Kamura

Imperial Realm of Kamura Aara Yaekha Kamuraavun
Flag	Coat of arms
Motto:
Anthem:
Locator map
Capital city	Penkhu
Largest city	Raeko
Official language	Kamuran
Other languages	Regional dialects, Iskharan
Ethnic group
Religion	Kin, Shoucianism, Others
Demonym(s)	Kamuran
Government
Government Type	Unitary parliamentary monarchy
Empress	Revaname
Grand Chancellor
Legislature	Imperial Parliament Upper house - Paramount Assembly Council Lower house - Consultive Assembly Council
Establishment
Kamuran Empire established	6667 RH
Area
Total	991,172.07 km2 km2
Water %
Population
Total	144,708,346 (10th)
Density	146.0/km2/km2
Economy
Economy type	Post-mercantile, market capitalist
GDP (total)	Ꞡ 4,572,639,034,890.30
GDP per capita	Ꞡ 31,599
Currency	Kamuran Doch ()
Inequality index
Development index
Other information
Time zone
Driving side	left
Calling code
Internet code	.ka
Nation number	{{{nation number}}}

The Imperial Realm of Kamura (Kamuran: Aara Yaekha Ka'muraavun), also referred to colloquially as Kamura, is an island country in West Davai. It is situated in the northern Shangti Ocean and centered on the islands of the Kamuran Archipelago. The five largest of the "Home Islands" are Kenara, Ikhisa, Hanhara, Senoka and Nora. These islands form a long chain that strands along the coast of West Davai between the Kisaga Peninsula and the Janbian Peninsula separating the Samu Sea and Sensumi Sea from the open waters of the Shangti Ocean. Beyond these islands Kamura administers over several other island groups across the Northern Shangti, the larger among them including the Iskharan Islands, Enu and Zuchwen. Penkhu is the nation's capital and second largest city; Raeko is its largest city and financial centre. Along with Siwa these cities merge into one metropolis, the Three Cities, which is one of the world's largest urban conglomerations.

Kamura has been inhabited since at least 30,000 years BP. Around 5000 years ago a large migration of people from the continent made the sea crossing to Kamura. These were the Shriaav people who became the dominant ethnic group on the islands and remained ethnically and linguistically distinct in the region. In the year 6667RH the main islands of the Kamuran Archipelago were united under an Empress and a matriarchal theocratic monarchy was established and based in Penkhu. For approximately the first seven centuries of the Imperial Era the country came to be dominated by the Hanayaka Clique under whom it experienced a rise in wealth and power as the centre of a maritime trade empire which led in the exploration of new routes for a vast array of trade goods to flow between three continents. The Empire played a key role in the great exchange of goods and people between the continents of Davai and Altaia during this era and oversaw the establishment of large scale and successful colonial settlement in Altaia. Beginning in the 7300's due to a series of defeats inflicted by foreign navies based in Anaria, the Kamuran Empire experienced a contraction and a period of instability which ultimately led to a revolution and a shift of power away from the Hanayaka to a reformist bloc which promoted the industrailisation and modernisation of Kamura. In the year 7598 Kamura entered a war with The Bind as part of an anti-Bind coalition and came out victorious. In doing so it liberated millions of Altaians, including many Shriaav, from Wolgos subjugation and established close diplomatic ties with several nations thereafter.

Kamura has had a staggered development towards democratic governance in recent decades and is generally understood to be a parliamentary, semi-constitutional monarchy where the Empress still retains signifacant political influence. Kin is the most widely practiced relgion in the country and influences the way the nation is governed politically with the Crown Covenent being the recognised relgious body of the state with the Empress as the head. Kamura is a developed country and a great power with one of the world's largest economies, one of its most diverse industrial sectors and is a major global leader in research and development. It has a large and capable armed forces with a strong naval focus which is among the best trained and well equiped in the world. Kamura is a part of several influential global organisations.

The current Empress and head of state is Revaname. According to the Kamuran Calendar the current year is 1024 SK (as of 7690 RH).

