Cloame

Cloame is a state in the mid-midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by Zackers a to the north; Discland and Yerst to the east; Leshed to the south; and Galrafona to the west. The state is notable for its vast marshlands, the extreme dark of night, and its large herds of fryarbeasts. The state is also subject to the effect of the Cloame Border Environmental Shift Zone, a unique ecological phenomenon where the climate, geology, and topography shift suddenly at the border of Cloame. The state capital is Covintonton.

## History

Native American tribes have lived in Cloame for thousands of years. The Bubbaalaka and Ononbaka tribes created beautiful floating villages in the Cloame marshlands by weaving its many reeds together to form large rafts.

European settlement of the territory began in the late 18th century with the arrival of Florance Stone and his followers in 1799. Stone was fleeing what he felt was the tyrannical behavior of then president George Washington. It is unknown why they chose to settle in Cloame rather than some of the more dry areas around it. Stone and his followers set up towns along the above-water areas of Cloame.

During the US Civil War, both Union and CSA governments sent officials offering statehood to their respective sides. However, Cloame refused both offers stating, *"Lincoln is a property thieving tyrant. I didn't vote for him. And Davis is a slaving tyrant also whom I didn't vote for neither."*

The territory was finally granted statehood in 1908 after US President Theodor Roosevelt offered them a chance to willingly become a state or the opportunity to be annexed by force. After this period, the state began to take part in US elections and became known for being the only US state to back the libertarian party by popular majority rather than one of the major parties.

In 1967, the state became affected by the mid-mid-mid-north-American time shift event. This temporal anomaly only effects the eastern two thirds of the state.

## Geography

Unlike all its surrounding states, Cloame's climate is humid and sub-tropical. The state is entirely flat, with little variation in elevation anywhere in the state. Approximately half the state's land area is marshland. Upon crossing the state border, the generally arid climate and ecology suddenly becomes semi-tropical and humid. This natural phenomenon is called the Cloame Border Environmental Shift Effect and is still being studied by Backstate researchers. The cause of this environmental anomaly remains unknown and the CBESE appears to have pre-dated the state's existence. A little known fact is that the one non-straight border of Cloame in the northwest is not in fact a river, but merely the border between the semi-arid grassland of Zackers and the sudden change in climate and topography of the Cloame Border Environmental Shift Zone. It is the only section of the CBESZ that is not a perfectly straight line.

The "Cloame Night" is a natural phenomenon where the setting of the sun causes a nearly total darkness within the state. Dense fog blocks out all light from the moon and stars. It also appears to absorb light emitted from artificial sources. Though light within a home appears to be unaffected by this phenominon, lanterns and flashlights often fail to create much illumination. Even on comparatively well lit highways, it is often impossible to see a the lights of a car more than 30 yards ahead of you. For this reason, the US Department of Backstate Travel advises against traveling through the state at night.

Cloame is also one of 13 states affected by the mid-mid-mid-north-American time shift zone. This natural phenomenon affects most of the state and adds 6 days to each month except for April, which loses 4 days. The temporal anomaly has been blamed for the numerous airplanes crashes in the time shift zone.

The state is home to many species of wildlife not seen in any of the surrounding states such as the Cloame Alligator, the collosal snake, and fryarbeasts.