Difference between revisions of "Cielonia"

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region=[[Asia]] |
 
region=[[Asia]] |
 
motto="Strength in Liberty, Prosperity in Freedom." |
 
motto="Strength in Liberty, Prosperity in Freedom." |
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map=No Map Available Yet |
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map=Unavailable |
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language=Cielonian French, Katasi, Spanish |
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language=Arceline Siloni, Siloni (Native) |
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capital=Cielon |
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capital=Arceline |
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population=56,000,000 last census |
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population=> 2,600,000,000 |
 
currency=derac |
 
currency=derac |
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leader=Grand Duke Francis St. Marie
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leader=Prime Minister Sana K.F. Alvaasar
 
}}
 
}}
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The Grand Duchy of Cielonia is a nation of islands occupying an area of ocean in Asia. The nation is populated by hard-nised people of mixed European and Oriental ancestry with a generally libertarian mentality; they value social freedoms and tend to frown upon social conservatism and religion. Cielonia is a member of the United Nations.
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The Democratic Federation of Cielonia is a nation of islands occupying part of the southern spread of islands in [[Asia]]. The nation is populated by generally compassionate people of mixed ancestry with a generally libertarian mentality; they value social freedoms and tend to frown upon social conservatism and religion. Cielonia is a former member of the United Nations.
  
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==Geography, Climate, and Nature==
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==Culture==
  
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Stub subsection; rewriting pending.
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The people of Cielonia have their roots in the native Siloni civilization but have mingled heavily with foreigners, corrupting much of the original culture and language. Few Cielonians lack Siloni blood, but most have some foreign ancestry to offset it. A typical Cielonian is slim, with pale olive skin and hair that can range from pale blond to dark black. Their eyes tend to be almond-shaped and a bit angular. They tend to be a graceful, long-legged people. Cielonian women are famed for their elegant, exotic beauty.
  
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==Ethnicity and Language==
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Much of Cielonian culture is based in the Sironi tradition of wisdom and honour. While the actual concept of honour is considered archaic these days, Cielonians tend to treat each other with respect. Impoliteness and intolerance are frowned upon. Cielonians place great value on intelligence, and the nation is full of universities and colleges of all sorts. They are a highly friendly people, and it is not uncommon to see complete strangers dining together in public cafes. Most Cielonians hold to a liberal or left-leaning frame of mind. Religion is a passing fad and considered primitive, and all marriages - gay, straight, transgendered, monogamous, polygamous, polygynous, or whatever else applies - are handled by the state. The government also runs brothels in all major cities. Cielonians are liberal about love and sex, and adultery is considered acceptable so long as all parties involved are kept informed of it.
  
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The people of Cielonia are a fairly curious group, mingling Western European traits with Eastern Asian traits to produce something entirely different. The vast majority of Cielonians are melangion - of mixed French and Katasi heritage hailing as far back as the original Bellemontaigne crew's interbreeding with the native Katasi. The average Cielonian is fairly short and slender, ranging from 4'10" to 5'10" with an average body weight of 140 pounds. Hair color ranges from blonde to black, though brown and auburn are most common, and typical eye colors are brown, hazel, and grey.
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Cielonians are highly respectful of nature and place great stock in the serenity of mother earth. Virtually all Cielonian cities feature numerous parks, and major thoroughfares are lined with greenery. Genetic alteration of foods is illegal. A favorite Cielonian dish is the ruby-backed salmon, a fish which inhabits the Catas River and the shores around the island of Cielamon; baked ruby-backed salmon in a light but salty red sauce known as taiko is considered a great delicacy. Also popular is a dish known as puuretoyama, which consists of white rice, chicken, and shredded cheese melted together and served in a bowl.  
  
