Övlanda

Övlanda, officially the Republic of Övlanda (: ᛦᚠᛚᛅᚳᚦᛅ ᛚᛅᚳᚦᛅᛋᛅᛘᛆᛚᛚ, Övlanda Landasamell, : オーフランダ共和國, Ōfuranda Kyōwakoku), also called Yuguk is a located in West Yoju. It borders Nonun to the east, Norikwhum to the south, Sora to the west and faces Nukigurun across the Northern Ocean to its north. The capital and largest city is Wattnsluta.

The first evidence of human habitation in Övlanda come from s. The regions that comprise modern-day Övlanda have been inhabited by various cultures throughout the ages, with the attested history of Övlanda starting when speakers of began to create inscriptions in the  alphabetic script around 800 CE, a writing system ultimately descended from. The Övkall system or runes would spread to other peoples in the region, but the original means of dispersion is unknown. The Övkall peoples are believed to have emigrated from Roci in northwest Nukigurun, passing through areas with and Utlunmi peoples and interacting with them culturally and linguistically. As the Övska-speakers pushed west to reach the boundaries of modern Övlanda around 1000 CE, speakers of expanded north from Norikwhum, settling in the States of Gottchey and Tornbirn. Political power was concentrated in trading centers where chieftains ruling from collected income and fended off adversaries. The West Yoju bronze and iron ages reached Övlanda fairly late, and many items were imported from the south and east either through trade or pillaging. While no stable, long-lasting political unification of Övlanda existed prior to its independence in the 20th century, much of the country along with parts of neighboring Sora formed the Lag Confederacy, a loose of local tribes. Formed in the Oath of Wise Men around 1100, its members promised to fend off foreign powers but remained independent otherwise.

The modern history of Övlanda began when military explorations from Sinju appeared in the 18th century. The expansionist powers of Nukigurun and Fusen would come to rival each other for economic and political superiority, mainly targeting the rich. The Lag Confederacy was unable to respond to Sinjuan military forces and collapsed in 1854, plunging the region into instability. Övlanda was established as a Fusenese, and the administration of Colonial Yuguk was placed in the city of Skerborg (Anshō-shiro). From their initial coastal forts, Fusenese dominance eventually covered all of the country by 1884.

The area of Övlanda experienced a tumultuous 20th century, with the Fusenese colonial rule ending as a consequence of Fusenese defeat in the Great Eulhae War. The country was placed under new administration, but a soon broke out, eventually concluding with the retreat of all foreign forces and independence. The new state modelled on Sinjuan governments struggled to gain control of its own territory as it descended into civil war against radical anti-Sinjuan factions of the national liberation movement. Following the end of the civil war, Övlanda was governed by an  until it collapsed to a massive wave of  in 2015, its downfall largely attributable to mounting international debts and internal military scheming.

Övlanda has been controlled by various s since independence, but was governed as a   between 2016 and 2020 until a  led by Kai-Eizou Geirsun restored the junta. The country has been in a state of political, economic and societal transition since the Moonrise Revolution led to the deposition of former High President and military dictator Warg Stįefalk in Yuwol 2015. The armed forces governed the country under until the Guwol 2016 elections, after which the new democratic government and the army entered a fractuous power-sharing agreement. The tenuous democratic government was largely considered to be at the mercy of the military leadership, particularly after the civil unrest seen during the 2020 riots resulted in the indefinite postponement of the slated 2020 elections, causing the abolition of civil governance soon after.

Etymology
The components of Övlanda's name come from Öva for river, shortened to Öv, and landa for land, thereby meaning "river land" which alludes to its many streams and flowing bodies of water. The name for Övlanda (國流, Yuguk lit. flow/stream country), an, is a  of the native name and is the predominant name of the country outside Övlanda. Domestically, "Yuguk" may be seen as condescending and as a relic of Sinjuan, though the "foreign" name sees great usage among non-Övska.

Prehistoric
Modern humans first arrived to modern Övlanda after the retreat of the last glacial ice sheets several thousand years ago. Evidence suggests the area was inhabited by both and  for thousands of years. North Germanic speakers first migrated to Övlanda from Roci around 1500 years ago, and quickly assimilated the preexisting cultures in the core cultural region of Övlanda.

Medieval period
See also: Lag Confederacy

Starting from the northwest of the country, a period of southwards and eastwards expansion during the medieval Starktraik Period saw the assimilation of the various groups that inhabited the rest of modern-day Övlanda. In the centuries before the first encounter with the colonizers, a patchwork of small fiefs and kingdoms dotted the major trading routes, wooden and stone walls protecting the largest population centers. Mutual co-defense treaties largely inhibited any chieftain from obtaining too much power. As technology slowly progressed, merchants came to ever greater prominence, to the dismay of the landed nobility. This resulted in several decades of violent turmoil which would greatly weaken the Övlandan states against the coming Fusenese colonial threat.

