Porlos
Woqalate of Porlos 2 official names
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Motto: "Eyyakihilíq iyu Posaakahilitik" "Determination and prosperity" | |||||
Anthem: Ohi, mui Porsaahi | |||||
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Capital | Pacuí | ||||
Largest city | Naqili | ||||
Official languages | Soqweux Western Valley Qabóri | ||||
Recognised regional languages | Qabóri Cartadanian | ||||
Ethnic groups | 61.8% Soqweux 27.4% Mestizo 10.2% Ængle 0.6% Other | ||||
Demonym(s) | Porlosi Porsaahian Maleno-Odridian (antiquated) | ||||
Government | Unitary Semi-Constitutional Woqalate | ||||
• Woqali | Furtado II | ||||
Daniel Lopes | |||||
Legislature | Assembly of the Woqalate | ||||
Establishment | |||||
• Qabóri Colonization | 722–1351 | ||||
• Woqalate of Soqweux | 1351–1712 | ||||
• Formation as a satellite colony | 1713 | ||||
• Territory created | 1718 | ||||
• United with West Bay Colony | 1806 | ||||
• Carto-Porlosi Conflict | 1937-1938 | ||||
• Porlosi Autonomy Act | 1938 | ||||
• Woqalate restored | 1940 | ||||
Area | |||||
• Total | 701,225 km2 (270,744 sq mi) | ||||
Population | |||||
• 2030 census | 33,529,217 | ||||
• Density | 47.8/km2 (123.8/sq mi) | ||||
GDP (PPP) | 2031 estimate | ||||
• Total | $1.329 trillion | ||||
• Per capita | $41,526 | ||||
GDP (nominal) | 2031 estimate | ||||
• Total | $1.357 trillion | ||||
• Per capita | $40,457 | ||||
Gini (2035) | high | ||||
HDI (2035) | very high | ||||
Currency | Ponča (₽) | ||||
Time zone | UTC—11:00 | ||||
Mains electricity | 230 V, 50 Hz | ||||
Driving side | right | ||||
Calling code | +7 | ||||
Internet TLD | .po |
Porlos (Western Valley Qabóri: Porosakee, Soqweux: Porsaahi), officially the Woqalate of Porlos (Western Valley Qabóri: Porosakee Woqalatái, Soqweux: Wayyihikeelito Porsaahi), is a sovereign country in southwestern Crona. Located in the heart of the Old Cartadanian colonies, Porlos shares land borders with the UR Territories of Veraise and Betlands, along with Asteria and Ormatia. The country covers an area of 701,225 square kilometres (270,744 sq mi), making it the world's 30th-largest country by area, but with around 33.5 million inhabitants, it is one of the least populous nations worldwide. It has a largely tropical climate with some subarctic zones, predominantly in the northern interior. The country's capital is Pacuí, near the central interior of the country, and it's largest city and financial center is the coastal metropolis of Naqili, situated on the Sea of St. John.
Although inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, what is now Porlos was molded by a mix of Cartadanian and Qabór-Tierric civilization, due to the colonization from both empires. It began with the conquering of the Betlands region, which at the time would be referred to as the Soqweux, named after the Soqweux people, by Imperial Qabór. There, for close to 700 years, the Qabóri settlers established several colonies and ports, which were typically limited to just coastal settlements and trading posts, as the areas being as far as they were from the Qabóri proper area were heavily neglected by the central government of the Woqalate. In 1351, modern-day Porlos and the surrounding areas were granted independence as the Woqalate of Soqweux. Relations between Qabór and the Soqweux would remain tightly-knit, as most economic, social and political influences would still be brought upon from the Woqalate. Eventually, following Aster's expedition and the colonization of present-day Asteria by Faneria, settlers from Cartadania arrived and established several colonies and posts of their own, starting in the 16th century as the West Bay Colony. In the 19th century, Cognatian settlers slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. The Cartadanian colony that became Porlos did not have its present borders until the early 20th century due to resistance by native groups and Tierrador. The Cartadanian settlements were very unstable, due to outsider influence from various indigenous nations led by Tierrador, and in 1938, following a brutal year-long conflict, Porlos was granted its independence from Cartadania. Eventually, the Porlosi Woqalate would be restored, as it stands today.
Porlos has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, especially since the end of its civil war. Its standard of living is amongst one of the highest in Crona. Porlos has a high-income economy and is one of the most economically and socially stable nations in Crona, ranking highly in competitiveness, per capita income, globalization, peace, and economic freedom. Porlos also performs well in the region in terms of sustainability of the state and democratic development, and boasts one of the lowest homicide rates in South Crona. Porlos is regarded as one of the most socially progressive countries in Crona. It ranks high on global measures of personal rights, tolerance, democracy, and inclusion issues, including its acceptance of the LGBT community. It was the first Cronan country to fully legalize cannabis, doing so in 1967, as well as same-sex marriage (legalized in 1972).
History
Pre-Cognatian era
Similar to most South Cronan nations, the first inhabitants of Porlos likely migrated from Audonia to Varshan, then to what is now Porlos. Many indigenous tribes of note, including the Soqweux, Porsaahi, Qaitekee, and Anterii tribes set up permanent farming settlements throughout the land. It is important to note that Porlos, along with Veraise and Ormatia, were three of the only regions at that time to establish the aforementioned permanent settlements, in contrast to the nomadic hunter-gatherer settlements seen in more southern areas, such as modern-day Tierrador, Ceylonia, and Istrenya. The lands settled by the Soqweux and Porsaahi tribes were challenged by the early Abio Woqalate in the 700s BC, however, the tribes stood their ground against the Abio and successfully pushed them back twice.
