms and supply shipments.
On the other side, the colonizers at first refused to work together, but soon realized that their efforts would be more fruitful if they set aside their differences. In 1827, their combined army swept through Platalta, brushing aside guerilla attacks and capturing the congress, laying waste to the capital of Ausable. Peace negotiations began immediately afterwards, but were not concluded until the summer of 1830. Sporadic fighting continued in Tierra Worden, but lack of leadership caused most actions to fizzle out. The war ended with each colonial power resuming control of their respective territory, but citizens of each region had found a new sense of unity.
The Congress of Ciudad de Worden and the Second Confederation, 1870-1911
In the year 1870, representatives from the each part of the nation, including Tianssoul, Danou, and Angelesca, which had previously only been in on the fringes of regional dialogue, joined together in Congress in Ciudad de Worden to discuss their collective future. The congress was the culmination of continued efforts by colonial subjects in Platalta and Tierra Worden as well as intellectuals in Puerto de Arcos to establish a new confederation stretching from the Aestes Sea to the Fresian Gulf. The congress believed the united overland route would allow the confederation to dominate regional trade as well as provide more equitable treatment to the different regions. The congress began on February 15th, 1870 and lasted through December.
The Second Confederation was far more centralized than the first, with a permanent capital being placed in Nueva Imperia and a Confederate Council that was bale to collect and impose certain taxes, using them to invest in different areas of the economy. Another aspect of centralization was a much smaller ruling council; each of the seven provinces sent two representatives, one appointed by the governor, the other by popular vote. Ideally, this smaller body would have been able to coordinate much better than its predecessor, but ultimately proved no more effective. Additionally, the advantage of controlling the land corridor between the Aestes Sea and Fresian Gulf never proved to be substantial, and trade continued to be focused to the north and west.This lead to some northern provinces, primarily Vendria and Nueva Imperia, to form separate trade agreements with nations such as Greater Penguinia and directly ignore the decisions of the Confederate Council. Amassing private supplies of trade goods and even weapons. This lead the Outer provinces to cooperate with each other more in an attempt to hold the inners to the same standard. These differences would eventually boil over into a Second Civil War, causing untold destruction and the nation to splinter once more.
The Second Adrinian Civil War, 1911-1915
After years of infighting and disagreement, it became clear to both the Inner and Outer provinces that internal conflict was on the horizon. Carlos Feliz, governor of Nueva Imperia, understood that in direct conflict, the Outer Provinces could overwhelm his own forces by sheer numbers alone. He also understood that any qualitative advantage the Inner Provinces held would not last forever, and that a preemptive strike may be the best course of action. And so with little opposition from his own government, Governor Feliz ordered that the heart of the Outer Provinces, Tierra Worden, would be invaded and conquered by any means necessary. The invasion began on April 1st, 1911, with the goal of splitting the Outer Provinces in two, carving a path from Nueva Imperia to the Fresian Gulf.
The initial Imperian offensive took the Outer Provinces off guard. While war had been on the minds of some, with most towns and cities having recently recruited some sort of militia force, most of the provincial leadership had ignored any signs of the coming storm and continued to pressure Nueva Imperia and Vendria through diplomatic channels. Within the first month of fighting, Imperian and Vendrian forces had captured much of Tierra Worden as well as Puerto Norte in Platalta, and had reached the provincial capital of Ciudad de Worden. The attacking forces, not wishing to become bogged down in street fighting, chose instead to bombard the city with mustard gas, resulting in heavy civilian casualties and the city’s surrender on May 23rd.
As a result of these actions, Tierra de Worden, Platalta, and Angelesca declared the Coalition of Outer Provinces, with the stated goal of destroying Imperian and Vendrian power and reforming the confederation. Wishing to spare its people from violence, the province of Tianssoul seceded from the confederation entirely, taking Danou with it as its proxy. However many Tianssoulesse volunteers would fight on the side of the Coalition, and Tianssoul would be the top contributor of humanitarian aid during the war. Meanwhile to the north, Puerto de Arcos, though considered an inner province, refused to take any part in Nueva Imperia’s offensive, opting instead to remain neutral. Fearing a stab in the back, Feliz ordered that Puerto de Arcos must be conquered and subdued. The northern front would see brutal urban warfare in the city of Puerto de Arcos, as well as the only naval engagements of the war, with Imperian and Arcosian frigates facing off in numerous small engagements. Additionally, Vendrian forces supplied the Islas Pacificas independence movement with arms and ammunition, forcing Puerto de Arcos to divide its attention between fighting an invasion and a rebellion. Puerto de Arcos responded by brutally suppressing all guerilla movements on the islands, as well as by funding a guerrilla movement in Tierra Victoria, which was then a part of eastern Nueva Imperia.
