Mezhdugóronye Territory

### Religions

Creative Universalism, Buddhism, Folk Religion, Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, & Orthodox), Hinduism, Sunni Islam, others

### GDP

uh idk

Formally known as the Free and Sovereign Mezhdugóronye Territory, the Mezhdugóronye Territory is . Culturally it is largely descended from .

## Economy

### Types of Corporations

* Share-based Corporation: a for-profit corporation in which shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders regardless of their existing status within the company or nation of origin. Shareholders are able to transfer their shares to others without any effects to the continued existence of the company. Subsidiaries operating outside of the FSF may not be beholden to its laws or regulations. Abbreviated SbC.
* Cooperative Union: a nonprofit cooperative in which all members are in turn co-operatives, formed for the purpose of inter-cooperative cooperation and the exercising of purchasing power on a large scale, especially with regards to doing business with corporations outside of the FSF. Abbreviated CU.
* Limited Corporation: for-profit cooperative in which the liability of members or subscribers of the company is limited to the unpaid value of shares. Shareholders are always bound to offer the shares to their fellow shareholders prior to selling them to a third party, which is frowned upon but not illegal. Abbreviated LC.
* Combined Corporation: a for-profit cooperative in which the liability of members or subscribers of the company is limited to such amount as the owners have contributed to the assets of the company. Abbreviated CC.
* Public-benefit corporation: a nonprofit cooperative formed for the purpose of benefiting the public at large, such as charities, educational and research institutions, and hospitals. Such corporations are known as “colleges”.
* Mutual-benefit corporation: a nonprofit cooperative formed for the purpose of benefiting its members, such as unions, professional or homeowner's associations, and social clubs. Such corporations are known as “unions” or “voluntary organizations”, depending on the level of professionality involved. Smaller practices like firms are also incorporated as “voluntary organizations” and typically belong to a larger “union”.
* Religious corporation: a nonprofit cooperative formed for the purpose of practicing or proselytizing a religion, such as an organized congregation or missionary organization. Such corporations are known as “cults”.
* Territorial regional-benefit corporation: a nonprofit cooperative operated by the government of the Mezhdugóronye Territory for its own or public benefit. Caries a variety of special designations.
* Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise: the designation for subsidiaries of foreign companies operating in the Mezhdugóronye Territory. Organized as combined or limited corporations. Abbreviated FE.
* Legal engagements with individual practices like doctors or lawyers are carried out with the person directly or with their union.

### List of Corporations

* Isábye-Shokki SbC: luxury fashion brand
* OKB “Luna” (TRBC): military automobiles and aircraft
* OKB “Callaïs” (TRBC): military seacraft
* Turaki Writer’s Circle CC: news website
* The Liberator LC: newspaper
* Rassumov Dynamics LC: robotics company
* Katakezwanés Ordinance Corporation (TRBC): small arms company
* Ragno’s Firearms CC: small arms company
* Crepero-Auroran Arsenal Cooperative CC: small arms company
* Intermontane Federation of Ranchers CU: federation of rancher unions
* Böröyafan Research Cooperative (College): research organization
* Turunya University (College): institute of higher education
* Order of the Crimson Wolf (College): youth organization
* Wolf Legion CC: private military company
* The Empyrean Church (Cult): church
* The Free Church (Cult): church
* Sangha Súryasyadoyui (Cult): church
* The Luperci Novi (Cult): mystery cult
	+ Urban Luperci Novi CU: federation of neighborhood watch colleges and law enforcement unions
	+ Luperci Novi Arcani (TRBC): intelligence agency
* The Gabrielites (Cult): mystery cult
	+ Ambulance of St. Gabriel (College):
* The Vulpae (Cult): mystery cult
	+ Vulpine Rural Patrol Association CU: federation of neighborhood watch colleges and law enforcement unions
* The Stellar Society (Cult): mystery cult
* The Silk Path (Cult): mystery cult
	+ Federation of Gene- and Cyber-artisans CU: federation of cyberneticists and gene-therapist’s unions
* Nerezatyoists (Cult): mystery cult
	+ Power Technicians and Radioactive Miner’s Federation: federation of power plant technicians and miners of radioactive materials unions

## Religion

### Earth Religion

Ten most popular religions (in no particular order):

* Roman Catholicism
* Eastern Orthodoxy
* Yazidism
* Sunni Islam
* Shia Islam
* Mahayana Buddhism
* Vajrayana Buddhism
* North Asian Folk Religions
* Northeastern Chinese Folk Religion
* Shinto

### Novan Religion

(Not representative of all sects present in the Mezhdugóronye Territory. Not listed in any particular order)

* Zhóuism
	+ Zhóu meaning “axle”. Atheistic-Monist philosophy with process ontology. Believes that the universe is a series of cycles without real substance. Zhouist ideas can be found underlying many of the MT’s religions, and Zhouist symbolism (the Primordial Squiggle, the Ensoo, the Antrikṣa Cross, the Heaven character, the Lattice Eye, etc) can be found in almost every building in the Territory.

