Varshan

The Union of Varshan is a large country that spans a vast swath of north-central Crona.

Union of Varshan Warshàng ulu Helenza'al'aan Gropzhu
Flag Emblem
Motto:  WIP
Anthem:  TBD "TBD"
Location of Varshan in Crona Location of Varshan in Crona
Capital and largest city	Anzo
Official languages	Hieratic Varshani
Religion	State Arzalism (official, not majority)
Demonym(s)	Varshani, Varshanite
Government	Federal Constitutional republic
• King-among-Citizens (President)	Yananzak
Legislature	Union Dazga
Formation
• Biji establishes Anzo	Unknown
• Žuqulid Revolution	ca 1408
• Destruction of Zurgite Varshan	20 May 2024
• Republic established	X Xember 20XX
Area
• Total	7,931,165 km2 (3,062,240 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.19
Population
• 2030 census	592,501,994
HDI (2020)	0.861 very high
Time zone	UTC+5 to +8 (Dwemer Mean Time)
Date format	ddd-yyyy Varshani Solar Calendar
Driving side	right
Calling code	+13
ISO 3166 code'	VŽ
Internet TLD	.vž

In its present form, Varshan is heavily shaped by the Final War of the Deluge, which inaugurated a period of international occupation and near-complete social, political, and economic transformation and reformation of the country. Varshani civilization began around 5,000 BC, and the previous version of the state - Zurgite Varshan - persisted from the end of prehistory until the Fall of Anzo in 2024, which marked the end of the Deluge. Zurgite Varshan was considered the largest and one of the most powerful nations in Crona and the world. Zurgite Varshan was a theocratic absolute monarchy, with the leaders having divine status within Orthodox Arzalism, the nation’s sole legal religion. Since the end of Zurgite Varshan, the country has undergone significant religious turmoil, with State Arzalism receiving a degree of official sanction but having a relatively weak presence among the populace, as Occidental religions such as Catholicism compete with underground fundamentalist Orthodox Arzalists.

Archaeology indicates that the Varshani lands were inhabited by early humans starting from the Lower Paleolithic period (2.6 Ma–300 Ka). The history of present-day Varshan began with the beginning of the Varshani people around 5,000 B.C., where the Varshani would raid the nearby Umzàg city-state, pillaging and kidnapping in order to please the Arzalist gods according to the founding myths of the Varshani people. The rise of the Varshani Realm was marked by violent raids and the annexation of major ancient states within Central and Northern Crona. Most prominently, it destroyed the North Songun civilization and incorporated large parts of the central Cronan river valley in the 15th and 16th centuries, after which time it was the ascendant power in Crona, only being defeated in the Orixtal Crusade. At its height during the early modern period, Varshan stretched from Veraise in the south to theoretically the north pole via the Polar Captaincy. Much of its lands were lost during the 20th and 21st centuries, being reduced to core ethnically Varshani lands in the Treaty of Electorsbourg.

Varshan is a moderately unstable country with a developing economy. International observers classify it as a hybrid regime, with some democratic institutions. Observers have noted that the state is particularly prone to internal corruption and significant susceptible to outside influences, particularly the five former occupying powers. The country's political culture is fractious, with the five constituent parts of the country having widely differing cultural and political values. During the 2020s, it was among the world's poorest countries, beset with both civil strife and widespread famine until around 2027. The League occupation began to incorporate civilian governance in the form of the Civilian Advisory Board of Occupied Varshan (CABOV) in 2027 and 2028, and the occupation gradually transitioned the state towards independence under CABOV's oversight, though with significant insurrections and turmoil in the late 2020s. CABOV adopted a constitution in 2032, formally ending the occupation government, though significant foreign military assets still remain in place in the country. Critics, particularly the government of Ardmore, have argued that the Union of Varshan is not a truly independent country, and that it is still functionally subject to the five occupying powers.

History

Varshani history is complicated by issues with Varshani historiography.

The lands comprising modern Varshan were once inhabited by a variety of different Cronite peoples belonging to several different linguistic families. These peoples, most of which have been lost to history, were all tribally-organised until the early Cronite Bronze Age, when city-states began to develop in the region's fertile river valleys. The area now known as Umzàg or Central Varshan, emerged as the most heavily urbanized part of north central Crona, possibly as a result of its fertile volcanic soils and geographic circumscription by high mountain ranges.

