Azukri

Azukri, officially known as the Sublime State of Azukri, is a sovereign country that is located off the coast of the Antarctic mainland. The island of Azukri is located off the coast of eastern Eastshield. The sea surrounding it is geographically known as the Sea of Azu. Despite being almost three-fifth the size of Zhou, the country’s population of 23 million is small compared to it, which has often been attributed to Azukri’s stringent immigration policies and “semi-isolationism”. The country is mostly sparsely populated, with the Azukri City metropolitan area being home to over 5 million (roughly 21.7% of the population).

While English is the official language, languages such as Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and French are also spoken and learned by the Azukrians, a reminder of its semi-colonial past when it received waves of immigrants. The populace enjoy a carefree yet productive lifestyle. The Sublime State’s isolated past allowed the nation to develop a self-sufficient mixed-market economy, which is further boosted by abundant blessings of natural resources, (such as rare earth metals, geothermal energy, platinum group metals, gold, iron, aluminium, copper, lithium, coal and fossil fuels). The nation also enjoys food security and food sovereignty as its sophisticated agricultural industry is capable of supplying the relatively small Azukrian populace with high-quality food products. An advanced and affordable education system also provides the nation with modern technology and skilled professionals. Despite that, the country is still classified as a developing nation due to its lack of participation in international trade and the government continues to make efforts to eventually make the country a high-income country and less dependent on natural resources for foreign revenues.

Due to historical reasons and government policies, Azukri is considerably uninvolved in the international community despite its proximity to the Antarctic mainland. While the country has numerous trade partners (with Azukri primarily acting as the exporter), it only has limited diplomatic relationships with select countries. The Sublime State is currently ruled by Her Sublime Excellency Empress Katherine Chandos, whose ancestors have ruled the nation since as early as 1400. The former feudalistic government, which divided Azukrians into penguins of various subspecies, ruled the nation under a complex caste system that was among the last to exist in the 21st century. Luckily for the masses, this government and its backwards policies were overthrown during the popular Multicolour Revolution of 2016. The Sublime State continues to maintain its semi-isolationist stance till this day, with the only membership that the country holds being in the UAN (which it joined only as recently as 2018).

Azukri is also known for having a Royal Marriage relationship with the Magnus Empire, also known as Magonia. The marriage between Empress Katherine and Emperor Slender allows Magonia to interact and trade with Azukri in a way that isn’t open to most other countries. Despite that, both countries have distinct domestic and foreign policies, although it’s fair to say that they do not contradict each other too much. The international community had coined the term “The Duo” or “The Couple Nations” to refer to Azukri and Magonia jointly.

History
There is archaeological evidence that Azukri was settled as early as 180 BC. Several relatively small asteroids directly struck the small Azukrian settlement and mountainous areas of the island back then, instantly killing off the entire populace. The island would not be inhabited again until as late as 400 AD.

Establishment of the Chandos Dynasty
While there had been several dynasties that ruled the island prior to the Chandos Dynasty, not much information could be retrieved from official records as traces of the Chandos’ predecessors had been wiped clean by Edward Chandos. He was the extraordinarily brilliant yet brutal warlord who founded the Chandos Dynasty in 1400. During his campaign to unify the various city-states and petty kingdoms of the island, the island experienced a population drop ranging from 5% to as much as 25%. While his conquests were only limited to Azukri, the sheer brutality of his armies’ war crimes and the warlord’s penchant for massacres and atrocities were unspeakable even during modern times. So gruesome were his prisons, that he allegedly told a captive nobleman (who rebelled against him), “I know the definition for the Underworld before you are cast into it, because I built it myself”. The lucky few who somehow managed to escape to the Antarctic mainland from the genocidal tyrant described him as “The Lord of Evil”, which incidentally became the first time the Antarctic mainland heard of the island.

Emperor Edward’s descendants were comparatively mild. They focused on redeveloping the island’s culture and economy after the gargantuan cultural destruction and loss of lives that it had experienced. Merchants from the Antarctic mainland and other places (most notably Enclave Penguins and Zhouese-Peletonium Penguins) were attracted to this exotic land as it was a prime supplier of saffron, cloves, pepper and salt back then. Slowly but surely, Azukri was back on its feet as the prospering island that it was and even surpassed its former days of glory. The discovery of platinum and gold on the island further increased its wealth.

Semi-Colonial Era
Despite its prosperity, the advent of imperialism as the centuries passed also made Azukri a target for imperialist nations such as Francterre, Grand Permatan, the High Penguin Confederacy and other nations. Several Archipelagoan nations, notably Batavia, Lisboagal, Rusca, Francterre and Puffle’land, competed for the exclusive right to trade with Azukri. What started off as harmless competition soon turned ugly when these nations begin to fight naval wars off the coast of Azukri.

In the last of such wars, the Azukrian Emperor Philip II attempted to support the Ruscans when they offered him money. However, this greatly upset the Puffish and the Francterreans as the two countries launched a land invasion on Azukri. When it became apparent that the two technologically-superior invaders would win and potentially jeopardise the Chandos Dynasty’s ruling position, the Emperor’s brother, William, made a deal with the Francterreans and Puffish to offer them concessions and trading rights in exchange for helping him to overthrow his brother and guaranteeing Azukri’s independence. The move worked as William managed to overthrow his brother in a mostly bloodless coup (with the ex-Emperor being one of the few fatalities) and got crowned as William IV in 1854.

Later on, the High Penguin Confederacy also received concessions from the Sublime State, as did Japaland in 1906. While the deal William IV made with the imperialists managed to nominally preserve the country’s sovereignty and independence, foreigners often enjoyed more rights than the natives themselves as they followed their native countries’ laws instead of Azukrian laws. The foreign powers also actively intervened in the imperial court, going as far as to choosing their preferred candidates for heir apparent by bribing the emperors with money and modern weaponry. They were even accused to have partaken in the assassination of Emperor Andrew I, which didn’t work in their favour as the next Emperor (Edward III) immediately launched a war to kick the foreigners out in 1914. The final straw that turned tensions between the Emperor and the colonial powers into outright violence was the Bloomingdon Café Massacre, during which a Francterrean court acquitted a Francterrean citizen who accidentally ran over patrons of the noteworthy Bloomingdon Café in the capital with an automobile and caused 6 deaths. Two years later, the Azukrians managed to emerge victorious as the countries holding interests in the island were too busy fighting the Khanzem War. All foreign concessions and extraterritorial privileges were subsequently cancelled.

