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 By thetime that Harrison's colonies merged into West Asteria in 1775, the term was already out of date to most residents, who merely called themselves Asterians.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 conquerers. 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. Colloqially 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. Altough 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 Protesant 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. Protesants 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 wth 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 Seoirse 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 October 25, 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 fledgeling 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 1966 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.

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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 cheesburgers." Mistrust in the central government is high in these regions, and as a result, townwide 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 figuehead 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 wartorn 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 congegate 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.

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 Protesants who opposed Harrison's Ænglish Rite. Although the acutal 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 beloned 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.

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