Etymology

The name of Kamura takes after the archaic prefix Ka which is a locative identifier meaning 'here' or 'at' being paired with Muruy which is an ancient term that refers to mythological spirit beings who were venerated since the beginnings of Shriaav culture in the region. Kamura was the ancient home of the Murawen Civilisation, identifying Murawen, which literally means 'Land(s) of the Muruy', as an earlier name of the archipelago which shifted to become Kamura in later centuries.

History

Ancient History

The earliest modern human presence of the Kamuran Islands dates back from around 30,000BP. For a time Hanhara and the Southern Islands were inhabited by a paleolithic fishing-based culture with signs of hunter-gathering having occured on land. From roughly 5000BP a large influx of people migrated into the islands from Continental Davai bringing with them agriculture, metallurgy and advanced artisanship. This culture would rapidly spread across the coastal regions of Western Davai populating all the large home islands of Kamura and demonstrated a significant shift toward maritime adaptation. While this was occuring the previously dominant early cultures of Continental Davai were being displaced and assimulated by expanding proto-Yannic cultures. As such the culture and people of the Kamuran islands to go on to develop as an ethno-linguistic isolate in there region.

As the agricultural communities on the islands continued to grow and develop they engaged in trade exchange with each other and their neighbours by sea using increasingly advanced boat technology. Common cultural traditions and practices were reinforced across the many stretches of water that were traversed by Shriaav fishermen and saliors. The Shriaav shared a common folk belief system based around the monotheistic worship of a single goddess which also included some animistic elements closely tied to observations of the natural world. One manifestation of this developing relgious faith was the veneration of priestesses who would later rise to become local priest-queens in a number of early Shriaav polities. The development of a common religious structure and maritime trade and communication between the Shriaav city states by the early to mid 6000s RH marked the era of the Muurvan Culture characterised by highly intergrated but still independent local tribes and queendoms.

Hanayaka Era

During the 6600s the strategically placed city state of Penkhu in Southern Hanhara came under the control and influence of the Hanayaka Clique, a maritime shipping syndicate that enjoyed support from the local queen and nobility. The Hanayaka encouraged the Queen of Penkhu towards a policy of monopolising the control of seaways and extracting tribute from neighbouring Kamuran polities. The rising power of Penkhu was seen as threatening to other Shriaav states as well as foreign rivals based in Continental Davai. In response a rival league was formed with the expressed goal of cutting Penkhu down to size and thus this led to the event of the Kamuran Wars of Unifacation which ultimately ended with victory of Penkhu after a string of legendary naval battles won. The Queens of Penkhu following the year 6667 were now elevated to the Empress of Kamura while the Hanayaka maintained a dominant presence in politics and the military.

The Kamuran Empire (6667-7352)

The Hanayaka era was characterised by the presence of the Hanayaka Clique as a powerful force in upholding the now unified Kamuran Empire. This power and influence was in conjunction with the centralisation of power under the Imperial Crown and the apperattus of Crown Covenant which allowed for privilages granted to local preisthoods if they assisted in collecting taxes and tribute on behalf of the Empress and her government. During this time most taxation from the population was collected through tithes, donations and selling religious items. Besides this a system of tariffs was introduced for taxing foriegn trade goods and transit. The Hanayaka Fleet effectively functioned as the bulwark of Kamuran Navy and its ranks included many admirals. Less so a heriditery clan, the Hanayaka took the form of a meritocratic fraternity of merchants and saliors during their peak. The Hanayaka were granted generous priviliges by the Crown in return for fulfilling their purpose in maintaining a Kamuran chokehold over the Shangti and containing potential foreign rivals. While at this time land routes across Davai, Raia and Altaia were often difficult to traverse due to thick jungles, rugged terrain and bandits, moving goods by sea or along rivers was considered relatively safe. With this reality, favourable geography, trade monopolies and maritime expertise, Kamuran ships under the Hanayaka accounted for most ferried trade traffic between the three continents, connecting traders in a trade triangle and facititating the exchange of exotic goods and introducing them into new regions. The Kamuran Empire was one of the most powerful and proposerous states of the pre-industrial world and an early developer of the mercantile capitalist system on a large scale. By the year 7000, Penkhu had already grown into one of the world's most populous cities being well placed as a main hub of trade in the Shangti Region.

