Zemedievai
The Directorate of Zemedievai | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: 'Klestejimas ir Dievai' Prosperity and Dievai | |
 | |
| Location | Northeast Yastreovakia |
| Capital and largest city | Sventykla |
| Official languages | Slaviskas, Valish |
| Ethnic groups (2031) | 55% Zemedievan, 10% Pryzovan, 19% Kamya, 16% Non-Slaviskas |
| Religion | Dievinism |
| Demonym(s) | Zemedievan |
| Government | Autocracy |
• King | The Triglav |
• Chief Director | Johann Franz von Metternich |
| Establishment | |
• Unification of Zemedievai | 1780 |
• The Directorate Act | 1896 |
| Population | |
• 2031 census | 27329444 |
| Currency | Lapa (❦/LAP) |
| Date format | DD/MM/YYYY |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +49 |
| ISO 3166 code | DIR |
| Internet TLD | .dir |
The Directorate, officially The Directorate of Zemedievai, is a small country in Northeast Yastreovakia, located north of the Congregation of Brethren. A formerly isolationist nation, the Directorate has a population of 27 million, most of which identify with Slaviskas ethnicity, speak the Slaviskas language, and practice some form of Dievinism. Farmers and fishers make the majority of the rural population, while urban centers are more industrial and developed.
The Great Slaviskas Migration brought the original settlers to the area that is now the Directorate, although some theories posit that an indigenous population existed prior, which was either subject to a genocide or a different migration. These peoples consolidated into ethnic groups of disparate cultures, which coalesced into the Slaviskas kingdoms. In 921, the Kingdom of Zemedievai was formed, now called the Old Kingdom, Senekara, led by the Triglav.
The country was unified in 1780, with the War of Zemedievan Unification, wherein the Triglav’s armies conquered the other Zemedievan kingdoms. In 1896, the Directorate Act changed the structure of the Kingdom, modernizing the government and creating the model for the Directorate that is the current regime, although the position of Chief Director was not created until 2029, and not given supreme power until 2031.
This government is autocratic, with no legislature, and a subservient judicial branch. The focus of the government is not on the leaders, however, but on the bureaucracy, which runs the nation without political ideologies or factions. The society is considered meritocratic, and by many measures technocratic, with the sweeping authority of the Director of Science, the focus on education, and the expansive government-funded scientific research. Chief Director Metternich acts as the Head of State and Head of Government.
The Directorate economy relies largely on agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, energy, and metals. The research sector is largely focused on physics and biology, with advancements in biotechnology being a major economic industry. Despite past isolationism, the Directorate has entered the international community in force, now serving in the Chief Justice role of the International Court of Justice, as well as maintaining foreign military bases and industrial production facilities.
Etymology
Zemedievai, the name by which the lands ruled by the Directorate is often called, is a name dating back to the Great Slavic Migration, in which Proto-Slaviskas tribes settled northeastern Yastreovakia. Zemedievai is a name which literally translates to Land of the Gods, but is better kept partially translated as Land of the Dievai. The Dievai are the holy spirits worshiped by the Slaviskas settlers, and in their cultural canon, the promised land in which they'd settle was the home of these gods.
In Slaviskas legend, these Dievai led the migration, towering over the huddled masses of Slavic migrants as they led the way with golden banners. The Zaskanka culture group, which was the first of the Slaviskas migrant groups to settle, especially attributes guidance to the mammoth god Marmutas, but most of the other Slaviskas people claimed that the entire Dievai tribe led the way. This leads into another prominent founding myth in which the Dievai defeated the hostile elemental spirits that governed the land in order to civilize it. These legends are intrinsically tied with Zemedievan identity, whether or not they're believed, and so the etymological significance of the name Zemedievai is not lost on them.
Although Zemedievai now refers to the entire sovereign territory of the Directorate, including Kamyachyn and Arktialo, the early kingdoms of the land had different names. Zemedievai was the name of the central kingdom, consisting of the Sirda and Istika peoples. Other kingdoms, Zaskanka included, would not use the term until hundreds of years later, when the Kingdom of Zemedievai, led by the Triglav, conquered the land. The shared religion, heritage, and customs of these differing kingdoms led to a common identity as Slaviskas, distinct from Slavic in its reference solely to the northeastern territories of Yastreovakia, and Zemedievai remained as the name of a single kingdom and a single subculture.
In the modern day, the old kingdoms and peoples are still referred to as Slaviskas, but Zemedievai and Zemedievan are terms that are applied to all peoples and territories of the modern Directorate. In turn, the heartland of the country is instead referred to as Senekara, a term meaning Old Kingdom, to distinguish the two. This has allowed the generification of the term Zemedievai to refer to the country beyond simple imperialist expansionism, preserving the individual kingdoms' identities in order to promote the multiethnic status of the modern Zemedievan state.
The distinction between Zemedievai and the Directorate is more difficult to make. The Directorate refers to the state and the relevant government, whereas Zemedievai refers to the land itself and the nation. Although, on many maps, Zemedievai is known solely and simply as the Directorate, and all official correspondences refer to it as such, Zemedievai is still an official name within law. In fact, the full government name is the Directorate of Zemedievai. However, "Zemedievai" is more cultural than political. The Directorate is a unifying term, devoid of cultural and religious context, to promote the bureaucratic and secular state. Both, however, can be used generally interchangeably in common speech.
