[[Category:Micras]]
[[Category:Seas]]

Lake Caledonia

2023-08-20T17:56:38Z

Nikolaus:

[[File:LakeCaledonia.png|thumb|Lake Caledonia, an inland sea in the northern part of Keltia.]]
Lake Caledonia is a large inland sea in the north of the continent of [[Keltia]]. A saltwater sea, it is home to a wide variety of fauna, including the highly prized Caledonian Sturgeon.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Name of Lake Caledonia in Local Languages
!Nation
!Native Name
!Translation
|-
|[[Cerulea|Cerulean]]
|Большое Oзеро/Bol'shoye Ozero
|''lit.'' Great Lake
|-
|[[Normark|Norse]]
|Sørligesjø
|''lit.'' Southern Sea
|}
[[Category:Lake Caledonia]]
[[Category:Micras]]
[[Category:Seas]]

Lake Caledonia

2023-08-20T17:55:36Z

Nikolaus:

Category:Lake Caledonia

2023-08-20T17:48:09Z

Nikolaus: Created page with "Category:Micras"

[[Category:Micras]]

Piracy on Lake Caledonia

2023-08-20T17:47:14Z

2023-08-20T16:49:23Z

Nikolaus:

{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea
|commonname = Cerulea or USSRC
|flag =File:USSRCFlag.png
|coa=File:USSRCCOA.png
|motto =Workers of Micras, Unite!
|anthem =
|map = File:Cerulea claim1720.png
|capital = [[Krlsgorod]]
|largecity = Krlsgorod
|lang = [[wikipedia:Church_Slavonic|Cerulean]]
|religion= Cerulean Orthodoxy
|demnoun = Cerulean
|demadj = Cerulean
|govtype = Soviet Socialist Union
|headofstatetitle = First Chairman of the Presidium
|headofstate = [[Konstantin Fyodorovich Zevyagin]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = Premier of the Supreme Soviet
|headofgovernment = [[Vladimir Volodin]]
|legislature = The All-Union Supreme Soviet
|agerank =
|pop = 17,387,149
|activepop = 1
|currency = Rubl
|calendar = [[Norton calendar]]
|abbrev = СССРК (''SSSRK''); USSRC; [[List of two-letter country codes|CE]]
|electricity = 120/240 V - 60 Hz
|drives_on = Right
|food =White Borsch
|drink = Vodka
}}The '''Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea''' (Cerulean Simplified Cyrillic: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик Крлска; Krlski Common Script: ''Sojuz Sovetskih Socialističeskih Respublik Krlska''; USSRC/СССРК, IPA [ kjərl'skə ] or [ ˈkr̩l.skə ]) is a soviet socialist nation in central northern [[Keltia]], descending from the old [[Kingdom of Cerulea]] - itself once a part of the [[Grand Kingdom of Normark|Nordic Union]] (a successor state of [[Normark]]) after its government had collapsed due to civil war. The nation almost entirely surrounds the inland sea known as [[Lake Caledonia]].

== History ==
The USSRC began as socialist movements spread throughout the [[The Green]] in and around the old Cerulean cities, most notably the former capital of [[Krlsgorod]]. For the most part, almost all were ethnic Cerulean and existing routes of travel and communication existed between the former Cerulean cities - even some basic infrastructure had been left over from the days of the Nordic Union.

For years since the dissolution of the Nordic Union, collectivization and socialization of land and resources was the norm amongst the Cerulean people as a means to survive - a method which had proven to be very successful for surviving in the Green's harsh conditions. Over time, the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]] emerged as a dominant unifying power among the various collectives. In 1709 AN, a formal union of the collectives spread throughout the various old territories of Cerulea, to be reorganized as Peoples' Republics, became the USSRC. Three autonomous republics, which chose the CPC as their governing party, also chose to join the Union. They represent ethnic bastions within the USSRC as they comprise of refugees which had come to the region during the time of the Nordic Union but had conglomerated into relatively ethnically homogenous collectives. This includes Ashkenazis from Benecia, Livlanders from along the shores of the [[Strait of Haifa]] and the Beregozerians along Lake Morovia from [[Vizia]]

The five primary collectives which now constitute major cities of the Union are [[Krlsgorod]], [[Škoda]], [[Karenja]], [[Skjarsgorod]] and [[Čečňa]], all also serving as the capitals of the five current republics of the Union, the [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]], the [[People's Republic of the White Mountain]], the [[People's Republic of Southern Cerulea]], the [[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]] and the [[People's Republic of Čečňa]].