Anzoite period

The history of Varshan proper beings with the arrival of the Varshani (Waršaŋ), a migratory tribe of uncertain geographic origin speaking a language isolate who subsisted primarily by raiding settled societies and hunting. Attracted by the wealthy city-states of Umzàg, the Varshani migrated into the foothills of the Mountains of Terror, from which they launched periodic raids against their neighbours. Initially, the Varshani raided only to capture food, women, and basic materials, and to spill blood in order to honour their gods. However, over time they also took to pillaging valuables, such as precious metals and stones and fine clothes and handicrafts, originally as trophies, but later as luxury goods for their own enjoyment. In order to provide higher standards of living for themselves, the Varshani began capturing slaves for labour rather than exclusively sexual use, and exacting tribute and ransom from communities within striking distance of the foothills rather than raiding them, obtaining wealth that allowed them to engage in trade with the prosperous central city-states. This began a process of acculturation through which the Varshani transitioned away from their traditional migratory raiding lifestyle and adopted many material, religious, and socio-political practices from the settled peoples of the region. This process reached its culmination under the Varshani chief Biji, who after sacking the city of Hoklo, chose to take up residence there instead of returning to his camp in the foothills. Biji renamed the city 'Anzo', and established it as the first Varshani state. Historians generally believe Anzo soon expanded aggressively, though the histories also speak of "sister Varshanis", other "culturally Varshani" states (such as Čak Qozal) that existed alongside of Anzo and in tandem with it. Historians are unclear as to whether or not the "sister Varshani" identity is contemporary or a later imposition once Varshan was established.

The transition of Anzo (and any other states) to a fully-formed Varshani state is a matter of significant controversy, though the basic premise is accepted by most historians. Traditional histories stated, and Occidental historians uncritically accepted, that a man named Žuqul was the first Zurg of Varshan and established Zurgite Varshan at some point during either late antiquity or the early medieval period. However, significant conflation between this man and a 15th century ruler, as well as the ever present issue of dark time in Varshani history, created the Žuqul problem. If left unresolved by further scholarship or archaeology, the Žuqul problem will make the early history of Varshan as a single cohesive entity virtually unknowable.

Zurgite period

Main article: Zurgite Varshan

Modern period

Further information: League-occupied Varshan

Government

The Union of Varshan is a constitutional federal presidential republic governed under the provisions of the Great Word of 2032, the constitution of Varshan. While constitutionally a federal republic, most scholars and observers have classified the country as a de facto confederation between the three commonwealths, two republics, and federal city which make up the union. As such, the central government is significantly limited in authority and is largely beholden to the willingness of the constituencies to cooperate in the creation and enforcement of laws and institutions. The Great Word provides broad latitude fo the republics specifically to provide for their own law and public administration, only tied to the rest of the country through common defense, shared infrastructure, and shared currency. Some internal trade boundaries between the republics and the rest of the country persist, though many were reduced or removed throughout the mid-2030s. The five constituencies also share a basic form of government and basic legal system, though the political differences between them are significant. Each of the five units is coterminous with an occupation zone that was formed during the League of Nations occupation of Varshan, and consequently each have significant political, cultural, and economic influence from their respective former occupying powers. Critics of the Great Word, such as the government of Ardmore, say that the constitution is merely a veneer of independent legitimacy over the continued occupation of the country, though many scholars argue the situation is more nuanced.

Federal and local governance

The Union of Varshan is divided into three commonwealths - XXX, Náyali, and ZZZ - and two republics, Zanoma and XYZ. Varshan also has a federal city - Anzo - governed directly by the national government. The three commonwealths and two republics are comprised themselves of smaller administrative units best translated as ridings.

Politics

Varshani politics are consumed with issues related to the reconstruction of the country, both in an economic-infrastructure sense but also in a societal sense. Due to the status of Varshan as a de facto confederation, Varshan's political parties are umbrella organizations of political parties that exist within the three commonwealths and two republics, with party central apparatuses have very limited authority over local branches with respect to issues or candidates. There are five main Varshani political parties.

