Wüstenfelsen

Land von Wüstenfelsen Coalition of Stehlen
Flag of Wüstenfelsen Flag Coat of Arms of Wüstenfelsen Coat of Arms
Motto: “Unsere Bruderschaft ist unser Leben”
Anthem: "Das Wüstenfelsen!"
Capital	Steinstahl
Largest city	Eisenstadt
Official languages	Valdenich, German
Ethnic groups (2017)	Valden (85%) Germanic (10%) Arabian (5%)
Demonym(s)	Wüstenmenschen
Government	Oligarchy
• Oberstführer	Carolyn Steiner
• Angelegenheiten	Hans Rommel
Legislature	Kopfmontage
Population
• 2017 census	38,000,537
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Per capita	26,482 Stahlen
HDI (2017)	0.632 medium
Currency	Stehlens (St)
Driving side	right

The Wüstenfelsen Coalition, commonly referred to as Wüstenfelsen, is a militaristic country divided into five sectors, yet lead over a single head of state that collaborates with the leaders of the five. Because of their location based on the geographical composition, oil, iron, and other raw ores can be found in the hills by the eastern border and oil amount the northeast. The primary ethnicity prevalence in the region is heavily weighed upon <TBA>, due to major ethnic clashes in the past. With a major ocean bordering the western coast, Wüstenfelsen does involve itself with international trade and a modest naval presence in the capital's port. The country is bordered by three different countries from its north, south, and eastern border.

History

Prehistory

The records of ancient civilization in the hilly, higher altitude areas are limited, and a majority of gathered records provide little information. Some evidence of buildings and houses made from sun-baked brick or even fossilized mud are evident, but some archaeologists propose that numerous conflicts may have devastated the remains and collapse after years of preservation as debris. Some bones have been recorded, and the most prevalent of sites for ancient history is the Fallmarck Cavern, where the first recorded grave site for ancient people has been recorded in Wüstenfelsen. Despite the records obtained, much of the prehistorical events can only be assumed by the later natives' accounts. Settlement of nomadic people can be assumed to have occurred as late as 3719 BCE.

Precolonization

Before Germanic settlers had reached the western coastline of Wüstenfelsen, the five sectors present in modern day politics were previously hotspots where many diverse cultures dwelled. Upon the first discovery of written records from destroyed huts or drawings, it was discovered that there was a mutual peace and intermingling of tribes. This trend seemed to follow a stable relationship between the ethnic groups. However, some time upon the coming of 1304 BCE, the cultures clashed, marring the previously peaceful relations they seemed to share with one another. Some speculation leads historians to believe that the tribes quite possibly may have begun their fighting due to an improper distribution of food and suitable farming in certain tribes, making the war a fight for survival rather than dispute. There are many other proposed theories, but they all share the lack of evidence to prove their point. So far, the most widely accepted reason is a lack of resource distribution.

The reason behind the sudden malicious attitudes are studied in detail by historians and many texts follow a common explanation of what came out of the conflict, but none of them seem to mention why this conflict was started. Following a few years of intense tension and border clashes, the tribes and ethnicities broke into war. Mass war was assured after a painting of the five tribes stabbing knives into the ground before each other confirmed total war, and the first traditional use of the declaration of war for the ethnicity. Soon enough, The First Sandblitz began, marking the start of numerous future civil wars.

The Sandblitz

The first recorded conflict between the tribes has been difficult, as official written accounts between the tribes were nonexistent. Although accuracy is a problem among historians, the number of casualties in this war could have numbered into 1.7 million casualties overall. The sector's borders expanded and condensed, moved back and forth as wave and wave of sword wielding warriors charged into towns and farms. Conflicted lasted all along the geographical terrain, ranging from heavily forested hills to the inland valleys. Due to the location of the individual tribes, no tribes were safe from conflict, and tribes that claimed neutrality were still subject to pillaging. With a lack of central organization and irregular conflicts among multiple enemies, calling it a war might be inappropriate, as it seemed

At this time, mass use of the bow and arrow, armor, and iron swords were universal. Metal clashed upon metal, and for the first time in the country's history, a stalemate was reached. After the casualties mounted into the millions, and neared to two million, the tribes we're exhausted in manpower and food. Intense pillaging ravaged the countryside, and mining came to a standstill. The psychological effect of the conflict traumatized survivors, and countless people were left with loved ones bleeding in fields, with no one to bury them. With such a lack of resources, the tribes once more assembled upon the very same grounds they declared war. Out of the twelve tribes that were present in the country, one tribe was completely wiped out with ethnic genocide, eradicating the tribe and its peoples. Of the eleven remaining, only seven were able to survive the aftermath, the rest unable to recuperate and its population starve, forced to merge with the surviving tribes.

