Takatta Loa: Difference between revisions

|native_name = ''Jomria'ari Takatta Loa'' <small>(Insuo Loa)</small> <br>

|ethnic_groups =  

|population_census =  124,562,985  

|population_density_km2 = 190

|population_density_sq_mi = 490

|GDP_nominal = $4,675,285,076,245

'''Takatta Loa''', officially known as the '''Republic of Takatta Loa''', is a nation approximately 254,350 miles in area and located on the subcontinent [[Vallos]], which is located on [[Sarpedon]]. Takatta Loa is predominantly wet, tropical rainforest, with a seasonal monsoon. The environment makes for an exceptionally biodiverse region, with many of the indigenous plants and animals being found only elsewhere on Vallos and nowhere else in the world. It shares a border with its northern neighbor of [[Almadaria]].

The Empire of Takatta Loa was a rump state of the [[Kiravia|Kiravian]] proxy-colony of the same name, and was the direct predecessor of modern day Takatta Loa. Founded in 1699 and collapsing in 1875, the Empire at one point held all of southern Vallos before much of the colonial territory broke free following the death of Empress Tia'atiauela II, the second empress. Throughout the late 1700s and 1800s, the Empire underwent an intense process of "Loafication" wherein the mainland populations were forced to adopt Loa writing, language and culture. However, this period also resulted in significant religious development of the indigenous [[Kapuhenasa]], which led to the development of organized and advanced entomantic orders. Modern Takatta Loa was officially founded in 1897 by Incarnate Toato Ani of the Order of Natano following the collapse of the Empire and the resulting [[Takatta Civil War]]. At the time, it was functionally an absolute theocracy with the Order regulating all aspects of life to conform to its political theology, and it also resulted in the freedom of Takatta Loa from Kiravian influence. Bolstered by sudden economic freedom, the Order sought to advance the economy beyond the previous plantations that served to enrich Kiravia. Although economic diversification was successful, significant political oppression resulted in the [[October Rebellion]] of 1952 which nearly overthrew the Order. After the death of Incarnate Ngatono in 1967, his successor Incarnate Sunuata began to negotiate with significant revolutionaries, royalty and the other influential entomantic orders. In 1970, the state was offically converted into the modern Republic of Takatta Loa and the Order of Natano relegated to largely ceremonial functions.

Takatta Loa boasts a diverse and still developing economic market. One of the largest industries in the nation is shipping, with Takatta Loa having some of the most robust shipping yards in the world. Further, agriculture still forms a significant portion of income, although it has been largely modernized. In particular, Takatta Loa is the largest producer of ginger and coconut in the world, bringing in around 1.5 and 26 billion taler respectively, and is a very significant producer of the cola used in [[Imperial Cola]], as well as having the oldest bottling plant located outside of [[Paulastra]]. The nation also produces 84% of the world's supply of [[Copium]], which is mostly exported to other countries with a marginal amount remaining in Takatta Loa. There is additionally a very large tourism industry in Takatta Loa, bringing in an estimated 50 billion taler a year. There is an especially large focus on [[Cartadania]], with Cartadanians recieving free tourist visas and the travel company [[LoaMajeste]] aggressively lobbying and advertising in Cartadania for travel to Takatta Loa. Especially, the island of [[Jennasura]] has been developed specifically to attract tourist, to the detriment of the indigenous [[Non-Loa Natives|non-Loa polynesians]]. Currently, there is much development going into the production and research of pharmaceuticals, with [[Rehangi Pharmaceuticals]] being founded and based in Takatta Loa. However, not all economic advancement has been distributed evenly, with the region of [[Akanatoa]] receiving significantly less attention than others. This has resulted in a large drug and arms trade occurring out of Akanatoa. The [[Hoa'akalra Cartel]] in particular has demonstrated separatist tendencies, resulting in the [[Akanatoa War]].

 

In 950, the mainland of Takatta went through a 4 year drought in which no monsoons occurred. The records indicate that the palaces did everything they could to maintain peace, up to and including human sacrifice. However, the fact that the palaces hoarded rice for themselves whilst refusing to distribute it to the common people led to significant unrest. In 953, the [[Vallos#Loose_Caphiric_hegemony|Caphirian Undecimvirate]] supported the uprising of several generals of the palatial kingdoms, who had previously been assigned to guard against Caphirian intrusion. These uprisings, collectively called the Ko’ngairauo Wars, occurred for nearly half a century due to terrain difficulties meaning Caphirian forces couldn’t assist much as well as the generals provoking even more hatred due to their brutal warfare strategies, meaning that the palaces had significant support from the population despite previous mismanagement of supplies. The end of the drought also prolonged the conflict due to a quick rebuilding of grain and food supplies. The first palace to fall was Keikono of Arai’ia in 977, whose territory was seized by General Oaiakara’atana. He stayed out of the conflicts surrounding the rest of the Ahoso Basin, and instead focused on conquering southeast Vallos, which consisted of relatively underdeveloped tribes and chiefdoms and as such unification was quickly achieved through negotiations, Caphirian force and treaties in 989. Nagala in Husnande and Aiaka in Disa’adakuo held out until 997 and 1000 CE until Generals Ngasiikai and Kuanaturuero respectively conquered the regions. However, although Ngasiikai is recognized in Caphirian sources as the king of his region, Polynesian sources indicate that his mother, Uenguiofairi, was the true leader and founder of the kingdoms. Later historians attribute this seeming contradiction to the fact that the Caphirians were unlikely to recognize a woman as a ruler, and so her son was sent to the Caphirian diplomats as the ruler in her place. The generals ruled over most of the Polynesian with the exceptions of small border regions and most notably the Loa Islands which were assumed to be uninhabited. This marked the beginning of the tumultuous Early Medieval Age of Takatta Loa (called Uana o Tagata, or “Land of the People”. Takatta came from a Loa corruption and misunderstanding of Tagata to mean land, and called it Takat ta Loa or “Land Conquered by the Loa”, as they use ‘’a’’ possession [‘’ta’’ possession in Insuo Loa’’]) which was characterized by failed attempts at Christian conversion, population decline and the movement of wealth from southern Vallos.

