Gereland

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Thuvierstadt, Gereland
Climate chart (explanation)
	█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
	█ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
	█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
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First Federal Democratic Republic of Gereland
First Federal Democratic Republic of Gereland; Eerste Federale Democratische Republiek van Gereland (Gerelandse)
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: Maak vrede uit gerechtigheid, gerechtigheid uit naastenliefde (Gerelandse); Make peace out of justice, justice out of charity (Anglic)
	Location of Gereland (dark green) – in Anterra (green & grey); – in Western Artemia (green)
Capital	Thuvierstadt
Largest	Peotrsdam
Official languages	Gerelandse
Recognised regional languages	Marriscalh; Meric;
Unrecognized languages	Veikan
Religion (Antiquity)	Hippomancie
Demonym	Gerelandse, Gerelander
Government	Federal Republic
• Chancellor	Rosemarije Vreman I
Legislature	State General Councils
• Upper house	First House of the General Councils; Handelarhuis
• Lower house	Second House of the General Councils; Arbeiderhuis
Area
•	191,550 km2 (73,960 sq mi)
• Water (%)	3.12
Population
• 2022 census	67,875,883
• Density	354.4/km2 (917.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Total	$2,808 billion
• Per capita	$41,377
GDP (nominal)	2021 estimate
• Per capita	$38,220
Gini (2022)	20.4; low
HDI (2022)	0.940; very high
Currency	Gerelandsemark (ɕ) (GLM)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Mains electricity	240V 50Hz
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.gl

The First Federal Monarchy of Gereland (Eerste Federalemonarchie van Gereland), commonly Gereland, is a constitutional federated monarchy in Anterra.

History

Antiquity

Pre-0CE: various semi-nomadic tribes of Geric peoples, degree of agrarianism.

500-700CE: Unification

Around 500CE: initial indications of unification, one clan works to establish seniority and rule.
Around 700CE unification completes; some degrees of immigration into the land now known as Gereland. Geric pseudonation comes into being.
1100-1200CE ongoing issues (tie to local empire?)

Revolution and independence

1200-1225CE overthrowing the yolk
1225-1400 peace and development

The Geric Rennaisance

1400-1750 maritime age, Geric renaissance
1750-1800 democratic clamour

De Rodetragedie

1800-1900 oops.
socialism.revolution; monarchy.guillotine, monarchy makes a run for it (probably to Jungastia). Large-scale famine, death, etc.

Return to democracy

Find someone willing to support overthrowage in 1900s maybe as part of the world war thing you had going on, monarchy reinstalled following a (mildly rigged) referendum.

Roemrijk veerlig

1920s

Marressalic Grand Campaigns results in a front opening in SW Gereland following discovery of secret weapons supplies to pro-democracy revolutionaries.
This results in the overthrow of the Gerelandse Nationalecommissie and implementation of the Nationale Tijdelijkenenheidcongres following Marressalic success in the conflict.

+2 years

Siwi support leads to the implementation of the National Plan for Economic Restoration & Infrastructure Establishment while Marressaly rebuilds
Siwi civil service specialists create the basis of the new Gerelandse Civil Service, and corporations provide investment by purchasing tracts of arable land from the government, beginning a burgeoning agriculture industry.
The National Electoral Commission is created and the first national elections are held. Far-right parties with leaders from the Gereland National Commission are banned from standing. The centre-left wins significantly in both houses, although the lower house sees requirements to form an alliance due to not having an overall majority.
Initial policies include maintaining strong governmental oversight over the influx of political radicals and exiles drawn by the lack of repression compared to many other nations.

+5 years

W E I M A R
While the policy of free thought has led to Gereland developing a reputation as a "melting pot" of political ideas, public order and opinion of the government is damaged by the running battles between far-left and far-right elements.
Creation of the National Police Support Service of Gereland (a Gendarmerie, as opposed to the state police services that currently exist) in response to the increased threat and public backlash to the use of the Federal Territorial Defence Force to manage the conflict. Public and left-wing demands to involve a civilian agency rather than military.
Creation of the Sector Workforce Forums, bringing specialists together with the civil service and government ministers to support development of industrial policy.