The Directorate has two valid demonyms. Zemedievan and Directorate. The latter is reserved, however, for government contexts. While it would be correct to say "Directorate soldier" or "Directorate official", it would be wrong to say "Directorate culture" or "Directorate language". The language of the Directorate, Slaviskas, is the "Zemedievan language". It is a personal, cultural thing, not an impersonal, governmental thing. At the same time, "Zemedievan soldier" would, as a rule, refer to a soldier of Zemedievan ethnicity or nationality, and would not inherently refer to a soldier serving under the Zemedievan government. "Directorate person" is illogical, but "Directorate citizen" is not, for the latter has an inherent implication of government context. For the same reason, "Zemedievan citizen" is incorrect. Such semantics, however, are reserved for grammarians, academics, and official documents. In everyday conversation and even in certain formal contexts, mistakes go unnoticed and uncared for.
Politics
Constitutional Law
The Directorate is one of the only countries in the world to not have a formalized legislature, and possibly the only one in the world to never have one. Before the formation of the Directorate, the kingdoms of Zemedievai passed law through royal edict. When the Kingdom of Zemedievai began to modernize, and the need for more formal governance was realized, the result was the Directorate Act of 1896, which established the current government. However, a legislature was notably excluded. Royal edicts were turned into “Acts,” which could only be passed by the Triglav. “Orders,” on the other hand, fulfilled the role of legislation on a department level.
Since the formation of the Directorate, this system has been maintained. Most legislating is done on a basis of discretionary rule-making power by the Directories, Departments, and Divisions. Acts serve only to enact major government reform. In this way, the legal structure of the Directorate has taken on an informal nature as a collection of “constitutional law,” as scholars refer to it, rather than any unified constitution or typical legislation. The ability to pass Acts is what defines the Head of Government office within the Directorate, which is now the Chief Director.
The Directorate Act of 1896 is the oldest constitutional law in the Directorate. No decrees prior to it still stand. It establishes the national government, with basic departments for performing government tasks — before, Ministries were used. In this sense, the Directorate Act is where the modern branding of the government originated. Although almost none of the original act remains valid, with entire sections being amended out by future constitutional law, the establishment of the Directorate and the autocratic, bureaucratic, one-branch government structure remain.
The Local Government Act of 1903 was one of the first to follow. As urbanization took hold of the Directorate in earnest, the old system of counties and hereditary leaders fell out of favor. The Local Government Act established the purpose and structure of local governments. Governors and Mayors were appointed by the Triglav, and granted authority over zoning, housing, local infrastructure, and licenses. Since, amendments have shifted this model to appointments by the Chief Director and a more thorough enumeration of duties and powers. The Directorate, of course, retained supreme power. The map of counties and municipalities has changed many times over the years.
The Kamyachyn Act of 1924 is one of the most significant acts in terms of extending the sovereignty of the Directorate. Apart from the Arktialo Territory Act of 2032, over a hundred years later, it is the only expansion of Directorate territory since the unification of the country, and certainly the only one to establish dominion over a populated foreign nation. The Kamyachyn Act, with more recent amendments, defines how the Directorate governs Kamyachyn, and sets out procedures for its own limited autonomy. Furthermore, it justifies military presence and declares all the laws of the Directorate to apply, unless otherwise specified by those laws.
The Cabinet Act of 1980 is an important constitutional law created by the Triglav when he realized the demands of a modern state exceeded the simple structure of the Directorate Act. Instead of departments, the chief unit of government was the Directory, which largely formed the same duties. Departments were subdivisions of this. The Cabinet Act created most modern directories and departments, assigned them duties and powers, and gave the head of government the power to form a cabinet of key advisors on the passage of acts and perform other major governmental functions.
The Industry Act of 1993 streamlined the Directorate’s economic policy-making. The Directory of Labor and the Directory of Energy had their status lowered to the Department-level, placed under the jurisdiction of the Directory of Industry. Furthermore, it limited the participation of high level Industry officials in stock trading and banned them from any employment by or creation of private companies while holding office or within five years after leaving office. This was coupled with the Anti-Corruption Act of 1993, which banned the receipt of any gifts worth over ❦50 and forced any government official, including judges, to recuse themselves from any matter in which they may be perceived to have potential bias. It furthermore banned any governmental official from hiring their relatives or being aware of any such hiring before the final decision is made.
The Advising Directors Act of 1999 created the position of “Advising Director,” which is simply called “Advisor” in most contexts and conversations. Advisors were appointees of the Triglav – now, the Chief Director – who could participate in cabinet discussions, hold a say in the governing of the country, and be allowed the highest level of clearance in the government, all without practical responsibilities or powers relating to any specific Directory. Another key element of the Advising Directors Act is that, because it prohibits a salary for a job in which no work is conducted, it exempts Advising Directors from the provisions of the Industry Act relating to stock trading, private employment, and business leadership.
The Chief Director Act of 2029 created the Office of the Chief Director as a deputy to the Triglav. At the time, it was an inward-facing position which ensured Directory compliance of constitutional law, maintained the efficiency of each government body, oversaw certain aspects of Kamyachyn rulership, and assisted the Triglav in performing his duties. The Chief Director was guaranteed a cabinet position. This Act was essentially repealed and replaced with the Head of Government Act of 2031.
The Head of Government Act of 2031 is the most important constitutional law in Directorate history. For the first time in hundreds of years, it shifted the absolute autocratic power of the Directorate into the hands of someone other than the Triglav. Furthermore, it is the first time a non-hereditary ruler has been made the head of government of a Slaviskas state. Of course, this is tangential to the actual accomplishment. The Triglav was relegated to a ceremonial head of state, whereas the Chief Director was granted full power over the country. Every power afforded the Triglav was given to Metternich.
