Hearthrune

Hearthrune, officially the Imperial Dominion of Hearthrune ( Caliantene: Domaine Impérialis d'Hearthrune) is a parliamentary republic in Korasha with a population of 15 million. It is bordered to the north by Khudar, to the northeast by The Spice Coast, and to the southeast by Ossam. The national capital is Algogille, and the most populous city and financial center is Luminaire.

Hearthrune became a colony within the Caliantene Empire in 1457, under the name Alluehearthe Frontière. During this time, Hearthrune served as a major trading port that the Caliantene Empire used to expand into Korasha. Hearthrune became a Caliantene dominion in 1865, 7 years after the signing of the Edict of Calise. The name Hearthrune was chosen upon dominion status. Today, approximately 23 percent of Hearthrune's 15 million population are of native descent. Caliantene immigrants compose 51 percent of the population. Despite this, Hearthrunean paganism remains prominent among the population and Caliantene customs have largely merged with native Hearthrunean customs.

Hearthrune ranks highly compared to other nations in quality of life and labor rights. The nation is most known for widespread and efficient public transit. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral legislative body known as the High Chapter. Executive authority is exercised by the President of the Chapter, who is elected by the High Chapter.

Hearthrune is divided into 18 provinces, listed from largest to smallest: Duvolle, Maelta, Charmeroute, Villergne, Bretonnais, Riverdie, Sandryne, Abovorne, Gallaire, Valleia, Fabylle, Condest-Est, Condes Ouest, Marin, Belrose, Laclerque, Calladon, and Calliodie. Provinces are further divided into departments.

Hearthrune is a dominion within the Caliantene Empire and is a member of the Union of Nations.

Etymology
While a variety of theories have been suggested for the etymological origins of Hearthrune, the most widely accepted theory is that the word comes from the Lumin word Herthe, meaning "fireplace" or "pyre", and runn, meaning "rising" or "surging". The name Hearthrune was likely chosen due to its resemblance to the name Alluehearthe Frontière, which was the name for the Caliantene colony that was the predecessor of Hearthrune. The name Hearthrune was adopted as an official name upon dominion status in 1865.

Similarly, Alluehearthe Frontière originated from the Lumin word Herthe and the Alue, a fictional mythical city detailed in various myths and legends. Frontière simply means frontier in Caliantene.

History
In 1455, the area which is modern-day Hearthrune was discovered by Caliantene explorers. In 1457, after several conflicts between the Caliantene, Augustine, and Gelenians broke out, the colony of Alluehearthe Frontière was founded on the Hearthrune coast by the Treaty of Mortier. The colony was intended to become a major trading hub, so the Caliantene Empire could bring its influence to Korasha. Alluehearthe Frontière was composed of 2 major port towns, Veilleane Feurenfall, and Flammen Coeur Prospenrité. The majority of activity in Alluehearthe Frontière was concentrated in these two prosperous port towns, but other smaller towns and settlements were still present further away from the coast. As a colony, Hearthrune fared somewhat well; worries of disease and starvation were minute as the colony was mostly sanitary and irrigated agriculture was successful.

In the late 1400s, Alluehearthe Frontière became a major economic hub in Korasha, fulfilling the original goal of bringing Caliantene influence to Korasha. During this time, Hearthrune became a major exporter of citrus fruits, palm oil, globes, maps, pens and ink, and entertainment (books, games, etc.). These industries remain a prominent part of Hearthrune's economy today.

As a result of Hearthrune's economic expansion, its cities also expanded. Between 1490 and 1510, Hearthrune's population increased anywhere between 60 and 70 percent.

In 1507, a series of wildfires and bushfires collectively referred to as the Emberfall ravaged Hearthrune. Historians estimate anywhere between 50 and 300 people died as a result of the fires.

Beginning in the early 1800s, major population cities in Hearthrune began a period of mass expansion resulting in urban sprawl. However, Hearthrunean cities was mostly mixed-use mid-range density and as a result expanded the same way.

In 1865, following calls to do so, Hearthrune gained dominion status within the Caliantene Empire on 16 Embersend. 3 days later, the Constitution of Hearthrune was signed.

In 1883, the First Soulene Crisis hit Hearthrune. Major protests break out across the nation, with protestors calling for an end to the police violence prevalent in the Korashan interior. Between 1883 and 1887, over 200 people died in protests due to police brutality in Hearthrune.

