Old Overview

The State of Ostehaar is a parliamentary democracy in The Western Isles, situated at the northeastern coast of Gael, between the Eterna and Argean seas (see on map). It is bordered by Ainslie and Xrevaro to the south and Dormill and Stiura to the west, and its maritime neighbors are Verdon, San Jimenez, Massie, and Noronica. The island of Lovsk, northeast of the Oster mainland, is considered by many Osters a part of their country, and is currently under Oster military ocuupation as a result of insurgent activity.

Ostehaar (Os-tey-awr) is a word in Oster meaning, in a general sense, "realm of earth". It is a compound of the words ost or "land, earth", and haar or "kingdom, authority, realm". The term is derived from ancient Oster traditions, but over time it became synonymous with terms like "homeland" and eventually became the official name of the nation.

Osters are proud of their bi-cultural heritage, infusing indigenous Gealitic origins with massive early-modern Nyssic immigration. Modern Ostehaar was founded in the late 19th century through a dreadful 30-year war that ended over 150 years of religious-monarchical oppression. The young nation was divided until 1927, when its southern half was liberated from foreign occupation. Other notable events in the previous century include the development of the nuclear industry in the 1950's, a major economic recession and consecutive recovery during the mid 1980's to 1990's, and adventurous intervention in two internal wars (Noronica 1984-1986, Verdon 1992-1994).

Ostehaar's mixed economy has seen a modest return to growth in the two recent decades, largely thanks to the regional success of Ostehaar's lucrative electronics, nuclear, and defense & aerospace industries. Vast offshore deposits of natural gas keep Ostehaar self-sufficient energetically, but the country lacks large-enough deposits of most raw materials used by the manufacturing industries, such as metals, oils, building materials, and chemicals.

December 2020 marked two years of political instability in Ostehaar, following the resignation of successful Prime Minister Rikard Vulf Dorias. His deputy's interim government has been loosing public support, and recently some of its members were forced to resign over severe corruption charges.

Evidence suggest that several indigenous peoples settled in the area which is now Ostehaar by the 2nd century. Most of them belonged to a group of peoples called Haalbihdebrukh (lit. Grass People) [for OOC similar, see Haida people of Alaska]. They had a relatively simple lifestyle and were concentrated in small farming communities along the coast and the lower hills west of the coast. The cold northern climate was partially moderated by warmer, moist air blowing from the sea, allowing for the development of grain agriculture and potato farming. They spoke an older version of Modern Oster, sometimes referred to as Ehnar Oster (lit. First Oster).

Larger and more centralized farming settlements, called Ohnehir, arose during the 5th and 6th centuries. The spread of more efficient infrastructure, as well as continuous friction or trade with the He'enboc tribes of Verdon, contributed to their development. The collection of traditions and old Oster faiths, widely known today as Sjedor (or Chronicle), formed and evolved through the 9th to 12th centuries. Raids by Khas-Kirati tribes of Athara magarat in the early 12th century were repelled by the locals, sometimes with severe casualties, largely thanks to the town elders' use of these faiths to encourage the defenders.

Between the 10th and 14th centuries, inspired by Noronica, a feudal-like form of relationship developed between the largest Ohnehir. In the 15th century, five of them formed nakh Darna ((the Gathering) - a joint administration governed by a few families of nobles, lead by a partly-ceremonial king. Relations between the Darna and the king remained unstable until the early 17th century, when king Volakh I "the wise" and most of the noble families signed a charter which solidified these relations. In 1613 the nobles formally pledged their support of Volakh I - who to this day is considered a founding father of Ostehaar. The title "Kingdom of Ostehaar" was adopted in 1619.

Between 1639 and 1673 kings Volakh III and Volakh IV initiated development of some pre-modern infrastructure, including short roads, public facilities, and several coastal and inland forts. The reign of the first four kings of the Volakh dynasty (1588-1673) is considered a "golden age" in the history of Ostehaar. The 17th century saw a migration of Noronnican communities, many of them of traditional Noronnicans, from Eastern Noronica to Ostehaar. The gradual inclusion of Noronnican people in the population among indigenous Osters began a process of both assimilation and displacement.

