Slaconia: Difference between revisions

|government_type = {{Wp|Constitutional}} {{wp|Parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy}} under a {{wp|de facto}} {{wp|military dictatorship}}

|legislature = Emergency Parliament

Slaconia is a country primarily inhabited by Slaconian people, who emerged from the integration of [[Sarpic people|Sarpic]] and [[Istroyan people]]. In antiquity, Slaconia was the southern extent of the [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|Ancient Istroyan]] homelands, though the [[Sarpic migration]] of mid-late antiquity began to change the cultural and ethnic makeup of the interior of Slaconia; historians suggest Sarpic-speaking people made up the vast majority of the people living in the hinterlands by 400 AD. Ancient Istroyan city-states maintained control over the coastal regions until the arrival of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] in the first decades of the 8th century. The Caliphate destroyed the coastal city-states and directly integrated Slaconia as the southernmost portion of its holdings in Sarpedon. This annexation ended the coastal-interior distinction and began the process of establishing the modern Slaconian culture. Slaconia was liberated from the Caliphate during the [[Crusades#Third_Crusade_(1144)|Third]] and [[Crusades#Fourth_Crusade_(1180)|Fourth Crusades]], and the first unified government for the territory - the Kingdom of Slaconia - was established. Though cultural integration gradually established a central cultural identity for Slaconia, the country remained culturally diverse throughout the medieval and early modern period, with {{wp|Mudéjar|Audonian converts to Christianity}} called ''Prechisten'' which formed a permanent underclass and a [[Pelians|Pelian minority]] to the southwest. These two groups contributed significantly to arts and culture within Slaconia. By the 19th century, however, the still-present minority groups began to agitate for independence as an outgrowth of {{wp|nationalism|nationalist}} thought spreading across [[Sarpedon]]. The country has undergone significant decline since the mid-1850s and is broadly considered a {{wp|failed state}} in the 21st century as large portions of the country are under control of separatist and rebel groups.

Slaconia in 600 AD was dominated by about six major Istroyan cities and ten different Sarpic entities, including both tribes and cities. Beroia was the second most prominent city of the Istroyan city-states.

As a Third Crusade was called, a large number of forces once again coalesced in the Iddryitine Despotate in [[Sydona]]. Making landfall north of the islands, the crusading army marched north and secured most of what is today western Slaconia for the Iddryitine Despotate. Marching eastward, the crusaders then besieged the city of Beroia, the primary port in southeastern Slaconia. The crusaders formed a beachhead at the tip of Beroia island and cut off the island from the nearby mainland via the Obkhovid Canal. The knights were led by a knight called Ovidio who originated in modern [[Rhotia]]. Ovidio had previously led a failed siege of the [[Melian Islands]] in 1139 after the northern islands were reconquered by the Odduniyad Caliphate but was honored and well-regarded for his devotion to the Catholic faith. This was until the Siege of Beroia in [[1154]]. Ovidio was charged with leading a cohort of knights past enemy lines to secure passage of crusader forces across the Obkhovid Canal. In doing so, he successfully cut off any lines of reinforcement for the city, which promptly surrendered to him in August 1154. Ovidio was invested as the first [[List of Slaconian monarchs|Prince of Slaconia]] by both his peers and the clerics on hand. The small Principality, by the end of the war, would include only Beroia island and a small buffer of territory on the mainland, though almost all of modern western Slaconia was occupied by the Iddryitine Despotate.

Prince Ovidio I set to work establishing his new principality throughout the 1140s and 1150s. A majority of the population were Christians, with the territory he ruled at first being approximately half Slaconian-speaking and half Istroyan-speaking. Besides organizing dioceses on behalf of the [[Catholic Church]], converting mosques into churches, and building a series of castles throughout the land, he also focused on the forced conversion of the country's Muslim minority. The conversions, which would continue through the end of the medieval period, became a defining cultural characteristic of Slaconia, creating a major demographic of Audonian descendants who retained a sense of otherness despite their newfound Christianity known as the Prechisten. Ovidio would die in [[1162]] and leave the principality to his son Galeazzo, continuing the newly formed Ovidic dynasty. While the Caliphate was sufficiently chastened two decades prior, Galeazzo realized the principality's defenses were woefully inadequate should the Caliphate reinforce its westernmost possessions. As such, he began to expand the army while inviting knights from [[Levantia]] to settle in the country. The influx of men seeking employment was such that Galeazzo began to take land away from Christian peasants, first focusing on those who had been converted; in addition to alienating the locals and improving the principality's military, this had the effect of dramatically urbanizing the small realm as people were forced to move to cities. While not the first ruler, Galeazzo is generally considered the country's founding father.