In 1720, following socialist (alliance of [[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|social democrats]], [[Communist Workers' Party|communists]], and [[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|Umraists]]) defeat in the [[1719–1720 Hurmu civil conflict|civil conflict]] in [[Hurmu]], some socialists and Umraists found refuge in Cerulea, among the famous of these, the deposed prime minister [[Annika Raudsepp]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), [[Minister for Local Government (Hurmu)|minister for local government]]
[[Muhammad Abdullah]] ([[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|HUHU]]), and [[Nada Lesjak]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), who were immediately naturalized in Cerulea and granted membership in the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]].

Many vestiges of the union with Normark have been destroyed during the time which Cerulea had descended into the Green, with Ceruleans having grown to regard Normark's influence over Cerulea as an imperialist occupation. As of 1721 AN, Cerulea does not maintain relations with the successor of the Nordic Union, the Kingdom of Normark despite having a border with them. Regardless, the USSRC maintains ties with another Nordic nation, [[Ostland]].

== Government ==

=== The Legislature ===
The Supreme Soviet, formally '''The All-Union Supreme Soviet of Cerulea''' (''Cerulean: Всесоюзный Верховный Совет Крлска'') is a bicameral legislature and is the sole governing body of the Union. All members of the legislature are, by law, members of the All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea.

==== The Congress of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Congress of the Supreme Soviet is lower house of the legislature. All members of the congress are democratically elected from the various KOMIZOK districts of the Union by the citizens and serve terms of four years. These districts are organized in blocs to make up the individual Republics to be represented in the Congress. In the unlikely event that a tie in voting is reached, the Premier of the Supreme Soviet casts a final deciding vote.

==== The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Presidium is the upper house of the Supreme Soviet. There are approximately 10 members of the Presidium, all elected from members of the Congress by vote. Those members elected to the Presidium serve terms of eight years. Once all members of the Presidium are elected, the Presidium itself holds a vote to elect the First Chairman of the Presidium, the effective head of state of the Union. The Presidium has the unique distinction of appointing a member of the Congress of the Supreme Soviet the Premier of the Supreme Soviet, which in turn is the effective head of the government of the Union.

=== Ministerial Agencies ===
Ministerial agencies in the USSRC - known as Commissariats - exist on an ad hoc basis, being created, abolished or reorganized as needed by the Presidium. Several, however, are de facto permanently established, serving necessary top-level government functions. Each Commissariat is headed by a Commissar, all of whom which make of the People's Executive Council. Each Commissar is nominated by the Congress of the Supreme Soviet and confirmed by the Presidium by simple majority - all serving at the leisure of the Presidium. The People's Executive Council is administered by the First Chairman of the Presidium.
{| class="wikitable"
|+De Facto Permanent Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commisar
!Function
|-
|[[Foreign relations of Cerulea|Commissariat for Foreign Affairs]]
| [[Nada Lesjak]]
|Handles all issues relating to diplomacy, diplomatic missions and foreign relations with other nations
|-
|Commissariat for State Security
|
|Handles all issues relating to the preserving of the peoples' harmony within the union, mitigation of foreign and domestic threats and the gathering of intelligence relevant to the aforementioned.
|-
|Commissariat for National Defense
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the Peoples' Army, Navy and Airforce, the gathering of applicable intelligence and all fiscal matters pertaining to them.
|-
|Commissariat for National Commerce
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the primary goal of the prosperity of the people in regard to the regulation of the manufacturing, trade, sale and exchanging of goods and services within the nation in accordance with the values of the CPC.
|-
|Commissariat for the Interior
|
|Handles all issues regarding infrastructure, education and collectivization.
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Other Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commissar
!Function
|-
|Commissariat for National Sportsmanship
|
|Handles all issues regarding professional, semi-professional, collegiate and amateur sporting activities.
|-
|Commissariat for Energy Production
|
|Handles all specialized issues regarding the production of useful electrical energy not directly under
the jurisdiction of the Commissariat for the Interior.
|-
|Commissariat for Higher Education
|
|Handles all specialized issues relating only to institutions of higher learning such as colleges, technical schools and
universities, providing such assistance as needed to the Commissariat for the Interior.
|}