In 1885, a terrorist bombing caused the Luminaire-Algogille HST to derail while entering the Algogille East Station. The attack resulted in 200 deaths and over 450 injuries, making it the worst terrorist attack in Hearthrunean history. At the time, the Luminaire-Algogille HST was the passenger train with the largest capacity in the nation, with a capacity of 900. At the time, the train was near full capacity. The motive for the attack and its perpetrators were never discovered.

Between the 1890s and the very early 1900s, Hearthrune experienced a period of massive economic growth. This growth can be largely contributed both to becoming an exporter as well as Hearthrune's economic exploitation of the Korashan interior. In 1901, a left-wing coalition composed of the Democratic Socialist Party of Hearthrune, the Labour Party of Hearthrune, and The Communist Front won a majority in the High Chapter. The result was a period of mass monopoly busting, with the most notable incident being the dissolving of the Pisse Corporation, which was focused on the exploitation of the Korashan interior. This left-wing coalition has since remained in power.

Geography
Hearthrune, despite being a mostly hilly nation, lacks a mountain range. Western Hearthrune is covered by woodland and bushland. Hearthrune's cities are concentrated in its coastal region, resulting in many large cities bordering the Paravantene Sea. Plants in western Hearthrune are mostly desert wildflowers, shrubs and trees with waxy, fuzzy, or very small leaves, and bushes that do well with little water. Hearthrune is notable for having the world's largest pitcher plants.

Central Hearthrune is mostly composed of bushland, but also has cedar forests.

The coastal eastern Hearthrune is more densely populated with rocky coastlines and less hilly terrain. The Roro River runs through this region, thus the majority of Hearthrune's agriculture and farming occurs here.

Climate
Hearthrune has a tropical climate with year-round warm and humid conditions. Temperatures range from 25-25˚C in the winter to 25-27˚C in the autumn. Rainfall is heaviest from Veilsend to Embersend.

Hearthrune's rural west is less humid, and more hot and dry. This has resulted in wildfires and bushfires becoming common. These fires can easily spread and become dangerous. As a result, Hearthrune has the largest firefighting force in Korasha.

Economy
Hearthrune is an exporter economy with a GDP of 24 Billion GLM and an average wage of ¢49,294. Hearthrune's economic status can largely be attributed to how it is a coastal nation as well as its exploitation of the Korashan interior from the 1890s to the early 1900s. This has resulted in Hearthrune becoming one of the most prosperous nations in Korasa.

Service Sector
The largest employer in the service sector is the retail sector, employing almost 8 percent of Hearthruneans. The retail industry relies heavily on small local businesses as well as small chain stores in shopping malls. Other prominent service sectors include domestic telecommunications, tourism, and education and healthcare (which are primarily under the control of the government).

Agriculture
Hearthrune is a major exporter of citrus fruits, sugarcane, olives, palm oil, chickpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, hummus, and nuts. The majority of Hearthrunean agriculture occurs in the east, where the Roro River runs through Hearthrune. Because of Hearthrune's hot climate, agriculture makes up a significant amount of Hearthrune's water consumption. Hearthrune is the world’s number one exporter of sunflower seeds, responsible for nearly 30 percent of the world’s production with over 14 million tons of seeds produced a year.

Basil, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers are common crops grown in the hot and arid western Hearthrune.

Mining
The mineral resources of Hearthrune are few. Deposits of high-grade iron, bauxite, and uranium are mined, and high-quality sand is used for glass manufacturing. The mining sector is composed entirely of state-controlled mines.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing is important in Hearthrune.

Demographics
Hearthrune had an official estimated resident population of 15,471,395 on 1 Highsummer 1920 according to the 1920 Hearthrune census. This figure encompasses Hearthrune's 18 provinces.

51 percent of Hearthrune's population is descended from Caliantene immigrants, while 23 percent are descended from Hearthrune natives. Hearthrune's status as a prosperous Korashan nation has resulted in immigration from the Korashan interior. In 1920 the number of people with a foreign background was 15 percent. Large scale immigration to Hearthrune began during the Korashan Refugee Crisis.

Over 70 percent of Hearthrune's population live on the Roro River.

Hearthrune holds a census every 10 years.

Religion
The largest religion in Hearthrune is The Divine Sanctum, which 50.4 percent of Hearthrune's population follows according to the 1920 census. Hearthrunean Paganism is the collective name for over 200 different cataloged pagan religions prevalent across western Hearthrune. 10.4 percent of Hearthrune's population follow faiths categorized as pagan, according to the 1920 census.

