Delkora

Kingdom of Delkora Konjuraikezvard Delkoren
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Vox Populi Suprema (Latin) "The Voice of the People is Supreme"
Anthem: Raikaler Markze (Delkoran) "Royal March"
Location of Delkora in Tyran
Capital and largest city	Norenstal
Official languages	Delkoran
Recognised regional languages	Norvish, Faurelian, Syaran
Ethnic groups	82.9% Delkoran 9.3% Other Eracuran 7.8% Sidurian
Demonym(s)	Delkoran
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Haldor VII
• Chancellor	Adric Azengaard
• President of the Federal Constitutional Court	Arya Raelenthur
Legislature	Federal Parliament
• Upper house	Chamber of Nobles
• Lower house	Chamber of Representatives
Formation
• Vydenhelm Covenant	324 CE
• Kingdom of Delkora	982 CE
• Current Constitution	1833 CE
Population
• 2018 estimate	93,151,786
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	4,393,941,655,381 NSD
• Per capita	47,170 NSD
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	4,982,528,721,492 NSD
• Per capita	53,488 NSD
Gini (2018)	24.7 low
HDI (2018)	0.952 very high
Currency	veld
Driving side	right
Calling code	245
Internet TLD	.del

Delkora (Delkoran: Delkoren), officially the Kingdom of Delkora (Delkoran: Konjuraikezvard Delkoren), is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Eracura in Tyran. Delkora is a federal monarchy comprised of seven constituent states, each of which is organized as a constitutional monarchy similar to the federal one. The country is bordered by Svinia to the north, Saint Elena to the east, and Syara to the south. Its capital and largest city is Norenstal. Delkora enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Tyran due to an extensive welfare state and steady economic growth. It consistently scores high on international rankings of civil and political rights.

Delkora is a member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations, the Common Sphere, and the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations and is generally regarded as a middle power with significant influence in Eracura. The Kingdom has considerable soft power derived from its strong economy and its reputation as a world leader in human rights and democratic governance. For the most part, the Kingdom maintains a policy of neutrality in international affairs, although it actively promotes international development and human rights.

Etymology

The word Delkoren is derived from the Old High Delkoran word Delkorvæ meaning "People of the Forest." Anthropologists believe this was the term early inhabitants of the Gandor Valley used to describe themselves, a reference to the Valley's dense forestland. The word first appeared in the Seven Sagas, the holy book of Vallyar, the Delkoran folk religion, and referred to the people of Gandor as being the human incarnations of the Vallyar.

History

Prehistory

The first anatomically modern humans to inhabit present-day Delkora were a number of Indo-Sidurian hunter-gatherer societies along the coast of the Sundering Sea and the Andemis River who moved into the region around 25,000 BCE. The Vyndrionic Culture, a prominent Bronze Age civilization centered around the Abensond Basin, emerged around 5,500 BCE and founded a string of city-states along the coast of present-day Faurelia, which formed the basis of an affluent maritime empire.

Beginning around 2700 BCE, Vyndrionic records began referencing the invasion of the Voiroanthropous (North People). Archaeologists believe these were nomadic tribal groups from northern Eracura who migrated into the Gandor Valley region. As the tribes began moving further south, they encountered the Vyndrionic Civilization and began intermittently raiding its cities. The Vyndrions, who had never engaged in major warfare, proved unable to fend off the invaders, and their civilization was eventually overtaken in 2150 BCE with the Sacking of Vyndrion. Some Vyndrionic records and discoveries were preserved, and proved invaluable to scholars during the Delkoran Renaissance. Parts of the polytheistic Vyndrionic religion were incorporated into the tribal Delkoran religion, and it is believed parts of the Seven Sagas were written by the Vyndrions. Following the sacking of Vyndrion, the Delkoran tribes divided up the empire's cities and the vast wealth it had accumulated. The tribes engaged in frequent warfare with each other over the next several centuries, competing for the abundant resources along the coast of the Sundering Sea.

The introduction of agriculture into Delkoran society circa 1500 BCE prompted the transition away from its nomadic roots. The period from 1500 to 1200 BCE saw the formation of the varden, large agricultural communes which would be an important element of Delkoran culture going forward. The varden retained the egalitarian character of the nomadic tribes, and archaeologists believe their development reflected the concept of Sentralezeting (Centralization) found in the Vallyar religion, which calls for human society to condense itself so as to not intrude on nature. This religious tenant is often cited as a key reason for the development of sedentary civilization along the lines of centralized communes rather than the scattered villages and freeholder farms seen in many other early civilizations. Because land held by the varden was communally owned rather than divided into manors, Delkoran society never went through a period of feudalism.

Over time, the largest and most prosperous varden developed into major cities including Abenvard, Darzenbrom, Falbaard, and Grafholmen. The growing power of these cities led to the development of small polities in the period between 500 BCE to 400 CE as the smaller, less prosperous varden in the countryside were compelled to pay tribute to the large cities for protection. During this period, an arrangement emerged whereby all free citizens of each polity would convene to elect a "Hoyet Herre" (High Lord), who maintained the peace and enforced a body of customary law. Despite the democratic origins of the high lords, they would eventually evolve into absolute monarchs over the next several centuries as power was accrued and then monopolized by a handful of prominent families. This phenomenon also laid the foundation for the development of the system of aristocracy that later arose in the country. By 350 BCE, the forerunners of the present-day Delkoran states of Cybria, Bandorel, Faurelia, Vassengaard, Norvia, and Lyboff had emerged as the dominant polities, and often went to war with each other over land and natural resources.

