Asteria

Asteria, officially the Republic of Asteria, is a country in Crona. It is neighbored by Alstin and Tierrador. The borders of Asteria have traditionally been the Northern Plateau to the north and east, Saint Thomas River to the west, called the Gamboa River in Alstin, and the Rees Hills and Blue River to the east. With the Sea of Orixtal to the south, trade flows into the extensive Western Sound.

Asteria is a member of the League of Nations.

Etymology
The name of the country now known as Asteria has gone through many variations, all with different origins going back to the original Winnecom settlers long before the Atemeraw settled in the area. The name of Asteria itself originated from Paul Aster, the Ænglish explorer whose expedition from 1387 to 1389 mapped out much of Crona. John Harrison, leader of the Ænglish refugees who wished to settle in the Atemeraw-dominated regions of Crona, named the land West Asteria, the assumption being that Paulastra constituted the eastern regions Aster explored, or East Asteria. The surname Aster itself was originally of a Germanic nature, meaning Goshawk, a type of hawk. By the time that Harrison's colonies merged into West Asteria in 1775, the term was already out of date to most residents, who merely called themselves Asterians. The establishment of an independent republic in 1836 saw the "West" dropped from the name, with Asteria now being the sole name of the country. Many Asterians refer to the country by its name, or simply as the Republic, or even the Asteria Republic.

However, the indigenous people had their own name for the lands that now constitute Asteria. The Winnecom called their land Paumanok, meaning "Land of Tribute" as the Winnecom often used their resources to pay off would-be conquerors. The Atemeraw later conquered the Winnecom, and adopted the name Winnecomac to represent their new lands, partly in honor of the conquered people, but also to mean "Pleasant Land" to describe the coastal regions. However, the Atemeraw often referred to their government as Atemeraw Confederacy, which was established in 1447. Following contact with Paul Aster's expedition, some Atemeraw had been evangelized after his arrival, and briefly called their land New Canaan, consisting of much of the Lower Counties. Some Christians still call this region by that name.

The arrival of John Harrison saw the creation of three new colonies. Milsboro Colony was named for Harrison's home in Levantia, which he believed would be an idyllic home for the Ænglish to settle. Thomas Rees helped create Yarmouth Colony, named for his ancestral Levantine county. Another colony would be named for him, Rees Colony, which would later become the Lower Counties. Colloquially these colonies were called West Asteria, but a more common name developed, Harrisonia, in honor of the founder of the Midlands Company. However, the company disapproved of this, and by the early-1700s West Asteria remained as the name for the colonies until consolidation under Faneria in 1775. Some radical supporters of Harrison, meanwhile, founded a smaller colony inland and called it New Jerusalem, after his theological belief of creating a paradise in this world. It never took off, but the region still bears that name.

Pre-Settlement Asteria (Pre-1627)
The Atemeraw peoples had inhabited Asteria for nearly a thousand years prior to the settlement of Milsboro. According to Atemeraw tradition, they had originally resided in a northern climate, but were pushed south by a violent tribal society that swept into their original homeland. Varshanologists now believe that it was Varshan who forced the exile of the Atemeraw. Largely settling along the Yare River and the Western Sound, the Atemeraw subsisted on basic agricultural products as well as fishing. In 1389, Paul Aster made contact with the Cuyahoga, a coastal peoples who were Atemeraw. Although contact was peaceful, Arketa, Sachem of the Cuyahoga, believed that the Levantine would return with ships and soldiers. Over the next fifty years, Arketa conquered the disparate Atemeraw peoples, and in 1447 created the Atemeraw Confederacy with a central government and written constitution.

Colonization and Expansion (1627-1775)
Following the Nordmontaine War and the Great Confessional War from 1543 to 1575, the Levantine Protestant movement was nearly eradicated. In massive numbers, Ænglish refugees marched north. One of the leaders was John Harrison, a petty noble who survived the destruction of the Anglasworc, read of John Aster's expedition to Crona. Fleeing to Faneria, Harrison founded the Midlands Company, the goal being to resettle in Crona with faithful Protestants, especially those supporting the Ænglish Church. However, he disagreed with Alstanus Ryefield on multiple theological issues, including the idea of monarchy. After decades of building support, the Midlands Company on April 12, 1627, founded the Milsboro Colony. During the next five decades, the Midlands Company launched new expeditions across what they called West Asteria, a name that would remain a constant through most of Asteria's early history. Protestants in Faneria were told tales of New Jerusalem, a Harrisonian doctrine of building a society to be as close to the afterlife as possible. New settlements were built along the coast, relations with the Atemeraw peoples being warm. The Midlands Company signed the First Milsboro Accord in 1633, granting the company all coastal lands not in use by the Atemeraw. Yarmouth was founded at the end of the Western Sound, while company navigators explored much of the interior with Atemeraw guides. Yarmouth Colony was officially founded in 1655 by Thomas Rees and Kathryn Wright. Due to Rees' belief in creating a New Jerusalem in Crona, he launched expeditions along the river into Atemeraw lands. When a missionary was killed in 1672, the Yare War was launched. Colonial militias marched into Atemeraw lands, destroying everything in their path.

The Yare War expanded settlement. With relations between the Ænglish settlers and the Atemeraw broken, the Midlands Company sent out the Proclamation of 1677, the fiftieth anniversary of Milsboro. Expansion was now law, and local militias began to push into the interior. The Atemeraw pulled back as the colonists advanced north over the following decades. Finally, after decades of growth, the Atemeraw, ever patient, finally resisted. The Kidnapping of Saoirse Kelly on December 5, 1763, saw Kele, Sachem of the Atemeraw, invade Yarmouth with a small war party. Seizing the daughter of John Kelly, Governor of Yarmouth, Kele married her in an impromptu ceremony, and converted her to the Ænglish Rite. Kelly was nominated by Faneria as governor, a prelude to that nation purchasing the Midlands Company. A member of the Catholic Church, he demanded assistance from Faneria. Kelly's War lasted twelve years, and saw the victory of the Atemeraw, allied with anti-Catholic Ænglish settlers. Faneria on July 2, 1775, seized the offices of the Midlands Company and annexed their colonies. Milsboro, Yarmouth, and other settlements were merged into the Colony of West Asteria.