3.5 percent of Hearthrune's population follow faiths classified as other. These faiths range from non-Hearthrunean paganism, mostly from the Korashan interior, to larger organized religions such as Kainism and Haoism.

While Hearthrunean paganism is not as prevalent as it once was, its influence can still be seen in Hearthrunean culture. The Lantern Festival, which occurs from Wintertide to Wintersend, draws its roots from Hearthrunean Paganism.

A common theme within Hearthrunean Paganism is the beginning of reality and how it will end.

Culture
While Caliantene culture has largely merged with Hearthrunean culture in Hearthrune, Hearthrunean culture remains mostly independent.

Games, specifically card games, play an important role in the culture of Hearthrune. Cardmakers, cartomancers, cardists, and professional card players are well-known and sometimes revered in Hearthrune. Cards take on both a role of games as well as a role of divination. Small hands are seen as an undesirable trait as it makes it harder to shuffle cards.

The Roro River is significant in Hearthrunean culture. It is a common practice to throw coins and offerings into the Roro River and then make a wish. Some Hearthrunean Pagans sail their dead down the Roro River; they believe it gives them a better chance of reaching the afterlife. During the Lightseering on 1 Embertide, many people will light small paper boats on fire and set them downstream on the Roro River.

Houseplants and succulents are very common in Hearthrune, specifically cacti and other resilient plants that survive in Hearthrune's hot climate. Crassula Tetragona, or Star Plants, are a common religious symbol in Hearthrunean Paganism. Hanging houseplants are very common in Hearthrunean homes and buildings; this is a result of an old myth that hanging houseplants were more likely to survive than other plants.

Flags are seen as important and are part of regional identities. Flagmaking and flag designing are both very respected jobs. Hearthrunean province flags usually use somewhat desaturated and dull colors while city flags commonly use the fleur-de-lys or 4-pointed star in their design. Flags are usually given names, e.g the flag of Luminare Caedia has 2 4-pointed stars and thus is named "Two Compasses".

Music
Music, specifically anthems, play an important role in Hearthrunean culture. Provinces and many cities and towns have their own anthems, although departments notably lack anthems because they are a more recent subdivision and departments aren't seen as culturally important. These anthems are seen as very important to regional identities.

Hearthrunean Folk Music is the collective designation for multiple different genres of folk which originated or are prominent in Hearthrune. Hearthrunean Folk Music mostly draws its roots from traditional Caliantene folk music.

Festivals
Festivals are a very important part of Hearthrune's culture. While the majority of Hearthrunean Festivals draw their roots from Hearthrunean Paganism, the 1920 census found that 73 percent of Hearthrune's population considered themselves to actively participate in festivals, while a further 9 percent said they participated in festivals to a lesser degree.

Hearthrunean festivals usually last anywhere from a week to a few months, however, there is usually a day where the celebrations are most widespread. While the majority of festivals can last anywhere from a week to a few months, most festivals have a day that is designated as a national holiday. The Hearthrunean Lantern Festival (different from the Haoist Lantern Festival), despite lasting from 6 Wintertide to 20 Wintersend, has a national holiday known as the Lantern Festival Day which occurs on 6 Highwinter. 6 Highwinter is usually when the celebrations are most prevalent.

Other important festivals include the Fyrebyrd Festival, which occurs from 2 Summertide to 9 Summertide, and the Bitterbloom Festival, which occurs from 24 Veilsend to 1 Summertide.

On 1 Embertide, a celebration known as the Lightseering occurs, in which people make boats made out of paper, cardboard, and other flammable materials. These boats are then placed on a body of water, usually a calm pond or lake, and then burned. The Lightseering first occurred on 1 Embertide 1875, when Caliantene and Hearthrunean naval forces routed the Augustinian Navy, the burning boats symbolized the defeated ships of Augustine. Many people will draw runes under the paper boats before they are lit on fire and released. The Lightseering is an annual event, and over time moved away from its original meaning. Today, the Lightseering is often celebrated by schoolchildren to mark the beginning of the Embertime Break, which occurs from 1 Embertide to 3 Highwinter.

Hearthruneans that follow The Divine Sanctum celebrate the Feast of the Gods on 15 Veilrule. The Winter Festival is celebrated alongside the Lantern Festival, and the Spring Festival, Summer Festival, Festival of Lights, and Autumn Festival are all celebrated, although in a more minor capacity.