== Union & Autonomous Republics ==
[[File:Cerulea reps labelled.png|thumb|Map outlining the republics including the subdivided autonomous people's republics]]
The USSRC, as of 1721 AN, consists of five Republics with each one governed by a democratically elected executive known as a Premier. As they are the peoples' executive for their Republic, they do not partake in voting in the legislature but serve as the head of any local republic legislatures.

An autonomous republic forms an autonomous part of an established union republic.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Union Republics
!Flag
!Republic
!Capital
!Premier
!Autonomous republic(s)
|-
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"| [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Krlsgorod]]
|rowspan="2"|
| [[Livland]]
|-
| [[Caledonia]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of South Cerulea]]
|[[Karenja]]
|
| [[South-East Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of the White Mountain]]
|[[Škoda]]
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic|Ashkenazi APR]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]]
|[[Skjargorod]]
|
| [[Beregozeria]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Čečňa]]
|[[Čečňa (city)|Čečňa]]
|
|–
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Autonomous Republics
!Flag
!A.R.
!Capital
!Chairman
!Union Rep.
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Beregozeria]]
|[[Valoria]]
|
|[[Skjarskaja]]
|-
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Manz]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Caledonia]]
|[[Kaledonija]]
|
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Livlandic Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Lujamaa]]
|[[Annika Raudsepp]]
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of South-East Cerulea]]
|[[Notranskja]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|}

== Cuisine of Cerulea ==
Cerulean cuisine is widely varied, mostly seasonal and dependent upon the region. There are very few "quintessential" modern Cerulean whole dishes - instead the cuisine is based around simple preparation of a core selection of staple food ingredients. This is large and in part due the amount of time the Ceruleans spent in the anarchy of the Green following the collapse of the Nordic Union. Food was scarce, individual families often relied on their own gardens grown in the fertile soil surrounding Lake Caledonia. Game meat was, and still is, popular from the times of the Kingdom of Cerulea with a resurgence due to the overgrowth of some cities and towns which prompted an explosion in local game fauna - especially the reindeer. With the development of the communes to better pool resources for the struggling people, staple foods and meat became more widely available to the populace - many communes either eliminated or severely curtailed starvation deaths within their blocs.

Today, as in the past, the potato, the onion, the beet and various forms of cabbage are what can be considered the truly iconic ingredients of Cerulea - all four of which can be found in the nearly unlimited methods of preparation of the national dish, borsch (''Cerulean: борщ / IPA: /bɔːrɕ/) -'' a hearty soup or stew often simmered for many hours or even over-night. In its simplest form, potato, onion, cabbage and white beets are simmered until tender with the potatoes providing a starchy, gravy-like broth. When available, the addition of meat - especially wild boar - is very popular. With the unification of the communes under the Party, more and more preparations are being seen throughout Cerulea ranging from the basic to the very opulent as served in some high-end restaurants. ''Leonid's'' in Krslsgorod is known for having one of the most sought after and complex recipes for borsch, containing over 20 ingredients total, although what they are and exactly how many is a closely guarded secret by the restaurant.

=== Use of Herbs and Spices ===
The use of herbs and spices is ubiquitous throughout Cerulea and has been since ancient times due to the very basic staple foods used. It was seen as a means to transform the simple flavors of ingredients like potatoes, beets and cabbage into something more appealing. Dill and parsley are the most common and loved by the Cerulean people as they grow plentifully in the wild, are easily domesticated in the home garden and preserve well through drying. All portions of the onion are used with the bulb of the onion being used most often as a vegetable, but its shoots and flowers being seen as frequently used herbs. Garlic, a cousin of the onion is also quite ubiquitous in Cerulean cooking. Other wild herbs also find themselves into various preparations of Cerulean food, including tarragon, wild mints, sage, juniper berries and the hearty thyme and rosemary bushes. Many of the aforementioned are used exclusively in meat dishes and in the preservation of meats. Most home gardens are not considered complete without at least a few plants of each.