Faneria and Dominion (1775-1829)
Although the consolidation of West Asteria was immensely popular, it set the stage for eventual independence. For the remaining decades of the eighteenth century, a common Asterian identity developed. Unique styles of music were established in the Northern Plateau. Yarmouth became the capital of West Asteria in 1789 after it had been in Milsboro. The other former colonies, fearing Yarmouth would dominate them, petitioned their colonial masters to create a new city on the interior. The Royal Charter of 1797 formally created Concordia, which was located on the interior along the Yare River. The population of West Asteria grew rapidly during this time from a little under a million in 1775 to three million by 1805. Ethnic and religious tensions continued, however, with multiple raids and pogroms between the Ænglish, Atemeraw, and Gaelic citizens of the colony. When Gaelic representatives in 1820 petitioned the King of Faneria on their special status, the ruler responded with the West Asteria Proviso, which declared all citizens of West Asteria as equal. The Gaels were angered by this, and they joined the West Asteria Congress in 1823. The Gaelic, Ænglish, and Atemeraw were now united behind the cause of independence. The Asteria Revolution began on May 5, 1826, when the Colony of West Asteria was reorganized into the Dominion of West Asteria, centered in Yarmouth. Pro-independence leaders John O'Brien, Michael Ashton, and Shiye Makaya organized self-governing Frontier Republics in the Northern Plateau to preserve the movement as more moderate leaders like Llewellyn Penrose worked to negotiate a settlement with the King.

Asteria Revolution (1829-1836)
All out war began on December 12, 1829, during the Milsboro Massacre. The Colonial Army was created, and in a series of campaigns against the Royalist League in 1830, 1831, and 1832, the Asterians slowly beat back their colonial masters. At the Battle of Stonebridge on June 17, 1833, much of the Asterian Royal Army was destroyed, its remnants retreating to Yarmouth. Weeks later, on August 15, 1833, the Fiery Night saw the final defeat of the royalists when Shiye Makaya led two thousand Atemeraw warriors into Yarmouth Harbor and burned over a hundred Fanerian ships. A ceasefire was declared, and three years later, the Treaty of Oirthidún was signed on September 6, 1836. A little under two months later, the last Fanerian forces left Yarmouth, ending the war.

Consolidation, Growth, and Prosperity (1836-1925)
On June 2, 1836, the Asteria Declaration of Independence was formally signed. The Republic of Asteria was formally established on that date. Joseph Marshall, commanding general of the Colonial Army, was elected President of Asteria that same day, and worked to rapidly expand the fledgling nation's infrastructure, funding a series of turnpikes, canals, and railways. Ports in Milsboro and Yarmouth were expanded, and a new national bureaucracy created. Marshall was elected to a full six-year term in November 1837, and served until December 1843. His successors tamed the wilderness of the Northern Plateau, creating the Bureau of Atemeraw Nations to manage the indigenous lands, and gradually civilizing the Great North as many Asterians endearingly call those regions. Most wars during the remainder of the century were domestic, conquering rogue tribes or putting down revolts. The final large-scale war ended in 1867, when Peter West declared that the creation of Asteria was complete. Economic prosperity followed, exports of cattle, oil, and rubber creating a vibrant economy. Asteria was neutral during the First Great War but did provide war materiel to the belligerent powers. This started Asteria's long-standing defense industry.

Asteria Civil War (1925-1931)
The Asteria Civil War was sparked after nearly sixty years of peace and prosperity. Political corruption, polarization, and the rise of new ideologies shattered the republic. From 1925 to 1931, two million were killed during the war, either by combat, disease, or massive crimes against humanity. Communists dominated the urban areas, while fascists controlled the south. Asteria's government in Concordia, led by Cyrus McPherson gradually brought the country to order. The separatists and radicals were eventually defeated, leading to a long period of recovery.

Depression and War (1931-1949)
Following the conclusion of the Asteria Civil War, the nation was in shambles. Major cities were burnt out shells of their former selves. Roads, bridges, and railways were destroyed, while hundreds of thousands who took up arms for or against the government returned home. Unemployment was at its highest in Asterian history at nearly 43%, while disease rampaged through refugee camps.

Asteria took part in the Second Great War, which aided in the recovery of the nation, and solidified the militaristic culture of the nation.

Post-War Asteria (1949-1993)
Asteria experienced a post-war economic boom. New industries emerged in defense, computing, and light industry. Although beef, agricultural products such as fruits and grains, as well as rubber, provided important staple products for the economy, these new industries employed the men returning home from war. Many communities were created following the post-war economic boom.

Social issues, however, still divided the nation. Long-standing issues involving the Atemeraw came to the forefront in the 1960s through protests and marches that captivated the nation. The Atemeraw Amendment was passed in 1973 to resolve these problems, creating special counties to act as nations for the indigenous peoples of Atemeraw.

During the 1970s, tensions grew between Asteria and Tierrador over Winnecomac County, and led to the Asteria-Tierrador War in 1979, when nearly three hundred thousand Asterian soldiers poured into Tierrador territory.

The war's end and Asteria's defeat in the conflict led to political turmoil that eventually led to a complete political revolution in Concordia.

Contemporary Asteria (1993-Present)
The 1993 elections marked the end of the era following the Second Great War. Decades of political and social turmoil mixed with rapid economic growth created what most historians regard as the golden age of modern Asteria.

Geography
Asteria is a nation blessed by geography. The northern regions of the country are hilly, rising to a massive plateau called the Northern Plateau. Rocky, with some grassy plains and occasional hills, it has been the avenue of historic migrations, whether in nature, or among certain people groups. With rivers along its eastern and western borders, water is vital to the economy of Asteria, including the Yare River, the lifeblood of the country. The Saint Thomas River, called the Gamboa River by Alstin, provides water for the agricultural regions north of Milsboro, while the swampy wetlands of the Lower Counties allows for the production of fruits, vegetables, and rubber trees. Meanwhile, the waters off the coastline in the Sea of Orixtal and the Western Sound offer lands filled with different types of fish, as well as natural gas. The middle of the country in the same region as Concordia going across the width of the nation is made up of hilly regions with thin and fertile valleys where most grain production takes place.

