Tierrador

Tierrador, officially the Tierradorian Republic, is a country primarily located in Southeastern Crona, along with a chain of islands in the Polynesian Sea, and multiple small overseas island possessions. The country's mainland is bordered to the south by Ceylonia; to the south and west by the Orixtal Sea; to the north by Istrenya and the Songun Sea; and to the west by Alstin and Pankara. Tierrador's capital is Taisgol, the largest city along with its commercial and cultural center; other major urban areas include Porvaos, Hugo, Santiago, Arroyo Rato, Prisamarina, Tansher, La Plazal, Qabór, and Sačia. Tierrador is a member of the League of Nations, the CCDO, and the MCC. It is considered a regional power within the Cronan continent, due to its strategic location and very powerful economy.

Tierrador is a with a very high. Because of this, Tierrador is considered amongst one of the most powerful nations in the Cronan continent. It is also considered a melting pot of cultures, due to the large amount of immigration into the nation in the late 70s to the early 90s. It also possesses one of the most powerful economies, with a little over $5 trillion as its GDP. These traits were mainly derived from the influence of Cronan great powers such as Alstin, in which missions from the Alstinian lands to Tierrador caused a rift in the cultural significance of the nation. The country is divided into 20 regions, which equal to an area of 2,041,817 square kilometers and a population of just over 101 million. It is a unitary semi-presidential republic, with all of the federal governmental functions being held in the nation’s capital, Taisgol.

Tierrador is a prominent historical center of Cronan art, science and philosophy. It is one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, attracting over 76 million people from around the world yearly. It contains landmarks such as various temples dating back to the ancient Songun Civilization, the Palacio de Prosperidad (lit. Palace of Prosperity) in Taisgol, the many luscious and sandy beaches situated across the coastline of the mainland and the Tierradorian Polynesia, the mountainous northwestern region, and the unique pre-colonial architecture across the hilly Songun Coast. Tierrador is a federal republic, consisting of 20 regions and 5 collectivities, with most federal authority sections based in Taisgol, along with a few government agencies based in the historical city of Qabór.

Etymology
Tierrador is a combination of the Spanish phrase “Tierra del Oro” (lit. Land of Gold). During the Indigenous Cronan settlement period of the nation's history, the western and central portions were considered sacred lands due to its value in terms of resources and cultural significance. Once the land was settled by Pelaxia in the late 1600s, the settlers discovered several gold deposits scattered across the Western and Central portions of Tierrador. This led to many conflicts between colonial powers to determine who truly held the rights to the sacred lands. Eventually, following Tierrador's independence from Pelaxia in 1733 and the long path to where it is today, the country took advantage of its many gold deposits and quickly became an economic powerhouse.

History
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Early Abio Settlements
It is unclear when the first inhabitants of Tierrador stepped foot in the nation, however most historians agree that some indigenous peoples from East Alshar and Central/Northern Crona migrated to Tierrador and surrounding areas from 1245 BC - 790 BC. From that point on, the indigenous peoples began establishing settlements. These settlements were usually small, consisting of about 200-250 inhabitants, and were primarily used for hunting, fishing, or agriculture. The hunting and fishing settlements were usually nomadic, where they usually migrated to different parts of Tierrador depending on the season. For example, a hunting settlement focused on Tauçan bison usually stayed at the foot of the Tauçan Mountain Range during the summer months, when the bison migrate down to the lowland areas for their mating season. However, once the summer months ended, both the bison and the hunting settlements would migrate up the mountains, so that the settlements would have a yearly supply of bison.

Some of the settlements were also permanent. These settlements were primarily focused on agriculture, as the season for agriculture is the same no matter what. These types usually were found in the southern and lowland regions of Tierrador, as the climates in those areas allowed for longer growing seasons and ideal crop harvests. The settlements would often interact with other settlements, mostly bartering for goods that they usually cannot produce themselves (e.g. A hunting settlement will trade deer meat to an agricultural settlement in exchange for corn). In most cases, the settlements would even form tribes and cooperate with the settlements in said tribes. One of these tribes were known as the Qabór Tribe and were prominent in Eastern and Southern Tierrador. The Qabór Tribe, for close to a thousand years, expanded its borders to cover all of modern-day Tierrador and even parts of Ceylonia and Istrenya. The coastal city of Qabór served as the capital from 164 AD until it was destroyed by _____ in 1493 AD. These tribes were (and still are) referred to as the Abio and they were the historical rulers of modern-day Tierrador.

