Novar Ohan

**Novar Ohan**
	Flag of Novar Ohan
	Motto: Amor Patriae Nostra Lex (Love of the Fatherland is our only law)
	[1]
Region	The North Pacific
Capital	The Holy City of Tarnaqin
Official Language(s)	Russian/French
Leader	HEHIM Emperor Sebastien Chyornyev
Population	245 million
Currency	Rouble
	NS Sunset XML

The Holy Empire of Novar Ohan (proper name: The Eternal and Holy Empire of Novar Ohan and the Sunset Isles) is an imperialist nation coextensive with the entire continent of Novar Ohan in the Northern Pacific. It was founded first by Russian, and later by French, colonists fleeing from internal struggle.

A rather introverted and defensive nation, the country consists of 5 States (Roan, Agua, Arquis, Altara and the Sunset Isles). In the past, it also held several colonies including Divine Imperial East Africa, the Red Sea States and the Islands of Micronesia, though its empire is now restricted to the Divine Imperial Western Territories. In addition, there are three Free Cities: the Capital, the Most Holy City of Tarnaqin)), and the Free Cities of Novy Archangelsk and WhitePort.

Its metropolitan territory lies within the North Pacific. The Continent of Novar Ohan is bounded on the south by the Pacific, on the east by the Western Marches (locally known as the White Sea), to the west by the straits of Tolemsky, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean. Its closest neighbour is the Republic of Iansisle. The Archipelago of the United Sunsets (to give it its full name) and their companion group, the Isles of Sleep, lie to the south and east of Novar Ohan.

People of Novar Ohan

The Divine Imperium is a land of contrasts, not least amongst its people. There is an entire world's worth of difference between His Most Eternal And Holy Majesty Tsar Sebastien Chyornyev and the average Altaran farmer, or indeed that same farmer and a tribesman in the jungles.

Generalisations

Broadly, the key fixation of many citizens of the most blessed Empire is with order. Many centuries of long aristocratic tradition and close cultural ties with the Confucianist states of the East (evidence of this includes the existence of a large Chinese community in the state of Altara) have affected the society of Novar Ohan in that there exists in many places a very united society in terms of cultural and social morès.

This great cultural equality is at its lowest in Arquis, where the lords and commons live almost in parallel worlds to one another; and at its highest in Altara, where the Shattering effectively eliminated the vast majority of the population, with especial attention paid by Death to the ranks of the (native Chinese) nobility.

The culture itself has been described as a mixture of Tsarist Russia and pre-revolutionary France. To the Novarians, (to speak vulgarly, as we are forced to do for lack of any uniting word for the entirety of the Imperium's citizenry) though, such a comparison would seem both an insult and a sign of a diseased mind. The Holy Empire is, for all its faults, a fully democratic society, despite the existence of a mass of meddling nobles and monarchs. Over the past half century, more and more of the nobility have stopped interfering in matters within their territories, seeming content to let the people govern themselves so long as entertainment, profit, and food keep coming.

Unless something interesting happens. Or their local elected official (Mayor, Lord Mayor, Premier, Chief/Prime Minister) acts rude. Or they get bored. Or feel like doing something. Apart from those instances, the elected officials are left free to run the country. Most of the time.

There are certain similarities between the DIR and the aforementioned nations, though. Firstly, religion is an integral part of society. The Church of Novar Ohan is, despite repeated demands for reform from the Vatican and its officers, one of the largest landowners in the Imperium, controlling almost 5% of the territory (which might not sound over large. However, if that territory was brought together it would roughly cover France from the Pyreenes to the English Channel, with the addition of the Rhineland). This Church is the great column of Roanian internal society, maintaining stability and unity in troubled times. In recognition of this fact its Archbishops (One for each historical Duchy) and Patriarch (Currently His Beatitude Patriarchs of Novar Ohan always are welcome to address the House of Nobles, despite repeated protests by Papal Nuncios for the practice to halt.