In the south, Coalition forces struggled to regain lost ground. Fighting had devolved into trench warfare which, combined with jungle conditions, made everyday life hell for soldiers on both sides. After some minor successes around Ciudad de Worden, Coalition commander Pedro Worden IV enacted “Operation Wildfire”, which saw coalition forces mass on either side of the city, then breaking through enemy lines and completely surrounding it in a pincer movement. This operation effectively ended the back and forth between Inner Province and Coalition forces, with all momentum now being behind the Coalition. The Imperian and Vendrian forces that remained in the city surrendered unconditionally on September 3rd, 1913, just two weeks after being cut off. The remainder of that year and nearly the entirety of 1914 was spent pushing the invaders out of Coalition territory in a somewhat more mobile version of trench warfare. It was not until they reached the Nueva Imperia border that Coalition forces came to a complete halt. The river valleys and narrow passages that define the region proved to be natural defensive positions, causing the slog of trench warfare to resume. In one such valley, the two armies clashed in the place that would become the nation’s capital, Adrinian City, leaving the city largely in ruins. It was not until March of 1915 that the city was liberated entirely by the Coalition, providing it with the breakthrough it needed to advance into the heart of Nueva Imperia.
Over the remainder of 1915, Coalition forces engaged the Inner Provinces on every possible front, and continually pushed towards the provincial capital of Nueva Imperia. Though his nightmare of being overwhelmed by the Outer Provinces was now a reality, Governor Feliz vowed to fight on to the bitter end. On November 10th, Plataltan Rangers successfully infiltrated the Vendrian capital and assassinated the governor, throwing the government into disarray and effectively ending that province’s participation in the war. This action was quickly followed by the arrival of Coalition forces on the outskirts of the Imperian capital. Isolated and surrounded, Feliz vowed to fight on, however he was killed by a member of his staff a few days after the city was surrounded, and Coalition forces entered soon after. The official end of the war was on December 6th, 1915, with all remaining Imperian officials unconditionally surrendering to the occupying forces. The conflict had claimed nearly 700,000 lives, roughly 4.6% of the national population at the time. And although peace had been achieved, the nation’s troubles were far from over.
The Third Confederation and Reunification, 1916-2001
Beginnings: Pedro Worden IV and Inigo Guterres
On January 1st, 1916, the Third Confederation of Adrinian was officially proclaimed in Adrinian City. However, this body was a confederation in name only. Although the individual provinces retained the right to enact their own social policies; trade, military, and economic policy was now handled solely by the federal government. One consequence of this centralization was the secession of Puerto de Arcos from the confederation, which took Las Islas Pacificas with it, with Tianssoul and Danou opting to remain independent. The other was the severe misuse of this power. The federal government was composed of only two bodies, a parliament and a Chief Executive, with the latter being appointed by the former. The first man appointed to this position was Peter Worden IV, however, feeling a younger leader was needed, Worden resigned in 1920 after just three years in office. His replacement, Inigo Guterres, a war veteran from Angelesca, would go on to enact a “Policy of Vengeance” against Nueva Imperia and Vendria. Guterres denied the two provinces the right to parliamentary representation and assumed personal control of the federal forces occupying the provinces. The former General would also lead the Third Confederation through it's first and only foreign conflict, the Aestas War. This partially victory would help unify the confederation as well as cement the Chief-executive's role in the military.
On the domestic front, Guterres would go on to ban political parties in 1948, claiming they would be too divisive, and forcing all those running for elected positions to do so of their own means. Guterres also cemented the idea that the Chief Executive was appointed for life, something that no one attempted to challenge amidst the chaos of the new government. Guterres would continue to rule unopposed until a public heart attack in 1950 called his health into question. He resigned, and died just two years later at his home in Angelesca.
Pedro Worden V
The man who succeeded Guterres was the uncontroversial Pedro Worden V. Worden opened the parliament up to representatives from Nueva Imperia and Vendria, as well as ending the military occupation of the provinces in 1960. Worden’s administration focused primarily on building up infrastructure and the standard of living in Adrinian. Though often viewed as far less extreme as Guterres, Worden was nonetheless firm in upholding the power of the Chief Executive. He maintained the ban on political parties, and increased military spending and policing throughout the country.
