Cryria
| This page (or section) is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
Kingdom of Cryria | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
Motto: God, Queen, Fatherland | |
Anthem: Du Gamla, du Fria | |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Leidenstad |
| Official languages | Cryrian |
| Demonym(s) | Cryrian |
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy |
• Queen | Ulrika II |
• Prime Minister | Stur Lundberg |
| Legislature | The Riksdag |
| Unification | |
• Declared | Early 12th Century |
| Area | |
• Total | 610,874 km2 (235,860 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 35,000,000 |
• Density | 57.4/km2 (148.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | $1.4 trillion |
• Per capita | $40,000 |
| Currency | Krona |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | 444 |
| Internet TLD | .cry |
Cryria, officially the Kingdom of Cryria, is an archipelagic nation in northwest Novaris. It is located nearest to the Infinite Loop to the northwest, and Varleuteiche and Arkalarius to the south. Cryria's coastlines run along the Keigan Sea in the west and the Arkian Sea to the south. It has a population of 35 million people, and its capital and largest population center is the city of Leidenstad.
History
The first inhabitants of the Cryrian islands were a variety of elven groups, who slowly grew to establish a patchwork of kingdoms and chiefdoms across the main island. However, the broken geography of the Cryrian Isles stunted their development, and no unified state or identity was formed among the elves eventually. Humans initially migrated eastwards to Cryria from the continent of Yasteria, with the very first settlements founded on the westernmost islands. Led by the legendary King Magnus, it is said that humans eventually settled along the river Leiden, named after Magnus' flagship. It is there that the City of Leidenstad was founded, built around the famed vessel. Over the following centuries, the increasingly numerous and technologically advanced human populace would gradually conquer and displace the native elves, and in the early 12th century the Cryrians had come to control their present territory. The feudal system which had sprung up across the isles would increasingly begin to centralize itself around the House of Leidensen, which claimed descent from Magnus. Thus, the Kingdom of Cryria was proclaimed.
Geography, Wildlife, and Climate
Cryria consists of a total of five main islands and many smaller ones, but its central island is by far the largest and most populated. Its coastline is filled with large fjords, bays, and peninsulas. The majority of the country lies between 45° and 60° North. Much of the population lives along the country's jagged coasts, and the interior of the main island is filled with rivers, mountains, valleys and forests. The main exception to this rule is the nation's second largest island, Talvere, which is notable for its flatlands. The highest point in Cryria is Mount St. Inge, at 3,781 meters.
Waterways
The river Leiden flows through the capital of Leidenstad, which itself lies upon the large Kongsbukta Bay.
Flora
The nation's vast primordial forests have been much reduced by logging and industrialization, however they remain significant. The countryside near the capital of Leidenstad boast's the Kankaanvesi, the remains of the oldest forest on the Cryrian Isles, which stretches over some 3,000 square kilometers.
Fauna
A number of notable species on the Isles, including snow tigers, the Cryrian Bear, and the Cryrian Bison, saw themselves become increasingly endangered throughout the 19th and 20th century as they suffered from hunting and habitat loss. However, strong state protections have seen their numbers begin to rise again.
Politics
Government
Cryria is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Ulrika II as its head of state. While both the monarchy and the aristocracy retain significant powers and influence, much of the day to day affairs of state are handled by the Prime Minister. The Riksdag serves as a bicameral parliament, with the Upper Chamber, the Första Kammaren, controlled by members of the old nobility, and the Lower Chamber, or the Andra Kammaren for the commons. The position of Prime Minister is typically held by the person most able to command the confidence of the commons, usually the leader of the party with the most seats. The current Prime Minister is Stur Lundberg of the Social Democrats. Individuals selected as Prime Minister are also traditionally granted the title of Lord Protector of the Realm, in effect making them a part of the nobility for the duration of their service, and thus ensuring that they can command the appropriate respect from the aristocracy.