As well as the movement of goods, the Hanayaka also oversaw the movement of people across the sea between different lands. The Shriaav during this time began establishing colonies beyond Kamura espacially towards the west on the continent of Altaia. After settling Iskhara in the Artic Strait, the Kamurans expanded into Altaia itself and settled heavily the Northeastern coasts of the continent they called //Aklan//. The colonial regions would be split in two, one in the extreme northeast called //Ku'saaklan// and one based in the Nuss Delta called //Kupe'saaklan//. Being further away from Kamura itself these colonies would naturally enjoy a higher degree of autonomy and espacially in the case of the colonies of Kupesaklan, became de facto independent states which pursued foriegn policies of their own within Altaia. Nonetheless the presence of successful Shriaav settlements in Altaia led to great advantages for the Kamurans while the Empire maintained control of the sea as it did virtually unbroken for several centuries.

Decline (7352-75XX)

Beginning after the year 7300 colonial powers based in Anaria began to project power into the Shangti Ocean and the Kamuran sphere of influence. The establishment of Anarian colonies in Raia was percieved as a threat to Kamuran interests and in 7352 the Empire declared war on Auresia. Due to in large part to technological advantages the Auresians were able to inflict crippling defeats against the Kamuran Navy and by 7355 the war concluded with an Auresian victory and their dominantion over the waters around the Raian Archipelago. Further setbacks were suffered follwing defeats in wars against Halland and Anisora. Domestically the Hanayaka Clique became increasingly corrupt and blighted by stagnation and nepotism. Attempts were made at internal reforms of the system and to adapt to the new order that was forming in the Shangti Region. This included opening up to Anarian nations and allowing access to markets in exchange for new ideas and technologies. The Hanayaka system however were ultimately seen to be riven with too many problems and ineqquiped to restore Kamura to economic primacy in the region. Thus new threats, new technologies and means of communication lead to the rise of an organised opposition which ultimately proved capable of sowing the dissent required to overthrow the old establishment fuelled by social grievence and nationalist fervour.

Turbulence Era

 * Concessions to Anarian powers following naval defeats lead to the end of Kamuran mercantile dominance in the Shangti.
 * Internal opposition against the Hanayaka establishment increases.
 * The Bind expands across Altaia and begins subjugating Shriaav settlements.
 * The Kamuran Revolution.
 * The Consolidation Wars.

Resurgence Era

 * A strong government post Revolution takes over with a reformed Imperial Navy that pursues rapid modernisation.
 * Innovations like railways, airships and telegraphs spread across Kamura.
 * Kamura manages to restrict the ability of the Bind to project power into the Shangti. (Subject to approval)
 * The Kamuran Navy rises to prominance in the Shangti again..
 * A modern amphibious assult force and an air force are developed and expanded.

The Wolgos Scourge

(Subject to discussion)

 * The sudden Bind invasion of the Stolvic Commonwealth leads Kamura to take preemptive tactical moves.
 * The Bind and Kamura fight over Iskhara and Northern Fisks while the Bind suffers heavy losses.
 * A coalition from Anaria joins the war against the Bind and provides support from the North.
 * Mass internal rebellion and the collapse of the Bind war effort lead the Bind to negotiate a truce.
 * Kamura attends peace conferences drawing up the borders of post-Bind Altaia.

Recent History

 * The Kamuran post war diplomacy.
 * The establishment of the Trans-Shangti Cooperation (TSC).
 * Technological innovation and economic boom times.
 * Conflict in the Phasian Region.
 * Kamura joins the Open Seas Security Organisation (OSSO).

Geography

Topography

The Home Islands of Kamura are located on a volcanic island arc that stretches from the islands of Kenhara and Ikhisa located in the north, a short distance from the Kisaga Peninsula across the Samu Sea, through the Hanhara and surrounding islands that form the backbone of the archipelago moving south till one reaches Senoka and Guhe islands located west of the Janbian Peninsula. This chain of islands separates the Samu and Sensumi Sea from the open waters of the Shangti Ocean allowing access only through straits between Kamuran islands and the nearby peninsulas. The typical topography of the islands is generally rugged in the interior with most settlement and agriculture taking place on coastal plains and in valleys. The Greater Kenhara Islands are the only islands in the chain that have predominantly flat terrain. The Empire of Kamura also occupies a small peninsula in Southern Kisaga as well as the Iskharan Islands in the Arctic Straits and the Zuchwen Islands in the northern Sensumi Sea. These have variable topographies though most of these regions also have uneven terrain with most populations residing on the coast.