Despite the humiliation wrought by its semi-colonial status, imperialism brought profound changes to the country. Foreigners built factories in the country, which laid the foundation for a solid industrial base. Archipelagoan culture also made an impact on the country as Azukrians began to adopt Archipelagoan cultural practices, especially when it came to architecture, cuisine and fashion. The need to communicate with the colonial powers that hold concessions also prompted Azukrians to learn English, French and Japanese. These languages are still taught in Azukrian schools in the present day.

Era of Absolute Isolation
Following the exit of the colonial powers was the era of Absolute Isolation. Edward III, who was a fervent Azukrian nationalist, banned anyone from entering or exiting the nation. He also confiscated the properties and lands of merchants and aristocrats who were friendly to the colonial powers. These were distributed to those loyal to him, who utilised them as assets for their new enterprises. The island’s various minerals were mined as raw materials for the domestic manufacturing sector. Surplus ores were sold to merchants on Boon Island (an island off the coast of the Azukrian mainland) in both refined and unrefined forms.

The Azukrian state managed to accumulate enough capital to continuously improve its economy, thanks to its vast reserves of gold and platinum. The discovery of large petroleum deposits near present-day Atalanta also also helped the nation to increase its foreign currency earnings. In its heyday, it was among the largest producer and exporter of petroleum in Antarctica. The government began to purchase the best technologies from other countries via proxies and sent its brightest minds overseas to study in prestigious universities (with their tuition fees being completely subsidised). Most of these prodigies ended up becoming top-level government officials or entrepreneurs in their own right. This helped Azukri to keep up with the latest happenings overseas without compromising its own information to other nations.

Edward V, the current monarch’s father, ascended to the throne of Azukri at the mere age of 8 in 1954. This era was also considerably dangerous to both the nation and the monarchy as guerrilla movements sponsored by STINC popped up like mushrooms around the mainland and Boon Island in the 1950’s. This was mainly due to the False War, which started in 1945. Far-left Maoist movements, sponsored by Zhou, also appeared to encourage sedition against the monarchy. Despite that, they constituted a tiny minority as almost all Azukrians are loyal to the monarchy due to their spiritual beliefs. The resulting crackdown was, to say the least, harsh and swift. Dissenters who dared to speak out against the government were detained without trial, demonstrations were suppressed with tear gas, batons and guns, and those who were found guilty of trying to subvert the monarchy were executed. The movements were destroyed with efficiency, albeit with rather unsavoury methods. The Mukhabarat, the country’s intelligence agency, became the most powerful institution in the Sublime State and many considered Azukri to be a police state. There was always the fear that the Mukhabarat would eventually overthrow the monarchy and install a military dictatorship. In 1978, Azukri became the first country to reach peak oil. The extraction of petroleum subsequently became very unprofitable, which ended up causing an economic recession. In order to cope with this, the government began making a switch to using geothermal energy to generate electricity. This was largely successful as the country stopped depending on fossil fuels to generate electricity. In the end, Azukri was forced to loosen its restrictions on foreign immigration and investments. Starting from 1980, the Azukrians were once again allowed to travel overseas.

However, this didn’t please the far-right Mukhabarat, as many in the agency collaborated with fellow hardliners in the military to depose the Emperor back then and install a military junta in 1983. Nevertheless, pro-monarchy forces managed to prevent the coup and preserved the monarchy. Following the event, more purges were carried out, this time directed against those who weren’t loyal to the monarchy. The Mukhabarat and the military were subdued and brought under the Emperor’s control. The period was known for the numerous penguin rights abuses that the military committed when it launched a bloody invasion on the previously independent Boon Island in 1982, killing tens of thousands of innocents. However, those who were responsible for committing war crimes ended up being prosecuted and executed. Although the government in this period shared some ideological similarities with the Nationalist Bloc headed by Ed Island, Edward V mostly aligned the country with the Unaffiliated Bloc of Puffle'and, Francterre and Olde Antarctica as he wanted to trade with these great powers.

Involvement in STINC-zachal and Colonial Antarctica
The country was taken aback by surprise when STINC, backed by North Alemania, Rusca and Zhou, invaded Olde Antarctica and conquered it in 1990. The threat of a communist invasion was once again feared by many to be imminent. In order to combat the red threat, Emperor Edward V teamed up with Calada and Puffle'and to launch a war against the communist forces. While the war saw many Azukrian soldiers giving their lives in the name of destroying the red threat, it also ended up being useful for the country overall as Puffle'and recognised the country’s contributions when it established Colonial Antarctica. Trade increased significantly between the victors and Azukri, thus allowing the Azukrian economy to flourish once again.

Initially, the Sublime State supported the Puffish when many Antarcticans decided to overthrow the colonial government. However, it later switched sides when the tide began to switch into the rebels’ favour. When the USA was later established, the Azukrians were able to establish cordial relations with the new country and continue trading with the Antarctic mainland, although relations with the Puffish took a hit for a while.

Multicolour Revolution
Despite the fact that all Azukrian nationals share the same culture and speak the same languages, prior to 2016, Azukrians were divided into 3 main classes - those who are “pure Azukrians” (Adelie Penguins), those who are mixed Azukrians (eg: Adelie-Enclave Penguins) and those who are not even partially Azukrians. The first category was at the top of the feudal class system as it was as the country’s ruling class. The House of Chandos, aristocrats, military generals and government officials came from this class. The second class, mixed Azukrians, made up a significant majority of the population. While they were allowed to enjoy rights, mixed Azukrians were not allowed to participate in the government at all. The third class was made up of blue-collar workers, serfs and slaves until 1987 when serfs and slaves were emancipated. While some non-Azukrians managed to rise from rags to riches, they often held less civil rights than subordinates who were pure or mixed Azukrians.