Climate and environment
The climate of Asteria varies depending on the region. Much of the Northern Plateau constitutes high plains, which experiences cooler weather especially during the winter, intermixed with snow during the winter months. Due to it primarily being flat, it is very windy and it often produces destructive tornados and other storms. Tornado Alley is located in the center of this region, with most towns in the area abandoned following a series of disasters. The hilly regions in the center of the country which include the Rees Hills, Arketa Hills, and the Sachem Hills, surround Concordia and the Yare River Valley. This region is cooler, as the breezy air from the Western Sound blows north, and the hills block the inland warmer wind coming from the north. This area experiences warm summers and cold winters, with snowfall regularly occurring. Meanwhile, the coastal areas from Milsboro to Yarmouth are more humid, and rarely experience any snow during the winter months. They experience more humidity than the areas north of the Yare River.

Asteria's Yare River serves as the key dividing line between a cooler, drier north, and a much hotter, humid south. The Lower Counties especially experience high levels of rainfall, flooding, and storms such as hurricanes. Called the Sun Belt, the coastal areas are often cooler, especially the off-shore islands, but inland, temperatures can reach unhealthy levels. Most major towns along the coast in the Lower Counties have sea walls, flood barriers, and easier evacuation routes due to the high-level of storms in the summer months. During the winter season, while still warm, this region does experience calmer weather, making the Arrayan Islands and Nayack popular vacation destinations, although Nayack experiences cooler temperatures than average. The Lower Counties are below sea level, and from Brighton to Hanover are swampy marshes where rice is grown.

Government and Politics
Asteria's government and political system is complex, but easy to understand. Most of the current government was outlined in the Constitution of Asteria, which had been authored on April 29, 1835 by Michael Ashton and approved by the provisional West Asteria Congress. Taking effect on June 2, 1836, upon the formal Declaration of Independence, Asterians hold both founding documents in great reverence and respect. Balancing the needs of a central unitary government with local government, it is reflective of the unique cultural dynamics of Asterian society.

Executive
The President of Asteria is elected by a popular vote every six years beginning in November 1837, with terms ending on December 31 following the election, and a new term beginning January 1 the following year. Although local government is vital to Asterians, the Executive Chamber, which contains the Cabinet of Asteria, the National Security Council, as well as the offices of President and Vice President, has a significant amount of political power and cultural influence in the country. Joseph Marshall, the first President of Asteria, who was sworn-in on June 2, 1836, and was elected to a full six-year term in November 1837, created the rule of serving only a single term so that power is not held by one person or one party for any significant length of time. However, several officeholders have broken this rule during times of war, or filled out the remaining years of a term and ran for a full six-year term. The Vice President is elected with the President every six years, which a mechanism in the Senate of Asteria to fill a vacancy. The Vice President is typically chosen at the party conventions as the running mate for the candidate seeking the higher office.

Requirements to serve in the office are minimal. A candidate for the office must be twenty-five at the time of taking the oath of office, and must have been born in Asteria or to Asterian parents abroad. In order to run, all tax and banking records must be released to the public. The President is required to speak monthly to the Assembly of Asteria and take questions from members of the body, and to address the Congress of Asteria annually at the end of the year to review the status of the nation. The Armed Forces of Asteria are also under the command of the President, who serves as Commander-in-Chief. However, Congress has the power to declare war. Upon retirement, the President serves on the Council of Advisors made up of those who previously held the office. The President can be removed from power via a two-thirds vote of both the Assembly and Senate.

Legislative
Despite the fact that the President of Asteria has an oversized influence on the nation's politics, the Congress of Asteria is where the voice of the people are heard. Divided into a bicameral body, the Congress' two houses have incredibly different roles. The Assembly of Asteria is elected every two years beginning in November 1837, which one-hundred-and-fifty seats apportioned in single-member districts drawn by the Asteria Boundary Commission, with seventy-six seats required for a majority. Following the election, the newly elected members would then elect a Speaker of the Assembly, usually the leader of one of the political parties represented. However, there have been times when a non-leader was chosen as a compromise candidate. The Speaker is third in line to serve as President should the President, Vice President, and the Presiding Officer of the Senate be incapacitated. The minimum age to serve in the Assembly is eighteen, and there is no requirement to have been born in Asteria or be born to Asterian parents. Citizenship is required, however, and one must be a resident of Asteria for five years before running. The Assembly passes legislation that then goes on to the Senate, which is a non-partisan advisory body. Asteria's President must then sign the bill into law, or veto it. The President may choose in lieu of a veto to have a measure voted upon by the people should the Senate approve.

The Senate of Asteria is a more complicated matter. The framers of the Constitution intended for there to be a unicameral body, but the counties demanded some degree of representation. Fearful that a small county of a few thousand might have the same voice as a county with nearly a million residents, the Senate was declared to serve as an advisory body. There are sixty-seven Senators, three from every county chosen every two years to serve a four-year term. As a result, there are twenty-two Senate elections every odd-numbered year, with the new Senators taking office on January 1 following the election. The elections are staggered so as to be better representative of the needs of the respective counties. The Senate is non-partisan, and are elected by the County Legislatures. A sixty-seventh seat is chosen by popular vote by the people of the indigenous nations, serving a six-year term coinciding with the election for President of Asteria. The body is led by a Presiding Officer of the Senate, chosen by a majority, typically the leader of the largest faction. Although the requirements to serve are identical to those in the Assembly, the Senate is made up of elder statesmen, retired elected officials, cultural figures, religious leaders, and others who are supposed to remain above the day-to-day politics. The Senate confirms nominees sent forward by the President, including members of the Supreme Court and the Regional Courts. When the Assembly passes a bill, the Senate reviews it, but can only send it back to the Assembly if two-thirds of the Senate opposes it. The Senate also decides what issues should be voted on by the public, and formally certifies the election of the President.

National Subdivisions
Asteria according to the National Subdivision Act of 1867 was originally divided into twenty-two federal subdivisions called counties, with four consolidated cities, including the capital Concordia, largest city Yarmouth, Waverly, the largest city in the Southern Counties, and Hanover, a center of rubber and rice production. Five counties were organized under the Atemeraw Reservation Bureau, and are designed to serve as semi-independent tribal states for the different clans of the Atemeraw peoples. They became self-governing in counties in 1973, and operate their own domestic policies. Three self-governing counties were created due to their isolation, all three historically serving a special economic or political role in 1867. Finally, there are ten standard counties, all of which make up the core of Asteria's metropolitan areas from Milsboro to Yarmouth and Concordia, down to the Lower Counties. Each county has formed a County Legislature that is elected every two years, with a County Executive elected every four. The Atemeraw counties elected a County Sachem with varying rules depending on the traditions of each tribe. Each county is divided into cities, towns, and villages which serve as incorporated areas, and hamlets or historical regions that serve as unincorporated areas. The Asteria Council of Counties serves as an official body for each County Executive or Mayor of the consolidated cities to meet to discuss issues of national importance. However, it serves no legislative role.