=== Preservation ===
The preservation of food, especially meat, has been a part of Cerulean culture since before the Kingdom of Cerulea, but has become that much more a part of Cerulean society since the collapse of the Nordic Union. The use of sea salt with herbs and spices, smoke and other methods of curing or preserving meat has become one of the most commonly used methods for the preparation of meat throughout the country as, as fresh meat was only prepared shortly following the hunt. Today, with the revitalization of society, law and order through the CPC, industrial farms and supermarkets, fresh meat is once again taking a place on the tables of Ceruleans. However, the preservation of meat still remains extremely popular and is even produced commercially.

==== Caledonian Cured Ham ====
Caledonian Cured Ham, known locally as ''Каледонская ветчина/Kaledonskaya vetchina'' is considered a delicacy throughout the world, with its production methods being tightly regulated by the government in order to protect the authenticity of the product. Only free-range boars of the species ''Sus Caledonis Domesticus'' may be used in the preparation of the ham and it must be aged a minimum of 12 months (known as young ham). The costliest hams are aged up to 36 months but are considered the finest and most delicious - fetching premiums in many export markets. One of the largest buyers of Caledonian ham manufactured for export is [[Ostland]] where a 36-month-aged Caledonian whole ham can sell for a full [[Ostland#Currency|Gulden]].

The ham itself is made from a whole hind leg of the Caledonian boar hog, packed in sea salt from the lake of the same name and allowed to dry-cure in the salt for a minimum of 12 months. After this, the salt is rinsed from the ham and may be sold under the designation of Young Caledonian Cured Ham. If the ham is allowed to dry-cure for longer, it may then be designated as a fully matured ham. All hams, once cured in the salt, are rinsed and then air-dried for 6 to 8 weeks. Spices or herbs may not be added to the curing mixture and still be legally called Caledonian Cured Ham - a separate designation has been established for any such recipes including anything beyond simple sea salt, known as Caledonian Spiced Ham. Regardless, both designations are protected by the Cerulean government, with similar protections set up abroad in countries where Cerulean items are imported.

Recently, the government has mandated the use of food-safe RFID tags into the raw meat, to be removed only by the end-user or importer in order to combat counterfeiting. These tags allow Cerulean end-users and foreign imports alike to trace the full history of the ham, including lineage of the boar hog, the processing facility, all relevant dates involved in the processing and the inspecting Commisariat for National Commerce official. The misuse, theft or altercation of said tagging chips carries both hefty fines and a term of hard labor of up to 5 years.

=== Restaurant Ownership in Cerulea ===
[[File:CeruleanSmallCafe.png|thumb|''Schastlivaya Babushka's'' - a typical small eatery in the outskirts of Krlsgorod. Such places usually serve the basics such as the house-special borsch, a few meat pie or dumpling dishes and hot or cold tea. This one in particular is known for their hearty beef dumplings - known as ''pel'myeny (пельмены)'']]
Restaurants in Cerulea are not owned directly by individuals. Instead, they are wholly owned by the Commissariat for National Commerce and operated by permitted and licensed individuals through the 8th Directorate, Restaurant Operations. This can lead to some confusion with foreigners as the vast majority of restaurants are named in a similar fashion as they are abroad. This is due to the operating individual or individuals being given the option to name the restaurant whatever they so choose in their permitting application. All such individuals must go through a three-month long course on restaurant ethics as designed by the CPC and must be registered members of the local party office for at least five years.

Pricing is regulated directly by the Commissariat, but menus and the daily operations of the restaurant are taken care of by the operating individuals so long as it is done so within the Restaurant Ethics Code established by the 8th Directorate. Beyond this, restaurants are operated much in the same fashion as they are abroad and range from very small local eateries to fine dining to nationally recognized fast-food establishments.