The most notable occurrence of his rule was Adrinian's reunification with Puerto de Arcos. The province had fallen on hard times economically and was once again facing a rebellion in Las Islas Pacificas, collapsing its shipping and agriculture industries. Puerto de Arcos petitioned Worden for reunification with some level of autonomy, which he accepted in 1967.
He would resign in 1971, feeling that his service to the country had been fulfilling enough. Worden would live for ten more years beyond his rule, serving as an advisor to his successors until his death in 1981.
Gia Dominica
Worden would be succeeded by the only female leader Adrinian has ever had. Gia Dominica was initially quite popular, hailing from Adrinian City, she represented a middle ground and seemed ready to repeal many of the harsher policies enacted by her predecessors. However an economic crash just two years into her rule, thought now to be caused primarily by the excessive spending of the Worden administration, caused her popularity to tank. She retained her position for three more years, trying and failing to fix the economy, but ultimately resigned after immense public pressure. Dominica is also the only leader from the Third Coalition still living. Though the location of her residence is kept a secret, she is believed to still live in Adrinian City.
Emiliano Martinez
Next in line was perhaps the most aggressive of Adrinian’s leaders. Emiliano Martinez assumed power in 1976 and immediately began asserting that the Chief Executive needed even more authority in order to fix the crisis at hand. Rather than reversing the spending policies that led to the crisis, Martinez increased military spending and began threatening Tianssoul and Puerto de Arcos with invasion. He also brutally suppressed independence movements in Tierra Victoria. This was largely seen by the public as an attempt to distract the nation from the economic problems at hand, and widespread street demonstrations took place across the country. Martinez immediately cracked down on the movement, but did refrain from further aggressive comments. Martinez’s reign ended abruptly in 2000, when a sudden heart attack while paddleboarding off the coast of Angelesca caused him to drown. Though even in death, his power and influence persisted. He had made it clear that he wished his brother Geraldo to succeed him, and parliament, with some members fearing that this was a test of some sort and that Emiliano was still secretly alive, obliged the deceased dictator and Geraldo Martinez replaced his brother.
Geraldo Martinez
Unlike his older brother, Geraldo approached his role with much hesitance. He had no true ambition to amass power or rule with an iron fist, and was incredibly lenient by most standards. Within a year of assuming power, the second Martinez had legalized political parties and slashed military spending in favor of welfare and education. In 2002, he Chief-executive would soon shock the nation by stating he would retire the following year and directed parliament to prepare to form a transitional government. Parliament did so, but surprised the leader when they asked him to form the symbolic head of the government. Martinez accepted the role and would be fundamental in the construction of the Nation's new constitution, as well as leading the effort to reunify the nation with Tianssoul and Danou. Martinez gave up his power in 2007 when the role of the transitional government was complete and elections were held. Martinez is viewed incredibly positively by the public today, even more so since his death in 2018.
The First Republic 2003-Present
After the terms of the constitution had been outlined, the first national election for President was held on December 1st, 2007. The election saw moderate right candidate Enrique Gutierre win the vote, a feat he would repeat in 2013. Gutierre's presidency was fairly unremarkable. He was largely seen as the safest choice compared to the other candidates, and is often viewed as a good but unremarkable leader.
In 2019, moderate leftist Zephyros Enseñador assumed the role of President in an upset that left the conservative party reeling. Since then, Enseñador’s administration has been marred with some controversy, particularly recently with massive increases in military spending, and the Ascension Crisis in Danou and for this he has mostly lost popular support despite overseeing a growing economy and fostering positive relationships abroad. More than two-thirds of the way through his first term, Enseñador has publicly stated he will seek a second term.
As the Republic continues to develop, this article will be updated accordingly.
Name | Party | Province of Origin | Term |
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Geraldo Martinez | Transitional Government | Angelesca | 2003-2007 |
Enrique Gutierre | Conservative Party of Adrinian | Puerto de Arcos | 2007-2019 |
Zephyros Enseñador | Republican Party of Adrinian | Nueva Imperia | 2019-Present |
Foreign Relations
Trade Agreements
The Republic enjoys fruitful trade relations with many nations, most of which were established during the administration of President Enseñador. This series of agreements saw the nation's first free-trade agreement with Cordomonivence. Additionally, Adrinian has imported large amounts of military equipment from a variety of nations across Anteria, with the Republic's largest partner in this area being the Kingdom of Gondarok.