Winnecomac County, which has been occupied by Tierrador since 1983, is represented by ethnic Winnecomac natives who reside in other nations, and still maintain a county government in-exile.

Politics
''What political factions exist? Who has ruled predominantly?''

Law
Asterians hold the law in high regard, especially as much of the nation was lawless prior to independence. Like the balance in elected government between national and local interests, the legal system is similar. At the top of the judicial system is the Supreme Court of Asteria with seven members, each nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Led by the Chief Justice of Asteria, each member is elected to a seven-year term, renewable three times. The Senate must vote to approve the continuation of the term. The Supreme Court makes decisions regarding the Constitution, and interpretation of that document. They hold the power for judicial review, hear cases that make their way through local and county courts, and preside over impeachment proceedings and oversees the certification of national elections. There are Alternate Justices that also hear the same cases, but do not take part in debates or make a ruling. Alternate Justices step in to replace a member of the Supreme Court should they fall ill, resign, or die, or if they have a conflict of interest in a case.

The national courts are divided into the Circuit Court System that is part of the Department of Justice. Asteria on a national level is divided into five regions, the original being the Northern Circuit, the Middle Circuit, and the Lower Counties Circuit. Two additional circuits were added in 1931 following the Judicial Reform Act, the Yarmouth Circuit and the Atemeraw Circuit, the latter designed to represent cases brought to the court by indigenous peoples.

Every county has its own court system, arranged similarly to the national courts. They deal with matters related to county and other local or tribal laws, and only reach the national courts. Meanwhile, each city, town, and village have their own unique courts, dealing with property issues, taxation, traffic violations, criminal law, and other issues that emerge in day-to-day problems.

Demographics
Every decade, the Asteria Census Bureau takes note of population statistics, from how many people reside in each household, their names, political affiliation, national origin, religion, and other miscellaneous pieces of information. The Constitution requires the census to take place every ten years beginning in 1836, and has been done every decade with the exception of 1926, which was moved to 1932 due to the Asteria Civil War. The ACB typically takes three years to prepare for each census, and an additional year to compile the report. The most recent census was the 2026 Census released on January 1, 2028. Although most of this information is merely used for accounting, it does give policy leaders a guide on what issues to address for the people of Asteria. The 2026 Census revealed that the population was 14,756,250, an increase of about a quarter of a million people, as the 2016 Census showed about 14,507,183 people lived in Asteria. Rapid population growth saw the country grow from about ten million people in 1932 to about fourteen million in the 1996 Census. Due to the nuclear family gaining dominance following the Asteria Civil War, population growth has remained at just above replacement levels, and has largely leveled out with small increases each year. With strict immigration rules put in place in the 1980s and 1990s due to the rise of Varshan, most immigrants likewise adopt the nuclear family model.

Ethnicity
Most Asterians derive from three primary ethnic groups, the Ænglish, Gaelic, and Atemeraw, arriving in different waves of immigration. Almost the entire population up until 953 CE belonged to the Manhasset, Sagamore, or Winnecomac tribal peoples. When the Atemeraw, originally from the northern regions of Crona, were pushed out by a much larger tribe believed to now be the Varshan, they swept across the Northern Plateau and conquered the area that is now Asteria. They co-existed with the other tribes, but intermarriage, the mixing of traditions, and centuries of living together forged a single Atemeraw nation. Approximately 10.3% of the population is currently Atemeraw, although some traditional Manhasset and Sagamore still consider themselves not to be Atemeraw, at 1.6% and 1.0% of the population, respectively. The second migrant group first came to the scene in 1389 in the form of Paul Aster, leaving nearly a dozen sailors from his expedition in Atemeraw lands. Some Atemeraw as a result have blue eyes and blonde hair.

The Ænglish came in 1627, escaping from Levantia from religious persecution. Consistent migration to what was then called West Asteria continued for nearly a century. Following the takeover and consolidation of West Asteria by Faneria, Gaelic migration was consistent. At the time of the Asteria Revolution, one-third of its people were Ænglish, one-third Gaelic, and one-third Atemeraw. Almost all of the Ænglish and half of the Gaelic intermarried over the following century, to the point that 70.3% consider themselves to be Asterian. A remaining 12.7% retain most of their Gaelic traditions in the hills north and west of Concordia. About 3.2% of Asterians still regard themselves as Ænglish only, mostly centered around Milsboro. An additional 0.9% of Asterians identify with other ethnic groups.

Language
Almost all Asterians are fluent in Ænglish, as it is the national language and taught at all levels of schooling. Approximately 99% of the population is fluent in the language, with the 1% being either recent immigrants, or Atemeraw and Gaelic extremists who refuse to learn the language. However, nearly one-third of Asterians, 34.2%, are fluent in a second language. 10.5% are fluent in Gaelic, 9.7% are fluent in Atemeraw, 5.3% in Tierradorian, 3.1% Latin, 2.5% in Burgoignesc, 1.6% in Manhasset, 1.0% in Sagamore, and 0.5% in various other languages. There are also several different Ænglish dialects local to Asteria, divided between North Asterian Ænglish, Metropolitan Asterian Ænglish, and Lower Counties Ænglish.

Religion
Asterians are a deeply religious peoples. Most belong to the Asterian Church, at approximately 70.5%, while Catholic Church membership sits at 15.7%. Collegiate parishes make up 5.3% of the population, while Atemeran native folk religion sits at 4.9%. Other faiths make up the remainder 4.9%. As the Asterian census has no questions related to non-religious affiliation, most who choose "Other" are typically irreligious. Based on church attendance records, it is believed that up to 17.3% of the population, mostly Asterian and some Catholic, are irreligious or agnostic. Although Asteria has no official state religion, churches provide for the social backbone of most communities.