Sports
The most popular sport in Hearthrune is batball, and is considered the Hearthrunean national sport. Batball originated in the late 1400s and early 1500s in colonial Hearthrune, but it wasn't until the mid-1800s that batball became a popular spectator sport. The top league is the Hearthrunean Batball League (HBL) which is composed of 20 teams from all 18 provinces.

Education
Hearthrunean education is mostly managed in the government, with primary and secondary education coming in the form of public schools (private schools are banned for primary and secondary education) and tertiary education coming in the form of both public and private schools. Educational standards are set by the government of Hearthrune. The Hearthrune education scale runs from 1 (very poor) to 10 (outstanding).

Educational policy is coordinated by the Hearthrune Ministry of Education. Compulsory education begins at the age at 5, and shifts into partial compulsory education from the ages of 16 to 18. Compulsory education ends at the age of 18.

The majority of schools in Hearthrune are public, with the only private schools being tertiary education institutions.

In primary and secondary education, pupils are assessed annually by teachers who determine if they are able to move on to the next grade. Forcing a pupil to retake the year is very uncommon, remedial teaching and other forms of guidance remain more common.

Tertiary education is composed mostly of public schools, however Hearthrunean private schools exist. Notably, Hearthrune is known for having some of the best schools focused on design and applied arts.

Railways
Rail transport in Hearthrune uses a dense railway network concentrated on the Roro River that connects nearly all major towns and cities. The majority of lines have been electrified. The busiest of these lines is the Roro Major Line, which runs from the northernmost Hearthrunean city on the Roro River, Acheron, to the southernmost city on the river, Capenna. 1 light rail line, Lumin Minor runs partially on the Luminaire tram network. The Luminaire-Caldaia Line connects Luminaire with the largest city in western Hearthrune, Caldaia.

Hearthrune operates 6 rapid transit systems, listed from largest to smallest: Luminaire Rapid Transit (LRT), Gallentae Rapid Transit (GRT), Algogille Rapid Transit (ART), Courbaet Metro, Acheron Metro, and Capenna Metro. Luminaire Rapid Transit serves the Luminaire Caedia Metroplex.

The majority of trams in Hearthrune are low-floor, articulated trams. In the largest Hearthrunean cities, some trams are used as cargo transport and mobile recycling depots. The Luminaire Caedia Metroplex operates tram-trains, as well as some double-decker trams.

The Hearthrunean rail network primarily supports passenger transport. Rail travel comprises the majority of the distance traveled on Hearthrunean public transport. The national rail infrastructure is managed and maintained by the government agency Flare Rail.

Roads
The busiest Hearthrunean motorway is the A11 between Luminaire and Algogille, which passes through the Luminaire Caedia Metroplex, Argenti, and various other smaller population centers. The Duvolle Province, in eastern Hearthrune, has the busiest motorways on average, with major motorways A1, A6, A7, A11, A12, and A21 passing through it.

The majority of streets in Hearthrunean population centers have designated bicycle paths. Hearthrunean law mandates that bicycle paths be built with physical barriers; bollards, medians, raised curbs, etc. The majority of Hearthrunean streets have been built to be level with the sidewalk.

Buses
The largest Hearthrunean cities all operate transit bus services, namely Luminaire and Gallentae. Long-distance buses are limited to a few missing railway connections, mostly cities in western Hearthrune with a population less than 200,000.

Airports
Hearthrune has 6 international airports, listed from largest to smallest: Argenti International Airport (ARGK), Acheron International Airport (AHNK), Arcadis International Airport (ARCK), Cardis International Airport (CRDK), Venturis International Airport (VNTK), and Luminaire Caedia International Airport (LUCK).

Hearthrune has 3 domestic airports, Chord Regional Airport. Pyre Regional Airport, and La Coren Regional Airport. Planes that operate with Hearthrune's domestic airports are majority cargo; as while passenger air travel was more prominent in Hearthrune in the 1890s, they were phased out in the early 1900s in favor of high-speed rail travel.

