Serujji

The Serujjan Theodarate, also commonly referred to as Serujji, or the Kingdom of Serujji, is a theocratic monarchic state to the south of East Artopa and to the north of Escana, taking the form of a large and sprawling archipelago. Serujji is comprised of Marachia, the Saigo Islands, the Kiloo Isles, Kalal, Fraksos, Ganae, the Yaitio Isles, the Crusoe Islands, the Sajo Isles, Jambalaya, Lapak, and Ikalo. The nation sits within the Dunic ocean, but sits within close proximity to the Escanan Rhoddic ocean. Serujji is one of the largest collections of islands on Mytas, and with it's thick tropical rainforests, it boasts an extraordinary variety in its natural life and habitats. The capital, and largest city, is known as Bastiijin, and sits across the Robinssahn Strait. Serujji has a total area of 420,886 square kilometres (162,504 square miles), and features one of the largest coastlines on Mytas, and being an exclusively island based nation has no land based borders.

King Besuji VI of The Bastii Dynasty is the current King of Serujji, and has been King since 1931 after the death of his father King Besuji V. Although the country features a bi-cameral legislature featuring the upper house, the House of the Lords, and the lower house the House of the People, these bodies have limited powers. The House of the Lords is made up of 80 seats which are automatically allocated to a specific political faction, and 20 elected seats, where as the House of the People is made up of 100 elected seats, however operates as a primarily advisory body as the King is able to create and veto legislation without their approval. This acts as one of the primary checks on the power of the monarch, however it is understood to be of a severely limited scope, due to the presence of unelected seats within the upper house.

Serujji features one of the most unique foreign policies on Mytas, Serujji is notable for only having advanced relations or trading with fellow Theodaric nations, something that sets it distinctly apart from the rest of the nations around the globe. This policy is believed to be a favourite of King Besuji and the rest of the prominent political elite within the country, who are very devout Theodarics. This has lead to some strained relationships, particularly as Serujji is not within a pre-dominantly Theodaric area, however Serujji has been able to supplement domestic production, with trade with the Theodaric nations of West Artopa. However, interestingly, Serujji did not join the Holy Accord or participate in the Great War generally, and instead remained somewhat isolated from the conflict.

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Climate
Serujji lies along the equator, and features a fairly stable yearly climate, with two distinct seasons - a wet and dry season - with no visible summer or winter. For most of the country, the dry season falls between May and October, with the wet season falling between November and April. With the exception of the Saigo Islands, almost the entirety of Serujji's climate is tropical, made up of a combination of tropical rainforest, tropical monsoon, and tropical savanna. However, there are some areas of a more oceanic, and subtropical climates, which typically have much less humid atmospheres, and more of a resemblance to a more traditional climate.

Biodiversity
Serujji's size, climate and archipelagic nature, make it one of the most biodiverse areas of the globe. Its fauna and flora are a mixture of Escanan and East Artopan species, as many of the islands were once previously linked with the mainlands. Serujji features a wide variety of large and unique species such as: the elephant, the tiger, the rhinoceros, the orangutan, the leopard and the nation's most famous animal the Komodo Dragon. However, due to hunting and the rise of agriculture, the numbers of many of these species has decreased, and conservation efforts may be required to prevent possible extinctions of these majestic creatures. Many of the islands, being significantly isolated from the central islands, have their own unique and diverse flora and fauna, with many people taking trips to these islands to view these.

Serujji also features an enormous variety of bird species, being in close proximity to Escana, Kanta, and East Artopa, many birds from each of these continents have settled or perform yearly migrations across or to Serujji. As well as these birds, the coastline of the nation are littered with huge numbers of ecosystems, including thousands of species of coral reef fish, and vast and beautiful coral reefs. These coastlines also feature a large number of other ecosystems such as: beaches, dunes, estuaries, mangroves, tidal flats and small island ecosystems. These combine to make a beautifully unique and biodiverse set of eco systems.