Education
The education statistics for Asteria are likewise tracked in the census. According to the 2026 Census, approximately 99.3% of Asterians are fluent and literate in Ænglish, with the ability to read, write, and speak the language. College education in recent decades has grown important, with free public universities increasing the amount of graduates. Only 22.1% of Asterians had a college education in the 2016 Census. This went up to 30.7% Asterians with a bachelor's degree. in the 2026 Census, and is widely expected to plateau at around 40% in the upcoming 2036 Census. Another 12.3% have graduated with an associate's degree or have taken some college courses, and 5.7% have a master's degree or higher. 36.5% of Asterians have a high school degree or have taken an equivalency exam, while 14.2% have partial education. Only 0.6% of Asterians have received no formal education, largely in the far-northern regions.

Education
Asteria's education system is loosely organized and is largely based around county and town governments. Due to the nature of the original frontier, communities directly governed their education system, and were more often than not linked to whichever denomination had settled the region. Early settlers in the Lower Counties, for example, had their schooling run by the Catholic Church. Early communities along the Yare River, however, were managed by Ænglish Rite groups, and after 1836, the Church of Asteria. The first public schools were managed out of Yarmouth, Concordia, and Waverly, as part of a government program established in 1843 to educate new immigrants. Under the West administration in 1867, the year Asteria was widely considered to have been fully settled, the Public Education Amendment was added to the Constitution, requiring that all counties operate a public school system, to be managed at their discretion. The amendment also established that all Asterians have a right to education up until the age of eighteen. Originally there were no guidelines, but the Asteria Civil War saw a marked change in public education. Prior to the war, most students were educated by churches. After the war, most were educated by the state. The Centennial Education Act of 1936 also created public guidelines on curriculum. Public education up until the eighth grade is standardized, after which students may choose from three options. Either continuing liberal arts education, going into the sciences, or learning a trade. Following further education reforms in 1967, pre-school was introduced, as well as a grade prior to first.

Secondary education has its origins going back to 1633, when John Harrison's son, Edward Harrison, created Milsboro College, which educated ministers. Eventually, it became a law school, and was the model for new universities across the country. Yarmouth University was established in 1775, the second in Asteria, and by independence in 1836, seven colleges existed in the newborn nation. Whenever a new city emerged, a university followed, and by 1867, two dozen universities or colleges were in operation. The Civil War impacted most parts of the nation, and universities were not alone. President McPherson in 1926 created the National University of Asteria in Concordia, and after war's end in 1931, opened campuses in most major cities. Community colleges also grew commonplace, run by county governments to teach agriculture, engineering, and eventually the liberal arts. Although no institutions of learning are world renowned, the Sheridan Academy just north of Concordia is a well-known military academy with a high graduation rate.

Attitudes and Worldview
The people of Asteria are known for what locals call Neighborly Love, a concept that revolves around the idea that nothing matters outside of one's neighborhood, village, or town. Asterians can be passionate about what occurs in their locale, to the point of obsession. Town hall meetings are often crowded, and when neighbors are in trouble, Asterians react quickly to render assistance. Sociologist Lallo Maxwell studied the Asterian character in a 1999 white paper report to the government. In it he reported that "The Asterians outside of major cities are simple. Although urban professionals would label them as provincial rubes, they do have a deep emotional intelligence. They are often charitable to their own detriment, care for the simple pleasures of life, and will often celebrate as a neighborhood drinking beer and grilling steak or cheeseburgers." Mistrust in the central government is high in these regions, and as a result, town wide or countywide social services are strong. During the 2026 Census, it reported that localized social services were far more effective than national services. They are more directed at existing problems, rather than blank checks. Maxwell believes that this phenomena is due to the Asteria Commune phenomena that developed during the Asteria Civil War between 1925 and 1931. During high-periods of conflict, the only government that existed outside of areas run from Concordia were at the town or county level, which have more direct governance from the people. As a result, Asterians generally oppose large government policies at a national level, but would support them at a local level.

Asterians invented a figurehead of their own to reflect their worldview. Hank Hill was invented by cartoonist and judge Michael Craig in 1927 to be a common man who criticizes in a simplistic way the goings-on of Asteria. Hill, according to Craig, lived in a fictional city west of Concordia called Arlen, with a wife and son. In his comics from 1927 to 1940, Hill was known to be tolerant, with simple tastes, suspicious of new ideas but still open-minded. The cartoon resonated with a war-torn and economically depressed nation. Jean Windsor, a historian of modern Asteria, summarized the people of her country as "Yearning for a simpler time, brushing up against new ideas, and while open-minded, need to be dragged into the present." Windsor's own thesis stated in 2017 that "Although Asterians will be on the right side of history in the end, they will exhaust all other options in getting there."

Although inward-looking, Asterians are welcoming of new cultures. Although traditional Asterian society is a mix of Ænglish, Gaelic, and Atemeraw cultures, and primarily Ænglish in faith, when a foreigner is seen on the streets or in a business, most Asterians would greet that person with a firm handshake and an invitation to dinner. However, most Asterians also keep their guard up when meeting someone from outside of their town or county, with some Asterians holding xenophobic views towards foreigners, and even people from the neighboring counties. Due to the Bandit Republics or Frontier Republics that existed in the Northern Plateau from the 1820s to the 1860s, old rivalries between these groups still exist. However, the anger is typically channeled through sports.

Honor is vital to Asterian life, and was at one time to the point of life and death. The West Asteria Code of Honor was established in 1810 by Jacob Marshall, elder brother of Joseph Marshall. A military man and historian, who hoped to restore much of old Ænglish cultural and military traditions. It set up a code of conduct for the elite of Asteria, and believed that should the elite follow this code, then so too shall the people. It set up rules on courting women, how to treat those socially above them and below them, and how to resolve conflicts, in particular through duels. Joseph Marshall made his brother's Code of Honor law at the New River Academy, the precursor to Asteria's present-day military academies. As most of the aristocracy sent their children to Marshall's academy, they had ingrained in them the Code of Honor, and it determined up until the Asteria Civil War one's social status. The Code of Honor's hold on the upper classes vanished during the war, although effects of it can still be seen today.

