Eskeiura

Order State of Eskeiura Rīkojums Eskejūrjas
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Tie ir māksla, kas nodrošina kādu beigas." "These are the arts that ensure an ending."
Anthem: Himna Aurelijanas "Aurelijan Hymn"
File:Orthographic Eskeiura GO.png Orthographic map depicting Eskeiura in green.
Capital	Kresla
Largest	Tudone
Official languages	Eskeju
Religion	Theoin
Demonym(s)	Eskeri
Government	Unitary elective military order
• Prince-Commander	Vadims Godmanis
• Chancellor	Ilizana Gaile
Legislature	Diēta
• Upper house	Dienasta
• Lower house	Montāža
Establishment
• Northern Crusades	1128
• Saint's War	1155
• Twenty Years War	1620
• Vaironian Reformation	1806
Area
•	124,374 km2 (48,021 sq mi)
Population
• Census	36,450,000
• Density	293.06/km2 (759.0/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$559 billion
• Per capita	$15,336
Currency	eskes
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.ek

Eskeiura (/ɛsˈkɪˌjuːrʌ/; Eskeju: Eskejūra [eːskiːjuːraː]), officially the State of the Holy Military Order of the Knights of St. Aurelija in Eskeiura (Eskeju: Svētā Militārā Rīkojums Stāvoklis no Bruņinieki no Svētais Aurelija Eskejūrjas), typically shortened to the Order State of Eskeiura (Eskeju: Rīkojums Eskejūrjas [rikɔːjiums eːskiːjuːrɛijes]), is a country in the northwest corner of Lira. It is bordered by the Inoran Ocean in the west, Shepmanrike to the east, Grenzeria to the southeast and by the Esketres Sea in the south, where it shares a maritime border with both Lunderfrau and Grenzeria. Eskeiura has 36,450,000 inhabitants, primarily concentrated in the western Rikisnan peninsula and the eastern shore of the Esketres Sea, as well as territory of 124,374 square kilometers.

Although evidence of proto-Eskeri tribes in the region dates back to at least 1000 BCE, Eskeiura in the modern context did not emerge until the early modern period. In the High Medieval Period, what is now Eskeiura was still primarily decentralized pagan tribes who engaged in ocassional trans-Esketreic trading and raiding. In 1128, Magi Caspar VI of the Verroist Church declared a crusade against these tribes following their execution of several Beoist missionaries. The crusade was rapidly spearheaded by military orders from the Lunder duchies and, rapidly conquering major population centers, began to brutally force the locals to convert. It was the rise of Saint Aurelija of Tudone, an Eskeri woman who converted to Beoin and converted many of her countrymen, that the repression was stopped. However, in the ensuing decades, mass conversion did not stop the Lunders from setting up oppressive crusader fiefdoms in Eskeiura, and Saint Aurelija, with the backing of the newly formed Knights of St. Aurelija, rallied her countrymen to drive the invaders out. In 1167, Aurelija was burned at the stake by a Lunder force outside of Tudone, triggering a mass uprising which ended the Lunder occupation.

In the ensuing centuries, various minor city-states and principalities would take root throughout Eskeiura, feuding with each other and various Lunder, Grenzer, and Shepman states, but ocassionally uniting - under the leadership of the Knights of Saint Aurelija - to resist foreign incursion. By the late 13th century, they began to coalesce as part of the Mareic League, or Marei, a confederation of merchants throughout the Esketres and western coastal Lira. With the Lunder unification in the 15th century, the balance of power in the Marei shifted north to the Eskeri states, who began financing trade and exploration missions abroad in the face of the Lunder threat at home. In the late 15th century, in the midst of the Theoin Reformation, most Eskeri states converted to Theoism, culminating in the establishment of the Church of Eskeiura - spearheaded by the Knights - in 1601, which helped forge a common identity among Eskeri. The Twenty Years War from 1619-1641 further cemented this bond as Eskeri states united under the Knights to take the Esktetreic island of Ramyvis from the Produese Empire which had inherited it several decades earlier, resulting in the first form of the modern "Order State". The Order State would reach approximately its modern form in the 1806 Vaironian Reformation, in which Prince-Commander Vaironis Kažoks, conceding to the demands of a popular revolution inspired by the previous Meronian Revolution, instituted the modern democratic institutions and eliminated many of the ecclestiastical and feudal institutions that had long governed Eskeiura.