Colonial period
By the arrival of Sinjuans in the 18th century, what is now Övlanda was a disparate region dominated by precarious power balances and intermittent warfare between tribes. Though there was some activity in a few cities, little attention was paid to the local population beyond the acquirement of resources. Eventually, it was decided that deals forged with local elites would not be economically efficient enough for Sinjuan companies; the Fusenese military seized the opportunity to strike with a series of quick military conquests in the 1870s. Also around this time, the ancient  religious practice was affected by the rise of Wildertruo, a  which places much greater importance on ancestor worship, repentance, hierarchical structure, and the veneration of its founders, the Traiwaiser. Wildertruo's origins trace to Stark Medmann, a member of the small native elite who saw as a solution to societal ills. Buddhism itself would also eventually gain a following.

Post-independence
After was achieved in 194X the various independence movements continued to oppose each other, with the Övlandan Civil War breaking out in 195X between Folkas Friietsryörels (ᚠᚠ), an Övkall  and  guerilla against the military government lead by Lóki Byönnjäger. The war lasted for 5 years and 3 months and saw various foreign agents supporting the different sides in a.

Government
Övlanda operates de jure as a with a  where the  is the head of state and government. In Siwol 2020, this was deposed by a military, led by Kai-Eizou Geirsun, ostensibly to save the nation from total collapse. The 2017 constitution drafted after the Moonrise Revolution remains in legal force but has no real power, civilian government being abolished and all elections cancelled. Central authority has been significantly reduced in its strength following the coup, with reports of open fighting in many provinces leading to fears of a new civil war in the country.

The traditional political system in Övlanda is based on a hierarchy of local lords,, kings and (at times) s known as Yövkunungga. This system remained relatively stable during the Lag Confederacy period but has shifted significantly since then, particularly during the colonial period. The post-independence governments of Övlanda have to varying degrees made accommodations to the indigenous form of governance, usually recognizing local rulers' titles but not rights to political influence.

Foreign relations
While Övlanda has diplomatic missions to most countries in West Yoju as well as most major economies, the country's history of repressive military regimes has caused tensions with nations of the Center. Relations with neighboring Nonun are severely impaired by the aftermath of the 1995-1999 Nonun-Övlanda War; the two countries continue to maintain a heavily militarized border, as a has never been formally agreed upon after the 1999 ceasefire.

Military
Main article: Armed forces of Övlanda

The Övlandan military (: Övlandar Fuoksarmi) has continuously held a preeminent role in internal politics since the country gained independence from Fusen, though problems of aging equipment, lack of cohesion and ammunition shortages have restricted it from foreign intervention for decades.

Human rights
See also: 2020 Övlanda riots

The state of has been on an upward trend since the fall of Warg Stįefalk's dictatorship, which was notorious for its gruesome repression, but Övlanda still ranks low on most surveys. Particularly, the issues of, and the  continue to face major obstacles to this day. International concerns have increased during and after the 2020 riots as the military uses all possible means to keep power.

Administrative divisions
Since 2005, Övlanda has been constitutionally divided into nine States beneath its federal structure. States are made up of Districts, Counties, and finally Local Areas. The States of Övlanda are ethnolinguistically based with an asymmetric level of devolution; some regions enjoy almost complete in internal matters, while others are heavily overseen by the central government from Wattnsluta.

Geography
Övlanda is a largely flat country with four distinct highland areas. In the south on the border with Norikwhum lies the Suthward Mountains, rising to 2,879 meters at its peak which is the highest point in the country. The Suthward experienced significant during the last, and is site to many. The north-eastern quarter of the nation is largely covered by the Gaişaraið Mountains, which is lower than the Suthward but also experienced considerable glaciation. Small parts of the East Sora Highlands and the Austtorn Range are located along the edges of Övlanda's southwest and southeast, respectively.

The remainder of Övlanda is dominated by the Northwest Yoju Plain west and north of Ausby, and the Giliosupees Plain east and south of it.

Climate
Most of Övlanda's landscape can be placed in either the or  climates, with high-altitude regions being cold enough for the  and occasional glacier.

Economy
Övlanda is classified as a with a heavy dependence on, with a large part of the population engaged in. While the nation has a respectable, most of this wealth is concentrated in cities and in the hands of the elite.

Industry
The largest economic sectors in Övlanda are mining, agriculture, pasture, timber, and other traditional/resource-based industries.

Tourism
remains small-scale in the country despite efforts. Obstacles to its growth include lack of adequate connections to areas outside West Yoju, low investment, general unruliness and lack of accommodation.

Energy and infrastructure
Most of the country's limited electricity generation comes from fossil sources such as, with natural gas and hydropower contributing a minor role. Renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power produce less than one percent of Övlanda's. There are currently no plans for phasing out the coal plants

Demographics
Övlanda has an estimated population of 30,465,902 people as of 2020. In the 2014 census, the largest city was Wattnsluta with 3,602,534 inhabitants. 72.4% of the population lived in urban areas, up from 68.9% from the 2003 census. 98.8% of the population were Övlandan citizens, but the actual amount of immigrants is thought to be vastly underrepresented in government data; unofficial estimates put the number at around 1 million. Most of these live in border regions of Wattnsluta slums and come from neighboring West Yoju nations such as Sora.