* The Empyrean Church
	+ Gnostic Christian sect. Focuses on the elimination of the self and alignment of one’s will entirely with God’s. Beliefs inspired mainly by Buddhism, Meister Eckhardt, and radical orthodoxy.

* The Free Church
	+ Also known as “yellow christism”, from the color used to represent freedom and as a mourning color in Buddhism. Almost completely in step with the Empyrean Church. Split from the former due to preferences in church governance. Restructured based on the principles of the Society of Friends, the Doukhobors, the Tolstoyan movement, and even certain elements of Cooneyism.
* Creative Universalism
	+ Aristotelianist, deistic, pandeistic philosophy. Sometimes known as the “Cult of Creativity”. Believes that the creation of the universe was not caused by God, but rather is God, and as such, God is present spiritually anywhere there is matter. Puts emphasis on science and art as actions of insight or creation which bring one closer to God. Inspired by Spinoza, Thomas Aquinas, Aristotle, X Chalchin, S Chalchin.
* Sophian Universalism
	+ Neoplatonic philosophy, centered around a cosmology of tiers containing angels representing human emotions and capacities. Believes in an oversoul, a universal intellect, and the inherent imperfection of the physical world.

* Mystery Cults
* Śūnyayāna/Kōngchéng/KaChe Buddhism
	+ Meaning “empty vehicle”. Homegrown school of Buddhism. Combination of Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism. Focuses on the elimination of the self and its corrupted perception of reality with ritual activity (chöd), meditation (sŏn), and ecstatic trances (samādhi) through costumed dance (zhabs bro) and music. Particularly reveres wrathful deities like Vajrayogini and Vajrakilaya

* Suśyina/Koisútyiye/Wesétsiye/Bènedownotsinéss/Vineðunočinés
	+ Literally, “Those-that-are-ness”. Refers to a set of folk beliefs about benevolent spirits that walk unrecognized among human societies, granting blessings and curses as they see fit, as well as smaller spirits that inhabit all kinds of objects. Typically exists alongside other religions.
* Súryasyado
	+ Millenarian religion, featuring aspects of Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism, Korean shamanism, Confucianism, Daoism, and pieces of a variety of types of Christianity. Core belief in the eventual appearance of Maitreiya Buddha, who will bring all people to right action before destroying the world with a series of 7 suns.
* Xútyerkil/Xéčir’il
	+ Lit. “Butterfly Path”. Combining Zhouo-Creative metaphysics, Atheneist ethics, Taoist philosophy (and sometimes alchemy), Wesétsiyan folklore, and Buddhist funeral practices, Xútyerkil is the ultimate expression of the MT’s various religions as found among the Šewizú of the 5th century.

#### Common Myths and Cryptids

* The Twins: two young men riding Earth horses or other mounts seen rescuing people in danger
* Sumporoh: a massive, wolf-bat hybrid said to stalk the woods of the MT, slaughtering lone travelers
* Madam Copper: a spirit who lives in all deep mines. It is said those who seek her disappear into her copper atelier-pocket dimension forever. Most stories characterize her as reluctant, as she warns those who find her to return to their families; those who insist never return