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Linguistically, most Cielonians speak a bastardized form of French that incorporates a heavy element of Katasi. This language is referred to as Cielonian French in that it's still a heavily French language, adopted over a more Katasi-heavy language because of its simpler grammar, smaller alphabet, and simpler lettering. In parts of Cielon there is a heavy French-speaking population, while more rural areas tend to have larger populations of native Katasi-speakers. There is a small Spanish minority in the city of Porto Negro, where Spanish has become recognized as one of the city's official municipal languages. Cielonian French is taught first and foremost in schools, while French and Katasi may be taken as second languages along with English and Spanish.
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Cielonians are at home with high technology. Their society is heavily modernized, relying on the latest technologies, most of which they manufacture right at home. As space is at a premium, Cielonian cities are a bit crowded, and houses are often narrow but sporting several storeys, while homes and businesses span roadways or rest on artificial bases built out from the shoreline. Room is always made for greenery, which adds to the space problem.
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In terms of ethnic tension, there is some residual dislike of full-blooded French by native Katasi and the melangion stemming from the French Colonial period. As well, conservative Frenchmen are occasionally bitter over the end of the Colonial period through the April Fools' Rebellion. Because Cielonia is relatively new, residents of the old Splintering duchies occasionally feel more loyalty to their former duchies than to the Grand Duchy, but most of this bitterness has worn off due to frequent elections and greater political freedoms as instituted by St. Marie's ruling alliance.
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Cielonia's ethnic demographics run as follows - melangion 52%, Katasi 23%, French 21%, Spanish 2%, Other 2%. The country's official language is Cielonian French, though English remains the language of international politics and business.
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==Culture==
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Intelligence and compassion are valued in Cielonia. Cielonians tend to treat each other with respect and dignity, taking great care not to wound the honor and dignity of those around them, a trait garnered from the honor-centric Katasi culture. A highly respected trait in Cielonia is intelligence, owing to the nation's excellent system of universities, and opposing viewpoints are respected and welcomed, often leading to good-natured debate over this or that issue in the least likely places. It's not uncommon to see strangers discussing the merits of political legislation at the bus stop or the supermarket.
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Cielonians are respectful of nature and place great stock in the serenity of mother earth. Virtually all Cielonian households keep a garden and grow some form of fruit or vegetable, while hunting is extremely limited; meat for the populace is provided only through government-sanctioned farms or fisheries. Genetic alteration of foods is illegal. A favorite Cielonian dish is the ruby-backed salmon, a fish which inhabits the Catas River and the shores around the island of Cielamon; baked ruby-backed salmon in a light but salty red sauce known as taiko is considered a great delicacy. Also popular is a dish known as puuretoyama, which consists of white rice, chicken, and shredded cheese melted together and served in a bowl.
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Music in Cielonia has a decidedly Eastern flavor, though with a definite Western twist. Favorite instruments are the reed flute, the daiko drum, and the harp. At the moment Cielonians favor a more classical type of music that's slow, soothing, and gentle, the type of music that provokes the mind and fuels the imagination. In terms of visual arts Cielonian painters are currently hung up on two forms of art: post-post-abstractionist paintings in which they paint a bunch of vague shapes on a canvas and pass it off as meaning something, and pop art in which the artist makes fun of images in pop culture in a fashion similar to the works of Andy Warhol. As well, more casual art tends to follow a style very similar to Japanese anime, and there is a huge market for the form of erotic animation known as hentai. Favorite forms of literature include books of existentialist philosophy, though forms of political and literary theory are popular alongside science fiction novels. Harry Potter books remain bestsellers.
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==Commerce and Industry==
 