Vydenhelm Covenant

Beginning around 300 CE, the Makedonian Empire began encroaching upon the southern coast of Delkora, gaining a foothold in several coastal towns and cities, marking the start of the Delkoran-Makendonian Wars. In-fighting between the Delkoran polities prevented a unified resistance to the Makedon invasion, prompting the high lords to convene in the city of Vydenhelm in 327 to call a temporary truce and organize a campaign to expel the Makedon forces. There they signed the Vydenhelm Covenant, establishing a loose confederal government comprised of the five major Delkoran fiefdoms. The Covenant was led by a an elected military leader called a Kaizich, who was responsible for leading the war effort against the Makedons and providing for the common defense of the Delkoran polities. Historians believe the position of Kaizich provided a model that aided in the future development of the national monarchy and helped to establish the notion of a common national identity among the Delkoran people, who had previously only been united by a shared religion and language. The Covenant proved to be only marginally effective in repelling the Makedonian Empire, however, due to continued mistrust among the fiefdoms.

In 982 CE, the Cybrian high lord Illyar was elected Kaizich and managed to successfully amass a large and disciplined Delkoran army that succeeded in routing the Makedon forces in the Battle of Norenstal. Following this costly defeat, the Makedonian Empire withdrew, bringing an end to the Delkoran-Makedonian Wars. Illyar subsequently declared himself King of the Delkorans and stipulated that this title should be passed down to his heirs, an arrangement that was accepted by the high lords. In practice, however, the confederal arrangement of the Vydenhelm Covenant remained more or less in place, with the national monarch's power still greatly constrained by and contingent upon the will of the high lords, who retained their thrones, as well as their large personal armies, and competed with each other for power and influence. Shortly after being anointed king, Illyar issued a decree establishing Norenstal as the capital of the newly united country.

Early Kingdom

Illyar and his successors quickly went about establishing trade with other Kingdoms along the Sundering Sea and parts of Siduri. The wealth generated from this trade was mostly concentrated in the large cities along the Kingdom's southern coast, while its northernmost regions, generally isolated from the major trading routes and facing frequent raids from tribes north of the Grymvar Mountains, profited far less. This growing disparity led to the development of significant cultural differences between the north and south which have carried on to the present day. Between 1176 and 1382, resentment between the north and south led to a series of brief conflicts between the personal armies of the northern and southern high lords.

In an effort to put an end to these costly skirmishes, King Haldor III summoned the high lords to the city of Aberald in 1385 where they negotiated the Peace of Aberald. Under the Peace, the high lords agreed to surrender their personal armies to the King in exchange for the freedom to govern their states as they wished, thereby laying the foundation for a federal system of government. The Peace also established the High Lord Council, a forerunner to the Chamber of Nobles, which had the dual purpose of proposing laws to the king and enabling the high lords to peacefully resolve their disputes.

Renaissance

The period of relative calm brought about by the Peace of Aberald enabled a period of academic and artistic development in Delkoran society that marked the beginning of its renaissance period. During this time, major advances were made in the fields of astronomy, physics, and chemistry by Delkoran scholars. Prosperous southern cities such as Abenvard, Darzenbrom, Tybenhoth, and Gothendral became the centers of the Renaissance, where scholars at universities wrote prolifically and exchanged ideas. The dissemination of their ideas was aided by the advent of metal movable type in the mid-15th Century, as well as increasing rates of literacy. In 1632, Andren Golymyr, a Vallyar priest who had traveled extensively through Tyran, published the Encyclopedia Tyranica, the most comprehensive encyclopedia of Tyrannian history up to that time.

In 1546, following the unexpected death of King Abarath I, his eldest son Falymyr, only ten at the time, was coronated. Duchess Astrid of Halmodryn, a Faurelian noble who had been one of Abarath's most trusted advisers, served as regent. Secretly conspiring against the royal family, she cultivated alliances with the disaffected high lords of Cybria, Bandorel, and Faurelia, who had already been conspiring against Abarath in response to the high taxes he had imposed on their lands. With their help, Astrid was able to successfully arrange for Falymyr's assassination and, after his death in 1552, she declared herself the successor to the throne with the backing of the High Lord Council. Her reign proved to be despotic and violent, and numerous uprisings in the colonies were brutally crushed. As queen, Astrid greatly strengthened the power and influence of the Vallyar Order, requiring all Delkorans to adhere to the faith and pay tribute to the Order.

In 1593, Sedric Elberod, a priest of the Order, began to speak out against the prevailing interpretation of the Seven Sagas, leading to his exile from the Kingdom. He returned in 1598 and gathered a sizable following which rose up against Astrid. The resulting Schism War raged on for seven years and cost thousands of lives. Forces loyal to the queen were ruthless in putting down the rebellion, burning down entire villages whose people were suspected of aiding the rebels. In 1605, at the Battle of Falbaard, Sedric was captured and later burned at the stake. His remaining followers surrendered, and many were put to death. The Queen then went about targeting any who questioned the Vallyar Order, including Christian missionaries from the north who had been attempting to convert the population since the 1400's, in a series of purges that by some estimates killed over 20,000 people. Scholars cite Astrid's purges as a key factor that put an end to the Christianization of Delkora.

Early modern period

Astrid's successors, Boromyr II and Gretta I, oversaw much of Delkora's early modern period, which saw a trend toward centralization of the Delkoran state. During this time, radical political theorists wrote prolifically in the Kingdom's thriving universities. Major scholars of the era included Halvar Belanör, noted for his writings on ethics and philosophy, Danrik Galdaron, famous for his works on economics, and Lucien Elgar, whose writings about human nature and governance would have a significant influence on the development of parliamentary government in the aftermath of Delkoran Civil war. Belanör's ideas laid the theoretical foundation for the Delkoran Parliament by advocating the creation of an assembly representing the interests of the people. His ideas came to fruition in 1732 when Falymyr IV declared the establishment of the House of Commoners, a forerunner to the Chamber of Representatives. While this move mostly assuaged the demands of urban merchants and artisans, the varden pressed for more far-reaching reforms.

During the reign of Falymyr IV (1704-1750), the Kingdom began using its sizable navy to influence trade and intervene in international politics. Delkoran explorers traveled throughout Tyran and beyond, establishing trade and alliances with kingdoms in throughout Eracura and Siduri. The strength of its navy, combined with its strategic location on the Western Narrows, made Delkora an important player in international trade as it competed with Ossoria and Cacerta.