=== Caviar ===
Caviar, known as ''ikra (икра)'' in Cerulea, was once one of the most sought-after foodstuffs in Cerulea both domestically and internationally. It is either the fresh or salt-cured roe of female fish. Its proximity to Lake Caledonia created a thriving fishing industry along the coastal regions of the inland sea. The most prized being the roe of the Caledonian Sturgeon (''Huso Caledonis)'' which command prices higher than the revered Caledonian ham. Known for its striking purple hue when served fresh and turning crystal-clear upon salt curing, it is known colloqually known as ''almazy ozera (lit. diamonds of the lake)''. Other grades also exist, including salmon, crab and cod roes all being processed into caviar for sale, however none are believed to match the flavor and texture of the Caledonian Sturgeon.

==== In Post-Green Cerulea ====
Today, the caviar industry is seeing somewhat of a resurgence as demand for fine dining increases throughout Cerulea and internationally. Many producers have switched to farm-raising their fish stocks in order to maintain sustainability. However, the Caledonian Sturgeon does not take well to farming conditions and must still be wild-caught - now a heavily regulated industry to ensure maintaining both the population of the species and ensuring that the market is not flooded with the premium caviar. All licensed fishing boats must return any caught Caledonian sturgeon to the waters unless they have the specific license to catch and process them. Licensed sturgeon fishermen may not exceed their creel limits per day. All fishermen must, upon releasing any sturgeon of that species, affix GPS tracking tags to the fish as part of the ongoing sustainability programs.

== Sports ==
Cerulea's primary sport is hockey, governed by the [[Cerulean National League]].
[[Category:Cerulea]]

Cerulea

2023-08-20T16:19:49Z

Nikolaus: /* Restaurant Ownership in Cerulea */

{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea
|commonname = Cerulea or USSRC
|flag =File:USSRCFlag.png
|coa=File:USSRCCOA.png
|motto =Workers of Micras, Unite!
|anthem =
|map = File:Cerulea claim1720.png
|capital = [[Krlsgorod]]
|largecity = Krlsgorod
|lang = [[wikipedia:Church_Slavonic|Cerulean]]
|religion= Cerulean Orthodoxy
|demnoun = Cerulean
|demadj = Cerulean
|govtype = Soviet Socialist Union
|headofstatetitle = First Chairman of the Presidium
|headofstate = [[Konstantin Fyodorovich Zevyagin]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = Premier of the Supreme Soviet
|headofgovernment = [[Vladimir Volodin]]
|legislature = The All-Union Supreme Soviet
|agerank =
|pop = 17,387,149
|activepop = 1
|currency = Rubl
|calendar = [[Norton calendar]]
|abbrev = СССРК (''SSSRK''); USSRC; [[List of two-letter country codes|CE]]
|electricity = 120/240 V - 60 Hz
|drives_on = Right
|food =White Borsch
|drink = Vodka
}}The '''Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea''' (Cerulean Simplified Cyrillic: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик Крлска; Krlski Common Script: ''Sojuz Sovetskih Socialističeskih Respublik Krlska''; USSRC/СССРК, IPA [ kjərl'skə ] or [ ˈkr̩l.skə ]) is a soviet socialist nation in central northern [[Keltia]], descending from the old [[Kingdom of Cerulea]] - itself once a part of the [[Grand Kingdom of Normark|Nordic Union]] (a successor state of [[Normark]]) after its government had collapsed due to civil war.

== History ==
The USSRC began as socialist movements spread throughout the [[The Green]] in and around the old Cerulean cities, most notably the former capital of [[Krlsgorod]]. For the most part, almost all were ethnic Cerulean and existing routes of travel and communication existed between the former Cerulean cities - even some basic infrastructure had been left over from the days of the Nordic Union.