Following the collapse of the Caliphate in Sarpedon, Prince Galleazo II had himself crowned [[List of Slaconian monarchs|King of Slaconia]] in [[1185]]. The new Kingdom of Slaconia would assume the role of the trade hub of the south of the continent. While other major powers were mired by internal conflict through this period, the realm would maintain its place as trade hubs despite a new authority. Slaconia would lean into its position as a bridge between cultures and continents. Though formerly at odds with the Caliphate, Audonian rulers would remain amicable with the Kingdom as to maintain a semblance of influence on the continent due to strong trade ties.

Despite rising internal tensions, the 19th century did see gains in productivity for Slaconia. King Theodore II inaugurated a large scale infrastructure program beginning with the creation of the Royal Railroad Corporation in [[1865]].

==== Civil war ====

File:Kronzciny waterfront.png|Picturesque view of the Grad Beriya waterfront.

File:Kronzciny historical district.jpg|The Tricameral Towers pictured in the background of the Grad Beriya Historical District.

File:Little Dia Big Dia.jpg|The twin peaks of Little Dia and Big Dia on the island of Diakrunum.

There are, besides the government, five major rebel factions and a constellation of smaller entities which control minor territories, some of which are in loose alliance with larger factions. There are two main ethnic factions while the remainder are organized along political or personal allegiances. While many of these organizations maintain official ideologies and goals, some observers have commented that they have transformed into de facto {{wp|cartels}} which exist to transform Slaconia's mineral wealth into wealth for their leaders. This assessment is heavily contested both in Slaconia and abroad, and as such the degree to which these organizations seek to affect actual political change is an open question.

====Workers Defense Initiative (WDI)====

Slaconia is a multi-ethnic country characterized by one majority group - the Slaconians - with a number of regional minority groups. It is mostly religiously uniform, and has a population which skews younger due to reduced life expectancy and poor healthcare outcomes.

| value2 =20.1

| label3 =[[Pelians]]

| value3 =13.4

| color3 =CadetBlue

| label4 =Other

| value4 =1

| color4 =NavajoWhite

}}Slaconia is a multiethnic country with three main ethnic groups, though ethnic Slaconians make up a large majority of the country.

}}Slaconia is a predomiantly [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] country, with the vast majority of residents adhering to the Catholic Church. It is similar to most other parts of [[Sarpedon]] in this respect.  

Educational attainment in Slaconia varies significantly due to the country’s ongoing instability. In government-controlled areas, literacy rates remain relatively high, with most adults having completed primary education and a significant portion reaching secondary or higher education. University attendance has declined due to economic and credential uncertainty. In contrast, rebel-controlled regions suffer from a sharp decline in educational attainment. Many schools have shut down, and literacy rates have dropped, particularly among younger generations. In these areas, it is common for children to receive little to no formal education, and a growing percentage of the population lacks secondary schooling. Prior to the country’s collapse, Slaconia had an educational attainment rate comparable to other nations in southern [[Sarpedon]], with over 90% of the population completing at least primary education. Today, this number has dropped significantly in conflict-affected areas, leading to concerns about a long-term decline in human capital and workforce skills.

 

==Culture and Society==

Slaconian culture combines a limited number of pre-Sarpic, pre-Istroyan cultural traditions with the Sarpic, Istroyan, and Catholic influences brought over to Slaconia over time. Due to Slaconia's status as a multiethnic country, regions have significant cultural and linguistic differences from the Grad Beriya core region. A significant amount of Slaconia's culture deals with {{wp|escapism}} - primarily through increasing religious devotion but also through the creation of highly acclaimed works of science fiction. Slaconia's failed state weighs heavily on the mindset and views of Slaconian people and significantly influences how it functions.