In 1996, the first serious revolt against the House of Chandos occurred. Displeased members of the third class (and several members of the second class) formed armed militias and took over some rural towns. The ease of gun ownership back then allowed this revolt to occur. When the Imperial Azukrian Military attempted to restore order, a bloody confrontation took place and caused over 12,000 fatalities. Upon gaining victory, the military demolished these towns and massacred their inhabitants under the order of Emperor Edward V. These atrocities were mostly unknown to the international community until 2007, when the imperial government finally declassified documents concerning the revolt and issued a formal apology for the atrocities committed.

The government’s suppression of the revolt multiplied the second and third classes’ dissatisfaction towards the xenophobic and feudal government. The last straw occurred in 2015, when a brilliant high school graduate was denied admission into the prestigious Imperial University because he was from the third class. There was widespread outrage when the applicant committed suicide in public and it was further revealed that some members of the aristocracy bribed the university’s administration to admit their under-qualified chicks. Public demonstrations broke out across the entire nation.

Emperor Edward V attempted to suppress the unrest by ordering the military to shoot protesters. However, since the military was made up of members of the “oppressed” classes, it refused to comply with the Emperor’s order and mutinied. Things reached a climax when the military and government officials rallied up behind Princess Katherine Chandos and supported her ascension to the throne despite her mixed Azukrian ancrstry (her father, who is Edward V’s elder brother, secretly married an Enclave Penguin and was forced to forfeit his claim to the throne). What happened next was unclear, but it was alleged that Edward V was offered a lump sum of cash “as an exit gift” to abdicate from the throne. The Emperor knew that the odds were against him and abdicated by August 2016. It is widely theorised that if the Emperor had not abdicate, further bloodshed would have ensued and put the country in risk of collapse. Katherine was then crowned as the first ever female ruler of Azukri. Following her ascension, the caste system was abolished. An election in 2017 also gave the National Justice Party control over the House of Nationals.

2019 Azukrian Scrub Riot
Starting from 27 January 2019, a series of small riots broke out in several suburbs of the Azukrian cities of Marlborough and Atalanta. The riots, which were perpetrated by scrubs, were originally rallies against the Azukrian government’s ban on the Penstubal Post. However, as the organisers did not bother to obtain permission from the government, the Azukrian police attempted to disperse the crowd, resulting in riots. The Azukrian police successfully broke up the riots with tear gas, rubber bullets and batons by 29 January. In what is perhaps the most notorious incident during the riots, a police officer shot a scrub rioter to death after the latter attempted to stab him with a kitchen knife. In the aftermath, over 73 rioters were detained, with another 173 penguins who are suspected to be involved with the riot arrested and detained for disturbing civil order. The government currently imposes a temporary ban on all “pro-scrub communal activites” in order to preserve civil order.

On 7 February 2019, the main organisers of the riots were sentenced to 70 strokes of the cane and 8 years of imprisonment since they are repeat offenders.

Near Future
The Shops Civil War and Donal Tenorio’s protectionist trade policies resulted in Azukri’s economy entering a recession for 2 years, which was soon resolved thanks to the government’s stimulus package and Magonian involvement. The country was one of several to start filling Shops’s gap as the USA’s and Polaris’s trade partner. The Sublime State’s economic power reached new heights by the late 2030’s. Economic prosperity allowed the country to build up its military, which was seen to be necessity due to Snoss aggression.

In 2044, Empress Katherine abdicated in favour of her son Slender II, who became the next Emperor. His succession signifies the split Slender’s family into two cadet branches, namely the original House of Mason (consisting of his other children’s descendants) and the House of Mason-Chandos (consisting of Emperor Slender II’s descendants). Slender II would go on to become the Emperor of Magonia too upon Slender’s death, although both countries were administered under different systems.

Geography
The country is located east off the coast of Eastshield. It comprises of the island of Azukri and a small island called Boon Island. The sea surrounding the country is called the Sea of Azu. The mainland is roughly three-fifth the size of Zhou. Boon Island is widely known for its pristine beauty, although this has been threatened by economic activities in recent years.

The mainland’s terrain is mostly flat, with the exception of the rather mountainous and hilly west coast. The Gunung (literally Mountain in Malay) mountain range stretches across the west coast, with the tallest peak being the Maharaja mountain (Emperor mountain) at 2,772 meter. The rest of the island is covered by temperate grasslands. This, combined with suitable precipitation, makes the country ideal for agricultural activities.

The country is home to a large number of hot springs. They have been utilised to attract tourists and to generate geothermal energy, which helps the country to maintain a mere 3% dependence rate on fossil fuels.

Climate
The country has a temperate climate, with hot-summer Mediterranean climate in the province of Atalanta, Oceanic climate in Azukri City and continental climate just about everywhere else. The country has an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius, with the highest recorded temperature being 43 degree Celsius and the lowest being -28 degree Celsius.

Economy
Azukri has a mixed-market economic system. While important sectors such as defence, aerospace and telecommunications are state-owned, other industries are run by private enterprises, albeit sometimes with government-run companies competing in these industries. The country is self-sufficient as it doesn’t have to import much critical consumer goods.

Abundant natural resources (such as fertile chernozem soil, rare earth metals, geothermal energy, platinum group metals, gold, iron, aluminium, copper, lithium, coal and fossil fuels), high education levels and modern technologies have all contributed to the Azukrian economy’s success. The country is considered to be a high-income nation as of 2019. The government has so far made the country less reliant on international trade so that the government will have a higher degree of control over the economy, in order to intervene efficiently whenever needed. The country’s usage of clean energy sources (primarily geothermal energy) help to ensure that economic development doesn’t threaten its environment.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing makes up roughly 14% of the nation’s GDP. Despite years of isolation, Azukri has managed to develop a broadly diversified manufacturing sector that makes just about any kind of consumer goods. Many products found in the nation are uniquely Azukrian and aren’t exported to other nations. However, industrial machineries, semiconductors, robots, electronics and clothes are some of the nation’s produces that it exports to the international market. The nation’s biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology industries are also well-known for being advanced. Government involvement in the manufacturing sector is high as it controls the defence, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries.