Climate

The climate of Kamura varies greatly from the north to south though most of her territories sustain an average temperature of between 15 and 20°C and average rainfall between 115 and 155cm throughout a Tireal cycle. This makes Kamura and her environs a relatively pleasant place to live climatically with most of the country enjoying a warm temperate climate ideal for a society based on high intensity agriculture. The northernmost territories of the country have a cooler climate influenced by weather patterns from the Arctic. The southern reaches of the country around Senoka and Guhe have a tropical climate fed by warm currents flowing up from the equator, and have lush rainforests on land and vibrant coral reefs offshore.

Geological Activity

The Kamuran Archipelago is geologically active along its length and prone to earthquakes and volcanism. The country hosts a large number of active volcanoes mostly along its coasts facing the Shangti Ocean where the ocean crust subducts under Kamura. Despite the danger caused by natural disasters, the volcanic soils are very rich and fertile and regularly support high crop yields where, due to rugged terrain, arable land is at a premium.

Biomes

Due to its mild and lush climate, Kamura and most of its territories have abundant foliage cover and host many different varieties of plants which contribute to the widely varied ecosystems found in different areas of the country. The fact that much of Kamura exists as part of an island chain has led to a high degree of endemism present among the wildlife of each major island. There is great diversity between the outlying territories also. The subarctic uplands of Iskhara are very distinct contrast from the tropical atolls of Marakau.

Government and Politics

Kamura is a unitary state headed by an enatic monarchy which oversees a parliamentary system. Day to day executive power is wielded by the Grand Chancellor who is appointed by the Empress to assemble a Secretariat drawn from parliamentary representatives.

Legislature

The legislative organ is a bicameral parliament, the Imperial Parliament, with a directly elected lower house and an appointed upper house. The lower house, the Consultive Assembly Council, is elected every 4 years by popular vote while the upper house, the Paramount Assembly Council, is appointed from either Consultive Alumni or by a call to service given by the Empress for terms of 6 years. Representatives may hold an office for two consecutive terms but may run again once the cooldown is done or upon graduation to the upper house or Secretariat. There is universial sufferage for all citizens over the age of 18 with a secret ballot for all directly elected offices.

Executive

The Grand Chancellor has the power to appoint and dismiss Secretaries of State pending no veto from the Empress and can serve for a 6 year term. They are directly appointed by the Empress and oversee most government business including proposing laws for parliament to vote on. The Grand Chancellor must have been elected by popular vote in the Consultive Assembly Council at least once before in order to attain an eligable position for appointment.

The Imperial Secretariat is composed of ministers appointed by the Grand Chancellor with the Crown's approval who oversee government offices and execute policy.

The Empress

The Empress of Kamura retains signifacant symbolic powers within the current Kamuran political system including a veto against political descisions of the Grand Chancellor and striking down laws. She also has the power to dissolve parliament and call for an election and is supreme commander of the armed forces in peacetime. She herself is elected by an elective council who vote from a selection of heirs of the Imperial House of Penkhu and must be no older than the age of 36 at the start of her reign. The first four years of her reign she is under the probation of a guidance council. It has been a long-established custom for aging Empresses to abdicate in favour of a younger successor.

In the event of extended abuses of power by an Empress, the elective council has the right to cast a vote of no confidence against her which must pass through both houses of parliament before being ruled in favour by the Supreme Court.

The Elective Council

Kamura has an enatic, elective monarchy which chooses nominations from females heirs within the Imperial House of Penkhu which has ruled the Kamuran Empire as a whole for over 1000 years. The council consists of prominant members of the Crown Covenent clergy, state institutions and esteemed members of the Imperial House itself.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court forms the third arm of government besides the Executive and the Legislature as the head of the Judicary. In most cases the Empress does not intervene in the process of passing laws beyond signing them so the Supreme Court assesses the legality of laws and has the power to strike down even signed laws if ruled to be harmful or unfair. Any citizen may make a petition to the Supreme Court for a grievence, usually through the lower courts first. It is the only government body with the power to overrule an Empress and ultimately the only body that can approve the disposition of an Empress.

