Volsci

Volsci Republic Respublika Volskova (Sabellic)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Song of the Volscians
Location of Volsci
Status	Independent State
Capital	Antium
Official languages	Sabellic
Demonym(s)	Volscian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• Exec. Triumvir	Nadar Berbatiev
• Leg. Triumvir	Berg Krimson
• Jud. Triumvir	Vigdis Gudmundson
Legislature	Parliament
Population
• 2018 census	146,520,000
Gini (2017)	32.7 medium
HDI (2017)	0.680 medium
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right

The Volsci Republic, commonly abbreviated to Volsci, is a country on Eurth. Situated in northern Europa, it is bordered by Deltannia to the north-west, the Gulf of Lanjon in the north, the Oriental Ocean to the east, Fubukino in the south, and the Hexanesa Islands in the Kosscow Sea to the east. The country has a population of 146 million. The national capital is Antium.

Volsci is a unitary parliamentary republic. The government is dominated by the Triumvirate, with Executive Triumvir Nadar Berbatiev acting as the head of state. Historically, the country had maintained complicated with its Occidental neighbours across the Kosscow Sea. Isolationism has become the dominant ideology during the first decades of the 21st century. For this reason, the country withdrew from the Assembled Nations in 2019.

The economy of Volsci has a per capita output equal to that of other Europan countries. It has a mixed economy, with timber, mineral (copper, tin, iron), and energy reserves (coal, oil) that are among the largest on Eurth. Volsci has an employment rate of 93% and one of the lowest external debts among developed countries. Volsci largely remained a largely agrarian country until the 1930s. Nearly 10 percent of the population lives a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Etymology

Most modern etymologists regard the tribal name Uolscae as being related to Gelto-Pynglish: gwalch (hawk); perhaps related on the Proto-Europan level to East-Arhoman falco (hawk). Other scholars compare the Volscian personal name Catolcus to the Gelto-Pynglish cadwalch ('hero' or 'battle-hawk'), though some prefer to translate Sabellic *uolco- as 'wolf' and, by semantic extension, 'errant warrior'.

Geography

The Volscian territory is situated in the northern edge of Europa, in the Buranian subcontinent. The area extends from the Kosscow Sea in the west, to the Gulf of Lanjon in the north, and the Oriental Ocean in the east. It includes some islands in the north and east. Lake Kitezh in the southeast is the largest lake in the nation. The northernmost continental point is the Temlyak Peninsula. Volsci is massive; by geographic size it is one of the largest countries on Eurth. Its land also includes an enormous coastline, and boasts the second most ports along the Argic Ocean. The Volscian forests are forbidding and cold. The vast majority of Volscians live along the western and eastern coastlines. Major cities are: Antium (capital), Anxur (seaport), Corioli and Velitrae. Some of the minor cities include: Aquinum, Arpinum, Atina, Capeatea, Casinum, Fabrateria, Fregellae, Frusino, Inteamna, Signia and Sora.

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  Tundra region with fjords, glaciers and mountains.

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  The frozen Gulf of Lanjon.

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  Oscan man at Lake Kitezh.

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  Brown bear at Inteamna Peninsula.

