Watan

Watan, officially the Republic of Watan, is a nation located in southwest Alutra along the Abayadi Sea. Watan is one of the smallest Alutran states, bordered to the south by the Abayadi Sea, to the east by Ovezia, and to the west by Ventora. Watan's territory also extends to several small islands along its coast, most notably Ilha do Barbito or Ilha do Pedregosa. The official and national language is Watanese. Queluz is the largest city and capital.

One of Alutra's earliest permanently settled regions, Watan holds prehistoric sites such as Ficha Sílex: the oldest evidence of human habitation in west Alutra. Ancient Watan was inhabited by Pre-Tilargi and Tilargi peoples and visited by ancient nomadic Haksar and Ventoran people or other traders. After increased Ventoran activity in Watan, the territory was sold to Ventora under the condition the Ventorans protect the lands and continue their trading. Watan became a tributary of Ventora, which itself was a tributary of Haksarad. This entered Watan into the Haksar tributary system. This continued for several centuries until 1328, when a saber duel spelled Watanese independence.

The killings of the king and princess of the Watanese monarchy in 1861 resulted in the Queluz Revolution, which would last for 2 years and result in the abolishment of the monarchy and founding of the Watanese Republic on April 22nd, 1863. The Revolution originally started with the opposing opinions on the monarchy, but the fire continued to rage for several other branching reasons for centuries after. The civil war would come to a close after the deaths of 100,000 and the Treaty of Pedregosa, signed on Ilha do Pedregosa.

In modern times, Watan struggles with instability after several incidents revolving around the president of Watan. In 2004, Saldé Ramos took power after the resignation of Tiago Sousa. Ramos’ policies were unpopular within a large demographic in the nation. His unpopularity in some groups and strong following in others lead to an instability which split the nation in half and eventually resulted in the 2004 Watanese coup d'état. Some viewed the coup as unconstitutional, therefore in 2016, the 2016 Watanese coup d'état attempt was in attempt to take Olavo Maciel out of power, however this failed. The RSP is the leading nationalist party in the nation, and is responsible for the 2016 coup and 2013 Watan capitol attack. Since the 2016 coup, the instability in the nation has settled in extremity, however is still not an uncommon sight.

Today, Olavo Maciel is the president of Watan, alongside Dannel Saraiva as assembly president and Fabricio Martins as prime minister. Watan is an observer state of the H'Ejrad Cooperation, and a full member of the World Forum.

Etymology


The native name of Watan, Vatão, has been speculated for many centuries, however the true origin is unknown. The leading theory is that it originates from ancient Ventoran stories labeling the lands southeast of them as the "Land of many goats", with "vato" meaning big/many, and "chivato", which transformed into "chivatão" and further into "vatão", meaning "great baby goat" or "great goat".

The leading secondary theory for the origin comes from the word "wet'o", meaning "young goat". This was interpreted from ancient Ventorans and Haksar as "Vatus". Following this, an additional -anus was added to Vatus, which made "Vatanus", or "Great young goat". This meaning may have been misinterpreted from explorers not versed in the Watanese language as "Land of the goat" or "Land of the great goat". The word Vatanus would eventually become the modern-day Vatão.

Another theory states that the lands are named after the Ventoran explorer Froitos Vatos, who reportedly travelled through Watan some time between 400 and 450 BCE. Other theories claim that the name derived from its neighboring nation of Ventora.

The name Vatão first appeared in a sea log dated 961 CE, however the lands of Watan themselves have been recorded and mapped as far back as 8th century BCE.

The leading theory for the namesake of Watan, Land of the many goats, has since been the inspiration for the nation's national anthem, "A Terra da Cabra". The anthem tells the story of a goat making the journey from a farm in Haksarad to the flowing plains in Watan. The goat in the song is analogous to Watan, and its journey is reminiscent of the nation's history.

Prehistory and antiquity
The early history of Watan is shared with its region in southwestern Alutra. The name of Watan likely derives from an early Ventoran about the "Land of the many goats". The region was settled by Pre-Tilargi and Tilargi peoples, giving origin to cultures like the Matanic, Vidalic, Saldanese, and Cortes, which was later inhabited and mixed with Ventoran, Manuak, and Kashar from 400 BC to 250 AD. Some evidence also points to Sedic peoples settling in modern-day Watan and intermarrying with people already inhabiting the land.

The region of present-day Watan was inhabited by pre-Homo sapiens and then by Homo sapiens, who roamed the border-less Abayadi Sea region. These were subsistence societies and although they did not establish prosperous settlements, they did form organized societies. Neolithic Watan experimented with the domestication of herding animals, the raising of some cereal crops and fluvial or marine fishing. The earliest evidence of humans in west Alutra comes during this time with Ficha Sílex, translating to "Flint token", signifying the finding of a flint token at the site. There were approximately 8 buildings - 3 of which being identified as living spaces, and the remaining being sheds or outhouses. Only one building remains - the Aqiḍun - which may have been a fire pit used for cooking meat.

It is believed by some scholars that early in the first millennium BC, several waves of Pre-Tilargi invaded Watan from Central Alutra and intermarried with the local populations, forming different tribes. Another theory suggests that Pre-Tilargi inhabited southwestern Alutra well before any large Pre-Tilargi migrations from Central Alutra. In addition, a number of linguists expert in ancient Tilargi have presented compelling evidence that the Meskin language, once spoken in parts of northern Ventora and Watan, is at least proto-Tilargi in structure. This signifies the entrance of the Tilargi culture and peoples into present-day Watan.