Even for those who, for one reason or another, decline to be part of the Official Church (including the roughly 20% of the population who schismed into the Aguan Orthodox Church in 1825), religion remains a vital part of life. It soothes the pain of labour and the hurt of war, and keeps the people reasonably content. After the excesses of the Order of Saint Michael (or Holy Imperial Inquisition for the Purity of the Faith) were wound down in the reign of Empress Malissa, freedom of worship was extended to all (though hardliners, led by the Archbishop of Arquis, continue to struggle against this, threatening a further schism.)

On a further general note, education is guaranteed and mandated for all up to the tenth year of schooling, with further education open to those who can pass moderately difficult competitive testing. Education, however, means something completely different for most Roanians than it does for outsiders. A heavy focus is laid on practical skills and functional education, with little time being spent on interpretation or critical thinking in the years of compulsory schooling. Post-modernist topics are unwelcome in any of the institutions of higher learning within the Divine Imperium.

For more information, which would probably be better placed in those sections anyway, go to the seperate pages of the states (when information is added).

Religion

Spirituality is a major part of the Divine Imperium's culture.

The Catholic Church of Novar Ohan

As mentioned above, the religion of the majority of the population is an affiliate of the Catholic Church of Novar Ohan or its schismed association, the Aguan Orthodox Church. It is the Catholic Church that concerns us primarily here, as it is the most powerful politically and socially. Headed by the aforementioned Patriarch, the church is split drastically on regional grounds. The Patriarch is the Bishop of Tarnaqin, and he holds that position either for life or until his underlings decide he's become senile and he's convinced to move aside.

It is a heavily heirarchical body, and tradition dictates that the Patriarch is always chosen from amongst the Four Archbishops pertaining to the traditional divisions (there are two bishops for the Free Cities, but the only Patriarch from Novy Archangelsk split the church and their name has been low for sometime). Dionysius's predescessor, His Beatitude Patriarch Dmitri II, was chosen from Rome (previously he had been Bishop of Roslin and secretary to Patriarch Apollo) precisely to break that tradition, which he did by nominating his own successor (also slightly heretical, but it was confirmed by an election, so no harm was done). Dionysius has since broken with tradition and acted as a semi-mitigating force against the government and nobility, a fact which caused Adrik Alexei and his reactionary Lord Chancellor Nicademus Darsalin no end of grief.

The Archbishops (who are almost always the Metropolitans for their states), as is general Church tradition, always come from the Bishops in their broader dioceses, as the Bishops and their auxilaries are chosen from their local priests. Generally a city and its surrounding countryside will always have a cathedral and a Bishopric as a mark of prestige and tradition; however in Altara, where the vast majority of the great cities are ruins now only disturbed by squatters, rats and weeds, the bishoprics are conferred upon priests put forward by the people within every pair of counties for special merit (a system not spoken of before the Roman Nuncio.)

The Divine Imperium has three active cardinals of elector age, and four too old to vote. The three elector cardinals are Their Eminences Isaac Klemenoff, Louis d'Arquis, and Abram Chyornyev. In addition, the Divine Imperium has two beatified churchmen: Saint Johannes of Ekaterinburg (Johannes Richelieu, a distant great-nephew of the original Cardinal) and Cardinal Isaac Zhiosky, a martyr for the church.

Other Religions

The Aguan Orthodox Church split from communion with Rome in the 19th Century, and is an acephalous body headed by a council of Bishops, with the Archbishop of Roslin being considered Primus Inter Pares. Currently negotiations are underway for the church to recognise Patriarch of Constantinople.

Other legally recognised religions include Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. Other Christian sects have been heavily persecuted in the past and a severe secular and religious bias remains against such 'heretics'. 'Religions' such as the Church of Satan and the Mormon Church are banned within the Holy Empire.

Entertainment and Information

As befits a vast population, there is a broad variety of entertainment available. Here are some of the more popular options:

Fencing

The most popular spectator sport in the Divine Imperium is fencing, with vast arenas being built for the performance of this modern bloodsport. Fencing in the DIR differs from fencing elsewhere in that it remains a largely ruthless sport, with few forms being banned or cancelled and many of the players carrying, in addition to their main blade, small daggers or knives.

