Choose your borders.

[clawgrip]

Externally linked images get cut off horizontally after a certain width. Attachments get the scroll bar vertically, but perhaps not horizontally? I don't know.

[Aurora Rossa]

Oh wait, the blue is the ocean and the white the land? Goddamn am I ever dense. Somehow that failed to dawn on me all this time, leading me to assume that I had carved out an island for my country when in fact I had drawn a line through an inland sea. If only I had figured that out sooner, I would have picked differently (although not many good places pop out to me). At least now the map makes a lot more sense to me.

[treskro]

Thebekoxa added.

[cunningham]

thank you treskro! :]
do you have any more information about Thebekoxa?

[cunningham]

Oh wait, the blue is the ocean and the white the land? Goddamn am I ever dense. Somehow that failed to dawn on me all this time, leading me to assume that I had carved out an island for my country when in fact I had drawn a line through an inland sea. If only I had figured that out sooner, I would have picked differently (although not many good places pop out to me). At least now the map makes a lot more sense to me.

Jabechasqvi ,would you like to choose new borders?

[patiku]

Oh wait, the blue is the ocean and the white the land? Goddamn am I ever dense. Somehow that failed to dawn on me all this time, leading me to assume that I had carved out an island for my country when in fact I had drawn a line through an inland sea. If only I had figured that out sooner, I would have picked differently (although not many good places pop out to me). At least now the map makes a lot more sense to me.

Thanks for the explanation, Captain Obvious.

[Aurora Rossa]

Jabechasqvi ,would you like to choose new borders?

Sure.

[cunningham]

Jabechasqvi ,would you like to choose new borders?

Sure.

okay, just take the new map, erase Virélatteristi and draw the new borders.

[Aurora Rossa]

The nation of Virélatteristi originated some five hundred years ago from the confederation of littoral citystates for the purposes of trade and tranquility. These principles have defined the country ever since and fueled its thriving economy and progressive social attitudes. Its diverse manufactured products, including sophisticated machinery and fine glasswork, have customers throughout the sea and it has led the way in the development of abstract goods like academia and financial services. Recent political reforms have largely abolished distinctions of nobility and greatly extended suffrage.

The maritime economy and tolerance characteristic of Virélatteristi have lent it considerable cultural influence and a cosmopolitan population. Its great cities have drawn free thinkers and enterprising immigrants from other less open societies. Literature and philosophy from the universities of Virélatteristi have joined precision clockwork and expensive glassware as critical exports. The national language Sumúril both fascinates and frustrates learners with its rich polysynthetic grammar and unconventional pragmatics. It has become a favorite challenge among academics in other countries and a mark of sophistication for those who master it.

Throughout its history, Virélatteristi has generally avoided conventional imperialism in favor of soft power. Though it has little territory under its direct control, Virélatteristi wields disproportionate influence through its institutions of banking and education. Its universities have educated numerous foreign leaders and its banks provide critical financial support for businesses and governments throughout the sea. Nonetheless it maintains an impressive navy and fights an ongoing struggle against pirates intent on plundering its valuable trading goods.

[Nortaneous]

JPGISTAN will never die.

[cunningham]

I changed Virélatteristi to its original color because yellow is used to indicate members of the Sjelt Pact Organisation (SPO).

And JPGistanis...bred...and migrated to a New World ,JPGistan 2.0...

[ZMoring]

I have drawn some borders, but when I try to put up the file, it tells me that the board attachment image quota has been reached.

I am forumly incompetent. What do I do?

[Matrix]

I think that between this and the Kool Map Game, we've uploaded entirely too many images to the ZBB. We should start exclusively using external image hosting sites. Normally I'd recommend Photobucket, but this map is too large; that site will make it smaller. So, I'll recommend Imgur instead, since I used that for my map in this thread.

[patiku]

I told Zompist that letting people upload files to the forum would be trouble.

[Rui]

Well I couldn't add an attachment (same quota issues) so sorry for the huge image on this page too...(also I'm terrible at conworlding other than having an interest in maps, so sorry for the awful country description)

The Kingdom of Gaznia has one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, with an unbroken line of rulers dating back at least 2,500 years. Due to their location near the Adraud River Delta, and the numerous natural resources and wealth in the region, they have remained an important presence in the international community. It is one of the few remaining true monarchies in the world.

The people of the Kingdom of Gaznia are well known for being overweight, and a little abrasive socially. They also are prone to eating foods than most people in the world would not consider to be edible, such as various insects and parts of animals such as bone marrow, blood, eyes, and tongue.

[ZMoring]

GIANT IMAGE TIME.



