Natopia: Difference between revisions

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|capital = Lindstom City
|capital = Lindstom City
|largecity = Butter Cow City, Bagelston, Borders City, Mehlville, Hazelwood, Tasneemia City
|largecity = Butter Cow City, Bagelston, Borders City, Mehlville, Hazelwood, Tasneemia City
|website = http://natopia.uni.cc/
|website = [http://natopia.uni.cc/ Natopia Website]
|forum = http://natopianation.proboards67.com/
|forum = [http://natopianation.proboards67.com/ Natopia Forums]
|population = 6
|population = 6
|active = 4
|active = 4
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|fruit/food = bagel
|fruit/food = bagel
|drink = juice
|drink = juice
|image_map =
|image_map = NatopiaMap.png
|maps = 6.7.7 - ???
|maps = 6.7.7 - Present<br>At the time of writing Natopia also controlled colonies on Eura and Apollonia
|spcoords =
|spcoords =
|pacoords =
|pacoords =
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The national animal of Natopial the goat, is the second oldest symbol of Natopia, following the Cross of Sovereignty. The goat represents resourcefulness and steadiness and the people proudly embrace their national animal despite its quirkiness. The most popular eatery in Lindstrom City, which is famous for its famous clientel, is named the Wild Goat Pub for the national animal.  
The national animal of Natopial the goat, is the second oldest symbol of Natopia, following the Cross of Sovereignty. The goat represents resourcefulness and steadiness and the people proudly embrace their national animal despite its quirkiness. The most popular eatery in Lindstrom City, which is famous for its famous clientel, is named the Wild Goat Pub for the national animal.  


[[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:Stub]][[Category:Non-Aligned Movement]]

Revision as of 20:29, 19 August 2010

Sovereign Natopian Empire
Official language English
Capital Lindstom City
Largest cities Butter Cow City, Bagelston, Borders City, Mehlville, Hazelwood, Tasneemia City
Website Natopia Website
Forum Natopia Forums
Number of citizens 6
Number of active citizens 4
Date founded August 23, 2002
Government Monarchy
Current leader Nathan Shepard
Currency Natopo
National animal Goat
National drink juice
Map versions 6.7.7 - Present
At the time of writing Natopia also controlled colonies on Eura and Apollonia

Natopia is a nation that occupies a large portion of the Tapfer continent. It is one of the oldest nations on Micras, being over five years old. Throughout its history it has been a republic, an imperial republic, a kingdom, and an empire. It's current government is the Sovereign Natopian Empire and is a monarchy. Natopians are known for their intense nationalism and stubborn national character. Their immature sense of humor is known throughout Micras.

History

Conception

Natopia was founded as a city in August 23, 2002, by Nathan Shepard and two of his friends during a high school orientation. In December of that year Nathan discovers micronationalism online and brings Natopia into the micronational community as the Supreme Sovereign Republic of Natopia.

Isolation and Internalizing Period

Natopia's early history is primarily off line and laden with conspiracies and intrigue, including the Tasneemian Revolution and the Sanda Affair. Throughout 2003, Natopia is isolated from the micronational community with only minimal contact with the primarily secessionist nations of micronations.org. The government is changed several times as citizens debate with each other over proper ways to govern.

External Blossoming Period

In April, 2004, Natopia joins the International Association and becomes allies with it's founding member, the Republic of West Overbrook. Feeling a renewed interest in intermicronational politics, Nathan Shepard works closely with the IA's Interim Prime Minister, Zachary Klaas, to promote the IA to other micronations and internally grow the organization. Then between May and June, he is appointed IA Minister of External Affairs, becomes a citizen of the IA, establishes diplomacy with Republic of Lavalon after the overthrow of their monarchy, becomes a citizen of Lavalon, establishes a treaty with Imperial Republic of Shireroth, Natopia voices interest in the 2004 Intermicronational Olympics, and participates in the Micronational Flag Tour. In 2005 Natopia forms the Shireroth-Natopia-Antica Recwar League, which is still the basis for modern recwarfare.

The Natopian Transition

In mid 2005 Natopia experienced its defining moment as a nation. The Venerable Union of Aligned States was created to merged the nations of Faronia, New Germany and Lavalon into Natopia. However, as soon as the merger was approved, the Void occurred, a total lack of activity for a month. The Void caused Lavalon to nullify the Union collapsing it. As a result of this disaster, which cost Natopia many citizens, Nathan Shepard changed the government from republic to kingdom, and a few months later, to an empire. This transition renewed Natopia's spirit for the coming months and can also be seen as the end of Natopia's interactions with Lavalon and the secessionist sector. Natopia's new focus would lead it towards closer alliances with simulationist micronations.