+10 years

Second elections held with slight trend leftwards. National Electoral Commission allows some further-right parties to run but these perform poorly.
National Gereland Railway Company formed, and first tranche of the National Rail Expansion Plan is started. New artery routes are being built, and manufacturing of new, modern train fleets are procured. Electrification and standardisation is lauded as a key part of the process, including the new 1500mm West Artemian gauge and GL loading gauges.

Economy

Modern-day Gereland has a social market economy with a skilled labour force, low corruption, and moderate levels of innovation. The service sector of the economy contributes approximately 55% of the national GDP, industry 40%, and primary industries at 5%. Manufacturing is a key part of the economy. Above-average number of railway rolling stock manufacturers, although significant numbers of smaller manufacturers produce equipment associated with railway infrastructure. Precision machining for large-scale projects as a result of dedicated facilities built in the 60s when labour was cheaper.

Textile production and fashion design is a critical part of the history of Gereland. Styles typically veer toward ones considered “retro” in most of Anterra. The country has a reputation for high-quality textiles used in upmarket clothing, state uniforms and luxury upholstery.

Agricultural research and development also form an integral part of the economy, driven by the agrarian history. Communal farms and families will be common – part of the post-NotKhmer involved citizens being granted parcels of land, which led to large numbers of cooperatives (although most were sold off). These farms have an unusual culture with polygamy and communal child-raising common.

Taxation is progressive, reaching high levels for wealthy earners at 75% for the highest marginal. This has resulted in a degree of “wealth flight” which the government struggles to manage effectively alongside established “tax avoidance” schemes. Major companies are additionally progressively taxed based on profits, which has led to the same challenge in a globalised economy.

Geography

Gereland covers an administrative area of 191,550km². Approximately 185,570km² consists of land, and 5,977km² comprises internal waters. Gereland is a landlocked nation, with sea access along the river Verdan through Veikaia to the East Baleric Sea or the Älbe through Ostboland to the Skaggerak. Topographically, the landscape of Gereland has numerous diverse landforms, with a number of border water bodies fed by the two largest rivers that flow through the country. The central belt of Gereland consists as generally flat plains, notable for its highly fertile chernozem soils and Gereland's late-1800s reputation as the "failed breadbasket" of Artemia.

Topographical map of Gereland

The extreme east of Gereland is home to a southwestern outcrop of the xxxx mountain range which follows the border of Garderike. This also contains Gereland's highest point at 985m above sea level on the border with Marresally. Gereland's lowest land point is 154m above sea level, making it one of the highest countries in Artemia by lowest extremity.

Climate

The climate of Gereland is almost entirely hemiboreal. It is sited directly underneath the Central Artemian High, and effectively located in a depression formed by the ranges to the south, east and north. Gereland is characterised by its warm, wet summers (with mean temperatures of 21 deg C in July, and its moderately cold, dry winters averaging -12 degC in winter. Notably, despite the low precipitation over the winter months, heavy snowfall is common, particularly toward the east of the country. The highest rainfall is recorded between May and August.

There can frequently be considerable fluctuation in day-to-day weather, although seasons largely arrive consistently.

Biodiversity

Plains and trees and stuff.

Culture

Gereland’s culture is largely influenced by its history as an agrarian nation. The large lowlands proved hospitable to livestock and grain. National animal is the Gerelander Horse (Gerelandspaard), of which a large wild population still exist and are routinely used for cavalry horses. All Gerelandspaard belong to the royal family and are frequently used as gifts. The national textile, Ruitkeper, is based on the historic pattern woven into woollen horse blankets and forms a key part of national dress and heritage.

Architecture

Gereland's lack of architectural tradition as a result of its isolated history led to significant importing of design from neighbouring nations through the national rebuilding effort. Kondren architecture features heavily throughout Gereland, identifiable by its xxxx.

Religion

Hippomancy

Hippomancy remains a significant religion in Gereland, with 32% of the population reporting to observe some or all aspects of it. Worshipped since antiquity, it is centred around horses as being harbingers and messengers of the world around them, reflecting their importance in daily life as sources of food, transport, and companionship.

Its legacy can be found across Gereland where iconography wasn't left to crumble through disrepair, or outright destroyed by government forces during the 19th century. In particular, the horse figure on Paardenkroon was restored through public effort and is one of the oldest examples of large-scale Geric religious design.

