Durnstaal

Federated Union of Durnstaal
Flag
Motto: "By Blood, Sweat, and Tears"
Capital	Durnen
Official languages	Durnian
Recognised national languages	Caticeze-English
Recognised regional languages	Charnek
Demonym(s)	Durnian
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• Czar	Darina Husa III
• Prime Minister	Boyan Simic
Establishment
• City-state of Duern	circa. 400 B.C.
• Confederacy of Duern	1580 A.D.
• Federated Republic of Durnstaal	1756 A.D.
Population
• 2020 estimate	82,053,000
Currency	pecia (DSP)
Antipodes	The Federation of Vulkaria and The Dominion of the Sanguine Church
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+331
Internet TLD	.ds

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. The nation shares land borders with Saudi Jiddiya, Alcarres, New Elkland, Vitosium, Alonnisosa, and Wyomia and a maritime border with Mulfulira via Lake Gravenna. It controls the western shore of Lake Gravenna, the southern shore of Lake Lovap, the northern shores of the Bay of Morevo, and the area in-between including much of the Kalater mountain range. Its capital is Durnen and its largest city is Piva. Durnstaal is a Constitutional Monarchy lead by Czar Darina Husa III 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, Eianists, 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 Yuran separatist movement. Durnstaal has historically been somewhat unstable due to several separatist movements and unfriendly relations with neighboring Saudi Jiddiya but the region has stabilized in recent years.

History

Founding and Oligarchy (400 B.C.)

The history of the Federated Republic of Durnstaal begins in 400 B.C. 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 one of the many groups of steppe nomads which migrated through the area. The settlement grew in size over the following few centuries reaching a population of around 5,000 by 200 A.D. and forming close trade relations with the nearby trade city of Yuran (modern day Novada), gaining direct access to the Bezdekia Road. At this time, Durnstaal was governed by an oligarchical council made up of leading members of society, usually the heads of major families or the wealthiest citizens. By 200 A.D. the council had grown to include 15 people before the system started breaking down.

The First Fracture (213-341)

Tensions in the council of Duern had been rising for some time when the Fracture occurred in 213 A.D. It is unknown what issue was discussed that day, but by the end of the meeting twelve councilmen were dead and the meeting hall was on fire. Soon, the three surviving councilmen: Agilulf Grossg, Erwin Fuchs, and Aliprand Eklund; had consolidated their supporters and attempted to impose martial law, starting a three-way civil war that would divide the city for 128 years. The factions, lead by their respective leaders' families would make and break alliances with each other continuously until a smallpox outbreak in 338 decimated the local populace. The Eklund faction experienced disproportionately few cases, allowing them to overpower and subsume the other two factions over the next three years, beginning the first royal line of Duern.

Growth and First Conquest (341-367)

Under the rule of the Eklund Dynasty, Duern began expanding out across the nearby countryside, subsuming many of the small settlements that had previously been trading partners. When Aliprand Eklund died in 364, Duern directly controlled the entirety of the Curat River and had begun spreading up the coast of Lake Gravenna. Aliprand's successor, his son Berthold, continued the growth by expanding Duern's borders north before coming into conflict with the city-state of Dravun. Increasingly frequent border skirmishes combined with worsening trade relations eventually led to Berthold declaring the first general call to arms, forming the first ever true Army of Duern. Berthold, leading an army of 2500 citizen soldiers, marched up to Dravun and gave them a choice: submit to his rule or he would take it by force. Dravun refused surrender, prompting one of the earliest seiges in Adula's history. The siege lasted 5 weeks and ended in Duernian victory. With the conquest of Dravun, Duern held direct control over both routes the Bezdekia Road took around Lake Gravenna which caused an economic boom in the wake of the campaign.

