Marnos

The **Republic of Marnos** (Marnosyn: **Марносън Ѣтјо̄рас**, **Marnosyn Ätjōras**) is a large temperate country located far north from Vozolaz and west of Heronoja, along the cool northwestern shores of the continent of Palkyras on the planet Jerde. It is also located east of a great ocean and its various realms, from Pinoguni and Bujan in the far west, to Daleskarnia and the Tornarin Empire (its arch-enemy) nearby.

It is surrounded by Budinō and Pyranika to the north; the ethnostates of Hvitaland and Baesorja to the northeast; Arvora, various Baesorthar republics, Vyrrotar, and Súlgobur to the east; and Arkola and the Tornarin Empire to the south.

## Factfile

* Official name: Republic of Marnos
* Anthem: O Domain of Flax
* Official motto: The Mountains Bear Witness
* Capital city: Ranxitas
* Official languages: Marnosyn
* State religion: N/A, secular
	+ Major religions: Romuva (polytheist)
* Government: Multi-party parliamentary republic
* President: Andros Kauglytis (2018 AT)
* Climate: Mostly temperate, with boreal in the east, maritime in the west, arid plateaus in the south, and a bit of tropical jungle in the southeast.
* Population: 546,000
* Currency: Narisai (100 katonnja)
* National Day: 17 August (Independence Day)

 Flag and symbols

The **National Flag of Marnos** (Marnosyn: Марносън На̄ра-т̦а Га̄пліс, Marnosyn Nāra-ța Gāplis) consists of red and green horizontal bars divided by a white line that zig-zags three times on the middle.

* **Red** (Андо, *Ando*): **Courage**, the traditional Marnosyn culture; diligence; perseverance; and the sacrifices of those who fought for Marnos' independence and survival.
* **White** (Лаіта, *Laita*): **Honour**, the ethnic Marnosyn people; discipline; righteousness.
* **Green** (Марно, *Marno*): **Peace**; the land and riches of Marnos; its vegetation; and its stability;

* **Three triangles** (Міјо Даутін̦на, *Mijo Dautiņna*): The Three Mountain Ranges of Marnos; strength; and appreciation (e.g. practice of the **Three Values** represented by the colours of Marnos' flag).

Historical flags used images of trees (which were the predecessors of the modern flag), foxes, black cats (used by pilots and artists for good luck), stylistic flames, flax stalks or flowers, oak trees, thunderbolts, and the *akillon* firebird, traditional symbols used in Marnosyn culture.

The national animals of Marnos are the red fox, the black cat, and the *akillon* phoenix. As Marnos was the first civilisation in history to domesticate foxes, those reddish mammals became beloved symbols of the republic and its culture. As for black cats, they were originally adopted to make fun of Ardeschen superstitions, and they became popular among pilots and artists as symbols of defiance against luck and fate, and therefore relentless courage.

17 August is Marnos' Independence Day from Budinovian rule, and among the reds-whites-and-greens commonly flown on that day, that date also happens to coincide with Black Cat Appreciation Day, which celebrates one of the republic's three national animals.

## History

In very ancient times, the Rakolans developed a sophisticated civilisation that was renowned for its smithing, its gold and silver chariots, its expertise in mathematics, its volumes of *daina* epics, and for being the first humans to domesticate foxes. Millennia of foreign conquests, catastrophes, divisions, and reunifications later, they were coalesced into the Kingdom of Marnoxai, which competed against Ardesch, Vozolaz, and Tukshara to be the dominant Jerdiskar space empire.

Over three hundred and sixty millennia followed, and Marnoxai was Rakola again, but as a diminished shadow of its ancient self. When the Budinōvians to the further north conquered the country, they forcibly altered the Marnosyns' culture and speech, and sold many defeated enemies to other lands as slaves. They exploited and worsened the living conditions of the later Rakolans, who eventually revolted after the Wraithstorm failed to kill most of their people. At 17 August, 1754 AT, the Marnosyn nation has driven out the Budinōvians out of their borders. The Marnosyn revolutionaries were largely aided by the governments of the Zvestarid Moon and the kingdom of Dausuvai (a space colony on the planet Chernomir), who helped them with the huge amount of resources to build their nation.

