Archived: Maps of Siora, Land Claim Thread 07/2017 — 11/2018

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Nation name: Arijord (Translates roughly to ‘land of the eagle’)
Population:  16 million
GDP per capita: 46k

Location: Kyrland

Cities:
Jannaskaro (Coastal city, Capital)
Skjoldholm (Inland city, near the border of Reuvant
Aluska (Inland city, near the center

Brief description of your country

Arijord is a country that was formed from a number of barbarian tribes that were united under one kingdom. For a good two centuries in the Medieval Ages, they were vicious raiders of the seas, and were feared by even the most powerful of kings.  However, change came to the country in the form of military defeats at the hands of numerous military coalitions to deal with the barbarian state. The kingdom became much more moderate, opting to halt expansion and raids to stop drawing attention to themselves.

In the years preceding, an emphasis was put upon armed neutrality, as Arijord was ripe for the pickings for rival kingdoms that were most certainly out for blood. A now ancient custom was established, where that every man would have to serve in the military for a set number of years, and would have to be ready to combat an invading army at a moment’s notice. The status quo continued for years, with the neutral kingdom making a name for itself as a trade hub and a place of neutral ground.

Eventually, the royalty was disposed of after a rather confusing succession crisis caused the monarchy to lose any legitimacy it once had, forming a confederal republic. The king was replaced with a Federal Council, and the jarls were forced to give their power to regional councils, mirroring the original setup of the tribal councils from the very, very early days of Arijord.

The Republic has stood for about 200 years, with the nationwide conscription laws still in effect. Arijord is still known for being a center of finance and wealth, along with being prevalent producers of precision machinery and hydroelectric power. Their commitment to neutrality and peace makes them good ground to put international organizations and sign peace treaties on. Nonetheless, Arijord is doing quite well for itself.

The people of Arijord are largely homogeneous, with most coming from the original tribes that made up the Kingdom of Arijord in the first place, at least in the region Arijord now inhabits. The people there are known for being very athletic, and many Arijordians have blonde hair and blue/green eyes, remnants from their ancestors. Their language is an evolution of old Pagan languages, unique but largely in the Genic family. The religion is also a moderate, slightly updated from their old Pagan beliefs and customs, with the Hammer of Thor, or Mjolnir, being the prime religious symbol. Mjolnir is also used as a representation of the nation as a whole, and is also on the flag.

Arijord, meaning 'land of the eagle', has some meaning to the name of it. The eagle, while not seen on the national flag, is another national symbol, often seen on state seals and the like. It is also on the city seal of Jannaskaro, the original city from which the Arjirodian king ruled.


Brief Summary of how you'd like your country to fit in the world

Arijord is primarily a diplomatic and trade power, exporting various complex, sophisticated, precision machinery like watches, firearms, tools, and much more. Arijord is also an attractive place for bankers and other financiers, as low taxes and their capitalist-friendly government draw many businesses toward them. Their diplomatic strength comes from their neutrality, where they have no rivals, nor strong allies. Not only that, but the conscription laws make them hard to invade as well. Overall, it’s just very good diplomatic and corporate neutral ground.