The Identity Act of 2031 was the first constitutional law to be passed by the Chief Director and not the Triglav. Chief Director Metternich created the act in order to pacify the religious elements of the country after he had been granted temporal power over the country, and especially due to his plan to secularize the bureaucracy, which slowly took effect over the next three years. The Identity Act created the Directory of Ceremony and Department of Heritage within. These were the only government bodies placed under the jurisdiction of the Triglav. They were given duties and powers to protect the Zemedievan culture and identity. Finally, the act reaffirmed the Dievinist nature of the country, even while disentangling the Thrice-Blessed Church from the government.
The Defense Act of 2032 was the biggest reform conducted by Chief Director Metternich in his time as ruler of the Directorate. Prior to the act, the Directorate maintained no standing military, but essentially militarized its police for national defense as the Directorate Security Force. The Defense Act devolved the DSF into separate branches of a military and a separate national police force. Counties and municipalities maintain their own small police forces as well, with support from stationed national units when necessary. The development of a Directorate military and an intelligence agency essentially brought the Directorate into modern geopolitics.
The Open Borders Act of 2032 was another major reform from Chief Director Metternich. Prior to this act, the Directorate maintained a strict no immigration policy, with very few exceptions, for 90 years. This act undid that, opening the borders and creating the Immigration Directory to oversee the process. This especially led to the acceptance of Alcatus refugees fleeing persecution in foreign countries. Furthermore, it created the basis for more open diplomacy in the decreasingly isolationist nation.
The final major constitutional law of 2032 was the Arktialo Territory Act. Citing the 1132 Edict of King Vaisvilkas II, the 1149 Edict of Queen Ludmila I, and the 1780 Edict of The Triglav, the Arktialo Territory Act extended Directorate sovereignty over the Arktialo Isles, an uninhabited, rocky archipelago east and north of the Directorate’s heartland. Since then, no constitutional laws have been created, although some Acts have been passed as a way to exert more of a guiding hand over the Directories, as Chief Director Metternich consolidated his power and pushed his government reforms.
Economy
State Owned Enterprises
The Directorate is governed like a company, in many aspects, but it is not just the bureaucracy that acts corporate. Since 1950, the Directorate has established State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for the purposes of expanding their revenue, providing discounted services to poorer citizens, stimulating the economy with more competition in various industries, and easing the burden of the Directorate taxpayer with paid opt-in services.
Most SOEs are operated by the Directory of Industry, but oftentimes, other Directories, and certain Departments, retain ownership to ensure quality products at affordable prices for the Directorate citizens. Knowledge is freely shared amongst government agencies and enterprises. Furthermore, as the government is beholden to transparency and public records, State Owned Enterprises are often far more accountable than private companies.
Nepotism, cronyism, and political appointees are largely banned in State Owned Enterprises, with strict requirements of merit-based appointments and promotions, with strong oversight from the Directory of Justice, but enforcement is often difficult across the vast range of employees - within the State Owned Enterprises and without. Regardless, leadership positions, which are under even greater scrutiny, are typically occupied by industry experts - balanced between professional skills and academic scholarship.
The Directorate Medicinal Corporation is operated by the Directory of Science, with oversight from the Directory of Health and Welfare. Provided by laboratories under the Science Directory, the DMC sells pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to individuals as well as to private companies. Both a competitor and a supplier, the DMC is a staple of the pharmaceutical industry of the Directorate, leading in innovation and profit, much of which is channeled back into production and new discoveries.
The Legal Services Commission is a minor company operated by the Directory of Justice, specifically the Department of Attorneys. Although public defenders are provided for free to the public in criminal trials, the LSC provides higher quality defense and, more often, legal counsel for civil trials. Income from the LSC is modest, especially compared to the legal giants of the Directorate. Pro bono cases are not uncommon either, despite the LSC being a for-profit company.
The Directorate Postal Service is a government service run by the Directory of Industry's Department of Infrastructure. Though the DPS provides a public good, postage costs money, and this income is directly looped back into the DPS budget. This, however, does not break even for the DPS, and outside funds are still required.
Directorate Air and Directorate Rail are small State Owned Enterprises operated by the Directory of Industry within the transportation industry. The former competes heavily with private companies, but their reduced quality and subsidized fares are more affordable for the poorer citizens of the Directorate. The latter maintains a near monopoly over passenger train systems. Both work side by side with the Department of Infrastructure as well.
The Directorate Electric Company is operated by the Department of Energy. Government-operated power plants provide the electricity for every government building and service in the Directorate, and access to excess energy is sold off by the DEC to towns and cities with government facilities requiring such energy needs. Half of Sventykla is powered by the DEC, which maintains profits largely through heavy regulation of competition. The government tends to offer many tax rebates to smooth over relations with energy giants for undercutting their prices and stealing their business.
The Directorate Water Company is operated by the Department of Energy as well. Though water and energy do not fall under the same jurisdiction, both are stockpiles of spare resources that are sold to the public and connected with homes and buildings in a similar business model and a similar installation project. The DWC is much smaller than the DEC, as much of the government-owned water supply is a public good given for free. Little profits are made, and questions of the practicality of maintaining it have been raised in government channels.