As the Budinōvian tyrants were driven out of the country, the restored Rakolan nation became the Republic of Marnos. In its early years, the people trained, built, and defended their nation against Tornarin assaults from the south, and Daleskarnian naval raids along its western shores. When it seemed that their enemies stopped due to exhaustation or internal turmoil, a certain president seized control of the government from its junta. His bloated administration was characterised by severe corruption and poverty, and without funding for proper education or basic amenities, much of the country slid into the backwardness, though it was not as war-torn as Vozolaz before the Retainers restored order.

The southern provinces, a stronghold of tradition and order, were united under another leader who sought to turn Marnos' provinces towards his reformist cause. With the help of twelve margraves and their forces, they later took control of the government with a coup, and with the help of machinery supplied by the Kingdom of Bujan, transformed Marnos into a technology-advanced country with a developed economy. With the help of his southern allies, he led counter-attacks against the Daleskarnian and Tornarin invaders, and liberated the nearby nation of Arkola from foreign rule.

Marnos was one of several nations that aided the liberation of Bujan, with hundreds of insurgents, soldiers, mutant troops, and Lampguards sent to expel the Wannaenid supersoldiers. The President of Marnos during that time was Pragaryrjos, a fire mutant who led his men and women in turning the tide of battle in the Bujanski's favour against the supersoldiers.

### Modern times

In recent times, Marnos had an influx of immigrants that boosted its economy. Most of them were descendants of the Rakolan exiles who sought a better life and security from disasters abroad, while a portion were Tornarin defectors and dissidents who served the Marnosyn and Arkolan militaries to overthrow the Tornarin imperial authorities.

Now, Marnos assists the other powerful nations in combatting terrorism and preparing for war against the extraterrestrial Abductors' threat against Jerde's survival. At the meantime, it has also become a renowned hub for world-class education, entertainment, business, mass media (*especially* in film-making and acting), manufacturing, scientific research, and environmentally-friendly machinery (based on the belief in "*darna*", or harmony); but it also become infamous for its shabby services, youth subcultures, sdachels and their dangerous superpowers, cheesy acting, excessive love of pop culture, vulgarity, kitsch, and sheer commercialism!

Disappointed by the cruelty of the Wannaenid and Baesorjan empires, many people in Marnos are calling for demilitarisation: that is, by lessening the influence of the military in their daily lives and abolishing conscription (replacing it with volunteers), to ensure their society will not degenerate into a society similar to their warmongering enemies.

## Geography and climate

See also: Provinces of Marnos

Much of its terrain consists of grassland with large areas of forest concentrated along the centre and east, near three mountain ranges along its northern coast and borders to the east and south. While the western and northern coasts enjoy a cool, rainy maritime climate; the southern mountains are more arid as they block southern rains.

Marnos has 26 space colonies. The former colony of Dausuvai, located on the eastern half of the planet Chernomir, is one of them.

## Government

Marnos is a unitary republic ruled by a President, who is elected every four years for up to two terms.

However, twelve sdachel families enjoy high social prestige for their aid in the reunification of Marnos, and they are tasked with guarding the southern border.

The planetary colony of Dausuvai is ruled by a King. He is subordinate to the President of Marnos.

## Military

All active Marnosyn members of the Lampguard Order are part of the Marnosyn Armed Forces, and every male and female citizen is obligated to attend military training from the age of 18 for one year. Every member of the Lampguard receives a gauntlet, the *girsas*, that he or she wears at their left wrist to communicate with other members, although sdachels receive their *girsannja* earlier at the age of ten to control their own powers.

Marnosyn technology is considered to be the third-most advanced technology in the world, behind Baesorja (or Bujan) and the Wannaenid Empire.

Marnos is also known for its own knightly orders. They are most commonly-found along the eastern and southern borders; the east's knights tend to be of Besotrosk origin out of devotion and fervour to their gods (especially Baldr and Thor), while the south's knights serve the twelve dukes along the border.

## Economy

Marnos has the third-strongest economy in all of Jerde. Although it is capable of utilising very advanced machinery, most of its people prefer contemporary technology.

Much of its economy is built by manufacturing heavy machines and vehicles, mining, and trade.