On 1293 BCE, the tribes would declare a truce, and end the The First Sandblitz. The war had raged on for years, and it would take decades for the tribes to recover. With its ending however, the horrors committed during this conflict would lay the groundwork for the next civil conflict to come.

The Great Blight

Even though the First Sandblitz caused heavy extreme hate to arise among the remaining seven tribes, the aftermath was so devastating that proper resource distribution between the tribes was a necessity, and the reluctantce to follow this fact would mean the remaining tribes wouldn't be able to make it through the upcoming years without starvation and sickness. Acknowledging this problem,the tribes decided to set aside their bitter hatred for one another and force themselves into a makeshift alliance in order to assure survival of the tribes. Although it was met with some heated opposition from veterans and conservative members of tribes, the alliance was effective, and for the first three decades the tribes thrived, understanding the power they shared together.

After 36 years of organized trade and warming relations, the tribes still seemed to grow and prosper. Agricultural advancements allowed for much greater crop yield and a much safer means of obtaining food. Levies were designed and built and farmers saw exponential growth in the food supply. For once, the tribes were genuinely happy, and this time allowed them to share culture and intermingle, improving their bonds greatly. A once war torn land was now being rejuvenated by their cooperation. Traditions arose, and many customs were formed in this vital time period of rejoiced peace and prosperity.

However, in the years following 1277 BCE, a seemingly harmless plant-based infection struck the farms across the area. At first, it was slow spreading, and if found early the farmer could cut down the crops around the infected area and still salvage the remaining crops. Soon after though, the infection can only be described to have mutated into a fast, unstoppable killer. Soon enough, the disease spread so fast that once it infected a segment of field, the entire farm could be destroyed in weeks. Crop yields plummeted from an average estimate of 74% to 11%, and the disease ravaged the entire agricultural supply of every tribe. Although hunting was still a sufficient food source, it would not satisfy all the tribes, as meat could decompose quickly, and salting the meat only lasted so long. The disease quickly dispatched the rest of the grown crops around the area, and soon the population faced mass famine.

It was in this time that riots began to form, believing that tribal life was no longer the right and most effective way of running things. A proposition that can only be assumed to be a precursor to communism was offered, but ignored for some part. There needed to be order, an new order, but this would not come along until the disease had devastated the population, taking out about a sixth of the total population to famine and illness. Eventually, the local fauna and the survivors built up resistance to the forces that would afflict them for eighteen years, leaving the time of strife in shambles, but as survivors.

German Colonization

After a few thousand years of repetitive tribal life, the local tribes were greeted to a new threat that would change the country forever. Germanic settlers from Eisenmaat soon would establish the first settlement in what is modern day Eisenstadt. With accurate written records from the settlers, actual depictions of the local tribes began to become frequent. The name given to the locals were 'Eidenmanns'. The first recorded contact between the settlers and the locals was depicted in great detail, and gave great knowledge about the current relations between tribes. The settlers arriving were greeted with foreign people sharing traits similar to that of a distant cousin, the Katamiese, further east.

Eidenmann Blitzes

When a lone Eidenmann scout stumbled upon the hastily made camps of the recently established settlers, the local was frightened by their lack of the animalistic traits that most of the Eidenmann's shared. All attempts to calm the Eidenmann fell upon deaf ears, and they escaped into the wild. Fearing that the local would go back and return with armed help, the settlers set up makeshift defenses with the crates and other objects they could find. Four hours later, a large group of tribesmen would attempt to storm the camp, thinking that the settlers were some kind of evil forces. Only armed with iron swords and armor, the tribesmen were pitifully outgunned by the superior muskets wielded by the settlers. A total of seven shots were said to be fired, and after the seventh shot, only of which three actually killed their targets, the tribesmen surrendered on the spot. Later accounts reveal the fear exhibited by the sound and smokescreen that was created, thinking the settlers to be some kind of superior people. After the settlers asserted their dominance, local tribes began to become skeptical about the power behind the settlers, and a series of raids would bother the settlers for years before the Germanic settlers could actually establish a town.