Civil War and Parliamentary Government

Main article: Delkoran Civil War

In 1825, King Vallgaar III, fearing that the varden were becoming radicalized against his reign by the liberal political writings of Belanör and Elrond sar Telberath, a dissident noble who spoke out against the growing power of the national monarch, ordered the high lords to dissolve them. The high lords, believing this to be a violation of the Peace of Aberald, refused. In retaliation, Vallgaar undertook a bloody campaign to disband the varden, prompting a widespread peasant uprising and leading the high lords to begin rebuilding their former armies in an effort to oust him. The resulting civil war dragged on for four long years, with the tide eventually turning against Vallgaar when the peasant militias and high lords formed an alliance and, after a string of key victories, closed in on Norenstal and eventually captured the King in 1832. Vallgaar was forced to abdicate and later sentenced to death by guillotine.

Although the high lords and the peasantry had been united in their opposition to Vallgaar, the Constitutional Convention of 1833 quickly highlighted the divergent interests of the two factions. The high lords had only sought to oust Vallgaar and replace him; they had no desire to pursue fundamental political or social change. Peasant delegates at the convention, meanwhile, demanded the abolition of the monarchy and aristocracy, as well as a redistribution of land. Lord Telberath, fearing the country would descend into a second civil war, sought to negotiate a compromise that would be suitable to both sides. Under the Constitution that was eventually ratified, the national monarchy and aristocracy were retained, but stripped of their political power and relegated to a largely ceremonial status. Power was transferred to a bicameral Parliament to be composed of a Chamber of Representatives that would represent the people, and a Chamber of Nobles that would represent the high lords.

Shortly after the ratification of the Constitution, Parliament began searching for candidates for the national monarchy, eventually settling on Lord Abarath of Cybria, a distant relative of the by then extinct House of Gryngaard-Sorenzborg. A nationwide referendum was held to test Abarah's support, and after winning the approval of a large majority of the population, Abarath was coronated as King Abarath II. Meanwhile, national elections were held for the Chamber of Representatives, which met shortly thereafter to elect a chancellor. Lord Telberath, by then well known figure respected by both the peasantry and nobility, emerged as the clear favorite, and was elected to the position by a unanimous vote, becoming the first and thus far only chancellor in Delkoran history to have the confidence of the entire Chamber of Representatives.

Reform

Even with the adoption of parliamentary government, vestiges of the old aristocratic order persisted throughout the 1800's. While the new Constitution had stripped the national monarchy of its political power, the high lords of Delkora's seven states had been permitted to continue ruling as essentially absolute monarchs, and often abused their power, sparking calls for reform. The first wave of reform started in the 1870's as urban industrial workers throughout the Kingdom began to organize and demand higher wages and improved working conditions. The United Worker's Congress of Delkora (UWKD) was formed in 1872 to organize mass strikes and lobby lawmakers. Fearing the growing power of the UWCD and other labor movements, the high lords of Faurelia, Vassengaard, and Norvia banned them by decree and initiated a violent campaign to disband them. Tensions culminated in 1875 with the Thaldren Massacre, in which Faurelian Home Guard troops opened fire on striking steel workers, resulting in dozens of casualties and sparking riots throughout the Kingdom. That same year, the UWKD changed its name to the National Labor Party and began running candidates for the Federal Parliament, coming to power in a coalition government with the Liberal Party in 1880.

Upon taking office, Chancellor Jördlan Brom went about drafting an amendment to the Constitution that would strip the high lords of their political power. The amendment passed by a large margin in the Chamber of Representatives and was approved by a similarly large majority of the Chamber of Nobles, whose members feared the outbreak of another civil war and voted for the amendment in spite of threats from the high lords. Nonetheless, the high lords of Faurelia, Vassengaard, and Norvia remained defiant, continuing to rule by decree. In response, Brom sent troops into these states and arrested the high lords, giving them the choice to either abdicate or be tried for treason. The high lords of Vassengaard and Norvia abdicated, and their thrones passed on to their heirs, who agreed to rule as constitutional monarchs. High Lord Haldethyr of Faurelia refused, however, and was later tried and hung for treason. By 1885, all five Delkoran states had adopted parliamentary constitutional monarchies modeled after the federal one.

Economic Depression

The period between 1940 and 1959 was characterized by a massive transfer of wealth to the upper classes. Upon taking office in 1940, the Conservative government of Veidnar Albendor went about slashing tax rates, with the largest decreases applied to corporations and the wealthy. Although initially popular with the public, the tax cuts resulted in increasingly large budget deficits between 1940 and 1945, prompting the government to implement unpopular cuts to social security and pension spending. During this period, the Albendor government also implemented a sweeping deregulation agenda that virtually ended the enforcement of competition law, resulting in the largest corporations and banks gaining increasingly greater influence over the economy. As part of the deregulation agenda, the federal minimum wage was eliminated, resulting in lower wages for workers across nearly every sector of the economy which, when combined with increasing prices as a result of monopolization, led to a sharp spike in the poverty rate and a decrease in aggregate demand. By the early 1950's, the economy had entered a recession, which eventually escalated into a depression in the wake of the 1953 Banking Crisis.

With unemployment hitting 17% by the fall of 1954, the Albendor government took quick action to prevent the imminent bankruptcy of three of the country's largest employers, Fjodonor Metall, Drommler Automotive, and Elderik-Sonderheim. The stimulus package passed by Parliament that year succeeded in keeping the companies in business, but angered the labor movement, who believed the companies had been bailed out on the backs of workers that continued to be laid off and faced poverty wages. Facing growing unpopularity in Parliament, Albendor announced his intention to step down as chancellor ahead of the 1956 Federal Election. Defense Minister Hjalmar Gameryn was subsequently elected Conservative Party leader and managed to lead his coalition to a narrow majority. The following year, unemployment reached its peak of 25%, contributing to the increasing radicalization of labor union leadership. Believing that the crisis caused by the depression was optimal for sparking a revolution, Marxists in the labor movement began organizing mass cross-industry strikes intended to shut down the economy. Outside of the labor movement, a handful of left-wing militias began springing up in the major cities, engaging in sabotage and targeted assassinations. The most prominent of these, the Revolutionary Workers' Collective, was responsible for a string of car bombings targeting corporate executives in December 1956.