Around 150 BC, the Soqweux had experienced a large population boom within their tribe. This allowed for them to project more power over the other tribes of Porlos, as these tribes mostly relied on the vast resources of the Soqweux. After the Abio Woqalate fell in 677 AD, and was replaced by the much more powerful Qabóri Woqalate, the Soqweux tribe had grown its sphere of influence to all of modern-day Porlos, Asteria, Betlands, and Veraise, to the point where it was nearing the Qabóri lines. The Qabóri city of Winnecomac, at the time split between the Winnecom, Soqweux, and Tulang tribes but under Qabóri jurisdiction, became the site of many skirmishes from 689 to 722. By the mid-720s, Qabór had sent a number of legions into Soqweux territory, taking the entire region in a little under eight months. While fear loomed over the many tribes of the new Qabóri colonies, the Woqalate was surprisingly fair towards the tribes, encouraging them to cooperate with the qoyalets of the Qabóri mainland.
Qabóri colonization in Soqweux lasted relatively long, from 722 to 1335. Soqweux served as an integral role to the Qabóri economy, exporting large amounts of gold, silver, silk, wool, and olive oil. The colony was separated into seven qoyalets, with the borders giving fair consideration to the tribal makeup of the area. Many modern-day elements of Porlosi culture were derived from the years of Qabóri conquest. The colonization was very beneficial for the area, as the Qabóri military provided reasonable defense against the looming Zurgite Varshan. Before colonization, Soqweux was heavily affected by the yearly Hunts, however following the arrival of Qabór, any attempts on the Soqweux population from Varshan were met with fierce resistance from the Woqalate.
Woqalate of Soqweux
Following nearly 650 years of Qabóri colonization, the Woqalate of Soqweux was granted its independence in 1335. This had occurred due to the weakening of the Qabóri Woqalate by the Matokté Tashcanate, and it had become a nuisance to govern such large territory from Qabór. The colonies in Ormatia, Soqweux's neighbor, would been granted their independence almost twenty years later, as the Woqalate of Tasokotee, for similar reasons. The new Woqalate would become a vassal to Qabór, with a ruling dynasty implemented that followed practically the same views as the then-ruling dynasty of Qabór, the House of Qhamahee. This ruling dynasty was referred to as the House of Soqweux, taking the same name as the Woqalate itself. The House of Soqweux would turn out to be the only ruling house in Porlosi history. The first Woqali, Sonta I, was formerly from modern-day Vernaza, known at the time as Yaqoma. Sonta was a high-ranking official in Yaqoma's qoyalet, however in 1320, she had been exiled due to a false treason accusation against the Woqalate. Having disproved this accusation around the same time as Soqwuex's independence, the Qangreč had allowed her and her family to take control of the new Soqweux Woqalate as compensation for her troubles. Sonta ruled as Woqali until her death in 1351.
Following the death of Sonta I, her daughter, Sonta II, took the throne as the Woqali. Her reign lasted slightly longer, and she established some of the first instances of land reforms in the Woqalate, similar to the Qabóri land system. The remaining years of the 1300s were characterized by increased competition within the Woqalate, as the Winnecom tribe had increased their power projection, taking over the southeastern qoyalets of the Woqalate. It was also around this time that Aster's expedition occurred in the late 1380s, by Ardmori explorer Paul Aster, occurring in various areas of Crona, including Soqweux. Originally, the Woqalate established passive relations with Aster and his crew. However, this would soon pave the way for Levantine and Sarpedonian colonization in the early 1700s. By the beginning of the 15th century, Soqweux had essentially been split into three major tribes. By this time, the Woqalate had moved its capital city from Naqili (then-called Abikaali), to present-day Pacuí, in a much more mountainous area of the Woqalate. It was at this time as well that the Matokté Tashcanate was reaching its declining stages. Because of this, the Qabóri Woqalate was able to divert more attention towards its vassal states, resulting in a massive spike in Soqweux trading activity. Woqali Sonta IV, who took the throne in 1477, reigned for close to 49 years, and as of today, she is the longest-serving monarch in Porlosi history.
The 16th century for Soqweux saw massive spikes in mining activity, as technological advancements made finding new pockets of valuable resources fairly easy for the Woqalate. Soqweux became one of the first South Cronan nations to trade with Levantine powers. Despite the advancements, the Woqalate's territory would begin to see massive reductions at the hands of said Levantine powers. In the early 1600s, the Burgoignesc Colonial Empire would arrive in what is now Veraise, and establish many trading posts along the province's coastline. This would eventually evolve into the Veraise Colony, with Burgundie expanding further inland, until a massive chunk had been taken from the Soqweux. While the Soqweux had attempted to defend itself, it received very little assistance from Qabór. The reason for this is debated, however most scholars believe that the Qabóri Woqalate allowed the Levantine power into Soqweux, as to not jeopardize the two nations' relationships.
Despite the bad blood from Burgundie's advances, both the Empire and Woqalate came to an agreement, and Burgundie returned small portions of land to Soqweux, which contained many valuable resources. Soqweux, along with Qabór, fought alongside the Burgoignesc colony and Alstin in the Orixtal Crusade, which involved Zurgite Varshan attempting to raid parts of South Crona, which was then met with fierce resistance from said coalition, and it had ended in the Varshani Navy being completely obliterated. The Battle of Naqili in 1656 emphasized Soqweux's ability to hunker down against a much more powerful enemy. Despite the victory for Soqweux, the conflict had left the Woqalate's defenses in ruins. While surrounding nations offered to assist in rebuilding efforts, they proved futile due to the demoralization of the Soqweux people. This would begin the downfall of the Soqweux Woqalate.