In terms of exports, Adrinian is rich in cocoa, coffee, bananas, beef, dairy, lumber, and fish. The most notable importers of Adriniando goods are Vileria and Cordomonivence.
The Aestes Defense Treaty
In late 2023, the Republic became a founding member of the Aestes Defense Treaty alongside The United States of Antara and The Fresian Confederacy. This treaty established that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all, and that all signatories would strive to maintain the stability and security of the region. The alliance is headquartered in Fort Antara within the Fresian Confederacy, and its ruling council is made up of representatives from each signatory.
Since the alliance's founding, only the United Soltenish Republics have joined, though avenues remain open for more members.
Global Education Initiative
Under President Zephyros Enseñador, the Republic began the Global Education Initiative (GEI/IEM) with the hopes of increasing the human capital of the country and building more advanced industry. So far, only two nations have agreed to participate, with those being Greater Penguinia and Speke, with the nations offering programs in Environmental Science and Rocket Science respectively.
Politics
Despite its new arrival to the rank of Anterian democracies, Adrinian has procured numerous political factions of varying ideology. Their specifics can be found below.
Party Name | Acronym | Party Leader | Ideological Position | Current Number of Seats | Current Coalition | Party Symbol/Mascot |
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Socialist Party of Adrinian | PSA | Heraldo Martinez | Far-Left | 66 | United Left | The Dolphin |
Pacifica First | PP | Juan Pereira | Libertarian | 7 | Provincial Rights | Laurel Crown |
Conservative Party of Adrinian | PDA | Juan Valencia | Moderate Right | 37 | United Right | The Dog |
Republican Party of Adrinian | PRA | Zephyros Enseñador | Moderate Left | 66 | United Left | The Badger |
Platalta First Party | PPP | Reinaldo Severo | Libertarian | 7 | Provincial Rights | The Palm Tree |
Freedom Party of Adrinian | PLA | Quintín Sandalio | Far-Right | 27 | United Right | Wreathed Star |
Conservationist Party | PMA | Victoria Velazquez | Center-Left | 9 | United Left | The Heron |
Military
Since the dawn of the First Confederation, the Navy has been the pride of Adrinian. With much of its history revolving around exploiting foreign trade, a strong navy was a necessity. Additionally, the rough, difficult terrain created by the heavily forested interior made large armies impractical for much of Adrinian's history. For this reason, most of Adrinian's land wars have mostly been fought with militias or mercenaries, not professional soldiers.
In the modern day, Adrinian maintains a relatively small military. Approximately 350,000 personal serve in the Army and Navy combined, the majority of which are in the Army. Both branches offer free education and benefits, with the Navy's opportunities being a bit more advanced and technical, such as classes in physics and engineering as opposed to the Army's more general approach. Increases in military spending in 2023 and 2024 allowed for the expansion of the military and the purchase of new weaponry, most of which went into the Navy.
In the Adrinian military, all aircraft maritime vessels are controlled by the Naval Command, stationed in Puerto de Arcos. The navy boasts an impressive number of vessels, many of which were purchased in recent years.
Culture
Flag
The flag of Adrinian is a simple one, but is nonetheless beautiful and carries much meaning. The current design came about in the early 2000s with the full reunification of Adrinian in mind. The design became popular and was even said to be liked by Geraldo Martinez. Once the transitional government took power, one of their first actions was to adopt this design as their new flag, which carried onto the current republic.
The flag has two thick blue bands on the top and bottom, signifying the two bodies of water - the Aestes Sea and Fresian Gulf - with a green bar of land in the middle, signifying the land of the republic. The ten stars arranged in a circle represent the nine provinces and Adrinian City, joined together in unity.
National Holidays
Remembrance Day
The most important holiday for Adrinian is the December 6th Day of Remembrance. This day marks the anniversary of the end of the Second Adrinian Civil War, the deadliest conflict in the nation's history. The day is incredibly sacred and somber, with all national and provincial flags being taken down and put away. Since the birth of the Republic, it has become tradition for the President to make a short speech at the National Cemetery in Puerto de Arcos, honoring the fallen and aspiring to a future of peace. Though not usually in the public eye, it has become custom for any naval vessels at sea to fire a salute at sunset as another form of remembrance.