Slaconian cuisine has a relatively short history and not largely known outside of Slaconian. Historic and current instability caused people to prefer simple cuisines based on the meats, fish or various crops grown in their local area, and even these changed from ethnicity to ethnicity. It wasn't until the 1850s when a "High Slaconian" cuisine was uplifted from its humble roots due to wanting to change the public perception of the nation from a backwater unstable country to a sophisticated, modern 19th century state. One of the most well-known dishes of this era is ''shunki na para'', lit. Steamed Hams. It is the most widely known Slaconian dish, with traditionally a steamed pork cutlet in the middle with buns both under and above it. Various condiments are usually enjoyed with it.

Soups are rare in Slaconia other than the southwestern Pelian region due to soups being perceived as poverty food. Even the lower social classes in wartorn areas do their best to avoid soup to avoid being seen as poor or lower class; the Pelian region has various soups that have become popular with the upper classes there and in [[Sydona]]. These often include mushrooms, deer or boar and potatoes.

Slaconian entertainment industry has quickly risen from basically nonexistent to a billion phoenix industry since the beginning of the 20th century despite the limited reach of Slaconian media. The most widely appreciated piece of Slaconian entertainment is ''Zvezdna Bitka'', a space opera set in a galaxy long time ago, far, far away. The creator Dzhordzh Lukas rose to international fame shortly after the release of the first movie in the franchise in the 1970s; the movie (and resulting franchise) is a treatment of the political and military divisions in Slaconia covered in heavy allegory. Most Slaconian entertainment is directed at the Slaconian market, with majority of it being exclusively in Slacoian. Popular domestic products often are subtitled or dubbed and shipped to foreign markets, but in small amounts due to little demand. Slaconian detective dramas are popular on foreign markets, particularly titles such as Doubting my Visions, The Phantom with Silver Hair and Whispers of Patriots. The appreciation of Slaconian entertainment on the international markets has started slow expansion of the film industry with both private and government investments, with putting emphasis on quality subtitling or dubbing to make Slaconian language entertainment less intimidating to foreign markets. The majority of the entertainment industry is located in Grad Beriya.

Until the late 1970s, the music genres which were allowed to be performed in public or played on the radio were strictly controlled by the government. Due to this, even rock music was near non-existent in Slaconia, other than few underground groups performing for the youth of the nation, also providing a suitable outlet for the youth to "fight the power", the government decided to not crack down on it despite knowing of its existence. The reforms made in the 1970s then allowed both public performances and radio play of all genres of music, which then quickly sprouted a vibrant culture of music in the nation and the birth of various subcultures. Due to the restrictions til the late 1970s, much of the older generations look down on the newly arrived genres as decadent.

Mass media, mainstream Slaconian culture typically originates within government-controlled areas. Lower quality media is produced in rebel controlled areas and occasionally disseminated internationally via the internet. This material, known as "Underground Sarpia", has a niche audience abroad and is considered to be enjoyed by Occidental audiences ironically.

===Sports===

Sports organizations for both young and old receive minor funding from the government to encourage better physical health for the population, and to particularly ensure that the men remain in shape for either their coming military conscription or be able to serve in the military in Slaconia's endless internal conflicts. Womens sports organizations receive less funding, the government offering funding to sports which develop the muscles required in childbirth to encourage safer and more numerous birthing in the nation.

Education in Slaconia is highly uneven due to the country’s status as a failed state. While the central government maintains a functional, albeit strained, education system in areas under its control, rebel-held territories suffer from severe educational decline, with many institutions either shuttered or operating under informal conditions.