Levantine and Sarpedonian colonization
Towards the end of the 18th century, settlers from Faneria had begun establishing permanent settlements in the southern qoyalets of the Woqalate. This would also pave the way for Cartadanian settlers to colonize the land, though in more northern areas. In 1791, Naqili was captured by Cartadanian forces, and the Soqweux Woqalate was reduced to small pockets of land in the Qalhéqs. Cartadania would establish the colony of Porlos, where it would rule over for over a century. Owing to the collapse of many of the South Cronan Woqalates in favor for total Occidentalization. The many native groups of Porlos would be suppressed by their colonial overlords, and a large majority of the resources extracted over the 138-year period were sent back to the Cartadanian metropole, with the bare minimum being used for Porlosi infrastructure.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the Qabóri Woqalate had returned to its previous state, under the House of Havqanoq. The Woqalate began to amplify the pressure against Cartadanian colonization, as they had done throughout the country's colonization of Ceylonia, though not as severe. Despite this, Ceylonia's independence was granted in 1813, during the Takosenic Wars. This was seen as inspiration for the people of Porlos, and with the assistance of a much more aggressive Qabóri foreign policy against the Occident, it had prompted them to begin small insurgencies in the mountainous areas of the colony. The Porlosi Liberation and Anti-Colonization Front, or PLIAD[1], was founded in 1902, with funding from Qabór, as the main rebel militia in the Porlosi independence campaign. The 1910s through the 1930s had been a period of increased support for Porlosi independence, which mostly fell under deaf ears due to Cartadania's high-demanding involvement in the Second Great War. Because of this, PLIAD had begun to find different ways of garnering the country's attention.
The two main leaders of PLIAD, Saula Sá and Elísio Medina, originally Ceylon nationals, were sent to Porlos by the Walakee State of Tierrador in 1935, to reorganize the militia. They began to plan for a massive revolution against Cartadania, and needed to gain much more support from indigenous Porlosi groups. They traveled to the city of San Ysidro, where they began to rally the local population. This would begin a domino effect which culminated in the Carto-Porlosi Conflict.
Carto-Porlosi Conflict
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Ricardo_and_Enrique_Flores_Magon.jpg/200px-Ricardo_and_Enrique_Flores_Magon.jpg)
The Carto-Porlosi conflict, sometimes referred to as the Luso Wars, became a series of conflicts between Cartadania and a very successful insurgency in Porlos in the late 1930s, at this point being publicly supported by the Walakee State, which caused an even larger rift between Tierrador and Cartadania. Cartadania, having been the sovereign of much of southwestern Crona for just over 100 years at the beginning of the conflicts, reflected a colonial ambition that was, at the time it began in 1791, one of the most far-flung in the western world. The conflict stemmed from PLIAD, that had previously been present in the Porlosi capital city, Pacuí, storming the Cartadanian Armed Forces base in San Ysidro. Initially, the group of approximately 250 men and women entered the town square, looting a local department store and assaulting its employees and patrons. The group continued causing civil unrest, and while San Ysidro was quite small for a "city", with just over 8,000 inhabitants at the time, the community was largely military personnel, and the assault occurring throughout the area triggered a response from the Department of Defense.
Initially, military police began the response effort to curtail the rebellion by a series of arrests primarily around San Ysidro Falls, but when members of the militia began to storm the base itself, the Army mobilized in an effort to quell the rebellion altogether. In the coming days and weeks, the rebel militia, at this point known as Internal Liberal Party for Action and Defense (Cartadanian: Partido liberal interno para ação e defesa, PLIAD), had grown to well over a thousand people in the area, accounting for 1/8th of the bodycount in San Ysidro. The base was instructed to refrain from using live ammunition as Alahuela wanted to avoid a global response, but due to PLIAD's unbiased usage of lethal weaponry, President Leila Cavalcani executed the order. The basis for the conflict was assumed to be independence due to ongoing talks about an autonomous government, but due to Alahuela's grasp on the region, it was reluctant to let go, and as similar sentiments continued to form across Porlos, the military had to mobilize its other forces.
Because Porlos is largely inland, the Department of Defense relied mostly on army and air force support. The conflict, more or less, went in favor of Alahuela, but due to the growing issues in Sarpedon around the Great Wars, it was forced to end the campaign to subdue the militia. As a result, on 8 August 1938, the National Congress authorized the Porlosi Autonomy Act, granting the people of Porlos the right to govern themselves. For many living in Porlos, PLIAD had painted an idea of prosperity and cooperation, especially between Porlos and Tierrador. While the relationship with Ceylonia has always been amicable and the independence it would receive 26 years later would be one of the most peaceful in history, the drawback of Cartadania from Porlos was extremely aggressive and abrupt, which devastated the country's new economy. As a consequence of the act, Alahuela nullified all operations in the country and essentially forced all Cartadania-based businesses to withdraw from the country, dealing a bitter blow to the newly formed country. The blowback was so bitter that talks of re-annexation came up multiple times, but Alahuela had turned its sight domestic and essentially cut all ties with the country. Cartadania's Air Force continued to patrol the surrounding airspace of Ormatia, however, and reconnaissance near the border showed the disarray in Porlos, not caused by the combat in San Ysidro, but by optimistic independence.