### Animal Symbolism

* Wolf: strength, courage
* Fox: knowledge, cunning, male beauty
	+ Foxes in stories often fill similar roles to Cats, but Foxes more often play the ‘bad guy’ and are less likely to succeed
* Hedgehog: healing, strong intuition, compassion
* Tiger: power, strength and beauty combined, triumph of good over evil
* Crow: wisdom, good listening
* Raven: knowledge, cunning, prophecy
	+ Another trickster, Ravens have a more balanced winning streak and are generally more helpful to humankind than Cats or Foxes
* Tortoise/turtle: repentance, patron of soldiers
* Snake: curiosity, success
* Weasel: honesty, self-control
* Red panda: good luck
* Cat: knowledge, cunning, female beauty
	+ Cats in stories often fill similar roles to Foxes, but Cats more often play the ‘good guy’ and are more likely to succeed
* Dog: loyalty, fidelity, safety
* Falcon: vigilance, dignity
* Eagle: power, strength and beauty combined, honor
* Chicken: immense magical power, salvation
* Peafowl: immortality, creation
* Swan: the sun, enlightenment
* Dove: the dead, hope
* Heron: reincarnation, the sun
* Stork: fidelity, piety, patron of the sick
* Crane: good luck, immortality
* Pelican: safety for the dead, self-sacrifice
* Goose: extraction of good from evil
* Shark: protection, magic power
* Orca: good luck, patron of warriors and leaders
* Rat: creativity, honesty
* Bull: strength, happiness
* Rabbit: peace, the moon
	+ Since Terra Nova is a moon, the rabbit is used as a representation of TN
	+ The rabbit is associated with the Varangian motto, “Миру Мир, Слава Родину”, due to the fact that the concepts of “миру” (to the world) and “мир” (peace) are each individually represented by the rabbit
* Horse: lightening, fertility, (white horses in particular) the end of the world
* Goat: guilt, sin
* Monkey: cunning, courage
* Pig: delusion, uncleanliness
* Boar: order amongst chaos, patron of ritual sacrifice
* Sheep: purity, unity
* Crab: winter
* Lion: righteousness, courage
* Scorpion: patron of leaders and doctors
* Fish: happiness, freedom
* Crocodile/alligator: power, protection
* Deer: (doe) compassion, empathy, (stag) righteousness, strength and beauty combined
* Squirreldog: patron of messengers
* Sea Demon:
* Makara: ultimate protector
* Sea Serpent: power, chaos
* Whale: universal good, happiness
* Saurid: fertility, patron of farmers
* Salamander: fire, immortality
* Leopard/Jaguar: strength and beauty combined, safety for the dead
* Vulture: reincarnation, the virgin birth

## Culture

### Customs/Social Ticks

* Fans:
	+ Being gifted a fan is a symbol of separation in Intermontane culture. Fans are often gifted by people going on journeys, between performers going separate ways, and as a less difficult form of breakup letter for future former couples

### Clothing

* Yúnetschiān: A traditional collar accessory, usually highly decorated.
* Terlie: A traditional long-collared garment with skirt attached. Merged with the kurta-churidar and thawb.
* Rú: A traditional hip-length long-collared garment. Merged with the kurta and kameez.
* Ǎo: A traditional waist-length long-collared garment.
* Chŏpok: A traditional sleeveless frock.
* Poyas: A traditional woven belt or silk waist sash.
* Chokki: A vest.
* Kurinyy: Traditional multicolored sashes worn around the waist and over the shoulder. Merged with a variety of other traditional sashes like the orhni.
* Virtitschʼún: A traditional long skirt meant to lift and spin when dancing. From a variety of traditions, merged with and replaced the tannour and lehenga.
* Nakídika: A cape.
* Shànganakídika: A traditional short/medium cape trimmed with a large amount of fur on the top edge, usually worn over another cape.

### Cosmetics

* Hwàchawāng: Traditional bold makeup worn around the eyes. Comes in many colors, each signifying a different intention
	+ Red - for bravery
	+ Black - for absence of difficulties
	+ White - for secrecy
	+ Blue - for ferocity
	+ Yellow - for cleverness
	+ Purple - for signaling dignity
	+ Green - for reminding oneself of one’s purpose
	+ Pink - for mercy
	+ Gold/Silver - for an aura of mysticality
* Ányingi: A tattoo of an animal
* Hwātiàn: Red paint worn on the forehead, most common in the shape of a plum blossom, but also appears as other flowers and as animals

### Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture

#### Common Architectural Techniques

* Ceremonial poles: Carved and decorated poles often topped with bird figures are placed at the entrances of buildings to indicate occupation and ward off evil
* P’áifāng: Ceremonial gates
* Schiēshān: East Asian hip-and-gable roof
* Loggias: Multi-story balconies
* Onion domes: Onion bulb-shaped roofs
* Building “icing”

#### Traditional Crafts and Tangible Products

* Colored ceramic glass
* Neoelectrum
* Yarn spiderwebs
* Paper umbrellas
* Porcelain automata
* Butterfly cloth

### Cuisine

#### Dishes, Stews, and Snacks

* Samsa: baked bao filled with a variety of savory ingredients and spices
* Nan: baked flatbread which has risen around the outer part of the top side, forming an elevated slope surrounding the middle of the bread
* Shashlyk: type of marinated meat skewers
* Olivye salad: type of mayonnaise-based potato salad including small fowl, shellfish, and olives
* Kasha: porridge
* Varenye: whole fruit preserve
* Syrnyky: cheese lumps
* Kulebyaka: seafood and rice wrap