Geography

Natopian geography centers on two distinct areas. The Mainland and the Continent.

Natopia Proper

Mainland Natopia, or "Natopia Proper" is the large island off of the coast of Tapfer. The island is sometimes referred to as Yellow Island, or even rarer, Tapfer Minor. Natopia has possessed the entirety of this for all of its history on Micras, thus is is more commonly referred to as the Natopian Island. The eastern most regions are all heavily involved in naval and maritime industry. These regions are on the South Raynor Sea, with no land or ports between them and the far off continent of Eura. Merchants from Cibola, Benecia, and western Apollonia frequently make stops at Coastal ports on their way to Eura and beyond. Muckypuckyland, Tasneemia, Hazelwood and Robland are considered Coastal regions.

Bay regions include Macon, Lochhatonia, Ferien and Ptia, Punkrock, Ziegeland. These regions control the entire Mainland shore of Borders Bay, hence their name. Natopia Proper is an island, thus all regions of the Mainland have deep maritime roots. While the Coast focused on deep sea marine endeavors, the Bay focused on freshwater fishing. Borders Bay contains ample fish. The shore of the Mainland is dotted with tiny fishing villages dating back to the foundation of the Republic. Andiopolis is a medium sized city that grew out of several large fishing villages and expanded into each other and joined into a larger city. The largest mountain in Natopia is Mount Vice. The peak is in Pavelton, but ranges into Robland. Vice City, a gambling resort city, is located near the peak on a peculiar plateau created by the ancient inhabitants of the island, the Collective Unconsciousness.

The Continent

The Southern Peninsula contained the Lavalonian nation which existed as a sovereign republic and then a constituent principality in the Natopian empire. It has since collapses and the region known simply as East Tapfer now occupies the peninsula. The people of East Tapfer are known for their fine cuisine, renown in the rest of the country.

The area known as "the West" on the Continent was secured by the government as a buffer zone between the rest of the continent and Mainland Natopia and the Southern Peninsula. Many cities in the West were pre-planned, such as Borders City, which was designed to be a secondary "continental capital" of the country. Western culture is almost impossible to generalize. The glistening and modern cities built by the government all carry the place names of the first Supreme Sovereign Republic. However, the people who inhabit the cities and country side are of varied nationality. There are scattered concentrations of Anthelians who did not make the Great Giess Migration, but now resent their new Natopian rulers. Other indigenous peoples reside in the countryside. The cities are cosmopolitan, being new they attract foreigners and Mainlanders alike. If any of the unifying Natopian culture can be found in the West, it is in the large cities where Mainlanders have settled. Alexandria is the only nation to share a land border with Natopia on Tapfer.

Other Areas

The outlying regions of Alrodria, New North Mehlville, New South Mehlville, and Athlon are all distinctly different. Alrodria is in the antarctic. Athlon is near the Alexandrian island of Galatia and administered by the Holy Order of the Armored Goat. New South Mehlville is on Eura, has oil, and is a resort area. It borders the Kingdom of Babkha. New North Mehlville is on Apollonia, bordered by the Kingdom of Tokidoki.

Famous Attractions

The architecture of Lindstrom City, designed by Nathan Shepard, is among the most unique in the world. The spherical Grand Court, leonine Republic Library, gravity-defying Vista de Nada consular mansion, tent-like Convention Hall, and bowl-like Frenzy all bring about fantastic notions and give a distinctly surreal impression.

Famous Produce

The climate on the coasts is perfect for juicing fruits and the center of the peninsula is prime agricultural land for wheat. The wheat from East Tapfer is the preferred ingredient in the traditional Natopian bagel.

Cultural Tips

Natopian culture is characterized by a general sense of aloofness, immaturity, and irreverence. All these traits are held in high regard and people tend to ostracize anyone perceived as "mature" or "overly serious." In official capacities, most Natopians will make concessions and keep their jibes to themselves when confronted with foreign nationals who take themselves too seriously, especially diplomats and heads of state enjoying the hospitality of the government. However, should a foreign national venture into the common areas of the Republic, they do so at their own risk. Visitors from professional and serious nations with governments incessantly pursuing protocol may feel out of place in Natopia at first due to complete abandon of protocols. However, travelers should take note that Natopians are by nature friendly, accessible, and playful.