==Commerce and Industry==
  
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Private enterprise in Cielonia can be fairly difficult. The government places heavy restrictions on business featuring a rather harsh system of taxation that places the most profitable entrepreneurs in the highest tax brackets in the nation, and laws requiring the cleanup of industrial pollutants and fair wages and hours for all workers make it hard for businesses to operate cheaply. Furthermore, the recently-passed Wilderness Protection Act places limits on how deeply industries may affect the environment. While these laws keep Cielonia's wilderness pristine, they also limit the nation's attractiveness to big industry and business. Thus the industrial capacity of Cielonia is hardly impressive, focusing mostly around the nation's manufacturing capitol of Porto Negro and the mining town of Nolandia, the latter of which is home to Cielonia's limited uranium mining business. Said industry has inflicted extensive damage on parts of the rainforests on the island of Sunda, but the Tenjou-Kawatashi Mining Group has thus far gone unchastised thanks to their extensive bribery of Conservative and Libertarian Barons, who simply filibuster any resolution to sanction their patrons.
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Much of Cielonia's economy is supported by the automotive industry, which receives a significant amount of funding from the government in order to keep the nation's economy competitive. The industry's three main corporations are the Etsuya Motor Corporation, Cielonia Dynamics, and the Cabriolet Motor Company. Etsuya is renowned for manufacturing highly efficient cars running on more efficient, environmentally friendly fuel sources; their top brands are the popular Rakuda family sedan and the sleek Inuwashi sportscar. Cabriolet specializes more in burly vehicles such as trucks and jeeps, though they do produce standard cars as well; their most popular vehicle by far is the Yagyuu truck line, though the Atemi jeep is popular for military use. Finally, Cielonia Dynamics produces mostly military vehicles, including the KU44 attack motorcycle and the Marauder-5 model of HUMVEE, which is offered in a stripped-down civilian model, the Marauder.
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The Cielonian economy relies heavily on the nation's booming tourist business. The islands' warm climate and bountiful flora and fauna draw in visitors from around the world to experience the rainforests on the islands of Cielamon and Saidenland. Beaches can be found almost everywhere, including a few popular nude beaches, while rock climbing has become a profitable business in the Dragon Back Mountains south of Inala. The main industry, however, is gambling. The city of Cielon is famed for an area known as the Shining Strip, a long, broad boulevarde lined with casinos and hotels. Easily the most prosperous gambling establishment is the Platinum Dragon Casino, the owner of which is rumored to have ties with the shadowy crime syndicate known as the House of Komodo. No legislation has been passed regarding a legal gambling age, and as a result young children can be seen gambling with adults - and often winning.
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==Government==
 
==Government==
  
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Despite the retention of archaic ranks, Cielonia is a modern democracy in every sense of the word. The country is ruled by a Grand Duke, elected by a majority of votes from Cielonian citizens. The Grand Duke serves the same function as the President in an American-style democracy, while the role of Vice President is filled by the Duke, who runs for office alongside the Grand Ducal candidate.
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The Cielonian government is administered by a Western-style parliamentary government. The highest power in the nation is held by the Prime Minister, who heads up the House of Commons, made up of four hundred and thirty-eight elected members of parliament from ridings around the country. The second house of government is the Senate, a body of one hundred elected officials. While Cielonia has an Emperor, he is a figurehead.
  
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The Grand Duke's power is held in check by two legislative bodies. The more significant of the two is the Grand Council, which consists of 100 Barons elected in various regions around Cielonia. Immediately below the Grand Council is the House of Counts, a body consisting of 253 elected Counts. These two bodies function in the same way as the American Senate and House of Representatives, submitting, debating, and voting on legislation to be passed to the other body and to the Grand Duke for further discussion. Most proposals, however, come from the Grand Duke himself. Typically the Grand Duke must approve all new laws and acts through the Grand Council and the House of Counts; however, the Emergency War Measures Act, adopted in 1967 in Cielon and carried over to the new constitution, allows the Council to vote the Grand Duke and his advisors dictatorial powers in time of war or national crisis.
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The Prime Minister is not independently elected despite being the head of state. Rather, the position of Prime Minister is decided by the result of the House of Commons election and depends on which political party holds the most seats in the House. The leader of the majority party in the House is appointed Prime Minister by the Emperor. The Prime Minister may appoint his own Cabinet from members of the House and is the only member of the government capable of submitting the following types of measures to the House: Declarations of war, ratifications of treaties, foreign trade agreements, the federal budget, appointments of ambassadors and judges, and invocations of the Wartime Governance Act or Crisis Governance Act.  
  
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Cielonia is a nation of multiple political parties. As such it is not uncommon for a Grand Duke to hold a minority of seats in the Council and the House, forcing him to ally his party with another. Minority Grand Dukes face the danger of a vote of nonconfidence, which may be called by the opposition in the event that the Grand Duke seems to make a colossal error. If a vote of nonconfidence is passed by the Grand Council, the Grand Duke must abdicate and a full election must be held.
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The House is divided into several 28-member committees, generally consisting of proportional representation from each party. Committees include the Defense Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Finance Committee, the Social Services Committee, the Health Committee, the Trade Committee, the Education Committee, the Environmental Committee, the Internal Security Committee, the Intelligence Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Business Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. Each Committee is chaired by a Cabinet Minister, generally a member of the majority party appointed by the Prime Minister. The ranking member, or vice-chair, is typically a senior member of the largest opposition party.  
  