For years since the dissolution of the Nordic Union, collectivization and socialization of land and resources was the norm amongst the Cerulean people as a means to survive - a method which had proven to be very successful for surviving in the Green's harsh conditions. Over time, the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]] emerged as a dominant unifying power among the various collectives. In 1709 AN, a formal union of the collectives spread throughout the various old territories of Cerulea, to be reorganized as Peoples' Republics, became the USSRC. Three autonomous republics, which chose the CPC as their governing party, also chose to join the Union. They represent ethnic bastions within the USSRC as they comprise of refugees which had come to the region during the time of the Nordic Union but had conglomerated into relatively ethnically homogenous collectives. This includes Ashkenazis from Benecia, Livlanders from along the shores of the [[Strait of Haifa]] and the Beregozerians along Lake Morovia from [[Vizia]]

The five primary collectives which now constitute major cities of the Union are [[Krlsgorod]], [[Škoda]], [[Karenja]], [[Skjarsgorod]] and [[Čečňa]], all also serving as the capitals of the five current republics of the Union, the [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]], the [[People's Republic of the White Mountain]], the [[People's Republic of Southern Cerulea]], the [[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]] and the [[People's Republic of Čečňa]].

In 1720, following socialist (alliance of [[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|social democrats]], [[Communist Workers' Party|communists]], and [[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|Umraists]]) defeat in the [[1719–1720 Hurmu civil conflict|civil conflict]] in [[Hurmu]], some socialists and Umraists found refuge in Cerulea, among the famous of these, the deposed prime minister [[Annika Raudsepp]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), [[Minister for Local Government (Hurmu)|minister for local government]]
[[Muhammad Abdullah]] ([[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|HUHU]]), and [[Nada Lesjak]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), who were immediately naturalized in Cerulea and granted membership in the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]].

Many vestiges of the union with Normark have been destroyed during the time which Cerulea had descended into the Green, with Ceruleans having grown to regard Normark's influence over Cerulea as an imperialist occupation. As of 1721 AN, Cerulea does not maintain relations with the successor of the Nordic Union, the Kingdom of Normark despite having a border with them. Regardless, the USSRC maintains ties with another Nordic nation, [[Ostland]].

== Government ==

=== The Legislature ===
The Supreme Soviet, formally '''The All-Union Supreme Soviet of Cerulea''' (''Cerulean: Всесоюзный Верховный Совет Крлска'') is a bicameral legislature and is the sole governing body of the Union. All members of the legislature are, by law, members of the All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea.

==== The Congress of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Congress of the Supreme Soviet is lower house of the legislature. All members of the congress are democratically elected from the various KOMIZOK districts of the Union by the citizens and serve terms of four years. These districts are organized in blocs to make up the individual Republics to be represented in the Congress. In the unlikely event that a tie in voting is reached, the Premier of the Supreme Soviet casts a final deciding vote.

==== The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Presidium is the upper house of the Supreme Soviet. There are approximately 10 members of the Presidium, all elected from members of the Congress by vote. Those members elected to the Presidium serve terms of eight years. Once all members of the Presidium are elected, the Presidium itself holds a vote to elect the First Chairman of the Presidium, the effective head of state of the Union. The Presidium has the unique distinction of appointing a member of the Congress of the Supreme Soviet the Premier of the Supreme Soviet, which in turn is the effective head of the government of the Union.

=== Ministerial Agencies ===
Ministerial agencies in the USSRC - known as Commissariats - exist on an ad hoc basis, being created, abolished or reorganized as needed by the Presidium. Several, however, are de facto permanently established, serving necessary top-level government functions. Each Commissariat is headed by a Commissar, all of whom which make of the People's Executive Council. Each Commissar is nominated by the Congress of the Supreme Soviet and confirmed by the Presidium by simple majority - all serving at the leisure of the Presidium. The People's Executive Council is administered by the First Chairman of the Presidium.
{| class="wikitable"
|+De Facto Permanent Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commisar
!Function
|-
|[[Foreign relations of Cerulea|Commissariat for Foreign Affairs]]
| [[Nada Lesjak]]
|Handles all issues relating to diplomacy, diplomatic missions and foreign relations with other nations
|-
|Commissariat for State Security
|
|Handles all issues relating to the preserving of the peoples' harmony within the union, mitigation of foreign and domestic threats and the gathering of intelligence relevant to the aforementioned.
|-
|Commissariat for National Defense
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the Peoples' Army, Navy and Airforce, the gathering of applicable intelligence and all fiscal matters pertaining to them.
|-
|Commissariat for National Commerce
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the primary goal of the prosperity of the people in regard to the regulation of the manufacturing, trade, sale and exchanging of goods and services within the nation in accordance with the values of the CPC.
|-
|Commissariat for the Interior
|
|Handles all issues regarding infrastructure, education and collectivization.
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Other Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commissar
!Function
|-
|Commissariat for National Sportsmanship
|
|Handles all issues regarding professional, semi-professional, collegiate and amateur sporting activities.
|-
|Commissariat for Energy Production
|
|Handles all specialized issues regarding the production of useful electrical energy not directly under
the jurisdiction of the Commissariat for the Interior.
|-
|Commissariat for Higher Education
|
|Handles all specialized issues relating only to institutions of higher learning such as colleges, technical schools and
universities, providing such assistance as needed to the Commissariat for the Interior.
|}