War with Yuran

Rising Tensions with Yuran (367-386)

After the conquest of Dravun in 367, Berthold began expanding northwest, taking control over the rest of the Cohn Lowlands. Duern's rapid growth brought it into direct contact with the land's belonging to the city-state of Yuran. The two city-states had been trading partners for several centuries, but both had seen similar growth over the preceding decades and were roughly equal in strength. Border skirmishes were commonplace but open warfare did not begin until 382 shortly after Berthold died of disease, likely malaria, and was replaced by his son Davor. Davor's inexperience and young age of 14 caused Duern to look weak, leading to Yuran pushing out along the Kalater mountains to take the rich mining settlements in the area. Over the next 4 years Yuran would take mining settlements one-by-one through either military conquest or diplomatic means until they had extended halfway to the Curat river. Davor, meanwhile, spent the years trying to build up stronger diplomatic relations with surrounding states, Yuran included. These relations would prove valuable in the future, but in the present further weakened his public image. The breaking point came when a diplomatic convoy sent to Yuran was stopped by Yurani forces near the border. The soldiers confiscated the diplomatic gifts, personal valuables, and cart horses of the convoy and ordered them to return to Duern. When Davor learned of this, it is said that he silently stood, signaled for his advisors and military leaders to follow him, and was not seen in public for 3 days as he planned their response.

The First Battle of Kolbt Valley

When Davor emerged, the general call to arms was sent out and Duern's standing army of 2000 was joined by 10000 citizen soldiers. The force marched on the towns lost to Yuran over the preceding years and quickly reclaimed most of them. Soon, however, they were met by a Yurani army in the Koblt Valley. The Yurani were 11000 strong and supported by mercenary cavalry recruited from the north, leaving the forces equally matched. The two forces clashed on August 8th, 386, in the largest battle either side had ever seen. Hundreds died in the fighting and thousands on either side would die from their wounds. By the end of the day, Duern had lost over 3000 soldiers with Yuran seeing similar lossess. The battle ended as a stalemate as the remnants of both armies returned home. A centuries-long near-continuous state of warfare between Yuran and Duern had just begun.

The Stalemate (386-921)

The 535 year period from the First Battle of Kolbt Valley to the Siege of Katlin Castle is known overall as the Stalemate as, despite the near-constant conflict with other powers and each other, both nations failed to make any lasting and significant gains on the other. The growth of the Bezdekia Road from several minor trade routes to a well-mapped transcontinental network by the 600's C.E. only served to further strain relations as Duern coveted Yuran's access to the Albarine Sea through the Bay of Morevo while Yuran likewise coveted Duern's control over both routes around Lake Gravenna. The Stalemate would end in 921 C.E. with the fall of Katlin Castle to Duernian forces under Czar Aleksandru III, leading to the capture and execution of the Yurani Khan Lupiz Kradomir and his eldest son Drazc Kradomir. In the chaos of the civil war that ensued between the two surviving heirs, Duern captured the city of Yuran itself and razed it to the ground.

Foreign Invasions

Emmirian Invasion and Conquest (644-1042)

In 644 C.E. Emmiria began expanding into territory controlled by Duern, pushing up and taking the mineral-rich areas along the northern face of the Kalater mountains. The loss of the majority of its mines weakened Duern economically and militarily as they tried and failed to fend off the Emmirian forces. A large-scale Yurani invasion of Duern in 657 C.E. attempted to exploit this weakness but was quickly recalled when Emmiria crossed the Bay of Morevo and began pushing up the coast. Duern would attempt to push the Emmirians back several times but failed to make any lasting impacts until 1012 when forces under Stanislav Aleksandru IV fought and won the Second Cattle of Koblt Valley, capturing the town of Eckrinburg and the area's rich mines. Stanislav continued his advance and continued pushing the Emmerians back for a month until the Battle of Leper's Creek saw the advance stall and he retreated to the nearby Moloch Fortress to prevent the Emmirians from pushing back. Meanwhile, Czar Aleksandru III led a force down the coast of Lake Gravenna against the Emmirian forces and found similar but slower success to his son. His forces pressed the Emmirians back at heavy cost, regaining much lost territory. By the end of the year, however, Emmirian reinforcements arrived and pushed the Czar's forces all the way back to Duern itself before laying siege to the city. Aleksandru IV in response pushed forward along the mountains, pushing back the Emmirians with a ferocity he had never displayed before. After these decisive victories, Aleksandru ordered 250 Emmerian prisoners to be beheaded, have their heads reattached backwards, and be thrown into the Curat River several miles from the besieging army. When mutilated soldiers began flowing into the siege camps, a force was immediately sent out to meet Aleksandru's force, unaware he had relocated to the opposite side of the river and was marching towards Duern. When he arrived, a third of the besiegers were 20 miles away and the rest were unprepared to meet an organized force. The ensuing battle costly for both sides but decisive, breaking the siege and forcing the remaining Emmirian forces back towards the modern-day borders. The Emmirians would try many times over the next few decades to reconquer Duern, but failed against the newly fortified border. In 1042, the final Emmirian invasion of Duern was repelled as Emmiria slowly lost control of the areas bordering Duern to rebellion. This border has not changed to this day.

