Etelkoz

Etelkoz (: Etelköz, ‎𐲉𐳦𐳉𐳖𐳓𐳞𐳯; : Edilqöz, 𐰅𐰑𐰃𐰞𐰜𐰔; ‎: Idylišton, 𐨀𐨁𐨡𐨁𐨫𐨁𐨮𐨟𐨆𐨣), officially the People's Republic of Etelkoz (: Etelköz Népköztársaság, ‎𐲉𐳦𐳉𐳖𐳓𐳞𐳯 𐲙𐳋𐳠𐳓𐳞𐳯𐳦𐳁𐳢𐳤𐳀𐳤𐳁𐳍; : Edilqöz Halq Cumhuriyeti, 𐰅𐰑𐰃𐰞𐰜𐰔 𐰍𐰀𐰞𐰴 𐰲𐰆𐰢𐰆𐰻𐰃𐰅𐱃𐰃; : Adæ Pâddzâxâd Idylištone, 𐨀𐨡𐨀𐨅 𐨤𐨡𐨰𐨑𐨡 𐨀𐨁𐨡𐨁𐨫𐨁𐨮𐨟𐨆𐨣) is a sovereign state in central Yoju, bordering Olokundem and Tumpangia to the north, Mennefer to the east, Nesh to the south, and Oqqalpoqstan to the west.

Ancient Naharin
In the Bronze Age, Etelkoz was home to the -speaking civilization of, alternatively a rival or ally to or vassal of the contemporary civilizations of Mennefer, Nesh, and Seogwan, which it influenced and was influenced by. For several centuries in the Late Bronze Age, Naharin was ruled by a series of during their  south to Tagol, but Khurrite rule was restored during the Iron Age.

Late Naharin
After the Iron Age, Naharin was subjugated by a number of foreign empires, first the steppe-based and  tribal confederations and then the Takhuit dynasty of Mennefer from 400 to 800 CE. Under Menneferian rule, most of the Naharian population converted to. Following the end of Menneferian rule, Naharian civilization enjoyed one final resurgence from 800-1000 CE in the, but with the fall of Cheonje trade began to decline, and the weakened Naharin was conquered and decimated by the Heeradic Empire in 1000 CE.

Ugor migration and khanate
As part of the larger migrations following the fall of the Heeradic Empire in 1100, the -speaking left modern Nukigurun and conquered and settled in the former territory of Naharin. Many had already been displaced south into Mennefer in the Heeradic invasion, and following the Ugor conquest most of the remainder either joined them or assimilated into the Ugor population, although the nomad-settler distinction would remain a permanent feature of Etelkian society. The new arrivals founded the Ugor Khanate and adopted Jaatunism as its state religion, and built the city of Szentély as its capital on the strategic site of the former Naharian city of Kummenni (with both names translating to "the shrine").

Due to its position along the, the Ugor Khanate became wealthy and absorbed Napsalic, Tagolic, and Ergunic cultural influences. At its height in the 1300s, referred to as the Ugor Khaganate or Etelkian Empire, this state would expand beyond Etelkoz’s borders ruled a wide swath of central Yoju, spreading Jaatunism and fueling a resurgence in Horse Road trade with much of the route under one empire. In the 1500s, the khanate declined due to changing trade patterns, this time as trade between Sinju and the west shifted from the overland route to new maritime routes with improved Sinjuan naval technology. The declining empire of Etelkoz fought and lost several wars against the rising empire of Nukigurun until it was finally conquered in the 1600s.

Nuki rule
The rump Etelkoz was initially a protectorate under Nuki suzerainty, allowing it to maintain some autonomy, but was directly annexed into Nukigurun with the advent of the First Republic. The new government aggressively promoted pan-Ergunic ideology in an attempt to assimilate Etelkoz with the rest of Nukigurun. In the Great Eulhae War, Etelkoz was near the frontlines of the campaign between Nukigurun and Mennefer and suffered significant military and civilian population loss, while a local resistance against Nukigurun also emerged and intensified towards the end of the war. Etelkoz regained independence with Nukigurun’s defeat in 1943.

