Ofsland

Overview

The Kingdom of Ofslander is a modern empire, sprawling across multiple regions with great influence, though much like Moasao in it's softer power over happy and prospering people, there's still a hint of their former aggressive spirit, often turning a blind eye to troubles over neighbouring lands, or possessing a coldness over overs that only the Kingdom of Ofsland could be known for; and this outlook can be readily seen in its people. 

Climate

The Kingdom has varied temperatures across the region, with extremely cold winters in the north and scorching hot summers in the south; but one thing is consistent, it is usually always dry. Rainfall is uncommon.

Earthquakes and tsunamis rarely occur.

Public Culture

The Kingdom of Ofslander has a strong connection to their native fauna, each one being a symbol for their resolve and their legacy; they see themselves as the life that survives in this land. There are several key animals that symbolise the Ofslandic people:

• The Golden Rhinocerous, the proverbial first rulers of Ofsland that guided King Cavill thousands of years ago. They were once endangered in the 1900s due to poaching, but the soveriegn's strict poaching punishments, and several breeding programs has saved the species.

• Land-Runners, or Cheetahs, symbolised for their grace and speed.

• Sand Fox, a small, pale coloured fox with big ears, popular for their cuteness. They the smallest known fox species, yet hardy and resourceful.

• Sand worms, or snakes and legless lizards that slither gracefully across the sand.

• Beastwolf, or larger native canines such as the jackal, coyote and dingo, that are mainly solo or small group predators that are resourceful. Some even consider a mythical beastwolf - humans that could become animals, to be symbolic.

• Mortid wings, or vultures and other carrion-eating birds, symbolised for being the lowest of animals - almost impure by human metrics for feasting on decaying flesh.

• Sand Mountain Moths, a collection of sandy yellow moths that mimic the land to survive.

• Crowned eagle, or Golden eagle, or Royal eagle, symbolised for its grace and strength. It is illegal for anyone besides members of the royal family to keep them as pets.

These are the main celebrated Ofslandic species and dominate association with each year in 6 year cycles, starting with the Golden Rhinocerous and ending with the Crowned Eagle. It is currently the Year of the Crowned Eagle in 2026.

Animals are seen as higher than humans and are 'pure' to the extent that they do not ravage the lands like humans do. Humans take resources and build cities, altering the land just to live comfortably. People are impure by this metric, and it's normal in society to accept that humans can never be as pure or highly seen as animals are. When animals die, it is said they ascend to the land of Kevstalven, the Pure Land, a heaven for all animals to graze, frolick and run all they wish. Some say Kevstalven is a land above the clouds, letting them live above humans, and therefore live above impurity. Kell is the opposite, the Land of Impurity underneath the surface where it is said most humans will go if they do not work on purifying themselves. Only pure humans can ascend to Kevstalven

Eating meat is sacred, often reserved for special occasions, though meat of non-native animals are not as respected as native animals. Primary farms are legislated to raise the animal and allow them to live for most of their expected life, even considering longer lives due to captivity, before butchering the animal. Vegetarianism and veganism is fairly common, though not entirely strict to define vegetarianism and veganism as not consuming meat, or not consuming animal products at all. It's normal for people that practice vegetarianism and veganism to consider the meat of non-native animals, and fish, as 'not-meat' and safe to consume without disrupting their practice. Though this has lead to the rampant import of meat, and the fishing industry is criticised for their over-fishing practices. Fish is widely considered to be an impure animal due to its affiliation with living in water. Other aquatic animals, such as mammals and birds, are also seen like this to some extent.

The rulers of Ofslander are seen as deities, able to understand the land and the world, though not out of any righteous belief that they should rule, but by merit of their lineage. Very few members of King Caville I's bloodline has ever been under intense scrutiny, and none to this day has ever been removed from their seat. Only royalty are seen to be attuned to the Golden Rhinocerous - the proverbial rulers of the land before people, and the royal family are thus seen as the purist humans to walk the earth. They wear crowns that symbolise the animal's unihorn. Their birthdays and coronation days are public holidays and are seen as righteous occasions to serve meat and other meaningful dishes.

The current ruler, Soverign Haider III's birthday and coronation days are: June 11th, and September 20th, respectively.

The months of December and January are reserved for the fasting holiday of Stalhdin, roughly meaning "Great Feast" where individuals are only permitted to eat dry leaf biscuits of the Sun plant between the times of 6AM to 6PM once every hour. The Sun plant is a type of succulent that grows small triangular shaped leaves in a spiral, rumored to have been the key food for the first people of Ofsland. When dried, these leaves have virtually no taste but have a satisfying crunch. Eating before 6AM is common, though some consider it bad practice to do so. Drinking liquids such as water is permitted, though other drinks such as smoothies are not. Once 6PM arrives, individuals celebrate their day with hearty dishes, and some stock up meat to serve at 6PM for every day of the fasting holiday. Ready-made meals, freezers and imported meat products are especially popular during this time of the year.