Election Day
Election Day in Adrinian is also considered a national holiday. This day falls on the last Friday of November, and most businesses and schools are closed to allow their employees sufficient time to vote.
New Year
Like most nations, Adrinian celebrates the traditional New Year on December 31st. Traditions include staying up until midnight and consuming 12 grapes, one with each strike of the clock at midnight. It is also custom to wear some sort of red clothing in order to bring good luck in the New Year.
Additionally, celebrations of the Danouian New Year have become more widespread in recent years, which falls on June 20th. The celebration consists of parades, dancing, and colorful costumes. While few still abide by the Danouian calendar system, the day has evolved into a celebration of indigenous culture in Adrinian.
Carnaval has existed in Adrinian since the days of the First Confederation. The celebration typically falls on the second weekend in February, but can vary from province to province. The largest Carnaval celebration usually takes place in Puerto de Arcos, however Ciudad de Worden and Adrinian City have upgraded their festival infrastructure in recent years. Celebrations usually consist of parades, dressing up in costumes, usually involving lots of streamers and candy. In the modern age, most floats are financed by local businesses or corporations in the case of large cities, with each one having a theme related to the business.
National Sports
Sports play a significant role in the life of everyday Adrinians. The most popular sport remains Track and Field, with there being fierce competition between different colleges and universities during both the spring Track season as well as Cross Country in the fall. The tradition is thought to have originated from the frontier days in Tierra Worden and Platalta, when a lack of horses required messengers to run between different frontier towns to deliver information, as well as having roots in Tianssoulese culture as well, with it being a common practice to run for several days as part of initiations. As a result, nearly every major city in Adrinian hosts a yearly marathon, with many so-called "ultra-runs" being commonplace in more rural areas.
While there have been some attempts to bring a national football league to Adrinian, the effort has seen little success, with only a few provincial leagues being set up. The sport has not drawn many fans or prospective players, and both provincial and federal officials have opposed any form of subsidization to help the sport grow.
Folklore
Being a nation filled mostly with unpopulated jungles and dark swamps, Adrinian is packed with legends of various cryptids and unexplained sightings of strange creatures. Many of these creatures stem from some form of Tianssoulese or Danouian folklore, but others are completely original and uniquely modern. In 2018, the National Institute of the Unknown was established in Pawai. Although not actually funded by the government, the Institute claims to investigate these sightings on behalf of Adrinian and its citizens.
Hombre de la Selva (Jungle Man)
The Jungle Man stems from an old Tianssoulese story about a messenger who became lost in a swamp and drowned. He is said to have awoken many years later, resurrected but greatly altered from his time spent in the swamp. Those who claim to have seen the Jungle Man describe a rancid-smelling, emaciated figure covered in bog-plants and trailing slime and sometimes blood, peering out at them with glowing green eyes. While original Tianssoulese stories described the Jungle Man as simply a bad omen, modern sightings have gone as far as to say the creature has physically attacked them or killed farm animals. Sightings are most common in southern Tianssoul and Angelesca, with some isolated instances as far north as Lanau and Lake Danou.
This creature has sparked some interest from the scientific community, due largely to the fact that sightings remain consistent across regions and time, even among those who claimed to have never heard of the creature prior to them reporting the sighting. Some archeological research conducted in the early 2000's found that some ancient Tianssoulese villages practiced bog-mummification, providing another possible source of the creature's origin.
Danouian Lake Serpent
Going back many centuries, this creature has been reported to terrorize Danouian settlements along the shores of Lake Danou. It is said to reside in an underwater cave at the island in the center of the lake, and reportedly has the ability to spew boiling water from its mouth, melting boats and then eating the passengers. The length of the Serpent is highly contested, with theories ranging from 40 to 800 meters. Local folklore also tells of an instance in which Pedro Worden actually caught the Serpent while fishing and was dragged into the lake, but this is largely dismissed as fiction. In the modern day, many tourism ventures seek to capitalize off of the legend by offering "Serpent Tours", promising glimpses of the beast, though few actually do. The most famous instance of a sighting of this creature occurred in 1956, when a father and son, who were fishing on the lake at the time, were inexplicably dragged some 50 miles in a single day to a town on the northern shore. Though not technically impossible given the technology of the time, there did not appear to be enough fuel capacity in the boat to accomplish this feat without help. The instance continues to be a source of debate in online cryptid forums.
