Difference between revisions of "Nation/Furnifold"

Revision as of 21:29, 25 May 2017

Royal Republic of Furnifold
Furnifold on Yasteria in The East Pacific
Region		The East Pacific
Capital		McLendal
Largest city		Boonefield
Demonym		Furnifoldian
Government		Centralized Republic
-	Magistrate Head of State and Foreign Government	Jacopo d'Arrigo
-	Chanellor Head of Domestic Government	Faith Jagan
-	Foreign Secretary	Jackson Woolf
Legislature		Senate
History
-	Founding	1778
Area
-	Total	170,800 km2 66,000 sq mi
Population
-	2015 estimate	16,000,000
-	Density	95/km2 246/sq mi
GDP (nominal)		estimate
-	Total	SHD$37.8 billione
-	Per capita	SHD$2,256
Gini (2015)		65 very high
Currency		South Hills Dollar (SHD)
Date format		dd ˘ mm ˘ yyyy
Drives on the		right
Calling code		816
ISO 3166 code		FUR
Internet TLD		.fur

The Royal Republic of Furnifold is a nation about 170,800 km² in size and with a population of 16 million people. It lies on the continent of Yasteria on the planet Urth. Furnifold is located just south of the 15^th north parallel and just east of the 20^th east meridian. Its western border is the coastline, while its eastern border is Lake Amery. Its northern border lies on the 15^th Parallel, and its southern border follows the Chonvor River. The capital city is McLendal, which is located almost in the heart of the nation, at the confluence of two major rivers of Furnifold, the Carrington River and the Ayx River.

Geography of Furnifold.

Climate of Furnifold 3 Land Features of Furnifold 4 Land use of Furnifold 7 Government Structure 8 Powers of the government 8 Legislative Branch 8 Executive Branch 9 Judicial Branch 9 Military Branch 9 Cities and Major Towns of Furnifold 10 Large cities 10 Boonefield 10 Carson 10 Chonvor City 10 Woolf 10 Small cities 11 McLendal 11 Ato 11 Hafre 11 Kwolek 11 Mana 11 Large towns 12 Acoco 12 Auburn 12 Vaca Misra 12 History of Furnifold 12 Pre-Great Expulsion 12 The Great Expulsion 13 Royalist’s Account 13 Bilard’s Account 13 The Settlement of Auburn 14 Moving south 14 Splitting up 15 Boonefield 15 1770: The War of the Bilards 16 The lead-up 16 1770- The Guesthouse Ignition 17 First Royalist Charge 17 Second Royalist Charge 18 Targeting of supply lines 18 The Gwexhai become involved and the end of the war 19 The Gwexhai Treaty 19 Settlement of McLendel 20 Military Growth and Expansion 20 Meeting the Sahibu 21 Population characteristics of Furnifold 21 Economy of Furnifold 22 Military of Furnifold 23 Famous Figures of Furnifold 27 Neve Amelia-Thomas 27 Jacopo d’Arrigo 27 Adam Bly 28 Artemis Gay 28 Faith Jagan 29 Uche Markopolos 30 F.T. Morison 30 David Rezendes 31 Gwen Scott 31 Jackson Woolf 31

Climate of Furnifold

Furnifold is natively in a tropical region; however, it is also located in a system of northeastward prevailing winds. Because of landmasses to the west of the country, winds have a tendency to be pushed eastward and continue up along the coast of the country. This has led to some interesting climate characteristics for the country. The only typically tropical portion of the country is in the southwest, where average annual temperature is 21 degrees Celsius and average rainfall per month ranges between 40 and 200 millimeters. Most of the rainfall occurs at night because of the differences in temperatures of the land and sea. Due to the higher elevation area known as the Geon Hills, the leeward side of these hills is home to a small band of a tropical savannah climate before transitioning to an arid region known as the Womp Desert.

Due to this northeastward system of prevailing winds, precipitation is largely expelled in the southwest portion of the country; then evaporation off the coast is collected by these winds as they continue to move north, and it is deposited inland into the north. What results is a climate that is still hot, but does not receive as much rain as the area south of it. This area is known as the Branwell Plains, and it is the most agriculturally stable area of the country.

There are two more unusual characteristics that Furnifold is known for. The first is the only known instance of a tropical rainforest being higher in latitude than its adjacent savannah. The Gwexhai Jungle, as it is known by the indigenous people, is located west of the Vase Mountains. Because of the amount of water that flows from the mountains to the Red Zillo River and Ayx River, as well as the rapid change in heat and air pressure as the water flows south, a higher-than-normal amount of evapotranspiration occurs in this area. The high amount of humidity and constant supply of water has fostered a small rainforest at the foot of the mountains, though it does not extend too far west into Furnifold.

Finally, there is a swamp system adjacent to Lake Amery. Known as the Daghoba Swamp, it is a sprawling system that is caused by the perennial overflowing of the Ayx River at a certain point. This, coupled with the proximity to the Lake, has over hundreds of years led to the land flooded and not drained as effectively.

Land Features of Furnifold

[Features of Furnifold]

Land use of Furnifold

Agricultural land- 48.6% Arable land- 16.9%, Permanent crops- 31.1%, Permanent pasture- 6.6% Forest- 19.4% Desert- 14.9% Urban- 7.0% Other- 10.1%

Government Structure

Furnifold is a Constitutional Republic, with a unitary government. There are three branches of government: an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch, and in times of duress a fourth branch, the military. The executive branch is led by the Magistrate of Furnifold, who is the Head-of-State and also possesses some powers of the Head-of-Government. The legislative branch is overseen by the Chancellor of the Senate, who possesses the other powers of the Head-of-Government. The judicial branch is composed of the court judges, who oversee the passage of laws and executive actions and hear cases brought to them by the nation. Powers of the government

Legislative Branch

The legislative body has the power of the purse and appropriations. They do not have the power to declare war or to commit troops, which is under the power of the executive branch. They do have the power to appropriate funds as needed though. The legislative body enacts laws and provides the executive branch with materials needed to enforce the laws. While not directly enumerated in the Constitution, the Magistrate has control of matters concerning diplomatic and foreign policy, serving as the Commander-in-Chief, while the Chancellor has control of matters concerning domestic policy, including the supervision of the national guard. Laws passed must require a simple majority, with the exception of amendments, budgetary bills and bills to change the rules of the Senate, which require two thirds vote.