In 1673 a group of religious nobles assassinated king Volakh IV and started "The Long War" - a series of clashes between supporters of the Volakh dynasty and religious nobles led by the Baron of Lindastir. A year-long siege of Porohare ended in 1688 with Volakh V's surrender and the formation of the "Kingdom of Lindastir", lead by the baron, who was crowned as king Dorias I. His religious reforms and Redistribution of Influence (Sejmaan) among the nobles tyrannized the population, to a degree that the 18th century is known today as The Bleak Period (nakh Ansjen Vaajr). in 1732 King Dorias II swore allegiance to the rising empire of Noronica, de-facto making the Kingdom of Lindastir a vassal state.

In 1847, the Noronnican garrison left the kingdom, leaving the relatively weak and instable rule without its major backing force. Three years later, in 1850, encouraged by the fact that its kings no longer had the support of Noronica, the newly formed middle class of Ostehaar revolted. King Vehes I "the coward" was overthrown in less than a year. 1851-1888 were years of turmoil, political instability, and violence - generally known today as The Independence Wars (nakh Rehtihar Mahnir). A united people's militia by the name of Oster Defense Army formed by the end of 1860 and eventually eradicated the nobles' supporters and private forces. The Darna was established again, this time as Ostehaar's parliament, in 1889. These wars and their traumatic impact on the Oster population left a collective scar and a general distrust of the religious establishment.

The Invasion (nakh Ensaab) (known also as the First Oster War) took place in the years 1893-1895. Forces of Verdon and Dormill and Stiura managed to push the Oster defenders as far north as the Bas river, where the conflict eventually ground out to a stalemate. The southern half of Ostehaar remained under the two powers' occupation until the liberation of the south in the 1925-1927 war (known also as the Second Oster War).

Between 1900 and 1929 the nation went through accelerated industrialization and modernization. The radio and electronics industry of Ostehaar was founded, natural gas was discovered in the sea around Ostehaar in 1909 and the nation started producing it by 1918, and the economic growth rate reached 8%.

The Oster nuclear energy industry was founded in the 1950's, stimulating an economical snap-back from the post-Imperial-War recession and giving rise to the Oster advanced science and research industry.

(To be completed)

Politics and government

Ostehaar is a unicameral parliamentary democracy. Its three branches of government are the Darna (legislature), the Amsjel (government), and the Runehord (judiciary, lit. high court). The position of the President (rahn) of Ostehaar is largely a ceremonial figurehead role, with executive power effectively being exercised by the Prime Minister and their cabinet.

The Darna (lit. gathering), Ostehaar's parliament, has 164 members - called Martodern or Martir - that are elected by closed-list proportional representation every 5 years. After a vote, parties form blocks or coalitions and choose a delegate, who can then be appointed by the President as Prime Minister and assemble a cabinet, which the Darna has to approve. The electoral threshold is currently set at 3% (meaning the lowest number of seats a party may have is 5), and all Osters above 18 can vote.

• 5 parties (with 96 seats) currently form the coalition (Aamehaar). The Prime Minister (Aamerahn) appoints Ministers to form a cabinet and lead the government - the current one has 15.

• 5 other parties (with 68 seats) currently form the opposition (Sijhaar). The head of the opposition (Sijrahn), usually the head of the its largest party, functions as sort of a Speaker and appoints the heads of Darna Committees that discuss laws and procedures.
  

The state court system is headed by the Ruhin, who also supervises and directs a council of 9 judges that form the High/Supreme Court, or Runehord.

Oster mainstream political spectrum puts the Pragmatists (Mihnsir) on the 'left' and the Traditionalists (Ehjisir) on the 'right'. Pragmatists usually promote back-stage regional cooperation and a social-democratic agenda. Traditionalists promote economic independence and a direct, interventionist approach to international issues. Both sides of the spectrum are relatively liberal, secularist, and nationalist. Socialism and anarchism are outside of the general consensus, but are also represented by minor parties in the Darna.

(To be completed)