Cold War era and present day
Despite the devastation of the Porlosi economy following the withdrawal of all Cartadanian economic activites, it would not last for long. In 1940, the newly-founded government of Porlos would eventually be reorganized, with the assistance of the Walakee State under Grand Woqali Satola Sanléc. The same government structure that was seen under the Woqalate of Soqweux would be restored as the Woqalate of Porlos, establishing Sonta I as the first Woqali of Porlos since 1712. As the return took place, most colonial aspects from Cartadania would slowly be scrapped and replaced with indigenous Cronan influences. This included demoting Cartadanian as an official language and replacing it with Soqweux. Along with the many cultural changes, the Porlosi government also allowed many Tierradorian companies and organization to open subsidiaries within the nation. Auqali Lithium, one of the largest mineral extraction companies in the world, began operations in the country in 1951, boosting the nation's economy by a significant margin.
During the Occidental Cold War, Porlos established a neutral stance, however it was involved in numerous South Cronan conflicts, mostly on the side of Tierrador and Ceylonia. In 1965, the Porlosi Defense Force sent 350 peacekeeping troops to fight alongside the TDF in the Calico Bay War. In late 1965, During the onset of the Mosquito War, the Porlosi government issued an ultimatum to various Istrenyan-based drug cartels operating within the Porlosi borders to cease all operations within the nation. When the demands were not met, the Porlosi government began a purge in many cities, arresting over 95,000 cartel members, along with an additional 45,000 conspirators, over the span of a few months. Another way that Porlos fought cartel activity was by legalizing marijuana and copium in 1967. This made it so the trade of both substances, which were the two most popular drugs sold by cartels, would become much safer and more regulated. Following this, the PDF would send military support to Tierrador in its fight against Istrenya and the cartels. In 1969, Woqali Sonta I was shot and killed by Istrenyan national Ka'wole Tatami, prompting Porlos to officially enter the war against Istrenya. While this involvement did not last long, the PDF managed to halt several of Istrenya's advances and even push further back into key Istrenyan areas. After the Dalton Accords in 1970, the PDF withdrew its troops from Istrenya.
Following the PDF's withdrawal from the Mosquito War, the country began mass reforms in all sectors, which included abolishing mandatory conscription in 1971, along with reducing the military's size by a significant margin, legalizing same-sex marriage in 1972 (the first country in South Crona to do so). The Woqalate also reduced the military budget, and only mobilized troops to the border with Ormatia, where there were multiple instances of border clashes between the two countries. The Mountain War, which lasted from May to August of 1974 saw the mobilization of Ormatian troops, fighting for small strips of land on the border, which Ormatia claimed was rightfully theirs. The increased tensions with Asteria also brought upon difficulties with the new military policies, as growing Asterian aggression towards Tierrador reflected also on Porlos. Several incidents in 1978 took place in San Ysidro, where the city was placed on high alert numerous times due to the constant threats of missile strikes from the ADF. In 1981, Porlos, along with Ceylonia, sent a combined 1,100 troops to the Tulangia Commonwealth during the Cowboy Crisis to assist the TDF in combatting hostile Asterian forces.
The 1980s saw one of the biggest cultural and economic advancements in Porlosi history. Porlosi media became widely consumed across South Crona, and some films, songs, and television series' became household names in Tierrador, Alstin, Ceylonia, and even in Varshan, where it was illegally smuggled into the country. The country's largest city, Naqili, was the most visited city in South Crona for five straight years in the 1980s, due to its cultural and economic significance. However, the country was severely impacted by the 1993 Tierradorian financial crisis, due to a lot of Porlosi investments and funds being tied to Tierradorian economic funds, and the country's use of the Ponča, which depreciated by a significant margin due to the onset of the crisis.
Once the country recovered from the financial crisis, it began to see a sharp rise in economic activity. In 1997, Nathan Kuisaalio became the first Repataahiaka Prime Minister since 1961, and began a series of governmental reforms throughout the country. This included reducing the powers of the Woqali, who at the time was newly-coronated Furtado I. The 1997–2000 Porlosi reforms saw Porlos being shifted to a constitutional monarchy, with the Woqali holding limited power in the day-to-day administration of the country. The administrative divisions of the country were also redrawn, adding three new provinces (qoyyalaatisi) in the southern end of the country, and expanding the Assembly of the Woqalate from 188 members to 206 members. Porlos received large amounts of economic support from Tierrador following the crisis, and began to welcome many Tierradorian-based companies, such as Orixtal Telecommunications, Pasco Retail, Summit Petroleum (from 2002 to 2013 only), and Prontoburger.
Porlos received international recognition and condemnation following the 2011 Naqili coast oil spill, where an oil rig operated by Summit Petroleum suffered a massive wellhead blowout. This was caused by vague safety regulations and the refusal to follow them by Summit Petroleum. Anti-foreign oil protesters began fighting for the expulsion of Summit, along with four other foreign oil-drilling companies from Porlos. In 2013, Summit was banned from Porlos.
In 2027, the ice hockey club Naqili Hornets became the first non-Tierradorian OHL club to win the Watson Cup, sweeping the Tawakee Hurricanes. The last club to achieve this feat was the Istrenya-based Karaba Mountaineers in 2018.
Geography
Porlos is located on the southwestern coast of Crona overlooking the Sea of St. John. The country covers almost 400,000 square kilometers of South Crona, making it the third-smallest country in that region, only larger than Asteria and Malentina. Porlos shares land borders with Betlands and Asteria to the south, Ormatia to the east, and Veraise and a small land border with Ehemo to the north. The country’s shape on a map is very similar to a dagger, earning it the moniker “Ludaaopikais”, which roughly translates to “the dagger”.