Qabór Empire
Various Abio tribes wanted to merge with the Qabór Tribe, as it was the most powerful in South Crona.

Empire of Tierrador
What were your country's first major moves on an international level?

17th and 18th Centuries; First Tierrador Republic
Did your country ever have a period of significant decline or internal struggle?

Late 18th Century to Mid-19th Century
Following the Revolution of 1733 and the the ratifying of the Tierrador Charter, the Tierradorian Kingdom was formally dissolved and the nation was an morphed into a Confederate Republic. Little changed procedurally as while the Tierrador Charter stated that the nation was a union of seventeen independent regions with the same rights as a sovereign nation, only three of the seventeen regions possessed said powers and rights. The Auqali Republic was not technically considered part of the Tierradorian Confederation, rather a full sovereign, independent nation, with its own military and political interests. The other two regions, Arrecife and Bogocía were considered semi-independent, however still governed from central government.

The Tierradorian Confederation was considered weak and unstable, and the Tierrador Charter and its contents were not considered a true frame of government. The central government had no true power over the regions, leading regions like Auqali and Arrecife to declare themselves independent without any real resistance from the central government. The leader of the Confederation was appointed by the governors of the regions, and had no true power, either, serving as a figurehead for the entire nation and was only consulted to for international relations, therefore expressing fact that there was no true need for a leader in Taisgol. This form of government continued on for about 60 years until 1796, when Robert Derša, the governor of the Las Rozas Region, attempted to declare the Region independent, as he felt that the Confederation was holding his region back from prosperity. This was met with an unusual response, the fourteen other regions united to send their regional militias to Las Rozas to ”dissuade” Derša from declaring independence. Eventually, this led to the Internal Wars, which lasted from 1796 to 1804.

During the Internal Wars, Derša sent his militia to Aracadó and Polelu, completely overwhelming their armies and annexing them both in 1797. After that, the militia was sent towards Taisgol, as he believed that if he could take over the city, it was possible for him to overtake the entire nation and dissolve the confederation. In December of 1797, Taisgol was invaded by Las Rozas. The invasion did not last long, as the newly expanded Las Rozas militia was able to overwhelm and destabilize the Taisgol Army in a matter of weeks. After the militia entered the city and Taisgol was annexed by Las Rozas, Robert Derša relocated his base of operations to Taisgol and formally dissolved the Tierradorian Confederation, creating the Union of Las Rozas in its place. Following that, he received the Tierrador Charter and burned it in front of the Palacio de Prosperidad, signaling a new movement in the history of the nation. The rest of the regions eventually joined the union either by coercion or full military force, except for the three independent regions. Arroyo Rato and Opharez, however, possessing an advantage in being separated from the Union by the independent Arrecife, opted to not join the Union, and even with coercion and threats of military force, Derša knew that Arrecife was not going to allow an invasion of the Western Regions through their land.

Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century
Derša invaded Arroyo Rato and Opharez

Battle of Prisamarina

Derša becomes dictator then straight up dies

Revolution of 1823 then Derša successor also dies

Second Empire

Relationship with Alstin

Qabór-Terra War (1866–1868)

1867 Coscivian Cultural Revolution

Invasion of Arrecife and Porvaos Stalemate

Relationship with Kiravia

Great Wars and Beyond
Neutrality during the First Great War (1896–1902)

1919–1934 Presidency of Yanqó Harveč

1939 Milk Crisis

Potential aggression in the Second Great War around 1938 that broke Tierrador’s neutrality (?)

Second Great War involvement (1938–1943) (?)

