Volscina

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The Empire of Volscina L'Impero Volscino
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto:  "Per Sempre Vittorioso!" (Volscine Norvian) "Forever Victorious!"
Location of Volscina (green) in Novaris (grey)
Location	Far Western Novaris, mostly on the Asciec Peninsula
Capital	Cadrigrano
Largest city	Mazarona
Official languages	None
Recognised national languages	Volscine Norvian
Ethnic groups	See Demographics
Religion	See Religion
Demonym(s)	Volscinan (Singular Noun), Volscine (Adjective, Plural Noun)
Government	Confederal Constitutional Elective Monarchy
Legislature	Dieta Imperiale
Area
• Total	2,059,878.512 km2 (795,323.540 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0%
Population
• 2020 estimate	119M
• 2018 census	117,790,000
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	2,768,065,000,000
• Per capita	23,500
Date format	MM/DD/YYYY BCE/CE
Driving side	right (RHD vehicles)
Calling code	+5
ISO 3166 code	VSC
Internet TLD	.vc

Volscina, officially the Volscine Empire or Empire of Volscina (Volscine Norvian: L'Impero Volscino), is a country located in west Novaris. It borders Cavellan to the East, Durakia through Ietracia and shares maritime borders with Durakia, Aponivia, Varletia, the Varentine League, and Cryria. Covering an area of 2,059,878.512 square kilometers, it lies mostly on the Asciec Peninsula, sitting next to the Pacific Ocean, it lies between the Asciec Sea to the north and the Asciec Channel to the south.

Originally established as a loose alliance of feudal states in the mid-thirteenth century following the fall of the Dallacquan Empire, Volscina quickly became a decentralized empire as the constituent states turned to each other for protection from conflict. An electoral system was established, with certain important states being granted the rank of 'Electorate', their leaders' votes choosing the next Emperor or Empress until their death, upon which they would hold another Imperial Election. This system lasted up until the early eighteenth century, where the rapidly growing population and increased demand for self-determination led to the then-Emperor Calogero II of Cadrigrano abdicating power to the Imperial Diet as an entity, leading to the establishment of the Volscine Confederation. As the newly democratic Volscine Confederation rose in power, it quickly came into conflict with the dominant power in Novaris, the Kingdom of Tretrid. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Volscina and Tretrid entered a series of conflicts, and although no true decisive winner was found, Volscina steadily grew in size and power, eventually restoring Volscine rule to the disputed Tretridian territory of Seccera in the final Volscino-Tretridian war. Volcsina joined the Great War on the side of Asendavia, and throughout the conflict anti-Tretridian sentiment grew to a point even higher than in the series of 19th century conflicts between the two nations. The Great War ended with no decisive winner, and although it took some time for Volscine troops to leave Tretridian soil, there was no further escalation until the Volscino-Tretridian Cold War (henceforth "Cold War"). The Cold War was a major political conflict between Volscina and Tretrid, one which only escalated further as both nations expanded their influence and political power, eventually resulting in a nuclear arms race. The Cold War is commonly agreed to have ended in Tretridian favor in 2002, when the Volscine Civil War broke out. Since the end of the three-year conflict, Volscina has reinstated Imperial rule, the new government claiming the heritage of the first Volscine Empire.

Today, Volscina is a Confederal Elective Monarchy led by an emperor or empress, who serves as the head of the Imperial Diet, which itself is populated by the leaders of the constituent nations that make up the Empire. The capital is Cadrigrano, and its major financial and population centers are Mazarona, Amorecci, Tramonto, Acaimo, and Videnza.

Volscina is a rising regional power with a robust but damaged economy, still in recovery from the damages wrought by the civil war. It is heavily developed and industrialized, and is a large producer of metals, foodstuffs, and automobiles. Volscina is known for its beautiful landscapes, historic cities, and many castles, making it one of the largest tourist destinations in Novaris.

Etymology

The most commonly held theory for the name Volscina states that it originates from the Old Dallacquan word 'volo' ("I want") and came into use because the Asciec Peninsula was known as the "Desired Land" to medieval Dallacqua.

Demographics

Religion

In the modern day, Volscina is majority Ademarist, though sizable parts of the population declare themselves as Lucerist or irreligious. Religious practice is and has historically been protected by the state, either by the crown under the Volscine Empire or by the constitution under the Volscine Confederation.

Since well before the establishment of the first Volscine Empire, the Asciec Peninsula and surrounding regions followed the Luceric faith, an ancient and developed form of monotheistic sun worship, in which the sun is revered as the sole deity.

Government and Politics

Internal Politics

Imperial Princes

The Volscine Empire is not one nation, but a centralized confederation of hundreds of smaller states, each led by a noble house or elected leader. Many current constituencies date back to the nation's conception in the thirteenth century, but some are recently established, notably including a number of states created or released during the Volscine Civil War.

Culture

Fashion and Design

Popular throughout Novaris and the rest of the world, Volscine fashion has a long-standing tradition of innovation, fueled by the textile industry of Volscina. The main fashion capitals of the Volscine Empire are Cadrigrano, Tramonto, Videnza, and Acaimo, with Cadrigrano generally regarded as the most influential, both historically and in the modern day. Volscine fashion companies are viewed as desirable luxury brands worldwide, and have amassed significant popularity, even outside of Novaris. Some notable examples of Volscine fashion labels include Acardi, Vici, Setagrano, Moseri, Passi & Bellardi, San Durante, and Fusco, to name a few. Additionally, Volscine jewelry proves a popular part of the fashion industry, notable jewelers such as Perin, Primato, and Grande Gioie supplying the demand for jewels and jewelry domestically and internationally. Volscine fashion mixes tradition and innovation, re-popularizing historical trends while also encouraging creative fashion and young design talent.