Historically, Slaconia maintained a traditional state run [[Occidental]]-style education system, heavily influenced by [[Catholic Church]] institutions. During the medieval and early modern periods, monastic and church-run schools provided the foundation for literacy, with Latin as the primary language of instruction alongside Slaconian in some instances. In the 1800s, state-funded education was introduced alongside monastic institutions, leading to comparatively high literacy rates and a structured curriculum particularly among the urban poor. However, nationalist tensions in the 20th century disrupted the system, including tensions over language used in schools where regional minorities were most prominent. A gradual distrust of public education in Pelian and Prechisten areas led to the renewal of interest in Church-run schools, leading to both underutilization and underfunding of public schools in those regions. Today, the central government retains a functional education system, though it operates under budget constraints and political instability. Primary and secondary schools remain open, and higher education institutions still function, albeit with reduced funding. The curriculum emphasizes [[Catholic Church|Catholic Christian]] values alongside technical skills necessary to support the economy. Many urban schools benefit from international assistance, providing resources otherwise unavailable due to the government's instability. Catholic schools remain a critical part of education within government areas. Education in rebel-held areas, meanwhile, is highly fragmented. Public schools are underfunded or non-existent, closed due to lack of resources or destruction from conflict. In most of these areas, preexistent Catholic schools are joined by informal schools run by local leaders or parents groups, and while these provide basic literacy and religious education, but access is inconsistent. The two ethnic separatist groups both maintain a nominal public school system intended to teach their specific traditions, but in practice these schools are critically understaffed or exist in name only. Many children in these regions receive no formal education, and youth involvement in militant activities is common, as armed groups recruit from the uneducated population. Before the country’s collapse, Slaconia had several respected universities, known for their religious studies, philosophy, and engineering programs. Today, only a few universities in government-controlled areas continue to function, with a {{wp|brain drain}} of scholars and students seeking education abroad. Diplomas from surviving Slaconian institutions are increasingly viewed as unreliable by the international community due to political instability.

Among citizens in government-controlled areas, education is still regarded as essential, particularly as a means to secure employment and social mobility. However, skepticism toward the government’s ability to maintain educational standards is growing. Many parents seek to send their children abroad for university education, fearing domestic institutions are in decline. In rebel-held areas, education is often viewed as secondary to survival. Where schools still operate, they are sometimes used as tools for ideological indoctrination rather than broad intellectual development. Many families prioritize sending children into trades or militia groups rather than formal schooling, as economic hardship forces them to seek immediate income.

Several international organizations - most prominently the [[Catholic Church]] - provide educational aid, including textbooks, teacher training, and emergency schooling initiatives, but their access is limited to government-controlled regions. Efforts to establish distance learning programs in rebel areas face challenges due to lack of internet infrastructure.

 

Identification with national identity is generally low even among the ethnic Slaconian majority. While Slaconia once had a strong sense of national identity rooted in its Catholic heritage and crusading past, today, many citizens feel disconnected from these historical narratives. National pride has been replaced by a sense of loss and fatalism, with older generations lamenting the country's decline and younger generations seeing little reason to hope for a brighter future. The idea of a unified Slaconian identity is further complicated by ethnic and linguistic tensions, which have been exacerbated by the nation’s collapse. As such, the concept of a grim, near-apocalyptic genocide to restore peace is viewed as inevitable by Slaconians of most backgrounds, though not one desired by the vast majority of the population. 

 

 

For many Slaconians, survival is the primary concern, and pragmatism outweighs ideology. In both government and rebel-controlled areas, people focus on securing daily necessities rather than engaging in politics or long-term aspirations. Emigration is widely viewed as the best path to a better life, leading to a steady brain drain as those with the means to leave do so. Those who remain often accept hardship as an unavoidable reality, with many believing that no government — whether the regent’s or the rebels’ — can truly improve their situation.

 

 

Slaconia's failed state has had a significant impact on family structure and dynamics. Women historically held domestic roles, but necessity has led many to assume leadership positions in families due to the absence or death of male relatives caused by war and economic migration; on the macro scale, this has led to a significant increase in female-headed households due to male absence from war, migration, or militia involvement. Since the [[1960]]s, Slaconia has seen delayed and declining marriage rates, as many young people see financial stability as a prerequisite for starting a family and fear men of fighting age being conscripted. The country has also seen an increase in religious vocations, with many young Slaconians joining monasteries or convents in search of structure and purpose instead of marrying.

 

[[File:SlakPriest.png|thumb|right|250px|The photo entitled ''Deliverance'' (1981) depicts a Catholic priest offering absolution to a dying Slaconian militant. The photo became world-renowned in the 1980s and is viewed to be symbolic of the relationship of Slaconia's situation and emphasis on faith.]]

Religion plays a central role in the lives of Slaconians, serving as both a source of social stability and humanitarian aid in a nation plagued by political collapse and economic hardship. The vast majority of Slaconians are adherents of the [[Catholic Church]], which has historically shaped the country’s culture, institutions, and worldview. In the absence of a functioning state, the Church has become the most trusted institution, filling the void left by government failure.