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The Grand Duke is assisted in running the nation by the Cabinet, a group of officials selected by the Grand Duke and approved by the Grand Council. Each cabinet minister is given the rank of Baron.
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The legislative system in effect operates entirely in the House of Commons. Legislation can only be introduced in the House. All bills are read three times. The First Reading occurs among the members of the appropriate House Committee and the chief sponsors of the legislation, ending in a majority vote to send the bill to the floor. The Second Reading occurs in the House in general, allowing all members to debate on the bill. There is no voting during the Second Reading. The Third Reading also occurs in the House and ends in a vote to send the legislation to the Senate. Generally votes in the Third Reading are matters of majority, requiring 220 votes in order to pass. The minority is permitted by parliamentary procedure to invoke a filibuster to force continuation of debate on legislation. A two-thirds majority vote of 292 members is required to break a filibuster. By law a vote may not be held up for more than three months, and votes on the budget are not permitted to be filibustered.  
  
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The current structure of Cielonian government is as follows.
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Should the bill survive the House of Commons it is sent on to the Senate for analysis. The Senate's function is to act as a check on the House by rereading the legislation and ensuring that it is in fact constitutional. This is generally not an issue, and as such the Senate tends to seem like a rubber stamp for the House, though should constitutional issues arise the Senate will file amendments with the House to be added on a simple majority vote. Once the bill passes through the Senate it is given to the Chancellor and ratified, and finally turned over to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to be implemented into law.  
  
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Head of State: Grand Duke Francis St. Marie (Liberal)
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===Current leadership===
  
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Deputy Head of State: Kentaro Suzu
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The current Prime Minister is Sana K.F. Alvaasar, an elegant, dark lady in her forties. She is the leader of the Alliance, a centrist party elected on a platform of accountability against corruption and on a stronger foreign policy. She replaces Alcion Carver Vicherie, a corrupt Social Democrat sent into exile after rigging the federal elections system in his party's favour.
  
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Minister of Defense: Baron Gaspard Sato
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The Alliance holds a narrow majority in parliament. The official opposition is the White Party of former Social Democratic PM Lucien LeBlanc, a party formed from various Liberal defectors, Independents, and many Social Democratic defectors who crossed the floor due to outrage at Vicherie's corruption. The party's formation so heavily raided the Liberals that they lost party status in the following election.
  
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Minister of Education: Baron Aubrey Deluca
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===Monarchy===
  
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Minister of the Environment: Baron Ichiro Hyuga
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The current Empress is named Hiromi Arai. She's a young woman of twenty-three and is stunningly beautiful in a sophisticated sort of way, with thick dark hair and vivid blue eyes. An outspoken critic of former PM Vicherie, her speeches of support provided a moral bastion for the Alliance, White Party, and Social Democratic defectors in calling for new elections.
  
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Minister of Foreign Affairs: Baron Han Tenjou
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===Political Parties===
  
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Minister of Health: Baroness Mireille Jolie
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The '''Alliance''' is the current majority party in Parliament, led by Sana Alvaasar. Elected on promises of corruption reform, the party has pushed strongly forward in establishing nonpartisan election watchdogs and a stronger ethics panel. They have also expanded the military, in particular the air force and army.
  
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Minister of Internal Security: Baron Leroy Mercer II
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The '''White Party''' is the current opposition party. While founded by former PM Lucien LeBlanc, its leader is Abdilessis Rashad. It is a left-wing party advocating economic populism, increased humanitarian aid, and broader social assistance and civil rights legislation.
  
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Minister of Social Services: Baron Taka Hyotaru
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Other parties include the old '''Conservative Party''' and the '''Libertarian Party'''.
  
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Minister of Trade: Baroness Hiromi Tsuruga
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===Former Federal Prime Ministers===
  
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Minister of Transportation: Baron Masato Miyazaki
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* His Grace the Grand Duke Francis St. Marie (Liberal)
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* Lucien Sito LeBlanc (Social Democratic)
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* Alcion Carver (Social Democratic)
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* Sana Keirin Faris Alvaasar (Alliance)
  
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==International Relations and Military==
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==Military==
  
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Following the wars during the Splintering, the Cielonian government has resolved to pursue peace at any cost, a policy which is evident in Cielonia's relations with other countries. Cielonia pursues a policy of friendship above ideology; the government attempts to remain on good terms with its neighbours and make as many friendships as possible while striving to achieve peace for Cielonia and the world through diplomacy. Recently the International Mediation Act has passed through the Grand Council, authorizing the Grand Duke to offer Cielonia as a mediator in an effort to smooth over international disputes through talks rather than war.
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Cielonia maintains a massive standing combat force, collectively known as the Cielonian Federated Forces.
  