Auno Sanléc rise to power (1934–1942)

Occidental Cold War

Reign of Pedro Gomez (1956–1987) and Tamerc Valdez (1987–1994)

1965 Invasion of La Plazal

1968–1970 Saukhin Wars

Cronan-Tierrador relations in the 60s, 70s and 80s

1988 Healthcare Crisis and 1993 Financial Crisis

1994 Taisgol Riots

2003 Election scandal and La Plazal Riots

2006 Agricultural Shortage

Presidency of Rico Sándett (2008–2018)

Another Election Fraud Scandal

2014 Pan-Tierradorian Riots

Some smaller shit from 2016–2027

Geography
Tierrador is a fairly-sized nation, encompassing a landmass equal to 2,041,817km², with its coastline on the Songun Sea being around 1,300 km, and its coastline on the Orixtal Sea being more than double than the Songun, at about 2,750 km. Tierrador is one of the largest nations in South Crona, and its position on both the Songun and Orixtal Seas grant it a very important role in South Cronan politics. Mount Ypsál, on the La Plazal Island Region, is the highest peak in Tierrador, at 4,015 meters high. Tierrador lies between latitudes 23° and 10° N and longitudes ??° And ??° W. The nation is very hilly and mountainous in the center and northern borderlands, with the Qálheq Range in the north and the Tauçan, Šocan and Wečas Ranges towards the middle. The rest of the country consists of lowland terrain. There are three main rivers that run through Tierrador; the Rio Solo and Rio Platino in the east, and the Rio Azul in the west. On the east, Tierrador is bordered by Ceylonia; on the south, it is bordered by the Orixtal Sea; on the northwest, through the Qálheq Mountain Range, it is bordered by Istrenya; and finally it is bordered by _____ to the west. Along the Qálheqs in the Qaleqa Region, there are three small exclave towns (Šuhek, Zaranza, and Poqan) all completely surrounded by Istrenya.

Tierrador consists of many unique flora, including various species of magnolia, rhododendron, cane, palm, and oak, among others. Fauna of the nation is also diverse, encompassing a plethora of amphibian species, reptiles such as the Orixtal anole, the venomous Qazrogzo pit viper, and the large Tierradorian alligator, mammals like the Cronan black bear, the cottontail rabbit and the northern armadillo, and birds such as the blue-crested čaqo and the Holčaq parakeet.

Climate and environment
Tierrador is a diverse meteorological region with numerous climatic zones, including temperate, sub-tropical, tropical and arid – though the nation generally has a reputation as hot and humid, with long summers and short, mild winters. Most of Tierrador – except for the areas of higher elevations and areas near the western, southern and some northern fringes – encompass a humid subtropical climate zone. Crops grow readily in the lowland areas of Tierrador due to the climate consistently providing ideal growing seasons of at least six months before the first frost.

Tierrador’s hottest months are the northern hemisphere summer months (June, July, August). In the more lowland regions, temperatures usually reach around 32°C (91°F), but in the mountainous areas and the northern regions, average temperatures reach a much cooler 29°C (84°F). The coldest months are December, January and February, where temperatures can get as low as -4°C (23°F) up in the mountains and 1°C (34°F). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 45°C (113°F) on July 14, 1995 in Las Mesas, Arrecife, while the coldest temperature was recorded at -32°C (-27°F) on January 2, 1981 at the Roqas Observatory in the Qalhéq mountains in the Qaleqa Region.

Government and Politics
The government of Tierrador is a Federal assembly-independent directorial republic, which also includes many elements of a direct democracy with its government center in Taisgol. It operates under a constitutional framework that emphasizes democratic principles, separation of powers, and the protection of individual rights. The executive power is vested in the Executive Council, a body of eight leaders who serve as both the head of state and the head of government. Usually, the Executive Council is headed by a President (at this time, Francisco Pintón), who is also elected by popular vote and is usually the person in charge of said council. The President then appoints the eight Executive Council members, along with a Cabinet of Secretaries for the various Offices to assist in the administration of government affairs. Legislative authority is held by a unicameral Parliament, known as the Qangreč, comprising of 380 elected representatives from various political parties. The judiciary functions independently and interprets the laws of the Republic. Since 1994, all of these branches operate under a checks and balances system, where all three branches take measures to balance out the powers vested in each other in order to ensure a safe and fair political environment, and to prevent one branch from taking too much power in the nation. The nation has a multi-party system, with regular elections taking place every five years to ensure a competitive political landscape. The nation's government focuses on promoting social welfare, economic development, and environmental sustainability, while upholding the principles of equality, justice, and freedom for all its citizens.