Solstices and Equinoxes

The Hippomantic religious calendar in Gereland starts on the Spring Equinox, and is traditionally celebrated with visits to religious sites and groves.

Life events

Birth

tbc

Coming of age

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Wedding

Civil

Marriage licensing is utilised in Gereland, with licenses granted to locations capable of holding marriages rather than individuals to allow marriages to take place there. This is, however, not limited to static locations, and so airlines, ships, trains, and even horse-drawn carriages licensed to have marriages performed on board. The requirement for mobile marriage licenses is only that the item have an identifying marker – a license plate, unit number, or reporting number being adequate.

Religious rites

Hippomantic marriage rites are typically highly social affairs. Held outside, both brides and grooms will arrive on horseback, and honoured guests are given the role of paardenbediende – literally horse servant – responsible for handling the horses at the ceremony.

White horses will be offered gifts of food in return for blessings on the couple, given by bowing of the horse’s head.

Typically, extended families and local neighbours will be invited. It is customary for guests to cook and eat communally at these weddings, including the ceremonial horses that “supervised” the ceremony, and are treated as honoured guests.

Death

Gerelandic customs for death generally involve natural organic reduction. Prior to the early twenty-first century, this typically involved the burial of bodies in soil naturally lending itself to efficient composting of the body, sometimes with a simple, uncut market stone. The invention of terramation has meant that remains can be processed within 8 weeks by thermophilic bacteria and are used as the family of the deceased direct.

Typical process beginning at less than 24 hours post-death:

Washing of the body by same-sex members of the household
Wrapping in a simple muslin or flax-linen shroud
Blessings by a priest before placing in a simple wicker casket
Drawn by grey horses (colour of death in Gereland) to the burial or ceremony site
Communal ceremony, involving providing gifts for the deceased of flower petals, blessed water, and food
Burial or transportation to NOR facility.

Manners

Etiquette is considered to be very important, with strict codes of etiquette. Specific government office manages this alongside language integrity, although it is generally considered to move with the times and now reflects a gender-neutral approach to etiquette.

This has however created an environment where immigrants have a challenging time navigating the complexities of Gerelandse culture, resulting in a degree of pillarisation in communities. This frequently results in individuals of particular social groups not mixing with individuals from others for extended periods of time except at the highest levels (the top of the “pillars”), despite government efforts to promote integration. In many cases, enclaves have formed in cities areas that have resulted in higher crime rates with limited municipal police engagement, and the formation of civilian patrols acting almost as a local security force.

Spatial design

The densely populated nature of Gereland means that spatial awareness within the country is high, and transport systems and cities are designed to be efficient, make maximum use of space, and provide local amenities rather than encouraging longer-distance travel.

Work and Employment

Employment, like most things in Gereland, is traditionally a very regimented, formal affair, with office work typically requiring three-piece suits for men, and skirt/trouser-suits for women. Working from home is rare, although larger firms will typically subsidise or provide childcare facilities to support working mothers.

Strict hierarchies exist within workplaces, although these typically fall by the wayside outside of employment. Traditional terms of respect are utilised for one’s managers (tbd).

Government employment in particular operates in a fashion that would likely be considered ancient by modern standards, with traditional wear acting as a de facto uniform for civil servants. This typically comprises of morning dress with hat, with a lapel pin indicating the government department that one is employed by.

Food and cuisine

Being a generally lowland nation, Gereland’s cuisine features grains and meats in the bulk of its meals. Horse meat or lamb are traditional, with pork or beef largely being imported, or as the byproduct of other industries.

Flowers are frequently eaten as part of celebrations and meals, with a great many varieties of highly-fragrant flowering plants grown. In particular the Lemstadtviooltje is grown for its fragrant and edible flowers, which are typically described as tasting of vanilla and are often eaten with ice cream.

Ovine dairy products feature heavily, with significant varieties in sheep cheeses available. Consequently, bovine lactose intolerance is unusually common in Gereland.

Fashion

Vintage. Lots of wool, preferences for natural fabrics. “Fast fashion” is frowned upon and ethics codes are mandatory and enforceable within supply chains. Consequently, there is a dampened market for modern clothing and a mindset of mending and recycling are encouraged.