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Militarily Cielonia is equipped with a small army, consisting of around 100000 men and women. Service in the army is voluntary. Cielonia's navy is fairly small, with the battleship HGCS Masamune serving as its flagship. The Air Force consists of sixty MiG-29 fighters painted in Cielonian colours as well as nearly two hundred Sea King helicopters and ten C-130 gunships. The main Cielonian cavalry unit is the J112 Ocelot light tank, manufactured by Cielonia General Dynamics in Porto Negro. As well, the Cielonian military features a group of 400 elite commandos under the name of STAF - Strategic Tactical Assault Force. STAF officers are roughly the equivalent of elite CIA officers and are often deployed for covert operations and counterterrorism missions.
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By far Cielonia's largest combat body is the Cielonian Federated Naval Command. The Democratic Federation's navy is massive and well-equipped, fielding massive warships capable of carrying a devastating bombardment to distant targets. The flagship of the Cielonian navy is the CFWS Masamune the Unifier, a behemoth Kunai II-class citadel ship - practically a floating city in its own right, armed with banks of guns and missiles and several strike jets. The Masamune the Unifier typically docks at Aisun and serves mostly as a command ship.
  
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==General History==
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Cielonia's air force is large and well-equipped, working closely with the navy. The Cielonian Federated Air Command makes liberal use of VTOL aircraft. The main strike fighter of the CFAC is the NAK-84 "Storm Petrel", a versatile multirole fighter with VTOL capabilities. The O-4 "Albatross" fills the role of a main bomber.
  
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The history of Cielonia begins for all practical purposes in 1518, when a group of French explorers under Jean-Jacques Bellemontaigne sailed with a fleet of ships for the New World but was tossed far to the south by a freak storm. He ended up turning east and sailing around Africa and into Asia, seeking friendly ports but finding none. His ships gave out as he reached the east coast, and in the summer of 1519 he was forced to beach the surviving ships on the modern-day island of Cielamon. With the help of the native population, known as the Katasi, the French established the town of Arc-En-Cielon and multiplied for a good century and a half.
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Cielonia is known for its heavy use of long-range missiles in warfare. They dislike wasting lives and prefer to solve their military problems with a round of cruise missiles. The nation maintains a large supply of nuclear weapons but has never deployed them.
  
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In the 1650s a plague hit Arc-En-Cielon, resulting in several years of chaos. This prompted a stonemason named Rabican Petit to proclaim himself Duke in 1660 and begin bringing Arc-En-Cielon under his leadership. People flocked to his promise to end the chaos and devastation - which he made good on. This began a dynasty of four Dukes - Rabican I, Rabican II, Loyal I (Loyal the Great, creator of the Grand Council and the Great Library), and John I. The city was renamed to Cielon under Rabican I. The dynasty ended in 1701 when John I died childless. The Momotani Dynasty succeeded them - three dukes, Jun I, Shiro, and Jun II, ruled from 1701 to 1716 but didn't accomplish much.
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==General History==
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Jun II was soon killed by the captain of the ducal guard, Hiro Shinzaki, who founded a dynasty through his adopted son Latimer I. The Shinzaki Dynasty ran from 1716 to 1780 and comprised five Dukes - Hiro, Latimer I, Latimer II, John II, and Rabican III. Latimer II is noteworthy for his founding of government-sanctioned sex camps in which wealthy men could pay to impregnate willing women of French ancestry. After Rabican III died without heir a period of anarchy ensued, with 17 Dukes ruling between 1780 and 1807.
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In 1807 General Masamune Kunai overthrew the last Duke of the Anarchy and took power, immediately putting down his rivals and instituting massive economic and social reforms that rejuvenated Cielon and its surrounding colony-towns. He put an end to the anarchy and beautified the city as well as guaranteeing education and healthcare for everyone. Masamune the Restorer died in 1841, and his son Gan reigned until 1858, continuing his father's policies.
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Gan was assassinated in 1858 when a fleet of Frenchmen arrived on orders from the French government, conquering the Cielonian towns and placing the islands under colonial rule. This continued until April 1, 1948, the date of what has come to be known as the April Fools Rebellion. When the then-current Duke, Vernon Croix Lord Cielon, stepped into the Grand Council Chamber, Councillor Gan Kukai presented him with a bill to look over. The text of it was a simple 'April Fools, you frog-eating bastard'. Before Croix could respond, Kukai drew a revolver and shot him six times in the chest. The councillors then cut off Croix's head and genitals, and hung his headless, mutilated corpse from a post in front of the Duca Palatia. A brief war with the French ensued, which the Cielonians won narrowly; however, the strife splintered the duchy into seven duchies, resulting in civil war until 2005, when the seven Dukes met and agreed to reunite the duchies and end the war.
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This is a stub section.
  