 

Since its founding as a {{wp|crusader state}}, Slaconia has maintained a strong Catholic identity, with the Church historically influencing both governance and daily life. Monastic orders were instrumental in early education, social welfare, and the administration of justice. Even after the rise of secular governance in the 19th century, Catholicism remained a defining pillar of national identity. With the collapse of state authority, religious institutions have once again taken on a primary role in public life, offering charitable services, education, and moral guidance where the government is absent. In many regions, the Church is the only organized entity providing food, shelter, and medical care to the population. Mass attendance in Slaconia remains high relative to other parts of [[Sarpedon]], particularly in rebel-controlled areas where churches serve as the only viable community centers. Throughout the country, the Catholic Church functions as a de facto welfare system, running schools, hospitals, and humanitarian programs with the help of international Christian charities. Clergy members often act as mediators between factions. Among rebel groups, attitudes toward the Church vary. Some factions embrace Catholicism as part of their identity, while others reject its authority, viewing it as complicit with the failing government. Despite these views by their leaders, those living under rebel control often continue to turn to the local parish priest as the sole public authority they can rely on.

 

The Slaconian worldview is deeply shaped by religious fatalism, with many believing that earthly suffering is temporary, and that the only true justice lies in the afterlife. For many, faith is not just a spiritual refuge but a psychological necessity, offering meaning in a world that appears beyond repair. This has led to an increase in religious mysticism, apocalyptic rhetoric, and the belief that Slaconia’s suffering is part of a divine plan. Sermons frequently emphasize the transient nature of suffering, and religious iconography depicting martyrdom and redemption has become especially popular. Widespread despair has led to a resurgence of devout religious practice, as people seek solace in faith amidst hardship. Accordingly, pilgrimages to historic Catholic sites have seen a revival, as Slaconians seek spiritual reassurance; such pilgrimages are some of the only way to safely traverse between government and rebel controlled territories, with international organizations officially sponsoring these journeys and guaranteeing the good behavior of the pilgrims. Monastic life has grown in appeal, with an increasing number of young people turning to religious vocations in search of stability. Given the bleak outlook on Slaconia’s future, the concept of eternal life has taken on heightened significance in religious devotion.

 

===Literature===

Slaconia had an extensive literary tradition during antiquity in the Istroyan language that was part of the general [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|ancient Istroyan cultural sphere]]. During the period of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]]'s domination of Slaconia, most writing continued to be in either Istroyan or were administrative documents written in Arabic. The earliest surviving Slaconian-language literature dates to accounts by Latin monks who came to the country after the first [[Crusades]] and those who trained under them during the period after the establishment of the Principality. Such accounts were historical, administrative, and of correspondence in nature. The most notable of these writers would be Abelus of Mantua, who wrote extensively of the violence during that same period. These early Principality monks worked extensively to alphabetize and standardize the Slaconian language for writing purposes, introducing the {{wp|Cyrillic alphabet}} which had been adapted by Christian missionaries to other Slavic groups in Sarpedon centuries earlier. Historians generally accept that earlier runic inscriptions in the Slaconian interior are a little understood alphabet of the early Slaconian language, but the systematization of the language is generally considered to be the origin of the modern language. The first documented phrase in Slaconian and written by a Slaconian, would be "''Остави ме да меля, а ти си почини''" ("Let me grind, and you take a rest"), a direct reflection of the life and attitudes in early Slaconia with the widespread communal spirit.

 

With the larger production and proliferation of the {{wpl|printing press}} within the country by the engineer Lyubomir Rusev and trader Izydor Osada in the following century as well as more extensive education within the country, widespread production of pamphlets on topics ranging from proper farming techniques to organizational theories and even, to some degree, writings on political theory. These pamphlets would rapidly turn into small, one to three page newspapers on current and ongoing affairs within towns, such as construction efforts, sellers of wares, and crimes. Some of these same newspapers continue into the modern era, still in the small smaller format.