Militarism is especially strong in Asterian society. Following the Civil War, most Asterians owned firearms and joined the County Militia to serve as an auxiliary to professional law enforcement and should war come, the armed forces. Most Asterian men are expected to serve if called upon, and the County Militia allows the military to assume most recruits know the basics of firearms training.

Kinship and Family
The Asterian family is an incredibly complicated subject among Asterians, and is the primary topic of an ongoing culture war. There are two types of families that exist in Asteria, the nuclear family, which is the father, mother, and two or three children, or the extended family, which includes a father, mother, children, grandparents, and possibly other relatives. The nuclear family became prevalent following the Asteria Civil War when many larger families were torn apart on different sides of the conflict. Lallo Maxwell explained during the 2008 Protect the Family annual convention that the war was devastating to the familial structures of the country. He said that "When the war broke out in 1925, extended families broke apart between supporters of the government, communists, fascists, and separatists. Parents often chose to leave the extended family with their children, to strike out on their own." The Bed Time Massacres were emblematic of this problem when at the onset of the war, many households turned into literal battlefields. Due to the lack of clean lines in the early war, these battles were fought in homes, streets, and workplaces. Although urban areas still retain the extended family model, which is starting to return in much of the country, the nuclear family dominates.

Gender roles are important to the Asterian family. It is expected that a man could provide for his family out of his own pay. Providing for the family is essential to a man's character, and those who fail to provide and seek assistance in times of need are seen as less than by their peers. Women are expected to stay at home to raise the children, although prior to having children and once the children go to school, women are also expected to work, albeit at less physically demanding jobs. These roles are slowly changing, as more women become the family's breadwinner in white collar jobs, while blue collar jobs dominated by men fall by the wayside. Still, Asteria's government has ensured that a family of four could survive on one income.

Extended family are typically welcomed in the nuclear family, but kept at arm's length. Grandparents are welcomed into the home more often than others, while aunts and uncles might go to celebrations or congregate outside of the household, cohabitating is rare. Many Asterians see their neighbors as family, from which their militias are organized and from whom they rely on for protection. The County Militia are organized by neighborhoods, and most weekly meetings are an excuse to host a barbecue, which is central to social life for an Asterian. Here extended family, friends, and others gather to celebrate life and to take stock.

Despite resistance to the extended family, most Asterians welcome their children to stay at home as long as possible. As homeownership is the surest way to invest in retirement, many parents will sell their homes to their eldest child. Only once a child starts their own family are they expected to leave. However, it is increasingly common in some suburban areas for the young family to remain so that the parents can help in raising their grandchildren.

Cuisine
Food and drinks are an important part of Asterian life and culture. Most of Asterian diet involves what some food historians have called the "Meat and Potatoes" culture. Most dishes involve some type of beef product, whether beef stock, different parts of the cow for meat, burgers, steak, ground beef, and more. Products such as potatoes are a staple in most dishes, whether mashed, baked, au gratin, or in various different styles. Shepherd's Pie was named the national dish by the Concordia Gazette in 1936 during the centennial celebrations, while other dishes like steak, hamburgers, and frankfurters were common. The Sweet-Salty Line is a particular dividing point in Asteria. Northern cuisine tends to be hardier, while Southern cuisine in the Lower Counties tends to be sweeter. Lower County Soul is one group of foods that have grown in popularity over time. Cornbread, collard greens, fried chicken, fried fish, offal, and sweet fruits like oranges or peaches. Rice is also common in Lower Country Soul, as it is one of the primary agricultural products of the region.

Religion
Faith is an integral part of Asteria. The Church of Asteria is seen as the bedrock of national existence, and according to its own policies, it sees itself as the sole successor to Ænglish Church. John Harrison, a petty noble and historian who survived the Nordmontaine War and the destruction of his faith, and later created the Midlands Company that created Asteria itself, wrote the Book of Common Prayer of 1627 on his final journey to Milsboro. A contemporary of Alstanus Ryefield, he held significant theological differences with him, in particular the role of the monarchy. Harrison intended to found his own church, but died only hours from arriving in Milsboro Colony. Instead, the disorganized Ænglish Rite dominated early Asteria. The Church of Asteria was itself founded April 15, 1827, on Easter Sunday. With the Asteria Revolution in full swing, Ænglish Rite priests gathered together for the Milsboro Assembly to forge a new unified national church. The Presiding Bishop of Asteria was elected to lead for life. Almost every town has an Asterian church, some more than one. Nearly three-fourths of the population belongs to the Asterian Church, most regular churchgoers. The priest or reverend of the Asterian Church is regarded as a pillar of the community in their towns, and are often present at civic events to better represent their community. The Church of Asteria is divided into three factions, the modern New Rite, the traditional Milsboro Rite, and a much deeper conservative Asterian Catholic Rite.

Despite the influence of the Church of Asteria in day-to-day life, it is not the official church of the nation. The Constitution dictates that no faiths are dominant, although it does reserve the right to ban cults. During the years preceding the Final War of the Deluge, multiple Varshan cults active in some urban areas were banned or declared terrorist groups. The Catholic Church, while only representing a tenth of the population, also has a significant influence in urban areas like Yarmouth. The Diocese of Asteria is based out of that city and represents everything north and west of the Yare River. Meanwhile, the Diocese of the Lower Counties represents Catholics in the southern rural areas. The original Catholic settlers of Asteria were Gaelic, primarily from Faneria, who settled in the nation's urban areas, as well as the area around Concordia. Many Gaelic laborers helped build Concordia, and the first church built in the future capital was Saint Thomas Cathedral. With the growing Catholic population and the Asterian Catholic Rite increasingly considering breaking with the Church of Asteria, the Diocese of Asteria is considering relocating to Concordia.

Meanwhile, the College of Levantine Churches was a popular alternative to those Protestants who opposed Harrison's Ænglish Rite. Although the actual organization was not founded until 1954, many non Ænglish churches developed in Crona. The Methodists of West Asteria serving as one of the largest groups. Many more liberal Asterians who belonged to the Church of Asteria have been joining this group, which has doubled its congregants in the last fifty years. However, with the Asterian Church planning on making much-needed reforms, many Collegiate leaders fear this will stymy their growth. This group especially grew in the 1990s when the Manhasset Crisis of the 1990s saw the Church of Asteria's actions towards the Atemeraw brought to full light, including residency schools on the Northern Plateau.