I added, in turquoise, next to the GDWU, the Minovin nations. 11 small, independent states united in a mutual-defense/EU-style political alliance, the Minovin are fiercely independent and desperately trying to not be integrated into the GDWU, who regard the Minovin as heathens.

The Minovin was created by the Oomos-Kzirsi-Bacus Treaty, between the nations of Aradoc, Okothet, and Ilenganna. Soon after, Garri was added, and then the rest of the nations followed suit.

***

The Republic of Aradoc is a parliamentary republic, noteworthy for its bloody history of civil war. In order to keep order, it is known for being as close as you can get to a police state without actually being one. Free speech is protected, but the state religion is Jeledism, which reveres Jeled, a god of law and justice, and a small pantheon of lesser deities; the GDWU's religion is strictly forbidden. Integration into the Minovin has seen a rise in personal freedoms within Aradoc.

The Kingdom of Okothet is infamously corrupt, with officials known for abusing their power. Integration into the Minovin, however, has lessened the corruption significantly, with international observers trying desperately to ensure that the nation is run fairly.

The Queenship of Ilenganna is noteworthy for being the only country to field an entirely female army. Traditionally, Ilenganna women filled the role of archer, while men filled the role of swordsman. Firearms are seen as women's weapons, and so only women are allowed to use them. Men rely on swords, which are, as you would expect, not very effective on a modern battlefield. Ilenganna men are typically subservient to women, and the country is a monarchy handed down from mother to daughter, and so Ilenganna men are stereotyped as being either gay, effeminate, or whipped.

The Free Mercantile State of Garri is the modern descendant of a wealthy city-state which expanded its borders to include the surrounding area. Garri is noteworthy for having almost no laws regulating commerce - almost anything is legal to sell and buy, except for people, WMDs, and chemical weaponry. The nation is run by a Merchant's Council, and is the seat of the Bank of the Minovin.

Toreti is a lot like Monaco, almost entirely a single city. Traiditonally ruled by a Duke under the crown of Aradoc, when the Aradoc overthrew their monarchy, Toreti kept theirs. Toreti is criss-crossed by canals which allow shipping from the inland sea to the ocean, featuring one of the most complicated systems of locks in the world.

Rhazanna is also a parliamentary republic, but not as oppressive as Aradoc once was. Long ago, each chief of the traditionally-nomadic Rhazanna was accompanied by a Bard, who provided him council in the form of the traditional song-epics of their people. When a single Khan rose up and united the chiefs, he was attended by a Chorus of Bards, who functioned much the same. This cultural dependence on song is embodied today in the official name of the Parliament - the Chorus - and the titles of the MPs, which reflect the ancient ranks of Bard.

The Republic of Pelletesh is largely rural farmland and empty plains, boasting no especially large cities of note. It was admitted to the Minovin as an act of charity, and to link Rhazanna and Marui. Pelletesh is infamously poor and underdeveloped.

The Kingdom of Marui is mostly windstrewn, short-grassed plains, home to a stocky, hardy group of people. Maruans are notorious for short tempers, but the country produces more boats, planes, cars, and busses than any other nation in the Minovin. The Maruan monarch is also CEO of the nationalized Marui Production Group, one of the largest producers of automobiles in the southern hemisphere.

The Holy State of Vanda is the seat of the Jaldenianism, of which Jeledism is a derivative of. Most of the Minovin are Jaldenian, and the holy city of Jaldenianism is also the capital city of Vanda. Jaldenianism reveres Jalden, a sun god, as the Illuminator of Ways and Guardian of the Meek. Jalden sends divine retribution to those who commit evils, and offers bountiful rewards to those who do good. The Cathedral of the Sun in Vanda is famous for its gold-plated dome, which should have been well beyond the capabilities of the ancient Vandans to construct. Obviously, it is credited to Jalden Himself, and a sight of pilgrimage.

The Republican Confederation of Kælor is a communist, super-conservative state, with little outside contact beyond its participation in the Minovin. Kælor is extremely isolationist, and only hosts the embassies of other Minovin nations because it is required to do so as a part of being a member. Kælor has threatened to withdraw from the Minovin before, but fears being converted by the GDWU, and remains a Minovin nation out of self-preservation.

The Protectorate of Alondu is a protectorate of Ilenganna, after it was forcibly seized eighty years ago. It is Ilenganna's only direct access to the ocean, and, while technically an "independent" state that merely uses Ilenganna's military, Alondu has very little power of its own.

