Aresian Recluse

The Aresian Recluse is a minor nation, situated within the Huángjīn Floodplain, in the Federal Province of Mediolama. It is a semi-democratic stratocracy, led by a military council and overseen by the elected President-General. The state was founded in 43 PC, when the inhabitants of the region rose up against the People's Republic of Lordania, taking part in the Great Revolution. While Aresians made up the dominant culture of the Tersten State, they were still treated as poorly as the rest of the population, breeding a resentment against the ruling classes by the people they had brought to the world. After the Great Revolution, they handed over any surviving Unitarian leaders over to the newly founded Republic of Tersten, and proceeded to declare their neutrality and independence over the Huángjīn area. This state of affairs has remained static since then, with a whole new generation of people growing up distrustful of outsiders and content to remain isolated from the rest of Tersten.

Politics

The current President-General is Hulian Jaiḏzaw, one of the few remaining 'Old Guard', who took part in the Great Revolution. Surrounding him is the new generation of thinkers and planners. The state is organised around its military, known as the 'Civil Defence Force', with military service required for participation in democratic or civil institutions. Unlike the modern Aresians, the Recluse has retained its military heritage, often putting it at odds with the Lordanian tourists from New Ares who come to look at their 'weird backwards cousins stuck in the past'.
The Recluse has no formal diplomatic ties with any nations on Tersten, with the exception of paying lip-service to the Republic of Tersten. In recent years, owing to the decline of Republican power, the Recluse has been paying attention to the affairs of the planet, hoping to use any developing situations to further their isolationist desires.

Map of the Aresian Recluse

Economy

Economically, the Huángjīn Floodplain is situated on a reserve of natural gas, which provides the backbone of the Recluse's economy. It is closely followed by forestry, with the mangroves and wetlands providing vast quantities of tropical wood. While the Recluse is geopolitically isolationist, it is not adverse to trading with its neighbours for what it needs, operating on a policy of 'Limited Contact', often choosing to forgo hard-fought negotiations in trade deals, accepting the first acceptable offer to make the rest go away. While some confuse this policy with a limited understanding of trade, the Recluse is notoriously exclusive, and very easy to annoy. They are seen as reasonably trustworthy in the eyes of the global community, but a nation that will put its own isolation over all others. It has adopted a state capitalist approach, with major organisations and corporations owned by the Recluse handling most public sectors, such as transport and health.

Culture

Culturally, the Recluse has limited free speech, with media being owned by the state. Independent media is shunned, though not outright banned. Its leading policies tend towards Conservatism, and one of 'Keeping Calm and Carrying On'. They are considered the modern embodiment of the 'stiff upper lip', being taught not to complain or make a fuss. Despite a largely right-wing bias, the Recluse has modern civil rights laws, protecting inherent human rights, and recognising both Aresians and other Tersteners as equal. They tend to be supportive of each other, and inter-Aresian discrimination is rare. However, discrimination against non-Aresians is common, with officials often looking the other way, or simply shrugging it off as the natural state. Of course, as with every generational shift, the youth of the Recluse are divided on these isues, with some leaning towards pro-isolation, and others anti-isolation. While discorse between the two groups remains civil, there are extremist factions of both isolationists attempting to make their voices heard. Political Parties consist mostly of very moderate parties, largely catch-all parties of 'Urban' and 'Rural' classes.

World Map of Tersten

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A map of Tersten, showing all major locations.

Flag of the Aresian Recluse

Founding Date

43

Type

Geopolitical, Stratocracy

Capital

Little Terra

Demonym

Aresian

Head of State

Hulian Jaiḏzaw

Government System

Stratocracy

Power Structure

Unitary state

Economic System

Command/Planned economy

Parent Organization

Republic of Tersten

Location

Huángjīn Floodplain

Official Languages

• Aresii

Controlled Territories

• Goose
• Huángjīn Floodplain

Neighboring Nations

• Republic of the Humble Servants of God

Notable Members

• Hulian Jaiḏzaw

Related Ethnicities

• Areso-Terstener
• Upper Lordanian

Major Settlements

The Capital City is Little Terra, built in the floodplains and elevated above the water level by a series of canals. It is said to be a beautiful city of many waterways, with buildings built up and over them. It is from the Hall of the Great Sword that the President-General and their cabinet rule, with an elevated view of the city. The Hall is visible from all points of the city, designed to be the central landmark from with all navigation is done. It is often the first thing a visitor sees when arriving via boat.
The town of Goose is located near the border of Big Basin It is used by the Recluse as a border town, where all visitors upstream are subject to passport and document checks, before either being permitted to travel upstream, or forced to return downstream. Despite many calling this a heavy-handed approach, the Recluse has done its best to prevent any diplomatic incidents that would cause problems. The town itself is relatively minor, with some hotels and bars near the docks for new arrivals that make it past the Recluse's strict security.