Berraram

Berraram is a tiny, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its state-planned economy, irreverence towards religion, and devotion to social welfare. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 9 million Berramians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

   The large, corrupt, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government prioritizes Defense, although Welfare, Law & Order, and Education are also considered important, while Spirituality isn't funded at all. The average income tax rate is 66.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The fair Berraramian economy, worth 387 billion Phanxes a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient, fairly diversified black market in Trout Farming, Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 43,002 Phanxes, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Organisations with 800 in their phone number are often raided by special forces, scenic mountain valleys are flooded with water as damming projects get underway, cash-strapped junkies lick rabbits for a cheap high, and any body part that can be cut off a person is no longer considered to be their property. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Berraram's national animal is the Dragon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

## History

**A brief, "in a nutshell" history.**

For thousands of years, the Sato Atzima Peninsula has been fought over by many countries. Probably the most notable are the descendants of Hatreudor, who have dominated the peninsula and its many islands since around 600 B.C.

**Hatreudor**

Etymology: Unknown

Hatreudor was a massive aristocratic country that ruled Sato Atzima for around 1,100 years (between 600 B.C. and 400 A.D.) They were relatively secluded from the rest of the world, but followed a similar development as ancient Greece. They established a national religion known as Creaturism, with the philosophy that the destruction of one thing is only the creation of another. Between 500 B.C. and 450 A.D. lived a traveler known as Racek Dateua. In his adventures, which brought him to many a country including (warring) Greece. Here he learned of Democracy, and its benefits, and vowed to bring the idea back to Hatreudor to possibly start a newer, more peaceful and inclusive country. This inevitably led to a civil cold war that lasted until 377 A.D, which is when war broke out. Racek's followers, known as the Dateuan Rebellion, declared war on the Hatreudorian government, which led to a 24 year civil war.

In a ridiculous turn of events, neighboring Nuo Ruul invaded Hatreudor when its aristocratic government was at it's weakest point. The entire country was absorbed into the rein of Nuo Ruul, who kindly offered the Dateuan Rebellion an island near the southern tip of the peninsula as their own. Nuo Ruul became Dateu's closest ally.

**Dateu**

Etymology: Named for Racek Dateua

Dateu was a much smaller, but much more influential nation that existed between 401 A.D. and the 1800s. Its Direct Democracy was a huge hit, and the country lived in peace for hundreds of years. This was until around 1717, when a small group of people used the democracy to their advantage, and manipulated the government, bringing them to power. They had enough followers to eventually take over the nation, and it descended into anarchy. This group of people was led by a conman named Joyce Berram. Berram and his followers had a huge quarrel with (previously mentioned) Nuo Ruul, for unknown reasons. As soon as Berram came into power, he started building a military, cutting funding for education, health, and sciences. With this military, he waged war against the (very much larger, mind you) Nuo Ruul, a conflict that lasted 86 years. In the end of this war, Berram's grandson Jacob (Dateuan dictator at the time,) finally overthrew Nuo Ruul. He ravaged through their massive territory, claiming settlements for his own.

**Berraram**

Etymology: Named for Jacob Berram, coincidentally translates to "Warlord" from Hatreudorian.

Berraram was founded in 1888 by Jacob Berram. It's capital was creatively named Berraram City, and was located where Nuo Ruul's capital, Minleo, stood. Its government has in time shifted to a Stratocratic Empire, resembling the direct democracy of Dateu but only accessible to the Military. Following Berraram's development of Biological Superweapons, the remaining population of Dateu was completely obliterated, and Berraram took the small island. As of 1986, Berraram moved it's capital city to the same place where Dateu and Hatreudor's capital stood, (even keeping the traditional name,) Colomb.