True fencing, with its rules and regulations, is largely the preserve of the nobles, many of whom are experts in the sport. (It is worth noting that Aleksandr Tyomny --Alexander the Dark-- is more commonly known as Alexander Duellist than with the style he earned through his cruel acts.) Every season (the season lasts from March to about June), hundreds of aristocrats gather in Tarnaqin to try their luck at the Imperial Cup, which for the past two years has been in the hands of Tyrell Matthias.

Other Sports

Other popular sports in the DIR include cricket, skiing, soccer and polo. The opinion of most nobles is that such sports, except polo of course, are the provinces purely of the lower orders.

Information and Entertainment

Television and Radio

Television is a relatively new medium for much of the Divine Imperium, only really catching on in the past 10 years. Freed from the over-regulation placed on news services by the NSIWP government, there has recently been a Renaissance in programming, with eleven channels being available in most territories on the basic services.

Radio is being slower to slip out of political control, though independent stations are growing. Broadcasting remains the purveigh of the government, with heavy fines accruing to any 'disturbers of the peace'.

Newspapers

All major cities, and most towns, have at least one, and in many cases more, newspapers. Unlike some other countries, the newspapers in the DIR wear their political opinions firmly on their sleeves and won't hesitate to support their chosen parties in any way possible. Major, nationally respected newspapers include:

The Imperial (Tarnaqin)

The Times of Novy Archangelsk

Publishing

Major Publishing Houses exist in Port Agua and the Stronghold. Approximately 99% of the population of Novar Ohan is literate, and feeding the public's rapacious urge for reading material is very profitable.

Scientific publishing occurs generally in the presses of major universities, such as those at La Belle Montagne du Soleil or Roslin.

Political Structure

The Holy Empire on a federal level is normally considered to be a constitutional monarchy, with the emphasis once tending to be on the monarchy. However, more properly, it is an oligarchy, where a limited body of high-ranking aristocrats, headed but in no way controlled by the Tsar, decide on broad public policy. Under recent years this Council has been eclipsed by the elected cabinet, a process aided by the minority of Tsar Sebastien.

Broadly, the legislative branch follows the Westminsterian Parliamentary system, with proportional voting in all seats (seats are roughly divided on basis of population and in order to create balance between the states). There are two houses: The House of Burghers, with roughly 800 representatives, and the House of Nobles, where seats are held by the counts, dukes and poobahs of the land.

The Holy Empire has a true multi-party electoral system, with approximately six parties in the House currently. The major parties are:

The Party for National Reconciliation

The Party for National Reconciliation is the leading opposition party, holding 126 seats in the Imperial Duma. Its current leader is Archibald Dyllyngton. An Authoritarian Conservative party, the PNR has the support of the landowning classes, though its resistance to change has lead to it being castigated by the newly forming intellectual left in some of the major cities. Repeated strikes brought on by the revolution in Iansisle, as well as constant attempts to enact emergency legislation and destabilise the CDP without recourse to the constitution caused major damage to it politically, but it managed to claw back some of its support following the death of the liberal Adrik Alexei.

Social Justice And Democratic Party

The SJDP is one of the opposition parties, lead by Ekaterina Tolinsky. It is the party of choice for a growing number of the DIR's inhabitants. Broadly speaking, the SJDP is a progressive party. It has the support of the union body and some of the more intellectually inclined minor nobles, though it lacks a broad base in the nation's rural areas. If the election trigger is an industrial relations form, the party is likely to take office. Its current position in the houses is 110 seats.

Central Democratic Party

The Central Democratic Party is the current governing party, led by Prime Minister Svetlana Grey. It holds 214 seats in the Duma. However, like many centrist parties it suffers the lack of a clear base, and with the increasing addition of people to the electoral rolls its future in government is in doubt.

Fatherland Front

The Fatherland Front is a National Socialist party that recently came to prominence through its attainment of power in Port Agua. After staging a brief coup that propelled Prince Damien Chyornyev to the throne in the 1930s, it was eliminated in the counterrevolution that placed Emperor Daniel on the throne. Recently relegalised, the Vohzd is struggling to cut loose from the ties that in the minds of the people hold him to the hated Grigor Kroenen.