The first day of each month, excepting December and January, is considered the "First day of Purity" and it is customary to only eat plants to cleanse humans of their inherent impurity, strengthening their connection to nature.

There are other holidays, such as:

• The Winter Solstice, also known as the Time Before the Fast

• The Summer Solstice, also known as the Time Furthest from the Fast

• The Previous Ruler's Birthday, February 17th

• The Previous Ruler's Coronation, May 11th

That are considered Days of Purity to consume only plants.

Purity is associated with cleanliness, natural colours, and natural ingredients and materials. Impurity is associated with the man-made, such as plastic, vehicles and objects not found naturally in the world. It is normal to have impure things as humans, or be associated with impurity. Only those that work towards purifying themselves, such as during Stahldin and the First Days of Purity, can hope to correct their inherent impurity. Engaging in these practice does not absolve or overshadow the impurity that exists, but instead displaces it with purity that is more powerful than it.

Plants are considered less than animals and humans, and thus a saying goes "Lines (lin-es) stahl did" or "Linstal" for short, meaning "Lesser than roots", often used as an insult for people, and more often, foreigners that don't understand Ofslandic practices. Other variations include:

• Lines stahl mortre = Less than fertiliser (or feces), modernly can refer to someone derogatively as "shit" or "worse than shit".

• Lines stahl grim = Less than fish/water

• Lines stahl weed = Less than weeds or invasive/fast-growing plants. The term "weed" by itself is derogatory.

• Mortred tis = Dying cactus, often used to refer to someone as annoying or prickly

Animal myths are strong in Ofslander, with ancient reported appearances of strange beasts and shapeshifting people. Some popular myths include:

• The beastwolf, a woman that gained the ability to shift into that of a human-wolf to chase down the person that killed her husband. Her mythos has since widely grown to encompass all sorts of beast-shifting people. 

• Laruna, a woman that gained a crocodile's tail and said to lure people into the water with her singing to a death full of impurity. It is also said when she can't lure people to the water, she will lure people into land pits, holes or off cliffs.

• Mortre, an aquatic creature that smells of feces or other disgusting odors that follows people around, or haunts the deceased. It is said to draw power from impure people.

Overall, beastfolk are seen as between human and animal in terms of purity. Media that portray beastfolk are often very popular with children and adults alike.

History

Where the Moaics traveled west, the ancient Ofslandics went east, enduring the harsh dryness of the desert. It was said their people suffered greatly, with casualties in the hundreds. Water was scarce, food was even scarcer, and many of their people turned around before they could succumb to the same fate as the others. However one individual kept moving forward, Cavill the First. He never gave in to the elements and stated that this land was rich, they just needed to find the right spot, and when the rest of his group started to doubt him, it was said that a golden rhinocerous came to him and led him to the most beautiful oasis ever seen.

The golden rhinocerous became a symbol for hardship, and would become the national symbol of Ofsland.

Cavill I established the first village and town in the kingdom, and he became its first "Kingstahl", meaning ruler of the desert, or "King" in modern terms. His descendants, though the uniqueness of bloodlines were not established just yet, would repeatedly prove themselves as amicable leaders, firmly establishing the belief that a royal lineage would compose of the nations leadership. 

Though several names hovered over the centuries of what the kingdom would call itself, it was Cavill V that firmly named their kingdom, the "Kingdom of Ofslander" - "Of" meaning "to follow" and "Sland/Slander" meaning "the great", likely in reference to Cavill the First or the golden rhinocerous that led him to the land that he and his people would prosper in. 

When the Sonited Land started to threaten neighbouring lands, the Kingdom of Ofsland pushed back, and with their considerable resources, made the aggressive nation step back. It was a moment of pride for their people, to their strength in a time when they were considered quiet. The queen of this time, Queen Cavill IX, proposed a new lineage and named her youngest daughter, Bestand I, beginning the Bestand lineage and succession for the throne.

In the Year 1 GC, historic Toi began to threaten the Kingdom of Ofslander. The Kingdom was little match and lost land, including modern Pitsmouth and Cairnbarof. Elti became a neutral island between Cairnbarof and the Kingdom of Ofslander, allowing the two nations to come back together to fight against Toi.

The Kingdom was able to reclaim Pitsmouth, but lost considerable amount of land to the newly formed Newgua Territories. Suffering many casualties, the Kingdom did not pursue the Newgua Territories, and with Toi's conquest at an end, the nation returned to caring for its land and people.

Modern History

The Kingdom currently has the densest population across the globe, second only to Daistan. There have been talks to create a "SAPI" like legislation, though nothing has been produced of yet. Considering that the Kingdom of Ofsland is second to only Moasao in terms of global power, some have been shocked that such legislation hasn't been made yet.

The current ruler, Sovereign Haider III, has kept a staunch grip over their power of the Kingdom. They are known to be very cool and composed, and kind in their words, yet adamant in their own beliefs. Both they and their predecessor, King Haider II, have had a slightly more laid back regime of power in the modern age, trusting their advisors, Prime Ministers and other members of government to run things. That is not to say the Sovereign is unobservant or soft.