Executive
The executive branch of Tierrador is responsible for the administration and governance of the country. Led by the President, along with 7 other Council Members, this branch carries out various roles to ensure the smooth functioning of the government and the implementation of policies. The President serves as the ceremonial head of state and is responsible for representing Tierrador domestically and internationally. The President is elected by the people and serves as the highest-ranking official in the executive branch. They often perform ceremonial duties, such as hosting state visits, delivering speeches on important occasions, and representing the nation in diplomatic negotiations. The President also has the power to appoint and dismiss government officials, including ministers, ambassadors, and judges. The Premier, on the other hand, holds the position of the head of government in Tierrador. The rest of the Council is typically appointed by the President, although they may also be elected by the legislative body. The role of the Council is to assist the President in overseeing the day-to-day administration of the country and manage the implementation of government policies. They work closely with other ministers and government officials to coordinate activities across various departments. The Premier (at this time, Angelina Šaphiana) is responsible for setting the government's agenda, proposing legislation, and making executive decisions.

Legislative
The Tierradorian legislative branch is a unicameral chamber called the Qangreč. It is comprised of approximately 380 representatives elected by universal suffrage every five years (usually after the second year of the President’s term) from all 20 regions based off the population of each region. The Qangreč is usually tasked with drafting and adopting federal law, assisting in appointing the Premier (head of government), holding hearings to inform the legislative process, conducting investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serving as the voice of the Tierradorian people and the regions in the federal government. The legislative process in Qangreč involves the introduction, discussion, and voting on proposed laws. Members bring forth bills, which undergo committee review and public hearings before reaching the floor for debate. The Qangreč encourages open dialogue and encourages members to articulate their perspectives, allowing for thorough deliberations. The Qangreč is designed to be a diverse and inclusive institution, reflecting the varied demographics and interests of the Tierradorian population. Its membership comprises individuals from different regions, communities, and political parties, aiming to ensure fair representation and foster democratic decision-making.

Federal subdivisions
Tierrador is divided into 20 fully devolved regions, which are then separated into 75 provinces, all represented in the Qangreč, the legislative body of Tierrador. The body of the Qangreč is made up by representatives determined by the populations of the provinces. Each of these regions were admitted over a 50-year period, whether by peaceful means or by invasion and coercion. These regions function as their own nations, where they are allowed to govern over their respective provinces, have their own parliaments and justice systems. They also possess partial fiscal autonomy, being able to create their own budgets and allocate resources for their Gross Domestic Products. In terms of defense, the Tierradorian regions have their own Regional Guard, which in turn is a division of the Tierradorian Defense Forces, and in the event of an armed conflict on Tierradorian soil, the Federal Government can temporarily dissolve and allow the regions to take control against the enemy.

Politics
Tierrador is a federal semi-presidential republic. There are close to 120 political parties across the 20 regions and 75 provinces of the nation, however, only 11 are represented on the national political circuit. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic". The constitution provides for a separation of powers and proclaims Tierrador’s "attachment to the Rights of All and the principles of National Sovereignty as defined by the Proclamation of 1867". The President of the Republic, who is the Head of State, is elected every 5 years by universal adult suffrage. Presidents can serve up to 2 terms for a 10 year service, as defined by the Limits Act of 1994. As for the remaining Council Members, they are appointed by the President soon after the President wins his or her election. Meanwhile, the Premier, who is the Head of Government, he or she is appointed by the Council if their party gains full control of the Qangreč. Currently, the President of Tierrador is Francisco Pintón, who was the Vice President of Tierrador from 2028 to 2031, though became the President following the death of Javier Cervantes. The Premier of Tierrador is Angelina Šaphiana, who was appointed in 2031 by President Francisco Pintón following the death of Javier Cervantes.

Demographics
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Ethnicity
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Language
''What language or languages do your country's people use? Are there any previously used languages no longer common? Are these languages native to your country or shared with another?''

Religion
''What do your country's people believe in religiously, if anything? How many groups are there?''

Education
How many people in your country are educated?