== Union & Autonomous Republics ==
[[File:Cerulea reps labelled.png|thumb|Map outlining the republics including the subdivided autonomous people's republics]]
The USSRC, as of 1721 AN, consists of five Republics with each one governed by a democratically elected executive known as a Premier. As they are the peoples' executive for their Republic, they do not partake in voting in the legislature but serve as the head of any local republic legislatures.

An autonomous republic forms an autonomous part of an established union republic.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Union Republics
!Flag
!Republic
!Capital
!Premier
!Autonomous republic(s)
|-
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"| [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Krlsgorod]]
|rowspan="2"|
| [[Livland]]
|-
| [[Caledonia]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of South Cerulea]]
|[[Karenja]]
|
| [[South-East Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of the White Mountain]]
|[[Škoda]]
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic|Ashkenazi APR]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]]
|[[Skjargorod]]
|
| [[Beregozeria]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Čečňa]]
|[[Čečňa (city)|Čečňa]]
|
|–
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Autonomous Republics
!Flag
!A.R.
!Capital
!Chairman
!Union Rep.
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Beregozeria]]
|[[Valoria]]
|
|[[Skjarskaja]]
|-
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Manz]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Caledonia]]
|[[Kaledonija]]
|
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Livlandic Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Lujamaa]]
|[[Annika Raudsepp]]
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of South-East Cerulea]]
|[[Notranskja]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|}

== Cuisine of Cerulea ==
Cerulean cuisine is widely varied, mostly seasonal and dependent upon the region. There are very few "quintessential" modern Cerulean whole dishes - instead the cuisine is based around simple preparation of a core selection of staple food ingredients. This is large and in part due the amount of time the Ceruleans spent in the anarchy of the Green following the collapse of the Nordic Union. Food was scarce, individual families often relied on their own gardens grown in the fertile soil surrounding Lake Caledonia. Game meat was, and still is, popular from the times of the Kingdom of Cerulea with a resurgence due to the overgrowth of some cities and towns which prompted an explosion in local game fauna - especially the reindeer. With the development of the communes to better pool resources for the struggling people, staple foods and meat became more widely available to the populace - many communes either eliminated or severely curtailed starvation deaths within their blocs.

Today, as in the past, the potato, the onion, the beet and various forms of cabbage are what can be considered the truly iconic ingredients of Cerulea - all four of which can be found in the nearly unlimited methods of preparation of the national dish, borsch (''Cerulean: борщ / IPA: /bɔːrɕ/) -'' a hearty soup or stew often simmered for many hours or even over-night. In its simplest form, potato, onion, cabbage and white beets are simmered until tender with the potatoes providing a starchy, gravy-like broth. When available, the addition of meat - especially wild boar - is very popular. With the unification of the communes under the Party, more and more preparations are being seen throughout Cerulea ranging from the basic to the very opulent as served in some high-end restaurants. ''Leonid's'' in Krslsgorod is known for having one of the most sought after and complex recipes for borsch, containing over 20 ingredients total, although what they are and exactly how many is a closely guarded secret by the restaurant.

=== Use of Herbs and Spices ===
The use of herbs and spices is ubiquitous throughout Cerulea and has been since ancient times due to the very basic staple foods used. It was seen as a means to transform the simple flavors of ingredients like potatoes, beets and cabbage into something more appealing. Dill and parsley are the most common and loved by the Cerulean people as they grow plentifully in the wild, are easily domesticated in the home garden and preserve well through drying. All portions of the onion are used with the bulb of the onion being used most often as a vegetable, but its shoots and flowers being seen as frequently used herbs. Garlic, a cousin of the onion is also quite ubiquitous in Cerulean cooking. Other wild herbs also find themselves into various preparations of Cerulean food, including tarragon, wild mints, sage, juniper berries and the hearty thyme and rosemary bushes. Many of the aforementioned are used exclusively in meat dishes and in the preservation of meats. Most home gardens are not considered complete without at least a few plants of each.

