T'vaqi
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Nation of T'vaqi Q'ar T'vaqi | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 | |
| Capital | Ishiq |
| Demonym | T'vaqi |
| Government | Magisterial Democracy |
• Grand Magister | Dimasi V'sha, Insi Q'so, Loqa Pili |
| Establishment | |
• Unified | 1-2 244 TT |
| Area | |
• Total | 20,658 km2 (7,976 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 10,374,000 |
• Density | 502.18/km2 (1,300.6/sq mi)(Mainland T'vaqi only.) |
T'vaqi, officially the Nation of T'vaqi or Q'ar T'vaqi is a sovereign nation located in the northeast quadrant of the Attu Archipelago, within the Brchipelago subgroup. The island on which the nation is situated is the second smallest island in the archipelago by land area, standing at 20,658 km2; however, it is also the most densely populated, with an average population density of 502.2 individuals per square kilometer, for a total population of approximately 10.374 million.
The Nation of T'vaqi extends to Vritona, an island in the Eastern Ocean settled in 58 PC.
History
Prehistory
Millenia before its inception, T'vaqi was inhabited by several competing factions, each controlling a portion of its land. Little is known about these factions; their way of life, their technological prowess, and even the precise number of distinct groups is uncertain. Records of major conflicts and historical events were presumably recorded extensively on stone tablets, though surviving tablets are scarce and often damaged. It is not known for certain when humans first came to inhabit the island, with estimates ranging from 9000 to 4000 TT.
It is generally accepted that members of these factions lived communally in huts built from stone and clay, based on the surviving foundations of buildings. Factions are known for certain to have had spiritual beliefs regarding water and certain plants. While all surviving records are difficult to decipher, similarities to modern-day T'vaqi language have been observed. Most information regarding the factions has been gleaned through carvings and other pictorial depictions, though recent linguistic breakthroughs have assisted in translating some tablets.
Factions are known to have engaged in frequent armed conflict, with the boundaries of each group's territory constantly shifting. While it appears alliances were initially uncommon, the total number of factions would slowly dwindle over time as more and more groups were subsumed by others. The gradual homogenization of the island's population would result in the island's first unification in 3400 TT.
First Unification
The First Unification of T'vaqi refers to a period of time from 3400 to 1900 TT during which a single dominant faction (referred to in some records as the Qoa Lihi or Qohli [1]) maintained near-complete control over T'vaqi. While it is unlikely that the Qoa Lihi held completely uncontested rule over the island, evidence of conflict during the time is likely to have been erased during the empire's sudden collapse and disappearance. The Qoa Lihi government is presumed to have been an absolute monarchy, with a single all-powerful ruler at the throne; it is unclear whether the ruler was chosen by right of blood or another process. The Qoa Lihi built structures similar to the huts of prehistory, albeit with greater craftsmanship. Evidence of multi-story buildings exists, and some structures were constructed with metal. However, the most well-preserved facet of Qoa Lihi civilization is an extensive bunker system which extends below the surface of 548 km2 of land, an area larger than that of T'vaqi's current capital city. Preserved artifacts and traces of human remains have been found within the bunker network.
All records of Qoa Lihi civilization end after approximately 1900 TT. Records belonging to the society past this date have not been found. Traces of ash beneath surface layers of dirt suggest a particularly destructive detonation as a potential cause, though no known explosive is capable of scouring an entire island of its inhabitants. Survivors of the enigmatic event likely hid in bunkers. It is unknown exactly how technologically advanced the Qoa Lihi were before their sudden collapse.
[1] Approximate translation; the language of the Qoa Lihi is yet to be fully deciphered.
Second Unification
- Main article: Second Unification of T'vaqi
The Second Unification of T'vaqi officially established the Nation of T'vaqi, along with its Magisterial Democracy. The Unification Committee, a group of individuals representing different regions of T'vaqi, was in charge of creating and ratifying a document that would solidify the reforms of the Second Unification. This document, known as the Grand Unifier, was signed into law on 1-2 244 TT.
Post-Calming
The island's Calming occurred mid-afternoon on 1-1 30 PC. Initial explanations of the Calming as an exceedingly rare but ultimately temporary cosmic event were quickly dispelled by the lasting absence of any rain or storm clouds in the sky. Immediate panic and hysteria grew with passing days, as more and more began to realize that the Perpetual Storm would not return. Government officials scrambled to provide explanations and reassurance. Each instance of natural rainfall, however light, struck a grim sense of hope into millions as they prayed for it to continue. Nearly a month after the initial cessation of the Storm, the nation had collectively settled down and accepted clear skies as the new way of life, save for fringe groups of Calming-deniers. The first fleet of exploration ships was sent out on 18-3.
