Koskiya

The United Republic of Koskiya Об'єднана Республіка Коскії (Livarian)
Flag	Coat of arms
Motto: Two Peoples into One
Anthem: As the Talekhzolin’ bird soars
Locator map
Capital city	Tepetak
Largest city	Tepetak
Official language	Livarian
Other languages	Zatxunepli
Ethnic group
Religion	Peratolian Orkanan
Demonym(s)	Koskian
Government
Government Type	Unitary presidential republic
President	Daryn Chernitepliy
Chancellor	Viktoriya Melnyk-Pelaxtla
Legislature	National Assembly
Establishment
Independence from Livaria	7653
Area
Total	268,295.43 km2
Water %
Population
Total	21,658,792 (124th)
Density	80.73/km2
Economy
Economy type	Mixed economy
GDP (total)	Ꞡ 113 billion
GDP per capita	Ꞡ 5,261.00
Currency	Koskian Midyak ()
Inequality index
Development index	Middle-income
Other information
Time zone	-11
Driving side	left
Calling code	KOS
Internet code	.ko
Nation number	{{{nation number}}}

Koskiya (Livarian: Коскія), sometimes transliterated into Koskia and officially called the United Republic of Koskiya (Об'єднана Республіка Коскії, trs. Ob'ednana Respublika Koskiyi), is a nation-state located in eastern Altaia occupying the largest proportion of the Thane Peninsula. It is bordered in the west by the Prosperity Gulf, to the east by the Shangti Ocean and to the north by the Xholate Islands. Covering 21,658,792 km2, Koskiya has a population of 21,658,792 as of 7689, which makes it the 124th most populous country on Gotha.

Pre-colonial Koskiya has a long and rich history as an interconnected part of the south-eastern Altaian trade networks that had dominated the western Shangti ocean for millennia. Throughout its history, the Thane Peninsula has played an important role in facilitating and controlling trade between the Altaian hinterlands and the wider Shangti region via the Prosperity Gulf. Humans first colonised the region 26,000 years before the present day, and numerous civilisations and kingdoms have emerged and had an influence in the region. The kingdoms of Zentopan, Texohtli-Tlatocayotl (literally the 'lapis lazuli kingdom') and Tlahuilloh ('the bright land') remained important trading partners of the Tsuki Integrality and Ilhuiyoco, with whom significant cultural, religious, linguistic, economic and political ties flourished for centuries, including some important marriage alliances with the Great Houses. Many Zatxu kings consciously modelled themselves on the Ilhuiyoco emperors, such was their influence on the region.

The first Livarian explorers set foot in what would become known as Koskiya in 7205, but they wouldn't establish a permanent trading colony until 7230 after a period of conflict with the indigenous Zatxu peoples. Following the conquest of the Kingdom of Zentopan, Livarian colonists would move to establish control over the entire Thane Peninsula by the early 74th century, with a large influx of settlers at first displacing but then integrating with the indigenous population in a deliberate policy of interbreeding promoted by the colonial authorities. During the following centuries, Livarian Peratolian Orkanan missionaries would convert much of the region and a distinct national identity began to emerge, known as the Koskimkiy. By the late colonial period, Koskiya was brutally invaded and occupied by the The Bind during the Wolgos Scourge, which temporarily boosted Koskian support for the Livarian Imperial Federation in the first few decades of the 77th century. Nevertheless, Koskiya gained independence from Livaria in 7653.

Koskiya is a unitary presidential republic with a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly. Since the 7674 anti-Orderist military coup which resulted in the overthrow of the unpopular but democratically elected government, over the last 15 years Koskiya has been ruled by a military junta led by Admiral Daryn Chernitepliy. Demographically, the country remains dominated by the Koskimkiy (Коскимький) population, which traces its mixed roots back to both Zatxu (Mizuet) and Livarian (Cheltai) ancestors. The majority language is Koskian Livarian, which is mutually intelligible with metropolitan Livarian but with notable Zatzunepli loanwords and influences. Tepetak is the national capital, with other major urban centres including Noviy Morshyn and Kekyatal' (Кекуаталь).

Koskiya is a mixed economy, with a nominal GDP of Ꞡ 113 billion and a GDP per capita of Ꞡ 5,261, making it a middle-income nation. Koskiya retains significant economic ties to Livaria, which remains one of its most important trading partners and who owns a significant portion of Koskiya's national debt. Koskiya is a member of ICoN and OSSO, and is considered an ally of Livaria, which operates numerous military bases in the country; Koskiya is also by extension enjoys cordial relations with the wider Triarchy, especially Kamura.