The top initiative debated by the Varshani government is civil rights legislation which would, among other things, prohibit discrimination of the basis of former caste as well as prohibit employers from asking about former caste. While many officials have described it as "the signature initiative of Varshan as a republic", no definitive civil rights legislation has yet passed due to widespread opposition from both former mid-tier caste individuals and former slaves alike.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Varshan

Varshan has a long cultural history stretching back thousands of years, with many very old societal practices and social traditions remaining in place.

The Varshani culture has struggled greatly to implement the abolition of the Varshani caste system, the signature system of social organization that existed until the end of the Final War of the Deluge. Significant amounts of inter-caste animosity and prejudice exist, and much of Varshani society can still be viewed through the lens of former caste as social grouping even if legal distinctions regarding them have been abolished. Caste groups still largely define political ideology, religious adherence, and participation in client-patron networks known as guuzhe. The caste distinctions have also exposed sharp divisions in Varshani culture, as many mores and traditions were highly stratified, meaning that large portions of Varshani society have extremely limited exposure to long-held and long-treasured practices of other parts of Varshani society. Nation-building has been one of the government's top priorities, but educational and media efforts to bring these traditions together have proven largely fruitless so far according to most Varshani cultural observers.

The legacy of slavery on Varshani culture is nearly all-consuming, with many differences between Varshanis immediately attributable to whether or not their ancestors were free or enslaved. The lasting impact of slavery on both economics and mental health is one of the defining political issues in modern Varshan.

Guuzhe

Postwar Varshani society is dominated by client-patron networks known as guuzhe, which play a major role in both economics and politics as well as basic social relations between Varshanis. Guuzhe also, to some extent, contribute to Varshan's crime problem, as guuzhe networks commonly take part in non-state action and violence. Guuzhe violence can take the form of crime syndicate behavior, but historically the majority of guuzhe violence has taken the form of extrajudicial lynchings of various high caste individuals in addition to settling various pre-war disputes and rivalries. Guuzhe networks also dominate employment throughout the Varshani economy, as many job positions are filled only by clients of the patron who runs the company. The few non-client employees usually are incorporated into guuzhe networks, making the growing economy one of the major sources of guuzhe recruitment by the end of the 2030s.

The guuzhe system began at the very end of the Final War of the Deluge as state and social structures began to collapse across the country, inaugurating a period of chaos, out-migration, and the beginning of the country's barter economy. The provision of foreign aid notwithstanding, most goods - ranging from clothes to food - were in short supply, and hoarding of resources became common. In response to these problems, informal networks emerged all over the country. The "classic" guuzhe, however, took the form of a returning slave liberated during the earlier part of the war using some of their relative wealth (very poor by Occidental standards) and connections with Occidental officials and officers to procure aid and food for their extended families as well as the families of those they had been enslaved with. These benefit societies eventually took on a reciprocal character once the immediate food crisis had ended, with the patrons relying on the support of their clients (and their own Occidental patrons) to be appointed to important local administrative positions by the occupation government. During 2025, the first reports of guuzhe violence surfaced against former higher caste individuals as well as enslaved foremen. The guuzhe were also critical in the barter period, as the thread of implied violence by one's guuzhe was used to ensure fair barter deals. In response to the development of slave guuzhe, former martial-among-gentile and other classes began to form their own networks in order to ensure their survival, and the system continued to spread through the late 2020s.

Once the economic crisis began to lift, patrons could begin to extend regular employment and favors to their clients, and once-destitute clients began to develop their own set of clients, creating large-scale tiered hierarchies proliferating across all walks of life. As the national political system developed, the networks were extensively used in Varshan's first elections. In some parts of the country, particularly the XXX Commonwealth, the guuzhe networks began to be used for the propagation of religion in the late 2020s. Most of the best-educated and best-connected patrons in XXX especially had become Catholic during their time as refugees under Urcean protection, and as such it became expected that clients would adopt the new religion of their clients. While the small Varshani Catholic hierarchy condemned this practice as cooercive, it nonetheless became common practice and one of the main avenues of the Christianization of former Varshani slaves. This practice has also been used, to a more limited extent, in Zanoma to propagate the spread of State Arzalism.

In the early 2030s, long-running guuzhe networks began to assume euphemistic names for themselves. These euphemisms, such as "Yananzak's Men", began to receive more formal cultural recognition by the end of the decade.