Modern archaeology and research shows a Watanese root to the Sedic culture in Watan and elsewhere. During that period and until the Kashar invasions, the Cortes culture (a variation of the Matanic culture along the Abayadi coast) was prolific in Watan and eastern Ventora. This culture, together with the surviving elements of the Abayadi megalithic culture and the contributions that come from the more Western Abayadi cultures, ended up in what has been called the Cultura Cortesja or Cortes Culture.

Based on the Kashar chronicles about the coastal Watanese peoples, along with the narrations and the interpretation of the abundant archaeological remains throughout the western half of Watan and Ventora, it is possible to infer that there was a matriarchal society, with a military and religious aristocracy of the feudal type. The figures of maximum authority were the chieftain (chefe tribal), of military type and with authority in his clan, and the druid, mainly referring to medical and religious functions that could be common to several clans. The Sedic cosmogony remained homogeneous due to the ability of the druids to meet in councils with the druids of other areas, which ensured the transmission of knowledge and the most significant events. The first documentary references to Cortes society are provided by chroniclers of Kashar and Ventoran military campaigns about the social organization, and describing the inhabitants of these territories, Cortes of western Watan as: "A group of barbarians who spend the day fighting and the night eating, drinking and singing under the moon."

There were other similar tribes, and chief among them were the Matanic; the core area of these people lay in inland central Watan, while numerous other related tribes existed such as the Valici of Intreval, and the Cadavid or Cava of the Reparad. Among the tribes or sub-divisions were the Rasal, Cilan, Lemos, Bayona, Morquecho, Junco, Noia, Patino, Zea, Barela, Cora, Chacón, Agudelo, Marcelin, Tapoli, Batallo, Rego, Fajarda, Agron, and Azay. A few small, semi-permanent, commercial coastal settlements were also founded in the Reparad/Ladige region.

Kashar-Manuak period
There are two known preserved outposts from the Kashar culture from Haksarad in Watan from before 403 BC, however it is suspected that there could have been up to 6 littering the Watanese coasts. These outposts were likely set up in Watan during the Kashar's search for more arable land, although it has also been theorized that the forts were placed in Watan simply as resting points for passing Kashar ships. The Kashar left the region some decades after their original landing, however remnants of Kashar long boats have been located along the Watanese coast following their supposed abandonment. It is likely that the Kashar culture remained lightly in the Watanese territory, although no permanent settlements were ever founded. It is unknown why the Kashar did not settle Watan, but it can be inferred that they faced resistance from native coastal cultures of Watan.

Manuak interference in Watan is significantly better reported than the Kashar era, most likely because of the Manuak's heightened technology and interconnectedness between Watan and their mainland. Settlements along the Watanese coast by Manuaks came soon after their conquering of the Kashar in mainland Haksarad, and unlike earlier Kashar outposts, most Manuak establishments resulted in permanent populations. Trade and were the Manuak's primary goals, although the benefits of the arable land in southern Watan also became a dividend for stable habitation. While more successful than Kashar colonies, there have only been a recorded 27 colonies or attempted colonies, with only 3 originally Manuak settlements surviving to modern-day. While Cortesian cultures remained unassimilated by the Manuak colonization due to the Cortesian cliffs - a series of high ridges lining the coasts of southwestern Watan, the Tilargi cultures were forced to either assimilate into the Manuak culture or migrate further north through the Matanic territory and into the unsettled highlights of Cecia. This would become known as the Great Tilarg Migration, as it was the largest and most significant migration of any people group in Watanese history. Not only would this affect Tilarg populations in Watan, but communities in Ventora would also move north with their Watanese siblings.

Similar to the Cortesian culture, the Vidalic peoples were generally untouched by the Manuaks, coming to an early agreement to keep away from each other's settlements while also maintaining trade to benefit both parties. Saldanese and Matanic cultures were also untouched by Manuak colonization given their inland location. As time went on, permanent Manuak settlements in Watan decreased due to the large distance in between Watan and Haksarad.

Some ancient urban ruins of Manuak settlement in Watan are quite large, such as Arvoredo and Aldeia do Velejar, the latter of which is by far the largest Manuak settlement in Watan and is also a recognized National Monument. Aldeia do Velejar lies 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Ferragudo. The site also has a museum that displays objects found by archaeologists during their excavations. Several works of engineering, such as baths, temples, bridges, roads, circuses, theatres and laymen's homes are preserved throughout the country. Coins, some coined on Watanese land, as well as numerous pieces of ceramics, were also found.

This era would also bring about the Vidal river system, which was a large-scale trade network branching from the source of the Vidalic River to the mouth. It is believed that manned caravans of rafts would frequently be sent down the river in order to supply communities with resources such as food or building materials. Items could be "purchased" by supplying items equal in value to the objects purchased. This system would bring large amounts of people to the mouth of the Vidalic River, and would bring the foundation of the city of Foz do Vidal.

Ventoran period
Ventoran influence in Watan has existed for as long as the concept of Watan has itself, although segments of the Tilarg Mountains prevented a large diaspora of Ventorans to enter the border-less Watan. Instead, nomadic traders or explorers from Ventora would trade with the nearby Cortesians or Matanic, and later on the Tilargi. Permanent settlements in Watan from Ventora have also had a long history, especially in regions close to the modern-day border.

Prior to its foundation as a duchy of Ventora, small Ventoran settlements scattering the coast of modern-day Praiazinha and Chegadia already existed, a large number of settlers being Ventorans seeking to escape from their nation. This meant a large number of Ventoran criminals lived in Watan, wishing to hide from Ventoran laws. The Cortesian cliffs would prevent hamlets from being formed by sea from Ventorans, which continued to keep the Cortesian culture safe from foreign assimilation.

