Motyavia
Motyavia, officially the Grand Republican Federation of Motyavia, is a state in Scandinavia and a member of the New Paladinia region.
History
Motyavia was first settled by an amalgam of peoples from southern Scandinavia and the Baltic states, and West Africans fleeing from imperialist conquest early in the Age of Discovery. Intially the African population experienced tension with the Europeans who followed their intial settlement, but eventually the populations integrated and united in the face of difficult neighbors and a harsh environment.
This cold environment drove the ambitions Motyavian nation to pioneer technologies that made agriculture more fruitful and living much more comfortable. The perfection of sub-terranean hydroponic farming and the use of solar and geo-thermal heating early in the modern age meant that Motyavia, with a limited population, was able to join the nations of the world on a relatively equal footing. While Motyavia has not hesitated to make use of its abundant natural resources, the intricate eco-systems have motivated her people to prize nature above economic gain.
Government
Motyavia is a democratic federation of fourteen provinces. Each is administered by a popularly elected governor and provincial legislature. A federal legislature is a bi-cameral body composed of the Federal Congress (lower chamber), whose members serve 4 year terms, and the Popular Assembly (upper house), whose members serve an 8 year term. The Federal Congress carries out general legislative functions such as levying taxes and updating the national legal code. Members of the Popular Assembly have specified duties including the ratification of treaties, government investigation, conducting impeachment proceedings, and selecting new members of the federal judiciary. The Chancellor, traditionally the leading figure in a coalition government, is chosen by the members of the Popular Assembly from their own ranks to be both Speaker of the Popular Assembly and chief executive for a 6 year term. The Vice-Chancellor, selected by the Chancellor, administers the Federal Congress.
The political climate is generally cooperative. The Democratic Socialists (DSM), Society of Orthodox Democrats (SCD), and Liberal Democrats (LDP) are the main parties that dominate coalition governments which often include the Green Party (MGP), the National Motyavian Party (NMP), Popular Progressives (PPP), and Constituional Unionists (MCU). Majorities in both houses shift often and the parties tend to favor an amiable co-existence with spirited debate. One factor contributing to the flexible political landscape is that every elected official is limited to two terms in office at the national level.
Citizens enjoy an independent judiciary that ensures the equality of all before the law. Each province has an individual civil legal system, but the criminal courts all follow one standard federal code. Provincial appeals can go through one level of provincial appelate courts and a federal court system before reaching the Supreme Court of Motyavia which consists of seven justices appointed by the Popular Assembly to a term of twenty years.
The current government is comprised of a DSM-SCD-PPP coalition in the Popular Assembly with M. Ivanovich (DSM) serving as Chancellor.
Culture
The Motyavian cultural fusion began in the early years when peoples that had been marginalized in their native lands first came to live together. Motyavian art has always been fairly progressive and accepting. The competing influences create an ecclectic visual mixture of traditional north European and African folk art. The influence of African music and dance is also felt. Motyavia enjoys the global forms of ballet and opera, but has experienced a kind of musical fusion similar to that in the Americas. Unique types of Jazz and Folk Rock are more popular modern modes of music.
Language
The Motyavian language, adapted by the first settlers from the local dialects, has influences in vocabulary and pronunciation from Hausa, Wolof, Hebronian, Lithuanian, Russian, and Swedish.
Diet
The West Africans soon altered their dietary habits to match the climate, bringing them closer to the north Europeans that soon joined them. However, the continued African reliance on peanuts have added a dimension to the regional cuisine. Fish, potatoes, cereal grains, beets, reindeer, peanuts, cranberries are all staples of the Motyavian diet.
Religion
Motyavia has no state religion and equally encourages people of different faiths and those who aschew religion. Religion is a popular subject in the public school system, but is mainly taught in context with philosophical, psychological, and historical as well as theological perspectives explored. A plurality of Motyavians, 45%, classify themselves as Motyavian Orthodox. Other segments of the population include 18% Bulsamic, 14% Stiloan, 12% Agnostic or Atheist, and 9% Hebronist. Most reporting themselves as religious attend services infrequently, generally several times each year.
Sport
Motyavians have a healthy enjoyment of sports. The most popular are association football, cross country skiing, and scholastic wrestling. Recreational fishermen also comprise a sizeable portion of the populace. School teams and municipal club systems provide Motyavians of any age to compete on a regular basis. Professional leagues for football and basketball provide entertainment for millions of Motyavians. Broadcasts of foreign competitions are regularly seen as well, providing exposure to other less popular sports.
