Tarasovka
| |
| Flag of Tarasovka | |
| Motto: All I want is to be untamed and free, howl and dream | |
| Map of Sisgardia | |
| Region | Sisgardia |
|---|---|
| Capital | Capital City of Vigvar |
| Official Language(s) | Native Taraskovyan, Russian |
| Leader | Ruling Council |
| Population | 3,5 billion |
| Currency | Taraskovyan Frank |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Taraskovyan Federation (Tarasovka) is a highly developed and technologically advanced nation in North-eastern Sisgardia. The Taraskovyan people, which is a mix of a number of different cultures and ethnic groups (such as Taraskath, Russian, Noldor, et cetera), is remarkable for its extreme love of ancient tradition and respect of ancestral ideals of honour, pride and freedom, the latter pushed to the extent that the entire Taraskovyan society, even if composed of a variety of ethnic groups, is very xenophobic towards foreign countries and prefers to deal with its problems on its own. The nation has been marked by a great number of civil wars spanning over the 45’000 years of its existence, the latest and the most bloodiest being the Aphyr Conflict, known in Tarasovka as the Plague.
Contents
Brief History
Pre-Unification
The so called ‘Pre-Unification period of the Taraskovyan history lasts up to the year 44’215 B.S. (Before Strife) It is characterized by a great lack of written documentation and of available information. Many archeologists and researchers agree than what is now the Taraskovyan Metropoly was home to a number of different civilisations and even races for a long period of time. The four major ethnicities that disputed supremacy were the Taraskath, the Setari, the Amalori and the Keth, each having their own, radically distinct from the others, style of life and vision of the world.
The first few written mentions of the Seven Deities, as well as the precious document entitled ‘Prophecies of Sathala’, belong to this period.
Uidath of the Emerald Spire and the Unification
Up to 44’215 B.S. the Taraskath did not form a single people but in fact were characterized by dispersed tribes all over the territory of Cardinia, Dakathia and Tarvalak. These tribes, divided not only by the levels of development, but also by political, philosophical and religious views, built a number of ‘Citadels’ throughout their territories, forming a myriad of City States constantly at war with each other and with their Amalori, Setari and Keth neighbours. The greatest of all Taraskath Citadels was the Black Hand, its might and riches sparking a great number of wars between rival Lords lusting for power and leadership.
Everything changes in 44’215 B.S. when Uidath Karetsah, Lord of the Emerald Spire Citadel, takes over the Citadel of the Black Hand and becomes the first ruler of a unified Taraskath territory, which he dubbed ‘Namel Zethani’, the ‘High Unity’. It is still uncertain how a young Lord from a rather unimportant Citadel managed to achieve such a success, but what is certain is that the history of the Taraskovyan state begins with him. The cult of the Seven Deities and their sacred texts insist on the fact that Lord Uidath was bestowed with the blessings of the Seven Deities and was given the Sword of Rulers (also known as the Sword of Power, the Sword of Might, Big Bad Sword, et cetera).
Uidath created a central government, delimited the administrative and territorial limits of the Citadels (which would later on give birth to the Fiefdoms), formed a unified armed force. During his rule trade and various cultural exchanges between the Citadels prospered, slowly uniting the Taraskath under as one single people.
This beginning of the period has, however, been marked by a bloody campaign against the Amalori, Setari and Keth, that stretched over several thousand years and in which the aforementioned ethnicities were slaughtered and the few survivors assimilated into the Taraskath society.
The entire period is characterized by a great deal of various conflicts of various importance, going from small skirmishes between Citadels to major wars in which the Shokath-Kshas (Supreme Lord and Ruler) had to intervene directly to restore peace. Often the Shokath-Kshas was challenged by lords of various Citadels, sparking new conflicts. Despite this never ending cycle of violence, the Taraskath society managed to prosper and thrive.
The Strife.
One of the major civil wars that ripped the country apart is known as the Strife. It is a direct consequence of the slaver mentality of the Taraskath society. Although the first slaves were the weakest members of the Taraskath society, the need for more free working hands quickly exploded into a giant slave trading market with ships going as far as beyond the oceans to bring new slaves to the High Unity. These slaves were composed of humans and, in their majority, of ancient Slavic tribes. Moreover, this Slavic majority was in turn, over the time, in majority dominated by Eastern Slavs, notably Russians.
After some period of time that was insignificant for the Taraskath, but was made of generations for the humans, the latter became to rebel against the slavery. Obviously, the first responces were violent and brutal but, as the uprisings went on, some of the Taraskath formed the so called ‘Abolitionist’ group that achieved the impossible – granting the same rights to some humans as to the Taraskath. The Abolitionist movement had to face an opposition in the face of the Defenders of Tradition, nationalistic Taraskath that weren’t at all enthusiastic about integrating the humans into their society.
The culmination of this stand off came when the female Shokath-Kshas Amala Karetsah married a Russian man by the name of Mstislav Shakhovskoy and gave birth to a male heir with Russian blood. This created an unrepairable right between the Abolitionists and the Defenders of Tradition that erupted into an all out civil war known as the Strife, during which the Citadel of the Black Hand was forever lost. The Defenders eventually lost and were forced into exile to never be heard from again.