Were-Badger
In early 2010, an image of a supposed man-badger hybrid went viral. Reportedly spotted in Adrinian City, the creature was dubbed the Were-badger, deriving the title of the more widely known werewolf. While most experts assert that the original photo was a fake, sightings continue in Adrinian City to this day. Most of the information known about this creature was actually created by online communities, such as the fact that it can only be harmed by a bronze blade and its favorite food is pecan pie, but the original post contained only a statement that the creature depicted was similar to a werewolf in every way save for it being a badger.
For those few who claim to have seen the Were-Badger, most sightings report a curious but defensive creature that is known to steal food left out on windowsills and tables, and will bluff-charge those who attempt to pursue it. Of the many cryptids of Adrinian, this one is probably taken the least seriously due to its absurd nature, and the refusal of its "discoverer" to comment on the current discourse. The original post has long since been deleted, as well as the account that posted it. Regardless, the Were-Badger continues to resurface every month or so at the full moon, though mostly in the form of internet memes and AI edits.
Los Huevos
In Las Islas Pacificas, there is a curious legend of short creatures resembling large eggs with human legs and feet. These beings are said to be harmless, and even friendly in some instances. Local folklore tells of these creatures leading lost travelers to pools of fresh water in exchange for shiny items and jewelry, with which they decorate their egg-like torso. The first sighting reportedly took place in 1755, and they persist into the present. The creatures are mostly seen at night, walking along the roadside in groups of 3-8.
Serious attempts to discover the origins of these creatures have all turned up nothing, but their friendly nature and comical appearance endears them to locals and tourists alike. Some business have begun offering "egg hunt hikes" through the Province's wilderness, with guides staging fake stashes of jewelry and other valuables to give the appearance of an "Egg deposit".
Platalta Aliens
Since the 1980s, Platalta has been Adrinian's hub for extraterrestrial activity. Sightings of large, disk-like craft hovering above farms have captivated the public for decades. Dictator Emiliano Martinez reportedly launched several aircraft to pursue these disks, but never succeeded in shooting one down, or spotting one for that matter. The most famous instance of an alien landing on Adrinian soil occurred on May 2nd, 1997, when a farmer spotted three spindly, pink figures herding some of his sheep towards a supposed spacecraft. When the farmer confronted these beings, one of them is said to have approached him calmly before placing a finger on his forehead, causing the farmer to fall unconscious for nearly 12 hours. These "Pink men" have been seen in other locations, with instances of "spider-centaur" aliens being only slightly less numerous. These beings seem to exclusively be interested in farm animals, and there have been no reported instances of an alien causing harm to a human. Many small towns in Platalta have sought to capitalize on these sightings, creating various "museums" with proof of alien life visiting Adrinian.
Masked Wanderers
Reported to be native to Tianssoul and Danou, these beings are often said to be the most terrifying and dangerous in the nation, at least at first glance. There are many different explanations to account for the origin of the wanderers, though the most common explanation is that they were once human, and lost themselves to a dark ritual long ago. Modern theories have posited that the creatures are a lost relative of Humanity that never evolved past a "savage" lifestyle, and is now restricted to the fringes of the modern world.
Regardless of their origin, a consensus exists among cryptozoologists today that these creatures are not to be trifled with. While most encounters described the Wanderers as frail and bony, they seem to move exclusively in large groups and are extremely hostile to humans. Many witnesses have described the creatures stalking them for many days across the forest before eventually attacking and killing members of their group. These accounts also describe the approach of the Wanderers as being detectable by the sound of their raggedy breathing whistling through their carved masks. The creatures are also said to smell intensely of blood, which allegedly emits constantly from their blister-covered skin. Many victims of Wanderer attacks report the creatures moving quickly and slashing their skin with jagged nails and improvised weapons. Some instances also describe the Wanderers being unfazed by the loss of limbs and even gunshot wounds. It seems that the only way to defeat the creature, per the account of one Esteban Murillo, an army captain who encountered a band of Wanderers while on patrol in 1918, is to shatter their mask. Murillo recounted that tearing off the mask of a Wanderer sent it into a blind flight and caused the others in its party to panic.