People's Republic of Etelkoz
In 1956, the Menneferian-backed Etelkian Revolution overthrew the Republic of Etelkoz and replaced it with a socialist one-party state, the People's Republic of Etelkoz. From the revolution in 1956 until the Menneferian reforms in 1987, Etelkoz was closely aligned with Mennefer in its foreign policy and often considered a Menneferian satellite state, as well as following in Menneferian-inspired domestic policies of a one-party state under the Etelkian People's Party, command economy, and revolutionary Jaatunism. From the 1960s to the 1980s the government pursued the contentious "settlement of the steppes", in which it constructed new towns and farms on the eastern steppes and populated them with nomads forced into a sedentary lifestyle and relocated western city-dwellers.

Following the 1987 reforms in Mennefer, the reformist Dobos Ramszesz was appointed as new head of the EPP. Dobos followed Mennefer in liberalizing the economy from a purely command economy to a mixed economy with market aspects; this combined with the discovery and exploitation of oil and natural gas reserves has fueled notable economic growth. However, Dobos has pivoted away from Mennefer in foreign policy and pursued a more nationalist and pan-Ergunic foreign policy, reaching out more to neighboring non-socialist states while remaining a member of the OSDMA. Dobos has also been accused of pursuing autocratic policies in centralizing his rule, human rights abuses against dissidents, and promulgating a and pan-Ergunism-inspired pseudoscience and historical revisionism. In 1999, Dobos moved the capital from Szentély in the west to the elaborate newly-constructed city of Aranyvár ("golden castle") on the eastern steppes.

Geography
Etelkoz can be roughly divided diagonally between two geographic regions, the river valleys in the southwest and the open steppes, also known as the Puszta, in the northeast. Around two-thirds of the population live in the southwest and one-third in the northeast, a disparity that was higher before the 1960s settlement of the steppes. Traditionally, the southwest is more urbanized and culturally similar to Mennefer and the rest of Napsal while the northeast is more nomadic and culturally similar to the rest of central Yoju.

Administrative divisions
Etelkoz is divided into X provinces and two autonomous regions: Jászság (Yazešton) and Kunság (Deşt-i Qun).

Government
Etelkoz is a socialist, one-party state.

Foreign relations
Since 1957, shortly after becoming a socialist country, Etelkoz has been a member of the OSDMA along with the neighboring countries of Mennefer and Nesh.

Ethnicity
The four main ethnic groups in Etelkoz are the majority and the minority, ,  and. The Ugors originated in Birawargia and migrated to their present location in the 11th century, the Kun are related to those in neighboring countries, the Yaz are a remnant of the  that once dominated the region, and the Kamits are settlers from Mennefer or locals that assimilated into the Remunmenni language and culture. The Kun live mostly on the eastern steppes, the Yaz live mostly in highland regions of the west, the Kamits are found mostly along the border with Mennefer and in major cities, and Ugors are found throughout all regions of the country. Roughly 70% of the population is Ugor, 10% each are Kun and Yaz, and 5% is Kamit. The remaining 5% are made up of various ethnic minorities, mostly originating from or shared with neighboring countries, including, , , , and (Etelkoz has experienced illegal immigration from Nesh in recent decades). Many Etelkians of various ethnicities have a mixed appearance and against people with lighter skin or more  features is an issue across ethnic lines.

Language
The majority and official national language of Etelkoz is, also known as Etelkian, part of the of the. Two ethnic minority languages, the language and  and the  language, have co-official status with Ugor in their respective autonomous regions. Ugor is written in, natively called rovásírás, a script similar to and derived from. Kun is written in Koksoyic runes itself while Yazon is written in. Ugor was also historically written in and, at times with a dual writing system in which Neo-Metownoote was used for formal purposes while runes were used for informal purposes.

Remunmenni was widely used as an administrative, literary, and liturgical language in the Ugor Khanate. It was replaced by as an administrative language during Nuki colonial rule, while continuing to be used as a liturgical and sometimes literary language; the latter century of Nuki rule also saw a major Ugor-language literary revival. Remunmenni enjoyed another resurgence in Etelkoz after 1956 due to Menneferian influence and is still widely taught and understood, though it currently has no official status in Etelkoz. The Dobos regime has also promoted education in Nuki and as a counterweight to Remunmenni.