Today, Eskeiura is a semi-constitutional monarchy led by a Prince-Commander and is made up of 13 commandries, each guided by an indirectly elected Lord-Commander and popularly elected seima councils. It is a member of CSTOR, and maintains close relations with other member states such as Lunderfrau and Zanaro. Eskeiura is considered a high-income country and possesses advanced manufacturing and service sectors defined by extensive industries in shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. Known for its vibrant cultural history, Eskeiura has continuously been the home of influential and successful artists, writers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers, and possesses rich architectural and musical traditions.

Etymology

Eskeiura is the lorianized form of the Eskeju word Eskejūra. This word is a clipped compound of the Old Eskeju words esketres and jūra, meaning "sturgeon" and "sea" respectively - thus, when put together, they can roughly be said to mean "sturgeon sea", which is the Eskeju name (in its unclipped form) of the sea which makes up a significant portion of the historical Eskeri homeland. The sturgeon, while being common in these waters, is also a well-known national symbol since the early Middle Ages. The earliest written use of the name Eskejūra appears in a letter between Eskeri merchants in Lunderfrau from 1143, although the name did not enter modern geopolitical usage until the late 15th century and the 20 Years War.

Geography

Eskeiura lies in northwestern Lira, partially separated from the rest of the continent by the Esketres Sea to the south and the X Mountains to the east, and borders the Inoran Ocean to the west. The Eskeri portion of the Esketres Sea contains approximately 40 islands and dozens of smaller islets, with the largest ones being, in order: Ziedošs, Samyen, Cietoksnis, Ramyvis, and Baltasala; while all are inhabited, Cietoksnis and Ramyvis are both heavily urbanized. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of both the islands and mainland provide good harbors, and are frequently characterized by striking grey-white cliffs.

Much of Eskeiura's territory is less than 100m (330ft) above sea level, leading to low swampy environments along much of the southern coast and among many of the islands. The eastern shore and the western end of the Rikisnan peninsula, as well as the islands of Cietoksnis and Ramyvis, are heavily urbanized with very high population densities, hosting most of the population - nearly 80% of the population lives in the metropolitan area of the cities of Kresla, Tudone, Dresmen, and Auriga. Most of the interior landscape consists of fertile lowland plains and modest hills, a mosaic of vast forests alternating with fields, farmsteads, and pastures. Arable land is spotted with birch groves and wooded clusters, which afford a habitat for numerous plants and animals. The swamps and woodlands of Eskeiura host many diverse flora and fauna, such as the lesser and great hodag and Lady of the Lake.

The entire country hosts a temperate, oceanic climate, characterized by cool summers and mild winters and four distinct seasons. Temperatures are mild year-round, with mean temperatures in January of 1.5°C (34.7°F), and cool summers, with a mean temperature in August of 17.2°C (63.0°F). The most extreme temperatures recorded in Eskeiura, since 1874 when recordings began, was 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in 1975 and −31.2 °C (−24.2 °F) in 1982. Due to its position between the Inoran Ocean, Titus Ocean, and Liran continent, weather tends to change rapidly.

Politics

Although Eskeiura is officially a military order, most authorities consider it a de facto constitutional monarchy, and has been said to operate on the basis of benevolent dictatorship and meritocracy. The Knights of Saint Aurelija hold sovereignty over the country, making up its government and military institutions.

The country is organized into 13 commandries led by Lord-Commanders, whose power is devolved from the First Commandry, based in the national capital of Kresla, which are then each divided into various varasis (roughly translated as "dominions" or "authorities"), led by a reeve (Eskeju: vaitas; sometimes translated as voigt). Reeves are elected to 4 year terms by the local population, and in turn together elect the Lord-Commander, who leads the commandry for a 20 year term. Reeves also preside over local assemblies, the seimas, which serve to ensure the local population's voice is heard.

The Lord-Commanders are responsible to the Prince-Commander, also called the Grandmaster, who serves for life as Lord-Commander of the First Commandry, and is elected by and from among the Lord-Commanders upon the previous one's death. The Prince-Commander selects and presides over a First Council, which encompasses the conventional role and powers of a cabinet in other countries, headed by the Prince-Commander and the Chancellor, the latter of whom serves a role analogous to a Prime Minister.