At first, these skirmishes were fought time and time again, with the Germanic settlers forced to fight outnumbering odds against them. The first few months of the blitzes were quite devastating to the colonization effort, but eventually the attacks seemed to sharply decline. Casualties slowly became less and less, until after two years of small skirmishes, the number of attacks plummeted. It would take three months after the first anniversary of the surprise attacks until the tribes opened talks with the settlers. Due to their losses, the settlers were reluctant to converse with the tribal people at first, and it would take two generations before a sort of co-existence could be reached. With the passing of the mutual non-aggression pact between settlers and the tribes, colonization of the land once more resumed normally, and small homesteads slowly began to grow into towns, slowly reaching out west.

During this time, interbreeding of the settlers and tribes occurred. The offspring that was produced shared the phenotype of their feline parent, rather than the human traits of the other. As a result, a genetically similar child looked more like an Eidenmann than to it's German parent, and this in turn slowly began to become a growing people. Even though the offspring might be considered a strange mix of the ethnicity, the cultural prevalence in the area slowly began to wane from the traditionally Arabic culture and more into the German culture. Future generations did not, however, drop key traditions to their Arabic heritage, and on occasion there might be some blend of Arabic culture into the now dominating German-Arab culture, which would soon be called the 'Valden'.

Die Sturmzeit

Die Sturmzeit, or 'The Storm Era', ranged from the years 1895-1957 AD. This time period was known for the intense internal conflict that would revise the country's political establishment and the slowly growing tension between the ethnic minorities. At the time, the two most prevalent minorities were the Eidenmann and Germanic cultures by themselves. With the Valden culture making up 61% of the population, with Germanic culture at 29% and Eidenmann at 10% of the population, people began to question whether or not the now dominating culture was its own ethnicity, because of the apparent blending of the two base ethnicity. Not only did the cultural tension begin to rise, which would be one of the contributing factors to the most devastating war in local history, but other factors like distrust of the current monarchical-parliamentary government due to numerous scandals and failed political promises.

Causes of the Ritzenfalke War

In 1915, political tension against the leading figures of the monarchy grew due towards the parliamentary system in place to handle the more local based issues that arose. Corruption grew in the parliament, and soon enough elections became rigged based on favoritism from current members of the house. Although the tension was mainly centered around the disproportionate wealth gap and political corruption, racial tension seeped into the argument while the current monarch, Clyde Vollenhelm IV, organized large parties and organizations that centered themselves around the German culture. Under the guise that it was to promote the ethnic diversity of the sectors, ethnic discrimination seeped its way into the job market, creating a heavy emphasis on German ethnicity. This is mainly in part because 82% of the nobles and wealthy population were German.

At first, protests were organized by both Arabian and Valden workers, demanding a removal of positive discrimination in the workplace and in public service venues. They also demanded for the recognition of worker unions and a more effective distribution of the wealth. Because of the drastic difference in power between the poor and the wealthy, the unions were not recognized and protests would be broken up by police. The protests would continue however, and after three months of their peaceful protests getting broken up, the working class moved to much more effective methods. Although most jobs could be easily filled if a sit-in or strike occurred, wage inequality in two sectors were low enough where the strikes shut down entire factories and businesses because working applicants refused to work for certain companies.

Facing economic standstill and loss of profits, the wealthy class conceded, allowing recognition of unions and raised wages slightly. However, trickle down economics did not ensue, and the money stayed with the wealthy as poor workers tried to buy necessities in life. This lead to the former worker protests to expand to the average worker, until the political monarchy would cast in the final card.

Prince Almarch Vollenhelm I would be the catalyst for an unexpected and bloody class war, which would eventually turn into a revolution against the current government. The prince was a firm believer in the 'rags-to-riches' stories, but believed that those that did not make it were weaker and inferior to those that did. This belief and arrogance lead him to become discriminatory of the other ethnicities, especially the Arabian population. He spoke out against inter-species relationships and with Arabian partners, directing the youth to rather mate with the Valden, calling them a 'more civilized and respectable people than the Eidenmann'. He would constantly throw parties with the German elite, and gloat about his inheritance to the throne after his father passes. This was seen to many as a possible threat to the current king, and might cause instability in the parliamentary staff, which seemed to cause certain nobles to distance themselves from him.

It was about this time that the arms industry kicked off, which would come into question by many economists because of the unusual time it took place. Automotive markets seemed to experience large growth all of the sudden and the aviation industry, a very, very volatile, yet young market had promising growth as well. The exact reason behind these unusual growths are still a mystery, but poverty significantly increased around the country, which may translate into some sort of mass spending among the working class.