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 Lovap 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 five distinct zones: The Cohn Lowlands, The Novada Highlands, The Stretch, The Interior, and Notoso. The Cohn Lowlands include the rolling hills and dry grasslands bordering Lake Gravenna and Lake Lovap 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 Interior is the rocky, mountainous region at the center of the country. Notoso includes all Durnian lands south of the Kalater mountains.

Demographics

Religion

The Federated Union of Durnstaal is majority Orthodox Christian with 65% of the country claiming membership. Catholic Christians form the next largest group with 21% of the population. Third is Eianism with 5% and finally Islam with 4%. The remaining 5% claim no religious beliefs.

The large Christian majority in Durnstaal can be traced back to ancient times when Orthodox Christianity first emerged in the area before spreading west along the Bezdekia Road. In contrast, the majority of the Islamic populace can trace their recent lineage back to nations such as Saudi Jiddiya and Emmiria rather than being local converts.

Despite the large amount of Christian influence, belief in mythological creatures such as vampires and rusalki is common among the populace. Such beliefs have become intertwined with the Christian faith to the point of becoming common knowledge. For example: many wells, water fountains, and even pipes are commonly stamped with protective charms to ward off wandering berehynias from making their home in the water source, a practice dating back to medieval times.

Language

The official language is Durnian but the Caticeze dialect of English is widely used and accepted across the country as well. Durnians living deep in the rural interior of the nation tend to speak a dialect of Durnian known as Charnek, which in some places has diverged enough from Durnian to be considered a unique language. The rising ownership of televisions and further expansions of information systems in the interior has helped homogenize the language somewhat but a language barrier still exists.

Cities

Major Cities in Durnstaal Population over 3 million
No.	City	Population
1	Piva	9,103,000
2	Durnen	8,542,000
3	Kavyat	7,298,000
4	Novada	5,010,000
5	Zabevgorod	4,581,000
6	Amarjel	3,573,000

Minor Cities in Durnstaal Population between 100,000 and 3 million
No.	City	Population
1	Eltershafen	?
2	New Dunasova	?
3	Durenko	?
4	Khan's Landing	?
5	Steunhal	?
6	Kalinya	?
7	Kalisz Pormorski	?
8	Albidiya	?
9	Sulina	?
10	Ploty	?

Politics

Legislature

The primary legislative body is the Kolspatz. It is bicameral with a lower house, the House of Citizens, and an upper house, the House of Elders. The House of Citizens introduces, debates, and votes on legislation. It consists of 184 legislators known as Representatives voted into office by the voters of the districts they live in. It is overseen by the Prime Minister. The House of Elders reviews, debates, and votes on legislation passed by the House of Citizens. It consists of 64 Elders nominated from the House of Representatives and voted into the office by their peers.

Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Durnstaal is the head of government and oversees the House of Citizens. He is the head of proceedings and introduces any bills being discussed to the assembled Representatives. He is responsible for appointing ministers and is part of the approval process for new Elders. The Prime Minister is voted into office from the Representatives and must have served in the House of Citizens for at least 2 years and be 25 years of age or older to be eligible for the office. The current Prime Minister is Boyan Simic.