 

Slaconian authors have garnered audiences into the modern age, especially in the early realm of {{wpl|science fiction}} with author Lew Zales penning one of the first novels in that realm in 1810, called ''Пътешествие към звездите'' (Journey to the Stars). Such writings have been characterized by a heavy optimism, viewing the future as a potential {{wpl|utopia}} with spaceborne habitats, no hunger, and what he termed automatons. The novel would experience success both within and outside the country. Due to the success, as well as the early publication of the book and its foresight with little connections to present technologies, Lew Zales is named by many as the father of {{wpl|science fiction}}. Slaconia's written science fiction tradition empowered later creators in the visual mediums of film and television in the same genre, including and especially ''Zvezdna Bitka''.

 

In the 19th and 20th centuries, authors such as Jerzy Zieminski, Zofia Poremba, and Eryk Zlotnik would also rise to prominence internationally. Zieminski, a critic of {{wpl|stoicism}}, would pen a variety of science fiction, horror, and psychological horror works. Such works found popularity in cliques worldwide, often used in support of one political belief or another, though many hold critiques of Zieminski for a lack of an overall cohesive message. While one group may hold his work as support against automation with the eventual rise of a police state, another may hold it in opposition, citing that work as proof of enlightenment through technology. Many consider Zieminski to be a champion of portraying extremes in realistic light, though his detractors say the same. Poremba in contast would continue to write anti-war materials throughout the war, drawing from her knowledge as both a nurse in field hospitals in the service of Drahilawye militias and as an attendent in a mental ward. Such works would be well received for their stark, brutal honesty about what may occur and the unerring attention to detail with which they are written. Poremba's work would find popularity in [[Urcea]], [[Burgundie]], and many others, would be translated into over twenty languages, and often would find use in psychological studies. Zlotnik, a student at Grad Beriya's Institute of Architecture at the outbreak of the [[Second Great War]], would be an unintending figure for literature. A partisan and later soldier, it would only be after his death that an extensive journal would be found. Named ''Моята война'' (My War), the 206 page document would be popular among soldiers of all factions in the Slaconian civil war for a more personalized view of war.

 

The {{wp|phoenix}} is the prominent symbol of Slaconia and the official symbol of the central government. It is also used as the name for the Slaconian currency, the phoenix (Феникс; feniks). The symbol has a very old association with the country dating back to the crusader reconquest of the territory, serving as the arms of the Ovidic dynasty which served as the first [[List of Slaconian monarchs|Slaconian monarchs]].. In recent decades, it has been increasingly appropriated by the central government as a symbol of the pending reunification of the country under central authority. Some scholars have stated that the phoenix is "not only a symbol but a {{wp|mission statement}} of the Slaconian government", and as such the symbol increasingly appears as a form of government {{wp|propaganda}}. It appears on the national flag and coat of arms. Several non-government factions within the country previously used a form of it but have eschewed it in recent years due to the phoenix's increasingly close association with the government.

Given the dependency of Slaconia on natural resource extraction, mining is among the largest industries in the country. In the areas controlled by the central government, mining is conducted mostly by private enterprise. Rebel groups meanwhile control every aspect of mining within their territory, and the proeeds from these goods are typically either invested in imported mining equipment or consumed by the faction. Agriculture is a secondary major industry in areas controlled by the central government, though most of the country's best agricultural land has laid fallow for decades due to the ongoing civil hostilities. Urban service sector economies rank a distant third behind these two sectors. Continued dependence on mineral exports has subjected Slaconia to various economic challenges, namely, economic vulnerability due to global market fluctuations of mineral prices. Additionally, the overreliance on mineral exports has led to a phenomenon known as the "Burgoignesc Disease." This has adversely impacted other sectors of the economy, making Slaconia's non-mineral industries less competitive in the international market. Intensive mining activities have taken a toll on the nation's environment, resulting in habitat destruction, deforestation, and water pollution. Slaconia has had to grapple with the long-term environmental consequences of its mineral extraction industry.

Beisdes the primary currency, other means of exchange occur in Slaconia. Foreign currency, such as the taler or [[aureus]], are very highly prized in Slaconia and both are accepted as de facto {{wp|legal tender}} by most vendors and even some banks and government offices. In the most rural parts of the country, the trustworthiness of the phoenix has almost entirely degraded such that {{wp|barter}} is almost as common as use of the phoenix in transactions.