Although already recognized as a region under heavy Ventoran influence, Watan was never formally recognized as a part of Ventora until 1038 AD. Having stable and prosperous trade relations with the Ventorans, Ventora - who was already a tributary state of Haksarad - sought to bring Watan into the Haksar tributary system. The king of Ventora, King King César, took advantage of the situation by spreading his prestige and land by awarding various regions of Watan to numerous duchies of Ventora as an agreement for a quid pro quo for trade, administration, defense, and military. At this time, the state of Watan remained a semi-autonomous entity, the duchy status lasted for nearly 300 years. The system was largely beneficial for both people groups, and a large majority of the Watanese population was in favor of the agreement. As a Watanese tradition, minor disputes between Ventoran and Watanese land-owners would be sorted via saber duel, which was a long-lasting Watanese tradition which both parties viewed as honorable.

In the early days of the arrangement, a large diaspora from Ventora to Watan would begin with the foundation of several large cities, including Neves, Alvenes, Ferragudo, Telana, Porto Azul, Macadin, and even parts of Queluz. In addition to the colonization of cities, and in apparent solution to the Ventoran convicts issue, several hundred prisons were built strategically along the Watanese coast. The prisons were state-of-the-art and contained technology unrivaled in the region, including security measures which ensured that no prisoners could possibly escape without being caught or killed. The Ventoran prison system was introduced to the Watanese, which was taken in stride by Watanese nobles who continued to construct Ventoran-style prisons for centuries after. Two of Watan's largest cities - Parné and Ilha do Neves - were the former two largest prisons on Watanese soil. Prisão de Parné collapsed at the dissolution of the Duchy of Watan, while Prisão de Neves remained in service until the late 19th century. Some Ventoran prisons, such as Prisão de Carracosa, are still in use until this day - although it has been under heavy reconstruction and redesign.

As settlement in Watan's west coast became more common, the Cortesian culture saw its downfall. Assimilation with Ventorans and Matanic was likely the leading factor in the disappearance of a large part of the culture. Even though the Cortesian culture survives to the modern-day, their numbers are few and far between, and most identify instead as Matanic, seeing as both cultures are very similar.

As time continued, satisfaction with Watan's tributary and duchy status decreased. This likely arose due to trade laws between the nations, which lower-class citizens thought were unfair. This included several laws which poorer residents could not uphold, but noblemen and high-class citizens could. This resulted in an unequal benefit towards the already wealthy Watanese, and staggered trade with the unwealthy. These laws came to the point of trade being nearly impossible between the more impoverished commoners and outside Ventoran entities. Uproar in the lower class resulted in large protests in the city centers of Queluz and Alhadas, and it was concluded that a dissatisfaction this large could not be solved via saber duel, a commonplace act for issues such as these. Even with the large protests, Ventora refused to budge the trade laws which favored the noblemen, most likely because they received more money from them than the poorer class.

Pirates of Watan


Pirates, known as Baleias colloquially, formed under Ventoran rule due to displeasure with Watan's tributary status and the way it benefited the noblemen more than the peasants of Watan due to unfair trade laws, in particular, the Fish Law, which only allowed fish of a certain high standard to be traded between Watan and Ventora, of which the poorer fisherman of Watan could not uphold. In turn, several bands of former soldiers would form "gangs" with several ships - sometimes stolen - which they would sail through the Abayadi Sea raiding certain Ventoran, Haksar, and even Watanese coastal settlements. In particular, raids on noblemen's fortresses or mansions were frequent, including in Ventora and Haksarad.

One of Watan's most infamous Baleia was Barbito de Vermelho, known more commonly as Barbito. Barbito, nicknamed for his red beard - an uncommon sight on the Abayadi Sea - was renowned for his unmerciful antics against several hundreds of settlements in Ventora and Watan. It was also written that Barbito  married 100 women and had 300 children"'', although this claim is disputed in modern-day. He also owned the largest fleet of ships in Baleia history and was a notorious folk legend within the Haksar tributary system. Barbito's real name was never known, although there have been conspiracies about such. Between 1180 and 1190 was Barbito's theorized death date, and he was buried at a still unknown location on Ilha do Barbito, the island soon named after him. The baleia is still a common household name, and his legendary status is still prevalent in media even outside of Watan. Barbito is recognized by some as the most infamous pirate in history.

Contemporarily, the term Baleias has become the namesake for a radicalized community of far-left Watanese so-called "freedom fighters" who are known to assassinate or otherwise harm known Red Summer Pact members and high-ranking individuals. A large demographic of the group are Tilargi in effort to repel RSP-funded attacks in Cecia. The name was adopted because Baleias' partially inperceived strength and heroic barbarism against antagonized forces.

Independence
After months of a feuding relationship, Fábio Gorres Jaoa Linama, Prince of Watan, demanded that Pruspes Elizondo Quixada Penemar, Count of Otero and Provincial General of Watan, battle him in a sabre duel in order to spell Watanese independence from Ventora. Quixada accepted the offer, in return that if he win, Watan remains part of the tribunal system with Ventora, the payment of Ɇ15,000 Ventoran standards, and the Prince's best horse. The pair met on horseback in a secluded, non-disclosed farm within the Borroso plains on the morning of May 16, 1328, accompanied by only a handful of guards, medical crew, and witnesses. The duel lasted four seconds before Quixata, who had been practicing prior to Jaoa's arrival, was stabbed in the upper torso by Jaoa. Quixata was transported on horseback to a regional hospice and would survive the injuries, but upon his return to Ventora, he would lose his ranks as provincial general. After word of the loss reached King Seve II of Ventora, he contemplated using the Ventoran army to compel Watan to remain a tributary state, however, the relationship had long been at least tacitly voluntary and the two had already agreed to the conditions of the duel, including the possibility of injury. As a result, there was little support at home for armed intervention and the King's Council advised him to accept the result of the duel, which Seve hesitantly agreed to. In Watan, Jaoa was decidedly titled the King of Watan, and was moved into the Palace of Queluz - the former home of Quixata.