#### Soups, Sauces, Salads, and Dips

* Mógusalat: mixed mushroom salad
* Dúkeshel: ground mushroom and butter sauce

#### Dessert

* Pyěnt’áopǐng: baked light flatbread filled with marzipan or almond paste sometimes topped with sesame seeds

### Music

#### Popular Genres with Descriptions

* Church Music: Christian devotional music. Usually classified as Gregorian (unaccompanied monophonic), Roman (accompanied monophonic), Byzantine (unaccompanied polyphonic), Gospel (accompanied polyphonic), and Evangelical (any songs that resemble pop music more than traditional form), even if the sect which produced the song is another or none of the given categories.
* Midxa: Islamic devotional music.
* Muŭm: non-Abrahamic devotional music.
* Naach: traditional or folk dance music, as opposed to
* Chŏnmayk: pop and electronic dance music, as opposed to
* Balé: classical and performative dance music
* Fowk: folk music.
* Voyeni: war music, like chants, dances, marches, etc.
* Ókesta: classical music

#### Selection

* Shoulda Gone to Bed: Like many other songs from the Deserted Plain, this song is very melancholic. It is a lamentation of an old person who regrets their decision to take gene therapy and wishes they were dead.
* Goodbye, my Beloved Country: This truly pan-Novan song is commonly heard in the Intermontane Territory as in any other part of the FTSC. A lament for places long lost to the singer, its simple melody allows people to make up verses for any country and language, no matter their origin.
* Dance of the Wolves: A traditional dance
* March of the Aurora: Official march of the ITG
* Darkness Falls, Sokorovi-moya:
* Hymn to the Great Octopus: A sea shanty
* Take Me With You: A lament written by refugees from the Salvation fleet meant to invoke the image of people begging to let onto the Exodus and the Salvation but are left behind both times, with an ominous ending hinting at the suspected fates of those who were left behind
* Little Sister: A song personifying a shotgun as if it were the singer’s younger sibling

### Dance

Performative dances typically have very elaborate stories. T'alch'um, a dramatic masked dance inherited from Korea, traditionally has seven acts, which address topics such as corrupt bureaucracy, detached religious leaders, and societal misogyny. Russian balyet is still popular in the Mezhdugóronye Territory with little alteration to the genre. From South Asia there is kat'ak and passaa nagmaa, which include similar movement but are different in content and costume. The music is similar, but the lyrics of kat'ak music typically tell a story or legend while the lyrics of passaa nagmaa are devotional. The costume of passaa nagmaa performers and female kat'ak performers is the same; rú, tight light fabric pants, and virtichʼyún skirt. Male kat'ak performers wear terlie instead of a rú and skirt. All performers wear ghungroo bells on their ankles.

Some genres are defined solely by their costuming. The qáásawǔ is a dance step where the performers hold triangular cloth behind them with outstretched arms to imitate wings. There is an entire category of virtichʼyún dances, of which kat'ak and passaa nagmaa are a part. This category also includes the occasionally ecstatic chʼyúnraqsh, a form of dance unique to the Mezhdugóronye Territory. It is a fusion of Russian balyet, Ukrainian folk dance, and Sufi devotional dance.

There is also the striking lion dance, derived from the lion dances from northern China rather than the lion dances from southern China or other related traditions in neighboring countries, and tiryistiwǔ, derived from many traditions, mainly the Hawaiian hula, which involves shaking movements of the limbs meant to imitate certain natural phenomena like the rustling of leaves and earthquake tremors.

### Recreation

#### Boating

People on the coasts of the Empty Meadow have resurrected the ancient activity of boating and ship craft for professional purposes as well as for recreation. Many professional fishing vessels take the form of modern trawlers, but, with most metals and plastics going to support the ITG, more traditional ships have seen a surge in popularity. Junk-rigged schooners are the most popular kind of ship, and may carry Manaaki-style catamarans for expeditions. More square barques are produced further south which are better when combatting ice.

#### Martial Arts

Martial arts are very popular in the Mezhdugóronye Territory, both as a form of relaxation and as a fitness routine. It was brought to the area by its first settlers, from the Order of the Crimson Wolf, as part of their physical activity program. The youths educated in combat sports sought to continue professional competition in adulthood and eventually established various organizations to regulate martial arts, new and old.

Intermontane martial arts are divided into two categories (internal and external) and three types (fully armed, simply armed, and unarmed), for a total of 6 styles. An example of an unarmed external martial art is the grappling-based sambotao, derived from hapkido and the variant of Russian sambo invented for the Dajiaoan military, which is often contrasted with tatao, a strike-based unarmed external martial art derived from taekwondo and sanda. An example of a fully armed external martial art is pangtaetao, derived from wushu and various Western sword-based martial arts.