Prem-Bol

The Federal Republic of Prem-Bol is a small republic in the north of Zamoroziet, located on the northern end of the Encircled Sea.

## History

Prem-Bol's history dates back to at least the 2nd Century CE, when Reman and Pictish explorers in the region first remarked on the presence of the "Bolish tribe" inhabiting the rocky peninsulas at the northern end of the Encircled Sea. A majority of archaeologists believe Prem-Bol to be the original homeland of the Bolish tribes, although this assertion does not meet universal agreement, particularly within the ranks of Bolish scholars. Nevertheless, the name "Prem-Bol," meaning "Womb of the Bol" or "Head of the Bol" indicates a long-running belief that the Bolish people originated in the region.

Settlers, believed to be the losers of internal power-struggles within the ancient Bolish kingdom, left Prem-Bol for both the east and west between the 5th and 10th centuries. Many of the colonists heading eastward landed in Joseon, eventually carving out the kingdom of Aukustia from the larger power.

During the Forty Years War (1712-1752), Prem-Bol entered into an alliance with the Western Bols (who eventually consolidated as Arkadyetsiya and Ostrony), justifying the action as solidarity with perceived distant kinsmen. Prem-Bol was at the height of its power through the 1730s, encompassing both the modern state, and external territories. However, the aggressive policy of the Kingdom, acting in concert with the Western Bol, gained numerous enemies. An invasion of Pictfearr was crushed catastrophically in 1743. On the naval front, Joseon defeated Prem-Bol's fleet carrying reinforcements to Aukustia in the Battle of Noryang in 1740, while a four-nation alliance (Liotain, Eirenn, Pictfearr, and Joseon) destroyed the remainder of the Bolish navy during the Battle of Pomorie (1752).

With this series of defeats, traditional enemies began lining up to feed off Prem-Bol's misfortunes, resulting in drastic losses of territory. The catastrophic Winter of 1753, the 1752-1753 Smallpox Plague, and the Great Famine of 1754 all affected Prem-Bol more heavily than their neighbors. Appeals to the Western Bol for military and financial assistance went unanswered, and Prem-Bol eventually surrendered nearly two-thirds of its territory, creating the states of Bedin, Somal, and Zakiristan.

In the aftermath of these events, Prem-Bol survived, but was deeply impoverished, scarred by war, and bitter both toward their enemies and former allies, who they believed had abandoned them in their hours of greatest need. Prem-Bol's weakened monarchy, as one of the primary proponents of the destructive wars, was reduced to a figurehead status, and a Sobranie (elected parliament) instituted in its place.

The monarchy finally ended in 1799 with the death of Atanas the Blind, who declared that he would never marry, intentionally allowing the monarchical line to die out. The head-of-state role would be assumed the following year by a newly-elected President, while the head-of-government duties rested with the Prime Minister.

Although the new republic held a professed aversion to war, Prem-Bol was forced to defend its territory on two further occasions, in 1802 and 1830. These defensive wars continued to sap the country's coffers. In 1845, Prem-Bol offered to sell their largest port of Rskir to Liotain in exchange for financial assistance with industrialization. Although Liotain assisted the Pictish Federation against Prem-Bol during the wars of the 18th Century, and led the coalition navy at the Battle of Pomorie, they were a more palatable ally for Prem-Bol than the next-most-likely alternative, Firocco.

Liotainian assistance proved profitable for both countries, as the Liotainians discovered oil in the country in the 1880s, and built several railways to help pull the country together. While the relationship is usually smooth, it is not without issues.

Prem-Bol retains a deep aversion to offensive war, but are forced by circumstances to retain significant armed forces for self-defense. They usually try to source their military equipment from non-aligned powers wherever possible.

## Government and Politics

The Prime Minister, elected by the Sobranie (Parliament) serves as the head-of-government, making most major governmental decisions.

The President serves as head-of-state, being elected for a five-year term.

Sobranie members are elected for six year terms, after which they are forbidden from holding public office for at least six years.

### Foreign Relations and Military

#### Diplomatic Relations

* Good: Eirenn, Joseon, Liotain
* Neutral: Arkadyetsiya, Aukustia, Kyslev, Somal.
* Poor: Zakiristan
* War: None

#### Prem-Bol Army

* Mannlicher Rifles are purchased from Syrellia

## Economy

Prem-Bol is slowly developing a modern industrial economy, funded partially by their extraction and sale of oil. Leading economists, while cheering the oil-extraction industry, warn against developing the national economy solely around it.

## Largest Cities

1. Stara Strelcha (capital)
2. Rskir
3. Samokov
4. Kresna
5. Radan
6. Pernik
7. Cherven Obnova
8. Elovitsa
9. Bregovo
10. Tolovitsa

## Culture

#### Religion

Most inhabitants of Prem-Bol still practice traditional Bolish polytheism, although there are small communities of Theophanites (both Orthodox and Pankasmic) totaling approximately 15% of the populace, and a small community of Aukustian Konseptsiyans (about 3%).