Etymology

The name Koskiya is believed to derive from a first-contact interaction between Livarian explorers and the indigenous Zatxu peoples. According to the semi-apocryphal story, a group of Livarian explorers under General Taras Horalenko approached a group of Zatxu pilgrims en route to the holy city of Mahuiztotl (literally, 'holy-cave'), an important cult and administrative centre for the local Zatxu theocrats. General Horalenko gestured around the startled pilgrims, asking 'where is this place?' in Livarian. The leader of the pilgrims replied in a grave and startled tone, pointing at the Livarian party and answering 'Cozcaquauatli!', meaning 'vultures'.

The Livarians struggled to pronounce the word Cozcaquauatli, Livarianising it to something approximating Koskakatil' (Коскакатиль), which over time was shorted to 'Koska'. The Livarians subsequently referred to the land as Koskiya, adding the traditional suffix '-iya' (-ия). It is generally believed that the pilgrims mistook the raven sigil adorning the Livarian banners to be a vulture, which is considered a portent of death and ill omen to the local Zatxu people. The pilgrims then reportedly ran into the undergrowth, with the Livarians attempting to pursue and track them, only to lose them and get lost.

History

Livarian colonisation

General Taras Horalenko led the first Livarian expedition to Koskiya in 7205, landing near the future site of Noviy Morshyn. The initial landing resulted in a number of first contact interactions with the indigenous Zatxu peoples, namely pilgrims and subjects of the King of Zentopan. Two days after first contact with a group of pilgrims, the semi-apocryphal origins of the name Koskiya from the Zatxunepli word for vulture (Cozcaquauatli), the Livarian company was met by a large band of Zatxu priests and sorcerers. The local king had dispatched the sorcerers to intercept the Livarians and ward against their ill-omened arrival after their arrival had been reported by pilgrims. The sorcerers began a highly complex ritual that saw the leading priests cast spells in a highly confusing and disconcerting display that left the Livarians uncertain whether they were under attack or not. The Livarians were nevertheless severely shaken by the encounter, having heard stories of the fearsome Zatxu sorcerers. Despite General Horalenko’s attempts to placate his superstitious troops, many sincerely believed that they had been cursed by the sorcerers, as their party began thereafter to suffer from various diseases, with casualties mounting. Horalenko would return to lead two further expeditions across the Thane Peninsula, but in 7212 he lost the confidence of the Livarian governor in the region due to his coming to believe in the power of the Zatxu sorcerers. Convinced that his only means of freeing himself from the curse he was suffering was through a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mahuiztotl, he reached the city in 7213 but died shortly thereafter. Conflicting sources mean it remains ambiguous as to whether Horalenko converted to the local religion in a bid to lift his curse. He remains a controversial figure, but his legend remains a strong cultural touchstone in modern Koskiya, with many lauding him as one of the first Livarians to embrace local customs and as a spiritual progenitor of the modern Koskimkiy people.

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Koskiya has a population of 21,658,792 as of 7689, making it the 124th most populous country on Gotha. The ethnographic make-up of the state today his heavily influenced by the land's colonial history, which saw large influxes of Livarian settlers from the early- to mid-73rd century. A deliberate colonial policy for hundreds of years encouraged Livarian settlers to take local Zatxu husbands and wives, with their offspring afforded the same rights as Livarians (though notably, pure Zatxu people were for a large portion of the colonial period not afforded the same rights as Livarians or Koskimkiy). This policy encouraged interbreeding between Cheltai Livarians and Mizuet Zatxu populations, which over time created a unique ethnic grouping known as the Koskimishana (Livarian: Коскімішана), which in Livarian literally means 'mixed-Koskian'.

The archaic name Koskimishana, first attributed in the 7300s, was steadily truncated and shortened to its current name, the Koskimkiy (Коскимький). The Koskimkiy make up the largest ethnic group in modern Koskiya and have a unique culture and sense of identity separate to, but intricately intertwined with, both the Livarian and Zatxu peoples.According to the 7687 census, ethnic Koskimkiy made up around 69% of the population, with 14% recording purely Zatxu heritage, 10% purely Livarian (Cheltai) heritage, 3% other Mizuet heritage and the remaining 4% other minorities.

Languages

The majority language of Koskiya is Livarian, namely the Koskian dialect which is mutually intelligible with metropolitan Livarian but has been heavily influenced by Zatxunepli loan words and morphology. Koskian Livarian is spoken by approximately 91% of the population, with the vast majority of those speaking it as their first language. Other minority languages are spoken, with Zatxunepli protected as an official minority language of approximately 8% of the population. Other minority languages include Toretlah.

Religion

The majority religion in Koskiya is Peratolian Orkanan. According to the 7687 census, 76% of the population identify as Peratolian Orkanan. Other forms of Orkanan are also followed in Koskiya, including Mellanhand Orkanan (7%), while indigenous Altaian Lizehanist faiths are followed by around 8% of the population today. In recent decades, other religions such as Guso have also gained in popularity amongst certain minority groups, with around 1.6% of the population now following the practices of Guso.