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Climate data for Antium 2000-2010 normals, records 1950-present.
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	8.5 (47.3)	10.3 (50.5)	15.1 (59.2)	21.9 (71.4)	27.6 (81.7)	30.9 (87.6)	33.2 (91.8)	31.2 (88.2)	26.2 (79.2)	17.6 (63.7)	13.4 (56.1)	10.5 (50.9)	33.2 (91.8)
Average high °C (°F)	−1.3 (29.7)	−1.9 (28.6)	1.6 (34.9)	7.6 (45.7)	14.4 (57.9)	18.5 (65.3)	21.5 (70.7)	19.8 (67.6)	14.6 (58.3)	9.0 (48.2)	3.7 (38.7)	0.5 (32.9)	9.0 (48.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.9 (25.0)	−4.7 (23.5)	−1.3 (29.7)	3.9 (39.0)	10.2 (50.4)	14.6 (58.3)	17.8 (64.0)	16.3 (61.3)	11.5 (52.7)	6.6 (43.9)	1.6 (34.9)	−2 (28)	5.9 (42.6)
Average low °C (°F)	−6.5 (20.3)	−7.4 (18.7)	−4.1 (24.6)	0.8 (33.4)	6.3 (43.3)	10.9 (51.6)	14.2 (57.6)	13.1 (55.6)	8.7 (47.7)	4.3 (39.7)	−0.6 (30.9)	−4.5 (23.9)	2.9 (37.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−34.4 (−29.9)	−33 (−27)	−31.3 (−24.3)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−7 (19)	−0.5 (31.1)	4.9 (40.8)	2.1 (35.8)	−4.5 (23.9)	−13.9 (7.0)	−25.5 (−13.9)	−29.5 (−21.1)	−34.4 (−29.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	52 (2.0)	36 (1.4)	38 (1.5)	32 (1.3)	37 (1.5)	57 (2.2)	63 (2.5)	80 (3.1)	56 (2.2)	76 (3.0)	70 (2.8)	58 (2.3)	655 (25.8)
Average rainy days	19	17	15	11	11	14	12	15	14	16	18	20	182
Mean monthly sunshine hours	38	70	138	194	284	297	291	238	150	93	36	29	1,858
Average ultraviolet index	0	0	1	3	4	5	5	4	3	1	0	0	2

History

Koschei the First.

Buran longships besiege $city in 458 CE.

Ruler $Name of $Place.

Religious mosaic blended with Volscian militarism.

Volscian troops march into Deltannia, 1902.

(Something modern.)

The early Volscians were a pagan tribe, well known in the history of the first century as the most dangerous enemies of the ancient Aroman Empire. At the time, they inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Antium. The confederation of small kingdoms sprung up along the great rivers of the north. The local tribal leaders forged marriage pacts with any other Buranian adventurers, hiring their swords to subdue their neighbours. For centuries, brave traders ventured there to buy furs, fox pelts, rabbit, and ermine from the tribes of the woods. That trickle of traders became a flood, and great towns sprung up on the rivers. Fortune-seekers came up from the Oriental coasts, from the southern steppes, and most of all from the Aroman Empire.

• 120s — Under pressure from the Aroman empire, they elected a prince to lead them in war, and eventually the princes became a hereditary office. According to Volscian folklore, their first leader was Koschei the First, notorious for kidnapping young women and was said to be immortal. The nearby Kosscow Sea receives its name from him. But the idea of a monarchy has never sat easily with the independence-minded Volscians, and the potential for rebellion always lurked under the surface.
• 200s — For several centuries, the Volsci were amongst the most dangerous rivals of ancient Aroma. They repeatedly allied with their neighbours in opposition to the Aromans. In 270 CE, the tribal confederation invaded a nearby province of the Aroman Empire. They fought the assembled Aromans at the Battle of Cryophobae in 279 CE. Volscian tribes remained in the area, blending into the nomadic identities of the neighbouring steppe cultures.
• 500s — Lose some western coastal lands to the Thelarike Kingdom.
• 900s — During the medieval period, the Volsci turned to piracy on the Kosscow Sea and became fierce enemies of the neighbouring nations. They attacked merchants and clergy passing near their shores, and even raided close to Tagmatika itself. Volsci–Tagmatine peace treaties did not last long, as the Volsci quickly returned to piracy.
• 1600s — Relationship with Deltannia, Burania and Europa? Uneasy balance and challenge of keeping together all different ethnicities in such a large country.
• 1700s — Any colonial holdings? Likely some coastal cities in northeastern Argis.
• 1800s — From monarchy to republic. Were there any intermediate systems? How did the aristocracy react?
• 1850s — Modernisation. Trains would make a great addition to connect such a large land area. New riches leads to a new elite.
• 1900s — Offshore oil discoveries. Particularly in the shallow Kosscow Sea. Maybe also inland and along the eastern shores?
• 1902-1959: occupation of Deltannia, as mentioned in Deltannia#History.
• 1959 — Deltannia gains its independence. (WIP. Why? How?)
• 2000s — Contemporary history. Mix of IC and OOC references. Isolationism. Largely unaffected by the Great Europan Collapse.
• 2010s — Climate impact? Compare to what's happening in parts of Siberia.
• 2019 — Withdrawal from the Assembled Nations.