Slaconia's healthcare facilities are largely owned and operated by the government. Most of the population under 67 is insured by their or a family member's employer, some buy health insurance (dual insurance) on their own, and the remainder are uninsured (or partially insured). Health insurance for public sector employees is provided by the government. The National Health Agency (government's insurance and healthcare service) is the government insurance that functions as both poor insurance and old age health insurance. This policy was adopted in [[1954]]. Prior to the nationalization of healthcare and insurance services, it was provided by the private sector but it was no longer viable; in practice, some rebel factions and private firms provide private insurance in those areas outside the area of government control.

Humanitarian health organizations have opened up operations across Slaconia in order to assist individuals who have inadequate access to medical facilities. Humanitarian facilities are primarily located in non-government controlled areas of the country, although movable hospital camps are also stationed near cities to deal with the disenfranchised urban populations of the country. It is estimated ten thousand members from humanitarian agencies operate in Slaconia at any given time.

Slaconian labor is nominally regulated under a system of guilds similar to and inspired by [[Urcea]]'s [[Guilds (Urcea)|guild system]], wherein Slaconian businesses and labor organizations are federated together on a local, regional, and national levels. In practice, however, the guilds have not functioned since the 1960s, having adopted emergency waivers at the behest of the government then voting to adjourn. As such, workers in the government controlled areas of Slaconia only have limited labor protections and are governed under the provisions of the waivers, which allowed for longer work hours and reduced pay. The waivers do afford a higher standard of working conditions (such as mandatory days off, employers paying for equipment, and other considerations as well as access to the state welfare system) than those people employed in rebel-controlled areas of the country. Individuals working within mines controlled by rebel factions work under nearly slave-like conditions according to [[League of Nations]] observers, and in many instances employment contracts directly use language from [[Slavery in Caphiria|Caphiric bills of slavery]], when such rebel factions use employment contracts at all. Conditions are slightly better in rebel-held agricutlural sectors. Overall, observers have ranked labor conditions in Slaconia as among the worst in the [[Occident]].

 

For most of Slaconian history, infrastructure inland was practically nonexistent, causing settlements to grow on the coast due to the ease of movement between cities and along major rivers via the sea. It wasn't until King Theodore II formed the Royal Railroad Company in 1865 and began building nationwide railway systems, finally connecting the smaller inland settlements to the prosperous coastal cities, allowing both goods and people to move with ease. The National Railroad Company is still the only rail company in the nation, but with the invention of cars and the massive highway projects ordered in the [[1940]]s and [[1950]]s, the importance of the railways has lessened over time. The local railways and subways in larger cities such as Grad Beriya are referred to as Rail Cosmopolitan, and the railways stretching longer swathes of land are referred to as Rail Rural. The Rail Cosmopolitan in Grad Beriya is highly affordable and the main method of transport in the capital, transporting 120,000 passengers daily. The railway system was augmented with a highway system that began in the 1940s but was not completed by the time of the collapse of state authority in the 1970s. As such, a relatively dense roadway network connects areas controlled by the government at that time, with highways coming to dramatic ends or transitioning to local roads or even trails beyond that point. Though the government has reclaimed areas where highways weren't built, the expansion project came to an abrupt halt. The civil war also led to the severing of most of Rail Rural, creating a large system of disconnected rail networks throughout the interior and west of the country. Small scale trucking operations exist throughout the country to fill gaps between railheads.

Slaconia has an extensive and well-developed seaport infrastructure, which is one of the sole infrastructure areas maintained by the government at high standards.

Slaconia has relatively few airports and only one major international airport, Prince Galeazzo Aerodrome in Grad Beriya. Established in 1959, Slaconia Airway was the flag carrier of Slaconia. It suspended operations during the civil war. However, a reconstituted central government later began preparations in 2012 for an expected relaunch of the airline, with the first new Slaconia Airways aircraft scheduled for delivery by the end of December 2013. According to the Slaconia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the void created by the closure of Slaconia Airways has since been filled by various Slaconian-owned private carriers. International regulators have determined the safety and maintenance of Slaconian private airways to be of dubious quality, and flights from these carriers are banned in several countries including [[Urcea]].