Adminstrative Divisions

Kamura is a unitary state divided in to six insular provinces (Rehu), a greater metropolitan region and three special administrative regions (Kúmekhu).

All administrative divisions have local governments which are unicameral and have elected legislatures in the form of regional consultive councils which can pass local laws and appoint members of the excutive council. The executive council in a given province or region will recieve a justiciar appointed by the Empress to oversee governance and can overrule local decisions and has the power to suspend the powers of executive councillors. In effect the justiciar functions as the manifestation of Imperial veto power at a local level though much of the time they make decisions autonomously and these are reviewed by either the Supreme Court or the Crown itself.

The classifaction of Kamuran regions is generally defined by the size of the territory covered and its logistical priorities:

Xem Ruk'nayo

The greater metropolitan region of the Three Cities (Xem Ruk'nayo) has an approximate population of 36 million inhabitants spread between the cities of Penkhu, Raeko and Siwa, making it one of the world's largest urban conglomerations. As such it has within its urban zones, densly packed internal wards surrounded by larger less dense external wards and outermost wards further out which are repectively orientated to provide different resources and logistal services to the metropolis as a whole.

Rehu

The provincial regions of the large islands beyond the capital (Hanhara, Ikhisa, the Southern Islands, Kenhara, Zuchwen and Iskhara) are uniformly subdivided into one classifaction of wards.

Kúmekhu

The special administrative regions are smaller than typical in area and occupy two administrations splitting the relatively remote Aphredech Islands and one on the densly populated Lotus Island.

Economy

Primary Sector

Natural Resources

The mining industry in Kamura is currently focused in the regions of Southern Hanhara and Guhe and mostly supplies the domestic market with the raw materials available within the country. These include deposits of lead, zinc, tin and molybdenum mostly for consumption by the steel industry. Guhe in particular is host to signifacant tin and molybdenum mines which play a large role in the economy of the island. Lead and zinc mines are present in the mountains of Hanhara.

Within Kamura sizable peat deposits can be found. Formally used for fuel prior to the shift towards geothermal and nuclear power, peat is now used as a source of industrial fertiliser. The islands of Kenhara and Haran host major processing industries for peat based fertiliser production.

Secondary Sector

Manufacturing

Kamura has a large metallurgy sector that processes a wide number of metals. Rates of steel production within the country are among the highest in the world and provide steel for both domestic manufacturing and international export. From the 7660s onwards the steel industry, which had previously been located around the Three Cities, was decentralised due to the application of geothermal electric furnesses located in Central Hanhara. Biomass fuelled foundaries in the south and on Haran have been phased out in favour of electric furnesses powered by the energy grid.

Automotives

The automotive industry in Kamura is world-leading and developed in such a way to be reflective of its domestic market. The industry has more recently readapted its model to appeal to export markets with great success and as such the Kamuran automotive sector provides thousands of jobs internally and greater economic productivity externally. The Kamuran government recognises five main classes of automotive vehicle for civilian use:

• RJP - Ruri Jaze Pech - Small Automotive Vehicle: Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Two or three wheel transport. Typically single occupancy. Mostly electric powered.
• SJP - Sungale Jaze Pech - Compact Automotive Vehicle: Microcars, minicars, motorised ricksaws. Mostly three wheel transport. Maximum three passengers. Sometimes single occupancy. Mostly electric powered.
• TSJP - Tes Sungale Jaze Pech - Large Compact Automotive Vehicle: Mid-sized automobiles and SUVs. Four wheel transport. Maximum five passengers. Newer models are electric, otherwise ethanol powered.
• TJP - Tes Jaze Pech - Large Automotive Vehicle: Vans, people carriers, small buses, small RVs. Four wheel transport. Capacity for cargo or multiple passengers. Mostly ethanol powered.
• KJP - Kaja Jaze Pech - Heavy Automotive Vehicle: Trucks, HGVs, coaches, large RVs. Often six or eight wheel transport. Large capacity for cargo or passengers. Mostly ethanol powered.