Hersetllenementaliteit

Literally “mending mentality”, hersetllenementaliteit refers to the cultural phenomenon of Gerelanders using items until they cannot be repaired any longer. This has resulted in a dampened retail market and consumer base, although it has resulted in a large self-employed general repair sector in comparison to other countries.

Historians believe that this is a hangover from previous periods of limited resource, which has permeated governmental policies of limiting resource use where possible in terms of critical resources like fuel.

Language

Civil servants are required to speak at least one additional language typically, and foreign languages are taught from an early age with students selecting a foreign language to learn from 13 years old.

Education

Education in Gereland is offered from a child’s first birthday as part of the National Framework for Young Persons’ Education. Optional Preparatory Education is offered from ages 1 to 6, with children starting their schooling in the October of the year. Focus is given to “learning to learn”, preparing children for life as well as for education through understanding age-appropriate self-sufficiency (knowing how to eat, cleanliness) and awareness (social, mental, and empathy).

Compulsory education begins in the October after the child’s sixth birthday and lasts until age 16. It is typically split into two key sections; ages 6-11 are first schooling, with 11-16 being split into higher-attainment (gymnasium-style) and more vocationally-minded streams.

16: splits to Academic, Mixed, or Vocational schooling. Baccalaureate option available. Alternatively, National Civilian Civic Service can be undertaken.
18: University education. Batchelors and Professional degrees paid for by the state. Higher level degrees are often subsidised by employers or research agencies.

Politics

Various political parties. Notable for powerful political regulator which can deny the formation, or dissolve, political parties considered “a potential risk to law, order, safety or the constitution”. Rarely used in practice, but administered through the supreme court.
Bicameral legislature, both houses elected. Lower house elected through popular vote and proportional representation; upper house as provincial representatives elected by local regions.

Legislation of regions is codified by the state, setting minimal service and provisions of social care, policing, healthcare and transport.

Political Culture

Political culture in Gereland is largely focused around social tolerance, however a degree of pillarisation is prevalent.

The government mandates the existence of trade unions and representation in the workplace, including in civil service, military and police sectors.

Foreign Policy

Successive governments have maintained an ethos of "looking outward in service of world society", attempting to establish Gereland as a liberal internationalist with extensive diplomatic relations where possible. National Civilian Civic Service opportunities include foreign postings to friendly nations and locations where aid is distributed.

Civil Service

The Gereland Nationaaloverheid is an expansive organisation that manages the operation of government. The Peotrsdaam Civieluniversiteit acts as a specialist schooling and recruitment facility for civil servants, with rigorous entrance requirements. It is also unique amongst tertiary educators within the country for requiring a uniform – part of its cultural integration to the civil service career that students are expected to progress to.

Typical attitudes towards the civil service is of a snobbish, ineffective organisation that frequently is inefficient due to its desire to maintain traditions over efficient governance.

Justice

Police forces operate at the Provincial level. Marechaussee act as a national police force and investigation bureau but are civil rather than military. Inquisitorial court system, with high standard of jail facilities and requirements on prison officers to have studied social sciences and focus on rehabilitation.

Court system operates at two levels for criminal procedures. Lay Courts utilise three-judge panels in an inquisitorial context, actively participating and questioning witnesses and defendants as well as evidence. The lead judge is always a qualified barrister from another province in order to preserve impartiality, and the two other (“lay”) judges are typically drawn from a pool of trained members of the local population. Lay courts typically operate in most large towns and cities. Lay Courts typically deal with crimes with a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment. They also act as a triaging service for the “senior” court service.

The “senior” courts operate with five-judge panels, all of whom are professional judiciary. Dealing with larger crimes, they follow a similar format to lay courts with judges taking an active part of proceedings in terms of questioning witnesses and examining evidence. Jury trials do not take place in Gereland.

Verhoor per paard

An ancient judicial process was the verhoor per paard, used alongside trial by ordeal in medieval Gerelandic judiciary proceedings. An accused was required to stand in an open field, and three horses would be led in front of them. If any of the horses were found to shy or refuse to pass the accused, it was believed that the accused was guilty.

Health

Universal healthcare (compulsory insurance). Social, palliative and long-term health care are covered by state insurance paid through taxation; immediate healthcare is paid through mixed employer-employee contributions. Unemployed individuals and those below an income threshold have insurance subsidised. Children are covered until 18 years of age, or finishing education, whichever is later.