Pre-[[Second Great War]], Slaconian power production was entirely coal driven with smaller, more local plants producing for localized, unconnected power grids in singular townships and some isolated counties. In the midst of the industrial pull prior to the [[Second Great War]], the main producer of power within Slaconia would still be the use of coal, which could be easily acquired either from the ground or via trade. However, power plants along the length of the country provided for much of the major population centers while some of the new {{wpl|hydroelectric power plants}} along the country's main rivers gave power to nearby areas. A rudimentary national power grid was in development, though such progress would be interrupted. These areas would prove to be significant military targets during the war by strategic bombing, both in order to disrupt domestic production as well as to attempt to flood portions of the country in order to disrupt military efforts and maneuvers.

During the war itself, emergency programs would lead to multiple underground power plants in order to protect such things from strategic bombing. As small as could be to power such things as factories and lighting for search lights, they lacked mass output to maximize concealment, lessen the chance of a bomb strike, and conserve resources and fuel. Often near rivers, many such plants relied on underground streams for power while other operated in the far more usual coal manner. Produced to roughly the same specifications under the Board of Engineers and the Slaconian Army Corps of Engineers, injuries would prove to be high due to construction faults, bombing, and a series of sabotages from insurrectionist movements. Nevertheless, these emergency plants would provide power and enable Slaconia to keep active. Following the war's end, these emergency plants would cease operation due their scale of power production.

Slaconia is considered by many international observers to lag behind in the areas of technology and research. Most new technology - ranging from computing equipment to agricultural developments - are imported from other countries in the [[Occident]]. Due to the ongoing civil war, the Slaconian government has not been able to make significant investments in research and development or in higher educational facilities in general. Due to the country's present condition, most large equipment for industrial, mining, and agricultural applications are imported. This means that most practical equipment still in use across the country is older models manufactured in [[Caphiria]] and [[Levantia]] either due to the prohibitive cost of import or due to surplus being available. This has led to large amounts of old equipment being diligently maintained by Slaconian firms and jury-rigged to maintain functionality as the need presents. Prior to [[1960]], Slaconia was considered an important contributor to research into agricultural improvements as well as innovative technological applications in mining.

The Slaconian military has significantly declined from its historical role as a formidable crusader force to a fractured and weakened institution due to the country’s ongoing instability. Once a key power in southeastern Sarpedon, Slaconia’s armed forces is now divided between the central government’s military and the various rebel militias that control large portions of the country. Slaconia’s military origins date back to its foundation as a crusader state, where heavily armored knights formed the backbone of its forces. During the medieval period, Slaconia maintained a strong martial tradition, with a feudal military system supported by noble families. However, as the country transitioned into a semi-constitutional monarchy, the army became increasingly bureaucratic and underfunded, losing much of its former strength. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the rise of nationalism led to factionalism within the military, and by the time of Slaconia’s collapse into a failed state, the armed forces had fragmented, with only a portion remaining loyal to the central government.

 

The Royal Slaconian Armed Services (RSAS) remain the official military of the internationally recognized central government. However, they are undermanned, underfunded, and heavily reliant on foreign aid. The RSAS consists of three branches. First is the Royal Army, which is the largest branch, primarily tasked with defending government-controlled areas and conducting counterinsurgency operations against rebel forces. Due to lack of manpower, many units rely on militia auxiliaries or even foreign mercenaries for support. The Slaconian Navy exists largely in name only; once a modest naval force, it is now mostly limited to coastal patrol operations to combat smuggling and piracy. The third branch is the Slaconian Air Corps, which is functionally non-existent and used primarily for transporting government and military officials between government controlled cities. During the early 20th century, the SAC was considered a modern and capable air force that even boasted some pioneering air doctrine just prior to the [[Second Great War]]. However, the force was gradually decimated due to lack of maintenance and eventually functionally abolished following the establishment of the [[League of Nations]] {{wp|no fly zone}}.

 

 

Mercenaries make up a significant part of the military picture in Slaconia, having been hired by both the government and rebel factions in numerous prominent occasions between [[1980]] and [[2020]]. Some factions, particularly non-separatist factions, rely on foreign mercenaries or receive support from external powers seeking to exploit Slaconia’s instability. Accordingly, Slaconia is a common destination for black market weaspons and military surplus. The end of the [[Final War of the Deluge]] coincided with a significant uptick in armed violence in Slaconia as large amounts of materiel became available and was smuggled into the country.