The Directorate Mining Company is completely under the sole jurisdiction of the Directory of Industry, and is the second most profitable State Owned Enterprise, right behind the DMC. Coal, iron, chromium, sulfur, phosphate, nickel, zinc, tin, and steel is sold directly to major domestic and foreign corporations, with immense profits. The mining industry is a major component of the Directorate economy, and the D-Min-C is a major competitor within it. Of course, the market also sees many privately owned corporations fulfilling the same duties, but the DMinC still brings in immense profits.
National Oil is another profitable SOE under the Directory of Industry. Oil reserves in the Directorate were first found in the 1990s, and control over these oil fields was signed off to private corporations, with strong legal protections, in order to secure the continued support of major economic forces in the increasingly commercializing and modernizing Directorate bureaucracy. Undoing this for the benefit of an SOE such as National Oil would cost much political capital and provoke unrest within the elite factions of the country. As such, National Oil is a small producer, and only sells to domestic entities. Foreign trade of Directorate oil is reserved for private companies maintaining close ties with the government.
Various banks, insurance and investment funds are maintained by the Directory of Finance or Industry in order to safeguard a healthy national economy. The Investment Fund and Directorate National Bank serve as general sources of income following this model, overseen by Finance, but Crop Insurance and the Directorate National Agricultural Credit Bank serve as specialized institutions for protecting the interests of the agricultural sector, the oldest and most powerful industries in the country. Finally, Stock Insurance has been operated by Industry ever since 2011, to protect the stock market from mass failure.
As an alternative source of income, but not quite a company in and of itself, the national university system is operated by the Directory of Education. Tuition prices supplement Directorate income, but most schools are practically free, and scholarships offered by the national government evens out much of the revenue gained from charging tuition prices. The only difference this makes is in advanced, specialized institutions such as those partnering with the Directory of Science, as well as certain major urban colleges, which provide a higher quality education for a higher price.
Taxes
The vast military and bureaucratic reforms of Chief Director Metternich would be impossible without a plentiful treasury and a steady flow of money into the Directorate's coffers. Even before Metternich rose to power, under the Triglav, taxes and the income of State Owned Enterprises provided the basis of a strong budget - though, before the secularization of the bureaucracy in 2031, most of the budget was diverted to churches, religious ceremonies, and the like.
Income tax in the Directorate is fairly average. The vast majority of the country typically pays 30% in income tax. This is the largest tax bracket, encompassing everything from ❦20.000 yearly revenue to ❦100.000. The lower bracket, ranging from ❦2.000 to ❦20.000, pays 12% income tax. The upper bracket, of ❦100.000 and above, pays 40% income tax. Tax breaks and write-offs, however, further complicate the system, and many Directorate citizens tend to pay less in taxes than the official number. Income tax in Kamyachyn is collected by the local authorities, rather than being funneled to the Directorate, like most other taxes.
Property taxes in the Directorate are harsher than many other modern capitalist countries. 10% of the assessed value upon purchase, or spread out among separate payments, is imposed. This rate was 5% for most of Directorate history, but Metternich's rise to power corresponded with a rise in taxes to meet the demands of his new government. This has met with grumbling and mumbling from the wealthy property-owners, but no real unrest occurred. The elite recognized the governmental reforms of Metternich as an opportunity to strengthen their social and political position in the nation. Property taxes in Kamyachyn are collected by the local authorities, as well.
Corporate taxes for the Directorate are lower, at 12%, with exemptions for State Owned Enterprises and certain affiliated companies which fulfill frequent government contracts. The Directorate seeks to grow its economy, and it sees higher taxes on corporate revenue as an obstacle to that goal. Imports are taxed at an 8% rate, with this tariff being applied on top of sales or corporate taxes. Higher tariffs are sometimes placed on certain products or foreign nations, but lowered tariffs are exceedingly rare.
The sales tax throughout the Directorate is 3%, although, in Kamyachyn, it reaches 8%. This rate is applied to most goods, and is kept low to facilitate buying, although taxes may be raised to control spending in times of high inflation. Alcohol, tobacco, and legalized drugs within the Directorate are taxed at a 15% rate nationwide to discourage addictive habits. Firearms are taxed at a 30% rate, and have been since 2002, when a mass shooting in Sventykla led to greater gun control. Directorate-grown fresh produce is not taxed at all, nor is water.
Unlike many other nations, there are no taxes for windfall profits, gifts, or inheritance. These taxes were in place from 1990-2030, but were removed by Metternich as Chief Director, before he took full power as the Chief Executive, and remained a deputy of the Triglav. These taxes were seen as unnecessary and constrictive. In addition, there has never been a luxury goods tax or a carbon tax on top of base rate sales taxes.
Taxes within the Directorate are always a balancing act between appeasing the people or wealthy elites and pursuing meaningful government reform and providing quality public services. Metternich continues to promise lower taxes in the future, but his fiscally conservative ideology is tempered by the need to reform the government according to his vision for the Directorate. The solution is typically tax rebates and certain exemptions at various, strategic points, but it is not unlikely that these taxes will be much lower in a decade, when the winds of change have stopped blowing and the Directorate has settled into its new status.
Society
Socializing and Etiquette
Throughout the Directorate, the spacing of the land and concentration of the population in small, rural communities, has led to a distinct antisocial quality to most Zemedievans. Newcomers and travelers often see Directorate citizens, then, as apathetic, difficult to connect with, and often distrustful of outsiders. Zemedievans tend to keep to themselves and their close circle of friends. Small talk is uncommon in social settings, and personal space is valued.