## Demographics

### Ethnicities and races

Most people in Marnos belong to the Marnosyn ethnicity, a race of peach-skinned humans with colourful hair and eyes. Represented minorities in Marnos include Besotroskar (Nordic, Baesorjans), other Rakolan cultures, and Nokteans.

The Besotrosk people mostly reside in the east, and their traditions have left a large influence in Marnosyn culture. Other Rakolans include the Southern Marnosyns (or Old Marnosyns), Arkolans, Arvorans, and the Grinstiai: the former retain many older aspects of their traditional culture, the second were exiles from their southern homeland who brought their traditions with them, the third are easterly neighbours who were attracted by Marnos' freewheeling society, and the latter were descended from Rakolans who returned from exile, resulting in *five* main Rakolan/Marnosyn cultures.

The brown-skinned Nokteans are a more recent minority descended from defectors and opponents of the Tornarin Empire, which the Marnosyn government uses to drive the Tornarin armies out of Arkola. Although many Nokteans willingly adopted the national Marnosyn culture, the Marnosyn government encouraged them to keep their own culture so they can bring it back to their homeland when it was liberated. To avoid the possibility of having the entire Marnosyn ethnicity losing their "Whiteness", anyone with a Noktean parent is automatically counted as a Noktean, even if he or she looks as White as a Marnosyn.

There are also a handful of citizens from other countries and races, but due to strict immigration laws, most of them consist of richer, skilled expatriates or Lampguard personnel. Some were descendants of past refugees who were integrated into Marnosyn society as workers.

### True humans, near-humans, and non-humans

While most Marnosyns are true humans, around a quarter of their ethnicity are sdachels, also known as sarolai or "mutants". A "mutant" (in the general definition used throughout the world) is any human with genetic abilities, usually in the form of either fire or electricity manipulation, or invisibility. It is rare for a sdachel to have any two or all three powers at once, and certain other abilities such as time manipulation are rarer. Most sdachels are descendants of super-soldiers from ancient armies who managed to intermarry with commoners, resulting in dangerous lineages renowned in folklore throughout the planet.

Due to the high risk from their powers, all sdachels are considered as property of the Marnosyn government, and are required to wear a gauntlet that limits their powers whenever they go outside their homes. Each sdachel receives his or her gauntlet upon reaching their tenth birthday, when they would start using their powers and attend training to harness them properly. If they cause any unnecessary destruction or if they remove their gauntlets in public (while not in an emergency), they will be detained in camps all over the country.

However, due to protests and for their role in the reunification of Marnos in 1870, all sdachels are permitted to live outside the camps and intermarry with mundane humans as they wish.

Twelve clans of sdachels guard the southern borders of Marnos, as a show of thanks for helping a president reunite the country in 1870.

The colourful Ontemazei humanoids are banned from entering the country out of fear of them being cannibals, except as diplomats, tourists, traders, students, or Lampguard staff.