If there is one thing the Bagelcratican Party has achieved even during its dormancy, it is the fostering of Natopians' love of bagels and juice. While laws only mandate that state occasions provide bagels and juice, the idea caught on in the private sector. You would be hard pressed to find a wedding reception, birthday, anniversary party, graduation, or even business meeting that did not have at least a platter of plain bagels and pitcher of cheap juice set on a table against the wall. Walking through any major city of Natopia, one will pass numerous bagel and juice shops and even the tiniest village will have bagels and juice available at the local diner. Due to a concession to Zachary Klaas in the formation of the Lavalonian Bagelcratican Party, tea is usually found alongside juice at most events.

If Natopians have one collective weakness as a nation, it is their passionate nationalism. This passion first surfaced after the Lavalonian Schism, when most Natopians felt Lavalon was directly responsible for the collapse of the Venerable Union of Aligned States, an organization used as a facade for Natopia's imperial aspirations. Natopians desired empire, and Lavalon denied them that. Thus, following the collapse, the government only contributed to the common Natopian's eventual hatred of Lavalon, both that state and that nation as a whole. All diplomatic ties were ceased between Natopia and Lavalon, and a public holiday was established to demonize Lavalon. The holiday, Purification Day, celebrates the collapse of VUAS because Natopia was rid of Lavalon. This also shows Natopians' willingness to be persuaded by government policy for the ultimate goal of maintaining Natopia's good name. The VUAS collapse embarrassed Natopia, despite people's desire for domination. The word "Lavalonian" is sometimes used in Natopian speech to describe something that does not work, despite many attempts to get it right, each time starting over. This refers to how following the Lavalonian Schism, that country went through several constitutions, each time throwing the old government out.

The second instance of this vicious passion surfaced on a global scale. As Lavalon was relatively isolationist in its foreign policy, its falling out with Natopia caused minor ripples on the international scene. When every other nation on Natopia's continent suddenly left Micras and the Micronational Cartography Society and relocated to a new planet, Giess, and joined the Geographical Standards Organization, Natopia was outraged. No notice had been sent to the government despite all the nations being allied with Natopia through the Novasolum Treaty. Natopians were expected to ignore this oversight because it was an honest mistake. However, Natopians felt that while the mistake was unfortunate and no one's fault, not enough was done to ensure Natopia's inclusion in such an important matter. Public opinion of Novasolum dropped and opinion of the Republic of Anthelia dropped even lower as the government pegged Anthelia as the leader of Novasolum and its president as the primary force behind the creation of the GSO. The public was furious. Any member of any other Novasolan or GSO nation was greeted by either barbed remarks by officials or full-blown threats by citizens. Things were smoothed over with practically all nations except Anthelia. Frenzy legislation was proposed to create social programs that would force Anthelian hatred into Natopian society. The legislation never officially passed but received wide support and little to no opposition. The word "Anthelian" is not in common usage but generally describes someone who works behind the scenes to achieve personal goals.

One all-but-forgotten aspect of Natopian culture is the very first cultural initiative. The Natopabet is the creation of Nathan Shepard in late 2002. The new alphabet was designed to mainly be a code, creating new characters that paralleled the Roman alphabet. Nathan Shepard and Sherry Lochhaas are officially recognized as the only two people to be able to actually read the Natopabet. The original characters were complex and difficult to make, resulting in at least 2 revisions and simplifications. The current official Natopabet is further simplified so that characters can be produced on a computer. While it is generally held that the integrity of the unique characters largely survived the simplifications, typing these characters is very cumbersome and appears unbalanced and rather ugly on screen. The Natopabet has since been abandoned by the government, which only used the Natopabet once to print the motto on the first coat of arms.

The a dialectal language of Natopia is Natspeak. Grammar and vocabulary are identical to American English, however the Natspeak Dictionary supplements the language. Most words merely allude to citizens' inside jokes and verbal quirks. Spelling of some words, especially easily contracted or slurred phrases is simplified and improper spellings are made official. For example the sentence "I do not want to know what you ate," would be spoken thusly by a true Natspeaker, "I dunwano you ate."

The national animal of Natopial the goat, is the second oldest symbol of Natopia, following the Cross of Sovereignty. The goat represents resourcefulness and steadiness and the people proudly embrace their national animal despite its quirkiness. The most popular eatery in Lindstrom City, which is famous for its famous clientel, is named the Wild Goat Pub for the national animal.