Typically small or compact automobiles are more popular with Kamuran urban areas whereas clans and extended families may collectively own a large people carrier or RV for travelling in groups or outside cities. Large Compact Automobiles are more often exported to foriegn markets and consumption of these vehicles in Kamura is often relegated to rural areas. Vans, trucks and HGVs will often carry goods along freeways between ports, cities and other locations, however the denser regions of Kamuran cities tend to have restricted access for larger vehicles besides trams so cargo is frequently offloaded onto them or lighter vehicles.

Tertiary Sector

Science and technology

The primary online telecommunication network in Kamura and surrounding regions is the Volvech (Island Network) which now connects all major islands of Kamura with cables and also extends to West Davai and Eastern Altaia. Users can make online purchases, make train reservations, check stock prices, search the telephone directory, have a mail box (Yojka) and enter chatrooms (Yurgochuk). It is also capable of streaming audiovisual media and hosting interactive content such as video games. Kamuran companies have also pioneered in the area of computer operating systems the most successful of which have been the Runnimi OS.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Land

Kamura has a fairly extensive railway system with most larger islands in the archipelago having some kind of rail network. In some regions the train stock is still powered by ethanol but on Hanhara and Ikhisa the network has been upgraded to electrified high speed rail (HSR). Most cities have electrified tram networks and the Three Cities has the most extensive tram and lightrail network of any urban connurbation in the world alongside its subway system.

The road network also connects Kamuran towns and cities efficiently and can access areas the rail system cannot. The road system rarely gets overly congested outside Southern Hanhara due to relatively restricted rates of car ownership. More citizens in higher density areas rely on public transport or shared vehicles to get around and typically road transport is more often used by cargo vehicles. Private car ownership is at higher rates in lower density areas with fewer alternative transport networks.

Water

Being an island archipelago Kamura has always relied on sea transport to connect the various islands. Today more ferries and cargo ships travel the routes between the ports of Kamura than anytime before. Most major islands have a direct ferry route to the Three Cities and are similarly connected to other nearby islands directly. Numerous stop-off ferry services are operational in various regions of the country and also include connections to nearby foriegn ports in West Davai and as far as Kusawen and the Lower Nuss.

Air

Air transport within Kamura falls under two main classes: Airship travel and airplane travel. The archipelago is covered is a wide web of airship routes which are the more affordable mode of air travel for most citizens. More often airship carriers use semi-rigid airships for passenger and cargo transport and these have become the preffered class of airships to use. Longer routes can connect across the corners of Kamura and beyond, connecting Davai to Altaia and allowing for international travel further afield. Airfields and airship landing grounds can be found ubiquitously across the country and major cities host airship docking towers.

Airplane travel is more upmarket like it is across the world generally and has in recent years come to rely upon ethanol powered jet liners which are hypersonic and capable of flying across continents. Internal flights between the Kamura islands exist for those who can afford such a quick method of travel. Airports with runways are present on all large islands and many smaller islands have airstrips. The Three Cities are served by four international airports, two serving Penkhu and one in Raeko and Siwa respectively. Raeko International Airport (RIA) has expanded to become one of the largest airports in the world.

Culture

Sport

The most prominant sports played in Kamura are steeped in its history. Perhaps the most popular competative sport in the country is Pútako (The Rings) which is a ball sport played on a rounded oval shaped field with two opposing teams aiming to score an elongated ball through hoops at respective ends of the field. Originally developed by sailors to be played on ships in its earlier traditional form called Wezelu (Pillars) where the two teams would toss rings onto the opposing teams wooded pillar. This game too is still played in some regions of Kamura though on a smaller scale than its derivative. Another famous sport developed in Kamura is Xegur, the name of which derives from a word for 'bounce' and the rules of which involve using a wicker basket to hurl a ball against a wall at high speed and try to land a score against your opponent. This sport's creation is largely accredited to women and is popular as a female sport. It is played on an undulated court with two depressions which the two players or teams of multiple players occupy respectively and the speed of play is often very fast.

See also

{{tag>[Country] [kamura]}}