Insurers are required to offer a universal product without penalty for preexisting health conditions.

Despite the education policy designed to focus on childhood happiness in early years, Gerelandse children in their teens suffer from higher rates of depression and eating disorders as a result of the complex social navigation system that they are expected to understand, and the high requirements of entry to many major education centres.

Infrastructure

Power Generation and Delivery

The Gereland National Energy Generation Corporation (Gereland Nationale Energieopwekkingsmaatschappij [GNEO]) administers the national power station (primarily nuclear) network, as well as national electricity distribution.

Regional EOMs exist in order to produce electricity at a local level, and in some cities centralised hot water or heating facilities.

Transport

Railways

Large rail network, focussed on extended loops. Country holds less than a dozen kopstations – stations with terminating lines. This has led to a robust network with a number of alternative routes that operate during disruption. Long-distance, international and high-speed services crossing provinces are operated by the national operator and infrastructure maintainer, Gerlandse Nationale Spoorwegmaatschappij (GNS). Local services within provinces are branded according to their local province, but may be contracted to private operators who operate under a concession program.

There are a number of open-access operators in Gereland, frequently along international or intercity routes where profits are more readily available. GNSM access charges are managed by the Office for Strategic Railway Planning (Bureau voor Strategische Spoorplanning).

Strategic freight hubs are maintained by GNS, with levies on road freight to encourage shipping by rail. Loading gauge is large enough for trailers to be loaded onto wagons resulting in a healthy mix of intermodal, bulk, and road-rail-road (annhangertrein) services.

Internal flights crossing less than ¾ of Gereland are prohibited under resource conservation legislation.

Additionally, cycles galore. Modal share for cycling is around 45% in cities due to aggressive car-limiting policies, local service planning, and effective cycling infrastructure, and around 25% across the country. National cycle routes are plentiful. Most long-distance trains carry cycles, but in large cities it is more common for users to have a cycle at each end of the intermediate journey.

Large cities have tram networks, and urban areas are seeing a resurgence in trolleybuses due to strict emissions requirements and fast charging technology, allowing for trolleybus OHLE systems to be limited to arterial routes.

Road network

Road network is well-maintained, if limited. Major cities have asphalt highway connections, although maximum speeds are limited to around 100km/h and well-policed. Tolls are frequently in use on major highways, with exemptions for public transport providers and freight.

Local road networks utilise low traffic neighbourhoods and extensive prioritisation of bus and cycles to encourage transport use. Tax breaks are available for employers to provide season tickets for public transport as part of employee benefits, and levies are utilised on car parks. Most core networks run 24 hours a day.

Ultimately, owning a personal car in Gereland is a costly endeavour, largely limited to the wealthy in cities or those living in wider suburban or rural areas – actively being discouraged in most built-up areas through aggressive taxation policies and toll networks.

Armed Forces

Gereland maintains a small, professional force primarily that primarily acts to maintain territorial integrity, and to act as part of larger forces in multinational operations. It maintains a significant foreign aid program with the dedicated 902 Hospital and Healthcare Battalion acting as a rapid-response healthcare service deploying to nations requiring assistance.

Federale Luchtvaartverdedigingsdienst (Federal Aeronautical Defence Service, FLVVD)
Federale Binnenlandseverdedigingsdienst (Federal Homeland Defence Service, FBVD)
Federale Kustverdedigingsdienst (Federal Littoral Defence Service, FKVD)
Federale Overzeese Ondersteuningsdienst (Federal Overseas Support Service, FOOD)

Equipment

Vehicular equipment is largely airborne, as part of dedicated rapid-response forces with light equipment and wheeled IMVs where conditions exist. At the battalion level, headquarters companies often include a dedicated translator platoon, and enlisted personnel are incentivised to learn additional languages. A "hearts and minds" approach forms a key part of peacekeeping manuals. X brigades of armored infantry are included for national defence. Despite its landlocked location, the nation does not expect an invasion by any of its neighbours. Defence commentators anticipate that the forces at Gereland's disposal would last little more than a fortnight under a determined invasion attempt by any significantly more powerful enemy.