The country is very mountainous, with the Qalhéq mountain range splitting the country into two geographical regions; qoastaali (coast), the smaller but most populous of the two, and the yaapilati (highlands), which houses the country’s capital city, Pacuí. The yaapilati also features the highest peak in Porlos, Mt. Chavez, at approximately 6,521 meters, located on the country’s border with Ormatia.
Porlos’ coastline also serves as the source for the Wakiteelaai River, which runs throughout the entire country. Wakieelaai also splits into the Betlands River, which runs southwest into the Betlands region. Porlos has many small freshwater lakes spread across the highland region. The largest of these lakes, Lake Qihaati, is the largest source of tap water for the capital city of Pacuí. The coastline also features many barrier islands, which serve as prominent tourist destinations among many of the locals.
Climate
The Porlosi climate is generally temperate, though it can vary throughout the different localities. Typically, it varies from glacial conditions in the southeast portion of the country, to a more tropical, Mediterranean climate in the more populous western coast. There is an abundance of tall palm trees across the coastline. Summers are generally warm and humid, with enough rainfall for large cow pastures seen on the foot of the Qalhéq Mountains. The winters in Porlos are the opposite, with some mountainous qoyalets even experiencing heavy snowfall during the middle of the season. Porlos is unusual as it is one of the coolest countries on average in South Crona, a region which typically has much warmer, tropical nations. The country’s climate is comparable to the likes of Tierrador’s, another very mountainous country, though Tierrador sees less extreme winters, and is more so in the middle of extreme summer and winter conditions.
Climate data for Porlos | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
27.3 (81.1) |
29.4 (84.9) |
28.9 (84.0) |
27.7 (81.9) |
23.1 (73.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
21.9 (71.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 10.4 (50.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
22.4 (72.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
27.9 (82.2) |
27.1 (80.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
21.9 (71.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
12.1 (53.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
Average low °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
13.3 (55.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.1 (77.2) |
24.7 (76.5) |
21.6 (70.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
13.9 (57.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
17.0 (62.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 224 (8.8) |
247 (9.7) |
279 (11.0) |
388 (15.3) |
459 (18.1) |
501 (19.7) |
513 (20.2) |
497 (19.6) |
454 (17.9) |
327 (12.9) |
289 (11.4) |
265 (10.4) |
4,443 (175) |
Source: Ixnay Climatological Society |
Politics
Porlos is one of two Woqalates in Crona, the other being Tierrador. The country has maintained a liberal democratic system under its 1941 Constitution, which replaced the territorial constitution that leaned the government towards Alahuela's governance. Porlos is also a unitary state, comprising of twelve provinces, with a strong central government. The Porlosi government features many elements from the political systems and institutions of Tierrador, such as a unicameral legislature, written constitution, the implementation of Woqalate Law, and an overlapping dual-court system.
Woqali Furtado II serves as the head of state of Porlos, however, unlike the Tierradorian monarch, the role of the Porlosi monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions. Under the provisions of the 1991 Porlosi constitutional revisions, the Woqala lacks any formal political power. The Woqala opens the annual Assembly session, chairs the Higher Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council (Soqweux: Akaahaliinapaa), and receives diplomatic credentials of foreign ambassadors to Porlos and signs those of Porlosi ambassadors sent abroad. In addition, the Woqala pays state visits abroad and hosts those incoming.
Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Assembly of the Woqalate. The Assembly consists of 206 members. General elections for the Assembly are held every five years, with members of the Assembly being elected based on population. Once elected, members serve a five-year term, with a limit of three terms, or fifteen years overall. The internal workings of the Assembly are, in addition to the 1941 Constitution, regulated by the Assembly Act (Soqweux: Asseehamalica), and the branch operates in cooperation with the executive and judicial branch under a checks-and-balances system. Despite this, many consider the Assembly to be the most powerful entity in Porlos, as it can override many judicial and executive rulings, often with little to no objection from those branches.
Judicial power is almost entirely represented by the two main courts; the Hihkaalaasi (High Court) and the Taarsakaalaasi (Tribunal Court). Both of these courts are tasked with enforcing Woqalate Law throughout the country, though each court has different means of enforcing Woqalate Law. The dual-court system in Porlos is almost entirely derived from the Judicial system of Tierrador, where the High Court usually oversees criminal law cases, while the Tribunal Court oversees administrative law and civil disputes, such as lawsuits.
Administrative divisions
![](/images/thumb/7/78/Porlos_subdivisions.png/300px-Porlos_subdivisions.png)
Porlos is a unitary state, divided into twelve first-level administrative provinces (qoyyalaatisi). The provinces are administered through directly elected provincial assemblies (qoyyalaasekoliaat), who in turn elect the Provincial Governor (wotaashiaake). The provinces are sub-divided into 411 second-level parishes (parsahikaatia), which in turn are administered by a directly elected parish council, headed by a commissioner and a small executive cabinet. The cities of Pacuí and Naqili are referred to as cahilaatika, which does not translate into Ænglish, however in most Ænglish descriptions, they are considered as province-parishes. The 1941 Constitution grants provinces the right to possess partial fiscal autonomy, being able to create their own budgets and allocate resources for their Gross Domestic Products. Similar to the regions of Tierrador, the central government can temporarily dissolve and allow the provinces to take control against a foreign enemy in the event of armed conflict on Porlosi soil.