Culture and Society
Culture in Tierrador is very diverse and mixed, consisting of cultures from around the world, but predominantly from Crona, Great Kirav and Audonia. Tierrador is considered a “melting pot” of cultures, with over 150 languages being recorded throughout Tierradorian history. Mainstream Tierradorian culture is an Occidental culture largely derived from a number of factors including: the nation's key commercial location centered in South Crona, its rapidly changing history, going from an Empire to an authoritarian regime, and back to a traditional liberal democracy, and its status as a major power, traditions originating from foreign immigrants from nations such as Kiravia and Alstin, and cultural practices stemming back several centuries to the days of the Qabór Empire and the Abio Nations.

Education
State-funded education is free of charge and required for children from ages 5 to 18. Students go through 12 years of schooling with the option of attending university for 4-8 years, depending on the career pathway in which they choose. The nationally enforced curriculum, the Terranóq Plán le Stúdoq (TPS), is taught to students from grades 1 to 10. Students are then required take the Standard Abilities Exam (SAE) in the summer between grades 10 and 11, where they are scored on a range from 500 to 2000. Upon taking the SAE and the completion of the TPS pathway, students then spend grades 11 and 12 being tested on real world activities, such as public speaking, economics, finances, etc. Once they complete secondary education, students take part in a graduation ceremony, usually sponsored by the local government, and are recommended various universities based off of their skill level and choice of career. The literacy rate in Tierrador is 98%, however Tierradorians rank middle of the pack when it comes to education, due to high levels of corruption and many local schools that focus on the prioritization of non-educational activities, such as sports.

Kinship and family
How are families or kinship groups structured in your country?

Cuisine
Tierradorian cuisine is amongst one of the more unique types in South Crona, and is one of the most distinct features of the nation’s culture. Most cuisine from Tierrador is derived from the traditional Abio style of cuisine, including Corn meal cereal known as "grits", corn fritters, cornbread, brunswick stew, and barbecue. Nevertheless, there are many regional variations of said cuisines. For example, in the Porvaos and Arrecife Regions along with parts of Alóqal Region, the “Poraqal-style” is a rustic style cuisine which mainly relies on locally available ingredients and is often quick and easy to prepare. The makeup of Poraral cuisine typically includes seafood or sausages, steamed rice and any kind of vegetables.

Tierradorian drinks are nothing short of unique either, with many variants of tea (iced tea and sweet tea are the most popular), being brewed and offered as the main drink of choice in most Tierradorian restaurants. Many globally-popular soft drink brands, such as TerraCola and Mountain Dew originated in Tierrador, due to the main soda producer (Imperial Cola) being banned within the nation’s borders. Alcohol consumption is also very widespread throughout Tierrador. Tierradorian wine is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks worldwide, but most alcoholic drinks originate from the various regions, such as Maize whiskey from Polelu and Auqali, and Tansher Spirit from Tansher Region.

Arts and Literature
''What type of art do your people make? Do they have a tradition of painted art, well-crafted television shows, or great music?''

Sports
''Does your country have any major sports leagues? What types of sports are played, both professionally and for fun by your country's people?"''

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

Economy and Infrastructure
Tierrador’s economy is that of a developed, high-income mixed economy. With its GDP at ₽5.3 trillion, Tierrador boasts one of the top-5 largest economies in Crona, and ranks in a very high position across the world. It is characterized by sizeable government involvement, economic diversity, a skilled labor force, and high innovation. The Tierrador Pound, Tierrador’s currency, is amongst one of the most valuable currencies in Crona. Tierrador ranks top-10 in exported goods across Crona and the world, including petroleum and raw minerals. Agriculture, tourism, technology/communications and automobile manufacturing are other very notable sectors in the Tierradorian economy. Tierradorian companies such as Queñal Farms, TerrAuto, Auqali Lithium, TerraCola, and Orixtal are very well-known across Crona and the rest of the world. Since 1998, Tierrador has seen consistent positive net export numbers in its annual GDP reports, a compliment to the nation in spite of the fallout from the crisis faced in 1993 and the shortage of agricultural products in 2006.

Industries and International Trade
The five largest sectors of Tierrador are petroleum, automobile manufacturing, mineral extraction, agriculture and technology. When it comes to international trade, Tierrador does business with the entire continent of Crona, mainly with Alstin, Arcerion, Paulastra, and neighbors Istrenya and Ceylonia. Tierrador usually also does business with overseas powers such as Kiravia, Urcea, Cartadania, Burgundie, and Pelaxia. Tierrador exports and imports the most goods and services to and from these nations, along with most other world nations to a lesser degree.

