Nation Name: Emporia Flag: A pink rabbit, set against a white background. Government: Bloated democracy, I guess would be the best way to put matters. The government is run by any single individual who can garner at least 25% of the national vote. Considering that all peoples, from the smallest infant, to the most infirm old guy, can vote, this naturally yields very exciting results. To digress a little, the Emporian President simply puts his or her name forwards per 4 years (5 if the incumbent delays things a little), appears on a few stages in front of the masses, and speaks their mind. Naturally, this is a very filling buffet of special interest, and typically, it is the mood of the nation that decides who runs it. Why such a crazy system, you ask? Emporia was formerly a total monarchy. However, due to the oppression of such a regime, coupled with rising educational standards and contact with other nations amongst the masses, the Kings and Queens of Emporia soon met their bloody end at the hands of enraged peasants. Never wanting to commit themselves to a "Royal Family" again, aforementioned peasants simply said "whoever gets a popular approval, is in charge for four years". And that's pretty much it. The elected President has complete control over every aspect of the military, law making, economic and foreign policies. They are literally Kings and Queens with a shelf-life. The only thing they cannot touch, is the constitution. The consitution is a funny affair all by itself, and lists just one item: "The President of Emporia must be a confirmed citizen, must have received at least 25% of the votes, and must reapply for election in four years time. During the election season, it is illegal for the President to request the security services or paramilitary bodies to in any way, shape or form interfere with due process" Economy: Capitalists-Come-Socialists. With no human rights, and a constant changing landscape as far as the law is concerned, the Emporian economy is a circus. Some years yield great prosperity, as giant companies establish themselves over the ruins of the previous President's economic policies, and other years see the return of total market chaos. Naturally, such instability has destroyed confidence in Emporia as a stable society, and so foreign investment is often scarce. This has driven many successive Presidents to nationalise the nation's industries, with the aims of establishing self sufficiency. Leader(s): President Kimbol Fernhurst Important People: Stating that anyone else is important with regards to running the state, other than Our Beloved Kimbol Fernhurst, is a criminal offence dear friend. Desired Map location: If you'd kindly update that blank carpet you got hanging up there on the top post, I'd gladly grab my picket fence and start laying it out for you. But from what you've said, Emporia would be up there in the North with the other smog-choked countries. Important Locations: Kimbol Town, Emporia's capital city. That's right, you've guessed it, that is not the city's original name. Other than that, we have Trintonbel, a major industrial hub, and Kerowan, an agricultural communal-farm type complex that houses hundreds of thousands of people. Aside from these, Emporia is dotted with hundreds of villages, and scores of towns, all of which are minor, but all of which contribute to the bigger picture. Cultural Overview: Emporian culture changes every 4 years. Whoever is elected always seem to have their own ideals with regards to what a person should look like, and how they should live their lives. Some Presidents embrace religion and morals; others encourage atheism and debauchery. Some Presidents ban music, others nationalise it. To refer to Emporian culture, is to refer to a rainbow that keeps glitching out of existence. Naturally, this frustrates foreign dignitaries, who constantly have to update themselves every four years on the latest changes and expectations of Emporian society. Technology Overview: Despite the economic and social chaos that runs rampant in Emporia, it is a fairly advanced nation. Airships are widespread, and steam cars are becoming common in the richer districts of Kimbol Town. Guns have replaced the lance on the battlefield, and generally speaking, Emporia's military could keep pace with the nation's bigger and tougher neighbours - to an extent. Military Overview: The military is subject to constant restructures, as Presidents scramble to find room in the budget to fund the latest cosmetic surgery researches, or other frivolous affairs. However, the core of the Emporian armed forces, which goes unchanged most of the time, because Presidents fear it may turn on them, is as follows: 1st Emporian Army: 140,000 Infantry. 18,000 artillery pieces of varying calibres. 1,400 anti-air cannons. 309 Emporian Airships; large hulks, shaped in the form of seaborne galleys, that primarily transfer troops across land as opposed to filling a combat role. 6,000 horse mounted cavalry. 2nd Emporian Army: 64,000 Infantry 4,300 artillery pieces of varying calibres. 300 anti-air cannons. 87 Emporian Airships; large hulks, shaped in the form of seaborne galleys, that primarily transfer troops across land as opposed to filling a combat role.