The Senate contains a revolving number of Senators, who are elected to six-year terms and are term limited to three terms in office, or eighteen years. Every Census changes the number of Senators to reflect the population of Furnifold. The current Senate number is 320, or one Senator for every 50,000 Furnifold citizens. Each official Census is 12 years. In order to limit the size of the Senate, there is a law established that requires there be two Senators to every district, and currently there are 160 districts in Furnifold. The Senators of the district for three years of their term alternate between being a legislator and a constituent organizer. One handles the Senate floor, serving on committee, and the crafting of legislation, and the other handles political organization events, meeting with constituents. They switch duties every three years. To prevent opposing political parties from occupying two Senate spots, tickets are required when candidates run. Elections for the Senate are every two years, with a third of the Senate in turnover. The Chancellor is chosen by a vote of the Senate, and two-thirds is required to select the Chancellor. In the event two-thirds is not reached, a runoff election happens, with the top-two vote-getters running. In the unlikely event that two-thirds is still not reached, the vote is put to the people of Furnifold, for a simple majority.

The Chancellor is in charge of the direction of the Senate, has a cabinet of appointments that mirror the Magistrate, and fills committees with ranking members. The Chancellor’s cabinet advise the Chancellor on matters and work with respective committees to craft legislation. Bills that are created are either created in these committees or referred to these committees. The Chancellor serves for two years, then is put to a vote again during the next legislative cycle.

Executive Branch

The executive branch has the power to enforce the laws passed by the legislature, and administers regulations. It also is the primary diplomatic affairs branch, and has priority to interact with the government. The branch can also pass executive orders that relate to how the laws passed by the legislature are enforced. The Magistrate’s cabinet must vote on the executive orders, with two-thirds needed to pass. This also includes declaration of war and committing of troops. The cabinet must also vote on the standing-up of the fourth branch, the military, in times of duress.

The Magistrate serves a five-year term, with no term-limits, and is chosen by a combination of three methods. The first is a direct majority vote by the people of Furnifold. The second is through a direct majority vote by the Senate. The third is through a majority vote of the three commanders of the Navy, Air Force, and Army. The candidate that receives two of three wins is elected to the office.

Judicial Branch

The judiciary is a system of courts that interpret the law as it relates to the Constitution. There are 25 judges, each dealing with a different aspect of law, that serve for 18 years. The judges are nominated by the Chancellor and appointed by the Senate in a confirmation vote, and the Magistrate can either reject or veto the pick. If vetoed, the Senate must choose another official or override the veto with a two-thirds majority. There is also an administrative system within this branch to handle court cases that are not Constitutional in nature. The judges are reactive judges, and will hear cases that are brought to them, and do not legislate.

Military Branch

In times of war and emergencies, the Magistrate can cede the Commander-in-Chief role to the Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs for better coordination and oversight. Upon a majority vote by the Magistrate’s Cabinet, the Chairperson becomes the leader of the armed forces and has direct command of the military. The Chancellor still retains control of the national guard, however, and the Magistrate still retains control of diplomacy. This ceding of authority creates the Military Branch of the government. Once the emergency has been dealt with, control is returned to the Magistrate. The commanders of the Joint Chiefs are nominated by the Magistrate and a tribunal of that branch’s leading body. If chosen, the commander is one of three representatives of the branch in the Joint Chiefs, and serves as the highest-ranked officer in the branch. Of the nine ranked officers, a chairperson is chosen by way of a majority vote. The Chairperson is chosen each time a new chief has been appointed to the Joint Chiefs. A Joint Chief will serve until resignation or the tribunal is called to determine if a new chief is needed. When not in the military branch, the Joint Chiefs serve the Magistrate as one vote in the cabinet. Cities and Major Towns of Furnifold

Large cities

Boonefield

The largest city in Furnifold, with 1,331,200 people, it is a major industrial and agricultural hub for the country. Named after famed explorer Jeremy Boone, the city’s primary industries are logistics and transportation, agricultural services, and manufacturing. The city serves as the rail and freight hub of Furnifold.

Carson

Named after explorer Janet Carson who first settled the city, this is Furnifold’s most important agricultural hubs. Being so close to the Branwell Plains, Carson has been established as the location of producing, packaging, and distributing agricultural goods. The major industries are agricultural services, transportation, and retail. With a population of 323,200, Carson is the fourth-largest city in Furnifold. It is also the location of the University of Carson, a nationally-ranked college in agricultural sciences and industry.

Chonvor City

This city serves as the major manufacturing center of Furnifold, as it is easy to send the supplies down the Chonvor River. Also featuring several military installations, this city is the third-largest in Furnifold, with a population of 507,232. Major industries are manufactured products, logistics, and government services. Located here is Amery Institute of Technology, a major engineering school in Furnifold.

Woolf

The city most resembling a developed city, this is the financial capital of Furnifold. WIth the majority of the major corporation’s headquarters here, it also serves as the headquarters for the Furnifold Stock Exchange and the Furnifold Commodities Market. There is a major shopping sector here as well. Primary industries are financial services, retail, and healthcare. At a population of 929,200, it is the second-largest city in Furnifold. The University of Furnifold at Woolf, and Manleh College feature premier business schools in the country.

Small cities

McLendal

The capital city of Furnifold and named after the first Magistrate of Auburn Furnifold McLendal, it was first formed in 1778. It has been the capital of the country ever since. Possessing a population of 246,500 people, McLendal is the seventh-largest city in Furnifold. Primary industries are government services, transportation, and manufacturing. It is the government center of Furnifold, with domestic and foreign affairs agencies throughout the city.

Ato

The major port city of Furnifold, this city is located on the edge of the Chonvor River. It has both deep-water and shallow-water docks. From the city there is a direct rail line to Boonefield. The deep-water dock is located a few hundred feet off the coast, however. With a population of 280,000, it is the fifth-largest city in Furnifold. Its major industries are shipping, logistics, and healthcare.

Hafre

Hafre is a city on the Carrington Delta. It serves as another port for goods, but while Ato is the main import port, Hafre is the main export port. Agricultural goods and manufactured products are mainly exported from here. It features a rail line from both Ato and Boonefield. With a population of 191,300, it is the ninth-largest city in Furnifold. Its major industries are Shipping services, agricultural services, and accounting.