A celebration was held in Queluz, dubbed Watanese Independence Day, and the tradition carries on to the modern-day. May 16 is now a federal holiday, and workers and school children alike are not obliged to turn in to their workplace or school. Festivities include baking, faux saber dueling, parades, and more.

Kingdom
For the first few years as its own independent state, rural Watan struggled financially. The Kingdom found itself located in a very secluded position because of the enclosing mountains and cliff-faced coastlines. As a result, the nation saw little interference or influence from outside powers other than the little that came from those closest to it. The Ladige Valley in southeastern Watan saw rapid growth due to the new necessity for large amounts of imports and exports for external powers, which also resulted in an exodus most prominently from Saldenia, Saldenha, Viticampa, and many other rural poorer agricultural areas whose farmers sought greater opportunities within the cities of Queluz or Telana. The central plains of Watan grew very light in population and stretched thin power-wise, and was mostly desolate of many large towns or cities. During these times, many townships and villages in these regions became abandoned after not finding economic success, meanwhile, the Ladige Valley grew to be one of the densest areas of its size in western Alutra. Alhadas became an exception from this rule, whose city borders expanded at the same velocity as the larger Ladige Valley metropolises. Those who moved here as opposed to the southern coast tended to be farmers or native Matanians who wished not to stray far from home and moved into the closest large city. While some individuals who chanced their luck in these cities succeeded, many others did not. Slums formed inside the densely packed cities and jobs ran thin. Butchers, ironworkers, ship workers, masons, and architects made up a large part of the jobs for the poor class, and those who could not get a job were left to peasantry or homelessness.

The first king, King Fábio, was regarded by the populace to be an unfit ruler. While having won the duel which earned the nation their independence, the man himself was seen as selfish and stubborn and lacked the skills necessary to run a fit and healthy country. The king repeatedly entered sword duels for benign and sometimes absurd reasons, most notably challenging an elderly man on the grounds of his palace to a duel after his pet dog reportedly scared away a flock of pigeons who had gathered nearby. In the later years of his rulership, King Fábio did indeed make progress in solving the income inequality within the nation, and also created housing for those in need; however, Fábio died before any other progress could be completed.

King Fábio's firstborn son, Remy Delaventa Jaoa Gorres I (Also known as King Remy the Great), took the throne next in 1349. Walking in his father's footsteps, King Remy I sought to solve the wealth issues within the kingdom, stating that he wanted Watan to thrive on the international scale. King Remy took steps to eliminate the poor classes by insuring jobs and housing on the grounds of the Palace of Queluz for those with an income lower than that to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He also opened multitudes of craft-shops and other similar workshops in order to reduce homelessness within his kingdom, and further lowered tax for the poor and raised tax for the rich. King Remy was also notably down to Earth with the populace of his nation, often taking breaks from sitting at his throne and cleaning the palace grounds alongside his servants or dropping bars of gold out of his own pocket at the feet of beggars. He promptly gained popular support from the lower-income citizens but was disparaged by the upper class for their increased tax rates. After King Remy's death in 1390, Prince Remy II would take the throne. On the eve of the 15th century, King Remy II would approve a new deal with Haksarad for new trade laws, lowering taxes on imports and exports. This was in attempt to cure Watan's ongoing wealth issues and also in effort to pull Watan out of its isolationist culture. This more or less succeeded, and also actualized the immense growth of port cities such as Queluz and Foz do Vidal as large trading hubs. Sortisism took hold of the nation more than ever during this time too after taking cues from Ventora's assiduous Sortisist followers. Texts from this period point that up to 97% of the nation had adopted Sortisist ideals.



Watanese Enlightenment
15th century Watan would be widely uneventful in terms of disparage or conflict, and saw the beginnings of new breakthroughs in philosophy, knowledge, arts, and more, now known as the Watanese Enlightenment. Queluz and Foz do Vidal would grow intensely in size during this century as well, growing by at least 10,000 in the first 10 years respectively. In 1477, the Nascimento Encyclopedia would be commissioned by King Nascimento III and would grow to be one-of-a-kind with its extensive volumes and entries, growing to be the most expansive encyclopedia of its time for several more decades to come. Those commissioned were explorers, writers, philosophers, and more, who would travel in search of new knowledge and information about the world around them. Due to the invention of the printing press several years prior, the release of the encyclopedia would bring about an informational and academic revolution, and also saw the realization of new ways of thinking and ideals. Vinícius Rosa Paulino Guimarães was possibly one of Watan's most acclaimed philosophers, whose ideas even stretch into modern day thinking. Paulino believed that, for a ruler, it was better to be widely feared than to be greatly loved; a loved ruler retains authority by obligation, while a feared leader rules by fear of punishment. One of Paulino's students - Victor Corredor Diego Domínguez - also became an equally, if not more exalted philosopher who hailed from Ventora. In the coming years, Watan would grow to be known as a cradle of philosophy.

In addition to philosophy, the new trade laws with Haksarad allowed the arts to prevail in the Kingdom. Artists such as Salvador Vázquez Pena and Fernão Oliveira Jordão Amaral, as well as writers Márcio do Rosário, Deodato Félix Cortes Seixas, and Luciano Agostinho would thrive during the century's Enlightenment. Newly realized inks, painting techniques, and interconnectedness with other nations would actualize and  ways of interpreting the world around them. While diligent Sortisists were hesitant about breakthroughs such as these at first, they grew supportive once multitudes of Sortisist Pantheons were decorated with well-crafted pieces of deities and tales from their faith.