Social Unrest and National Labor Hegemony

By 1957, civil unrest had spread throughout much of the country as mass strikes virtually paralyzed the economy. In the major cities, large scale protests quickly turned into riots when police attempted to disperse them, resulting in the Norenstal Riots of 1957, the Gothendral Riots of 1958, and the Abenvard Riots of 1959. University campuses proved to be centers of the growing dissident movement as students staged mass walkouts and disruptions. As violence spread throughout the cities, Chancellor Gameryn declared a national emergency in 1957, arresting thousands of agitators and deploying troops to keep the peace. Just two years later, in 1959, Gameryn was assassinated by a member of the Revolutionary Workers’ Collective after giving a speech in Grafholmen. His successor, Thalbius Sörbengaard, proved to be an ineffective leader who was unable to calm the situation. Sörbengaard ultimately lost a confidence vote just months after taking office and, relenting to growing demand for a new election, opted to dissolve Parliament. In the ensuing election, National Labor picked up hundreds of seats, gaining the first ever single-party majority in the Kingdom's history.

Upon taking office, Chancellor Mette Elvensar sought to implement National Labor’s "New Kingdom" program, a series of wide-ranging reforms that aimed to restructure the Delkoran economy and begin the transition to public and worker ownership of the means of production through the development of worker's confederations that would eventually govern the economy. Elvensar's successor, Gandymyr Feldengar, who served as chancellor from 1967 to 1983, continued the implementation of the New Kingdom program, and successfully passed the Economic Rights Amendment of 1969, which embedded many of the reforms into the federal constitution. The New Kingdom proved to be highly popular with the working class and trade unions, resulting in National Labor staying in power throughout the 1970's, in coalition with the Liberal Party after 1975. The coalition lost its plurality in the 1983 Federal Election, leading to a coalition of the Conservative and Agrarian Parties led by Larz sar Vellarand coming to power on a platform of fiscal and social conservatism.

1983-present

The Conservative Party and the Agrarians would remain in power throughout the 1980's and into the first half of the 1990's. Led by Larz sar Vellarand, the coalition embarked on a program of economic austerity in an effort to reduce the deficit, in addition to pursuing a program of devolution of power to state governments. Vellarand's austerity policies proved to be highly unpopular with the public, although his personal popularity secured his government another term in 1987. Altough Vellarand’s coalition had campaigned on reversing the New Kingdom programs, his government had little success, often stymied by the Economic Rights Amendment passed in 1969 by the Feldengar government, and never able to attain a large enough majority in Parliament to repeal it.

In 1990, Vellarand's mounting health issues prompted him to announce that he would not seek another term as chancellor. Minister of the Interior Uldric Bekenheimer was subsequently elected party leader and became chancellor in 1991 after the Conservative-Agrarian coalition retained a slim majority. In response to the outbreak of civil war in neighboring Syara, the coalition government pushed through a dramatic increase in military spending without simultaneously raising taxes, resulting in a massive budget deficit. By the time Bekenheimer was in office, economic growth had stagnated. This, combined with his government's poor handling of the 1994 Federal Budget Crisis, contributed to him losing a vote of confidence that year. In the ensuing election, National Labor, led by Emma Olymyr, saw a resurgence of support, and was returned to power in a coalition government with the Liberal Party. The Olymyr Government cut back on military spending and expanded welfare services, stabilizing the economy.

The 2002 Elections saw Kol Vossgaard become the country's first Green Party chancellor. During his term, Vossgaard pushed through strict regulations that limited the amount of pollution output allowed by factories and prevented industrial expansion into wilderness areas. These reforms were popular, but the Greens nonetheless lost several seats in the 2006 elections due to poor economic performance. The Conservatives, led by Monz Kryzer, forged a coalition government with the Agrarian Party.

In 2012, members of Black Covenant, a far-right Delkoran nationalist group, detonated a bomb inside the Helderborg Subway Station in downtown Norenstal, killing 57 people. The Kryzer government responded by passing the National Security Act of 2012, a controversial piece of legislation that greatly expanded the ability of the national government to spy on Delkoran citizens. The government's popularity remained high until 2014, when a severe recession hit, ultimately resulting in the Kryzer government being ousted in the Federal Election that year. The Liberals gained dozens of seats, becoming the largest party in Parliament. Adric Azengaard, their leader, became chancellor after negotiating the Kingdom's first "traffic light" coalition government with National Labor and the Greens.

Geography

Located in Southern Eracura, Delkora borders Svinia to the north, the Sundering Sea to the south, and the Sanguine Sea to the west. The southwestern coast of the State of Bandorel forms the northern half of the Western Narrows, a strategically important strait through which a number of major shipping lanes pass. The topography of the Kingdom varies considerably from region to region. The northernmost states of Vassengaard and Norvia are heavily forested and home to the Grymvar Mountains, which run the length of the country's border with Svinia. With the exception of the large cities of Izenhoth, Tordenhelm, and Grafholmen, these states are only sparsely populated. Residential and industrial expansion in the north is greatly limited by the fact that much of the land area of both states is protected forestland. Nearly 75% of the area of Norvia, for example, consists of federal parks and other protected areas.