Underneath the cold demeanor, Zemedievans tend to be very close with those they call friend. Small groups of three to five friends who maintain very close relationships with each other are not uncommon, especially in smaller communities. Typically, for older adults, especially in urban and suburban communities, neighbors fulfill these roles. However, having larger groups of friends, or a small number of friends without any group structure, are just as prevalent. In any case, such close friends are treated like family, even when distant relatives are treated more like strangers or acquaintances.
The typical manner of address for everyone who isn't a close friend or family member is by usage of honorifics such as Mr, Ms, or Mx, followed by their surname. First names are reserved for friends, with minors being the sole exception. In public, courtesy and politeness is key. In those interactions which do occur between two or more people who aren't personally close, such as during a transaction or work event, all conversational parties are expected to treat all others with deference and a degree of formality. This foundational component of respect is central to Zemedievan society. Strangers are to be treated politely, including holding doors open, pulling out chairs, and such. Furthermore, conversation often features compliments, even between two absolute strangers.
As time goes on and two individuals become closer, this formality sheds. Privacy and personal space is somewhat lessened as people become close friends, or as dating progresses. Endearing nicknames become more common. Poking fun at another person, even in a small way, can either be a sign of absolute disrespect or close affection, with little in between, and the difference typically amounts to whether or not both parties feel the same degree of comfort and closeness, which can sometimes be tricky for immigrants to grasp, or those who struggle with social cues. Luckily for them, rudeness is typically shrugged off, for fear of being rude in return. What social consequences exist for rupturing social norms are limited and politely executed.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon in Zemedievan society. Although not quite so strict in Kamyachyn, and within more close-knit communities, such as small villages, hugs and kisses in a public place are seen as rude, in that they are immodest, shedding the personal privacy Zemedievan culture values as well as the formality and distance of public life. Couples and sometimes even very close friends, can be seen holding hands, sitting closely, or leaning on each other, but beyond that, physical affection, such as wrapping one's arm around someone, is generally reserved for privacy. For strangers and acquaintances, handshakes serve as an adequate form of greeting, particularly with direct eye contact. When seeing someone you know along the street, a smile and/or a nod is sufficient.
Social events are typically tied to holidays and business events. Large gatherings otherwise are generally uncommon. In rural areas, even these can be exceedingly rare. In all cases, social gatherings, being public events, are treated semi-formally. Strangers can be met and conversation tends to come more freely and naturally, but at the same time, people who do know each other don't tend to split up much. Most of these rules are loosened in gatherings of minors or young adults, for whom the laws of etiquette aren't so strict, and familiarity is more common. Alcoholic beverages and smoking during any public gathering, even on private property, is considered extremely rude.
Gift giving in Zemedievai is typically reserved for occasions where both parties are expected to have gifts for each other, such as holidays. Otherwise, surprise gifts can make Zemedievans uncomfortable. Exceptions include weddings and promotions. Gifts of flowers are common, but the color can carry certain meanings. White flowers are for weddings, pink flowers are for romantic partners, and red flowers are for funerals. Other gifts can be wrapped or not. In the case of a gift exchange, they are typically opened immediately upon being received, but even during weddings, gifts are opened in front of the gift giver.
When invited over to someone's home for dinner, gifts of flowers, wine, or sweets are expected for the host. Shoes should be removed at the door, and hands should be washed before and after the meal. Table manners are relaxed, but the place of seating is determined by the host. Napkins are kept on the table, food should be taken in small portions, but is most often served by the host, and one is to only eat when the host has finished serving and begun eating themselves. Toasts are uncommon, but, when done, it is taboo to toast with water. Other non-alcoholic beverages, however, are permitted.
Business meetings tend to be face-to-face and by-appointment. Virtual meetings such as calls or video calls are seen as too impersonal. Business relationships tend to become friendships, and vice versa, so there is an expected friendliness and pursuit of personal connection. Punctuality is strictly observed. To a lesser extent, this has influenced etiquette for social meetings as well, but following these norms are more important when rudeness can be seen as cause to look elsewhere for a transaction or business partnership.
Marriage
Weddings in the Directorate and weddings in Dievinism are practically synonymous, as many traditions developed for religious purposes persist even in atheist life as a reflection of shared Zemedievan culture. Marriages conducted in observance with other religions, however, are still legally binding provided proper legal documentation is supplied.
In legal terms, marriages require very little. Marriage licenses may be granted by local governments provided both parties are 18 years of age or older and have agreed to the marriage of their own volition. A civil servant may preside over the wedding, but a priest may suffice. Two witnesses are required, as are signatures from both parties, once the ceremony is completed, on a document committed to public record.
Marriage between three or more individuals is illegal, largely on the political basis of preventing the expansion of certain tax exemptions and advantages that are bestowed upon married couples. In this way, it is not incorrect to say that polyamorous individuals are the only marginalized sexual or romantic identity in the Directorate – same-sex marriage has always been legal – though this is not reflected in any other legal or social context.
Within the actual ceremony, comparisons between Zemedievan tradition and global norms can be drawn. In Zemedievai, vows are spoken in a public ceremony with invited friends and family in attendance. These vows are always personalized, although most follow a general formula of commitment, mutual respect, and love, for the rest of their life.
Although these vows are made between the betrothed, there is a religious expectation of binding the oath to the gods. In Orthodox Dievinism, vows are made to the Triglav. In Old Dievinism, vows are made to Teondumis, whereas in Modern Dievinism, vows are typically directed at the Dievai as a whole. Finally, Valdovan Deivinism directs vows of marriage to Valdovas as the head of the pantheon.