The Monarch
Main Article: King Besuji VI

The King of Serujji is the Monarch, the Head of State, the Head of the Government, the Director of the Royal Intelligence Directorate, and the most powerful man in Serujji. The current King of Serujji, King Besuji VI inherited the throne from his father, King Besuji V, in 1938, and has been the King ever since. The King has the power to propose, pass and implement legislation at will, and does not rely on approval from the Royal Council. He also has the duty of approving or vetoing any legislation proposed by the Royal Council. The King is also the head of the courts and is in charge of appointing officials to the High Royal Court, as well as dismissing and altering the salaries of said Judges. The King is by far the most powerful man in Serujji, and possesses almost unlimited de-jure power. However, the King is limited in the usage of this power, the King relies on the support of Bishop Kasan, General Marshal Sarav, his wife Queen Adiratna, as well as the people of his nation. The King currently resides in the "Palace of Light" the largest palace in the country, situated in the capital, and owns a number of other homes and properties throughout Serujji.

The House of The Lords
Main Article: The House of The Lords

The House of The Lords is the upper house of the bicameral Royal Council and is a partially elected body. Those within the house are known as "Lords of the Chamber" and serve 10 years terms, with elections occurring every 5 years for the elected positions, and the unelected positions being re-allocated by the relevant bodies every 5 years with a 5 year disparity. The chamber is traditionally made up of 100 Lords, however this is not legally binding and the Monarch is free to increase this at any point. Of these 80 are typically unelected and 20 are usually elected, with the country being split into 20 roughly even constituencies. Out of the 80 unelected seats: 20 are reserved for the Clergy, 20 are reserved for the Serujjan Armed Forces, 20 are reserved for the Labour Unions, and 20 are reserved for the Aristocracy, with the remaining 20 being the elected Lords. This chamber is designed to act as a check against the House of the People and to some extent the Monarch, by ensuring that all of the major groups are politically represented, thus attempting to prevent any political violence. This body acts as a check against legislation pushed through by the lower house, as well as being a major advisory body for the Monarch, and typically helps to formulate financial plans under the direction of the Monarch. In order to be eligible to become a Lord, one must have been a citizen of Serujji since birth, must be aged 40 years old or over, and must have no criminal convictions.

The House of The People
Main Article: The House of The People

The House of The People is the lower house of the bicameral Royal Council and is an entirely elected body. Those within the house are known as "People's Representatives" and serve 4 year terms, with half being elected every 2 years. The chamber is typically made up of 100 representatives elected via a first past the post "winner takes all" election between independent representatives for evenly sized constituencies. Political parties are not permitted within the lower house, however in practice those of similar beliefs and ideologies typically vote in informal blocks however this is typically overlooked and is difficult to prevent. This chamber is able to create legislation to be considered by both the upper house and the Monarch, however this is fairly rare with on average 20 pieces of legislation successfully being passed each year, with most of these being minor or informal changes. However, their power is typically within their local communities, where they typically run local areas, and wherein they wield significant influence, and seek to advance both their region, and their own personal power and wealth. As with the upper house, representatives must have been a citizen of Serujji since birth, however the minimum age is only 35, and criminal convictions are permitted, although no members of the current chamber have been convicted of a criminal offense.

King Besuji VI (T)
Main Article: King Besuji VI

King Besuji VI is the current ruler of Serujji, having inherited the title from his father King Besuji V in 1938, and is a fairly popular king, noted for his devoutness and his mistrust of foreigners and foreign cooperation, it was his choice to ensure that Serujji was not dragged into the Great War, despite the natural alliance that presented itself with the Holy Accord. Besuji is by far the most powerful man in the land, in the de-jure sense, possessing total control over the country's finances, legislation and all three of the branches of government: legislative, executive and judiciary, and possessing substantial individual wealth. He is popular among the middle classes, as well as the more elderly population, especially within the central islands. Although Prince Bakasii is his son, they often frequently conflict, especially over matters of finance and the economy, whereas Beujji and Marshal General Sarav conflict most over foreign policy, although through their shared close friendship with Bishop Kasan, nicknamed the Triumvirate, prevents any conflict between the two from escalating.

Queen Adiratna
Main Article: Queen Adiratna

Queen Adiratna is the current wife of King Besuji VII, current ruler of Serujji, and is the mother of Prince Bakasii, heir to the throne, and is by far the most popular, well loved, and respected individual within the nation of Serujji, possessing enormous political capital, despite her total lack of legal power. Queen Adiratna has a somewhat difficult relationship with her husband King Besuji VII, and often privately clashes with his decisions, however in all aspects remains a loyal and dutiful wife, and continues to provide a united front for the nation. She is a particularly devout Theodaric, and a very close friend of Bishop Kasan of Bastiijin, a childhood mentor of hers. As a young, beautiful, and faithful woman she provides the model for the idealistic Serujjan woman, however her popularity makes her a threat to any political opponents, and any attempt to seize power relies almost entirely on her cooperation. Her beauty is considered beyond compare, and by most Serujjans she is considered the most beautiful woman on Mytas.