 

| value2 = 36.6

| value4 = 15.4

| value5 = 10.7

The Kapuhenasa is the majority religion in Takatta Loa, with around 70% of the population professing it to be their only religion. However, around 87% of the population says that they engage in Kapuhenasa practices, with around half of all Muslims engaging with the Kapuhenasa in a religious sense. It developed throughout the late 1700s and 1800s, and came to be called Kapuhenasa first in 1866. It originated from the teachings of Saȳd Kamáv Istiklav, a [[Kiravia|Kiravian]] Sufi mystic. His followers consisted largely of indigenous philosophers and shamans, and so they adapted Sufi ideas to their native religion and philosophical tradition, creating the syncretic and highly eclectic Kapuhenasa.

It is a pantheistic, pseudo-polytheistic religion although followers of the Kapuhenasa view it as monotheistic and the state of Takatta Loa recognizes it as monotheistic. It views creation as being a cycle of reincarnation into a mundane world of illusions and deceit. Only through the practices of the religion can one break the cycle and achieve eternity as a divine spirit, which is often referred to as "dwelling in the splendors of Mystery’s End". The aforementioned 'Mystery' is the mundane world, while the One God (‘’Iasa-Lennauaka’’) is the state of eternity that the Loa aspire towards. However, the Loa seldom worship ‘’Iasa-Lennauaka’’ itself, instead choosing to worship the Eternal Spirits, those who have achieved unity with divinity and return to the earthly world to assist the faithful. These spirits, called Lualoa, are the predominant element of the Kapuhenasa, with spirit possession being a very common practice to achieve clarity, banish spiritual disease and promote health.

Religious practices are largely communal, with the Loa meeting in boat roofed buildings to sing hymns in praise of divinity and be communally possessed by the spirit of the shrine to receive spiritual peace and sanctity. There are also home shrines, usually of a particularly devout ancestor, which receives prayer and worship. Finally, there are the medicine spirits, which are prescribed by diviners and shamans to assist believers who are plagued by some spiritual ailment. However, these are the practices largely associated with laity. The clergy, consisting of diviners, shamans and truth seekers all tend to practice a form of worship that more closely follows the liturgy of the Kapuhenasa. Lay followers also recite from and strive to embody the precepts, but to a less rigorous and contemplative degree.

The liturgy consists of the Anahuenna (Book of Poems) and the Anareano (Books of Ecdysis). The former consists of hymns in praise of “Mystery’s End” and was written long before the Kapuhenasa as a religion came to be, and before the Loa Empire conquered mainland Takatta Loa. As such, it is largely valued for the general beauty of its poetry and for its philosophical value as the only surviving example of the “Imago” philosophical tradition. The Anareano is a large collection of poems, theological and philosophical discourses and parables composed by notable Loa shamans, philosophers and holymen in regards to the questions of truth, transformation and liminality. It is notably focused on “ecdysis”, a term used by the Loa for general change and philosophically as a transformation of the self from mundane matter to supramundane divinity. Hence, they are called the Books of Ecdysis.

====Islam====

Islam is the largest minority religion at around 28% of the population of Takatta Loa, with the vast majority of Muslims following Zaydism with a strong emphasis on Sufism and other mystical traditions. Despite the immense differences between the Kapuhenasa and Islam, there is very rarely any religious discrimination, dispute or violence. A large part of this is due to the mutual mystical practices of the two faiths, with the Kapuhenasa in particular being descended from a Sufi mystic named Saȳd Kamáv Istiklav, although the Kapuhenasa disavows any connection to Islam, viewing the two faiths as having arrived at the same conclusion of faith and mystery. Islam in Takatta Loa arrived during the 18th century with the arrival of Haśem Xosséın and Saȳd Kamáv Istiklav, approximately 1701 and 1718 respectively. Haśem spread Islam in a more traditional way and had an immense impact in the upper Masa riverlands, with the descendants of those converts becoming the [[Safa Loa]].

The school year follows the Loa luni-ecdysial calendar, which measures time along both a lunar calendar and an "ecdysial" calendar that measures the silkworm seasons. There are 304 school days, with 41 holidays and 20 non holiday free days. The start of the school year is November 24th, which continues for the first ecdysial season until the 65th day until the 5 day long break at the end of the season. This continues until the fifth and last season, which is followed by the Loa 15 day New Years celebration. Other major holidays include the three Eid holidays celebrated by Loa Muslims, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Gadhir, as well as the 12 lunar holidays, the 2 secular holidays of Peace Day and Constitution Day, and the four Loa religious holidays of Aiasin-sekkin, Huehuekaso-sekkin, Akaru'a-sekkin and Toua-sekkin. Takatta Loa organizes a school year based on a pentester, with the school year being divided into the five ecdysial cycles.

===Religion===