Politics

Government

Executive Triumvir Nadar Berbatiev (2019-present).

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Deputy Executive Triumvir Alyeksandr Voremen (2019-present).

The Volsci Republic is run as a de facto triumvirate. Though the three triumviri are theoretically equal, the executive is consider primus inter pares. The Executive Triumvir heads the Government and is responsible for the daily activities and management of the executive branch. The current Executive Triumvir is the Honourable Nadar Berbatiev, elected in April 2019. His role is equivalent to the function of President. The Legislative Triumvir is the head of the Parliament, responsible for the regulation and management of the legislative branch, and required to sign all laws passed. The current Legislative Triumvir is Berg Krimson. The Judicial Triumvir is the head of the Judiciary and acts as the supreme judge of the Supreme Court. The current Judicial Triumvir is Vigdis Gudmundson. The Judicial Triumvir is responsible for the managing of the judiciary, appointing Judges, and administering the oath of office of federal officials. The Judicial Triumvir is required to sign all major documents passed by the judicial branch.

Foreign relations

The Triumvirate follows a fanatical doctrine that seeks to control the Eurth and the fate of mankind. According to Triumvirate's core belief, the Eurth was last pure and untainted after the God of the Abrahamic religious tradition cleansed it in the Biblical Great Flood endured by Noah, which they claimed to have occurred around 8,000 years ago. Since then, the Eurth became consumed by chaos and sin. And only the Triumvirate has received God's divine command to restore humanity to this once-untainted paradise. Volsci is also an aging, insecure, former power determined to make a last stand before it is incapable of doing so.

Foreign policy experts have identified two rivals schools within the Volscian foreign policy: Expansionists who want to recover territories lost during the previous century; and Isolationists who promote the closing-off of Volsci within its own cultural sphere. Isolationism has become the dominant ideology during the first decades of the 21st century. For this reason the country withdrew from the Assembled Nations in 2019.

Military

VNS Harold Volk (left) docked in Capeatea.

Volsci's borders are long and difficult to defend. The Volscian military is made up of four branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Strategic Rocket Force. Military service in the Volsci Republic is voluntary, although conscription can occur during wartime. Volsci maintains a strong military presence along its northwestern border with Deltannia. The EOS has raised concern with Antium against this aggressive posturing. To accomplish its ‘holy mission’, the Triumvirate wants to use any means necessary to influence other countries and destroy any heretical or blasphemous civilisations. The Triumvirate shares similarities with the Knights Templar, a Tacolic Military Order active during the Crusades for the Holy Land.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Volsci had largely slowed its exploration efforts in the Argic Ocean. But interest has reignited since Volsci began further exploring and asserting its claim over disputed territories in the 2010s. The Gulf of Lanjon has become widely navigable because of receding pack-ice and improvements to shipping. This had led to calls by international bodies and foreign powers for Volsci to concede its sovereignty over the route and allow it to exist as an international passageway. The Volscien have immovably wanted to do so, with the ability to enforce their claims over this and the deeper Argic waters. For this reason, the Volscian Navy began developing new Argic warships: the Harold Volk-class offshore patrol vessel. As of September 2022, one is in service, three have been completed, and five are still under construction. These ships will serve to patrol and protect Volscian claims in the Argic region from foreign powers. The ships will also prevent the use of the passage by criminal organizations. It may mark the first steps of Volsci toward great power status in this future geopolitical battleground. In the words of the D•Ex•Tri Voremen: "Volsci has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Argic Ocean. We either use it or lose it. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it." More manpower is required to enforce and protect Volsci's claims to these increasingly desired assets.