Mstislav Shakhovskoy, who subdued his wife completely and fully to his influence, abolished slavery and took the title of Veliky Knyaz (Grand Duke), establishing his capital at the Citadel of Vigvar. However, wanting not to offense the Taraskath, he equaled his title of Grand Duke to that of the Supreme Lord and Ruler, making them one title said in different languages. In symbol of a new start, a new calendar was put in place marking the end of the Strife as the first year of a new era.
The Grand Ducal Period
The Grand Ducal period, stretching from 1 A.S. until 1141 A.S., was remarkable for a relative stability and prosperity of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, its entry on the international scene. Some suggest that this rapid evolution was sparked by the comparatively short lives of the Grand Dukes who now had a share of human blood in their veins.
The greatest achievements have been made by Grand Duke Mikhail I. Under his rule the Grand Duchy reached great technologic heights and went into the conquest of the stars, with the first major out world colony founded on Mars. A skilled and cunning politician, Mikhail I maneuvered between the various activities undertaken by the GDODAD, of which the Grand Duchy was once member, and always ensured that the interests of the Grand Duchy and not that of the organisation prevailed in relevant situations. Eventually, the Grand Duke stepped down and handed power over to his son, Mikhail II, a move disputed by the leader’s daughter, Archduchess Anastasya. This triggered the Plague which would cause the fall of the Grand Duchy and the exile of Archduchess Vethara.
The Federal Period
The Federal period began in 1141 A.S. after the fall of the last Grand Duke during the Plague and the seizing of power by a triumvirate of military commanders. During this period many of the ancestral rights and traditions were abolished, the Alexander Guard marginalised and isolated, sparking a renaissance of ultra-nationalist and traditionalist movements and opening hidden rifts between the various cultures and ethnicities within the Taraskovyan territory.
This period has also been marked by the integration of the Vortex Corporation, the closest ally of the Grand Duchy, and of the Knootian Europolis Islands into the new Taraskovyan Federation.
Geography
Administrative Composition
The Taraskovyan Federation, with Vigvar for capital, is composed of the following administrative and territorial units:
- Federal Sisgardian Fiefdoms: Uthar, Zapadozemie, Elutar, Zlatoslavia, Tal-Nathil, Tal-Nathir, Novozemie, Kem, Setar, Severnoe(Nothern), Cardinia, Uith, Kidaksh, Zerth, Amalor, Yujnaya Cardinia (South Cardinia), Uil, Yujny Aphyr(South Aphyr), Alukshir, Kshas-Uith, Kshas-Kharit, Yugozemie, Vigvar, Kethar, Severnaya Cardinia (Nothern Cardinia)
Note: The Khar Tarad Zynthris (Sacred Citadel of Zynthris) is a sovereign and independent territory under the authority of the Order of the Seven Deities.
- Federal Martian Fiefdoms: Svarog, Dajdbog, Stribog
- All outlying territories and installations under Federal jurisdiction are part of the Taraskovyan Federation, they abide by the Federal legislation and their security is assured by the Federation.
Population
Languages
The official languages of the Taraskovyan Federation are the Native Taraskovyan(Taraskath) and Russian. Knowledge of at least one official language is mandatory for every Taraskovyan citizen. All administrative and legal publications are issued in both languages.
The languages spoken by various ethnic groups within the Federation comprise: Taraskath, Russian, various Slavic languages (Polish, Bulgarian, Serb), Dutch, Toran.
Ethnic Groups
The citizens of the Taraskovyan Federation consist of the following ethnic groups:
- Vortex Origin: 14,45%
- Taraskath (Native Taraskovyan): 8,61%
- Toran: 5,51%
- Elves (mostly Noldor): 1,52%
- Other: 1,37%
Religion
The citizens of the Taraskovyan Federation belong to the religious currents:
- Eastern Orthodox: 67,89%
- Seven Deities: 9,16%
- Protestant: 7,98%
- Roman Catholic: 3,45%
- Other (including Atheists): 11,52%
Folklore
The Taraskovyan folklore features a mix between the Taraskath and Russian ones. The two branches influenced one an other greatly throughout the ages to give a rich and interesting result. Below are examples of Taraskovyan proverbs and sayings, translated into English.
- "A good dagger is better than a quiver of rusted arrows."
- "Cut your hair before you fight."
- "If you live with a wolf, you'll howl like a wolf."
- "The luring light in the dark may be a highwayman's torch."
- "When two dogs fight, the fox makes profit."
- "You will rarely meet your friends even on the widest of roads. Your foes, however, will appear even on the narrowest of paths."
Foreign Policy
The traditional Taraskovyan reasoning when dealing with international matters can be explained by a simple proverb: "When two dogs fight, the third one profits." Indeed, Taraskovyan diplomacy and involvement always had the goal of gaining the most in any situation. As such, Tarasovka always distanced itself from large alliances that might endanger the fiercely defended national sovereignety. Instead, it prefers to enter into bilateral accords or, in certain cases, to enter into multinational alliances that do not impose any overly strict rules over their members.
As of today, the Federation participates in the following alliances/treaties:
Ssigardian Fellowship of Nations, World Technologic Entity, Martian Free Trade Agreement, Martian Duma, Taraskovyan-Knootian Frame Convention on Cooperation