Military and Law enforcement
The Porlosi Defense Forces are constitutionally subordinate to both the Prime Minister, via the Porlosi Defense Office, and the Assembly of the Woqalate, via the various Defense Committees. As of 2034, there are 96,000 personnel serving in the Porlosi Army, 31,000 in the Porlosi Navy, and 28,000 in the Porlosi Air Force. The PDF is organized on the essential principle of legitimate Porlosi self-defense: the repelling of any external military aggression in order to guarantee freedom of the Porlosi people, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Its secondary missions include committing to multinational operations within the framework of the League of Nations, participating in internal support missions, assisting allied nations, and establishing a sub-regional defense system. Military service is voluntary, with enlistment age between 18 and 24 years old and no conscription. Decades of Tierradorian military influence and support allowed for the PDF to evolve into what it is today, with the PDF being considered as one of the best equipped in South Crona. The PDF manages its own weapon research facilities, shipyards, ordnance, tank and plane factories, mostly using resources imported from Tierrador and Alstin. Following the end of The Deluge, real military expenditures declined steadily and the defense budget in 2026 was only about 0.56% of GDP, a historical minimum, below the Cronan average. Within the defense budget itself, funding for training and even basic maintenance has been significantly cut, a factor contributing to the accidental loss of the Porlosi submarine Kuaahalisa in 2029. Porlos has a mutual defense treaty with Tierrador, Ormatia, Ceylonia and Istrenya, and hosts three TDF military bases within its borders. Domestically, Porlos has a highly respected police force. The Porsaahi Paaturosia (Porlosi Patrol) has 9,000 total employees, with jurisdiction spanning the entire country. There are also local police departments in every settlement in the country. Crime in Porlos is one of the lowest in South Crona, with a rate of 950 per 100,000 people. Naqili, the country's largest city, was the safest city in Crona from 2023-2026
Economy
Porlos boasts a gross domestic product of $871 billion, which is one of the highest in South Crona. Being on the more developed side of the continent, Porlos enjoys many tightly-knit economic agreements with the fellow Woqalate of Tierrador, along with close ties to other regional powers such as Alstin, Arcerion, Ceylonia, and Paulastra, which also happen to be their largest trade partners in that order. Porlos is a welfare state, and has a mixed economy, with free private enterprise along with some government ownership. Since 1940, Porlos has mostly been at the helm of more liberalized administrations, which influenced the drastic changes to what the economy is today. Public healthcare in Porlos is accessible to all citizens for free, using the same model as the Tierradorian and Ceylonian systems, and new parents enjoy 50 weeks of paid parental leave. The country's total income is derived from the production and distribution of its many resources, mostly petroleum and natural gas.
Porlos has a low unemployment rate of 2.6%, with about 71% of the population between the ages of 15–74 being employed. Porlosi residents in the labor force are either employed or looking for work. 6.5% of Porlosi residents between the ages of 18–65 receive a disability pension and 38% of the country's labor force are employed by the Porlosi government, which is the highest in South Crona. The country also boasts some of the highest hourly productivity levels and average hourly wages in Crona. Porlosi society employs strict egalitarian values, which has allowed the country to see a smaller gap in the incomes of the lowest paid worker and the most wealthy CEOs in the country. This is also evident in Porlos' low Gini coefficient.
The country is richly endowed with various natural resources including petroleum, natural gas, hydropower, forests, and minerals. Large reserves of petroleum and natural gas were discovered in the 1970s, which led to the country's GDP increasing by double over the span of ten years following the discovery. Due to the vast natural resource deposit compared to its population size, Porlos has been able to boast of the highest standards of living in Crona. In 2031, almost 27% of state revenues were generated from the petroleum industry, with an additional 21% being generated from mineral extraction.
Resources
Porlos exports a large amount of petroleum and natural gas. The country's economy is mostly built on the oil industry, with export revenues making up 36% of the country's total revenue. Petropor is the country's main state-owned oil and natural gas extractor and distributor. The country is the 3rd-largest exporter of oil in Crona. In 2004, the Porlosi government established the country's first sovereign wealth fund Wealsaachatiki 2004, nicknamed the "Petrochatiki" (Oil fund), using revenues generated from oil exports. Along with Petropor, the Porlosi government controls its petroleum resorces through other state ownership ventures in different companies, such as Soqweux Drilling, PNPDC, and NODC.
Porlosi companies drilled close to 7,000 oil wells between 1972 and 2023, the majority coming from the mountainous regions of the country. The Waasten Fields are the most productive oil drilling areas in the country, producing between 78 and 166 million barrels of oil in 2023. The Naqili Coast Fields are located in the St. John's Sea, and are the largest underwater drilling areas in the country.
Porlos contains a significant amount of various mineral resources. In 2027, its mineral production output was valued at close to $2.6 billion. The most valuable minerals found in the country include gold, titanium, lithium, calcium carbonate or limestone, granite, nickel, and iron ore. Tierradorian-based Western Mining Company and Auqali Lithium operate within the country's borders, in cooperation with Porlosi state-owned mining firms, such as Minepor, Naqili Lithium (a direct subsidiary of Auqali Lithium), and Twaasaiki.
As of 2032, Porlos had forests that covered 61% of the land. Since at least 2029, there has been a substantial increase in logging, and logging occurs not only nationwide in private land, but even in supposedly protected land like the national park system. There have been many logging reforms in response to pressure from foreign influencers like Tierrador and Ceylonia, Despite this, the logging still continues in the country at an exorbitant rate, with the Porsaahi Forsteerikatiak (Porlosi Forest Administration) recording increased profits as a result.
