Okrit
Okrit, or The United Okriti Republic, is an island nation in Brchipelago comprised of several smaller islands. Formerly, Okrit remained completely isolated from the rest of the world for many years due to atmospheric phenomena causing thick fog and storms. In 9 PC, these storms had cleared to the point where ships from the east finally made contact with the archipelago.
| Okrit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Capital | Nkrama |
| Leader | Aakar Byenama, 30 PC – present |
| Government Type | Federative Democratic Republic |
| History | |
| Founded | 9 PC |
| Joined IGRS | 1-2 12 PC |
History
Prior to 9 PC Okrit had not been a unified state, but a multitude of various different states with extensive historical relations, pertaining most prominently to their respective majority ethnicity. For more information, pertaining to the geographic and cultural areas of Okrit (see the respective article). Historically relevant political entities and figures are the Ukubian Empire & Patyan Toi Serot, the Kingdoms of Okso & Masrit, the city states of Moklo & the Omolai and non-state entities like the Tiger Warriors, the Riders of Inun and the various Highland Tribes.
Okrit first made contact with the outside world when climate conditions caused formerly severe storms to clear in the seas between Okrit and the Attu Archipelago to the east. First contact was made on 4-3 9 PC when fisherman from Niueyjar made landfall near the city of Moklo. From 9 PC to 10 PC relations and formal communications began when sailors of various nations began to arrive in Okrit with intentions to trade. These trading intentions directed them to Nkrama, an economically powerful city state that sat at the apex of the trade flow between the west and east of the Islands. At this time, prominent Oye merchant Aakar Orit held de facto control over the activities of the Nakrama docks, essentially having a monopoly on interaction with the easterners once they had made contact.
By 11 PC, Nkrama began to suffer an outbreak of Purple Fever, having heavy impact on the population and economy. Orit, having access to the more advanced medical technologies of the east, hence gained immense social influence over the Nakrama populace. The social and economic leverage that this gained Orit led to him gaining de facto authority ovr the city and it's surrounding regions, overshadowing the councils which traditionally governed the city. By mid 11 PC outbreaks of Purple Fever had spread along the Omolai and towards adjacent inland regions, giving Orit further opportunity to gain control over areas that were formerly independent.
During this time, Orit had established formal radio contact with the powers of the eastern Attu Archipelago, and had began communications under the premises of being the leader of a unified Okriti nation. Securing trade deals for medicine and arms, Orit coerced and conquered various other Okriti states into submission, controlling the majority of the Okriti lowlands by 13 & 14 PC. Military control solidified with the establishment of formal ties with Akaria and then Living King, Harakar Oken, which served to boost the legitimacy of the new unified Okriti government.
In 24PC Orit would claimed to receive visions in his sleep predicting his death. Up until this point, the government consisted of various informal connections and agreements between regional authorities and powerful individuals. Orit's proclaimed visions prompted him to begin creating a formal structure of government, forming the United Okriti Republic. Provincial elections began in 29 PC with a Dakma of 20 out of the 40 seats being formed at the end of the year. Presidential elections began the following year in 30 PC with the eventual election of East Omolai Governor and son of Aakar Orit, Aakar Byenama. Since this time, activity within Okrit has remained unknown as communications with greater archipelago suddenly ceased.
Government
Okrit was not a unified nation prior to the establishment of the Aakar Orit led union government, which persisted through having a monopoly on trade and communication with the east. From 9PC to 23PC Okrit had no official bureaucratic structure and operated entirely as an informal despotic system favouring those with political, financial and military ties to Aakar Orit and his various trade routes to Nkrama.
In 24PC an official announcement was made by Aakar Orit that his administration would officially form a formalised government, claiming he had done so after having seen visions of his death, unofficially admitting to the global community that Okrit's united government was a sham. This new government would be a Democratic Federation of 40 governmental divisions known as provinces, with the Head of State being the President.
Each province would have a respective Provincial Governor elected via public democratic elections, sans the special provinces of Masrit and the Taaqba federation which would continue under the traditional rulership of their respective traditional governances. The governor of the Masrit province will be the current Udumap of Masrit, the Taaqba federation will have three individuals representing the federation under 1 seat. The 40 provincial governor seats would form a parliament known as the Dakma, headed by a chairman whom would be the most senior of the Dakma as chosen by the President. This position is retained throughout that membr's tenure on the Dakma and would only be reassigned should the former chairman lose his provincial seat, resign, or die. The president would be aided by an advisory council of 15 persons, 7 of which are seats guaranteed to members of the Dakma, those being the Chairperson, Udumap of Masrit, the lords of the Taaqba (as 3 individuals), and the current governors of the provinces of Okso and Akoni. The 8 other seats are the heads of the various other sections of the Okriti government, being the Master of Arms and heads of Education, Agriculture, Transport, Communication, Cultural affairs and Trade.
The first provincial elections began in 29PC, ending in mid 30PC. The eventual Dakma only consisted of 20 of the 40 seats, as the bureaucratic infrastructures in the majority of the Highland provinces had not been fully established.
Geography
The archipelago of Okrit consists of two main islands separated on an East-West axis by a shallow straight. The eastern island of Onomat is the largest island within the archipelago and is home to the majority of the population. The western island of Waaq, whilst less densely inhabited, still maintains substantial influence throughout all the islands through it's mineral resources. The straight that separates the two islands is known as the Omolai, and serves as the epicentre of Okriti politics, the economy and culture, being home to the nation's capital of Nakrama.