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On April 2, 2005, citizens in all seven duchies of Cielonia went to the polls to elect their new leaders. Candidates included the Conservative Party's John Trieste, the Liberal Party's Francis St. Marie, the Social Democratic Party's Otoshi Kawayama, the Cielonian Alliance's Hikaru Todou, and the Libertarian Party's Paul Vanier. On April 3 the election results came in: St. Marie 45%, Trieste 31%, Kawayama 18%, Todou 3%, Vanier 3%. Though hardly a stunning majority, St. Marie had won office with a landslide - yet with a mere 36 seats in the Grand Council and 91 in the House, his minority government was forced into an alliance with the Social Democratic Party.
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Before the foundation of the Democratic Federation, the three islands of modern Cielonia were occupied by a number of feudal kingdoms. For centuries the various Sironi kingdoms did war upon each other. In the 19th century foreigners began to appear in the local conflicts, hired as mercenaries by the various warlords of the islands. Soon the mercenaries became nationalized, and foreigners began to marry among the Sironi. Over the years the various kingdoms modernized, and foreigners brought in new technologies.
  
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Thus far St. Marie's term as Grand Duke of Cielonia has proven fruitful. Gambling has been legalized, limited uranium mining has begun on Sunda, and cloning research has garnered vast leaps in medical science. St. Marie enjoys approval ratings of 60% yes, 33% no, 7% undecided.
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In 1871, however, one Masamune Kunai took power in the Kingdom of Aruserinu. A skilled tactician, Masamune used his abilities to fulfill his ambitions, leading his troops throughout the islands to swiftly conquer the nearby kingdoms. Gathering a larger and larger army as he conquered, he soon wrung loyalty from the other kingdoms and forged them into an agreement. On March 3, 1871, Emperor Masamune proclaimed himself sovereign ruler of the Empire of Silon. The islands remained unified thenceforth, with the title passing through Kunai's family until democratic reforms led to the Document of Federation being drafted and signed by Emperor Ban on October 11, 1934. This document founded the Democratic Federation of Cielonia.

Latest revision as of 22:12, 19 January 2007

Cielonia
cielonia.jpg
Flag of Cielonia
Motto: "Strength in Liberty, Prosperity in Freedom."
Unavailable
Region Asia
Capital Arceline
Official Language(s) Arceline Siloni, Siloni (Native)
Leader Prime Minister Sana K.F. Alvaasar
Population > 2,600,000,000
Currency derac 
NS Sunset XML

The Democratic Federation of Cielonia is a nation of islands occupying part of the southern spread of islands in Asia. The nation is populated by generally compassionate people of mixed ancestry with a generally libertarian mentality; they value social freedoms and tend to frown upon social conservatism and religion. Cielonia is a former member of the United Nations.

Culture

The people of Cielonia have their roots in the native Siloni civilization but have mingled heavily with foreigners, corrupting much of the original culture and language. Few Cielonians lack Siloni blood, but most have some foreign ancestry to offset it. A typical Cielonian is slim, with pale olive skin and hair that can range from pale blond to dark black. Their eyes tend to be almond-shaped and a bit angular. They tend to be a graceful, long-legged people. Cielonian women are famed for their elegant, exotic beauty.

Much of Cielonian culture is based in the Sironi tradition of wisdom and honour. While the actual concept of honour is considered archaic these days, Cielonians tend to treat each other with respect. Impoliteness and intolerance are frowned upon. Cielonians place great value on intelligence, and the nation is full of universities and colleges of all sorts. They are a highly friendly people, and it is not uncommon to see complete strangers dining together in public cafes. Most Cielonians hold to a liberal or left-leaning frame of mind. Religion is a passing fad and considered primitive, and all marriages - gay, straight, transgendered, monogamous, polygamous, polygynous, or whatever else applies - are handled by the state. The government also runs brothels in all major cities. Cielonians are liberal about love and sex, and adultery is considered acceptable so long as all parties involved are kept informed of it.