The final large religious group is not Christian, but Atemeran, a revived folk religion from the pre-Asterian peoples of the region. The Yare War killed off almost all of the shamans and medicine men who taught this faith, but the Atemeran Revivals of the 1910s and 1920s saw a group of native peoples do research into their own faith. A more radical movement called the Ghost Dance Revival took place from 1921 to 1923, its members warning of a great calamity coming. The Asteria Civil War from 1925 to 1931 saw the near-genocide of the Atemeraw of the Northern Plateau, and after the war, as they rebuilt, Ahote Hota, Sachem of the Atemeraw, commissioned the Spirit Book published. Many Atemeraw turned against their Christian faith to join this movement. Following Hota's death in 1966 and state funeral, the Second Dance began, bringing hundreds of thousands into the movement. The Atemeran belief system stalled out by the 1990s, and less than half of all Atemeraw believe in the religion.

Arts and Literature
Asterian art is often more simplistic than in Levantia. Most Asterians can only trace their place in the country be centuries, and often came to Crona with what they could carry with them. Due to the religious nature of Asterians, most art is typically related to the natural beauty of the country. Most public buildings have massive murals depicting scenes out of nature. Sunsets are regularly featured as well, with art after the Asteria Revolution depicting battles and other historical moments. Modern art is not popular in Asteria, and during the 1980s and 1990s, most universities defunded modern art programs. The Church of Asteria along with the Catholic Church located in the country co-signed a letter condemning the movement. Although modern art is more accepted, most cities and towns have architectural standards in place, including an outright ban on brutalist-style buildings. Only in cities like Yarmouth and Hanover are more modern high-rises seen.

Literature, meanwhile, is much more popular than the arts. The Great North Novels are an especially popular genre to the national psyche, depicting the rugged frontiers of the Northern Plateau and the lawlessness that came with it. Most novelists write slice-of-life works that do have political undertones, with genres such as romance and historical fiction popular.

Sports
Following the Asteria Civil War, sports became a common area for people from different sides of the conflict to bond, especially in the form of physical sport. Most sports are managed through the National Sport and Athletics Association (NSAA), which manages athletic competitions and leagues from high school, college, and professional levels. The two sports with the largest following are football and baseball, and between the two one or the other are on television and radio for most of the year at the national level. March Madness refers to the six weeks between the Asteria Championships and Opening Day, a time in which many Asterians are frustrated by the lack of sports on the air. The Asteria Baseball League operates with sixteen teams in two separate leagues and four divisions. Each division has four teams, with the most popular being the Yarmouth Mets, the Concordia Filibusters, and the Waverly Stars. Meanwhile, the Asteria Football League has twelve teams with two leagues, with two divisions of three teams in each league. The Yarmouth Titans and the Concordia Highlanders are the most popular rivalries, and the two teams regularly appear in championships. Most baseball games have at least a quarter of a million to half a million watching, while most football games have nearly a million viewing. Hockey has grown more popular, especially among the Atemeraw, but the NSAA has yet to form an organized league. Basketball is popular in urban areas and high school as well as college sports, but have likewise yet to reach a national level.

Symbols
Are there any prominent symbols which are well known to represent your country?

Economy and Infrastructure
How does your country's economy work?

Industries and Sectors
Asteria's economy transformed from a primarily agricultural economy into a dynamic high-tech state. Most of Asteria's exports were agricultural in nature before the Asteria Civil War and the Second Great War. Products such as rice, wheat, fruits such as oranges, lemons, and peaches, and animal products such as beef and honey were essential products in the pre-independence period, and all still have a role to this day, beef, honey, and rice still being large sectors of the economy. Older industries such as whaling, the fur trade, and logging fell out by the time of the Civil War. With the discovery of natural gas, the whaling industry collapsed. Conservation efforts following the war also led to a ban on the fur trade, and logging was severely limited as nearly two-thirds of the nation's forests were cut down. However, this pales in comparison to one of the largest industries, natural rubber. The trees that produce rubber are found on the Arrayan Islands and in the marshes of the Lower Counties provide for one of the largest sources of rubber in Crona, and remains the lifeblood of much of the nation's economy. Webster, one of the larger towns in the Lower Counties, is even nicknamed "Rubber City" as it was the home of Webster Trading Company, one of the industry giants. Other products such as cotton and tobacco are also present in the Lower Counties.

Following the Second Great War, several new high-tech industries grew rapidly, especially in urban areas. The arms and defense industry through companies like Arrington Defense Corporation provide much of the world with firearms, ammunition, and produces each generation a new main battle tank, including the Marshall LV-1 and the Exeter LV-7. Ranger Aviation, meanwhile, produces long-range bombers, naval aircraft, as well as fighters, helicopters and in recent years drones. Sumner & Brown Works based out of Waverly, with facilities in Milsboro, Yarmouth, Melville, and Brighton has produced submarines, destroyers, landing ships, and even an aircraft carrier. Finally, Aegis Technologies, based out of Concordia, provides for defense in cyberspace for government computers, and works in tandem with the private sector on the same. The company also produces spy satellites, rockets, missiles, and early-detection systems. With all of these companies combined with all of the smaller firms that exist, the defense industry is the largest sector of the economy, and one of the largest employers.

Walker Technologies meanwhile, dominates the personal computer and telecommunications industry. Founded from the ashes of the Second Great War in Waverly, the company's founder, John Walker worked to create computer systems for the Department of Defense. Due to the secrecy involved, the military wing of the company broke off in 1959 to form Aegis Technologies, which Walker also led. Eventually, Walker's innovation led to the creation of Asteria's first personal computer in 1979, the Sierra-1, with over a million sold in its first year, primarily to offices across the country and other parts of the world. Between his main company and Aegis, Walker made billions in profit, and bought up all competitors. His time as President of Asteria solidified his company's control over personal computing and communications, and the production of the Alamosa-3 smart-phone in 2009 transformed his company into the single largest employer in the country.