Some of the nation’s factories are advanced for its age as many of them are AI-operated. Production is determined based on demand in the market and factories run at lower costs than their international peers. However, only companies with enormous capital can afford to build such factories. Other factories still depend on penguin labour, but many processes are increasingly automated and taken over by AI. Production techniques often emphasise improvements in a product’s quality and environmental friendliness instead of increasing the quantity produced from the same amount of raw materials.

Despite the fact that Azukrian workers are paid high wages and given generous benefits (mandated by the government), Azukrian goods are competitive on the international stage as easy access to raw materials lowers the overheads for making them, while they are also known for their high-quality and stringent safety standards of these products.

The country’s arms-manufacturing industry first started off in 1899, when AzuBarrier was formed as the first domestic arms-manufacturing company. Later on, Gabriel and Osman was also formed by Gabriel Yavin and Osman Yavuz as a privately owned business in 1932. However, G&O was later acquired by the government in 1938. In 1957, the Azukrian Imperial Wealth Fund formed the Azukrian Weapons Industries, which subsequently merged Gabriel and Osman under its banner and acquired AzuBarrier in 1968 and 1976 respectively.

The country’s automobile industry kickstarted in 1905 when Yamamoto Motor was founded by a Japalandese immigrant. In 1916, the company was forcibly acquired by the government and renamed the Azukrian Automotive Corporation (AzuAuto). AzuAuto is renowned for manufacturing hybrid vehicles that are styled after cars in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Other privately-owned automobile companies include Yildiz Auto, Adelmann and Co, Uzi-Peres and Ismaili. Azukrian automobiles are renowned for being high-quality, which make them relatively costly to own.

Services
The services sector make up largely 73% of the nation’s GDP. Retail in Azukri is often conducted via e-commerce. Payment is often made using mobile wallet apps, such as PayAzu, BinaryPay and AzuPouch. Retail chains and supermarkets are dominant in the Azukri City metropolitan area, Atalanta and Marlborough, while “mom and pop” stores are prevalent in less densely populated areas. In recent years, there has been a surge of independently-owned retail stores that are challenging the dominance of “big companies”.

The finance industry is subject to regulations by the government in order to prevent fraud and stock market crashes. The country is home to two government-run stock exchanges, namely Azukri Stock Exchange (AZSE) and Marlborough Stock Exchange (MBSX). The country’s largest domestic bank, Imperial Bank of Azukri, is owned by the government, while the largest foreign bank is the Avaritas Banking Group. The country’s largest insurance company is a joint venture between the Imperial Bank of Azukri and the Avaritas Banking Group. The country is also home to a fair share of investment funds (many of which are foreign-owned). While the financial sector on the mainland is subject to government regulations, the overseas territory of Boon Island has a less-regulated financial sector. Because of that, along with strict privacy regulations in the territory, Boon Island is a renowned offshore financial centre. One notable example of this contrast is the government’s policy on foreign financial institutions operating in the empire. In every territory except for Boon Island, all foreign banks operating in Azukri are required to enter joint ventures with local banks with minority stakes (with the exception of the Empress’s husband’s Avaritas Banking Group, which was also granted an exemption from forming a joint venture in the first place by an imperial decree). However, starting from 2019, foreign banks are allowed to own controlling stakes in these joint ventures.

Mining
The mining sector makes up 7% of the nation’s GDP. The nation has a thriving mining sector as it is blessed with abundant resources of minerals, such as rare earth metals, platinum group metals, gold, iron, tin, aluminium, copper, cobalt, coal and fossil fuels. They are mostly located at the west coast’s mountain ranges. Formerly a powerhouse in the Azukrian economy, the extraction and production of petroleum is now a former shell of itself as the nation had drained much of its oil reserves back in the 1980’s. However, the discovery of oil sands in the Marlborough region and Boon Island has attracted the attention of several local entrepreneurs interested in extracting oil. While these unconventional petroleum sources are currently being exploited in Marlborough by a joint venture between local entrepreneurs and the government, attempts in Boon Island have been blocked so far by the locals and the government as it is estimated that extracting them would cause huge environmental damage to the biologically diverse and environmentally beautiful island. Vast deposits of shale oil are also reportedly found at the south of the island, but the government has made it clear that all attempts to extract it will be banned.

Most of the minerals mined in Azukri are intended to serve as raw materials for domestic industries. However, some companies have started exporting to other countries in order to earn a quick profit. Some of the country’s largest mineral mines are also located at the fertile east Azukrian Plains, which leads to legal disputes between miners and farmers over lands.

Agriculture
The agriculture sector consists of 5% of Azukri’s GDP. Major crops produced by Azukri include cereals (wheat, barley, sorghum, oats and rice), fruits (dates, apples, cherries, avocados, kiwis, citrus and avocados), vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and zucchini), coffee beans, tea leaves and spices. The fertile plains of the nation (with the exception of the western part of the mainland) allow the Azukrians to produce enough food to sustain the populace, giving the nation food security and food sovereignty. The use of drone technology in agriculture is also prevalent. Since 1973, farmers are only allowed to use natural fertilisers to increase their harvest. Rooftop farms are a common sight in cities like Azukri City, Atalanta and Marlborough, while geothermal greenhouses are prevalent in rural areas.

Most of Azukri’s agriculture is based on cooperative principles that evolved in the late nineteenth century. There are 2 unique forms of agricultural farms; the kibbutz, a collective community in which the means of production are communally owned and each member's work benefits all; and the moshav, a farming village where each family maintains its own household and works its own land, while purchasing and marketing are conducted co-operatively Both communities formed rural communities based on social equality, co-operation and mutual aid.