The State of Bandorel lies to the southwest and is home to extensive farmland and pastures, producing nearly 63% of the Kingdom's agricultural output. Its population is much more spread out, consisting mostly of small towns and cities, with the exception of the metropolitan areas of the cities of Abenvard and Tybenhoth on the Sundering coast, which have very high population densities. Cybria is centrally located in the Kingdom and is the only state that shares a land border with every other state. Nearly 40% of the population is centered in southern Cybria and neighboring Faurelia. Northern Cybria, by contrast, is very rural. The state of Norenstal is an enclave of Cybria, and serves as the capital city of the Kingdom. Faurelia is the easternmost state, and has a high population density second only to Cybria. Much of the Kingdom's industrial base is located in the state, with the most famous region being the Daegenfjor Peninsula located in the southern part of the state. Major cities bordering the peninsula including Halmodryn and Fjodonor are home to sprawling steel mills, as well as a number of hydroelectric plants and nuclear reactors.

Climate

Most regions of Delkora north of the 43rd parallel, including all of Vassengaard and Norvia, and parts of northern Bandorel and Cybria have an oceanic climate characterized by mild summers and winters, frequent precipitation, and persistent overcast conditions. Regions south of the parallel are mostly characterized by a hot-summer Mediterranean climate featuring warm, dry summers and rainy springs and winters. Vegetation in these regions is characterized by the predominance of sclerophyll shrublands, as well as pine and oak trees. Agriculture in the Mediterranean zone is dominated by the production of wheat, citrus fruits, olives, and grapes. Vineyards along the Sundering coast are known for their high quality wine, which is a major export. Agriculture in the oceanic zone, meanwhile, is dominated by barley, maize, and soybeans.

Biodiversity

Delkoran ecosystems are characterized by a high degree of biodiversity, with approximately 175,000 known species and an estimated 23,000 that have yet to be described. An extensive body of federal environmental law exists to ensure the preservation of existing species and ecosystems. Strict regulations govern hunting and fishing quotas, and whaling has been illegal in Delkora's exclusive economic zone since 1962. The Ministry of Environment maintains an extensive list of endangered species, and has developed action plans to rebuild their populations. Strict penalties exist for the unlawful killing of species on this list. More recently, Parliament has passed laws regulating gene pools and the distribution of genetically modified organisms. Forest biomes are protected by a national system of federal parks, and slash-and-burn agriculture is prohibited. Forestry laws require replanting at replacement level for all felling operations.

Demographics

Population

Following its industrialization in the late 1700's, and the ensuing rise in living standards, Delkora's population began to increase dramatically. Birthrates reached a peak in the 1920's, and started to slowly decline thereafter. Since the immigration reforms of Chancellor Mette Elvensar in the 1960's, the Kingdom has experienced several major waves of immigration from Tyran and abroad. Accordingly, most population growth since 1975 has been driven by immigration. As of 2018, the national population was estimated at around 93 million, with a median age of 39 years old and a fertility rate of 1.87 children born per woman. A federal census is conducted every five years to measure population change and collect demographic data. Data from the federal census is also used to determine the number of seats in parliament each state is entitled to. The next census is scheduled for 2020.

Language

Delkoran, a North Germanic language, is the official language of the Kingdom at the federal level and is spoken by over 97% of the population. Two major dialects, Northern and Southern Delkoran, are spoken. State and local governments may establish regional languages as they see fit. Languages recognized on a state level include Norvish, Faurelian, and Syaran. Federal education standards in the Kingdom require children to be fluent in both Delkoran and English.

Religion

Since the early 1900's, Delkora has become increasingly secular. Vallyar is the official religion of the Kingdom, and 59% of the population are registered members of the Vallyar Order, although it is estimated that less than 20% regularly attend services. Approximately 34% of the population identify as atheist or agnostic, while 5% identify as Christian. The largest denomination of Christianty is Catholicism, practiced mostly by descendants of immigrants from Shalum and Svinia. The remaining 3% of the population follow some other faith.

As the Delkoran folk religion, Vallyar has existed in various forms dating as far back as 2500 BCE. It is a polytheistic faith which posits that a divine and impersonal force known as the Vallyar exists as the "soul" of the universe, from which a pantheon of subordinate deities originate. The religion has always lacked an evangelical character due to one of its fundamental tenants being an assumption that human knowledge is constantly evolving, and that other religions could therefore be as valid as Vallyar itself, or at least partially valid. Scholars of religion have noted the egalitarian character of the religion, which even in its earliest stages promoted a society based on gender equality where men and women had equal rights and responsibilities, as well as a rejection of strict hierarchies.

Vallyar symbols appear prominently in the Delkoran flag, which features an Illyar cross overlaid by a triple moon and a sun cross, a design intended to symbolize the unity of the state, represented by the Illyar cross, and the Vallyar Order. The triple moon in Vallyar symbolizes the cyclical nature of the universe, as well as the human life cycle of birth, life, and death. The sun cross represents the central role of nature in human civilization, with the four quarters of the cross representing the four seasons. Although the Delkoran state is officially religious, in practice the Vallyar Order, much like the monarchy, now serves a mostly ceremonial role within the government, and has no influence on policy. Moreover, strong religious freedom protections enacted by the federal constitution and various pieces of legislation guarantee the rights of those who do not adhere to the faith.

Ethnicity

82.9% of the population identifies as ethnic Delkoran, while 9.3% identify as another Eracuran ethnicity, with the largest subset of this group being Svinians, followed by Shalumites and Azurlavs. Those identifying as a Sidurian ethnicity comprise 7.8% of the population, with the largest subset of this group being Syarans, followed by Mubatans and Miranians.

Politics and Government

Monarchy

The Delkoran monarch is a constitutional monarch who holds a largely ceremonial role that is constrained by the federal constitution. The current king, Haldor VII, is a member of the House of Valdenharm, a cadet branch of the now extinct House of Gryngaard-Sorenzborg. Succession to the throne is based on absolute primogeniture, whereby the throne passes to the monarch's eldest child regardless of gender. The current heir apparent to the throne is Crown Princess Astrid, the first born daughter of Haldor VII and Queen Elsa.