Following vows, rings are exchanged to symbolize marital bond, and are typically worn at all times during a marriage. The nature of the ring itself changes from person to person. Gold and silver bands are most common, and more wealthy people can afford jewels, engravings, or, in certain cases, special craftsmanship.
The main differences lie not in the legal aspects, or the ceremony itself, but the wedding as a whole, especially before and after the exchanging of vows and rings. Traditionally, both of the betrothed are expected to only wear white. Dresses, suits, or even traditional robes are common enough, though the nature of the clothing matters less than the color. It is taboo for wedding guests to wear white, and even priests, for whom it is the traditional color, often wear red robes instead, the color of their stoles.
Wedding crowns, typically wreaths made of sticks, leaves, and flowers from local plants, are common in rural areas, regardless of particular religious devotion, but suburban Old Dievinist communities also try to incorporate it. Historically, this tradition arose as an offering to Veltus or Valdovas, according to various scholarly explanations, but much of the religious meanings have faded into history.
Leading up to the ceremony, the couple walks down path of flower petals together to the altar. For religious purposes, these are typically real flower petals picked by loved ones of the betrothed, from various local flowers, but in less religious ceremonies, fake petals are common, in which case they are almost always red rose petals. Where petals are not used, carpets are, a facsimile of the old tradition.
Following the ceremony, food is typically served. In urban and diverse areas, cake is fairly common, but in most cases, regardless of location, a traditional braided bread is served with salt. This tradition arose as a result of the farming culture of the middle ages, and, presumably, as a way to honor Valdovas. Alongside the traditional bread, an extravagant dinner, often with roasted lamb or beef, is served.
Gifts, especially those that are handmade, are traditionally given during weddings. Unlike many other cultures, gifts are often exchanged between the betrothed as well as to the betrothed from their guests, as a token of affection. Dancing and music are typical as well, often instrumental waltzes, although favorite songs of the betrothed, or songs representing their relationship, can be substitutes, in less culturally traditional areas.
Toasts, or any speeches from the betrothed loved ones, follow the meal. Parents are traditionally the first ones to give speeches, but in many cases, several friends and family members follow it. A growing trend of a "roast", joking insults at the newlywed couple, has emerged in Sventykla and other central Zemedievan cities, as a modern fad.
As a particular custom of the Kamyachyn culture, the table at which the betrothed seat, where their closest friends and family members, especially parents and siblings, join them, bears a table cloth which is knitted by either the couple themselves, or one of their parents. In times past, this was often a woman's job, but gender equality and the overturning of old gender roles has made the tradition more general. Even so, the practice is falling out of fashion.
Seating in Zemedievan weddings is based on closeness to the betrothed couple, and not divided between either side's families or by gender, as in some other countries. The size of weddings is largely a personal preference, although truly large weddings aren't very common. Wedding ceremonies are very intimate, close affairs, and thus, inviting people the betrothed do not know very well is typically undesirable.
Zemedievan weddings often take place outside, in parks, public gardens, courtyards, or other outdoor venues, although, in historical times, weddings in forests were very common. Only rarely are weddings performed within indoor spaces, even churches, although most churches themselves have outdoor spaces for weddings on one side, while graveyards are kept on the other side of the church.
The most desirable seasons for weddings are in the spring and summer, which means, conversely, that they're the most expensive seasons for weddings. Winter ceremonies are rare in most parts of the Directorate mainly because of the biting cold, and rain or snow tends to get weddings cancelled fairly quickly. For time of day, it is traditional to hold weddings at or after sunset, a tradition which has held true in most rural and many suburban population centers. In urban environments, on the other hand, morning weddings are becoming more common.
Honeymoons following the wedding are rare, but often, a few days off are allotted by the newlyweds' jobs, allowing for time with their family and friends, or just each other, as they settled into their new marriage. Anniversaries are celebrated often, although in Zemedievan culture, the extent of the celebration is more a matter of personal preference than anything else; big events are not very common and oftentimes couples celebrate together alone, instead of with friends or families.
Within marriage, vows are taken seriously, and the breaking thereof is sufficient grounds for divorce. Divorce itself is seen very much as a last resort, but there is no stigma around a divorced couple, and remarrying is not considered wrong. From a religious perspective, divorce, with or without remarrying is seen as the right thing to do if a marriage is not fulfilling and loving.
Hygiene
The Directorate prides itself as a clean and healthy society. To this effect, cleanliness of body and property is a valued principle within Zemedievan culture. With regards to the latter, this often means the employment of cleaners in upper class neighborhoods and homes. With regards to both, a stereotype has emerged of the “Zemedievan Germaphobe,” arising out of the late 1950s, though it remains a pervasive judgment of the country in many western nations.
In Zemedievan culture, bathing is preferred to showering. Generally, at the end of every day, any given Zemedievan draws a hot bath, which will typically last between thirty minutes and an hour. Between soaking and scrubbing, it's an opportunity for Zemedievans to clean themselves off, unwind, and bring an end to their day. Most bathe late in the day, around 10 p.m. or later, though some age groups bathe earlier in the evening, and others still due to personal preference.
In Pryzova, bathing is accompanied with a long-standing sauna tradition. Sauna customs begin with a wash in the bath, followed by a sit in the sauna room, which is heated and steamed to over 80 degrees celsius. This is created by throwing water on hot stones, although modern heating has somewhat replaced this in modernized urban centers. Occasionally, sauna-goers use a whisk made of thin, fragrant wood, to relax their muscles. After the heat begins to feel uncomfortable, a cold shower or bath finishes the process. Saunas are nearly as old as Pryzovan culture as a whole, and it’s a strong deviation from general Zemedievan society.