General elections for the 349 seats in the Andra Kammaren are held every four years. Of these, 310 are fixed constituency seats, while the remainder function as leveling seats. Seats in the Första Kammaren on the other hand, are held by the nobility, though not everyone with a recognized noble title has a seat. Seats and titles alike can be granted or removed at the monarch's discretion, though naturally there are strong traditions of both being passed down from generation to generation in certain families. Notable officials and other persons might be occasionally rewarded with a knighthood and a seat as well, though knighthoods are not inheritable. The Clergy also receives representation in the Upper Chamber, though as the formal head of the Cryrian Church, the monarch can once again grant or remove such seats.
Much of the actual legislative power is held by the Andra Kammaren, however, the unelected Första Kammaren retains significant administrative influence, as well as the ability to review and delay legislation as well as outright veto pieces of secondary legislation.
The Monarch serves as the formal head of state, head of church, and commander in chief of Cryria. Oaths of allegiance are made to the sitting Monarch. They have the ability to confirm or reject appointments, dissolve the Riksdag, dismiss the Government, grant pardons, and grant or delay royal assent to legislation. The monarch also has the right to bring legislation before the Riksdag. However, all of these powers are, by convention, used sparingly, and often only with the support of the Prime Minister. The royal family also owns the vast Crown Estates, the largest collection of lands and holdings in the Kingdom. The Estates range from various urban properties to agricultural lands, forests, waterways, and various other holdings. Much of the incomes from these estates are voluntarily directed to the Government, however, they give the monarchy considerable financial power. A number of protected lands and national parks have also been established on the Crown Estates by various monarchs.
The Government is headquartered at Karsholm Palace, located on an islet within the city of Leidenstad. The Riksdag meets at the Palace of Glass, thus named for the many windows installed in a literal display of transparency for the people. There are a number of royal residences around the nation, but the primary one is Leidenstad Castle, located in the hills overlooking the city. An unassuming residence within the city is also provided to the Prime Minister.
Political Parties
| Name | Ideology | Lower Chamber Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Cryrian Social Democratic Party | Social Democracy | 129 |
| Cryrian Conservative Party | Neoliberalism | 95 |
| Cryrian National Party | Social Conservativism, Nationalism | 55 |
| Cryrian Green Party | Green Politics | 40 |
| The Red Hundred | Religious Conservativism, Monarchism | 29 |
| The Talvere Society | Aristocratism | 1 |
Foreign Policy
Cryria's foreign policy is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presently headed by Count Erland Maravel. The country has historically operated on the uncodified principal of armed neutrality, and has thus played little part in many of the wider conflicts on Urth. The Foreign Ministry is often considered to be a bastion of the nobility, with much of its top personnel dominated by individuals from aristocratic families.
Military
The three main branches of the Cryrian Military are the Cryrian Army, the Royal Cryrian Air Force, and the Royal Cryrian Navy. The Cryrian Military is heavily supported by domestic industry,
Due to Cryria's relatively small population and tendency to avoid joining larger power blocs, the nation has historically used a combination of well trained professional soldiers alongside widespread conscription to boost its numbers in wartime and gain access to specialized skillsets among the civilian population. Most Cryrian men and women, barring various exemptions and alternative service options, are drafted at the age of 18, and serve for two years before being cycled back out into the reserves. Reservists are liable for up to 30 days of service a year during peacetime, theoretically as late as age 40. Those who have served at least 20 days in a three year span are considered to be a part of the Active Reserves. This low requirement can lead to a misleadingly large number of reservists on paper, in practice, however, much of the Active Reserve is considered unfit for combat. Rather, the Active Reserves offer a large pool of easily accessible manpower to fill out support roles and provide specialized skills in the event of serious emergencies. The concept of National Service in general remains popular in Cryria, and it is seen as a uniting force within a nation which has been built on successive waves of immigration. However, younger generations increasingly look to alternatives to conscription to fulfill the National Service requirement, and as such the Cryrian military finds itself increasingly relying on its professional forces with conscripts ever more relegated to supporting roles. Conscription, and National Service in general, continues to play an important role in the nation's Total Defense doctrine, which seeks to build the societal resolve and cohesion to counter hybrid threats that go beyond the military sphere.