Cielonians are highly respectful of nature and place great stock in the serenity of mother earth. Virtually all Cielonian cities feature numerous parks, and major thoroughfares are lined with greenery. Genetic alteration of foods is illegal. A favorite Cielonian dish is the ruby-backed salmon, a fish which inhabits the Catas River and the shores around the island of Cielamon; baked ruby-backed salmon in a light but salty red sauce known as taiko is considered a great delicacy. Also popular is a dish known as puuretoyama, which consists of white rice, chicken, and shredded cheese melted together and served in a bowl.

Cielonians are at home with high technology. Their society is heavily modernized, relying on the latest technologies, most of which they manufacture right at home. As space is at a premium, Cielonian cities are a bit crowded, and houses are often narrow but sporting several storeys, while homes and businesses span roadways or rest on artificial bases built out from the shoreline. Room is always made for greenery, which adds to the space problem.

Commerce and Industry

Much of Cielonia's economy is supported by the automotive industry, which receives a significant amount of funding from the government in order to keep the nation's economy competitive. The industry's three main corporations are the Etsuya Motor Corporation, Cielonia Dynamics, and the Cabriolet Motor Company. Etsuya is renowned for manufacturing highly efficient cars running on more efficient, environmentally friendly fuel sources; their top brands are the popular Rakuda family sedan and the sleek Inuwashi sportscar. Cabriolet specializes more in burly vehicles such as trucks and jeeps, though they do produce standard cars as well; their most popular vehicle by far is the Yagyuu truck line, though the Atemi jeep is popular for military use. Finally, Cielonia Dynamics produces mostly military vehicles, including the KU44 attack motorcycle and the Marauder-5 model of HUMVEE, which is offered in a stripped-down civilian model, the Marauder.

Government

The Cielonian government is administered by a Western-style parliamentary government. The highest power in the nation is held by the Prime Minister, who heads up the House of Commons, made up of four hundred and thirty-eight elected members of parliament from ridings around the country. The second house of government is the Senate, a body of one hundred elected officials. While Cielonia has an Emperor, he is a figurehead.

The Prime Minister is not independently elected despite being the head of state. Rather, the position of Prime Minister is decided by the result of the House of Commons election and depends on which political party holds the most seats in the House. The leader of the majority party in the House is appointed Prime Minister by the Emperor. The Prime Minister may appoint his own Cabinet from members of the House and is the only member of the government capable of submitting the following types of measures to the House: Declarations of war, ratifications of treaties, foreign trade agreements, the federal budget, appointments of ambassadors and judges, and invocations of the Wartime Governance Act or Crisis Governance Act.

The House is divided into several 28-member committees, generally consisting of proportional representation from each party. Committees include the Defense Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Finance Committee, the Social Services Committee, the Health Committee, the Trade Committee, the Education Committee, the Environmental Committee, the Internal Security Committee, the Intelligence Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Business Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. Each Committee is chaired by a Cabinet Minister, generally a member of the majority party appointed by the Prime Minister. The ranking member, or vice-chair, is typically a senior member of the largest opposition party.

The legislative system in effect operates entirely in the House of Commons. Legislation can only be introduced in the House. All bills are read three times. The First Reading occurs among the members of the appropriate House Committee and the chief sponsors of the legislation, ending in a majority vote to send the bill to the floor. The Second Reading occurs in the House in general, allowing all members to debate on the bill. There is no voting during the Second Reading. The Third Reading also occurs in the House and ends in a vote to send the legislation to the Senate. Generally votes in the Third Reading are matters of majority, requiring 220 votes in order to pass. The minority is permitted by parliamentary procedure to invoke a filibuster to force continuation of debate on legislation. A two-thirds majority vote of 292 members is required to break a filibuster. By law a vote may not be held up for more than three months, and votes on the budget are not permitted to be filibustered.