Tourism and mass media are two emerging industries in the Tierradorian Republic that have greatly benefitted the nation. Taisgol, Qabór, Prisamarina, and Arroyo Rato are a few of the most visited cities in South Crona, attracting a combined total of 51 million tourists on a yearly basis. The Sonaxa and La Plazal island regions have also gained popularity in terms of tourism in Tierrador, attracting more than 16 million tourists from Levantia, Audonia and Sarpedon. Because of the tourism rate in Tierrador and the presence of people from other cultures, it has prompted 91% of Tierradorian citizens in the 18-26 age range to learn languages other than Tierradorian and Spanish, leading to 61% of Tierradorians being able to speak 3 languages or more.

Mass media in Tierrador reached the global spotlight in 1995, when Orixtal Communications, the largest telecommunications provider in South Crona, expanded its operations outside of the Cronan continent, opening operations in Kiravia, Urcea, Cartadania and Pelaxia. Soon after, H2O Communications began operations outside of Tierrador, leading to a very strong Tierradorian presence in the world of media. It is also one of the largest employers in Tierrador, with close to 2 million jobs created as of 2028.

Healthcare
Healthcare in Tierrador follows a fully devolved system, and each region has its own system of private and publicly funded healthcare. Public healthcare is provided to all Tierradorian permanent residents and is mostly free at the point of need, being paid for from general taxation. The regulatory agency for healthcare in Tierrador is the Tierrador Health Service (THS), and the THS has various divisions based on the 20 regions. Since 1979 expenditure on healthcare has been increased significantly. The 2018 data, which incorporates in health a chunk of what in Tierrador is classified as social care, has the nation spending ₽3,460 per head. In 2017 the nation spent ₽2,870 per person on healthcare. Despite all Tierradorians being able to opt out of coverage from the THS in favor of the much more expensive private health sector, citizens are still required to pay 8% of their annual income to the THS. This is done as a means to dissuade Tierradorians from using privatized healthcare, as government officials and majority public opinion view it as "unethical," despite it being proven to be more efficient in getting the care that Tierradorians need.

Labor
''How is labor organized within your country? Are there any social institutions or unions which deal with labor concerns?''

Transportation
Tierrador has a very large and extensive transportation system. The most prominent is the National Highway System, which consists of many express roads that connect every city in the nation, and spans for about 1.3 million miles of paved roads, and 28,000 miles of expressways. About 65% of all Tierradorians own a car, with most car ownership being recorded in the rural areas, where most towns are spaced out and regarded as more convenient to drive instead of walk. Tierrador also has an extensive rail transit system which spans for 21,000 miles. TerraRail, the governing body for all rail transit in Tierrador, is responsible for maintaining and opening the various passenger rail routes within the Tierradorian Republic. The most popular route is the Capital Express, which runs from Qabór to Arroyo Rato, and makes stops in Taisgol, Wadičaq, and Prisamarina, and carries 49 million passengers per year. Also, there are various metro intercity transit systems in every Tierradorian city with over 250,000 people. In terms of air travel, there are 204 airports all across Tierrador. The largest domestic airport, Taisgol Airport is the busiest airport in Crona, offering flights with 140 airlines to almost every nation in the world.

Energy
''What type of energy keeps your nation going? Are you renewable or use fossil fuels, and if you are renewable, how recently did your country transition?''

Technology
''How advanced is your country? Is it an innovator, or does it largely import new developments?''

Military
The Tierradorian Armed Forces serve as the national military of Tierrador. It is a fairly-sized military, with an estimated manpower total of about 750,000 soldiers across all branches of the military. Because of its neutrality policy, the Tierradorian army does not take part in armed conflicts in other countries, but joins some peacekeeping missions. Since 2000 the armed force department has maintained the TIA intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications.

Tierrador has earned a reputation of being one of the most difficult nations to stage a land invasion on, as gun politics in the nation allow for the civilian ownership of firearms if deemed fit for use. Because of this, close to 38 million Tierradorian non-military citizens own at least one firearm.