Currency
The Bank of Asteria manages all issues related to the national economy and currency. Originally, Asteria was founded with a national bank in Yarmouth, which had previously been the Dominion Bank for West Asteria. Holding the gold reserves of the country, managing the printing of currency, setting interest rates, and making important financial decisions. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving was tasked in particular with the printing of the national currency, the Asterian dollar. Three mints were created in the 1860s to accommodate the growing economy. The Yarmouth Mint was the largest, and was originally the home of the Bank of Asteria. The Concordia Mint and the Waverly Mint were created since the Asteria Civil War after Yarmouth served as a major battlefield of that conflict. The original Bank of Asteria was dissolved in 1913 when the new Whig government, believing that the central government had grown to powerful, abolished its governing body. Cyrus McPherson re-established the Bank of Asteria in 1925 months into the Civil War, granting it even more control over the currency. The office of Director of the Bank of Asteria was created to manage the nation's wartime economy.

Although the Asteria dollar has consistently remained the standard currency of the nation since independence, it has taken on various forms and has held different denominations. The modern Asterian dollar was created in 1936 during the Centennial Currency Act that divided the coinage into five cent, ten cent, twenty-five cent, fifty cent, and one dollar coins. Although controversial at the time, the single penny being dissolved created a much easier transaction system for Asteria's people. With paper currency, the one dollar bill, five dollar bill, ten dollar bill, twenty dollar bill, fifty dollar bill, and hundred dollar bills were all printed, with scenes of historic landscapes or events from Asteria's history, and portraits on the front of historic Asterians. Whereas previous paper currency were in the form of greenbacks, the new currency was white with different colors for each type of bill.

Healthcare
The Asteria Civil War changed healthcare forever. With the use of chemical weapons and biological warfare during the later stages of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of civilians suffered from severe health issues, and over a million more physical ailments from the war, such as lost limbs and mental health issues. The Asteria Healthcare Act or the AHA was passed in 1934 as part of an historic expansion of social services. It established a two-tier healthcare system that has remained functional to this day. The rise in the cost of goods and services in the medical industry were capped, and raising the cap was based on the consumer price index and wages. The Health Security Agency, or the HSA, is a sub-level organization within the Department of Health, was created to administer the system. All Asterians according to this system can access state healthcare free of charge, paid through with payroll taxes and taxes for higher-income individuals and companies. Every Asterian from birth is registered into the system, with all essential services provided for free. The HSA faces competition from the private sector, which while more expensive, provides better services. Employers use employer-based healthcare as an incentive to hire new employees, and the private elements of the healthcare industry force the public sector to compete and innovate.

Labor
Although Asterians are typically pro-small business and support lower taxes and fewer government rules, labor unions are seen as the bedrock of the workforce, with a history going back to the Asteria Revolution. Labor unions have existed since Asterian independence, with the Brotherhood of Farmers and Ranchers created in the far-north in 1834. Following independence, Asteria began a rapid industrialization out of Yarmouth, Concordia, and Waverly that ignited a massive wave of union activity. The Asteria Civil War, however, solidified the power of the labor union. During the early days of the conflict, President McPherson created the Bureau of Labor Relations or the BLR, which managed relations between unions, the government, and the private sector. This ensured that all three parties were given due consideration on contract issues. The National Labor Laws passed in the 1930s following the Civil War guaranteed labor unions collective bargaining rights, prevented workplaces from cracking down on union formation, and established dozens of new workplace safety and pay rights. In 1936, approximately 37% of working Asterians were members of a labor union. That increased to 55% in 1966, and again to 63% in 1996. Numbers have settled at around 70% by 2026, with most drivers, government employees, farmers, ranchers, laborers, teachers, and service workers belonging to some type of labor organization.

Transportation
Early roads in Asteria come from as early as the Atemeraw Confederacy, when trails between settlements were eventually patted down, with trees along these trails chopped down. Few examples of this exist, but most of these trails followed natural geography, and were the basis for most modern roadways. The first modern roadway was developed as the Western Turnpike rounding the Western Sound from Milsboro east to Yarmouth, then south through Natick and then into Waverly. The primary connection between the original colonies soon became the basis for a national motorway. A second turnpike system was developed after Kelly's War up the Yare River into Concordia. Following independence, developing a national turnpike system was a priority to policymakers in Concordia. A year after independence, the Concordia Line between that city and Yarmouth was the first railway line in Asteria. Over the next fifty years, thousands of miles of local roadways, turnpikes, railways, and even some canals were developed. In 1907, the White Rose Highway was created, making a circle from Milsboro through to Waverly, then moving north through Concordia into Nahena. Over half of Asteria's traffic moved through this system.

The Port Authority of Yarmouth deals with over half of Asteria's naval traffic, holding the largest port facilities along the Yare River. Some medium-sized ships can move up the Yare River into Concordia, and even as far north as Willimantic.

Energy
Natural resources have been vital to Asteria's energy production, as well as powering up the cities and towns across the country. Whale oil was the first major resource required to light up city streets and homes, and whaling was one of the largest employers out of Waverly, Melville, and Ocean City. However, with the collapse of the whaling industry in the 1890s and 1900s, and Asteria Civil War of the late-1920s, much of the nation spent a decade in darkness. The creation of electricity was a landmark event, the Waverly Electric founded in 1912 to transform the entire nation's grid. According to local legend, the electric lightbulb was created in Waverly by Daniel Cosgrove, who in 1877 was working on whaling ships. In reality, he had spent time overseas and in 1902 patented the electric lightbulb in Asteria. The destruction of the nation during the Civil War saw President McPherson hire Cosgrove and Waverly Electric to connect the entire nation to a unified electrical grid. Powered by offshore natural gas, in the 1960s, the government began to shift towards nuclear energy. The Atomic Energy Bureau, created in 1949, was responsible in 1966 to constructing seven nuclear power plants, which powers most of the nation.

Technology
Although Asteria has become an innovator on the world stage for war materiel and personal computing, it has become a net importer of new ideas and innovations, especially as it relates to advancements on new forms of energy. The Walker Institute was created in the early-1960s to bring in new ideas from abroad into the private sector, and to create jobs related to those industries. Due to Asteria's stubborn and isolationist nature, they are often behind the curve when adopting new technologies, and will often use older and more obsolete technologies. However, when it comes to the internet and defense systems, Asteria is widely seen as world-class, with new annual developments announced regularly. More often than not, Asterian technology is not utilized by its own citizens, with efforts to bring it to fruition often aimed at foreign markets in Levantia and Sarpedon.

Military
''How large is your country's military? Is it large but poorly equipped or small and elite? Does your country have a martial tradition?''