Regicide of Prince Almarch Vollenhelm I

With a currently nonviolent class war already underway and the undertow of racial uncertainty, the poor and wealthy were only divided up into their racial groups, which also would depend on their sector. Sectors towards the western coast housed the more Germanic and wealthy population, while the eastern flats housed the more Arabian population. Valden's made up the intermediary zones between sectors, but could side either way. With a corrupt parliamentary system leaning more and more on corruption, some officials could feel some sort of conflict on the horizon, and quickly began to try and lure Valden populations towards the cause of the wealthy and Germanic population. This slow, yet successful attempt to promise higher wages and the creation of a middle class recruit many Valden to even out the Arabian minority, but they were still unable to convince enough to join than Valden siding with the Arabian population.

An imaginary line separated the five sectors, with three sectors based on the eastern and central border being Valden, poor, working class people, while the Germanic population, both working and wealthy, along with some establish Valdens, took up the two western sectors. This boundary would be called the Ritzen Line, and in a matter of weeks, the line would see massive police and civil unrest presence. Tension reached an all time high when political parties tried to dash the growing rumors of rebellion with increased police action in the eastern sectors, leading to racial profiling among the force and aggravated response from the zealous workers.

Prince Almarch continued to spur on racial tension and further deepen the class inequality. Soon enough, he threw a party with many other nobles on the western coast of the country, believing that the influence of the restless workers would at least be small enough to lower the chances for retaliation. During his party of forty eight close friends and business magnates, a disgruntled weaponsmith, Albert Konseg, snuck into the party via the chef's kitchen. Disgusted as a servant, Albert managed to approach the prince due to his disguise carrying a pitcher of water, making it look like was refilling the beverages. At a table of twenty, not including the prince himself, Albert Konseg would unholster a revolver in his uniform while behind the prince, and press the barrel against his head before cursing him, and immediately pulling the trigger, executing the unsuspecting prince in front of his guests in an instant. Albert would soon take the revolver and shoot the prince's wife, Rose Heimlich, twice before a servant would charge him, and attempt to disarm him.

A struggle ensued, but it ended with Albert Konseg forcing his own gun into his mouth, and pulling the trigger. With a death toll of four people, the prince and his wife, Konseg, and a servant struck by a stray bullet during the struggle, the monarchy was shaken, but not deterred. However, Albert Konseg was marking the beginning of the bloodiest conflict in Wüstenfelsen history.

The Ritzenfalke War

WIP

Geography

Wüstenfelsen is located on the western coast of Meridia, along the central landmass should the continent be cut horizontally. The geographical traits of the country established the etymology of the country's name, with the Wüste Sands desert reaching into the eastern part of the country, where the settlers called the Land von Wüste, because of the arid temperatures in the east. Farther west, closer to the coastline, the nearby ocean allows for a normal, temperate climate across fresh water basins held by underground clay tanks, formed via hardened clay beneath the surface that needs to be drilled into in order to expose the water, rather than finding deep basins to tap water from.

The northeastern side of Wüstenfelsen is largely hilly and rugged highlands, reaching up as smaller ridges as it nears the nearby mountain range on the right border of the country. The rainfall in this area is significantly low, however, and most settlements here are rural or hosts for an occasional resort.

Climate

Although the same suggests otherwise, Wüstenfelsen is only 7% rock flat and desert, rapidly changing into a cooler, temperate climate for 79% of its land mass. There is a wet and dry season, followed by numerous blights that have been speculated to be caused by the odd jump in climate biomes in the east and western borders. Average rainfall is moderate, and enough to provide for farmers to grow crops through hydroponics in the dry season, and in case a blight hits.

Because of the mountains forming along the eastern side of the country, the mountain watershed makes the area at the foot of the mountains facing the closest body of water very fertile. The drawback is the other side of the mountain, not facing the body of water, is usually dry and arid, creating the large arid and desert climate in the center of Meridia. The majority of the Wüstenfelsen territory is based in a humid continental, taking the center of the country's total landmass into scrutiny. The western coast is for the most part marine, resulting in the large rains and occasional hurricane winds that might form nearby the tropic.

Politics & Government

The system that governs the daily rulings of the Wüstenfelsen Coalition can be generally classified as a oligarchy. Of the five secotrs that make up Wüstenfelsen, each one is ruled over as the head of local and state affairs of the sector itself. This might range from topics regarding local state spending for roads, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. The leader of each sector is known as a Aufseher, or an Overseer of their particular sector. They may not dictate the terms of local issues regarding other sectors, and are heavily advised to not comment or affirm actions taken by other sectors, taking care that there is no division or secularism in the sectors. In certain times, the sector Overseers may form a joint-sector action, and will focus their efforts regarding a specific interest.

