Porlos

Woqalate of Porlos 2 official names Soqweux: Wayyihikeelito Porsaahi Western Valley Qabóri: Porosakee Woqalatái
Flag
Motto: "Eyyakihilíq iyu Posaakahilitik" "Determination and prosperity"
Anthem: Ohi, mui Porsaahi
File:Porlos orthographic projection.png
Capital	Pacuí
Largest city	Naqili
Official languages	Soqweux Western Valley Qabóri
Recognised regional languages	Tierradorian Cartadanian
Ethnic groups	61.8% Soqweux 19.3% Mestizo 10.2% Ængle 8.1% Mulatto 0.6% Other
Demonym(s)	Porlosi Porsaahian Maleno-Odridian (antiquated)
Government	Unitary Semi-Constitutional Woqalate
• Woqala	Furtado II
• Prime Minister	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	391,265 km2 (151,068 sq mi)
Population
• 2030 census	21,529,217
• Density	92.1/km2 (238.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2031 estimate
• Total	$894 billion
• Per capita	$41,526
GDP (nominal)	2031 estimate
• Total	$871 billion
• Per capita	$40,457
Gini (2031)	51.7 high
HDI (2031)	0.737 high
Currency	Maravedí (PMV)
Mains electricity	230 V, 50 Hz
Driving side	right
Calling code	+344
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 Idirivièra and Betlands, along with Asteria and Ormatia. The country covers an area of 391,265 square kilometres (151,068 sq mi), making it the world's 56th-largest country by area, but with around 21.5 million inhabitants, it is one of the least populous nations worldwide. It has a largely tropical climate with subtropic 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

Carto-Porlosi Conflict

Saula Sá and Elísio Medina, two local leaders of PLIAD, held in San Ysidro Jail in 1938

The Carto-Porlosi conflict, sometimes referred to as the Luso Wars, was a series of conflicts between Cartadania and an insurgency in Porlos in the late 1930s, supported by the Walakee State of Tierrador. Cartadania had been the sovereign of much of southwestern Crona for just over 200 years at the beginning of the conflicts, reflecting a colonial ambition that was, at the time it began in 1691, one of the most far-flung in the western world. The conflict stemmed from a rebel militia, known as PLIAD, that had previously been present in the Porlosi capital city, Pacuí, storming the Aster-Porlosi border town of San Ysidro, where the toponymously named San Ysidro Army Base was located. 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 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 so aggressive and abrupt, that it devastated the 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 High Woqala 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 Woqala 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 Lakawachee 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. Following this, the PDF would send military support to Tierrador in its fight against Istrenya and the cartels. In 1969, Woqala 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.

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 Idirivièra and a small land border with Ehemo to the north. 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.

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.

Woqala 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

12 provinces of Porlos

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

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.