Though baths are the typical way a Zemedievan maintains their hygiene, quick showers are common before major events or in the morning. These showers, as well, are typically taken with hot water, although they are typically less than ten minutes, often less than five, only meant to freshen up. Counterintuitively, these intermittent showers are more common among white collar workers, such as office employees, than among blue collar workers, such as farmers, who work more intensively in their field.
This is largely reflective of a greater trend, where poorer members of Zemedievan society typically take less care with hygiene, in favor of quick baths or showers at the end or beginning of the day with no further consideration to the hygienic traditions of the Zemedievan culture. Practicality, as in all things within the borders of the Directorate, outweighs any other outstanding factors. Water and heat are not cheap, and are especially valuable in winter months, so conservation is prioritized.
Though cleanliness and the conservation of resources are two major tenets of Zemedievan society, so is privacy. Public baths, saunas, and showers are practically unheard of in modern society. In terms of baths, this is a rather old tradition – though public baths were a prominent feature of early Slaviskas civilization, the rich bathed in their homes since the 16th century, and the arrival of modern plumbing in the late 19th century soon brought this to most Zemedievans. Public saunas, however, remained for another century and a half, slowly dying out mainly due to the country’s increased wealth and, thus, capacity for private bathing, more than anything else. The Blyska people of the northeast, however, still maintain public saunas, in the pursuit of community closeness.
Another staple of hygiene within the Directorate is frequent handwashing. Largely as a result of germ theory, and especially following a flu epidemic in most urban areas of the Directorate in the 1910s, government campaigns to promote handwashing and general cleanliness proved largely effective in creating a cultural consciousness which favored hand hygiene. Particularly, Zemedievans tend to wash their hands before and after a meal, as well as before and after using the bathroom, although unclean conditions in work or as an unexpected part of everyday life are reacted to with further handwashing as well.
Soaps in the Directorate tend to take on a flowery scent, between hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Unlike in some other countries, there is no gendered distinction made between certain scents. However, certain “masculine” scents are seen in Zemedievan deodorant and fragrances. This can include certain essential oils and woody scents, such as pine. That said, scents such as apple, heather, and other fruity or plant-based scents, which might be seen as more feminine or androgynous, are just as common among all sectors of the population. While deodorant is common, though, fragrances are typically reserved for the upper middle class and beyond.
Another feature of middle and upper class life, in terms of hygiene, is the usage of lotion and moisturizer. Dry skin, acne, and other matters of skincare, largely because they do not have direct correlations with known germ theory, are not given priority, but the beautification of one’s face is a common enough sight across the gender spectrum, particularly in urban and suburban areas of the Directorate. Suntan lotion, too, can make some appearance here, although the cloudy weather and frequent rain and snow lower the necessity in terms of preventing skin cancer and sunburns.
Dental hygiene in the Directorate is as rigorous as one might expect for a wealthy, modern nation. Brushing one’s teeth and flossing two times a day or more, especially surrounding meals, is strongly encouraged by dentists and generally followed in most Zemedievan households. Mouthwash, electric toothbrushes, and such are less common, but recommended often enough – and prevalent across the middle class. Toothpaste generally comes with added fluoride for tooth health. Visits to the dentist are more common than visits to the doctor, and especially so when braces or other dental work is especially needed.
Hygiene as a whole is strongly observed by the Zemedievan populace, enforced by the strength of a cultural value of cleanliness, long-standing tradition, and proper knowledge of the health benefits of maintaining a clean body and home. When this is not enough to meet necessary standards, the government tends to step in, with health-related regulations and advertisement campaigns to ensure that proper hygiene is observed.
Culture
Ethnocultural Groups
Istika
The Istika people are the residents of Sventykla and the land around it. Sventykla has been a holy site since even before the Triglav came into power. The original Slaviskas migrants who settled in the area believed it to be the place where the Dievai descended from the heavens to battle the fire, ice, and storm spirits of the land, and ascended once more into their golden realm. The early towns and cities were highly religious, practically, if not outright, theocracies. Ruled by religious fundamentalists, the people of the area became known for their strict adherence to religious customs and virtues. From the Slaviskas word for “Faithful”, they became known as the Istika. Being the natives of the capital city, and the group from which the Triglav comes, the Istika are largely considered the “ruling” ethnicity of the Directorate, although most are middle and lower class. Typically accustomed to a city lifestyle, modern Istika are still highly religious, but also very industrialist, the product of being the center of the industrial revolution in the Directorate.
Sirda
The Sirda, historically, were the people holding the borderlands of Zemedievai, before the 18th century conquest of Pryzova by the Triglav. Before the First Unification in the 12th century, the Sirda were decentralized people, living between the Zemedievan, Kamyachyn, and Pryzovan kingdoms. Composed mainly of farmers, their nation carved a communal existence without any centralized political authority. Instead, each village, town, and city had their own Voivode, and the people were united only in military and their shared desire to live their lives outside the control and taxes of the neighboring Kingdoms. They came together only to drive back enemy armies, and their borders were largely undefined. In the 12th century, they were finally brought under the yoke of one of their old foes, but their reputation as hardy, unruly country folk carried over, along with the value of their military capabilities. In the modern day, the Sirda people are the most represented in the military, although many of the older folk are more distrusting of the government than usual.