Action!

Action! is not a major political party, per se. It holds only a single seat, which it won through a stalemate existing between the CDU and SJDP. More of a movement, in other countries Action! would be called a Communist Party. What it lacks in political importance and influence, it makes up for in loudness.

Its list of policies include an abolition of the aristocracy, the abandonment of empire, the destruction of the Commerce Guilds, the imprisonment and execution of all generals as war criminals, and the immediate nationalisation of all industries. It exists purely in the hearts and minds of the fringe of the Imperium's university culture, with a bolted on group of far left trade unions and Marxist Intellectuals.

Still, they can make a lot of noise so people are generally polite...

Military

For 400 years the military has been a vital part of the Imperium's national fabric. Unlike in many other modern nations, conscription remains universal, though at the higher classes direct transfer to officerial ranks are available, with a university degree. Conscription is at 21, though deferments for completion of studies are available.

In the past, the three services were under the command of a single military officer, the Warlord. However, the pain of the Imperial Civil War when Warlord Matthias led the vast majority of the legions against the democratically elected government has placed the post in abeyance for 150 years. Currently, the military is headed by the cabinet official the Minister of the Armed Forces, a parliamentarian.

The Legions

First founded in the early days of the first Empire, the Legions have been variously forces for stability, forces for change, and kingmakers. In the Shattering, it was the Legions' support for Rasputin Makayaveli's Republic that reunited the nations, as it was their eventual distaste for him that led to Warlord Eduard Chyornyev's coup and formation of the Imperial Stewardship. Now a tried force under civilian control, the Imperial Legions have become a large infantry force with a core of heavily armed mechanised companies.

Unusually, the Legions are considered the more aristocratic of the branches. While respect and accolades are granted to members of the Navy and Airforce, it is the Legionnaires who go on to political fame and fortune, and become 'heroes' of the DI.

Broadly, the list of Imperial Ranks follows those of the west until officer ranks are reached. From top to bottom, the ranks become:

Supreme Marshal of the Imperial Legions
Field Marshal
Lord General
General
Lord Captain Commander
Lord Captain
Commandant
Captain
Lieutenant
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant
Second Sergeant
Corporal
Lance Corporal
Legionnaire, First Class
Legionnaire

This, of course, is only a very limited analysis, leaving aside the specialty ranks for the elite forces or the artillery corps. It does give some idea of the ranking level, and the very long ladder which exists. Strangely enough, a promotion to Lord Captain does indeed qualify the officer as a member of the nobility, and upon retirement an estate is granted to him and his family, though the title is effectively that of Baronet.

The Legions are dominated by Arquismen and Roanians, with very few Aguans joining and even less Altarans feeling welcome. As such, it is the character of these nations first and foremost that is the character of the legionnaire.

The Legion's ethos, then:

Victory is placed equal to honour, with honour being generally the loser in arguments between the two.
There is no such thing as 'too much force'. In one notable battle Legionnaires firebombed an Ethiopian position that had already looked likely to surrender.
Every Legionnaire will always obey the orders of a superior officer, with debate being left at a squad level between supposed equals.

The Legion's formal uniform consists of a black combat blouse with black trousers, both for male and female personnel. In winter a black overcoat may be added. Battledress varies with terrain, but generally consists of the same components. In combat, rank and medals are denoted by bars over the right breast.

Imperial Navy

The Imperial Navy has always been the junior member of the military, until the formation of the Divine Aero Legion. With approximately five sea-worthy battleships and several dozen new model destroyers centred in three locations, out of the major powers on Earth they hold one of the weakest surface fleets in traditional terms.

However, recent advances in aerocraft technology, including the [i]Agua[/i]-Class Carrier, and constant evolution in submarine tactics and strategy (including the development of the submersible heli-carrier, which is undergoing testing now) show that it is more than capable of fighting a war and transporting the Legions to carry the battle to the enemy.