While many Enlightenment followers still pledged their faith to Sortisism, some branched out from the Pantheon and sought higher, more ethereal understanding of the universe. Early astronomers in Watan made breakthroughs in sciences about the worlds beyond, Erasmo Furtado being one of them. Furtado made several bounds in the field of astronomy in his life time. While despised by the Pantheon, Furtado continued his studies regardless, being fascinated in particular by the changing of constellations in the sky as the seasons passed. Furtado's greatest development came when, after rationalizing that due to the changing of constellations and the unchanging face of the moon, the Earth must be rotating - and by extension - the Earth must rotate around the sun. Unfortunately, Furtado was unable to prove such a theory and it remained as such until the evidence for it was eventually provided several decades later, however Furtado died before his theories could be proven correct. Furtado was also the first to map the Jove - who he also coined the term for - in close detail, documenting the sizes and locations of craters and other regions across the moon. Referring to it as "Jove" in his texts after the Sortisist god of the Aether, the name was spread abroad to eastern Alutra and therefore worldwide due to colonialism. It is now the commonplace name for the smaller of the two natural satellites of Earth. Furtado passed in 1515 and was predominantly unknown to the general populace due to the Pantheon stifling his progress. Several other astronomers followed in Furtado's footsteps, leading to discovery and development of several space-observing paraphernalia such as telescopic prototypes and star maps.

Grand Qualm
After the death of King Teófilo III in 1521, Prince Teófilo IV rose to power. A strong traditionalist and Sortisist, Teófilo IV vehemently disliked those who partook in the Enlightenment and wanted them either convert to or back to Sortisism, or else perish. One year into his reign, he enacted the Não Busque Rules, or "Do Not Seek" Rules. The law outlawed any research which may discount or otherwise discount the Sortisist faith. If caught, those convicted were to be publicly hung for their heresy against the Pantheon. Usually, those convicted were astronomers, writers, or philosophers. This effectively halted all progression Watan had made on the international stage, and set the nation back several years.

While outlawed, many philosophers, artists, and other proto-scientists continued to pursue their interests in secret. Many of these individuals fled to neighboring nations to continue their passions, however Hipólito Lima Enzo Gama, a romanticist and known anti-Sortisist writer, continued to write and publish his works well into the rules' enactment. While Enzo became the most notable writer to refuse to abide by the rules, several hundred also remained in Watan in protest. Over the course of Teófilo IV's reign, over 2,300 were publicly hanged, beheaded, or otherwise killed for their heresy against Sortisism. While small revolts and protests occurred in city centers against the rules, Teófilo IV was notoriously exponentially stingy and merciless in his decision-making, often sending any of those who disagree with him to labor camps or death. Ironically, Teófilo IV often referenced prolific Enlightenment philosopher Vinícius Paulino's ideas about feared rulers versus respected rulers when questioned about his callous behavior.

Morre Trials
In 1546, Queen Izabel I took the throne after Teófilo IV passed from a disease of unknown specificities, thus bringing an end to the House of Dantas due to his lack of suitable heirs. Izabel I was well known even prior to her role as monarch to be an "enerally absurd, crabbed woman" by her close family, and had by some rumors committed and was inflicted with symptoms now believed to be signs of  behavior. Izabel I, being a devout Sortisist, was a follower of Teófilo IV and the Não Busque Rules and continued to enforce them into her reign, taking these rules seriously and imposing them with similar liberality as Teófilo IV. Izabel I was the first of the Watanese monarchs to refer to herself as a messenger of the lord, telling the public that she was sent down by the gods themselves and each of her decisions had been told to her by the lord itself. Within two years of her reign, sources point to up to 5,000 resistors of the Não Busque Rules being executed by orders from Isabell I herself. In 1548, Izabel I enacted an extention to the Não Busque Rules, in which any non-Sortisists were to be told to either leave Watan immediately or be hanged. This would be the start of the Morre Trials - being enforced for over two centuries past this point under the Morre House.

Special Sortisist mercenaries called entrevistadors were hired by the Pantheon to systematically track down and take any non-Sortisists into imprisonment for their judgement. In some cases, non-followers were spared; however most adamant resistors were hanged or beheaded for heresy. These entrevistadors were largely priests or mercenaries for hire, with some mercenaries even being hired by the Watanese government from abroad, such as Ventora or Ozevia. The entrevistadors were in charge of tracking down and interrogating suspected non-Sortisist families, with any proof otherwise - no matter how small - being enough to arrest all of those connected with these people, especially close family members and relatives. The Pantheon was clued to these arrests by evidence as small as the person in question missing a prayer day or using slang or cursory language. Being friends or relatives of non-Sortisists was also seen as evidence. While obviously not well received by non-Sortisist or non-Sortisist supporters, a majority of Sortisist or Sortisist-aligned believers were reportedly either supportive or apathetic towards the law. Whether this was out of fear or genuine feelings is unknown. Over the course of the Morre Trials, at least 100,000 were killed for their heresy, and the entrevistadors maintained their jobs for many decades onwards.

In 1554, after Izabel I died of, Frederico II took the throne. While Frederico II had more liberal ideas than Izabel I, he kept the Morre Trials in action - strengthening the entravistador numbers. The Não Busque Rules, however, were revoked after the kingdom realized that this decision was setting Watan back significantly on the world stage, with its neighbor Ventora making great technological strides while Watan lagged behind after Furtado's great ideas. While disbanded, the Não Busque Rules still existed in the fact that scientific breakthroughs which directly opposed Sortisist beliefs were just as banned as before. Examples of this were ideas instead of  ideals held in Sortisism.