The guuzhe are a very controversial topic within Varshani politics. Most Varshani officials (including those with extensive guuzhe networks) acknowledge that the networks are problematic for the creation of a truly free market economy and also for the functioning of democratic systems, but are either unwilling or unable to tackle the issue. A number of Varshani elected officials also actively oppose action against the guuzhe, both on the grounds that the networks represent freedom of association that is new and dearly held among Varshanis, but also because the networks represent a kind of restorative justice necessary to provide for the needs of former slaves.

Demographics

Religious Demographics

Further information: Arzalism and Christianity in Varshan

Economy

Varshan has a free market economy that is considered developing.

Prior to the Final War of the Deluge, Varshan had a command economy, with most economic activity happening either under state direction or using state property. An estimated third of all Varshani land was owned by the state, including virtually all productive agricultural land and mineral resources, which were worked extensively using slavery. The liberalization of the economy, parceling-out of land, and introduction of free labor was one of the signature policies of the League of Nations occupation (outside of Zanoma). Much of the economic disruption of such a radical shift was avoided due to the widespread devastation of Varshan during the war; the command economy had largely ceased to function and had been replaced by a scavenge-and-barter economy, allowing the occupying forces to implement the new economic plan on a moderately blank slate. The transition was still exceedingly difficult, however, as the occupation government had to actively work to educate Varshanis on the meaning of free labor and free exchange. The occupation also aggressively attempted to prevent land speculation as well as preventing parcels of land held by former slaves (awarded by Freedmen's Bureaus) from being concentrated into the hands of wealthy individuals who often convinced former slaves to surrender land for goods or food of relatively no value. These efforts were only moderately successful. The reconstruction of urban economies was slightly more successful, particularly in Anzo, where occupation forces employed the well-proven Urcean model of the improvement economy. Infrastructure and construction were the largest sector of the Varshani economy in the 2020s using this model, and large parts of the road, rail, air, and sea infrastructure were either rebuilt or completely built from scratch during the latter part of the 2020s.

After the restoration of infrastructure that occurred in the 2020s, Varshan's traditional natural resource extraction resumed, and it resumed the quickest in Zanoma due to the more limited liberalization scheme there. These included mining, hydrocarbon drilling, and lumbering. Varshan controlled massive deposits of coal, iron, industrial diamonds, and various other minerals, as well as enormous timber reserves, all of which resumed being exploited in the early 2030s. The process of restarting these industries was one of stops-and-starts in the 2030s, as foreign capital as well as domestic owners took control of previously state-run industries to mixed results. Major labor disputes also characterized Varshani resource extraction through the first half of the decade as newly freed laborers often struggled to establish their rights and privileges against foremen and supervisors who worked these industries when they were still mostly staffed by slaves.

By far, the largest industry in Zurgite Varshan was agriculture. Besides subsistence farms established by squatters and former slaves in the wake of the collapse of the government, virtually all agricultural activity ceased in the final days of the Final War of the Deluge as massive population and military disruption swept the country. Varshan was swept by huge famines during the mid-2020s, causing many deaths as well as significant refugee crises. As a result, Varshan's working population fell dramatically during the 2020s, with many Varshani refugees permanently settling abroad. This further exacerbated the famine issue, requiring large scale agricultural imports. In addition to imports, the occupation government began to redistribute land using Freedmen's Bureaus. The actual redistribution scheme depended on the individual occupation zone, varying from complete redistribution to mostly recognizing local managers and administrators (as was the case in Zanoma).

Varshan is one of the last countries powered predominantly by coal due to its massive coal reserves. The occupation and Union governments have tried, with mostly limited success, to transition the country to cleaner forms of energy.

Participation in the Varshani economy to a large extent depends on membership in guuzhe, which are client-patron networks. Many major employers in the liberalized Varshani economy are led by individuals who are patrons of extended client networks, and as such their clients (and subclients of clients) receive favoritism and preference with respect to hiring and contracts. Additionally, many non-competitive arrangements between companies occur as a response to quid-pro-quo favors owed between top executives. Government efforts to open the labor market outside the guuzhe have been largely fruitless, and in fact client networks have actually expanded in the late 2030s as a result of new employees becoming clients of their employer.