Parliament

Main article: Delkoran Federal Parliament

The Delkoran Federal Parliament is a bicameral body composed of the popularly-elected Chamber of Representatives and the indirectly-elected Chamber of Nobles. Members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected from multi-member districts through party list proportional representation. The Chamber of Nobles, the upper house of Parliament, is composed of peers appointed by the high lords of the Kingdom's seven states on the advice of their first ministers. All legislation must originate in the Chamber of Representatives. It is then sent to the Chamber of Nobles for review, where amendments can be proposed, although they must be approved by the Chamber of Representatives. Because the Chamber of Nobles only has the right to be consulted on legislation and not a right to veto, it can only delay bills, not defeat them. Constitutional amendments and treaties, however, require a 2/3 majority in both chambers.

The Federal Executive Cabinet, chaired by the Chancellor, constitutes the government of the day, and is responsible to the Chamber of Representatives. After an election, the Chamber of Representatives nominates a chancellor candidate for appointment by the Monarch, and the Monarch is constitutionally obligated the appoint the nominee. The Chancellor then appoints the other ministers of the Executive Cabinet. Although executive power is formally exercised by the Monarch, since the ratification of the 1833 Constitution, he or she acts solely on the advice of the Executive Cabinet.

Constituent States

Main articles: States of Delkora and Federalism in Delkora

Delkora is a federal monarchy in which each of its seven states are organized as constitutional monarchies similar to the federal one. In all seven states, a high lord serves as head of state while a first minister from the state parliament serves as head of government. Under the Delkoran constitution, the high lords are considered co-equal to the national monarch, meaning they are not subordinate to him or her and cannot be compelled to give an oath of loyalty. Like the national monarch, however, the high lords now serve largely ceremonial roles that are secondary to their respective first ministers. First ministers lead their state's government and are responsible to the state parliament, and thus their role is similar to the federal chancellor. Delkora's state parliaments are all unicameral and use proportional voting systems with slight variations.

Judicial System and Law Enforcement

Main article: Law of Delkora

Delkora has a civil law legal system in which the court system is divided into ordinary courts that deal with criminal and private law, and administrative courts. The vast majority of cases are heard by state courts, with the federal courts only being used in civil and administrative cases where there is a federal element involved, or in criminal cases involving crimes against the state, organized crime, and crimes with an interstate element. Cases involving ordinary state law originate in one of 374 county courts which can then be appealed to a regional court of appeals and eventually the state's high court of justice. A similar hierarchy exists with respect to administrative courts. Additionally, each state has its own constitutional court, which has the final say on the meaning of its state constitution.

There are a total of 41 federal courts in Delkora, including 12 ordinary trial courts, 12 administrative trial courts, 7 ordinary circuit courts, 7 administrative circuit courts, the Federal Court of Justice, the Federal Administrative Court, and the Federal Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court is the highest court in the land and is empowered to hear any case to the extent that their is a federal constitutional question involved. It is the only court in the Kingdom with federal constitutional jurisdiction. Members of the federal judiciary are nominated by the Federal Executive Cabinet and must be approved by a 2/3 majority of both chambers of Parliament. They possess life tenure subject to mandatory retirement at the age of 70.

Routine law enforcement in the Kingdom takes place primarily at the state level. Each of the country's seven states maintains a police force that is responsible for maintaining the peace and enforcing laws. The Federal Criminal Inspectorate enforces federal criminal law and helps to assist and coordinate the activities of the state police agencies. The Federal Border Guard patrols the country's borders and administers border crossings. Prospective police officers are required to attain a bachelor's degree in police science from university and undergo a year of post-graduation training that includes not just physical conditioning and weapons training, but also cultural training and exhaustive mental and emotional screening.

Foreign Relations and Military

Main article: Royal Delkoran Armed Forces

Delkora generally maintains friendly or at least neutral relations with most Tyrannian nations. The Kingdom is a member of the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations. Under the terms of the Strade Treaty ratified in 1982, Ossoria maintains a permanent naval base in the city of Vanersdal on the southern coast. Relations with Gylias have been strong on account of good trade relations and similar cultural values. A formal political and economic alliance was later established by the Delkora-Gylias Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation ratified by the two countries in 1965.

The Royal Delkoran Armed Forces is composed of four branches including the Royal Army, Navy, Air Force, and Home Guard. The Home Guard is a separate force administered by the states that is primarily responsible for defending strategic infrastructure and providing a rapid response in the event of an invasion. There is a strict separation between the military and civil police forces, with soldiers prohibited from participating in routine law enforcement operations except when necessary during times of civil unrest. Delkoran military posture has long had a primarily defensive character, concerned primarily with defending the Kingdom's territory and policing the Sundering Sea.

Education

The Kingdom guarantees free education at all levels funded primarily through state and local taxation. Throughout the 1950's and 60's, all states in the country came to adopt variations of the Laerenger Model developed by educational psychologist Lara Laerenger. Key features of this model include optional pre-school from age 3 to 6; a highly structured primary education that lasts from age 6 to 12 which focuses on the development of literacy, reasoning ability, and social skills; a less structured lower secondary education with an emphasis on identifying personal strengths and interests from age 12 to 16; and an optional upper secondary education from age 16 to 18 in which students can opt for vocational training or a university preparation curriculum in academy.

Tertiary education in the country is offered by a range of universities and colleges. Most of these are operated by state governments, although some are run by the federal government. As of 2018, there were 84 universities in Delkora, 24 colleges of applied science, 16 colleges of business, and 7 colleges of art. Bachelors degree programs typically require 3 years of study, masters 2-3, and doctoral degrees 3-4. The Master of Laws (M.L.) degree is required to become a practicing lawyer, in addition to passing the bar exam in the state a candidate wishes to practice law, and requires 4 years of study beyond the bachelor's level. The Doctor of Laws (D.L.) is a PhD program available after completion of the M.L. for those wishing to specialize in a particular area of law or who wish to pursue a career in academics, and requires an additional 3 years of study. Those wishing to become physicians must attain a five year Doctor of Medicine (D.M.) degree after completion of their bachelor's work. The D.M. degree is divided into two years of training in the basic sciences, followed by three years of clinical work. After graduation, candidates must pass the Federal Medical Licensure Test and complete two years of residency. Specialized medical degrees are available beyond the D.M. degree for those wishing to specialize in a particular field of medicine such as cardiology or psychiatry, and require an additional two to three years of study.