Religion
The majority of Etelkians practice Jaatunism, while minorities practice Sabbatarianism (especially among the Kavar ethnicity) and. All of the above are often practiced in conjuction with traditonal in a syncretic fashion. Jaatunism was the official state religion of the People's Republic from 1960 to 1992; since then Etelkoz has officially been a secular state, and the government has increasingly promoted shamanism.

Art
The main forms of Etelkian folk art are ceramics and textiles. Etelkian textile art differs from neighboring countries, but resembles other  cultures, in placing a greater emphasis on  than. Embroidery is used to decorate clothes, blankets, coverings for religious objects, and trappings for horses with patterns and ornaments most characteristically featuring s, an example of Menneferian influence, and also including flowers, leaves, birds, feathers, spirals, and geometric shapes, with each region having its own distinctive decorative elements. Central Yojuan-style weaving is also practiced. Ceramics including pottery and tiles were traditionally handmade from and  with patterns similar to those used in embroidery and likewise distinctive to each region. Sinjuan-style began to be manufactured under Nuki rule.

Cuisine
Reflecting Etelkoz's nomadic heritage and the historic importance of livestock herding to its society, meat (most often beef, pork, and chicken, with mutton and horse eaten on special occasions) and dairy (including ' quark, ' sour cream, and  dried yogurt), feature prominently in Etelkian cuisine. The most distinctively Etelkian dishes are spiced stews or soups including ' ("herdsman's stew", with beef), ' ("fisherman's soup", with mixed river fish), and  ("paprika chicken"). traditionally cooked in a bogrács (cauldron) over an open fire and served with onions and ' noodle-dumplings or ' vegetable pottage. The most commonly used spice is, dried and ground red peppers, which are not native to Etelkoz but became ubiquitously popular in the 19th century.

Other dishes particular to Etelkoz include ' paprika-spiced smoked sausages, ' mixed grill of pecsenye steaks served on a wooden platter, ' sour cherry soup, and ' spit cakes. Foods shared with or similar to those in other countries include rice dishes like ', bread dishes like ' (fried flatbread) and ' (stuffed rolls), and meat dishes like ' (grilled skewers). Typical beverages include, especially ', a sweet white wine made from grapes affected by , along with , ' (fermented millet), and z (fermented mare's milk).

Holidays
Etelkoz uses the and traditionally celebrates Jaatunist holidays. The new year, ', is celebrated at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, following the ' intercalary days (considered a spiritually dangerous time during which lamps are lit and charms are worn), and coincides with the return of livestock from to lowland winter pastures in the steppe lifestyle. At midwinter Etelkians observe nine days of ', mourning for the death of the sun, followed by the celebration of ', the resurrection of the sun, on the tenth day. , celebrated near the vernal equinox, is famous for festive parades of grotesquely masked dancers (busós), a surviving pre-Jaatunist shamanic custom meant to "scare away the winter". ' at the end of spring is the occasion for moving the herds from winter pastures to summer pastures, and ' near midsummer is the occasion for traditional.

In addition to the traditional holidays, modern Etelkoz also observes three state holidays: Independence Day (Függetlenség napja) since 1944, Revolution Day (Forradalom napja) since 1956, and State Foundation Day (Az államalapítás ünnepe), celebrating the ancient founding of the Ugor Khanate, since 1995.

Literature
The oldest and most important work of literature in the Ugor language and Etelkoz's is the  ("Deeds of the Ugors"), a legendary narrative of the Ugor ancestors through their migration to Etelkoz and the founding of the Ugor Khanate.

Music
Etelkian folk music is characterized by a strongly rhythm due to the Ugor language always stressing the first syllable of a word. The Etelkian national instrument is the, a similar to and possibly descended from the  but differing in that the strings are  rather than plucked. Other folk instruments derive from Napsalic influence, like the, a lute based on the (and also on the  ), the , a pipe based on the , the  drums, and the  bagpipes.

Sports
As in other central Yojuan countries with a nomadic heritage, sports involving, , , and are a major part of Etelkian culture. The equestrian sports ', mounted archery similar to Fusenese, and ', a team sport in which mounted players compete to get a goat carcass in the other team's goal, are especially popular and iconic; falconry is also often practiced on horseback. In modern times, is the most popular spectator sport.