Potential reeves and Lord-Commanders can be recommended to be certified to be elected by the Adelaster House in Kresla, which judges their suitability based on a holistic evaluation of education, military service, charitable and volunteer work, public reputation, and other skills and life experiences. Those deemed suitable are awarded the Rose of Kresla, which is both a legal status and a physical badge which communicates it, allowing individuals to legally run for and hold political office above a local level.

The First Council is approved by, and often drawn from, the Montāža (Assembly), the lower house of the legislature - the Diēta (Diet) - which consists of 100 representatives (distributed proportionally based on population of the commandries) elected directly by the population and can propose and pass legislation with a simple majority. The upper house is the the Dienasta, which is an assembly of all 12 Lord-Commanders (or their delegates), presided over by the Prince-Commander, who also has a vote. Legislation can be proposed by either house, but requires the ultimate approval of the Dienasta with a 7/13 vote (importantly, the Prince-Commander's vote is not required, but his signing of the bill is, although a veto can be overturned with a 10/13 vote from the Dienasta); if legislation originates in the Dienasta, it must be sent to the Montāža for review and suggested amendment before being passed, although the Dienasta does not legally have to accept these amendments.

Although there is no legal basis for political parties, and they have been officially discouraged by the office of the Prince-Commander since the early 19th century, there exist several semi-formal political factions with various ideologies and goals.

The judicial system relies on civil law and interpretations thereof, administered by judges (traditionally called "justiciars") appointed by Lord-Commanders.

The 48th and current Prince-Commander, Vadims Godmanis.

Administrative divisions

Flag Commandry Capital Population (2015) Area File:Flag of Saaric Empire.png First Kresla # km2 Second Dresmen # km2 Third Auriga # km2 Fourth Barasburna # km2 Fifth Tudone # km2 Sixth Dagkritum # km2 Seventh Mavaine # km2 Eighth Zalabries # km2 Ninth Klairkas # km2 Tenth Vallozau # km2 Eleventh Budaket # km2 Twelfth Laudranis # km2 Thirteenth Jarnamas # km2

Culture

Aurelian Code

The Aurelian Code (Eskeju: Aurelijes Kodas) is the name given to the original writings and teachings of Saint Aurelija of Tudone, and has long been considered an important centerpiece and guiding light of Eskeri culture, religion, and politics. While the

[draft of religious laws that will be put into proper writing later]

• Daily prayer at noon, in the direction of the Basilica of St. Aurelija in Tudone
• Women wear headscarves while men wear quasi-turbans; in modern times these are often replaced by short bonnets and scone caps, respectively.
• Prostitution, adultery, and sex outside of marriage, are all considered immoral and usually punished by fines and ostracization.
• The existence of nonbinary, transgender, and intersex individuals is generally ignored, although not actively condemned or repressed.
• Gay rights have been recognized since the 1970s, although they were socially de facto accepted as early as the 1700s.
• Use of most drugs for recreational purposes is condemned, although legally most are technically decriminalized.
• Explicit protections of non-Beoists' safety and right to worship, on condition of paying a special tax (the skalīn); after the Theoin Reformation, Verroists and some sects of Silarists were explicitly excluded from these protections

Religion

Diomairais

Diomairais refers to a group of faiths which appeared the late 17th century in northern Eskeiura, claiming to be descended from the various local folk religions of the northern islands, syncretized with Theoism, through the work of the natural-philosopher Zigmans Birziņš. However, no Beoist church, including the Church of Eskeiura, has recognized Diomairais as Beoist. There are believed to be five sects of Diomairais, each concentrated, for the most part, in one specific region, and each is henotheistic in nature, with their own unique deities and beliefs but frequently accepting those of other sects and religions as valid as well. These sects typically revolve around one major deity, who is venerated and given sacrifices (which, before outlawed in 1723, could sometimes include humans, and before 1859, animals) in the hopes of receiving miracles and spiritual revelations.

Holidays

• Allhallowtide (Vissvaidītlaiks)
• Aureliamas (Aurelijamasa)
• Citadel Day