Education policy is highly decentralized. Each state sets its own standards, although the actual administration of schools is mostly left to municipal governments. Since the 1960's, the federal government has sought to impose a uniform set of national standards throughout the country, while leaving the states wide discretion in how they implement the standards. Education is treated as a public good, and while a handful of private schools exist, they are subject to extensive regulation and are barred from receiving public funds. Homeschooling has been banned in every state since 1993.

Healthcare

Delkora has a single-payer healthcare system funded through general taxation that provides all medically-necessary care, as well as a wide range of preventive care, free at the point of use for permanent Delkoran residents. The Ministry of Health oversees healthcare at the federal level, although in practice the system is highly decentralized, with most physicians in the Kingdom being employed by state and local governments, which also run most hospitals and clinics. Private health insurance does not exist. The country ranks high on most measures of public health, with low rates of child mortality, communicable disease, and premature death. Relative to other developed nations in Tyran, Delkora has low rates of obesity and heart disease. Treatment outcomes for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's have steadily improved in recent decades due in large part to high levels of government funding for research and development of pharmaceuticals. Overall life expectancy in 2018 was 80.1 years for men and 80.4 years for women. The Delkoran health system has long been noted for its efficiency and high patient satisfaction ratings. In 2018, the average wait time to see a primary care physician was 3 days, while the average wait time to see a specialist was 28 days.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Delkora

Delkora is a post-industrial economy, with services accounting for 73% of GDP, industry 26%, and agriculture 1%. Since the New Kingdom Reforms of the 1960's and 70's, the Delkoran economy has been based on a model that combines elements of market socialism and economic democracy. A significant portion of economic endeavors are undertaken as worker cooperatives, and many industries in the Kingdom are directed entirely by worker's confederations comprised of labor unions. Accordingly, the Kingdom has one of the highest union densities in Tyran, with close to 87% of Delkoran workers registered as members of a labor union. State-run enterprises are mostly limited to industries where natural monopolies exist or those considered to be essential to the public, although the government is a majority shareholder in a significant number of publicly-traded firms. Most of these firms, however, are not directly managed by the government. Public spending accounts for 45% of GDP, and a significant number of Delkorans are employed in the public sector.

The Kingdom is known for its expansive welfare state, a major component of which is its basic income program, which guarantees all adult citizens residing in the Kingdom unconditional monthly stipends that are calculated according to the cost of living for the area in which they live, thereby guaranteeing all citizens a minimum standard of living. The program is financed primarily by profits from publicly-owned stocks, land, and natural resources in accordance with the principle of the social dividend. The Delkoran income tax system is highly progressive, with the lowest rate being 10%, while the highest is 95%. The corporate tax rate is similarly progressive, with a rate of 15% applied to most small businesses, while the largest corporations are taxed at 35%. A national VAT tax of 10% is also in place, with a lower rate of 5% applied to food, medicine, and clothing. State and local governments also levy taxes, subject to certain certain restrictions, with much of their revenues drawn from land and property taxes. Delkora has among the lowest levels of income inequality in Tyran.

Major export industries in Delkora include information technology, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, shipbuilding, and steel. Imports include oil and natural gas, raw metals, and foodstuffs.

Culture

Agrarian Tradition

A major element of Delkoran society dating back to the 1500's BCE is the presence of an agrarian culture centered around large farming communes known as varden, which continues to be influential to this day. Historians often credit the egalitarian culture of the varden as contributing to the development of a democratic political culture and preference for local governance. Beginning with the counterculture movements of the 1960's and 70's, traditional agrarian culture was co-opted by radical groups pushing for wide-ranging social reforms, who pointed to the historical influence of the varden as proof that the egalitarian proposals they espoused were simply a return to the country's roots. In the present day, a conservative strain of varden culture that predominates in Bandorel and the northern states forms the basis of political support for the country's centre-right Agrarian Party, while the more progressive varden culture of Cybria forms the basis of support for the country's Green Party, which is considerably more influential in national politics than its counterparts in other Tyrannian nations.

Progressivism

Delkora is widely seen as a progressive country, both in terms of government policy and the attitudes of its citizens. The country consistently ranks near the top of Tyrannian nations on measures of political and civil rights, worker's rights, civil liberties, and protection of minority rights. Extreme poverty and chronic homelessness have virtually been eliminated due to large-scale income redistribution. Expansive civil rights laws protect individuals from both public and private sector discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, genetic information, physical appearance, sex, gender identity, sexuality, age, and disability. These policies, combined with robust affirmative action laws, have contributed to strong social cohesion. Political institutions are known for being transparent and responsive, and the country has one of the lowest rates of corruption in the world.

Cinema and Television

Since the early 1930's, Delkora has been home to a thriving cinema industry, with early classics including Gothendral Nochten (1932) and Poets of the Revolution (1935). The 1950's saw the production of a number of influential documentaries critical of existing political structures and figures, helping to contribute to growing public dissatisfaction with decades of conservative governance. Films of this era included Dus Aristokraten (1956), which helped bring public awareness to the many institutional privileges still enjoyed by members of the aristocracy, as well as Fjodonor (1958), which detailed the plight of Delkoran steel workers in the city of Fjodonor. Major films in recent years have included Halvendahl (2016), an espionage thriller about a rogue DFI agent, and The Gravakr Event (2018), a science fiction horror film centered on a small town in northern Vassengaard where a series of paranormal events occur after a rare meteor shower.