Royalty

Czar

The Czar is the head of state and mostly acts in a formal or ceremonial role. Some of the main duties of the Czar are opening sessions of the Kolspatz, welcoming foreign dignitaries, and maintaining correspondence with the Prime Minister. The Czar also bestows official titles and regularly grants audience to legislators who wish to consult with him. Due to tradition stemming from medieval laws forbidding a Czarina to hold power, the Durnian monarch is referred to as a Czar regardless of sex. The current Czar is Darina Husa III.

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). The branch was founded in 1756 as the official army of the newly organized Federated Republic of Durnstaal. It is centered on infantry with armored vehicles being used mostly in support. APCs and IFVs make up 85% of the armored fighting vehicles with the remaining 15% consisting of a limited number of tanks. In times of peace the majority of the force acts similarly to other nations' national guards with only specialized armored and amphibious units remaining on standby. Operates 14 bases across the country.

Navy: The Federal Navy of Durnstaal is the third largest branch of the Durnian military with 17,397 active-duty personnel(2020). The branch was founded in 1756 as the official navy of the newly organized Federated Republic of Durnstaal. The modern navy consists of 58 commissioned ships including: 10 frigates, 9 corvettes, 4 destroyers, 3 submarines, 2 minesweepers, 13 replenishment vessels, and 17 miscellaneous auxiliary craft. The branch also commands a small force of aircraft used in maritime patrol and search-and-rescue roles. Operates 4 bases across the country. 

1958 model Dex-58 Air Superiority Fighter purchased from Beleroskov in 1984

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 and helicopters are serviced by DRAF mechanics. Operates 8 bases across the country.

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. Operates 3 bases across the country.

Government Agencies

Central Intelligence Bureau: Also known as the Hlavný Spravodajský Úrad or the "Hlav Sprav" for short. Durnstaal's main investigative agency. They operate internally and deal with federal crimes such organized drug trafficking, human trafficking, and in recent years terrorist threats.

Travel and Trade Administration: Also known as the Správa Cestovného Ruchu or the SCR for short. Sets regulations and guidelines for crossing the border and distributes passports and official papers.

Office of Atomic Energy: Also known as the Úrad pre Atómovú Energiu. Regulates the use of radioactive materials, the operation of nuclear reactors, and the proper disposal of radioactive waste products.

Office of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs: Also known as the Úrad Diplomatov a Zahraničných Vecí or Interiér for short. Handles the diplomatic service and manages interactions with other nations.

Office of Aeronautics: Also known as the Úrad pre Letectvo. Sets regulations for air travel and airport security and manages registration of new aircraft and airports.

Culture

Sports

The sports enjoyed in Durnstaal are wide and diverse, trending equally towards tests of physical and mental prowess. The top five officially regulated and televised sports in descending order of TV ratings are: soccer, tennis, chess, archery, and horse racing.

The annual Einhelt League Championship is the most viewed sporting event in Durnstaal, with an estimated 27 million viewers in 2019. The soccer tournament, usually held from mid April to early June, see's soccer teams from all across Durnstaal compete against each other for a chance to win fame, glory, and the Einhelt Cup.

Cinema

The first movie theater in Durnstaal opened in Piva in 1945 followed by one in Durnen two years later, but Durnstaal's movie industry dates back at least two decades prior as a backdrop for other nations' movies. Before the advent of modern CGI, the town of Silbernestal was a popular backdrop for movies set in the early 1800's due to the area's desert conditions and old structures giving it the appearance of a frontier mining town, a setting difficult to shoot in the 1920's. Durnstaal's own movie industry began in 1944 with the grand opening of Cruxley and Malik Cinematography by Cruxley Puchta and Malik Jablonski. A string of movies grossing somewhat well kept C&M in business but they saw little growth. That changed with the release of the wildly successful Abenteuer Krauss, which grossed P£382 million and caused rapid growth of the industry.