Kwolek

The most important complex manufacturing center in Furnifold, this is the primary area for high-end manufactured materials. There is also a sizeable military presence in the city, given its proximity to open desert. Its primary industries are complex manufacturing, financial services, and military services. With a population of 200,200, it is the eighth-largest city in Furnifold. There is a major university located here, the East Womp Military Academy, usually shortened to East Womp. Major science laboratories are also located here This is the university all commissioned officers come from, as well as high-producing enlisted soldiers.

Mana

A city by the sea, this is a major beach-front destination for tourists and Furnifoldians alike. It also is the location of the major hospital of Furnifold, Furnifold Cross. Major medical schools the University of Furnifold at Mana, and The University of Mana University College are also here. With a population of 261,600, Mana is the sixth-largest city in Furnifold. Its major industries are healthcare, retail, and tourism services.

Large towns

Acoco

A town by Lake Amery, this is another major tourist destination in Furnifold. Renowned for its beauty, there are strict rules regarding the use of the Lake for recreation. This is also the location of where major sporting events are held in Furnifold. With a population of 124,800, Acoco is the 11th-largest town in Furnifold. Its major industries are tourism services, accounting, and retail.

Auburn

The oldest town in Furnifold, this town was first formed in 1748. It has a shrinking population of 142,000. Ever since its prime size and influence in the early 1800s, it has fallen out of influence as other cities have grown. Currently it is the 10th-largest town in Furnifold, with a population of 142,000. A military base is located near the DMZ on the 15th parallel. The Gwexhai University, a major library services and cultural center, is located here. The primary industries are transportation, military services, and agricultural services.

Vaca Misra

A fast-growing town on the border of Furnifold, this has grown due to the presence of it near the Vase Mountains and the tourism it brings. It is the starting point for the journey up to the Red Zillo peak, and is the location for camping and other outdoor recreation of Furnifold. Its primary industries are tourism services, construction, and real estate services. With a population of 101,900, it is the 12th-largest town in Furnifold.

History of Furnifold

Pre-Great Expulsion

Native indigenous people first inhabited the area of Furnifold in various tribes, which were eventually consolidated into one Gwexhai people. The area was previously under control of the nation of Iassath, a mercantile imperialist nation with lofty ambitions. In the 17th and early 18th century, the area Furnifold occupies was just beginning to be explored for resource exploitation, but every exploration met stiff resistance from the Gwexhai people. When the natives started to get sick and die due to not being inoculated against the explorer’s diseases, it began to force them out of the region. The Gwexhai were able to defend their lands for a time, though as time went on, Iassath was able to overcome the Gwexhai and remove them from much of Furnifold proper. By the 1720s, the last bastion of Gwexhai land was in the Gwexhai Jungle. With the natives gone, the explorers were free to colonize the land, though they never got a chance to. 1

The Great Expulsion

In the early 1730's, tragedy struck Iassath and the nation collapsed, leaving behind the settlers and no link to the previous government. Out of necessity, the people decided to establish a system of multiple governments that were feudal in nature, with separate administrations that composed the large farms and mines of the region. There was no central system of government, and only those who retained land or owned businesses were allowed to have a voice. Essentially it lacked any unifying presence. Those with land were wary of those without land, given that they had not received any information about the causes of Iassath’s collapse and were nervous about the lack of security. Because of this, the feudal society was oppressive towards those who did not have land, leading to much resentment from these people. Those without land had a much more fluid method of communication and were unified in ideology, and their leaders plotted a popular insurrection to overthrow their feudal bounds and seize the land. The event of the 1748 uprising is where the account of what happened diverge, and it is challenging to determine which actually happened.

Royalist’s Account

The Royalists, those with land, found that some sympathetic or opportunistic members of the Bilards, those without land, tipped off the Royalists about the impending overthrow. Knowing that they could not successfully defend themselves against such an onslaught, the Royalists in the government engaged in a great rollback of oppressive policies towards the Bilards. These included allowing them to engage in government by electing representatives, opportunities to receive land if they make enough of a living, and other measures. The Bilards were extremely vindictive and carried out their revolution anyways, invading feudal lands and overthrowing their governments in the course of one month. The Royalists were left homeless, and only allowed to retain one of their possessions, which in most cases were the books from their libraries. The Royalists migrated south and met up with others who were left in similar predicaments. They finally ended up in the area of where Auburn is today, an area with suitable climate, a water source, and soil for them to establish a settlement.

Bilard’s Account

The Bilards believe that the Royalists had paid off people to snitch on their plans, but the measures the government put in place would suffice for the time being. But, anarchist elements in their wing wanted to seize control, and were able to carry out their plans. When it was discovered that one of the Royalist governments had been stockpiling weapons to use on the Bilards, they seized the weapons and brought them to the Bilard leadership, who decided that all the Royalist governments needed to be investigated. Over the course of one month, the Bilards went from government to government and found similar weapons stockpiles. However, towards the end of the month, they would see Royalists on the road heading south carrying only their libraries of books, but the weapon stockpiles in the government centers that should have been there were not. No one was checking the fleeing Royalists, leading many in the Bilards leadership to suspect the Royalists of carrying weapons in their libraries. The Bilards, at this point lacking the same ideological unification, let the Royalists flee south without offering rehabilitation, and the Bilards settled the region to the north of Furnifold.

The Settlement of Auburn

Auburn was the first settled establishment for the Royalists in Furnifold. They were able to set up some rudimentary foraging and hunting measures, until they stumbled too far into the Gwexhai Jungle and ran into the Gwexhai people. A little over a generation ago, these people had moved back into the jungle after being decimated by the Iassath hunters and forced to flee. The Gwexhai decided to assist the refugees, helping them till the land with more established tools, and showing them the fertile area farther west by the Branwell Plains. A fledgling economy and town was built. Because the light from the sun reflected off the trees from the Gwexhai Jungle in such a way that made the ground appear red, the Royalists decided to name the area Auburn, after the color. Once the Gwexhai helped them get started, they retreated back into the jungle, with a warning that they would not be so friendly if the Royalists attempted to trek into the jungle.

