Lakau

Lakau, officially the State of Lakau, is a in western Tiridinia. It is a unitary parliamentary republic consisting of 81 prefectures, often grouped into five regions, covering approximately 1.8 million square kilometers, and bordered by the Locufaric Ocean to the west, !NorthernNeighbor to the north, !SouthernNeighbor to the south, and the !TiridinianRanges to the east. Most of the land consists of rolling hills and plains, with low lying mountains only in the northwest, southwest, and east. The capital and largest city, ‘Āina Lā, is at the mouth of the Nohea River, along which many of the nation's largest population centers lie. The country is a modern hub for finance, education, and energy in Tiridinia. With a population of just over 190 million, Lakau is the 3rd most populous country and 2nd largest economy in the world.

The lands that are now Lakau were first settled some 20,000 years ago by sailors from Osamia. Agriculture and permanent settlements arose circa 5000 BCE, primarily along the Nohea river and in coastal regions. As society and trade developed, these settlements became more integrated with one another. The nation first united under King Keahilani 'Aukai circa 970-930 BCE. The nation would experience growth and contraction over the following centuries, with its territorial peak occurring during the Alana Dynasty from 1150 CE - 1230 CE. Following the Alana Dynasty and the collapse of the dynastic system in 1297, the nation experienced mass instability under feudal lords.

The nation was reunited in 1511, roughly 100 years before first contact with Salian traders looking to establish trade routes to Tiridinia and Vidinia. The following centuries would see increasing trade between Alutra and Lakau, the spreading of Ayekist faith in Lakau, and immigration of Alutrans (primarily Salians) into Lakauan port cities. Ayekist practices were outlawed in Lakau in 1817 by King Haku Alana, though this was met with growing resentment and a covert Salian campaign to realign Lakau with Salian interests primarily by supporting the Kūʻokoʻa revolutionaries. This eventually boiled over to a revolution in 1851 in which the royal family was deposed and a republic was established. This new government would go on to support Salia throughout all three world wars, though the democratic institutions were dismantled in 1922 under Koa Mahi'ai o ‘Āina Lā.

Koa Mahi'ai would go on to lead a genocidal campaign against political dissidents and residents of conquered territories, along with those non-Alutran and non-Mākou within Lakau's terriroty. This genocide, known as the Ma'ema'e, was one of the bloodiest in history, and continues to be a scar on the nation to this day. Following a defeat in World War III, conquered territories were relinquished and the government dismantled. An emergency government led by the Concert powers was put in place in 1957. In 1958, the second republic was established and approved by the Concert powers. The World Forum's founding coincided with this new government, with Lakau being brought in as a founding member. The following years were focused on rebuilding in Alutra and Tiridinia, with Riyata investing heavily into Lakau's financial sector and Alutran nations investing into various other Lakauan sectors, such as energy and transportation. Occupation ended in 1972.

In the modern day, Lakau is a fully globalized nation with a high standard of living. Residents enjoy access to public healthcare, tuition free education, and robust social programs. The nation's economy and population continue to grow, though growth has slowed in recent years. Most economic growth in Lakau is in the energy and research/education sectors. The growth of green energy solutions, especially solar, has been a boon to Lakau's economy due to natural resources and manufacturing and technology capabilities. Lakau faces issues with corruption, both corporate and political, especially in its historically dominant party, the Free Trade Party. For the first time, in 2022, this party was not included in the governing coalition, with a coalition forming between the Labor Party, Ecological Party, and New Urbanist Party. The nation has only recently begun to attempt to reckon with the social consequences of the Ma'ema'e, with this new coalition considering the issue of special concern. Lakau continues to be a regional power and a prominent nation on the world stage, being the location of multiple major global corporations and institutions such as Kalena Solar, Hanohano Inc, and the University of Lakau.

Education
The basis of the Lakauan public education system dates back to the Alana Dynasty, when King Kianalu Alana founded the Royal University of ‘Āina Lā in 1067. The following decades would see the opening of several more universities under the Royal University system (including, notably, the Royal Universities of Noelani, Pukalani, and Wai Nani). The Royal University system collapsed during the Feudal Period, with the universities operating under various fiefdoms or completely closing doors, but was reestablished during the New Alana Dynasty in 1513. It was renamed to the University of Lakau in 1851 upon the establishment of the First Republic.