Waterways
Hearthrune has a dense network of inland waterways centered around the land near the Roro River. Many major population centers, notably Luminaire and Algogille, were built around canals. Hearthrune's one river, the Roro River, has allowed for the growing of sugarcane. The Roro River has an abundance of riverboats. Various passenger riverboats connect major population centers like Luminaire and Algogille, which were built along the Roro River. Commercial riverboats include cargoboats which provide slow but cheap transport for cargo between cities along the Roro River. Riverboat casinos are floating casinos which sometimes move between cities.Riverboats that operate locally are referred to as river trams/river taxis. Some waterboats operate as sightseeing boats. Sightseeing boats are most prominent in Algogille and Argenti.

Cities along the Roro River usually have a large amount of canals; these canals are known to carry canalboats, both passenger and commercial.

The Hearthrune River Guard controls over 50 patrol boats which patrol the Roro River, while the police forces of various cities along the Roro River control their own patrol boats.

Government
The government of Hearthrune, or the Hearthrunean Government is the national government of Hearthrune. The capital of Algogille is where the majority of the government is based. The Hearthrunean government, sometimes simply referred to as Algogille, is composed of 3 branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary, who's powers are vested in a unicameral legislature, a head of state elected by the legislature, and a Supreme Court respectively.

Hearthrune is a unicameral parliamentary republic in which legislative authority is vested in an elected legislative body called the High Chapter, sometimes simply referred to as the Chapter. The Chapter consists of 36 seats representing 18 provinces; two seats are elected per province. These seats are elected at least every 5 years with a single transferable vote system (STV).

The President of the High Chapter is the de-facto head of state of Hearthrune. The President of the High Chapter is elected every 5 years by the High Chapter after the High Chapter has been sworn in.

The Supreme Court of Hearthrune is the highest court in the judiciary system of Hearthrune. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice of Hearthrune and 10 associate justices. Justices have a lifetime tenure and are appointed by the in-office High Chapter.

Politics
Hearthrune has a multi-party system, with 12 political parties holding seats in the High Chapter and 57 registered parties not holding seats, resulting in 69 registered political parties.

The party that holds the most seats in the High Chapter is technically the opposition, the Liberal Party. However, the United Progressive Coalition, which is composed of the Democratic Socialist Party, Labour Party, The Communist Front, and the Green Party, controls a majority in the High Chapter. Other parties holding seats are the Hearthrunean People's Party, the Nationalists, the Pirate Party, the Hearthrune Greens (independent from the Green Party of Hearthrune), the Conservative Party, the Citizen's Movement of Hearthrune, and the Party Party.

Caliantene Military Hearthrune Detachment
The Caliantene Military Hearthrune Detachment is a detachment of the Caliantene military operating in Hearthrune. It is composed of a ground force, an air force, and a maritime force.

National Guard
The National Guard of Hearthrune is the national gendarmerie and internal military force of Hearthrune, essentially making it the military of Hearthrune de facto. The National Guard operates as an independent entity and is not managed by the Caliantene Empire. It is a part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The National Guard serves public security and combats organized crime and civil unrest, however during wartime it can operate as a regular military force.

The Hearthrune National Guard largely resembles a small military force. It has a small air force organized under the Air Guard and two maritime forces, a Sea Guard (which acts as a coast guard) and a River Guard (a riverine force). Military ground forces are mostly light infantry, motorized and mechanized infantry, and light vehicles. The National Guard also operates humanitarian aid and disaster response.

Air Guard
The Air Guard is the air force of the National Guard. It operates a small section of combat vehicles, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing, and an assortment of utility vehicles.

Sea Guard
The Sea Guard is the coast guard of Hearthrune. It operates 5 cutters in 2 detachments, as well as many other smaller patrol craft and vessels.

River Guard
The River Guard is a riverine force which patrols solely the Roro River. It controls over 50 patrol boats.

Mobile Task Forces
As a Caliantene territory, Hearthrune is directly protected by the Caliantene military, with designated detachments of ground, air, and sea forces residing in Hearthrune. This results in Hearthrune having no official standing military force. There is a Caliantene military base in Hearthrune.

While the majority of Hearthrune's defense is organized and managed by the Caliantene Empire, Hearthrune maintains a special operations force, which is divided into Hearthrune Mobile Task Forces (MTFs) managed by the National Guard of Hearthrune. The National Guard operates as an independent entity and is not managed by the Caliantene Empire.

Most Mobile Task Forces are combat forces fulfilling a special forces role. However, some Mobile Task Forces serve other unconventional roles. Each Mobile Task Force is structured to best achieve their goal and usually includes anywhere from 10 to 50 personnel.