Prince Bakasii
Main Article: Prince Bakasii

Prince Bakasii is the current heir to the throne of Serujji, son of King Besuji VII and Queen Adiratna, and is a figurehead for the internationalist, free market capitalist ideal within Serujji, frequently bringing him to clash with those around him. However, despite this unpopular viewpoint, he is seen fairly fondly by the nation’s upper class and younger population, however lacks any support amongst the masses. He often comes to blows with his mother, over his lack of apparent faith in Theodarity, and has on numerous times been sighted asleep during services, something that has made him deeply unpopular with the older generations. The Prince has also had many public disagreements with Marshal General Sarav, a staunch supporter of the working classes, and is considered by some to be the “impossible King”, with many predicting his assassination.

Marshal General Sarav (T)
Main Article: Marshal General Sarav

Marshal General Sarav is the Marshal General of the Serujjan Armed Forces in its entirety, and currently commands the entirety of the nation’s forces, as well as being the personal commander of the elite Republican Guard. He is a friend of Queen Adiratna, and is seen as an ally to the royal family. Marshal General Sarav is a large supporter of the labour movements and unions throughout Serujji, as well as having the backing of the Armed Forces, making him arguably the most powerful man in the entire nation, behind perhaps only King Besuji VII himself, someone that he often conflicts with, although usually solely over foreign policy. Marshal General Sarav, is a devout believer of Theodarity, and his piety is second only to Queen Adiratna, however many are unsure as to the genuineness of this faith. Sarav however certainly is the most dangerous man in the nation, stories of black bags and trucks are infamous, however he has never faced any charges, and evidence for these claims are dubious at best, however as a member of the “Triumvirate” it’s difficult to assess the validity of these accusations, however regardless as to how truthful these accusations are, he is certainly a man who is feared as much as he is venerated.

Bishop Kasan of Bastiijin (T)
Main Article: Bishop Kasan of Bastiijin

Bishop Kasan of Bastiijin, is currently the most powerful member of the Clergy, and one of the “Triumvirate” alongside the King and Marshal General, and is a very close personal friend of Queen Adiratna. As an older man, he lacks the ambition of those around him, however he has immense political support as the head of faith within Serujji, and any move within Serujji requires his approval. Kasan is the key figure behind the idea of “Theodaric diplomacy” that is that the nation should only engage in diplomacy with fellow Theodaric nations, however he does believe that the current levels of diplomacy are too low, and supported the possibility of joining the Holy Accord, however was unwilling to risk the loss of his power to achieve the joining of said alliance. Bishop Kasan is believed to possess a vast fortune, and as a member of the "Triumvirate" he is likely one of the wealthiest men within the entire nation, and is known for his links to foreign nations, which many view as making him difficult to trust.

Military Intelligence Directorate "Sarav's Squads"
Main Article: Military Intelligence Directorate

The Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) is the primary intelligence agency for the Armed Forces of Serujji, existing to provide intelligence, reconnaissance and counter intelligence within primarily areas of military jurisdiction, however the Directorate can and will operate within civilian environments, and has the legal authority to do so, if required, however it generally does not operate in such environments. The agency was founded in 1906 by then King Besuji V at the request of the Ministry of Defence, however originally had no jurisdiction within civilian environments. The Military Intelligence Directorate is directly commanded by Marshal General Sarav, and as such has been nicknamed amongst the populous "Sarav's Squads", as many believe that Marshal General Sarav personally directs the intelligence agency. There have been multiple allegations made against Sarav regarding his command of this agency, with some alleging that during peace time the agency is used as a tool for Sarav's personal vendettas, and as such the agency is the most feared agency within the nation, and stories of disappearance in the night do little to dispel these rumours.