***

Member states of the Minovin are required to pay dues to the Bank of the Minovin (except for Garri, which hosts the Bank and regulates the flow of commerce), follow the laws as decided upon by the governing Supervisory Board (except that Aradoc and Vanda are allowed their state-mandated religions, Marui isn't subject to the same laws when it comes to manufacturing, and Toreti is allowed to regulate its own tax rates on shipping through the country), and contribute a portion of their military to the United Minovin Defense League (except for Alondu, which has no military of its own). In exchange, they are guaranteed open borders with the other Minovin nations (except for Kælor, which retains closed borders), guaranteed protected free trade with other member states (except for Kælor, which retains the right to halt commerce they deem a threat to their national identity), and can call upon the United Minovin Defense League when they are threatened.

Hooray, byzantine legal systems!

[Matrix]

Izulat was once a larger, prosperous, technologically-oriented nation and regional power. This was destroyed when a crazed computer scientist (reportedly named Geromy) smuggled storage media out of the JPGistan/Endthreadistan Quarantine Zone and set loose the virulently shitty, haphazardly malicious code onto the internet via Izulattish servers. The viruses spread quickly, exhibiting the unique feature of JPGistani code in that it affected the physical space around any host electronics, and so more than two thirds of the nation was consumed by shitty artifacts and millions of people died before the World Quarantine Council (formed of the Valm Empire, the Freethinker's Republic, Asvaki, Erminjeo, Virélatteristi, the GDWU, [West] Izulat, and Öömi, the last of which it is headquartered in) could react and enact quarantine protocols on the infected areas. Vast portions of the internet across the world were temporarily shut down during the crisis until the WQC deemed it safe to return them to service. As per WQC protocols, the new Izulattish borders gave the newly-dubbed JPGistan 2.0 a very wide berth ranging from about 50 to 100 kilometres. Because of the difficulties of transport around JPGistan 2.0, and of communication since internet traffic became highly restricted and wi-fi was outlawed, the remaining areas of Izulat seperated into two nations, North Izulat and West Izulat. North Izulat is primarily rural steppes, once part of the Izulattish breadbasket, and is now barely holding together as a nation at all with its infrastructure so badly damaged, threatening to completely dissolve at any moment. West Izulat has fared much better, as it hosts a couple of major Izulattish cities. Its economy has restabilized since the JPG Crisis, continuing the proud Izulattish tradition of electronics exports, however at a greatly reduced weight than before.

[cunningham]

This is seriously awesome. Thank you!
I hope this continues.

[ZMoring]

Added Zinzei in orange, in those lonely few islands between Asvaki and Erminjeo, and Khyvas, between Erminjeo and Ongobo, in ungodly-I'm-running-out-of-colors-to-think-of purple.



***

The world is kind of a terrible place. There's war, JPGistani computer-and-reality-altering virus-bomb attacks, Ongobo civil wars, and violence and strife everywhere. Except for the little island nation of Zinzei. Completely neutral and mounting no military, Zinzei has survived as an independent state for this long by simply not having anything worth conquering them for. Zinzei maintains completely open ports, offering refuge to anyone and everyone who can pay. The coasts, though, are off-limits; you have to come in through the ports, and you have to play nice with everyone else.

Zinzei is composed of two small islands, united under a single government: Zinya (lit. "Volcano Island"), the larger, triskelion-shaped one, and Zeilo (lit. "Little sister"), the smaller of the two.

Zinya is a volcanic island, with a mighty composite volcano called Ya rising up in the center of the island. Zinya's coasts are covered in beaches of black, volcanic sand, dotted with small hotels, casinos, and brothels which service foreigners. The national capital, Midjanu, is located at the base of Ya, climbing down the volcano to the ocean, where a massive network of docks extends out into the ocean.

Zeilo is a barren, rocky island, with a few patches of green here and there, populated mainly in the city of Junma, along the coast. The inland is home to a few installations studying the unique birds and fish native to the island, but is mostly just empty rocks and bird nests.

Zinzei is a democratic republic, with an elected Prime Minister directing the country. Elections are held every five years, with no limit on terms; however, the Congress can impeach the President if they feel that he's overstepped his boundaries. The last four elections have gone to PM Kalak Yas Lapmuyu, who is famous for his heavy drinking, womanizing, and political genius.

The Congress is composed of 145 seats, with a mixed-member proportional election system. The current divisions are: the Traditionalist Party, with Lapmuyu in their numbers, holds 82 seats; the Socialist party holds 42 seats, the Democratic-Conservative party holds 19 seats, and the Green Party holds 2.

***

The United Tribes of the Khyvas and the Ukhyva, usually just called the UTKU if you're being formal or Khyvas if you're lazy, is, technically, a union of the independent tribes of the Khyvas and the Ukhyva people, on the island of Simaltsi. In reality, though, it tends to be the Khyvas getting what they want, while the Ukhyva are exploited.