Onomat is geographically split into the lowlands and highlands in the west and east respectively. The lowlands cover a mostly flat plain that is at its flattest at the westernmost point, becoming gradually more coarse and hilly heading eastwards. The western lowlands are majority forested, giving way to grasslands and coastal marshes in the rockier eastern terrain. Eventually the hillsides give way to the mountains of the highlands, which while comparatively drier, still hold a large diversity of resources and ecosystems. The Olowai River spans the breadth of the Onomat lowlands, originating in the foothills of the highlands, draining into the Omolai south of Nakrama. The adjacent areas around the Omolai and Olowai and woodland continues along the river banks towards the Onomati interior, transitioning into savannah for a large portion of eastern Onomat, with forest continuing only along the southern coast towards Moklo. The highlands are a mountainous region dominated primarily by dry scrubland, however wetter areas do lie further within the interior. Deep surveys are yet to be conducted.
The coast of Waaq that lies on the Omolai is forested in much the same manner as the Onomat, and shares a large amount of flora and fauna, however this is mostly restricted to the coasts, as the inland regions are much drier than those of Onomat. The landscape thus transitions into a landscape of scrubland and savannah. Waaq's dry climate is accentuated by the mountain ranges that surround the central interior of the island, creating a desert plateau that meets other biomes solely in the south, where it transitions into the common scrubland. Woodlands can be found on the coastal extremities in Waaq's far west. These woodlands are dissimilar from those on the Onomat due to isolation, and likewise have different biota between themselves
Culture
The various people groups of Okrit maintain a vast array of distinct cultural identities that have been solidified over the course of history on the archipelago. While this does indeed make for a great multitude of differences and subsequent conflicts between the groups, years of mutual influence and shared heritage still shine through. Okriti cultures are usually formed around the traditional ethnic identities of the 5 lowland groups and their further differences with the highlanders, though these lines are not always accurate for describing Okriti cultural groups and language.
Cultural divides
The largest cultural divides mostly lie along equally drastic geographical divides, the most prominent of which being the separation of the highlanders from the lowlanders. The lowlander denominations make up the majority of the population of Okrit, and subsequently have the most cultural and political influence in the nation. Traditionally, the lowlanders are split into 5 cultural groups excluding the Peye of the southern islands, those being the Amata, Efiyye, Oye, Ofot & Taaqbal, however regional variation and influences are prevalent throughout all of them. The cultural divides between the ethnicities are primarily historical, being separated into their own respective kingdoms, operating on their own laws and maintaining areas of cultural and linguistic homogeneity. Though this is primarily the case historically, multi-ethnic entities have arisen to major prominence within Okrit, such as the Ukubian Empire and Riders of Inun.
Although ethnically divided and extremely diverse in cultural beliefs, practices and identities, the nations of Okrit share a multitude of similar characteristics that unite them as a people, separate from the other nations of the archipelago. The peoples of Okrit generally share the same laws and traditions around naming conventions, with single names being common, with family and clan names preceding given names when present, often accompanied by titles. Specificities around naming convention will differ between communities, their respective ethnic and cultural identity as well as their language.
A distinct aspect of Okrit's shared culture is in its spirituality and religion, where the peoples of the islands foremost hold a shared concept of some greater spiritual 'substance' or 'matter' that quantifies someone's ability and worth. This 'spiritual substance' encompasses all aspects of reality and is inherent in everything, however the quantity of it can differ, and its effects will likewise differ depending on quantity present. This 'substance' can be gained, lost, concentrated and bestowed upon by individuals and lineages, and is often extended to animals and inanimate objects. This aspect of Okriti culture permeates a lot of society. Superstition, beliefs around black magic and folkloric stories are commonplace and sometimes incorporated into law.
One such shared superstition is the cultural taboo of extending one's finger, which is is believed to turn the finger into a conduit that concentrates one's spiritual power upon a target. Pointing is thus an extremely contentious action within Okrit, and should be treated with extreme caution and respect. The pointing of one's finger is retained for expressing incredibly extreme emotion, most often in anger for proclaiming one's contempt or displeasure. Pointing is associated primarily with curses and bad omens, epitomized in the Amata practice of maitoro, however pointing can be affiliated with great boons and blessings. Elders will often point to their chosen successor whilst proclaiming as such, in a way passing not only their legal inheritance but imbuing the successor with their spiritual power, such as in Ofot tradition, where great kings and leaders are foretold by the appearance of a pointing spirit, known as the 'Empty shirt man'.
Economy
Historically, Okrit's economy focused on trade within the islands, minerals mined in Waaq such as copper, gold, iron and jewels were shipped to the Onomati lowlands in exchange for food and spices. The highlands also bare a large variety of mineral, resources, however the creation of Highland silk is the most prominent, along with multiple other luxury goods. The trade of these goods was often the backbone of the historical eastern states such as Okso & Moklo, who thrived off of the trade of silk, furs, pearls and narcotics derived from highland biota. The highlands' economic value has often made it the target of Onomati conquests, and to this day the highlands is an incredibly valued region, despite the inhospitable conditions and aggressive highland clans. Waaqi influence has also interrupted Onomati conquest as the acquisition of highland minerals would overshadow those produced in Waaq, depriving the island of it's major trade good in the exchange for food, on which the Waaqi rely on Onomat.
Since union and contact with the east, the economy has since changed to quite a degree, where the whole archipelago must balance its inner economy and that of it's national economy and trade with other nations, most prominently Akaria. The acquiescence of the highlands has become an integral issue in Okriti politics as to the role it may play in boosting the national economy, as the production and import of military, medicinal and machine goods have increased to facilitate the process. While it is of debate whether or not the current investment will lead to worthwhile output, the government maintains a staunch focus on this matter, efforts on which have multiplied since the ascension of Aakar Byenama into the presidency.