 * Several decades/centuries pass with Trials still ongoing
 * Cecia is purchased from Ventora
 * Entrevistadors attempt to enforce the Trials onto the largely Tilarg population of Cecia but it does not go over well
 * Small skirmishes occur and Watanese military is sent to Cecia as situation escalates

Caminhante wars

 * Occurs after Watanese canons are shot into Jaber, the capital of Cecia
 * Tilarg revolt and use the rugged terrain of their homeland to their advantage, setting up camp in spots which non natives may find difficult to access
 * Ozevia begins fighting Watan, ends up in a stalemate. Ozevia declares independence.
 * Cecia declares independence, and Tilarg get the (maybe derogatory?) nickname of Mountain Goats
 * A decisive Tilarg victory and the Treaty of Jaber results in Cecian independence

Repealment of Heresy Laws

 * After loss of Caminhante War in 1731, Queen Fatima is put into power and she ends the Morre Trials and Não Busque Rules
 * People are happy and a holiday is created on September 30
 * Rest of 18th century goes by with many non-Sortisist immigrants moving back to the country
 * At the turn of the century, Cecia requests and is reabsorbed into Watan

19th century

 * When railroads gain traction in 1810, Watan starts construction on the pan-Watanese railroad stretching around the whole country
 * Gives more reason for people to move back to middle-of-nowhere Watan
 * Farming becomes really popular once again, and the discovery of coal within the mountains of Watan plays in nicely with the new popular train thing
 * Watan grows quite wealthy and Queluz is modernized appropriately
 * Pan-Watanese railroad is completed in 1818 and the coal industry is as strong as ever, Watan reaches a golden age of the industrial revolution
 * Slavery is abolished following protests in 1830

Revolution and republic

 * King Cardoso II and his wife are shot and killed by two disgruntled Haksar in 1861
 * Chaos erupts in the nation as royal family members are shot one-by-one in a massive organized
 * Entire royal family is killed successfully by insurgents and results in a royal crisis
 * Some people want the monarchy to continue, others want Watan to modernize into a Republic
 * Tensions are already very high, infighting begins between the two sides
 * Lord Eusébio Cosme Henriques, a member of the Council of Lords (administration to the royal family) takes charge
 * Timoteo Pio Campos forms a militia of republicans
 * Skirmish in Queluz occurs when the two's militaries meet
 * Nation devolves into civil war all across the nation
 * Battle of Carriço
 * Battle of Alhadas
 * Battle of Vidal
 * Battle of Monte Artur
 * Battle of Queluz
 * Republican win, Treaty of Pedregosa
 * Timoteo Pio Campos becomes first president of the Republic, Lord Eusébio Cosme Henriques was killed in battle

20th century

 * Watan remains neutral in the First World War
 * Jacinto Álvares, a fascist, takes lead of the country in 1938
 * The Western Scare leads to Watan coming to an agreement with Ventora to send its troops to fight alongside Ventorans in the Second World War
 * Many citizens do not like this and fear the country is going to become a totalitarian government
 * Air raids are conducted over Watanese cities
 * When the war is obviously not in Watan's favor, its president Álvares attempts to flee the nation with his wife, but is caught and beaten in the streets
 * Álvares is brutally murdered and the government's descent into fascism is stopped
 * Watan remains neutral in the Third World War
 * Women's rights in 1957
 * Tiago Sousa leads the country in later 1990s, is a noted fascist
 * Civilians once again unnerved

21st Century

 * Citizens protest several years into his presidency due to his inadequacy as a leader
 * Sousa retires after several weeks of protests
 * Salde Ramos - the former Chief of the General Staff - takes charge, is even more of a fascist than Sousa
 * Ramos is known to make unprovoked military and other governmental decisions, is a generally bad leader but fascists love him
 * Is rumored to garner support from Haksarad behind the scenes
 * Many compare Ramos to Álvares

2004 coup d'état

 * Military coup occurs after a particularly worrying bill from Ramos breaches numerous human rights and also did some illegal things with Haksarad
 * Ramos is easily removed from power within several hours
 * Blood is only lightly shed by extremist fascists who take it upon themselves to stop the coup, it doesnt turn out well for him
 * Ramos is held in court for a year afterwards before being released for unknown reasons and sent to Haksarad where he is rarely seen
 * Is is suspected Ramos has changed his name and significantly altered his appearance
 * Olavo Maciel takes power, is not a fascist and is a very good leader, seen by some as the best in Watanese history
 * There is still a reasonably sized fascist/nationalist population in Watan and they are unhappy
 * Several years into his taking of power, an attempted assassination against him is conducted however it is unsuccessful
 * The attempted assassination spurs the creation of the Red Summer Pact or RSP
 * The RSP is a group of extremists who are quite broad in beliefs, but in general believe that Maciel is incompetent and progressivism, socialism, etc is bad
 * Internal disputes arise and eventually an attempted attack on the capitol building is conducted in 2013, where several armed RSP members entered the capitol in attempt to murder anyone they see
 * 13 (not including the terrorists) die in the attack
 * This only strengthens the RSP and RSP-leaning beliefs and makes tensions rise in the nation, nearly to a breaking point

Contemporary history

 * Watan is still healing from its very difficult recent history, but since the RSP have been recognized both internally and internationally as a terrorist group, their activity has been quite low
 * Watan's economy grows after several economic ventures are explored

Geography


The territory of Watan lies against the Abayadi Sea in western Alutra, nestled between the sea and the Tilarg Mountain Range (referred to simply as "the mountains" by most Watanese). Watan also possesses several islands lining its coast, most prominently Ilha do Pedregosa and Ilha do Barbito, as well as the Coval Islands, which are composed of some of the most active volcanos in the world.

Mainland Watan is split in half by the Vidalic River, which flows from the Tilarg Mountains just two kilometers from the border, before escaping into the Abayadi. The central and northern regions of Watan are characterized by mountainous and rugged terrain, whereas the southern and eastern regions, such as the Ladige Valley, Cortesia, and the Borosso regions, are plateaued or have rolling plains.

