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[b]Nation Name:[/b] Commonwealth of Ocreau

[b]Type of Government:[/b] Union of Republics

[b]Head of Government:[/b]
Lady Marie Ira II representative of the division of Rina, Governor General of the National Legislative Council
Aran Cerang, Prime Minister of the People's House


[b]Economy: [/b]
The Commonwealth’s chief exports include iron and silver ore mined in the nation’s mountains, although the amount exported has been steadily decreasing in favour of more sustainable ventures. Other important industries include the agricultural sector, which mostly produces spices and paper. There have been some attempts to create a larger tourism sector but the results have been mixed. The Commonwealth often imports food, glass and other raw materials.

[b]Unique Technologies: [/b]
The pride and joy of the Ocrese Commonwealth is the Grand Railway. The Grand Railway is a large railway network connecting every town throughout the country. It travels at high velocity, powered by magically augmented engines. The network has been equipped with large underground tunnels that go through the mountains. 

The railway tunnels are also connected to the war bunkers. This extensive system of bunkers that could shelter the majority of the population should the country come under threat. In addition, some of the trains have been outfitted with artillery that could be sent as a defence in times of war.

[b]Primary Species:[/b] Humans, Goliaths, Half-Goliaths, and a notable Orc minority

[b]Population:[/b] Approximately 13.5 million people

[b]Culture:[/b] 
The people of Ocreau had to learn to survive in the arid rain shadow of the mountains that make up most of the country. This lead to the formation of many festivals and rites designed to bring about good harvests. The climate also encouraged the use of many different spices in Ocrese cuisine, several of which were considered to be so valuable that the tribes fought over their sources long ago. The people value resilience and an even temperament. There is a strong focus on family and on the local surroundings.

The most common spoken language is Ocrese, which is a creole of the old languages of the human settlers and the languages of the Goliath. Orcish is often spoken by the Orc minority in the south.

[b]Religion and Other Beliefs: [/b]
Many of the religious Ocrese combine the beliefs of various world religions with traditional local customs, forming a hybrid belief system with a basis in the world religion but festivals and customs from indigenous sources. Several still adhere solely to these customs which encourage the worship of spirits at shrines, many of which are centuries old.

[b]Location/Territories:[/b]
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Area no. 20
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The country is split into 17 divisions, with the capital of Ereaux being located in the division of Rina which is in the mountains.

[b]Climate: [/b]
The climate of the Commonwealth is generally dry and arid, with the eastern coast having a warm climate with lower than average rainfall. The land near the base of the mountains is fairly fertile and is fed by snowmelt. The mountains get quite cold, with the highest mountains having permanent snow caps.

[b]Military:[/b]
The Commonwealth has a decent defensive force with several static and mobile defenses. Remnants of fortresses built during the warring states period have been retrofitted to serve as more modern bases. These are mostly found near the coast as the largest inland border is protected by mountainous terrain.

The army consists mostly of infantry with support from armoured vehicles built using the iron found in the mountains. Although the army is hardly the most advanced on the continent, it makes up for it with training and discipline.

The navy has been built up over the centuries as sea trade was vital to the fledgling Commonwealth. The nation has been investing in warships and its coast guard. It also has a large merchant navy. The navy has been researching aerial combat, but not much has come of it so far.

[b]Magic Prevalence/Usage:[/b]
Magic in the Commonwealth was once viewed with awe, many magi would act as village elders and would be vital advisers to the ancient leaders. The local magics are druidic in origin, focussing on nature and spiritual magic. Now, magic is regulated by a government ministry in an effort to keep the peace in the country. It is taught by schools, many of which are publicly-owned. Despite this, magical abilities are still fairly rare and those with them are greatly respected.

Magic also plays a role in festivals and rites, and is used to bring about several different effects. For example, a rite might be used to encourage a good harvest or to drive away evil spirits. Traditional talismans are also used as sources of easily accessible magic.

[b]History/ Background Info:[/b]
The lands that are now called Ocreau were once inhabited by 10 different Goliath tribes. These tribes were mostly confined to the mountains and were largely isolated to the outside world. Not much is known about this period as much of the Goliath’s oral history was lost to the ages. It is widely believed that these tribes lived largely separate from each other. Archaeological evidence suggests that there when the tribes did meet, it often ended in bloodshed.

Centuries later, the first human settlers arrived in Ocreau. The humans mostly settled the coastal wetlands as these provided convenient sources of food. It wasn’t long before the two peoples met each other. Old writings made by the humans suggest that while many of the Goliath tribes were open to trade, there were a few that fought the humans over land.

This period of history continued until the founding of Qae, the first Ocrese city-state. The first warlord of Qae rose up and conquered the surrounding tribes. Qae was soon followed by other states, ushering in the Warring States period of Ocrese history. During this period, the first Orcish settlers appeared and formed their own city state in the south of the country. Approximately 21 states were formed during this time.

This period ended with the formation of the 17 modern states. The end of the warring states period forged three uneasy alliances that would shape modern Ocreau. The first alliance was under the division of Qae which controlled the northern mountains. The second was under Rina, which controlled the southern mountains. The third was under Mar, which controlled the central coast.

These three alliances were constantly trying to undermine each other, but there was very few outright wars between them. Each knew that a war with its neighbours could spell the end of their de facto state. The three was finally unified into the Commonwealth of Ocreau with the leadership of Ira of Rina. Ira saw the power of the neighbouring countries and saw that only a unified Ocreau could hope to survive. As the warlords of the constituent divisions and the leaders of the alliances saw the expansion of Fenice and worried that it threatened to take the lands upon, they met in the city of Ereaux and forged the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth was officially formed 150 years ago with the founding of the National Legislative Council, which took a representative of each of the states (now called divisions). All of the divisions elected their representative democratically, while some still retained ancient dynasties. 

Although the eruption initially had little effect on the Commonwealth, other than some trade disruption, the following years of ash-induced darkness had a devastating effect on the agricultural industry. The government set out drastically subsidising farms and reforming agricultural laws so that they would not starve. The famine did cause a drop in population and some of the more agricultural-focussed divisions required grants to prevent bankruptcy.

Once the ash cleared, the agricultural industry began to recover and Ocreau saw a boom in the spice industry. Lady Maria Ira II, who is distantly related to Ira of Rina, became the 71st Governor General of the Commonwealth 2 years ago.


[b]Nation Relations:[/b]
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Ocreau generally has little interest in the politics of the nations around it, except when their decisions have effects on the Commonwealth. They generally take a somewhat defensive approach, but will trade quite happily with those around them.

[i]Republic of Acrad:[/i] Ocreau is aware of the Republic’s existence and wishes to pursue trade deals with them, mostly in oil.

[i]Andria:[/i] Ocreau is interested in trade with Andria.

[i]Republic of Avalia:[/i] Ocreau trades in spices, and as long as Avalia wishes to buy spices then relations between the two will be favourable. Ocreau has recently shown some interest in the uses of Hydrium.

[i]Divine Dominion of Fenice:[/i] While Ocreau generally wishes to trade with the Dominion, they are wary of their territories around the globe and privately disapprove of their acquisitions. Some Ocrese fear that Ocreau may, one day, become a colony of the Dominion

[i]Divine Empire of Hastur:[/i] The Hasturian religion has a few followers in the Commonwealth and Ocreau tends to remain silent on matters of the Emperor and the Empire. It is wary of the sheer size and strength that the Empire wields. There is some trade between the two.
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