Founded in 1932, the publicly-owned Delkoran Broadcasting Service had a virtual monopoly on television and radio broadcasts in the country until sweeping deregulation of the media industry in the 1980's resulted in a rapid expansion in the number of private media companies. Popular television series in recent years have included the political thriller King-in-Council, about an MP who conspires to become chancellor through backstabbing and intrigue, and The Pact, a dark comedy about a teenage couple who run away from home and embark on a series of bank robberies throughout the country. Boromyr-12 is a long-running science fiction series about a group of refugees who seek out a new planet after Earth is rendered uninhabitable by centuries of unmitigated climate change. Recent sitcoms have included Teachable Moment, which follows the antics of a group of exceptionally smart yet lazy college students at Abenvard University, as well as Precinct 8, about a team of detectives in the Norenstal Metropolitan Police Department. Beginning in the 1960's, political satire shows started to gain in popularity, and continue to receive high ratings. The most well-known show in this genre is the left-leaning Havomar Report, which has aired consistently since 1974 and has received critical acclaim for not only satirizing contemporary political figures and events, but also educating viewers and helping to bring public awareness to obscure issues.

Literature

The earliest Delkoran literature consists of the Seven Sagas, a collection of thousands of short stories, anecdotes, and epic poems started by the Delkoranic tribes of northern Eracura around 2,800 BCE which forms the basis of Vallyar, the Delkoran folk religion. Originally passed down orally, an effort to compile the Sagas into a single piece of text was undertaken during the reign of King Illyar. Somewhat unique among world religions, the Seven Sagas is considered to be an ongoing piece of work, and each new generation contributes verses to it by way of "findings" issued by the Vallyar Order. In this way, the Sagas provide not just a summary of Delkoran folklore and religious principles, but also a glimpse into the evolution of Delkoran society.

The Delkoran renaissance saw an outpouring of new literature throughout the 16th Century as Delkoran playwrights and poets produced works that became famous throughout Eracura. The Delkoran Romantic period of literature began in the 1820's as a movement that promoted an idealized vision of the country's traditional culture and past. Famous authors of this period included Elrond Fyarendrath and Haergar Borengaard. The 1920's was a prolific period for Delkoran playwrights, who produced a number of notable works such as Dus Elven od Hymyr (1923) by Anna sar Gastenholt and The Death of Alice(1927) by Frederik Bartholmen. The 1930's marked the start of the Volketliterator movement, which broke with traditional literary conventions perceived to be aristocratic or classist. Works of this school emphasized realistic, often mundane characters and plots, as well as the use of low diction.

As was the case with cinema at the time, Delkoran literature of the 1950's was notable for its critical character. The most famous works of this period were pieces of dystopian political fiction such as Karl Heinfalken's Fyueretsang (1952) and Agetha Rektolfe's Broken Glass (1957). The 1950's also saw the rise of anarchist literature produced by writers such as Eva Daeomyr. The 1970's was the golden era for Delkoran science fiction, featuring writers such as Kaylen Derenger and Hal Sarbyngar, who were known for their speculative fiction and whose influence can still be seen in recent works of literature in the genre. The early 1980's marked the beginning of Delkoran literature's postmodern period, which continues to the present day, and is best represented by authors such as Lora Gaerholden and Aerindel Baldenar, whose works make frequent use of unreliable narrator, stream of consciousness, and metafiction.

Cuisine

Delkoran cuisine has been heavily influenced by its history as a seafaring nation. Salmon, tilapia, crab, and cod are common entrees, often paired with citrus fruit and bread. Red meats are consumed far less often, with the exception of lamb. Olive oil is frequently used as a cooking oil in recipes, in addition to being served with bread and as a dressing on salad. A glass of wine or a pint of beer is often served with dinner. Coffee is a popular beverage that is typically served after a meal. Delkorans typically consume large breakfasts and small dinners, while eating smaller snacks throughout the day.

Holidays

There are a total of seven holidays observed by the federal government. By law, all non-essential government employees have these days off, as well as most private sector employees.

Holiday	Date	Reason for Celebration
New Year's Eve	31 December	New Year's Eve
New Years Day	1 January	Start of a new year
Election Day	Varies	Federal, state, and local elections
Thymyr	3 April	Religious celebration of the start of Spring
Labor Day	1 May	Celebration of workers
Eshmyr	23 September	Religious celebration of the start of Autumn
Constitution Day	25 October	Ratification of the current Delkoran Constitution

Transportation and Infrastructure

Construction of Delkora's national highway system, which connects all of the Kingdom's major cities and serves as a major conduit for the transportation of commercial goods, began in 1935 during the chancellorship of Sofia Westergren. The national highway system is complemented by a comprehensive system of state and county roads. Several high-speed rail systems have been built throughout the country including the Norenstal-Darzenbrom Line, the Abenvard-Tybenhoth Line, and the Izenhoth-Falbaard Line. In 2004, the Vossgaard Government passed a budget that included a major increase in grants for municipal public transit systems, which has allowed for greatly expanded bus service in medium and smaller-sized cities. Delkoran car manufacturers are known for producing fuel efficient vehicles, and under Delkoran law all fossil fuel-powered vehicles manufactured for sale in the Kingdom after 2010 have been required to get at least 40 highway miles per gallon and 35 city miles. Delkora has one of the highest rates of hybrid and electric car ownership in Tyran.

Energy

During the Green Party's dominance of Parliament throughout the early 2000's, Delkora accelerated its transition away from dependence on fossil fuels and greatly expanded its renewable energy production. Today, Delkora is a carbon neutral country in which hydroelectric and geothermal sources account for 65% of the Kingdom's total energy output, while solar and wind power account for 25% and nuclear accounts for 5%. The remainder comes from fossil fuels, including oil and natural gas. The country's last coal-fired powerplants were decommissioned in 1996, and legislation passed since then has banned coal extraction. Domestic production of oil is greatly restricted by the fact that most deposits are located within protected wilderness areas. The Environmental Accountability Act of 2004 passed by the Vossgaard Government that year implemented, among other things, a carbon tax that has resulted in an overall reduction in total carbon dioxide output in the Kingdom.