Transport
The Porlosi road network consists of about 105,261 kilometers of total roads, with 77,522 kilometers being paved and 2,400 kilometers being Autoosorouutaiki motorways. Porlosi roads follow a hierarchy, in the order of Autoosorouutaiki (motorway), naasikoleeki (national), qoyyalaatisiai (provincial), and parsahikaataai (parish). The Autoosorouutaiki system was established in 1957 by Woqali Dausi I, and with foreign funding from Tierrador and Ceylonia, the motorways were steadily built over the course of 40 years. They are used almost daily by logistics companies and Porlosi citizens who wish to travel to and from different cities, with the purpose of reducing heavy traffic by implementing exit ramps rather than intersections or roundabouts. Naasikoleeki roads follow a similar path to the Autoosorouutaiki system, but are mostly two-lane, evolving into dual-carriageway routes only in large cities, such as Pacuí and Naqili.
Rail transit in Porlos is controlled by Porsaahi Ratikayaai (POR). Porlos' main railway network consists of 4,232 kilometers of standard gauge lines, with about 956 kilometers operating as high-speed rail. Porsaahi Ratikayaai holds a state-owned rail monopoly in the country, controlling both freight and passenger rail. POR's passenger rail service transported over 97 million passengers on average in the 2034 fiscal year. Investment in new infrastructure and maintenance is financed through the state budget, and subsidies are provided for passenger train operations. POR operates long-haul trains, including night trains, regional services and four commuter train systems, around Pacuí, Naqili, Waatijia, Tovaaski, and Anteerii.
There are 65 public airports in Porlos, 54 of which are owned by the state-owned Aairtesaahik. The busiest airport in Porlos is the Naqili-Dausi International Airport, which is one of nine Porlosi airports that serves 1 million passengers annually. Naqili-Dausi serves as the gateway to Porlos, with 20 different international airlines offering services to the airport. It also serves as one of three hubs for the state-owned airline Aairlaakosi Porsaahi, with the other two being Pacuí-Muntaaisi Intenational Airport and Anteerii International Airport. A total of 84 million passengers passed through Porlosi airports in 2034, of whom 21 million were international.
Tourism
Tourism contributed to 17.2% of the Porlosi economy. Tourism dominates the country's service sector, with every 1 in 13 residents in the Porlosi workforce holds a job in the tourism industry. For the most part, tourism in the country is seasonal, with most tourists visiting the country during the months of June and August. The industry's positive effects are felt throughout Porlos, increasing business in retail, restaurants and bars, and increasing seasonal employment. The industry is considered an export business due to the foreign visitor spending significantly reducing the country's trade imbalance. The tourist industry in Porlos has seen a sharp growth since the 1990s, attracting more than 23 million visitors each year (as of 2027). Tierrador, Alstin, Asteria, Arcerion, Ormatia, Kelekona, Paulastra, Istrenya, the Cape, Ceylonia, Kiravia and Porlos itself provide the most visitors. Tourist stays averaged 5.2 days in 2029.
The most popular tourist destinations in Porlos are the coastal cities of Naqili, Anteerii and Ukusaaki, and the inland, more mountainous cities of Pacuí, Waatijia, Tovaaski, and Kawskeevi. While the country's coastline is relatively small, there is an abundance of unpolluted marine areas with nature reserves, along with 102 beaches that meet tourism standards. There are also many ski resorts in the inland portion of the country, attracting more than 12 million visitors in the winter months. Porlos is one of five South Cronan countries that develop commercial naturist resorts, the other four being Tierrador, Ceylonia, Istrenya, and Ormatia.
Demographics
In the third quarter of 2034, Porlos had an estimated population of 14,529,217. Around 62% of Porlosi residents are ethnic Soqweux, a Cronan indigenous group which historically dominated the country and its surrounding areas. Before Occidental colonization, Porlos was almost 100% indigenous Cronan, with a small percentage of Ængle-origin traders scattered throughout the country. During and after being colonized by Cartadania, the country began to see a rise in Mestizo individuals, who now make up 27.4% of all Porlosi residents. In 2029, 62% of Porlosi residents age 18 and over were married, 8% were widowed, 19% were divorced, and 11% had never been married. In 2031, the total fertility rate for Porlos stood at 1.6 children per women, and it is estimated that the average household in the nation consists of two or more children. It has been estimated that about 16% of all children live in a single-parent household, with 7% living with the mother and 9% with the father, as of 2029.
Language
Porlos has two official languages: Soqweux and Western Valley Qabóri. About 56% of the population declared Soqweux as their native language, with another 21% declaring Western Valley Qabóri as their native language, and 17% declared Cartadanian. No other language reached more than 6% in that number. The most spoken languages beside the two official languages are Qabóri, Cartadanian, Ænglish, Kelekonese, and Kiravic-Coscivian. A 2021 survey revealed that 64% of Porlosi residents claim knowledge of at least one foreign language. According to a 2015 EC survey, 42% of Porlosi residents speak Ænglish as the second language, 36% speak Qabóri, 11% speak Cartadanian, and 10% speak Burgoignesc. Latin is spoken by 4%, and 2% of Porlosi residents speak Pelaxian.
Education
Literacy rates in Porlos stand at 99.6%. Primary education in the country is compulsory and begins at the ages of five or six, and continues for the first eight years. Upon completing primary education, students then must complete four years of secondary school until they turn eighteen. Students then have the option of attending a free public university, of which there are 30 in the country.
As of 2029, there are over 5600 schools in the country, with 4600 providing elementary education and 1000 providing secondary education. There are 450 private schools in Porlos, mostly located in major cities, such as Pacuí and Naqili. The University of Naqili, the first university in Porlos, was founded in 1448 and is still active today. The University of Pacuí, founded in 1654, is the second oldest continuously operating university in South Crona. There are also 13 polytechnics, of which two are private, and 30 higher education institutions, of which 27 are private. In total, there are 70 institutions of higher education in Porlos, attended by more than 177 thousand students.