## Holidays in Marnos

(P) - Public holiday

(R) - Regional holiday

* 25 Jan - (R) Pusjau-zimis, Mid-winter Festival
	+ The old Marnosyn new year. Priests give special offerings to the Gods and wights.
* 2 Feb - (P) Parkuno Dina
	+ Candles are lit to celebrate Perkunas, the thunder God. Other decorations include evergreen trees and linen.
* 5 Feb - (P) Gabija Dina
	+ Bread and people are blessed on this day to celebrate Gabija, the fire and hearth Goddess.
* early Feb - (R) Uxavanas
	+ Celebrated with duels, burning effigies to celebrate the end of winter. Also a popular date for livestream matches.
	+ People also wear costumes of monsters and pop culture characters.
	+ Pancakes are the festival dish.
* 24 Feb - Vjarvasjo Dina, Skylark Day
	+ Spring begins. Birds are used to decorate.
* 23 Mar - (P) Spring Equinox, Pavasarjo Ligai
* 31 Mar - (P) New Year's Eve
* 1 Apr - (P) Valykon, New Year's Day
* 27 May - (R) Sambaras
	+ New crops have grown.
* 10 June - (R) Song Festival
* 22 June - (P) Summer Solstice, Rasos
	+ Marnosyns visit their relatives, dance around a fire, and have a banquet of cheese. They also wear wreaths, and young couples search for ferns.
	+ It is also a time for young couples to go on dates.
* late June-early July - Naxjos
	+ Three days of art exhibitions are held at major cities.
* 25 July - (R) Svantai
	+ Blessings for the crops.
* 17 Aug - (P) Independence Day
	+ Red, white, and green decorations are set up to celebrate the country's independence and reunification.
	+ Marnosyns also bring their pet cats and foxes to events where they enjoy luxury or win contests.
* 1 Sept - Science Day, School Day
	+ The beginning of the school year, and also the day when 18-year-olds begin and end conscription. The end of conscription for 19-year-olds makes this day a "second birthday" for reintegration parties, when they can return to society.
* 8 Sept - (P) Uximimos Svantai
	+ Rye is planted in fields.
* 23 Sept - (P) Autumn Equinox, Rudins Ligai
	+ A feast is held to celebrate the harvest.
* 2 Nov - (P) Memorial Day, Velinos
	+ It is a date to commemorate people who fought and died for the country, and the ancestors: offerings are presented and burned at shrines dedicated to those people.
	+ The day or weekend after is celebrated by young people as a day of monsters and mischief.
* 20 Dec - (P) Winter Solstice, Kūsios
	+ The spirits of the dead and ancestors visit the living world, and are given places of honour in feasts.
* 21-23 Dec - (P) Yule-Kolieda
	+ This is when the secular parties begin, complete with ping-pong, darts, and video-games. One popular tradition is to drink and toast with red-coloured cups.
* 25 Dec - (P) Kalidos
	+ The sun is worshipped, and prayers are spoken to the Gods for their blessings for the new year.

## Culture

In Marnosyn culture, cats and foxes are beloved as pets and cultural icons.

## Society

See also: Marnosyn language, Marnosyn glossary

### Entertainment

Marnos is renowned for its movies (they especially *love* action and science fiction movies), its arcade games, and its satire and vulgarity.

The most popular genre of music in Marnos is rock music, mainly because it sounds rough and wild, just as the Marnosyns like it.

One popular franchise from Marnos is "Sleipnir", which is an adaptation of the eight-legged horse of the Baesorthar war god Odin into an adorable cartoon character, beloved by young children everywhere. Another popular franchise in Marnos is "Kalendrica", which fits their love of high-tech and their military conscription well.

Even though their Marnoxai ancestors were rivals of the Sarmelonid Empire, some modern-day Marnosyns like to appropriate Sarmelonid Vozonid culture.

Traditional games in Marnos include bowling, archery, rounders, and dice.

### Nationalism

Owing to anger from oppressive Budinovian rule and invasions by the Tornarin and Freygardian (Daleskarnian) Empires centuries ago, nearly all Marnosyns fervently and fiercely defend their nation to the last drop of their blood. While they also like to make fun of their country or embrace certain foreign trends, they will *never* allow any sign of "foreign rule" anywhere in their country, such as: a non-Marnosyn becoming president, another ethnicity becoming the majority, giving away even a parcel of their territory, or opening their country to too many non-Marnosyn refugees (in spite of past waves that integrated into Marnosyn society). They also count other White peoples, like Norse, Pyranikans, and Randrosians, as non-Marnosyns, but they openly welcome Rakolan peoples as their own kin.

However, Marnosyns do not mind interacting with people from other races and mixed-race folk, and they allow non-Marnosyns to visit their country freely as tourists or make friends with the locals. Most Marnosyn people refuse to date or marry anyone who is not Rakolan. Non-Marnosyns just cannot become presidents, and they can only immigrate if they were accepted by a quota and if they were willing to integrate themselves into Marnosyn society. They are also not allowed to force Marnosyn society to change to their proposed systems.

In the 20th century, the ban on non-Marnosyn presidents was abolished. As a result, four presidents were of Norse descent, and three were Tornarins. Those non-Marnosyn presidents were considered as "good examples".

### Integration

Ever since older times, Marnos took in several waves of refugees, mostly by resettling them into newly-built towns: this was influenced by a doctrine in its form of Romuva that focuses on "hospitality". They were given jobs and businesses to produce things for Marnosyn citizens or perform service work, in jobs created by the government. While the Marnosyns are fiercely protective of their people, they treat non-Marnosyns fairly in general, in spite of occasional jokes about foreigners. The foreigners are supposed to adapt themselves into a Marnosyn society, but they were also allowed to practice certain traditions and festivals of their own. In return, the Marnosyns are taught not to abuse their guests as in other countries.