The Volscian military has a large military apparatus to defend against attacks on their borders by any potentially hostile neighbours. The Volscian people support the large and expensive forces that are needed to prevent any foreign aggression or destabilising effort. These forces are also ready to take advantage of possible opportunities to extend Volscian power or to stop internal threats to Volscian security.

The Volscian military is not without problems, however. Among them are:

• Unrealistic and stereotyped training practices in many areas that fail to stimulate leadership initiative and creativity (especially at lower command levels) and that cannot test readiness adequately.
• Quality control difficulties in producing and maintaining some of the more complex combat equipment now being fielded.
• Widespread cynicism and corruption, fostered by the rigidly hierarchical Triumvirate system.
• Language and race issues can have negative effects on the military.

Economy

Peat briquette factory.

Volsci is one of the largest countries on Eurth by geographic size. It contains an abundance of hydrocarbons -- that is: petroleum, coal, and natural gas -- making the country one of the most energy rich in the Wurld. It also has more than enough land for new settlers. Of course, this would demand active engagement from the Volscian government to promote this outcome. Further infrastructure development is required. This includes the improvement of its rail system to something more high speed, with additional stops along inland cities. This would go a long way to creating a more evenly populated country, and a thriving, competitive trade economy. Additional people and improved infrastructure will support increased resource extraction and processing.

Volsci's land also includes an enormous coastline, and boasts the second most ports along the Argic Ocean. The Argic territory was long disregarded as a relatively useless. However, in recent years it has become an area of tremendous interest, eyed by many foreign glubal powers. New technologies and discoveries, along with changing environmental circumstances, have opened up new possibilities in the field of energy extraction, defence, and trade. It's believed that the Argic houses a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 40 percent of the wurld's undiscovered oil and natural gas reserves. Not to mention copper, iron, diamonds, and phosphate. These resources have been costly and inconvenient to exploit. But investment in Argic exploitation of these resources could shift the glubal balance of financial and strategic power.

To protect the Boscan people from the effects of oil drilling and mining operations, they have been relocated to a resource-free area in the northeastern Temlyak Peninsula. The Boscans are a small ethnic group native to the tundra area. They live on a self-governing reservation. Tourists can book an organized trip to experience the Boscan culture. Half of all profits go to the Boscan Nation.

WIP

• Compared to agricultural autarky of RL France. With minor inspiration from RL Finland, Russia and Mongolia.
• The largest ports are Antium along the Kosscow Sea and Inteamna on the Oriental Ocean.
• National currency?
• 7% unemployment
• Tourism is mostly focused on old coastal cities such as Antium. Some visits to Lake Kitezh.
• Coal all over the place. Minerals in the mountains. Oil along the coasts, which explains the conflict with Deltannia. Also in the east, uncontested, but more challenging to export.
• Volsci is an important producer of oil and natural gas, and its vast geography sustains massive mining. Much of this activity is seasonal; most Volscian territory vacillates between frozen and swampy.

Culture

Traditional Boscan man.

Volsci is one of Eurth's most sparsely populated and urbanised countries. The vast majority of Volscians live along the western and eastern coastlines. Volscians are Europan people belonging to the larger Buranic linguistic group. From the early 8th century BCE they spread to inhabit the majority of northern Europa. Volscian people are divided into three geographic subgroups: Oscans (chiefly East-Volscians, Karthenians), Wescans (West-Volscians, Vetokite), and Boscans (North-Volscians, Deltannians). Within Volscian society there exists a relatively strong belief in Pan-Buranian Universalism. This is a non-political movement that promotes cultural unity and, to some extent, homogenisation among different Buranian communities.

The calendar in Volsci uses a six-season method, with dates fixed at even intervals of months.

• Winter: January and February.
• Unlocking: March and April.
• Spring: May and June.
• Summer: July and August.
• Autumn is September and October.
• Locking: November and December.

Notes

• Volsci: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volsci
• Volcae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcae
• Narentines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narentines