The Cryrian Military presently has a total of 263,957 professional personnel, 403,815 active conscripts, and 1,831,945 active reservists. The development of this force has been heavily influenced by Article 6 of the Cryrian Constitution, which prohibits the deployment of Cryrian conscripts outside of Cryrian soil. As such, the Cryrian military emphasizes the defensive and deterrence aspects of its missions. As such, Cryrian doctrines are heavily focused around fighting conventional but asymmetric wars to preserve Cryrian independence against potentially more powerful aggressors. Built in redundancies and hardened bases and shelters to preserve military assets are a common theme, and the civilian sphere is touched by this as well - for instance, the national highway network is built to act as backup runways for the air force. Article 6 has also led the Cryrian government to utilize mercenaries, both for expeditionary purposes and to acquire combat experienced soldiers.
The most famous of these groups forms the Cryrian Foreign Legion, a division strength unit which makes use of both professional Cryrian officers and non-citizen troops. The Foreign Legion is known for containing large numbers of Ethalrians and Ethalrian-descended soldiers, and has been enshrined in popular culture as an effective but often disreputable unit which asks few questions about a soldier's past and offers a clean slate to all. The Foreign Legion, along with all other mercenary units, are entirely based on the island of Trauer.
Due to extensive investment in civilian nuclear energy and expertise and access to the necessary materials, Cryria has developed an unofficial policy of nuclear latency. Suggestions that the Kingdom has assembled weapons of mass destruction are denied.
| Name | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Stridsvagn 122(Main Battle Tank) | 468 |
| Combat Vehicle 90(Infantry Fighting Vehicle) | 966 |
| Patria AMV(Armored Personnel Carrier) | 2,643 |
| Bv 410(Armored Personnel Carrier) | 5,471 |
| Archer(Self-Propelled Artillery) | 317 |
| AMOS(Self-Propelled Mortar) | 86 |
| A09 MLRS | 87 |
| 155 GH 52 APU(Towed Artillery) | 627 |
| 130 K 54(Towed Artillery) | 201 |
| 130 53 TK(Fixed Artillery) | 83 |
| ITPSV 90(SPAAG) | 7 |
| 35 Itk 88(Towed AA Gun) | 1,061 |
| Multi-Shield 100(Short Range SAM) | 220 |
| NASAMS 3(Medium Range SAM) | 84 |
| Luftvärnssystem 103(Long Range SAM) | 48 |
| Luftvärnssystem 104(Long Range SAM) | 6 |
| Naval Strike Missile(Truck-Based Coastal Defense Missile) | 54 |
| Various other logistics, support, EW, reconnaissance, command and control, etc. |
| Name | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Saab JAS 39NG Gripen(Multirole Fighter) | 380 |
| Saab JAS 40 Skvader(Stealth Multirole Fighter) | 86 |
| JAS 39D Gripen(Trainer Aircraft) | 162 |
| Mil-60(Multirole Helicopter) | 114 |
| Saab UAV-1(UCAV) | 134 |
| Various other logistics, support, reconnaissance, EW, command and control, etc. |
The RCRAF also operates the nation's network of over-the-horizon radars, as well as the Royal Cryrian Space Agency.
| Name | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Endurance-Class Landing Platform Dock | 4 |
| Kraken-Class Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine | 14 |
| Leiden-Class Frigate | 17 |
| Skjold-Class Corvette | 9 |
| Hamina-Class Missile Boat | 8 |
| Hämeenmaa-class minelayer | 5 |
| Oksøy-class mine hunter | 27 |
| Tapper-Class Patrol Boat | 74 |
| Jehu-Class Fast Assault Craft | 339 |
| Fristad-Class Hospital Ship | 3 |
| Mil-60(Multirole Helicopter) | 17 |
| Saab 19(Maritime Patrol Aircraft) | 11 |
| Various other logistics, support, reconnaissance, EW, command and control, etc. |
The RCRN also operates a Sound Surveillance System network to monitor Cryria's considerable surrounding waters. Magnusholm Naval Base is the largest RCRN naval facility, and is located on an islet just off the coast of Leidenstad. Connected to the mainland by underwater tunnel, it is a massive underground base designed to host the submarines and small surface combatants of the Cryrian fleet, with miles of tunnels containing command centers, support facilities, and barracks for the Naval Infantry. The RCRN also maintains similarly constructed bases around the country, as well as a large presence at Joint Base Trollesund, located near Tarva.