The archipelagos of the Coval Islands are scattered within the central Abayadi Sea; the islands straddling the Ventoran-Abayadi subvergent plate boundary and subsequent volcanic hotspot. Geologically, these islands were formed by volcanic and seismic events, and active volcanos still remain standing scattered across the islands. The most recent major eruption on these islands was on the island of Tobé, in which Mount Tobé shot pyroclastic material 5,000 metres high and caused darkness and significant ash falls on the island. The eruption occurred at 16:31 and was the volcano's 500th eruption of the year. Sporadic earthquakes occur on the islands, usually of low to medium intensity.

The highest peak in Watan is Mount Reza, located on the island of Viale in the Coval Islands. The ancient stratovolcano reaches a height of 2,351 m (7,713 ft) and is an iconic symbol of Watan and the Covales, while the smaller and more centrally located Mount Farinha is the second tallest mountain at 2,012 m (6602 ft), and is a popular skiing and winter sports destination during the winter due to its easily accessible slopes and central location close to population centers like Ferragudo and Alvenes.

The nation has a coastline of 886.39km (550.7mi). In maritime terms, the country claims a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi), and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi). The capital city of Queluz lies against the Maraso Menor as well as its respective estuary and salt flats, gifting the city a reasonably sized salt market.

Located on the subvergent Abayadi plate boundary, Watan frequently experiences moderate to severe earthquakes - its most extreme being an 8.3 magnitude quake in 1989, its epicenter south of Selaga, Chegadia. The subvergent plate also gives way to volcanos being prevalent within the nation. Mount Cerqueira is Watan's largest volcano, located in the northeastern corner of the nation. Mount Cerqueira is also Watan's most active volcano, with its most recent eruption occurring in 2019.

Climate
According to the, Watan is mainly categorized as humid subtropical (Cfa) within the Vidalic and Ornellas river valleys, and hot semi-arid (BSh), warm temperate (Cwa), and oceanic (Cwb) in the Tilarg Mountains. Tropical savanna climate (Aw) makes up much of the coastal areas in Grande-Vala, Colinito, Cortesia, and Praiazinha, with small regions of scattered tropical savanna in parts of the Barroso and Vidalia. The Coval Islands are defined by Tropical rainforest (Af) and Tropical monsoon (Am) climate types, the former of which typical for the higher peaks, the latter being elsewhere. The tallest peaks of Watan are tundra (ET) climate. Due to Watan's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, It is an extremely warm nation: the annual average temperature in mainland Watan varies from 10–12 °C (50.0–53.6 °F) in the mountainous interior north to 16–18 °C (60.8–64.4 °F) in the south and on the Vidalic river basin. There are however, variations from the highlands to the lowlands: Ventoran biologist Josep Vélez Martinez presents several different bioclimatic zones for Watan.



Annual average rainfall in the mainland varies from just over 3,200 mm (126.0 in) on the Camor-Salastile National Park - the nations biggest - to less than 500 mm (19.7 in) in northern parts of Cecia. Mount Reza is recognized as receiving the largest annual rainfall (over 6,250 mm (246.1 in) per year) in Watan, according to the Institute of Watanese Climate and Geography.

In some areas, such as the Vidalic basin, annual diurnal average temperatures can be as high as 26 °C (79 °F), and summer's highest temperatures are routinely over 40 °C (104 °F). The record high of 47.4 °C (117.3 °F) was recorded in Guimaves, although this might not be the hottest spot in summer, according to satellite readings.

Snowfalls occur regularly in the winter in the interior North and Centre of the country in provinces such as Saldenia, Entrevale, Viticampa, the Barroso, and Matania, particularly on the mountains. In winter, temperatures may drop below −10.0 °C (14.0 °F), particularly in the Serdoba Range, the Cuellón Range, and the Catancia Range - all recognized as parts of the Tilarg Mountains. In these places snow can fall any time from October to May. In the South of the country snowfalls are rare but still occur in the highest elevations. While the official absolute minimum by IPMA is −16.0 °C (3.2 °F) in Baixa and Alta Cecia, lower temperatures have been recorded, such as −17.5 °C (0.5 °F) by Alhadas Polytechnic Institute in the outskirts of the city in 1983, and below −20.0 °C (−4.0 °F) in the country.

Continental Watan has around 2300 to 3200 hours of sunshine a year, an average of 4–6 h in winter and 10–12 h in the summer, with higher values in the south-east, south-west and the Ladige Valley and lower in the north-west. Insolation values are lower in the archipelagos, with around 1600 h in the humid Viale Island.

Watan's central west and southwest coasts have an extreme ocean seasonal lag, sea temperatures are warmer in October than in July and are their coldest in March. The average sea surface temperature on the west coast of mainland Watan varies from 14–16 °C (57.2–60.8 °F) in January−March to 19–21 °C (66.2–69.8 °F) in August−October while on the south coast it ranges from 16 °C (60.8 °F) in January−March and rises in the summer to about 22–23 °C (71.6–73.4 °F), occasionally reaching 26 °C (78.8 °F).[94] In the Covales, and around 16 °C (60.8 °F) in February−April to 22–24 °C (71.6–75.2 °F) in July−September.

Biodiversity
Most of Watan's mammalian biodiversity can be found in the sparsely-populated highlands. In the forests, fallow and roe deer can be found alongside wild boar, long-eared hedgehogs, and a wide array of rodents. The largest predator in Watan, the Haksar leopard, resides here as well in reduced numbers alongside grey wolves. Higher up the mountains, mouflons and ibexes, the ancestors of domestic sheep and goats respectively, graze on the alpine grasses. In the densely populated lowlands, Alutran jackals are a common sight, as are Watan hamsters, the most commonly kept species of hamster as pets. Alhadas is known for its large population of Watanese fruit bats. Abayadi monk seals beach themselves on protected lines of coast, feeding on the unique marine life of the inland sea. Watan is considered one of the largest breeding grounds for humpback whales, with thousands migrating to breed and calve new generations.

