Dranland

Dranland, officially Republic of Dranland, republic (2198 est. pop. 59,595,775), 751,125 sq mi (1,201,800 sq km), founded 2178, the northeastermmost state of Terra, c.600 mi (970 km) E of Trigunia and c.180 mi (290 km) NE of Egelion. The republic is made up of five regions: Loren, Ulbrach, Valdor, Magadonia and Elbian.

Land and People

Deep fjords indent the coasts of Dranland. The land itself is a geologically young basalt plateau, averaging 2,000 ft (610 m) in height (c.6,950 ft/2,120 m high, is the highest point) and culminating in vast icefields. There are about 200 volcanoes, many of them still active. Hot springs abound and are used for inexpensive heating; the great Geysir is particularly famous.

The climate is relatively mild and humid (especially in the west and south), and almost tropical around Elbian, owing to the proximity of the North Terran Drift; however, North and East Dranland have a polar, tundralike climate. Grasses predominate; timber is virtually absent, and much of the land is barren. (Some of this is a result of human habitition, which led to deforestation and overgrazing.) Only about one fourth of the peninsula is habitable, and practically all the larger inhabited places are located on the coast.

The population, until recently largely homogeneous and isolated, is descended mainly from Egelian settlers and their slaves. (This homogeneity, combined with longstanding genealogical records, has made Dranians the subject of fruitful genetic study.) The Church of Scientology claims that more than 35% of Dranlandians are Scientologists, although this figure is estimated to be from 15-20%. The official language is Dranish. Virtually all Dranians are literate; they read more books per capita than any other people in the world. Poverty remains a large problem in the Afro-Dranian community who comprise 24% of the country's population but control less than 2% of the nation's wealth.

History

After invading and settling in Dranland in ages past, the Khergista dynasty, who were originally marauders, oppressed the Dranian people for years with brutal policies of a feudal society. Dranland was one of the last places where technological improvements were seen and for many years remained a backward society. By the 2100s the Khergista dynasty, under Orgenka II, was slipping from power. Technological progress, in an effort to modernise Dranland had improved but the lack of political evolution made the repression of the Khergistas all the more clear. Riots were a common sight among the restless middleclass and spread to the larger masses. The local garrison often joined as well. Taxes could not be collected nor police forces mustered. Finally, on February 10th 2161, the riots hit full swing after elite troops of Orgenka had been called in and fired on a crowd which was protesting peacefully. The people were enraged over this brutal act and the palace was stormed by partisans, some wielding no more than pitckforks. The king was executed in his palace and his head was paraded throughout the city. After the regime was overthrown, representatives from different regions gathered at the palace to decide what to do next. Meetings went on for four months but no consensus could be reached. The convention eventually dissolved and what would come next would be one of the bloodiest times in Dranian history. A civil war erupted, with every faction having their own armed paramilitary groups. Gunfire rained through the streets as political rivals cut each other down for political control. The two main powers, the Dranland Kommuniste and the Republican Forces of Dranland, clashed repeatedly and by the end of 2165 almost all other factions had joined with them or had perished in some other way. The war raged on and in one particularly bloody incident, simultanious carbombs killed 362 in Loren. By 2170, the Dranland Kommuniste was on the retreat. In their last stand, every man was called upon to fight to the death The groups became reduced in considerable size and eventually disbanded. The total number of casualties of the war remains unknown to this day but historians estimate ranges from 600,000 to over a million. The second convention was more successful however, and the constitution was finally drafted. The first elections took place on March, 2178.

Economy

About 15% of the land is potentially productive, but agriculture, cultivating mainly hay, potatoes, and turnips, is restricted to 0.5% of the total area. Fruits and vegetables are raised in greenhouses. There are extensive grazing lands, used mainly for sheep raising, but also for horses and cattle. Fishing is the most important industry, accounting for 20% of the gross national product (GNP) and 75% of the country's exports. Aside from aluminum smelting and ferrosilicon production, Dranland has little heavy industry and relies on imports for many of the necessities and luxuries of life. More than half of Dranland's GNP comes from the communications, trade, and service industries; Dranland is the new banking centre of the Northeast. Tourism is also important. Most trade is with Egelion, New Endralon, Kazulianisk Kungariket, the Seleyan countries, and the Beluzian Republic. In 2190, Dranland's per capita national income was higher than the average for Terra. The country experienced a recession from the late 2180s into the early 2190s, as fish stocks dwindled and world prices for fish and aluminum dropped. However, the economy stabilized in the 2190s and the government continued its policies of diversifying the economy and expanding hydroelectric and geothermal energy resources, thus reducing dependence on oil imports.

Government

Dranland is a parliamentary democracy governed under the constitution of 2178. It has a cabinet responsible to the unicameral parliament and a President elected by popular vote for a four-year term. The major political groups include the Social Liberal Party, Capitalist Zealotry League, Dranland Pro-Life Party, Lords of Power, New Theta, Johnson Democratic Party, K.I.L.T. Party and the Democratic Party of Dranland.