Crime and Law Enforcement
Most day to day civil law enforcement is handled under the umbrella of the National Police, while the Säkerhetspolisen serves as a specialized domestic intelligence agency handling counter-espionage and anti-terrorism activities. There are some overlaps between the remits of the two organizations. In addition to normal policing activities, the National Police also operates the National Task Force, a police tactical unit for high risk situations. The State Protection Service provides security for high level government officials, visiting dignitaries, and government buildings, however, the royal family is protected by the Royal Guard, a fully functional Cryrian Army infantry brigade consisting of 6,000 soldiers.
The Cryrian Coast Guard is considered to be a civilian maritime law enforcement arm, however it is unique in that it effectively exists under the control of the RCRN and in times of crisis would be formally merged into the military.
The highest punishment in Cryria is a life sentence, which is of indeterminate length. Capital punishment has been outlawed in civilian contexts, though it can still be used under the nation's Military Justice System.
Euthanasia is banned in Cryria, and while homosexuality is not criminalized, same-sex unions are not recognized as valid under the law. Abortion is legal in the event of danger to the mother, however, this statue has been interpreted increasingly broadly, allowing for widespread abortion access.
Economy
The Cryrian economy boasts a GDP of 1.4 trillion. Initially built off the export of raw materials including lumber, coal, petroleum, uranium, and other extraction activities, the nation has grown to develop a strong technological and manufacturing base, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries. The Cryrian financial sector is notable mostly for the high levels of confidentiality it offers to its clients.
Energy
While Cryria continues to be an important fossil fuel exporter, domestically it has increasingly begun to move towards more sustainable forms of energy, with considerable government investments in renewables. The country is well suited for the implementation of hydropower, due to its many fjords and rivers. Nuclear power also plays a major role, and has led to the nation's nuclear latency doctrine which has seen the creation of a considerable reserve of nuclear material. Wind and wave power have also begun to play larger roles in the Cryrian energy market. The country also makes heavy use of biofuels, driven by its large forestry sector. Biofuels especially play a large role in the lives of everyday citizens, with all fuel stations offering it as an option and flexible fuel vehicles being quite common. It is the stated aim of the Cryrian government to fully transition to fossil fuel-free traffic by 2030.
Demographics
Much of Cryria consists of the descendants of ethnically Asendavian migrants, however, the nation's increasingly welcoming nature and aloofness from foreign conflict since the 20th century have served to turn it into a safe haven that has experienced new waves of migration, most notably from Ethalria when that nation fell. Even so, Cryria remains almost entirely populated by humans in the present day. Most of the Cryrian population is concentrated along the coasts or in fertile river valleys further inland.
Language
The official language of Cryria is Cryrian, an Asendavian offshoot which remains mutually intelligible with other Asendavian dialects despite Ethalrian influences.
Religion
The Cryrian Church of Ademar serves as the nation's primary and official religion, with roughly 70% of Cryrians considering themselves to be practicing members. The Cryrian Church is formally headed by the Monarch, and certain members of the clergy are given seats on the Första Kammaren and other privileges' as if they were equal to the nobility. This has allowed the Church to retain a measure of political power in modern Cryria, which it has most notably used to oppose euthanasia and the official recognition of same sex couples, and the institution has generally served as a bastion of social conservativism.
The Cryrian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and other religions are practiced on a smaller scale, most notably Vaerism, which was brought by Ethalrian migrants, as well as a form of paganism held to by the last few Cryrian elves.
Culture
Cuisine
Cryria is home to a number of breweries and vineyards, with Akvavit and various wines being a popular drink during special occasions. The government holds a monopoly on the sale of strong liquors outside of restaurants and bars, and a Church-supported temperance movement during the 19th century lead to the minimum drinking age being set at 18. Foreign alcohol brands are popular within the country, whose own alcohol never gained any international fame.
Cinema
Cryria has a small film industry, however, it remains quite niche and focused on domestic audiences.
Media
The government funded Cryrian News Network is the largest and oldest media network in Cryria, and operates over both radio and television.