The national bird of Watan is the white-throated kingfisher, who plays an important role in mythology. Other culturally significant birds include bearded vultures, golden eagles, Harad hoopoes, and greater flamingos. The Jimmadan ostrich used to range into Watan before its extinction due to overhunting.

Government
The politics of Watan abide by a presidential representative democratic republic, under which the President of Watan is both the head of state and the head of government, as well as a multiform party system. The president exercises executive power, which he technically shares with the First Consul of Watan (although they scarcely exercise said power today). Legislative power is vested in a single chamber, known as the Assembly of the Republic. The Judiciary is independent from both the executive and legislature.

The Broad Front and National parties have been locked in a power struggle, with the predominance of the Broad Front party and its predecessors throughout most of Watan's history. Following 2004, the Broad Front has enjoyed a much more dominant presence in the nation, despite an attempt from extremist elements within the National Party to take over the country in 2016. One of the most notable features of the Watanese political system is the absence of term limits of any kind, a feature that has led some to question the integrity of the nation's governmental process.

Executive branch
Watan's 1863 Constitution created a strong presidency, subject to legislative and judicial balance. Indeed, the office of the executive was seen as being so powerful that it was originally vested in two co-Presidents, to be elected in staggered terms of four years. This feature immediately proved to be problematic, as both co-Presidents had overlapping powers, as well as the ability to veto one another. Following a national referendum in 1882, Watan amended its constitution to establish the office of First Consul, leaving it with the President as its primary executive. The President, who is the head of government, is elected by popular vote. Likewise, the First Consul is the de jure head of state, and is elected by popular vote as well (although the President exercises virtually all of said powers alone). The President must act together with the Council of Ministers, which comprises cabinet ministers appointed by the President and confirmed by the Assembly. Thirteen ministers head various executive departments. The ministers can be impeached by the Assembly by a majority vote.

Watan's office of First Consul is largely a relic from its founding, lacking any real political power. To many, however, the First Consul remains a prominent symbol to the country's citizens. To them, the First Consul is a kind of face and voice to the nation, empowered to bring awareness to key issues and act as a unifying voice in times of conflict. Additionally, the First Consul is first in the line of succession should the President be rendered incapable of serving or be impeached. The First Consul has the power to establish and award various orders or medals, as well as signing laws and treaties (these officially pass once signed by the President, however, so the First Consul's signature is largely a symbolic rubber-stamp).

The Constitution establishes the requirements for being elected President or First Consul in Article 15. It states that the President must be a natural-born citizen, or have been born to a Watanese citizen if born abroad. Alternatively, they must have been a citizen of Watan for thirty consecutive years prior to announcing their candidacy for office. They must be at least 30 years old and be registered in the National Civic Registry. The current President is Olavo Maciel, elected in 2016, and the current First Consul is Fabricio Martins, elected in 2018.

Legislative branch
The Assembly of the Republic is the legislative branch of Watan, and consists of a single chamber. The Assembly has 150 voting members. The Assembly President presides over the Assembly and draws from the confidence of the majority block at the time. The Assembly meets at the Legislative Palace in Queluz. Representatives are chosen through proportional representation from Watan's many electoral districts, being elected to four year terms staggered through the Assembly. The ordinary sessions span is from March 1 to December 15, or until September 15 in the event that it is an election year (as the new Assembly must begin its session on February 15 of the following year).

Article 19 of the Watanese Constitution requires that members of the Assembly must be aged at least 25 and have been a citizen for at least five years. The Assembly of the Republic is entitled to politically judge the conduct of the Ministers of State, to declare war and approve or reject peace treaties, alliances, trade deals, conventions, or contracts of any nature that the Executive enters into with a foreign power. The legislature also has the power to designate every year the necessary armed force, as well as allowing or denying access to foreign troops to enter the country. The creation of new Ministries or Departments, the setting of their limits, and the establishment of customs and export duties concern the legislative power as well.

Judicial branch
The judiciary of Watan is the branch of government that interprets and applies the nation's laws, to ensure equal justice under the law, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. The legal system of Watan is a civil law system, with public law based on the 1863 Constitution, further amended in 1889, 1904, 1937, and 1994. Private relationships are subject to the Watanese Civil Code, originally published in 1868 and drawing heavily from the Ventoran legal tradition. The constitution defines the judiciary as a hierarchical system of courts, with the highest being the thirteen-member Supreme Court. Justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Assembly, and serve ten-year terms. The Chief Justice appoints the judges of most of the lower courts. Below the Supreme Court, there are thirteen courts of appeal, each of which are presided over by a panel of five judges. Five of the courts of appeal specialize in civil matters, four in criminal matters, two cover labor law, and two focus on family matters. At the lowest tier are justices of the peace and courts of first instance specialized in administrative, civil, criminal, customs, juvenile, and labor cases.

Elections in Watan are organized and supervised by a permanent and independent Electoral Court, established by an electoral law drafted in 1974. The court has five members which are non-partisan, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Assembly.

Political parties

 * Broad Front - Began as big tent center left party but has grown increasingly radical.


 * National Party - Right wing party which has grown increasingly radical in response to the Broad Front doing the same.


 * Ecological Party - left/center left, environmental issues.


 * Party of the Folk - center right, rural issues.


 * Independent Party - center, center right.


 * Popular Unity - far right.


 * Digital Party - left, technocratic.


 * Noyonist Party - far left.