Restored State of California

Flag of the Restored State of California

The **Restored State of California**, commonly known as **California** or the **Old Gold State**, is a country located on the West Coast. It borders the Republic of Socela and the Military Government of Kalama.

California presents itself as a continuation of ancient Old Ones methods of governance, culture, and technology. This 'Restorationist' ideology came from the teaching and methods of Computer Unit L-5, an ancient 'electronic computer system' created by the Old Ones long ago. Outside observers point out that L-5 acts as an insane dictator, seemingly pining for some long lost ideal of a long forgotten past, however those in California that support the restorationist ideal dismiss such criticisms.

California has engaged in several military campaigns in order to reclaim 'former Californian land' to its north, south, and east. Rumors abound that the Californian government, and Computer Unit L-5 specifically, will continue these wars of conquest, until the old borders of California are reestablished, or until some other greater goal is accomplished.

## History

### Restorationist Coup of Kramon

//happened in 848, founded California, overthrew the unpopular Kingdom of Kramon

## Politics

### Political System

The political system of Restored California is designed to mimic that of 'ancient California,' which followed a federalist, republican model. However, Restored California operates like a totalitarian dictatorship in practice, with Computer Unit L-5 having nearly complete control of the entire government. President Maxwell Logan of the New Ursine Party acts as the official head of state, but is directly ordered by Computer Unit L-5.

### Political Parties

There are political parties in California, however most of them act as controlled opposition or puppets of Computer Unit L-5's whims.

* The New Ursine Party (NUP): The ruling party, has control over all aspects of government and overwhelming representation in government. Founded by Computer Unit L-5 and their Restorationist followers in the 840s. Officially, the NUP is a conservative and libertarian political party, however in practice its little more than a front for the restorationist dictatorship.
* The Democratic-Republican Party (DRP): Controlled opposition, presented as a party to the political right of the NUP.
* The True Progressive Party (TPP): Controlled opposition, presented as a party to the political left of the NUP.

### Resistance Organizations

Throughout ti's existence, the State of California has had many resistance movements act to try and oppose the government. While many of these resistance groups have been small, ad-hoc, and lacked staying power, there are several larger resistance networks that have continued to operate in California to the modern day.

* **Committee for Granciscan Liberation (CGL)**: The Kingdom of Grancisco used to be the primary power along the West Coast, and the war between California and Grancisco was long and bloody. This has made Californian efforts to integrate the Granciscans incredibly difficult as most of them remain incredibly nationalistic and devoted to the destruction of California. The CGL is the largest organization amongst the Granciscan nationalists, and it's primarily monarchist in nature. The CGL has come the closest to dislodging the California grip on the West Coast, with an ongoing guerilla war and an open revolution launched in 872 ARM, although the revolution was crushed. The CGL and other Granciscans hope to once again launch another open revolution and this time succeed in taking down the Californian State.
	+ **The Left CGL**: Given the spread of Republican and Socialist ideas throughout the underground resistance all across the Californian State, in recent times a large minority of the CGL has moved towards liberal republican and socialist ideas. While still cooperating with the monarchist CGL, these new radicals hope to establish a new revolutionary Granciscan society.
* **The Bobbies**: The Bobbies are a loose-knit organization of primarily bird resistance fighters, who are commonly known for their typical tactics of airdropping supplies for those in need and dropping bombs on Californian government facilities. The Bobbies largely skew liberal republican and socialist in terms of ideology, although they are in theory ideologically neutral.
* **Valleylander Socialist Front (VSF)**: The Valleylander Socialist Front is a relatively new pan-nationalist socialist organization seeking to overthrow the State of California and establish a new Valleylander Socialist Republic in it's place.
* **Children of the Sun**: The Children of the Sun is a primarily religious based resistance organization, seeking to protect the Phoenician faith from Californian state repression.