Should the bill survive the House of Commons it is sent on to the Senate for analysis. The Senate's function is to act as a check on the House by rereading the legislation and ensuring that it is in fact constitutional. This is generally not an issue, and as such the Senate tends to seem like a rubber stamp for the House, though should constitutional issues arise the Senate will file amendments with the House to be added on a simple majority vote. Once the bill passes through the Senate it is given to the Chancellor and ratified, and finally turned over to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to be implemented into law.

Current leadership

The current Prime Minister is Sana K.F. Alvaasar, an elegant, dark lady in her forties. She is the leader of the Alliance, a centrist party elected on a platform of accountability against corruption and on a stronger foreign policy. She replaces Alcion Carver Vicherie, a corrupt Social Democrat sent into exile after rigging the federal elections system in his party's favour.

The Alliance holds a narrow majority in parliament. The official opposition is the White Party of former Social Democratic PM Lucien LeBlanc, a party formed from various Liberal defectors, Independents, and many Social Democratic defectors who crossed the floor due to outrage at Vicherie's corruption. The party's formation so heavily raided the Liberals that they lost party status in the following election.

Monarchy

The current Empress is named Hiromi Arai. She's a young woman of twenty-three and is stunningly beautiful in a sophisticated sort of way, with thick dark hair and vivid blue eyes. An outspoken critic of former PM Vicherie, her speeches of support provided a moral bastion for the Alliance, White Party, and Social Democratic defectors in calling for new elections.

Political Parties

The Alliance is the current majority party in Parliament, led by Sana Alvaasar. Elected on promises of corruption reform, the party has pushed strongly forward in establishing nonpartisan election watchdogs and a stronger ethics panel. They have also expanded the military, in particular the air force and army.

The White Party is the current opposition party. While founded by former PM Lucien LeBlanc, its leader is Abdilessis Rashad. It is a left-wing party advocating economic populism, increased humanitarian aid, and broader social assistance and civil rights legislation.

Other parties include the old Conservative Party and the Libertarian Party.

Former Federal Prime Ministers

  • His Grace the Grand Duke Francis St. Marie (Liberal)
  • Lucien Sito LeBlanc (Social Democratic)
  • Alcion Carver (Social Democratic)
  • Sana Keirin Faris Alvaasar (Alliance)

Military

Cielonia maintains a massive standing combat force, collectively known as the Cielonian Federated Forces.

By far Cielonia's largest combat body is the Cielonian Federated Naval Command. The Democratic Federation's navy is massive and well-equipped, fielding massive warships capable of carrying a devastating bombardment to distant targets. The flagship of the Cielonian navy is the CFWS Masamune the Unifier, a behemoth Kunai II-class citadel ship - practically a floating city in its own right, armed with banks of guns and missiles and several strike jets. The Masamune the Unifier typically docks at Aisun and serves mostly as a command ship.

Cielonia's air force is large and well-equipped, working closely with the navy. The Cielonian Federated Air Command makes liberal use of VTOL aircraft. The main strike fighter of the CFAC is the NAK-84 "Storm Petrel", a versatile multirole fighter with VTOL capabilities. The O-4 "Albatross" fills the role of a main bomber.

Cielonia is known for its heavy use of long-range missiles in warfare. They dislike wasting lives and prefer to solve their military problems with a round of cruise missiles. The nation maintains a large supply of nuclear weapons but has never deployed them.

General History

This is a stub section.

Before the foundation of the Democratic Federation, the three islands of modern Cielonia were occupied by a number of feudal kingdoms. For centuries the various Sironi kingdoms did war upon each other. In the 19th century foreigners began to appear in the local conflicts, hired as mercenaries by the various warlords of the islands. Soon the mercenaries became nationalized, and foreigners began to marry among the Sironi. Over the years the various kingdoms modernized, and foreigners brought in new technologies.

In 1871, however, one Masamune Kunai took power in the Kingdom of Aruserinu. A skilled tactician, Masamune used his abilities to fulfill his ambitions, leading his troops throughout the islands to swiftly conquer the nearby kingdoms. Gathering a larger and larger army as he conquered, he soon wrung loyalty from the other kingdoms and forged them into an agreement. On March 3, 1871, Emperor Masamune proclaimed himself sovereign ruler of the Empire of Silon. The islands remained unified thenceforth, with the title passing through Kunai's family until democratic reforms led to the Document of Federation being drafted and signed by Emperor Ban on October 11, 1934. This document founded the Democratic Federation of Cielonia.

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