Durnstaal

Federated Union of Durnstaal
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Capital	Durnen
Government
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy

The Federated Union of Durnstaal, most commonly known as Durnstaal, is a nation in the Coalition of Crown Albatross located on the continent of Adula, bordered by Saudi Jiddiya. It controls the western shore of Lake Gravenna, the southern shore of Lake Lopav, the northern shores of the Bay of Morevo, and the area in-between including much of the Kalater mountain range. The government is located in the capital city of Durnen where the Curat River feeds into Lake Gravenna. Durnstaal is a Constitutional Monarchy lead by Czarina Ruzica Masur while the primary legislative body is the Kolspatz headed by Prime Minister Boyan Simic.

The area that Durnstaal now controls was once the site of several minor trading kingdoms situated on the Bezdekia Road. Many artifacts from early steppe nomad societies can also be found throughout the area, suggesting regular migrations from the north. The country is majority Orthodox Christian with significant minorities of Catholics and Muslims present in many major cities. The nation has remained somewhat isolated from world politics, instead focusing more on the local region. The nation has recently come under international scrutiny due to unsafe working conditions across the country and the brutality used in response to the growing separatist movement in the city of Novada. Durnstaal has historically had unfriendly relations with the neighboring Emirate of Saudi Jiddiya but the nations have grown closer in recent years.

History

The history of the Federated Republic of Durnstaal begins in the 400's B.C.E. when the earliest known records list the founding of Duern on the present-day site of Durnen. We know little about these settlers but it is believed they were an off-shoot of a group of steppe nomads who decided to form a permanent settlement. The settlement grew in size over the following few centuries reaching a population of around 15,000 by 200 C.E. and forming close trade relations with the nearby trade city of Yuran (modern day Amarjel), gaining direct access to the Bezdekia Road.

Geography

Durnstaal's geography is overall mountainous with large changes in elevation between the north and south of the nation. The climate becomes drier the closer to the center of the nation you travel with several small patches of desert along the northern face of the Kalater mountains. The nation experiences rainfall in two separate systems, the north fed by Lakes Gravenna and Lopav and the south fed by the Albarine Sea. The lowest elvation is -2m above sea level and the highest is Drukov Point which sits 1,742m above sea level.

Durnstaal's geography varies across the nation and is generally divided into four distinct zones: The Cohn Lowlands, The Novada Highlands, The Stretch, and The Coastal Expanse. The Cohn Lowlands include the rolling hills and dry grasslands bordering Lake Gravenna and Lake Lopav in the northeast. The Novada Highlands include the dense forests and elevated plateaus that run along the western border. The Stretch encompasses the Kalater mountains and the habitable valleys and hills that run along its northern edge. The Coastal Expanse includes all Durnian lands south of the Kalater mountains.

Demographics

Cities

Amarjel: A major transit hub in the Federated Union of Durnstaal, it is the nation's sixth largest city with a population of 3.5 million residents. The city dates back to ancient times when it was a major stop on the Bezdekia Road although few ruins have survived to modern times. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Durnstaal, having grown from 25,000 residents in 1910 to 500,000 in 1970 to 3.5 million today. The city's quick growth is attributed mainly to the northern half of the Durnstaal Transnational Railway converging at the city. Its status as a transit hub was further cemented when Woronoff International Airport opened just outside of the city in 2005, becoming the first Durnen airport offering regular intercontinental flights. The city's economy is varied and diverse but is heavily based on cargo shipping, passenger transport, and an emerging tech industry. The city is majority Orthodox Christian with large communities of Catholic and Muslim adherents.

Durnen: The capital city of the Federated Union of Durnstaal, it is the nation's second largest city with a population of 8.5 million residents. Location of the Durnian Royal Family's home of Duern Keep and the Kolspatz where the Central Assembly meets to vote on legislation. The city itself dates back to ancient times when it was known as the city-state of Duern and architecture from that period can still be found alongside modern structures, most notably in the case of Duern Keep which has stood for over 2000 years. The city overall is modern but many of the newest buildings are several decades old giving the city a dated appearance. The city is mostly Orthodox Christian but has several distinct islamic communities, many with family ties to neighboring Saudi-Jiddiya. The city is the third largest port in Durnstaal and the largest Durnian port on Lake Gravenna handling 78% of all Durnen trade on the lake. It is also home to the oldest airport in Durnstaal, Alaric Central Airport, built in 1957. The city welcomes 42% of all immigrants to the nation although many choose to head further inland rather than stay in the city.

Zabevgorod: A major industrial center and the northernmost city in the Federated Union of Durnstaal, it is the nation's fifth largest city with a population of 4.5 million. It is the largest Durnian city on Lake Lopav. The city generates 80% of Durnstaal's electricity and is home to Durnstaal's only nuclear power plant. The city is a major industrial center with wood processing, steel refining, and textiles manufacturing all having major rpesences in the city. Many finished goods are produced there as well, including the majority of Durnstaal's automobile and aircraft parts. The city also originally built and serviced most of the country's trains but now shares that duty with Amarjel and Novada. The city is infamous for its outdated infrastructure with many public works and structures dating back to the 1950's and 60's in most cases and the 1920's in the worst. As of 2015 the city has begun a campaign of modernization although results have been slow. The city is almost entirely Orthodox Christian with a Catholic minority.

Politics

Military

The military of the Federated Union of Durnstaal is split into 4 branches: The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Altogether, the Durnian military commands 132,951 soldiers(2020).

Army: The Combined Forces of the Union (CFU for short) is the largest branch of the Durnian military with 81,002 active-duty personnel(2020).

Navy: The Federal Navy of Durnstaal is the third largest branch of the Durnian military with 17,397 active-duty personnel(2020).

Air Force: The Durnstaal Royal Air Force (DRAF for short) is the second largest branch of the Durnian military with 27,210 active-duty personnel(2020). The branch was founded in 1951 in response to the Aurelia War although Durnstaal was not a belligerant. The force consists mainly of air superiority fighters and transport aircraft, many dating back to the 1980's. The age of the branch's aircraft has given DRAF mechanics a reputation for being able to get and keep almost anything flying. The DRAF works closely with the CFU in a transport role and many Royal Coast Guard airplanes are serviced by DRAF mechanics.

Coast Guard: The Royal Coast Guard of the Union (Royal Coast Guard for short) is the smallest branch of the Durnian military with 7324 active-duty personnel. The branch was founded in 1823 as a naval force that would guard Durnian waters while the Federal Navy was deployed. In modern times the force has been reoriented almost entirely towards search-and-rescue operations, drug busting, and patrolling trade lanes through the Albarine sea. The Royal Coast Guard will work with other branches if necessary but prefers to remain independent so as to not drag resources away from other branches in the event of war.