While aware of the existence of other islands, initial exploration efforts were largely devoted to mapping the archipelago. Other islands were believed to be devoid of human life at the time (based on limited observation of the neighboring island of Steamworks), and charting individual islands was thus deemed a later priority. Observations of foreign watercraft from afar, now known to have been Caseic naval vessels, changed this assumption; it was now known for certain that several groups of individuals of unknown hostility populated the area. Further exploration efforts were immediately called off. The island maintained radio silence for two decades, as it was the general consensus of the population and the Grand Council that the potential dangers of foreign contact outweighed the benefits.
In 53 PC, more than twenty years after the Calming, Grand Magister Dimasi V'sha proposed official contact with the outside world via radio, which he put up to Council vote. The proposal was accepted with a 2 to 1 majority, with V'sha having convinced then-Grand Magister Arav Ila of the benefits of establishing contact. While an incredibly unpopular vote with the general public, an official radio communications room was built and completed a month later. T'vaqi joined the Inter-governmental Radio System on 3-9 53 PC.
Geography
Ecology
Climate
T'vaqi has a humid subtropical climate. Pre-Calming, the Perpetual Storm that surrounded the island was an omnipresent force; for millenia, the island experienced near-constant cloudy conditions and frequent rain, with only certain inland locations experiencing more than an hour of sunlight per day. This caused the T'vaqi to adopt a gray complexion over thousands of years. The violent weather made settling coastal areas difficult; population density generally increases with distance from the coast.
Government
The government of T'vaqi is built around a bureaucracy. Any and all legal disputes, from civilian to federal levels, must be processed through the bureacracy. T'vaqi has six distinct social classes, with varying levels of power; the large majority of individuals are classified as civilians. Any citizen may promote or demote an individual of lower status by filing a request to the bureacracy, with the exception of Grand Magisters, who may not promote Senior Magisters to their position. Elections are democratic, as dictated by the island's Magisterial democratic government.
Social classes
Grand Magister
Three democratically elected Grand Magisters form the highest level of government, maintaining direct control over the bureacracy. Any member of the trio, typically referred to as the Grand Council, may propose a change, such as a new law or an amendment to an older law. These proposals are typically made during weekly meetings between Grand Magisters. The proposed change is then voted on by the Grand Council, taking effect if two or more members (enough to form a majority) agree. The Grand Council maintains near-absolute rule over T'vaqi, and are typically only swayed by Senior Magisters. Until 53 PC, Grand Council elections occurred once every three years; the Death Decree of 53 PC changed this, causing elections to occur only when a Grand Magister dies or retires.
Senior Magister
Three Senior Magisters are appointed by each Grand Magister, serving as advisors. Any Senior Magister is automatically made a candidate in Grand Magister elections. In the case of an especially sudden or critical death, a Senior Magister may be promoted to Grand Magister through internal vote, rather than a typical democratic election; this is in order to replace the deceased as quickly as possible and restore the Grand Council to its normal state in a situation where doing so immediately is imperative. This process has only occurred once, with the election of Insi Q'so following the death of Sirra Voti during the Silicon Rebellion.
Magister
Magisters are bureaucratic executives; each Magister is assigned to the citizens within a certain portion of land, and is expected to process all requests and disputes of these citizens in addition to reporting suspicious or unlawful behavior. T'vaqi law stipulates that at least one Magister must be present in every officially designated settlement. An estimated 3,100 Magisters exist in T'vaqi. An individual must have a CC Score of at least 35 in order to become a Magister.
High Priest
Officiant
Civilian
Any recognized T'vaqi citizen is considered a civilian. This accounts for the vast majority of individuals on the island. T'vaqi does not, however, legally recognize the existence of foreign-born immigrants; this causes them to automatically be of no social class, as they are considered to exist outside of the system entirely. A bill was passed in 60 PC that allows any foreign-born immigrant that is administered a CC Exam when they reach legal adulthood to attain legal citizenship.
Culture
Education
Cognitive Capacity Scale
- Main article: Cognitive Capacity Scale
Religion
Though historical records are often inconsistent at best, it is known for a fact that the people of the island speculated about powers beyond the Storm for millenia.