Catfish, mackerel, trout, cod and salmon are some of the most commonly traded fish in the nation. Commercial fishing has largely been replaced by aquaculture. Azukrian cattle can be said to be around the same standard as Munian ones. Seafood, along with poultry, is primarily for domestic consumption. In contrast, red meats duh as beef and veal are often exported. However, pork has to be exported from other countries as the Azukrians’ traditional dietary customs discourage the consumption of pork. The country is also one of the largest producers of dairy products and perhaps the largest producer of honey in Antarctica.

Azukrian Imperial Wealth Fund (AIWF)
The Azukrian Imperial Wealth Fund is the country’s premier sovereign wealth fund. The AIWF was founded in 1949 in order to manage the foreign exchange revenues generated by the sale of petroleum back in the days. The fund specialises in foreign investment and domestic investment outside of the primary sector. Approximately 15%-35% of the nation’s overall foreign exchange revenues (and a significant portion of the nation’s revenues from selling natural resources) are put into the fund annually. It is said that the fund successfully prevented the country’s economy from entering a recession when it hit peak oil back in 1979 and also tremendously reduced its dependence on extracting natural resources.

Currently headed by Empress Katherine Chandos as the Chairman and managed by Philippe DuPont as the CEO, the AIWF owns the Azukrian Weapons Industries, AzuAuto, Azukrian Airline, MaharajaCom (the country’s sole telecommunications company and Internet service provider), AzukriProp (the fund’s real estate investment subsidiary), Kaplan Group and invests in Beakbook, Peach, EBUL, Antarctic Food Company, and Micro Hard and Soft.

Currency
The Azukrian Dollar (AZD) is the sole legal tender of the country. The Central Bank of Azukri has the sole right to issue the Azukrian Dollar. As of 2018, 1 Azukrian Dollar is worth 1.1 Club Penguin Coin.

Additionally, the government has also launched a “cryptocurrency” named eAZD (which stands for electronic-Azukrian Dollar). The eAZD’s value is based on an index that combines the Consumer Prices Index, prices of rare earth metals, base metals and natural gas. As of now, only Azukrian nationals aren’t given limits on how much eAZD they can own. The eAZD is commonly used as a medium of exchange in Azukri City, Marlborough and Atalanta. They are often paid via mobile wallet apps or crypto debit cards.

Infrastructure
Azukrian infrastructure is comparable to other first-world countries, although there is still a disparity between urban and rural infrastructure.

Energy
Approximately 97% of Azukri’s energy is produced from renewable sources, primarily geothermal energy provided by the country’s hot springs. The Sublime State is one of the earliest adopters of geothermal energy in Antarctica, having conducted research into using it ever since the 1980’s. The country also relies on tidal and wave power, especially in coastal cities on the mainland and Boon Island. In rural areas, solar power is also used, while hydropower is utilised in areas with significant water sources. The usage of such sources is attributed to a fear of running out of energy sources and a fear of being dependent on other countries for fossil fuels. The former nearly became a reality when the country’s oil reserves began to decline in the 1970’s.

In addition to the above, some towns, such as Chandosville, use fossil fuels as a form of energy. Natural gas is the main source of fossil fuel utilised by the country, while settlements that have existed for even longer use petroleum. The Azukrian government has also started construction of a nuclear power plant that consists of fusion reactors.

Most automobiles in Azukri are hybrid cars that rely on natural gas, petrol and electricity.

Roads and Highways
The Sublime State is linked via an extensive system of roads and highways. There are also bike lanes on every highway in the country. On certain highways, tolls are charged in order for users to pass the roads. The fees are used to offset the costs of building and maintaining the roads. As early as 2004, the country has adopted an electronic toll collection system, in which tolls were paid via a transponder. In some rural areas, roads are not as well-maintained, which meant that roads in the Azukrian countryside are often bumpy.

In many areas of the country, road signs are trilingual as they are written in English, Malay and Mandarin Chinese. However, many rural areas still use signs exclusively written in English. On city streets and local roads, the speed limit is typically 60 km/h. On Shopper highways, however, speed limits are variable and posted by motorway control systems.

Electricity
The country’s electricity is managed by a joint venture between the Governance and the Azukrian Imperial Wealth Fund. Electricity prices generally depend on the electrical usage of a household or a business.

Water
The Azukrian government is in control of all water utilities in the country. Water is distributed for free to all real estate owned by Azukrian citizens, as the right to water is regarded to be sacrosanct by the government. Foreigners are charged a reasonable amount of money for access to the country’s water sources. Water fountains are a common sight in urban areas.

Aside from natural sources such as springs and rivers, the country also derives its water sources from reclaimed water and seawater desalination.

Telecommunications
The Sublime State’s sole telecommunications company is AzuCom, which is a joint venture between the Azukrian Imperial Wealth Fund and the Telenacle. The country currently has 12 million telephone lines in use, an astonishing 93% of the population actively using the Internet and a smartphone penetration rate of over 77%. The country’s average connection speed is 27.9 Mb/s. The administration of Nurul Ismail has developed a framework to make smartphones and Internet plans more affordable and efficient, with a projected smartphone penetration rate of 90% by 2020. With the help of MagnusCom, 5G technology is expected to be made commercially available starting from the second quarter of 2020.

Government


Since 1400, Azukri has been a monarchy ruled by the House of Chandos. The Monarch is titled Emperor or Empress and styled as His/Her Sublime Excellency. The incumbent monarch is Empress Katherine Chandos, who has ruled since 2017. Formerly aided by an informal council of advisors that played dual roles as an advisory council and a de facto cabinet, the monarch is currently aided by the privy council and the cabinet when it comes to ruling the nation. All members of the privy council and the cabinet are appointed by the monarch. The role of head of government is sometimes taken by the monarch, but it is often delegates to an official known as the Grand Vizier on some occasion. The Grand Vizier is usually appointed by the monarch, and heads the cabinet. In the course of Azukri’s history, a majority of Grand Viziers were members of the armed forces. The current Grand Vizier is Nurul Ismail, who is also the first to be a non-member of the Imperial Azukrian Military, the Mukhabarat or the Imperial Azukri Police in 73 years. She is also the first female puffle to become the Grand Vizier and the youngest ever Grand Vizier at the age of 34.

