Cerunea
Cerunea is an ancient nation, arguably the cradle of civilisation on the continent. Its philosophers were revered across the southern coast, their teachings travelling as far away as distant Beuland and Raskan, while the tales of its armies and heroes live on in legend and ballads, most notably the epic tales of the Ortorgian wars.
Modern Cerunea however is a sad affair, a fallen power unable to recapture its past glories or forget them. The princes who purportedly rule the major islands rarely visit them, like absentee landlords busy politicking on the mainland while their palaces crumble and their people descend into squallor. The philosophers now nitpick and argue about the works of their predecessors, and the army and navy spend their time levying "taxes" on passing traders and fighting pirates.
Structure
Cerunea is a herditary monarchy with the major islands each ruled by a prince. These principalities are also often heritary, though the king can reassign them if he wishes.
Culture
Cerunea is the birthplace of culture, and gave the world drama, rhetoric, sculpture and philosophy. It was the nation that other nations sought to emulate, the benchmark of civilisation. Time and decadence have alas taken their toll, and now Cerunia has become a fallen empire, lost in past glories. It is looked on by others with a mixture of pity and wonder, and among the lower classes has become a byword for laziness.
Public Agenda
The public agenda of Cerunea remains "To bring the light of knowledge and reason to the world". Once this was true, now it is something of a sad joke.
Assets
A viable but dissorganised military and navy. Much of the nations wealth lies in the hands of private individuals, and a tangled beuracracy has proved ineffective at collecting taxes.
History
Cerunea originally existed a group of warring island nations. They shared a common religion and culture but competed militarily and philosophically. Nautical trade formed a fundamental part of their wealth, and brought not only riches but competing ideas.
In time, and after many brutal wars, the islands became united under a single king, Agnamon the Great. In addition to uniting the island nations Agnamon also pacified the barbaric tribes of the coast, expanding Cerunea onto the mainland. Trade flourished and Cerunea grew into a prospoerous and admired nation, famed for its brilliant thinkers and heroic tales.
In the end the fame and prosperity of Cerunea became its undoing. While other nations sought to copy its glories, and rose in greatness in their own right, Cerunea sank into decadence and idlenes. Petty squables consumed the nobles and philosophers, and without true leadership corruption began to eat away at the military. Those who came to visit the the land left in dissappointment, and erunias reputation tarnished. Eventually, the rise of the empire of Cardenna as the new power on the continent brought about the end of Cerunea's greatness.
Demography and Population
The upper classes consist of nobles, philosophers, senior military figures and some merchants, and make up around 5% of the population. A middle class of artisans, scholars, mid ranking officers and less successful merchants account for another 15% of the poulation, while the reamining 80% are peasant farmers, fisherman, soldiers, miners or other menial labourers.
The great majority of the population are human. Elves and dwarves are very rare.
Territories
A large number of islands of varying size, plus coastline on the mainland.
Military
Each prince controls seperate armies of varying sizes and discipline and the palace controls a number of additional armies. There is little communication between seerate forces, and little strategic oversight. Likewise naval forces are split between the islands, and small internal conflicts often flare up.
Technological Level
While the presence of multiple philosophers has led to much free thought and experimentation the overall idleness of the nation means that it goes largely unapplied. It is not unheard of to find some miraculous wonder of science ina backwater town doing nothing more useful that bringning water to the town square or relaying post to the palace.
Religion
Cerunia is the origin of a large and well known pantheon of gods, called simply the Cerunian gods. Zeus is the leader of the gods and ruler of the skies, other include his wife Hera, Ares god of war, Athena goddess of wisdom, Nike goddess of victory, Hermes the messenger, Hepahstus the smith, Apollo the prophet, Diana the huntress, Mammon god of coin, Bachus god of revels, and many more.
Foreign Relations
Foreign relations are badly managed by the Cerunian goverment but they are essentially at peace with all other nations, and trade most heavily with the Empire and the Spiteful Kingdoms.
Agriculture & Industry
Most of the islands are farmable and the people grow vegetables and herd goats. Fishing is plentiful. Some islands offer minerals but most of these have now been mined clean over Cerunia's long history, though there are still active mines on the mainland.
Trade & Transport
Transport and trade by boat is excellent, and Cerunia still retains some of the best harbours in the world, though they are no longer the busiest. Travel by road is harder and the roads are ill maintained, though largely safe.
Education
As the nation credited with the development and promotion of philosophy, one area where Cerunia does excel is education. The children of the rich have access to tuition from multiple gifted scholars, but for aspiring philospohers it is considered a vital part of their training to hold court at the local town square or market and educate any and all children, or indeed adults, that wish to turn up. It is therefore not uncommon for Cerunians to have a good knowledge of history and politics, a fair understanding of mathematics, and to speak multiple languages.
Reason conquers all foes
Founding Date
Around -1000 AC
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Cerunian
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Economic System
Palace economy
Currency
Drachma
Major Exports
Antiquities and philosophy.
Major Imports
Cerunia has alsways been a major importer of wood, and trees are sparse on the islands.
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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