History of Fashion

Volscina has historically been a crossroads for merchant ships, many of which came bearing dyes, silks, and fine cloths. Major ports along the Asciec Channel were especially involved in the trade of luxury goods, notably the city of Cadrigrano, capital of the nation of the same name, and modern Imperial capital of the Volscine Empire. Cadrigrano not only imported and processed the goods required to produce and export attire for the affluent and influential in medieval Novaris, the city and its surrounding farmlands produced both cloth and silk, the latter of which was introduced by Sayqidi merchants in the late twelfth century.

The Volscine Renaissance was a period of prosperity and invention, and that extended to the fashion of the region. As average wealth increased, a wider class of merchants emerged between the peasantry and the nobility, sparking massively increased demands for colored silks and cloths. Companies that still exist to the modern day such as Acardi and San Durante were originally founded in the fifteenth century to meet the demand for luxury clothing. Vibrant colors, wide-brimmed hats, and flared clothing defined the style at the time, creating some of the most iconic and exuberant examples of dress for the Volscine merchant class. This style somewhat extended to the nobility as well, though historical texts and depictions seem to indicate they favored subdued colors of silk mixed with gold and silver, a clearer indication of wealth. Another detail of note for the time is ornamental weaponry, which most often came in the form of gilded and engraved daggers in ornately decorated sheaths, but also extended to larger bladed swords and even some early pistols.

As the expansion of the merchant class expanded the fashion economy threefold, the establishment and enrichment of the middle class in the 18th century saw it grow tenfold, millions of families and individuals suddenly able to afford previously unattainable clothing. Coinciding with lowered prices from factory production of cloth, this 'Second Fashion Renaissance' popularized colorful suits and gowns throughout Volscina, often accompanied by visible but subdued displays of wealth in the form of jewelry, most commonly earrings and necklaces. Heraldic sashes and badges also became widespread as the concept of heraldry spread to encompass anyone who could afford to commission a coat of arms for their family, and not simply the noble class. These were waist or shoulder-to-waist strung sashes in the heraldic colors of the wearer, often accompanied by a small shield-shaped badge worn on the left side of the breast. This practice is suspected to be drawn from the tilt shields of Volscine knights, which at the time had recently seen a resurgence in popularity.

The end of the old Volscine Empire following the Great War came with a change in popular fashion, more conventional Novaran suits and dresses partially supplanting the traditional clothing of Volscina. That isn’t to say Volscine fashion was replaced, however, it simply adapted to the clothing of its time, making it its own. Clothing from this era drew inspiration from Aponivia and Tretrid as trade re-opened between the previously warring nations.

Knightly Attire

An important but oft-overlooked piece of Volscine fashion that remains relevant in modern culture is that of knightly clothing, both that of war attire and dress attire. Since the thirteenth century, fashion in armor has been almost as important as the quality of the armor itself, elegantly fluted or engraved plate indicating a knight’s relative power or influence under their lord or within their order. Brightly colored of cloth came into play alongside metal in the form of rich cloaks and the back banners sometimes born into battle, thin poles of hollowed wood mounted to the back of a knight’s chestplate so that all could see their heraldry. Brigandine, covered plate, fur collars, and full tabards also served to enhance a knight’s presence. Some notable examples of historical knightly fashion include the Paladins of the Knights of the Sun (Volscine Norvian: I Cavalieri Solari]], who wore robes of gold and white alongside scarlet cloaks, the symbol of the sun mounted in gold above their helmets like a halo, attached to the back in a similar method to back banners, as well as the Knights Vuoto, black tabards and cloaks lined with silver and white culminating in striking helmet plumes. Infamously, the Sable Dragoons of the Knights Vuoto mounted large forward-curved wings on their backs, serving both to intimidate their enemies and to show their dedication to the sun goddess Lucera

Today, knightly dress draws on inspiration from various periods in history, and combines them with the sensibilities of modern fashion. Dress attire is typically not dissimilar to the dress uniforms of national militaries, albeit with the inclusion of partial plate armor. Sashes, brocades, tilt shields, cloaks, and medallions are all common additions to knightly dress, typically in relation to certain orders, honors, or ranks of service. While not strictly knighted, this often extends to the Condottieri, who wear partial plate for more formal dress functions.

Modern Fashion

Contemporary fashion in Volscina is a blend of chique, innovative design and traditional techniques of silk and cloth work, blending smoothly together to form a distinctive style. Common casual Volscine clothing includes short sleeved shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, and shorter dresses, without many layers. The Volscine climate is warm throughout most of the year, and as such the most popular styles and designs are those comfortable to wear even on a hot summer day.

Regional styles are most prevalent in the north, the mountains, and by the coast, where styles adapt to fit the setting. The more temperate temperatures in northern Volscina make light coats and flannels a common sight, even more so in the much colder heights of the Virennic Mountains. By the coast one can observe the extensive Volscine swimsuit industry, as well as stylish sunglasses made by popular brands such as Ombra and Russo-Zanetti.