Moving south

In the early 1760s, the town of Auburn had grown greatly, due to a higher number of births and other people migrating from the old Iassath lands. Remembering the warning of the Gwexhai and not wishing to expand into the jungle, the chief magistrate of Auburn, Furnifold McLendal, tasked Royalists Jeremy Boone and Janet Carson to head south by foot to find other areas to settle. The two of them and their small teams took supplies and headed south along the Ayx River, making sure to skirt the Gwexhai Jungle. Boone was able to effectively map the extent of the Gwexhai Jungle, which is still in use as a delineator of the jungle line.

Splitting up

Once the explorers reached the area just to the east of the Branwell plains, Carson wanted to stop and explore west, believing the area to be of good fertile land. She also knew there was a sea, and she wanted to meet the coastline. Boone was looking to travel farther south, as he had previously seen the territory of Iassath and believed there was a lake somewhere in that vicinity. It was at this point that the two explorers and their teams decided to split up, and it would also be the last time that Boone and his team were seen alive.

Carson set up a stake in the area, and sent one of her team to travel back up to Auburn for a report on the locale, then took her team west into the Branwell Plains. Named after the agriculturalist of the team Branwell Bront, the plain was proven early on to have fertile land for farming, as the fields had corn and okra growing on them before even being settled. As settlers moved south towards where Carson had put a stake, she and her team kept moving west, eventually reaching the coastline. They decided to follow the coastline south, and by 1764 reached the Carrington River delta. It was there that they stopped their southward expedition, and moved back east along the Carrington river.

Boonefield

By early 1764, her team had grown weary of exploring, after over a year of exploring. Their original expedition was supposed to end once they found a suitable settlement area, but Carson was determined to meet up with Boone again, who she believed would also be trying to make it to the coastline. She eventually did, but unfortunately not in the way she thought. She was traveling up the north of the Carrington River, when she saw an area that previously looked like it had been settled, with the structures burned, worn out or destroyed. She and the team crossed the river using floatation devices and rope, and set about looking for signs of settlement. They found several noticeable signs, some that looked like people had been there just three months ago. There looked to be a fire that was started at that time, given the burned structures. The explorers looked in the burned out structures, and Carson found six bodies on the floor, unmistakably Boone, his wife Carrington, and his team, in one of the buildings. It looked like they had died of asphyxiation, and there was a struggle to open the door, as scratch marks and knife cuts were all over it. Luckily Boone’s diary was intact, and though it did not document how they passed away, it did document his travels down the Ayx River and east. According to Boone, this area was settled by farmers from Iassath, but had moved elsewhere due to Gwexhai interference in the 1600s. Right along the river, this area was a great location as a stopping point along the river to the coastline. Carson put up a stake, then decided to name it Boonefield, after the dedicated explorer Jeremy Boone.

1770: The War of the Bilards

By the turn of the 1770s, the Royalists had expanded and settled into a small outpost that Janet Carson had established, and begun to expand into farming the area in the Branwell Plains. Pioneers had also moved down to Boonefield to establish and build a town. The rivers and a system of trails were the established method of travel and communication between the three towns. Auburn was still the largest town, but being so close to the northern limits of the Royalist land, it was not easily defensible. This was put to the test when the Bilards attacked the country.

The lead-up

Relations between the Bilards, who were struggling to start their own country, divvy up the land in their egalitarian system, and establish rule of law, and the Royalists were frosty to say the least. There was a good amount of trading going on between Auburn and southern-most towns in Bilard, the unofficial country-name of the northern land, but both nations refused to open diplomatic talks. Furnifold McLendal, the magistrate of Auburn and the highest-ranking official in government, sought to change that. In 1766 he sent an envoy to Bilard to request an open discussion with the country, so as they could learn from each other about what each wanted. Bilard accepted, and a meeting was arranged in Auburn in late 1766.

The talks went very well at first, but then they went downhill when the officials from Bilard wished to discuss returning the arms that were smuggled out of the government centers during the Great Expulsion. The Royalist officials were outraged at such a bold accusation, fiercely believing that these weapons were stolen from them. What the Bilards wanted was essentially to go to the Royalist residencies and take their weapons, disarming them. The Royalists did not have any production capabilities to make higher-grade weapons, so they had been using more primitive gunpowder-based weapons as well as pikes and halberds. The Bilards, believing it was in their rights, decided to act by seizing the Royalist citizens who lived in homes north of Auburn, north of the 15th parallel. These citizens, seeing an armed presence on their land, warned them but then opened fire on the Bilard soldiers. The Bilards returned fire, killing them and destroying their home. When the Royalist government was made aware of this, they were outraged, and talks were stopped right there. The Bilard officials were expelled from Auburn, and the Royalists called up their Guard to defend Auburn from an attack. There were trenches drawn up along the 15th parallel and troops stationed there, but no side fired upon the other for years.

1770- The Guesthouse Ignition

One ominously chilly morning (by Furnifold’s standards) on the 15th parallel, two Royalist soldiers were stationed near one of the Royalist residencies along the 15th parallel when they saw a large conglomeration of Bilard forces marching towards the residency. The Royalist soldiers called out a warning, telling these forces that if they crossed the property line the soldiers were to open fire. The Bilards crossed the line, and the soldiers, knowing they stood no chance if they fired, continued to call out a warning as they knocked on the door of the residency, and were let in. From there, the Bilard forces surrounded the residency, and one of them called out for the occupants to surrender their weapons. The occupants would not agree to these terms, and made way for the guesthouse through an underground wine cellar. They made it to the guesthouse, but by this time the Bilards had forced their way into the house and were ransacking it. Knowing it would only be a matter of time before the guesthouse was searched, the Royalist soldiers sent the family out of the guesthouse towards the Royalist garrison, and made noise to attract the Bilard forces to the guesthouse. The Bilard forces moved towards the guesthouse, then seeing the shine of the metal weapons, started firing upon the Royalist soldiers. The Royalists returned fire, but both were slain in the salvo. Some of the gunpowder from the weapons ignited a lamp, setting the house on fire, causing the Bilards to flee the scene. When the Royalist forces arrived at the residency, the guesthouse was ablaze and unsalvageable. The Royalists contained the fire, then moved into the residency to check for Bilards. Seeing none, they reported the events to their commander, who issued a shoot-to-kill order on any Bilard who crosses the 15th parallel or into a Royalist residency.