The legislature of Azukri is the Parliament of Azukri. It is divided into an upper house House of Peers and a lower house House of Nationals. The House of Peers consists of two types of members, namely members who inherit their seat or members who are appointed by the Azukrian monarch (often for life). The Monarch may increase or decrease the number of seats in the House of Peers however they want, and also reserves the right to grant or abolish hereditary seats. Members of this house are granted aristocratic titles by the monarch, with hereditary seat holders given the titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl or Viscount (in descending order of prestige). Life seat holders are given the title of Baron. Aside from symbolic purposes, these titles do not serve any other function.

The House of Nationals currently consists of 260 members. The monarch holds the power to initiate legislations and retains an absolute veto over legislations, which reduces the Parliament to more of a consultative role. Members of the lower house are elected every 5 years, or whenever the monarch dissolves Parliament.

Elections are relatively new in the nation as they are only introduced in 1997. Prior to the Multicolour Revolution, the electorate could only elect for 40% of all House of Nationals members and only Azukrians could be elected. However, this has been changed so that the electorate elects the entire House of Nationals. Universal suffrage has existed since 2017. Political parties have been legal since 2008, with the House of Nationals being dominated by the National Justice Party led by Nurul Ismail.

Metropolitan and Surrounding Areas
Azukri has numerous cities, as well as smaller towns and villages. The following is a list of the country’s largest population centres in terms of population, in descending order

Culture
Alongside indigenous influences, Azukri’s culture has been described to be mostly dominated by Archipelagoan cultural influences and supplemented by Asiapelagoan cultural influences. It can’t be denied that the country’s semi-colonial era has deeply influenced its culture to the extent of rebooting it.

Architecture
The country’s architecture varies depending on the location. Indigenous architecture is most prominently exemplified by the Imperial Palace in Azukri City, which is the official residence of the monarch and often seen as the ultimate symbol of political power in the Sublime State. The Grand Fortress is also influenced by traditional Azukrian architecture, as are several streets and neighbourhoods in Azukri City and cities founded before the Semi-Colonial Era. However, it should be noted that these “old-fashioned” buildings have been renovated to modern-day standards, so it is not unusual to find high-technological utilities within them.

Cuisine
The Sublime State’s cuisine, while maintaining some native influences, is heavily influenced by foreign cuisines during its era of semi-colonialism.

The Azukrians are among the largest consumers of dairy products per capita in Antarctica. White cheese (resembling feta), kashar cheeses (both aged and fresh), tulum cheese, kelle cheese and dil cheese are among the most commonly eaten cheeses in Azukri, while Azukrian yoghurt is often used in local recipes.

The Azukrians are known for their traditional full breakfast, which consists of plates of white and old cheeses, black and green olives, an omelette (yumurta), tomatoes, cucumbers, sliced breads, honey and jams. Sucuklu Yumurta, is also a traditional breakfast favourite, which is sucuk (dried sausage made of ground beef with garlic and a variety of spices like red pepper, cumin and sumac) cooked on a pan mostly with eggs. However, menemen (a dish that includes eggs, tomato, green peppers, and spices such as ground black pepper, ground red pepper, salt and oregano.) is also served in place of sucuklu yumurta.

A traditional Azukrian lunch is usually light in nature. Lunch often consists of pilaf served with some meats. As a result of Japalandese influence, tamago kake gohan is also eaten for lunch. Sandwiches are also popular lunch items.

Dinner is generally more elaborate than lunch and served in courses. A soup course would be the first to be served, followed by a vegetarian dish, a meat dish, a cheese course and a fruit course (which takes the place of a sweet dessert in most cases). Staples such as rice, breads and pasta (a recent addition) are served.

The Sublime State is also renowned for its Azukrian-Zhouese cuisine. This is primarily a mix of Zhouese and Malé cuisines. Asam laksa, mee siam, nasi kerabu and wonton noodles can be found in hawker stalls. These dishes are most commonly found on Boon Island.

The Azukrians are among the largest consumers of coffee per capita. Traditional Azukrian coffee is unfiltered and finely ground, and served with Azukrian delights (a type of traditional confectionary). However, Archipelagoan-style coffee beverages are starting to get trendy in the country, especially in the cities of Marlborough and Atalanta. Despite that, coffee is not usually drank in traditional Azukrian breakfasts, with sweet tea taking its place on the breakfast table. Cream Soda, the consumption of which local dietary customs discouraged, is gaining popularity among younger Azukrians who aren’t as socially conservative. Yogurt drinks like ayran and cultured drinks like kefir are also popular beverages.

Media
Azukri’s media outlets are state-owned and operated. Contents that threaten the Sublime State’s societal harmony and criticises the monarchy are generally prohibited.

There are 4 national-level newspapers in Azukri, the most popular of which is The Azukri Times. This is followed by The Azukrian Inquirer, The Imperial Post and The Happenings. Three notable regional newspapers include The Marlborough Relay, The Atalanta Sentinel and The Boon Times. All of these newspapers are in English. All of Azukri’s newspapers are traditionally compact newspapers (broadsheet-quality newspapers printed in a tabloid format), but many Azukrians read the news online nowadays due to the massive percentage of Azukrians who own smartphones and have access to the Internet. This has led to an emergence of online news portals that are owned by private individuals. However, there are laws in place to ensure that they do not overstep established boundaries.

The Azukrian Media Corporation (AMC) is the country’s only public service broadcaster (or any broadcaster for that matter). Any Azukrian household that wants to watch or record the AMC’s “basic” television transmissions can watch them for free. There are currently 8 television channels that are free for all Azukrians. Additionally, there are also 35 television channels that require a monthly subscription fee. The AMC also offers a subscription-based, streaming video-on-demand service. The latter is more popular among Azukrians and it has caused a steady decline in the number of subscribers to the AMC’s premium channels.