## Economy

The economy of the restored state of California

## Culture

### An Imposed Culture

The government of the Californian State has pushed strong colonial programs to shape the peoples under its domain into a culture long since dead, having passed with the disappearance with the Old Ones. Though many in the Californian State can only guess as to the motivations or even the source of the imposed cultural practices pushed upon them, those high up in the government, the President, and L-5 himself know almost exactly why and how such forced cultural realignment is taking place.

The practices of the new 'Californian' culture being pushed by the government are quite conservative; promoting a small family unit (in contrast to the large family networks that largely dominated the Valleylands before California), a hyper-individualistic and capitalistic work ethic, militarism, and patriotism/nationalism to California. These cultural values have also accompanied a push towards the Californian language, the Christian religion, and Californian approved arts and music; such as Realist art, Ragtime music, and patriotic and religious songs.

### A Religion Both New and Old

The historically prevalent religion of the West Coast has long been Phoenicianism, based largely on the teachings of Angelo Carvelli, who was a bird religious, social, political, and military leader that was often stylized as the Great Phoenix. This faith has been one of the major commonalities shared amongst many of the peoples along the West Coast, and has largely gone unchallenged by any major spiritual or political force in over a thousand years.

Given this background of long-standing Phoenician dominance in the region, the efforts of the Californian Government to suppress this faith and replace it with it's own state-approved faith of Christianity have both proven difficult and united many otherwise disparate people against them. While many officials and representatives of the Californian have advertised the Christian as something with deep roots in the Old Ones, as the one true faith, it's proven a hard sell for many, especially as Christian Churches have violently displaced ancient Phoenician Houses.

The values and creed of the Christian are largely centered on the teachings of a supposed ancient Old One name Josh Christ and his writings in a work of scripture called the Almanac. It is supposed that this Josh was an important spiritual and philosophical leader in his day, leading his people against a kingdom that ruled the land. Hard doctrine is hard to pinpoint, as copies of the Almanac are limited to only members of the state-approved clergy. However, general values promoted by this faith usually stray to conservatism and far-right beliefs.

### The Californian Melting Pot

The lands that now make up the state of California have long been divided between dozens of warring kingdoms and duchies, but now under the common banner of the Californian State, efforts are being made to melt away these differences, both by the government and by resistance groups.

The Californian government, for obvious reasons, is pushing to erase old cultural divides by replacing the native cultures with their own state-approved vision of a Californian culture.This culture lacks any common history with many of the people of the region and acts more as a stabilization effort and power play more than anything. In an effort to impose the Californian culture, the government has destroyed many cultural and historic sites in an effort to erase traditional history and culture.

Those in the Resistance, on the other hand, have often been forced together by circumstance, and old cultural differences have begun to melt away with the common enemy of the state government uniting these peoples. With a common language and religion already bonding many in the Valleylands, a new cultural and/or national identity is building in the shadow of California amongst these various groups. These 'Valleylanders,' as they have dubbed themselves, are a major thorn in the side of the Californian State, and will likely continue to be so for years to come.

## Military

### The California Army National Guard

The California Army National Guard are the primary land forces of the Restored State of California, composed of several divisions of infantry and cavalry, with an estimated 40,000 Army personnel.

Over the course of the past 40 years, the Army has seen many wars and proven itself to be tactically and technologically superior to other nations armies in the region. This is largely in part due to L-5, and the close relationship between the Californian State and Old Ones teachings and arcane technology.

### The Bureau of Illumination

The Bureau of Illumination serves as both California's secret police and primary intelligence agency. Members of the Bureau, colloquially know as Illuminaters, are known for their brutal methods and twisted use of the arcane.

## Foreign Relations

It is well understood that the Restored State of California seeks to conquer much of the West Coast to achieve it's 'historical borders.' As a result of this policy the nations, territories, and peoples that border California both hate and fear California.

The Federal Republic of Socela is staunchly opposed to Californian expansionism, with the threat of the spreading 'Californian Tide' being one of the main motivations for the Federal Republic uniting in the first place. The border between California and Socela has become incredibly fortified on the Socelan side, with a large army of volunteers and conscripts ready for the inevitable war at any given notice.