To ensure that they do not become a threat to the people of Marnos, they were put under a probation period where they would be closely observed: at the same time, the jobs and education provided by the government allowed them to integrate and assimilate themselves into Marnosyn society, turning them away from crime. When the crises in their homelands were resolved, the Marnosyn government sent aid to help them rebuild, and encouraged the refugees to return to their homelands to rebuild them. No matter how many waves of refugees were resettled into Marnos, the Marnosyns stubbornly clung unto their culture. They also limited all non-Rakolan immigrants to a certain amount to ensure that their people forever remained a majority, in control of their own homeland and their own destiny.

Other nations has mixed views on the Marnosyn programme of "integration". Some denounced it as "national suicide": even as the Marnosyns continued to control their own nation, these proponents suggested that Marnos should become an ethnostate to wholly eliminate all crime and opposition, denouncing its "hospitality" as "cowardice". Others approved the programme, but they demanded that Marnos should become more "cosmopolitan and diverse" to make itself more "modern" and less "threatening". The Marnosyn people rejected both: they saw themselves as a "crucible of nations" in which people can learn better skills to improve their homes, and the most worthy among them may be fully accepted as fellow brethren.

The foreigners addressed two concerning scenarios as they objected to Marnosyn integration. The nationalists worried that it may encourage hostile groups to infiltrate and wage war on the Marnosyn people, and the cosmopolitans worried that if the Marnosyns do not make the foreigners more powerful and prominent, the locals will mistreat the foreigners no matter how many comforts and opportunities the foreigners will have. To resolve these:

* While the government of Marnos favoured Marnosyns and other related peoples, it created new jobs for its foreigners. Although most of those foreigners did not want to permanently stay in Marnos, they were encouraged by their improved conditions to be loyal to Marnos.
* Regarding foreigners, police forces target individuals and group members, rather than entire communities.
* The government taught the foreigners that they were only here to learn from the Marnosyn people, and carry over their skills and their assets to improve their homeland. Because of the temporary foreign groups that returned to their homelands with their skills and resources, Marnos was known as "the forge of nations".
* Marnosyns are taught not to abuse foreigners, but to work with them, as part of the doctrine of "hospitality". This still did not stop them from talking ill about foreigners or exaggerating their threats based on the wrong things committed by their homelands.
* There is a sort of "equal opportunity" towards hate crimes between Marnosyns and outsiders. A Marnosyn can make a joke about non-Marnosyn cultures, but as soon as it is considered bullying or if the joke is about harming the foreigners, they can be fined or jailed. The same applied for foreigners who do the same things against Marnosyns.
* Groups considered a threat to Marnosyn society are often crushed, and its members arrested, by both local Marnosyns and foreign loyalists. These range from criminal gangs to religious extremists and militants. The most militant of these groups tend to be funded by the Tornarin and Wannaenid Empires.
* Most activist groups in Marnos are not very radical, which led to disapproval by some foreigners who wanted Marnosyn society to be completely altered.
* Marnosyn nationalists are generally left alone. While many Marnosyns are nationalist to some extent, some excessive patriots are viewed as "vulgar" by the rest of Marnosyn society, while others are seen as formal gentlemen. As soon as they are caught assaulting or threatening non-Marnosyns, they are swiftly punished. At times, counterattacks against certain nationalist militants caused the rise of armed groups, funded by Baesorja.

One of the most recent tests for the Marnosyn "integration" programme was in 2006 AT, when hundreds of Americans were brought into their country via portals: a number of them were radicalised by the civil war in their homeland.

### Taboos

Aside from any other acts suggesting to Marnosyns to become a minority in their own nation, other acts are considered to be strong taboos in Marnosyn culture. Those include human sacrifice (which is *obviously* murder), honour kilings of any form, promiscuity and erotic works (more so than in Bujan), as those are considered "disgusting" or "barbaric" to the Marnosyn people. Influenced by past mutations, they consider the latter two to be "drugs worse than alcohol", directing themselves to pursue other hobbies.

### Romuva religion

Most Marnosyns belong to the Romuva religion, which worships many Gods. In spite of its popularity, the Romuva religion is not the official religion of the country, which remains secular.

