Nofkort

**Nofkort** is a island country in the Northern Sea and the most northerly country in the gnown world. Its closest neighbours are the Pridish Isles to the south west and Fenize to the south east.

## **History**

### **Fenizian Colonial Period**

The first known explorations of Nofkort occured between the years -364 and -346 by Fenizian troops led by Rekaduz Chyberpolus. A small colony is believed to have been formed by -340 with intent to mine the ores discovered in the area. Shortly criminals and political dissidents from both mainland Fenize and the colonised Pridish mainland were being shipped to Nofkort as forced labour. Operations expanded and led to the establishment of camps that grew into the three major cities of Nofkort in the contemporary age.

Fenizian control ended in Nofkort in -232 when the Fenizian civil war broke out and all troops withdrew from the land, abandoning what remained of the labour force to perish in the hostile enviroment. This however did not occur and the labour force managed to organise itself in pockets enough to stave off the harsh winters.

### **Early Republic**

It is generally believed the first Nofkorti republic formed around -33 by Stenga Blašag, a now folkloric hunter who united the remaining camps through force.

## **Governance**

### **Politics**

Nofkort is a democratic republic wherein all people of age 16 or above have the right to vote in elections for those who represent them. These elected positions form the Mechanalia, a small body of ministers who each represent one of Nofkort's internal or external interests such as the Minister for Trade and the Minister for Transport. The Mechanalia is lead by the Maržel, the official and unelected head of state. The Maržel is a hereditary position currently held by the Ankerof family and is a role that holds little power in and of itself, and is rather an investigatory and judicial body that ensures proper practice within the Mechanalia by weeding out and punishing corruption.

## **Geography**

### **Climate**

Nofkort has a generally subarctic climate. The sourthern reaches of the island are characterised by stony tundras, whereas the northern stretches are snowlogged mountainous valleys.

Icebergs are a common sight on the southern coast but the coast itself is rarely ever icelogged, The northern coastline is expected to freeze annually, however this does not always happen. When this does happen though the island finds itself connected to the larger icesheet to its north by icebridges.

### **Geology**

The island itself is a volcanic hotspot, and while there has never been a recorded volcanic eruption from any of the mountains the island is geothermally active. This is expressed through numerous thermal vents and geysers across the island, many of which are centres of civilisation in the harsh enviroment. In the earliest days of Nofkorti innovation these vents were the focus of energy production but this practice has fallen in popularity, with other uses being regularly suggested and most recently being used as experimental launch spots for Nofkorti airships.

## **Economy**

Nofkort's primary export are the extremely high quality metals it produces.

### **Engineering**

Often Nofkorti engineers become involved in foreign civil projects when machines are involved. For example, the Jinpolaso railway was engineered and produced by Nofkorti engineers at the behest of the Ahm royalty.

## **Demography**

### **Population**

Nofkort has a total population of roughly 370,000 people.

### **Language**

Nofkorti is the primary spoken language of Nofkort.

### **Religion**

Nofkort is a primarilly agnostic country, there is no state religion and generally adherance to any religious code is looked down upon, however it is not outwardly illegal by any means.

## **Culture**

### **Architecture**

Traditionally Nofkorti homes were made in the form of log cabins, a practice chosen for its favourable insulative properties. This practice continues for the most part in the north, but in the more populous south the limited access to lumber necessitated a differing approach in the contemporary age. The more dense southern settlements are now the home of almost entirely metal structures, built pragmatically and functionally, and plumbed with heated water.

### **Cuisine**

Nofkorti cuisine is most noted for its preservation methods, including salting and smoking. The harsh climate severely limits farming and animal husbandry meaning that food has to be stretched and preserved. An oddity of this system is the inclusion of meat harvested from invasive hvelrypa killed in the north during the winter months, a practice that is seen as barbaric in most of the world but essential for the production of cheap and sustainable meat in the region.

### **Sport**

Multiple sporting systems have risen out of Nofkort's adoration of the mechanical. Prime among these are various forms of racing using different types of Nofkorti pioneered vehicles; inclunding motorised and non-motorised bike races, walker races, and the relatively novel airship races. A major element to these, as well as in the other mechanised sports too, is the presence of unregulated mechania. This creates a two-tiered game in most sports where the team behind the creation and maintainence of a machine is respected equally to a pilot and pushes for experimental thinking to get the upper hand.