First Royalist Charge

No less than one week after the Guesthouse Ignition events, a Bilard force moved to commandeer another Royalist residency. This time, the Royalists prepared for this, and had garrisoned soldiers at this location. They also had set up effective communication measures to the central command along the 15th. So when the Bilard force moved in, the Royalists fired upon them from the house with no warning. The Bilard force was decimated before it could even return fire, and the forces who were still alive fled. Knowing that this is when they were most vulnerable, the commander issued a charge on the battalion of trenched troops on the left flank, believing that the Bilards would split up their forces thinking that they were being attacked from the residency on the right and from a charge on the left. The tactic worked, and the surprise charge along with the splitting of reinforcements to both flanks caused a bend in the left flank. The forces were forced to retreat to the row of secondary trenches, and the Royalists moved forward to take the rest of the trenches along the 15th parallel. This was the start to the Royalist-Bilard War.

Second Royalist Charge

The Royalists held on to the trenches for a few days, but then were beaten back by the Bilard counterattack. Better strategy could not face-off against better weapons. The Royalist forces, knowing this, decided to target a more appealing location, the makeshift armory of the Bilard forces along the 15th parallel. The same day they were beaten back, they mounted another charge; however, this one was not nearly as successful. The Bilard forces had fortified this area, which was right in the middle of their trenches along the 15th. The Royalists charged, but met a stiff wall of resistance, and were forced back to their trenches. The commanders of the Royalists realized that if they could not approach the armory this way, they would need to find a way to sabotage the armory’s connection to the rest of the forces.

Targeting of supply lines

The Royalists decided to hit supply lines of the Bilards, and attempt to target the armory. In a pincer motion, Royalist forces moved around the trenches, under heavy fire by opposing forces, to the checkpoints to the armory. Behind enemy lines, and still under fire, Royalists rolled balls filled with gunpowder and set with a fuse towards the armory. When these makeshift grenades exploded, the Royalists charged through the smoke to assault the armory. Realizing there was still heavy resistance, the soldiers made the decision to destroy the armory, so that both forces could not procure the weapons. They lit the rest of their grenades and threw them into the armory, where the explosions coupled with more gunpowder lit the place up. Most of the Royalists who assaulted the armory were killed that day, either during the initial run or during the sabotage and the Bilard counterattack. However it was seen as a success, as the two sides were essentially stalemated in terms of weapon strength.

The Gwexhai become involved and the end of the war

In 1771 the war appeared to be a stalemate. Both sides attempted to breach each other’s trenches, but neither side had the same success that the Royalists did at the start of the war. Furnifold McLendal realized that in a war of attrition, the Bilards would win, as the Royalists’ backs were against the wall and their support system was easily disrupted. The Royalists just did not have the resources to be able to outlast the Bilards. McLendal decided to petition the nearby Gwexhai for help in the war, hoping that their years of not associating with each other would assist in their allyship. The Gwexhai found McLendal and his envoy in the jungle, waving a flag of peace. The Gwexhai remembered their warning, but decided to hear these people out, as they clearly were looking for the Gwexhai. McLendal engaged in the hardest set of diplomatic talks he had ever done, but by the end, was able to convince the Gwexhai to assist their cause. The Royalists had to make some concessions though, including tribute to the Gwexhai people in the form of both resources and able-bodied men and women to work off the allegiance debts. The Gwexhai people, who were masters at camouflage and surprise tactics, went to work right away with disrupting the supply routes of the Bilards.

The combined onslaught of Gwexhai and Royalist on the Bilard forces was powerful, but the Bilards were still able to dig in and defend their trenches on the 15th. This stalemate continued until finally, in 1773, the Royalist forces, weary of war, sent an envoy to discuss a drawback of forces and a peace treaty with the Bilard envoy. The Bilards, also weary of war, obliged, and engaged with the Royalists.

The Gwexhai Treaty

With the Gwexhai acting as mediators, the two sides reached an agreement. First, there was to be no military buildup on the 15th parallel. Lines between countries would be drawn up there, and the area was to be demilitarized for a span of 10 kilometers. Second, the Royalists were to allow the Bilards to seize some of the weapons that the Royalists had, to bolster what they had lost in the war. In exchange, the Bilards would send reparations in the form of raw materials to pay off the destroyed properties and homes along the 15th parallel. Finally, both countries would meet annually to engage with the other in culture, sport, and recreation, to foster better relations between countries. The treaty would be known as the Gwexhai Treaty, for the successful end to the War of the Bilards would not have been achieved had they not mediated.

Settlement of McLendel

In 1776, the final year of Furnifold McLendal’s reign as Magistrate of Auburn, he tasked a commission to establish a location for a capital city, as it was determined that Auburn was not located in a good area for a centrally-administered government. Plans were submitted, and some of the options were to put the city along the coast, in Boonefield or Carson, the newly-named town south of Auburn, or even in the jungle. Instead, what McLendal decided was that the capital would be in a location where the Carrington River and the Ayx River meet, for ease of defense and transportation. Surveyors and developers were sent out, and in a great rush, descended upon the area from locations all across Royalist, and Bilard, land.

For two years, the government structures were built. In 1778, the Royalist government was set to move into their new capital. They traveled together down to the new town, with McLendal as well, who had retired but was given an honorary role in the founding of the government, given his impact on the Royalist land. McLendal’s, who was sick at the time, health took a bad turn and he unfortunately died before he could reach the new city. Once the members of government settled in, they issued two acts, the first being the naming of the capital to Mclendal, and the second being the establishment of the new country, whose name would be Furnifold. Both of these votes passed the legislature 99 to 0 to 1, with the one abstention being the successor to McLendal in memoriam of him. Thus the founding of Furnifold began, with its anniversary in the year 1778.

Military Growth and Expansion

By the 1800s, Furnifold had been long established with a great bounty of food production in the Branwell Plains. Surpluses were regularly brought north for trade. The country needed another route to trade, as the land route was long and inefficient. It was determined that the sea would be useful for trade and for more exploration. Thus began the growth of Hafre as an export city. A relationship developed between the cities of Carson, Boonefield, and Hafre. Agricultural goods would be transported to Carson, then floated down the Ayx River and packaged at Boonefield. Then they would be moved farther west, and loaded onto ships at Hafre. When steam power \was introduced to Furnifold in the 1840s, the rail line at Hafre connected multiple cities, and also served to connect with the southern beachfront city Ato.