Education
The Azukrian education system is overseen by the Ministry of Education. Primary school and lower-level secondary school education are compulsory for all Azukrian nationals. All schools are run by the Ministry of Education, with homeschooling and privately-run schools illegal. Azukrian nationals have the privilege of enjoying free education (which only covers tuition fees, books, primary school uniforms and school lunches). Educational facilities are equipped with the latest technology in order to enhance the learning experience.

Many parents send their offsprings to kindergarten when they are around the age of 5. The average Azukrian begins primary school at the age of 7. Primary school usually lasts until the age of 12, although there are often opportunities available for students to skip a grade. Around 23% of all Azukrians graduates from primary school at the age of 11 or below (most of them graduate at the age of 11). Those who skip two grades or above are placed at schools for those who are gifted intellectually. This is done so in order to ensure that these prodigies are able to study in an environment more suitable for and to utilise their potential ability to the maximum level. These schools teach gifted chicks based on how much knowledge they could absorb. As a result, it is not uncommon for someone in such schools to be able to finish two years’ worth of primary education within a year. Primary school students are required to learn English, at least one language of their own choosing and several other subjects. Additionally, primary school students are also required to wear school uniforms paid for by the state.

In secondary school, students are allowed to choose what subject they are interested in studying. They can choose streams such as science, arts, commerce and technical. Those who still do not have a preference for what they would like to study are allowed to take a general stream, which combines all subjects without being too in-depth. Generally, over 63% of all Azukrians select subjects of their liking upon entering secondary school. Only a small percentage (4%) of them has switched to other subjects. At Form 3 (by when the age of the average Azukrian student would be 15), students will sit for the LSEE (Lower-Secondary Education Examination). After that, a student has several options. If they aren’t from the general stream, they only have to study for another 2 years before they graduate from secondary school. If they are from the general stream, they will have to select a stream and study for 3 years. At the end of their upper-level secondary school years, students will have to sit for the USEE (Upper-Secondary Education Examination). Those who do well academically in their upper-secondary years can have some of their credit hours in university deducted based on what they have studied. In contrast to primary school students, those who study in secondary schools do not have to wear school uniforms, although they have to follow their school’s dress code. Traditionally the dress code is smart casual, but in recent years numerous schools have decided to allow students to dress casually to school. However, there are still some guidelines that they must follow (shorts, beachwear, sandals, slippers, tattoos and revealing clothings are prohibited in almost all schools).

The Sanctuary of Knowledge was first founded in 850 AD by dynasties predating the Chandos Dynasty, making it among the first university to be ever founded in Antarctica. Initially an academic institution opened to only the country’s elite scholars, the then-ruling dynasty’s fall from power helped to convert it into a public academy and intellectual center. However, the Sanctuary’s status as a formal academy is often disputed due to a lack of formal functions, with some saying that it is more akin to a public library. In addition, the Imperial University was founded in 1864 as the country’s first Archipelagoan-style University, followed by the University of Azukri City in 1875, Chandos University in 1881 and the University of Marlborough in 1905. Today, there are 39 universities in Azukri. Usually it would take 3 years for an undergraduate to complete their Bachelor’s degree programme. It is estimated that 49.9% of the population has graduated from university, while there are 8,000 doctoral graduates in the country.

Military and Defence Policy
The military of the Sublime State is the Imperial Azukrian Military. It consists of three branches, namely the Imperial Ground Force, the Imperial Naval Force and the Imperial Air Force. The IAM currently has 800,000 active troops and 550,000 reserve troops. The Azukrian Empress is the Supreme Commander of the IAM and holds ultimate authority over it.

The IAM is composed of full-time professionals. Until October 2019, all Azukrian nationals from the age of 12 to 50 had to partake in the National Service for 18 months. This is because the state wants everyone to be able to defend the island in the event of an invasion. Those who have completed National Service were listed as reserve troops for up to 15 years. After that, they were required to undertake military training once every month so that they can be prepared at any time. Guns issued to reserve troops were kept locked at their bases of origin. These monthly trainings helped to form strong camaraderie among Azukrians as they emphasised teamwork and discipline.

The defence-oriented Azukrian military has relatively modern military equipment, most of which of which are produced domestically. While historically the IAM purchased weaponry from the USA and Puffle'and in order to combat insurgents, it made a switch towards acquiring armaments from local firms in order to reduce its dependence on other countries. The IAM’s Technological Advancement Rating is around 64.7 (its closest equivalent being Polaris at 64.4). The country’s defence is very important to the Azukrian government, therefore measures are taken in order to ensure that it’s impossible to invade the island. It is common to see the island’s major cities having subterranean facilities built underneath them. They act as residential buildings, shopping malls, manufacturing plants and office buildings at peacetime, but they are converted into bunkers and shelters if the country ever finds itself at war. These bunkers and shelters are stocked with food, water and medical supplies. There are dozens of anti-aircraft installations spread out across the nation, many of which hide from plain sight. Almost all coastal cities have naval guns and long-range torpedo launchers installed in case hostile naval ships attempt to bombard the cities. Additionally, troops are also trained to conduct unconventional and guerrilla warfare in case the island is ever occupied by soldiers.

The current Azukrian government has reaffirmed the IAM’s defence-oriented doctrine and is seeking to raise the military’s TAR to Advanced level by 2020.

Law Enforcement
The country’s main law enforcement organisation is known as the Imperial Azukri Police (IAP). There are approximately 225,000 members in the police force. The current Inspector-General of the police force is Jonathan Levin, who was appointed by the monarch to the position in 2017. The IAP is both feared and respected due to their efficiency in combating crime, their incorruptibility and also their alleged brutality towards criminals. As a result, it is considered to be one of the most powerful institutions in the country. The IAP’s uniform has a dark blue colour scheme.