Popular deities in Marnos include:

* Perkunas, the God of thunder and lightning (also the national deity) - Parkunas
* Zemyna, the Goddess of the earth - Samyna
* Saule, the Goddess of the Sun - Saulai
* Gabija, the Goddess of fire - Gabija
* Laima, the Goddess of fate, birth, life, and death - Laima

The sdachels of Marnos have also created their own sects dedicated to each of these Gods: fire sdachels pray to Gabija or Saule, lightning sdachels worship Perkunas, and shadow sdachels worship Laima. The existence of their powers made sdachels very proud of themselves, believing themselves to be children of the Gods or demigods.

Similar to how Bujanski and Slavonians pray, Romuva shrines consist of fields or patches of grass, with one or more idols in front of a sacred fire where offerings and sacrifices are burned. These fields are known as "alka", and their sacred fires are known as "aukuras". Worshippers wash their hands before approaching the aukuras, then sing hymns (dainos) as they light its fire, burn offerings of plants or food, and make silent prayers to the Gods.

Romuva priests are known as *vaidilo* (pl. *vaidiloi*), and priestesses are known as *vaidiluta* (pl. *vaidilutai*). High priests are known as *krivjos* (pl. *krivjoi*). The High Priest of Marnos is known as the *Krivjon*, who conducts the greatest ceremonies and rites every year on behalf of all Marnosyns of all races.

A key concept in Marnosyn religion is *darna*, which is "harmony". It is best achieved when people support each other, their community, and their environmental cleanliness. Another concept is *dora*, which means "honour", which is best achieved when people do what is right for themselves and society.

When worshipping the gods, the Marnosyns use an ancient language, Baltika. It is related to the Darroskei and Tuksharan languages.

#### Four Spears

In Marnosyn Romuva, there are four key precepts for every citizen to follow to create a better society:

* Darna - harmony with nature and society
* Dora - discipline to direct one's self to a better way of life
* Talka - to help your fellow member improve themselves
* Svatinkumas (Svietingumas) - help the guest if they do not harm you, but absolutely defending yourself at the slightest attack.

### Other religions and atheism

The eastern provinces worship Ullr, the Norse God of hunting, and Baldr, the god of light and courage. Out of devotion, many Besotroskar even founded knightly orders to honour their gods.

Most southern Marnosyns are monotheistic, praying to Taros, the God of creation.

Around a quarter of Marnos' people are atheists, refusing to partake in religious ceremonies or invoke the deities and wights except in more important occasions.

## Trivia

* Marnos is inspired by: Lithuania, the modern Romuva religion, the United States of America (especially its more vulgar aspects, plus those of Russia as well), the superhuman mutants of X-Men, and 1950s Britain.
	+ One film director from Marnos who is known for his love of science fiction and explosions -- Mr. Vasanta -- was inspired by George Lucas and Michael Bay.
	+ Marnosyns especially find Americans to be either comical buffoons, or vicious armies from another world.
		- Sometimes they also watch stereotypes of pagans and witches to laugh at themselves and poke fun of their own country's faults, even though at the same time they welcome Romuvans and other neopagans into their country as fellow brethren.
	+ Marnosyns especially like Lithuania and Latvia, being countries whose cultures are most similar to themselves.
	+ The Marnosyn language is based on Lithuanian, Latin, and Greek.
	+ The holy language of Marnos' religious ceremonies, Baltika, is based on Old Prussian and Lithuanian.
* Some of the earlier protagonists of some Rabydosverse stories who came from Marnos were inspired by the villains of Pooh's Adventures and "Friendship is Magic" (as of 2015), as the author intended to make fun of their cliche villains and their repetitive usage by fanfiction authors and show staff alike.
	+ See also for other early/2015 Rabydosverse ideas: Gimbarish, Siangwaan, Heronoja

* The black cat is a symbol of Marnos' air force, the fox represents the land army, and the akillon phoenix for the navy and the entire armed forces.
* In Marnos, the ground floor is known as the "first floor", and the first floor is the "second floor", as in America and Japan.

### Why is it "peculiar"?

Marnos has a significant sdachel population, and they also have some degree of civil rights.

## See also

* Umbirab, the other sdachel country on Jerde in the further south.