Furnifold also began to build up its navy, as a projection of naval power. Blessed with a large supply of materials, flourishing trade with the area up north, Furnifold by the 1830s possessed 100 frigates and a naval troop count of around 52,000. Primarily consigned to the Yasterian Sea, the Royal Navy had a few harrowing adventures over this time. The city of Hafre and the city of Ato served as the main ports for the naval vessels.

Meeting the Sahibu

Ato was settled in 1811, and was a built as an import terminal for trade as well as for the large population of Sahibu people that lived south of the Carrington River. When traveling south on the Ayx River, travelers met up with a mainly agrarian population of people, who called themselves the Sahibu (“Comrades”). These people were peaceful, and did not associate with the Furnifold explorers. However, in this age of expansion, when Furnifold expanded its borders to the Chonvor River, there were plenty of discussion as to what the Sabibu people wanted. They did not seem to be desiring of independence, so the government of Furnifold decided to allow them to become citizens of the country. At that time, the Sahibu population was about three times greater than the population of Furnifold, so by the 1840s there was a serious strain on people of the country to produce and export food. A real emphasis was placed on producing food and feeding the people, and technological advancements went into agriculture, at the expense of other industrial practices. This period was also the time when the Royalists adopted the Sahibu description of their race, Kifalme (“Royal”).

Population characteristics of Furnifold

Population: 16 million Furnifoldians Population composition by sex: Male- 46.8% Female- 53.2% Population composition by age: 0-15: 28.8% 16-30: 25.5% 31-45: 19.9% 46-60: 15.2% 61+: 10.6% Dependency Ratio: 65.1% Population Growth Rate: Urban: 2.1% Rural: 4.9%

Birth Rate: 33.3/1000 population Death Rate: 8.8/1000 population

Urbanization: 26.1% of total population Health Expenditures as percentage of GDP: 7.5% Physicians: 1.1/ 1000 people

Education Expenditures as percentage of GDP: 5%

Literacy: 70.5%

Race: Kifalme-27.1% Sahibu- 42.6% Mixed race and other-30.3%

Economy of Furnifold

The Royal Republic of Furnifold is a fledgling economy, as it is beginning to transition from an agriculturally dominant economy to a service-based economy. Currently the nation is seeking to improve its trade profile, especially by importing goods and materials. GDP: 37,148,500,000 (ISD) GDP per capita- 2,256(ISD) GDP- Composition by sector: Agriculture- 66.6% Industry- 8.5% Services- 24.9% GDP- Growth rate: 6% GDP- composition, by end use: Household Consumption: 43.8% Government Consumption: 20.8% Investment in Fixed Capital: 34.3% Investment in Inventories: 0.6% Exports of Goods and Services: 11.2% Imports of Goods and Services: -5.4%

Budget: Revenues- 3,547,723,000 (ISD) Expenditures- 3,427,000,000 (ISD) Taxes as a proportion of revenues: 73.5% of budget Public debt- 2.39% of GDP Inflation rate- 5.4% Labor force- 8,380,000 By occupation: Agriculture- 51% Industry- 18% Services- 31% Unemployment rate- 16% Population below poverty line- 23.9% Household income or consumption by percentage share: Lowest 10%: 0.9% Highest 10%: 60.2% Gini Index of Income Inequality- 65.2 Agriculture products: Corn, cotton, fruits, meat, milk, okra, rice, soy, sugar cane, vegetables, wheat Industrial Products: Food processing, textiles, precious metals, hydrocarbons, refined materials, light manufactured goods Services rendered:

Import partners- Free Syllvin Export partners- Tivot, Tuvaltastan, Chianski, Kuthernburg, The Oan Isles, Free Syllvin, Xagrurg Exports: Agricultural Products- corn, cotton, fruits, okra, rice, sugarcane, vegetables Industrial Products- textiles, precious metals, hydrocarbons, refined materials, machine assembly Services Rendered- Imports: Agricultural Products-Water, foodstuffs Industrial Products-Machinery and equipment, chemicals Services Rendered- Military expertise, contracting, technical services

Export amount: 975 million (ISD) Import Amount: 430 million (ISD) Average Tariff rate: 11.21% Stock of foreign direct investment- 1.208 billion (ISD) FDI to GDP Ratio- 1:4.5 Stock of foreign aid received- 1.511 billion (ISD)

Military of Furnifold

Military Branches: The Royal Defense Force (Army), the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy. A fourth branch is the National Guard, but it is an dual operation between the military and the Department of the Homeland, and does not serve the Joint Chiefs. Furnifold also has a sizeable peacekeeping operation, containing a Peacekeeping Brigade, when not being called into service by the country of Furnifold is under control of international organizations.

Military Services and Occupation: Conscription age is 17 upon wartime draft, voluntary military service is 16. Enlistment is for a six-year contract, renewable twice, or a three-tour limit. Males and females are both conscripted and allowed full voluntary service. Officers must be commissioned and may serve until retirement (beginning at 20 years of service or at 40 to 60 years of age).

Military expenditures: 1.75% of GDP Military budget: 543,685,000 RDF- 30,292,000 Navy- 462,865,000 Air Force- 46,163,000

Estimates of military personnel: RDF- 20,800 Additional peacekeeping forces within the RDF-8560 Navy- 25,992 Air Force- 1,860

Structure of Armed Forces: RDF: Plains Division: The traditional expeditionary and defense force. 1st Infantry Brigade: Expeditionary force, each battalion contains a company dedicated to forward operations in addition to the main companies. 1st Armored Brigade: Expeditionary force, each battalion has has several transportation units in addition to the regular mechanized companies. 1st Sustainment Brigade: Artillery and intelligence brigade. Each battalion contains specialized units in addition to the main artillery companies. Jungle Division: The division suited to unconventional warfare, tactical operations, and joint operations with other military branches. 1st Tactical Ops Brigade: As the name implies, the brigade in charge of tactical operations and unconventional warfare. The Counter-insurgency Force (CIF) led by Captain Jouett originates from the 1st Jungle Battalion. Each battalion contains an intelligence company, in addition to their main units, to fulfill timely intelligence requests. 1st Combined Arms Brigade: This brigade contains a mix of battalions for any situation in an expeditionary force. They are known as the “Tip of the Spear” because they are the first brigade to be called into conventional warfare. Each battalion contains a counter company to defend the main companies against units that counter them. 2nd Sustainment Brigade: Artillery and intelligence brigade. Each battalion contains specialized units in addition to the main artillery companies.