The IAP’s equipment is militarised to an extent, which has led to observers describing the IAP as a paramilitary force. In times of war, the Azukrian monarch can deploy members of the IAP in battles as they automatically become part of the reserve forces. In addition to the IAP, the Imperial Gendarmerie also serves to enforce the law. The 35,000-strong force is the military police of the country and they are often deployed to areas with substantial mineral deposits and commercial assets owned by the monarchy in order to safeguard the monarch’s and the country’s economic interests. Imperial Gendarmes’ uniforms are more suited for combat than normal police officers’.

The Mukhabarat (also known as the General Intelligence Directorate) is Azukri’s main intelligence agency. It is responsible for both domestic and foreign intelligence, as well as counterintelligence. It has often been claimed that the agency acts as the monarch’s personal secret police, as it has a history of dealing with those who offended the monarchy in the past. Kidnappings, intimidation, torture, assassinations and forced disappearances have been routinely employed by agency in the past in order to deal with “seditious beings”. However, reports of the agency’s rights abuses have steadily declined by the end of the 1980’s as the monarchy started curbing the agency’s power (due to its role in organising a failed coup in 1983). Until this day, the Mukhabarat is still feared for its ominous presence in the country, although its power has obviously declined compared to its heydays. The agency operates several detention facilities across the country, albeit their exact locations are secret.

Policy towards criminals, capital and corporal punishment
The Sublime State currently employs capital and corporal punishment in its legal code. The state’s official position is to rehabilitate first-time offenders and to dole out severe punishments to repeat offenders. This policy was adopted back in 1928. According to this policy, criminals are given a second chance by the government, which would attempt to re-educate them into believing that the government (and thus the monarch) is merciful enough to provide them with salvation. The government sends these category of convicts, known as Initial Sinners, to minimum-security correctional facilities that are more like colleges. Their accommodations are often compared to college dorms and they are allowed Internet access (albeit monitored, just like ordinary Azukrians). They are given resources to learn a range of practical skills and academic subjects, ranging from culinary skills, electronics repair, farming to philosophy, economics, computer programming and languages. Initial Sinners are often sentenced to terms ranging from 2 to 4 years. This essentially meant that any initial offender, even those who committed sedition, treason and first-degree murder, is exempt from their original punishment (which is often far worse). However, the Monarch has the power to revoke a convict’s Initial Sinner status and sentence them to their original punishment.

Those who aren’t initial offenders are given harsh sentences. They would often be sent out to rural areas to detention with hard labour for a long time (ranging from 10 years to a lifetime). These offenders, while given ample nutrition and accommodations to live out healthy lives, have to perform menial labour. By the end of their sentences, they would usually only be permitted to live in a certain town (usually rural and newly developed) for a few years before they regain their freedom to live in other settlements. Other times, repeat offenders are sentenced to corporal punishment too, which is carried out via caning.

Capital punishment is carried out via lethal injection. Up until 2015, criminals on death row were executed via a guillotine. In addition to the these two methods, the Mukhabarat often executed dissidents by gunning them down with machine guns before the 1983 failed coup.

Transportation
As it is rare for Azukrians who don’t live in major cities to travel out of their settlements, they would usually walk around or cycle. Cars intended for private usage are considered to be symbols of prestige and wealth in rural areas. Quadricycles are also quite popular in these areas. In the cities, there are significantly more automobiles in comparison. A majority of Azukrian vehicles are hybrid vehicles that use both electricity and natural gas. Some older models run solely on natural gas, while newer automobiles tend to solely run on electricity or solar power. Azukrian automobile companies are experimenting with cars powered by hydrogen.

In order to travel to a domestic location that exceeds a certain distance, Azukrians ride on hyperloop trains that allow them to reach their destination in a matter of minutes. Hyperloop trains are extensively used on inter-city railway networks. In addition, each major city also has mass rapid transits that enable passengers to travel to various stations within the city. These are the main form of urban transport, with peer-to-peer ride sharing services and buses backing the MRTs up.

Ships are primarily used to travel along the mainland’s coastline, or to reach Boon Island. The ferry link between Boon Island and the mainland is the most active in the country. They are also used to export goods to foreign countries.

Air travel can be said to be the least common method of transportation within the country. Most Azukrians only use airplanes in order to go to other countries. Azukrian Airline, which is the country’s sole airline company, only has Marlborough, Atalanta and Azukri City as the company’s domestic destinations. There are also several chartered flight services for wealthy Azukrians, although they rarely serve domestic flights either. The country’s main airport is the Azukri City International Airport. Air travel is strictly regulated by the state, which had a policy of shooting down any unauthorised aircraft entering Azukrian airspace (resulting in a Sherbian passenger plane and a Snowinn passenger plane being shot down in 1966 and 1979 respectively, killing hundreds).

Foreign Relations
The Sublime State is committed to a policy of semi-isolationism. It only interacts with other countries for economic purposes.

😃 = very positive opinion

🙂 = position opinion

😐 = no particular opinion

😕 = negative opinion

😡 = very negative opinion

🤢 = disgust 

Trivia

 * Green Doom Weed can be legally traded and consumed in the country, albeit the product is taxed by the government. It is also rumoured that the country’s western mountain ranges are gone to a variety of wild plants that have the same effects as Green Doom Weed.


 * Azukrian skincare products are as renowned as South Joseon’s due to the usage of natural ingredients, relatively low prices and good quality. This has resulted in the creation of a multi-billion CPC beauty industry.


 * However, unlike South Joseon, cosmetic surgery is heavily frowned upon in the Sublime State, as the Azukrians place an emphasis on natural beauty.


 * The royal family’s wealth is legendary due to the real estate (palaces), corporate equities, lands, art pieces and jewelries that it owns.


 * The country uses the metric system.


 * Assalamualaikum, which means “peace be upon you” in English, is often used to greet people. The appropriate reply to that is walaikumassalam, which means “peace be upon you too”. Meanwhile, habibi is used as a term of endearment for males, while habibti is the female equivalent.