Milisteni
The Milisteni people are named for the kingdom of the same name. Historically, the Milisteni were isolationist farmers. With no sea access, mountains separating them from Kamyachyn, and belligerent neighbors, the Milisteni stood out as largely peaceful and disconnected from the world, loyal to their government without fault. The stereotype of the loyal, pacifist Milisteni farmer is still widespread, painting a picture of a pushover who is easy to manipulate. Among the Milisteni, the practice of farming, both as a career and as the sole way to feed their family, has become the center of their lifestyle. As such, worship of the god Valdovas has increased significantly, even surpassing worship of the Triglav. The Milisteni are oftentimes wider-chested with slightly tanner skin from the summers in their temperate fields, with the sun bearing down on them as they work. Modern Milisteni communities have come to value education, pursuing city colleges like Tvirtove University to escape their monotonous, rural life. As an extension of this, the government has been very involved in Milisteni-majority regions in the southwest of Zemedievai, building more schools and promoting education.
Zaskanka
The Zaskanka are the descendants of the Kingdom of Great Zaskanka, the first to settle in Zemedievai. While plenty of Zaskanka are farmers, their coastal towns and villages lend well to fishing and shipping. As their traditional and majority lands are home to the biggest shipyards in Kurmariai, Taurkiai, and Molkiai, they are seen by outside groups as shipbuilders and sailors. Historically, opinions of the Zaskanka were more negative, as a surge of Zaskanka rebellion and privacy in the 18th century led to their ostracization from Zemedievan society. Prejudices only came down again in the mid-late 19th century, when the construction of modern, mechanical ships began in Zaskanka towns and villages. Now, many live a pious, simple life in small villages and towns on the sea, or in large farmsteads bordering Milisteni lands. In Zaskanka culture, offerings are typically left in altars by the sea, where they believe the bridge to the gods lays. Facial hair is more common than in other Zemedievan cultures, where beards are worn long and often braided or inlaid with beads. The Zaskanka culture is the only one which places the mammoth god Marmutas in a prominent role in the Dievai pantheon.
Baltigra
Originally occupying unclaimed borderlands between Great Zaskanka and the Congregation, the Baltigra are a formerly nomadic offshoot of mainstream Zemedievan and Zaskanka culture who are fiercely isolationist and protective of their community. In the middle ages, they often camped outside Zaskanka cities and in the birch forests of southern Zemedievai. However, in the modern day, they have settled in their ancestral territories, building towns in and around the forests they once roamed. They resist larger cities, creating a rural and sparsely settled southern border with the Congregation. While most of their customs have melted away with modernization and settlement, replaced with a willingness to accept change, the Baltigra share an ancient fear of persecution. Lands rife with the Baltigra are often sites of rebellion against the government. The Directorate Anarchist League, for example, found sanctuary in Baltigra barns and the homes of sympathetic citizens. As a result, foreign religions often find footholds in their towns. The name for Baltigra comes from the term "White Tiger," referencing an old myth shared by their people.
Pryzovan
The Pryzovan culture is the most distinctive in Zemedievai. As the Kingdom of Pryzova was only conquered and integrated into the Directorate in the Second Unification of the 18th century, there remains resistance. As with the Baltigra, the regions of Pryzovan dominance are often susceptible to anti-government influence, serving as another center of DAL influence during their rebellion. Although most regions and cultures within Zemedievai maintain a balance of faith and science, Pryzovan culture values and encourages logical and technical thinking more than most, leading to the highest percentage of engineers, scientists, and doctors of any ethnicity in the Directorate. Much like the Zaskanka, Pryzovans have their own regional patron god, Ragana the Raven Witch, a female-presenting god of dreams, although worship has declined steadily since the industrial revolution. While religion is still present in the lives of the Pryzovan people, it's often limited to worship of the Dievai as a group, or even just worship of the Triglav. Specifics have been shred as science reveals the impossibility of such tales.
Blyska
The Blyska people are the smallest culture of the Directorate, the most isolated, and the most superstitious. Most reject the Triglav as the supreme god, maintaining the old god Teondumis Aukstoji as the pantheon's head. They stay true to the old ways, and most reportedly believe the tales of gods and magic that form the foundation of the Dievinism religion to be completely, literally true. The Blyska represent a time capsule of Pryzovan belief, representing the remnants of medieval thinking and superstition. They tell stories and share legends within their small villages, never venturing beyond their icy home. In stark contrast to the scientific prowess of the Pryzovan cities, the tundra in the northeast is the antithesis. They import their food, take simple jobs within their communities, pay their taxes, and see no outside influence or harm. The Blyska care more for prayer and storytelling than for politics, industry, or other pursuits. Few go to university, and most that do, study religion or history. Few leave their towns, and most that do, do it to become priests or to find love.
Kamya
As a result of their independence from Zemedievai, if not Directorate rule as a whole, the Kamya people have kept their culture strong. Protectorate status was instituted in 1924, when the Directorate launched a coup d'etat of the weakened Republic of Rytaislavija. Although the Grand Duchy had led to the Republic, and the Republic to the Protectorate, the Kamya people maintained their independent culture and ideals. Apart from their unique dialect of Slaviskas, in names of people and locations as well as accent and colloquialisms, the Kamya culture has many unique aspects. As a heavily forested region, protected from the cold north winds and the brunt of Zemedievan blizzards by northern and eastern mountains, hunting is common as a pastime of the upper middle and upper classes. Hiking and camping is also common. The Kamya have the highest rate of atheism in the Directorate, and they are dispersed amongst big cities and small towns at a similar rate to Zemedievai itself. Between abstract art, meat-based cuisine, and darker literature, the Kamya culture distinguishes itself from all of the Directorate.