National Intelligence Directorate
Main Article: National Intelligence Directorate

The National Intelligence Directorate (NID) is the primary civilian intelligence agency within Serujji, and exists to provide intelligence, surveillance, counter intelligence and to protect the general stability and wellbeing of Serujji. The agency often clashes with the Military Intelligence Directorate, often over jurisdiction and the perceived recklessness of the MID, however both have and continue to cooperate on numerous occasions. The National Intelligence Directorate operates both domestically and internationally, serving to advance the goals of the nation within the international sphere. The current Director of the Agency is Lord Arif, brother of Queen Adiratna, ally and supporter of King Besuji. Although the agency is not directly responsible for the protection of the King, Royal family, and other important Government positions, they do cooperate heavily with the much smaller Royal Intelligence Directorate in order to ensure that the most important people within Serujji are protected. This agency is the most prominent within the borders of Serujji, however is generally fairly uncontroversial, and generally relies on passive intelligence collection and deniable operations, as opposed to the more active MID.

Royal Intelligence Directorate
Main Article: Royal Intelligence Directorate

The Royal Intelligence Directorate (RID) is the smallest of the three intelligence agencies within Serujji, and exists to provide protection for the Royal family, the King, and other important major figures within Serujji, and as such cooperates heavily with the National Intelligence Directorate. This intelligence agency is considered to be a quasi-Royal Household Guard agency, and provides intelligence for the unit to ensure the safety of these figures. However, that is not the sole role of the RID, the RID also serves as a personal intelligence agency for the King himself, and is often considered to be the most clandestine of the three agencies, relying on its significantly lower profile, to complete high risk clandestine operations at the personal direction of the King. The RID is considered to be the significantly less famous of the three agencies, as although most know of its role in the protection of the Royal family, most are not aware of its other responsibilities. This is in part helped by the influence that the King wields over the national media, which he uses to censor any compromising information about the agency and its activities.

Press Freedom
Main Article: List of News & Media Organisations in Serujji

Military
Main Article: The Serujjan Armed Forces

The Serujjan Armed Forces are the primary military forces of Serujji.

Resources
Serujji features a large variety of natural resources including:

5 Copper Deposits

9 Aluminium Deposits

2 Iron Deposits

44,588km of Farmland (710 Pixels)

172,072km of Rubber Plantations (2,706 Pixels)

42,766.8km of Cash Crop Farmland (676 Pixels)

462,846km of Available Fishing Space (7,370 Pixels)(2 Fishing Zones)

Bogovin Theodarity in Serujji
Main Article: Bogovin Theodarity in Serujji

Bogovin Theodarity is the dominant and most popular and the state religion of Serujji, with 85% of the population identifying with the faith. Bovovin Theodarity is believed to have arrived in the 1400s via missionaries from South Surov, although popular legend states that King Bastii, the first King of Serujji, was enlightened by a visit from Bogovin in the form of a weasel, which lead to his immediate conversion and the transition of Serujji to Theodarity. The day of this conversion is known as the Day of Revelation and lies on the Third of October. This day is marked by a month long fast until November Third, upon the reaching of which a large nationwide feast begins. Bogovin Theodarity dominates positions of power, and the clergy are particularly powerful with Bishop Kasan of Bastiijin being the head of the Clergy, being the most important Bishop in the nation. The Royal Family also have immense influence over the populace via the faith, with large amounts of their support stemming from their religious devotion, especially Queen Adiratna who is considered to be especially devout. Due to its isolation, Serujji's Bogovin Theodarity is slightly different in its practices and customs to the other nations, and maintains distinct and important religious traditions not shared with the rest of the faith.

Peteran Theodarity in Serujji
Main Article: Peteran Theodarity in Serujji

Although making up only around 13% of the population of Serujji, Peteran Theodarics have had a profound impact on life in Serujji, and the creation of a more tolerant society. Peteran Theodarity arrived to Serujji, around the year 1650, arriving from the nearby Kawaye, a colony of Sylvia, after fears of religious discrimination within the country. Although initially met with low levels of prejudice, as many feared that these were Sylvian spies due to the fear at the time that Sylvia would attempt to colonise the nation of Serujji for it's natural resources, however within a generation they had successfully integrated into society. Since then, Peteran Theodarity has only grown in popularity and currently sits at around 13% of the population, and whilst it certainly is not as popular as Bogovin Theodarity both remain in a position of reasonable harmony. Religious discrimination against Peteran Theodarics is rare, as the nation focuses heavily on Theodaric unity, however Peteran Theodarics occupy very few positions of power within the nation, with only around 5% of the The House of The People openly identifying as Peteran. However, violence between the groups is exceptionally rare, and is usually met with severe condemnation from both sides.