Navy: North Fleet: Operates in theaters north of the city of Hafre, contains a loose organizational structure to be divided into task forces. South Fleet: Operates in theaters south of the city of Hafre, contains a loose organizational structure to be divided into task forces. Commanded by Commodore Eden. Current Latianburg Task Force commanded by Commander Keyes.

Air Force: The Air Force operates in loose detachments to brigades of the RDF as well as to each naval fleet. The only exception is the 1st Fighter Squadron, which contains all the fighter aircraft.

Military equipment of service branches: RDF: Armored: T-55: 34 main battle tanks Tiran-5: 14 main battle tanks Panhard AML-90: 126 armored scout cars Panhard VBL: 23 armored scout cars BMP-1: 26 infantry fighting vehicles Ratel IFV: 49 infantry fighting vehicles BTR-60: 56 armored personnel carriers RG-31 Nyala: 51 infantry mobility vehicles WZT-3M: 13 armored recovery vehicles ATMOS 2000: 7 howitzers 56 towed artillery howitzers RM-70: 14 multiple rocket launchers 160 mortars, 81mm, 82mm, 120mm ZPU-1: 208 anti-air guns, in 14.5mm, 23mm, and 37mm

Weapons: AK-47: 44,928 Light assault rifle used primarily for jungle combat, has a bayonet attachment to clear forests, and people in the way. 30 rounds per magazine. IWI Tavor : 99,840 Assault rifle primarily used for urban combat, but variable for many other environments. Contains a second magazine near the barrel for extra grip/quicker reloading. Possesses a flashlight attachment for night combat. 40 rounds per magazine. PKM Machine Gun: 19,968 Disintegrating belt attachment allows firing of around 400 rpm. Can be mounted on vehicles. Benilli M1014 Shotgun: 22,464 Semi-auto 12 gauge, with six rounds in the chamber. Shorter gun, for more maneuverability. PSG1: 9,984 Primary sniper rifle used by Furnifold Royal Defense Forces. Semi-automatic sniper rifle with a long-range scope attachment. Also contains two sight attachments for better accuracy both when and when not using the scope. 10 rounds per magazine. Effective range of up to 800 meters. Zastava Master FLG P: 52,416 Primary weapon used by special forces for covert ops, as well as security forces. Fully automatic SMG, with a noise suppressor and flashlight attachment. 20 rounds per magazine. PMR-30 Pistol: 83,745

9K32 Strela-2: 1,741 RPG: 16,973 Navy: 5 Balikpapan class landing craft 28 Pacific class patrol boats 1 Moudge class frigate; 2 (in production) 2 LPH amphibious assault ships 2 Canterbury class multi-role vessels (in production)

Air Force: Mi-8 Hip: 16 helicopters Mi-24: 7 helicopters AW109S: 2 helicopters AW139: 2 helicopters V22-Osprey (in production): 3 helicopters An-74TK-200: 2 military transports Mirage F-1E: 11 fighter aircraft

RDF Jungle Fatigues:

RDF Urban Fatigues:

RDF Desert Fatigues:

Famous Figures of Furnifold

Neve Amelia-Thomas

(Born 1970, McLendal, Furnifold) is a reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. She is the chief political correspondent, and is also the granddaughter of pioneering reporter Helen Amelia. She got her start in the New Furnfioldian Times in 1995 after several stints covering local elections as a freelance journalist. In 1997, she covered the election of the first female Chancellor, Faith Jagan, and served for a time as Mrs Jagan’s spokesperson. After resigning her position, she returned to the newspaper in 2005. In 2011, she was chosen to be the chief political writer for the paper, and has retained the position ever since. Recently she has stayed into the editor's role, and serves a dual role of editing domestic issues and writing for the paper.

Jacopo d’Arrigo

(Born 1961, Acoco, Furnifold) is the current Magistrate of Furnifold, a position he has held since 2016. Before becoming the Magistrate, he was a renowned conservationist. He is most famous for his 2007 study on the flight patterns of birds. Using his base of operations on Lake Amery he was able to follow the migratory patterns of the Chonvor on his hang glider. This was well documented on Furnifold television, and catapulted Mr. d’Arrigo to national fame. In 2008 he proceeded to follow up with a run for political office. Touting his successes as a conservationist and an owner of a nonprofit, he won a seat to the Senate. He served until 2014, when he announced he would be running for Magistrate.

Possessing a charming demeanor and easily explainable ideas, as well as name recognition, he quickly made it to the top of the primaries, where he was nominated for the general election. Running against the incumbent, and another challenger Jackson Woolf, Mr. d’Arrigo did not have the support to overtake the incumbent, until he and Mr. Woolf worked out a deal. Running on a ticket, Mr. Woolf would become the Foreign Secretary if elected, and Mr. d’Arrigo would become the Magistrate. Because of this ticket strategy, Mr. d’Arrigo was victorious in the final election.

Mr. d’Arrigo represents those on the left-leaning social moderate side. He is moderate in foreign policy, recognizing that a strong military is key to a strong nation, but is not committed to being involved internationally without a very strong reason. He is also socially liberal, opposes abortion, drug, and marriage restrictions. He would be considered a progressive.

Adam Bly

(Born 1990, McLendal, Furnifold) is a reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. He joined in 2015, and is a writer for the domestic and international sections of the paper. Known previously for his investigative journalism, he had to put that all aside to be put on the paper’s staff. Mr. Bly has been petitioning THE WATCHDOG group to admit his investigative abilities into their group, but has not been met with any success yet.