Economy

Major Industries

The Federated Union of Durnstaal's economy is heavily based on processing raw materials and automotive manufacturing. The nation mines coal, iron, copper, aluminum, assorted ferroalloy metals such as manganese and chromium, and uranium in industrial quantities of which the vast majority is refined within the country and used in local industry. Durnstaal's logging industry focuses mainly on Highland Cedar and Duern Linden of which there is high demand for exports, especially due to Duern Linden's use in furniture manufacturing. The country farms very little for export; most arable land that isn't used for growing cowpeas and sweet potatoes is grazing pasture for the country's large sheep population which produces roughly 72,000 tons of wool annually which is then split between Durnstaal's textile industry and exports. Durnstaal's manufacturing sector is centered around a thriving automotive industry centered on semi-tractors, buses, and mid-size sedans. Diesel locomotives, satellite telephones, small aircraft, and plastics all make up significant portions of the economy as well.

The nation's largest imports are lead-acid batteries, crude oil, dairy, and natural rubber while its largest exports are raw plastic, automobiles, processed softwood, and wool cloth.

Major Businesses

• D&R Lumber: A lumber company operating out of Amarjel which deals with both soft and hardwoods, mostly for use in construction and furniture manufacture.
• MAT Wireless: A cell service provider based out of Piva.
• Horizon: A Durnen based cell service provider.
• Morningstar Petroleum: Durnstaal's largest oil and gas company, headquartered in Novada.
• Colovich Enterprises: Conglomerate which runs steel, aluminum, and copper refineries alongside plastic and synthetic fiber factories. Headquarters in Piva.
• Rosewood Truck and Trailer: Manufactures truck tractors and trailers to order. Based out of Novada.
• NeoDyn: Durnstaal's largest electricity company, based out of Zabevgorod.
• Gravenna Split Avtobus Company: A bus company which provides service to most of the nation's interior. Based out of Novada.
• Silberbauer, Kuznets, & Sokolov: Durnstaal's leading manufacturer of firearms. Often shortened to SKS. Based out of Zabevgorod.
• Asnyk Firearms: Major firearms manufacturer known for sporting rifles and shotguns. Based out of Novada.
• Red Valley Aeronautical: Major airplane manufacturer based out of Amarjel.
• Lakeside Needleworks: Durnstaal's largest clothing manufacturer, based out of Durnen.
• Omicron Airlines: Major international passenger airliner. Headquartered in Piva.
• Kauffman Airways: Major international passenger airliner. Headquartered in Amarjel.
• Włączadzę Express: Major international cargo air shipping company based out of Amarjel.
• Pokorny Publishing House: Publishing company which owns the Kavyat Metropolitan Newspaper. Based out of Kavyat.
• O&K Publishing: Publishing company which owns the Novada Central Post. Based out of Novada.

Transport Infrastructure

Airports

As of September 2020, Durnstaal has 22 officially registered airports of which 3; Woronoff International Airport, Alaric Central Airport, and Saint Callidus International Airport, regularly handle large international flights. Small aircraft are commonly owned and operated throughout the countryside, mostly for use in crop dusting and transnational transport.

Rail

All active railroads in Durnstaal are part of the Durnstaal Transnational Railway which extends from the ports on the Bay of Morevo up along the western border to Zabevgorod and down along the eastern border to Durnen. Major rail yards and roundhouses are present in Piva, Novada, Amarjel, and Zabevgorod with smaller ones in Durnen and Kavyat. As of 2020 the DTR encompasses roughly 35,000 miles of track and 342 bridges.

Road

The Durnstaal Highway System is modern and connects the nation's major population centers. A winding web of smaller interconnected roadways extends across the deep interior, connecting the smaller towns and settlements that dot the area. Plans for expanding the highway system into the interior have been proposed and delayed several times in recent years.

Water

The cities of Piva, Kavyat, and Durnen all house major ports which service thousands of cargo and passenger ships annually. The country's one major river, the Curat River, is still used in a limited capacity for cargo transport between the deep interior of the nation and Durnen.