Health
Healthcare in Porlos is regulated by the Haalthiskaait Porsaahi, commonly referred to as "Haalthiskaait". Porlos' healthcare system is nationalized, meaning the government provides healthcare, free of cost, through government agencies such as the aforementioned Haalthiskaait. Porlos has been ranked among the top 25 best countries in providing high quality healthcare at no cost. Porlos' healthcare system is primarily funded from taxes levied by provincial and municipal councils. There are a total of twelve Haalthiskaait Qoyyalaatisi, which take charge of the devolved primary and hospital care systems in the country. Private healthcare in Porlos does exist, however it is very rare, and private institutions fall under heavy regulations under the Haalthiskaait. Private healthcare, due to its cost, is mostly discouraged by the Porlosi government.
Religion
Porlos is very diverse in terms of religion. Due to decades of Occidental influence, Porlos is majority Catholic, with 62% identifying as such. Many tribal folk religions are grouped into a singular category, of wich 24% identify. Islam makes up 6%, mostly from the large diaspora of Audonian immigrants seen within the urban areas of the country, and 5% identifying as "other," with another 5% identifying as "non-religious." Secularism and the separation of church and state is enshrined in the Porlosi constitution, and there is no set official religion in the country. Porlosi residents are encouraged to practice whichever religion they choose.
Culture
Porlosi culture is loosely based on a mix of Pan-Qabóri civilization and Western Sarpedonian civilization, due to centuries of influence and colonization from both the Qabóri Woqalate and Cartadania. Porlos is very culturally similar to Tierrador, harboring characteristics of its eastern neighbor to which scholars have gone as far as to refer to it as "Western Tierrador." Despite this, the Soqweux culture group of Porlos is the truly dominant culture, and most aesthetics of Porlosi culture are derived from the Soqweux culture, language, and lifestyle.
Cinema & television
Porlosi cinema features a mix of Soqweux and Qabóri influences. Naqili is the main city in Porlosi cinema, as several Porlosi film producers are headquartered in the city. Notable Porlosi films include Insuaalir Duudos (Island Guys), Waptikaashiti (Warrior), Kuootai Apspat (Just Kidding), and The Last Job. The popular Porlosi dark comedy and pseudo-documentary series Wealsaadafun (Wealth Idiots), which ran from 2007 to 2016 on TV9 Porsaahi, focuses on a fictional group of incompetent investors who attempt to allocate the fund's billions while operating within the ethical investment guidelines set by a fictional group of even more incompetent Porlosi politicians. Each episode revolves around one or more of the investors accidentally breaking one insignificant guideline, which in turns starts a chain reaction of severely negative failures. The show was created as political satire, taking shots at the country's pension office for not specifying a specific list of straightforward investment guidelines, giving the investors who were in charge full freedom to invest the funds in whatever they chose, which lead to severe mishandling and many close calls of collapse. Eventually, the Assembly of the Woqalate would approve harsh ethical guidelines in 2012, ironically similar to those seen in the series.
Music
Porlosi music was formed mainly through Soqweux, Qabóri and Cartadanian elements. A lot of Porlosi music genres revolve around Qabóri and other native Cronan influences, and even some elements from northern Crona. Kaiseetaaki is a form of relaxed Cartadanian samba music, developed in the late 1950s in Porlos, including elements from Tawakee reggae music. Rubin Taashawiaai was one of the first to perfect the art of kaiseetaaki, and became the most popular musician in Porlos and one of the most popular in South Crona due to his unique rhythmic styles. This inspired a new wave of kaiseetaaki artists in the 1970s and 80s, and the new genre gained a cult following, revolving mostly around Taashawiaai, and later artists such as Aphío Abaasukol, Emiq Kuuskal, and Patricio Sundautaas.
Sports
Sports have a large role in Porlosi culture and lifestyle. Porlos has two national sports, football as a summer sport and ice hockey as a winter sport. Football is the most popular sport, with about 100 thousand registered Porlosi players. Football in Porlos is governed by the Porlosi Football Association, who also manages the Porlos national football team. The national team has been to seven WAFF World Cups, most recently in 2034. Their best finish was third place in the 2002 edition, defeating Daxia 2–1 in the third place game. Porlos has also participated in every UCFA Cronan Championship since 1981, with their best finish being third place twice, in 1991 and 2003. The Porsaahi Liigafótaabui 1, or PL1 for short, is the highest tier of football leagues in the country, being contested by fourteen clubs. The most popular football club in the country is Uunatikaaski Naqili, which has won the most PL1 titles, at 27, and has also won two UCFA Champions Leagues, in back-to-back years in 1993 and 1994.
Ice hockey is the second-most popular sport, and is most popular in the eastern mountainous region where the climate is slightly more favorable for the sport. The Orixtal Hockey League, the premier hockey league in South Crona, bases two clubs in Porlos; the Pacuí Mammoth, who won back-to-back Watson Cups in 1974 and 1975, and the Naqili Hornets, who recently won their first Watson Cup in 2027. The Porsaahi Hooqelaatiliiga is contested by twelve clubs from every major city in Porlos, and is part of the much larger South Cronan Hockey League, which serves as a direct feeder league for OHL junior prospects. There are close to 47,000 registered hockey players in Porlos, and hockey in the country is administered by Hockey Porsaahi. The Porlos national hockey team has won the 1980 World Cup of Hockey, defeating Urcea 6–4 in the final.
See also
- ↑ PLIAD stands for the Porlosi translation of the organization's name, Porsaahi Laatekiat Ikti-Akuusamita Dushcaati