Artemis Gay

(Born 1987, Mana, Furnifold) is a table tennis player from the nation of Furnifold. Possessing dexterous footwork and a powerful penhold style, Gay rose to the top of Furnifold table tennis rankings in 2005 at the age of 18, the youngest player ever to do so, and thus beginning his 12 year international career. Gay moved onto the regional stage, where he was well known for his passion while competing, and his complete mellowness when outside of competition. After competing in the Yasteria Table Tennis Competition in 2009, and losing miserably in the opening round, he took a two-year hiatus from the sport to examine his playing style and passion for the game. In 2011, he returned suddenly to the Furnifold table tennis scene, again his play propelling to the top of Furnifold’s rankings. Retaining his passion for the sport, he entered international play once again, representing Furnifold as its only qualifying table tennis player in the WTTF Grand Tour. Notable wins: Height: 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Weight: 75 kg (165 lb)

Faith Jagan

(Born 1947, Carson, Furnifold) is the current Chancellor of the Senate. She was the first female Chancellor of the Senate, a position she was first elected to in 1997, and one she has held ever since. Considered a stalwart in the Senate, Mrs. Jagan has presided over more Senate sessions than any other Chancellor in history. Mrs. Jagan began her life in Carson, Furnifold, a daughter of meatpackers. Moving south to Boonefield in 1963, she found work in the agricultural industry, where she was instrumental in getting female workers equal pay and time-off rights.

Realizing she could make more of a difference in politics, she ran for local government in 1966, but lost. Again, she ran in 1970, and this time she won a seat on Boonefield city council, bolstered in part by the strong support among females and married men. She worked towards giving the same rights she fought for in her previous job to those in all industries. After a scandal hit the central government in 1974, Mrs. Jagan resigned her seat on the council abruptly and ran for the Senate, promising to “clean up the muck surrounding McLendal.” Due to her immense popularity in Boonefield, she won the election, and was elected as the junior Senator of Boonefield. She served for one term, before a general election challenger was able to defeat her when she ran for reelection in 1980.

Due to this defeat, she started working for Manleh Cousins, in the Diversity and Inclusion department. Because of her hard work for the company, female hiring increased dramatically, and Manleh Cousins became the premier financial services company of Furnifold. Mrs. Jagan used her connections and her name recognition to run for Senate again, this time as the Senator for Woolf. She won the post in 1986, and has been a Senator ever since.

After toiling away on several subcommittees, Mrs. Jagan took the position on the Budgetary Committee of the Senate, where she worked with the Senate and the Magistrate in passing a balanced budget. She was a member of the famed “Gang of Five,” the group of Senators who ran budgetary policy in the late 80’s and early 90’s. She has since made it her goal as a Senator and now as a Chancellor to get a budget passed, and make sure the budget is fiscally sound. Her passion for the job and her strong will made her the likely candidate for Chancellor in 1997, once the previous Chancellor stepped down. She won the position with flying colors, and has ever since enjoyed immense popularity as Chancellor.

While originally more liberal, Mrs. Jagan has since become more conservative as her time in the Senate wore on. She believes that government should not instill the values of society, and instead hard working individuals should be the ones to do so. The government should merely act as a facilitator of such policies. Mrs Jagan is a fiscal conservative, and the only regulations she actively fights for are those that protect worker’s rights, women’s rights, and some environmental protections. She is largely socially moderate, authoritarian in some areas but libertarian in others.

Uche Markopolos

(Born 1982, Woolf, Furnifold) is a reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. He joined in 2011, after previously working as a financial officer for Manleh Cousins, as well as writing for several business journals. Mr. Markopolos covers business for the paper, and is also known for running an online financial advice column, where he solicits information from economists and other experts on financial matters.

F.T. Morison

(Born 1973, Kwolek, Furnifold) is a reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. He is a military correspondent for the paper. Previously he worked as an embedded reporter for an international news network. After his convoy was attacked in an ambush, he lost his right leg due to injuries, and retired from the network. He was picked up quickly by the paper in 2012. Mr. Morison dedicates much of his time as an advocate to troubled children, and instructs them on finding passion and overcoming adversity.

David Rezendes

(Born 1976, Chonvor City, Furnifold) is a reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. He serves as the chief correspondent of THE WATCHDOG, an investigative journalism group within the New Furnifoldian Times. He is the leader of the group, and helps set the stories they cover, as well as serves as an editor. Mr. Rezendes has won acclaim at his position, one that he has held since 2007, and has received many awards for his investigative journalism. In 2006 he covered the Furnifold watchtower scandal, and was successful in implicating many officials of the magistrate’s administration attempting to cover up their tracks. Before this role, Mr. Rezendes worked for the paper as a copy editor, while also doing freelance journalism for online outlets. His big break came in 2002, when his work was read by the previous head of THE WATCHDOG and, unbeknownst to Mr. Rezendes, served as a test to see what investigative abilities he had. Mr. Rezendes was given a breadcrumb trail to follow, he successfully passed this “test” of sorts, and was admitted to THE WATCHDOG that year.

Gwen Scott

(Born 1991, Mana, Furnifold) is a sports reporter for the New Furnifoldian Times. She worked as a photojournalist for a sports outlet previously, but became embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal and was forced out of the position. She went over to the paper in 2016, and while the paper is not known for its sports section, she is attempting to put some more respectability into the section.

Jackson Woolf

(Born 1952, Woolf, Furnifold) is the great-great grandson of Norman Woolf, and is the current Foreign Secretary of Furnifold. He has held this position since 2016, when he originally ran for Magistrate but agreed to a coalition with Jacopo d’Arrigo in order to secure the military’s vote. In his early life Woolf was a serviceman for the Royal Navy, a Lieutenant. After leaving the service, he ran for Senate in 1984. Woolf was a member of the famed “Gang of Five,” the group of Senators who ran budgetary policy in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He retired from the Senate in 1996 to become the head of an NGO, and ever since has turned his eye towards international affairs. He briefly served as an ambassador in the early 2000s, and has since been involved in the Foreign Secretary’s office. In 2005 he became a Doctor of Political Science, and he wrote a book on international organizations in 2009, which became a bestseller. He taught for a time at the East Womp Military Academy in their Royal Defense Force War College, and his subjects were post-conflict resolution and recovery. In 2014, after releasing a memoir, he decided to run for Magistrate.

Mr. Woolf is described as a neo-liberal. His foreign policy philosophy focuses on cooperation and diplomacy through nonmilitary methods. When military has to be used, he focuses on attempting to limit the scale and scope of action, instead looking for targeted effects to cripple resolve and capacity quickly. Military is seen as a last resort, and Woolf is always attempting to “give peace a try,” as he always says.