The Great Khan of the Khyvas is a hereditary position handed down from father to son, and holds power over the two tribes. He is an absolute leader, with supreme control of the armies of both tribes, the coffers of both tribes, and head of the state religion, which reveres the Great Khan's line as both divine and devilish.

The state religion, Veduiism, holds that the universe has two divine entities which hold it in balance - the female deity of Vedui Athan, who guides the universe toward a state of order, and the male deity of Vedui Kaden, who guides the universe toward a state of chaos. Neither is inherently evil, and both must be held in moderation - too much of Athan, and the universe becomes static, with all creativity and free thinking dying away; too much of Kaden, and the universe becomes anarchistic, abandoning all logic and reason.

Veduiism also reviles the Yatadt, servants of the evil god Yata who seeks to destroy the universe that Athan and Kaden struggle so hard to guide. Yatadt are demons, devils, and deceivers, and turn men to evil.

The origin of the Great Khan's line, according to Veduiism, is as follows: Once, after one of their mighty conflicts, Vedui Athan and Vedui Kaden made love as reconciliation, and from this union came the female force of Gwalan, the mother of humanity. Gwalan, in turn, proceeded to give birth to the first humans, who then went out to the world and created society. Yata, infuriated by this new creation, took the form of a crow and flew to Gwalan's home, where he landed outside her window and feigned an injured wing. Gwalan, infinitely kind, opened the window, and immediately, Yata changed back to his natural form and raped Gwalan. Kaden and Athan heard their daughter's yelling, and came to save her, driving Yata away. Gwalan, however, soon found herself pregnant, and gave birth to the first Great Khan, Basar Khan. Basar Khan was raised by her and her parents, and then went out to unite the tribes of Khyvas and Ukhyva under his rule.

The Great Khan is therefore, in equal parts, divine and devilish. His line is blessed by Athan and Kaden, and he wields their mighty power as a tool for good; however, his blood is cursed by Yata, which is sometimes expressed in moments of great anger or high emotion, and comes through as sadism and evil acts. (This also happens to give the Great Khans a convenient out if they act especially cruel; they just claim the demon blood is boiling up.)

Khyvas, as a nation, is not a military, economic, or political power, and mostly unexceptional, save for the spectacular stories of their state religion. It is also infamous for the cruel treatment of the minority Ukhyva tribe, who are used by the larger Khyvas as a form of slave labor. Many humanitarian efforts are under way to bring awareness of their plight to an international spotlight, but the great powers have more important things on their minds than the abuse of a small tribe of people on a backwards island with no real power.

[ZMoring]

I would feel rude posting twice in a row, since that doesn't give anyone else the chance to, but I also don't want to see this thread get lost in the depths of no-one's-responded, so I guess if no one adds anything soon, I'll just put up another new country?

[cunningham]

yes, please keep going.
I'm tempted to make a new country, but I want to see what other people's ideas are.
patiku copied my thread and it's getting more attention
you can put as many countries as you want. It's inspiring.

[Pogostick Man]

!anda Gưi is a chain of islands scattered about the central sea theoretically united around the capital, Seu Soqanda. !anda Gưi is more of a loose confederation than anything else and is tied together by conquest, overthrow, and common heritage. Consequently the local culture on each island can vary widely. Typically each island is left to tend to its own affairs but is ultimately answerable, even if only marginally so, to the capital, Seu Soqanda. The current government has recently celebrated its one hundred seventy-fifth anniversary.

Gzhuelkianism is a major influence in the islands, especially on the island of Ơs//anił; skirmishes between secessionists and the government are increasing in frequency, and Seu Soqanda fears it may lose the island within the decade. The Freethinker's Republic exports ideas to those areas closest to it, further impacting the local environs. In the northern regions the Valm Empire exerts its influence. Many feel the islands are close to disintegrating as a political entity and being taken over.

!anda middlemen often serve as guides, shippers, or middlemen in trade, though a small but significant number are mercenaries.

[EDIT: Used Photobucket for PNG.]

[cunningham]

Thank you, it looks really interesting, but next time please save it in PNG. (JPG makes it look all pixellated)
Don't worry, I'll redo it though.

[Pogostick Man]

I did save it in PNG. imgur seems to have changed it to a JPG though.

EDIT: Uploaded it to Photobucket as a PNG.

[Pogostick Man]

The kingdom of Stlørs has been in place for approximately five hundred years. Its borders and influence reached their maximum extent about a century ago; ever since they have been in decline, with the neighboring Kingdom of Gaznia a frequent belligerent. Stlørsian mercantile towns dot the coast, and the country is renowned for producing small arms, wine, and tourism in addition to its economic activities.