Although the daily going-ons of the country are dictated by the five sectors, the entire country maintains a federal level of government with the Oberstführer and Angelegenheiten. The Oberstführer is the head of state, while their right hand partner, who runs the internal affairs, co-works the federal workings of the state. The head of state is popularly a ceremonial figure, like certain parliamentary governments with a monarchy still in place. The only difference from this is the head of state calls for monthly convening of the five sector leaders to form the monthly council to speak about the concerns of the country and collection of sectors, rather than the local governing. The head of state mediates the council, and holds full executive power during said meetings, which enables them as the head of the entire country on a federal level.

The responsibilities of the head of state usually connotes the evaluation of the military, establishing foreign meetings and diplomatic envoys. Other responsibilities include the observation of the sector heads in case of corruption or infringement upon laws, and the Overseers the head of state, allowing for a checks and balance system between two political branches. The head of state is responsible for the enabling of country-based policies and foreign actions, and anything that may regard the country as a whole, rather than as multiple sectors.

The Angelegenheiten, or the 'Affairs' minister, is the second in command to the head of state. They mainly handle the interior workings behind the state and the sectors, acting as a third party to any possible dispute. The Affairs minister is also the head of state's co-secretary, and handles all organizations that involve economical meetings, possible corruption in local governments, and operate with the judicial systems in the country.

Although the Affairs branch does not connote any kind of military or armed responsibility, they are the commanders for the secret police and special forces that operate in and out of the country. A pseudo-Homeland Security, Affairs manages the fine-print jobs, and mainly maintains a baseline level of confidentiality.

Law

The law and order of Wüstenfelsen in largely determined by the judicial system established by the country. Although the laws and regulations are usually managed by sector, laws regarding cross-sector situations must be passed by all pertaining sectors involved. The judicial courts of the country reside in the Affairs department, handling federal and sector wide hearings. Each sector ahs its own establish courts, with sector appointed judges. The highest power in the judicial system is the Attorney General, who is seated as a separate branch of government from the legislative oligarchy and the executive head of state.

In court hearings, a jury is not mandated. Instead, the judge can decide the verdict alone, but also use a small poll demographic that is selected before the trial. The selected jury is unaware of their selection until they are called upon, and must go to the court to hear the case. All those with knowledge of anyone involved is asked to leave. The called upon jury may then hear the details of the crime, but not be given specific details, and offer their opinion. Usually however, this is only used in hearings regarding civil matters, not criminal.

Foreign Relations

Despite major internal conflict throughout it's history and plenty of racial and ethnic tension, Wüstenfelsen has largely decided to seclude itself from the global network of assorted allies and enemies for the majority of its existence. With democracy and communism taking up a large prevalence of established governments, and a general emphasis on human rights and liberal views, Wüstenfelsen has declined offers into MEDA, fearing it's healing wounds of ethnic tension will be ripped open once more due to international attention. Although Wüstenfelsen does harbor fascist laws and political workings, the foreign affairs ministry of Wüstenfelsen has no intent of antagonizing weaker democracies or communisms, nor does it plan to condone atrocities committed to peoples through inhumane methods.

Trade is an important factor to Wüstenfelsen for the purpose of being it's lifeline in case a major blight or insurgency occurs in the country. No stranger to their agricultural methods being trumped out by nature and it's power, or the unrelenting power of the mind, Wüstenfelsen maintains as much trade as it requires. An exporter of crude oil and military arms, global trade is not the largest method of obtaining strength for the country.

Wüstenfelsen's aversion to mass trading is also joined by it's intent not to become reliant on foreign aid. Foreign aid will be accepted, however, if the state deems a particular situation severe enough to threaten daily life in the country and endanger populated, urban centers, along with its coastal workforce. The extent of aid it would require would depend on the situation, but because of it's predisposition to hesitate on foreign relations, some might see extended aid as a possible attempt for foreign powers to lure the country into large pacts or organizations.

Sectors

Province	Capital	Area (km²)	Population
1. Einkrieg	Eisenstadt	34,536	7,342,430
2. Ritzen	Alsace	58,856	11,872,000
3. Stehlenberg	Steinstahl	50,554	12,784,100
4. Kiela	Heingard	68,072	1,547,500
5. Colmar	Kohlstein	112,992	1,185,400

Work in Progress

Culture

((WIP)) Template:Septentrion