Languages
Övlanda has linguistically diverse, with the predominant language families being in most of the country and Utlun in the north-east. There are two official languages at the national level: Övska, based largely on the speech of Wattnsluta and other major cities, and Fusenese, which is the mother language of less than half a percent of the country's population, but was the primary language used for official communication during Fusenese subjugation. All of Övlanda's states also have their own regionally protected official language, bringing the total number of recognized public languages to ten. Most of Övlanda's languages are not mutually intelligible with each other, and a lack of a working in some areas is cited as a major obstacle to national cohesion.



Migration and Transhumance
Övlanda is a country where large-scale is still practiced by much of the rural population and as such is witness to one of the world's most persistent human migrations. Livestock are brought from the lowlands to high-altitude regions during spring, whence they graze before being brought back down before winter. This is done to preserve the in valleys for producing  needed to feed the livestock during the cold winter months. The common mountain or forest pasture used for transhumance in summer is called  or buðer in Övska, but the practice is common among all of Övlanda's indigenous groups. The people reside in summer cabins that share the same name, with most farms having their own säter. The transport remains mostly non-motorized to this day, encouraging the development of transient lodges and trading towns across the many  two times a year. Some peoples in northern Övlanda practice transhumance with, that being primarily the Utlunmi.

Education
A large proportion of the population are officially registered as "illiterate" - but this is a biased interpretation, as government agents often only measures literacy in and. Most of the population is able to both read and write, but the vast majority of people only have functional knowledge in. The 'official' literacy rate is 19.3%, while the estimated real literacy rate is 95.6%. This statistical peculiarity is because Övlandans have a long and intricate literary tradition in their own indigenous runic alphabet, but have only recently began using the introduced Sinjuan writing systems. Övlanda has twenty government-recognized universities, with the most well-known being the Great University of Wattnsluta which enrolls over 20,000 students. Persons who have taken higher education are the only educational group with a solid grasp at Sinjuan writing systems.

Health
The at birth is around 70.2 years for females and 64.3 for males. Fertility is at 3.51 children per woman. In Övlanda there are about 22 doctors per 100,000 persons.

The 2014 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Övlanda is 350. This compares to 523.4 in 2006 and 923.7 in 1995. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1000 births is 87 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality are 29. In Övlanda the number of midwives per 1000 live births is 7 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women 1 in 102.

and remain a serious problem in most rural areas. The first modern healthcare facility was opened in 1899 by the Fusenese Northwest Yoju Railroad Company and mainly served Fusenese workers and soldiers. Hospitals can now be found in most major cities, often established with the help of foreign capital. A lack of healthcare infrastructure outside of cities means that rural residents have worse access to healthcare. continues to be widespread in large parts of Övlanda; some people do not interact with modern scientific facilities because of distrust.

Religion
Övlanda's religious landscape is complex, with no group encompassing more than 40% of the population. The largest is the Wildertruo at 37.1%, an indigenous belief system founded in the 1800s which has largely replaced the older in central Övlanda. The second largest is Jaatunism at 28.5%, which first arrived during the Menneferian Takhuit dynasty; it is the most popular religion among the country's peoples who also live in Nonun and Esia. Jaatunism was relatively minor until a 14th-century ruler from Waiðumfyllşa named Barð adopted it, spreading it where he ruled. The follow at 14.9% of the population and represent a direct philosophical descent from the ancient beliefs of. At 11.4%, has been in the country for several hundreds of years but only started spreading in the colonial era. White Cap Sabbatarianism is the smallest of the major religions at 4.8% of the population, and is related to the spread of Sabbatarianism in Barthia.

Most practitioners make little distinction between separate religions, using the rites and practices of whatever is most convenient and appropriate in their daily lives. However, there are exceptions, notably the Wildertruo-Åsatruo divide and the Jaatunist-White Cap divide. These groups rarely interact with one another due to long histories of intrareligious conflict and distrust.

Cuisine
Övlandan cuisines reflect the sustenance methods of the they descended from: farming, hunting and fishing. and wheat-derived products,, and fishes like  and  form the basis of the traditional diet. Foodstuffs from around the world have only seen widespread popularity in recent decades, typically in the most central city districts, due to the difficulties of importing fresh products.

Ritual sacrifice (Blot)
When the early Övkall migrated from modern-day Roci, they brought with them a ritual of known as blot. These blots may be dedicated to native gods, worldly spirits or their ancestors, in some cases even foreign deities and personalities. Numerous traditions exist, but it most commonly involves aspects of a sacramental meal or feast, typically from domesticated animals. There is also a long-standing tradition of, mostly in the form of sacrificing enslaved women after a major chieftain has died, to act as their servant in the underworld.