When it comes to this creature, it is usually one of the most easily dismissed by skeptics. Many have pointed out that the ties to native folklore are shaky at best, and many of the original accounts from the 1880s have been proven to be false. The continued prominence of these creatures in modern circles is largely due to its internet and film popularity. The 2010 film "Horror of the Woods" depicted the story of the first reported sighting in 1883, though largely exaggerated and dramatized. The film has since gained a cult following, and discussions about the creature are commonplace in online forums dedicated to cryptid research.
Fresian Siren
Though only one sighting of this creature has ever been reported, it remains firmly planted in the minds of cryptozoologists and horror fans as a truly terrifying being. The Siren's origin stems from the account of five sailors of the ship AA Gira Dominica, a patrol ship that went down in the Fresian Gulf on the night of October 8th, 1977.
The abridged version of The Dominica Incident is that the sailors of the Gia Dominica found and recovered a corpse that they believed to be a recently disposed of murder victim. The corpse was placed in the ships cooler and the vessel began to return to port to hand over the body to local authorities. Some hours later, the vessel abruptly changed course and began heading south towards the open ocean. When contacted by shore authorities, the ship sent out garbled and nonsensical responses, claiming that the engine had died and that they were drifting, though radar and sonar readings still seemed to show the vessel moving under its own power. After several more hours, the ship disappeared entirely from radar and sonar, and search teams were dispatched to the area.
All that remained of the ship when the teams arrived was a single life boat with six sailors, one dead, five living. The sailors claimed that the corpse had come alive when they attempted to place it in the ships cooler, and began physically attacking the crew. The survivors described that over the course of the attack, the creature seemed to take control of members of the crew, directing them to attack each other and jump overboard using high pitched screams. The creature is also said to have grown large, gangly fingers once it began its assault on the crew.
By the time rescue ships arrived on the scene, the Gia Dominica had sunk, supposedly from an engine failure and subsequent explosion, and only eight crew were able to escape in a life raft. Theories abound of mass hallucination and government cover ups, but so far no clear consensus among theorists or experts has emerged.
Currency
The currency of Adrinian, known as the "Marca" is decorated with various symbols of the nation's culture and history.
Amount | Front | Back | Color | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
.01M | Badger | COA | Bronze | Coin |
.05M | Pedro Worden | Ten Star Circle | Gold | Coin |
.10M | Geraldo Martinez | COA | Gold | Coin |
.25M | Zephyros Enseñador | Ten Star Circle | Gold | Coin |
.5M | Gia Dominica | COA | Gold | Coin |
1M | Inigo Guterres | COA with motto | Silver | Coin |
2M | Geraldo Martinez | Ten Star Circle | Silver | Coin |
5M | Pedro Worden | "Reaching of the Fresian Gulf" | Orange | Bill |
10M | Enrique Gutierre | "Confirmation of the Republic" | Green | Bill |
20M | Símon Caceres | "Recapture of Pacificas" | Purple | Bill |
50M | "Congress of Platalta" | "Rebels in the Jungle" | Blue | Bill |
100M | The Presidential Palace | "Arrival in Penguina" | Yellow | Bill |
Space and Exploration
Adrinian is very new to the ranks of nation's with ambitions to reach the stars. The recent construction of the San Cristoból Spaceport in Las Islas Pacificas was the first step taken to reach space, but there is much work to be done yet.
So far, the site has only seen one launch; a suborbital mission undertaken by students from the University of Engineering in Puerto de Arcos.
The Adrinian Space Agency has stated that the program will attempt two to three orbital launches in mid-2024, with at least one of them supporting the growth of the TARKOT Block BII navigation system, of which Adrinian is a member.
Province List
Flag | Name | Capital | Population (Approximate) | Year Founded |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adrinian City | N/A | 400,000 | 1916 | |
Angelesca | Llanura | 2,000,000 | 1870 | |
Danou | Lanau | 1,500,000 | 2024 | |
Las Islas Pacificas | Puerto Pacifica | 1,500,000 | 2015 | |
Nueva Imperia | Nueva Imperia | 3,000,000 | 1699 | |
Platalta | Ausable | 3,000,000 | 1823 | |
Puerto de Arcos | Puerto de Arcos | 3,000,000 | 1699 | |
Tianssoul | Pawai | 3,000,000 | 1870 | |
Tierra Victoria | Puerto Victoria | 1,000,000 | 1915 | |
Tierra Worden | Ciudad de Worden | 3,000,000 | 1823 | |
Vendria | Platania | 2,000,000 | 1699 |