=== Preservation ===
The preservation of food, especially meat, has been a part of Cerulean culture since before the Kingdom of Cerulea, but has become that much more a part of Cerulean society since the collapse of the Nordic Union. The use of sea salt with herbs and spices, smoke and other methods of curing or preserving meat has become one of the most commonly used methods for the preparation of meat throughout the country as, as fresh meat was only prepared shortly following the hunt. Today, with the revitalization of society, law and order through the CPC, industrial farms and supermarkets, fresh meat is once again taking a place on the tables of Ceruleans. However, the preservation of meat still remains extremely popular and is even produced commercially.

==== Caledonian Cured Ham ====
Caledonian Cured Ham, known locally as ''Каледонская ветчина/Kaledonskaya vetchina'' is considered a delicacy throughout the world, with its production methods being tightly regulated by the government in order to protect the authenticity of the product. Only free-range boars of the species ''Sus Caledonis Domesticus'' may be used in the preparation of the ham and it must be aged a minimum of 12 months (known as young ham). The costliest hams are aged up to 36 months but are considered the finest and most delicious - fetching premiums in many export markets. One of the largest buyers of Caledonian ham manufactured for export is [[Ostland]] where a 36-month-aged Caledonian whole ham can sell for a full [[Ostland#Currency|Gulden]].

The ham itself is made from a whole hind leg of the Caledonian boar hog, packed in sea salt from the lake of the same name and allowed to dry-cure in the salt for a minimum of 12 months. After this, the salt is rinsed from the ham and may be sold under the designation of Young Caledonian Cured Ham. If the ham is allowed to dry-cure for longer, it may then be designated as a fully matured ham. All hams, once cured in the salt, are rinsed and then air-dried for 6 to 8 weeks. Spices or herbs may not be added to the curing mixture and still be legally called Caledonian Cured Ham - a separate designation has been established for any such recipes including anything beyond simple sea salt, known as Caledonian Spiced Ham. Regardless, both designations are protected by the Cerulean government, with similar protections set up abroad in countries where Cerulean items are imported.

Recently, the government has mandated the use of food-safe RFID tags into the raw meat, to be removed only by the end-user or importer in order to combat counterfeiting. These tags allow Cerulean end-users and foreign imports alike to trace the full history of the ham, including lineage of the boar hog, the processing facility, all relevant dates involved in the processing and the inspecting Commisariat for National Commerce official. The misuse, theft or altercation of said tagging chips carries both hefty fines and a term of hard labor of up to 5 years.

=== Restaurant Ownership in Cerulea ===
[[File:CeruleanSmallCafe.png|thumb|''Schastlivaya Babushka's'' - a typical small eatery in the outskirts of Krlsgorod. Such places usually serve the basics such as the house-special borsch, a few meat pie or dumpling dishes and hot or cold tea. This one in particular is known for their hearty beef dumplings - known as ''pel'myeny (пельмены)'']]
Restaurants in Cerulea are not owned directly by individuals. Instead, they are wholly owned by the Commissariat for National Commerce and operated by permitted and licensed individuals through the 8th Directorate, Restaurant Operations. This can lead to some confusion with foreigners as the vast majority of restaurants are named in a similar fashion as they are abroad. This is due to the operating individual or individuals being given the option to name the restaurant whatever they so choose in their permitting application. All such individuals must go through a three-month long course on restaurant ethics as designed by the CPC and must be registered members of the local party office for at least five years.

Pricing is regulated directly by the Commissariat, but menus and the daily operations of the restaurant are taken care of by the operating individuals so long as it is done so within the Restaurant Ethics Code established by the 8th Directorate. Beyond this, restaurants are operated much in the same fashion as they are abroad and range from very small local eateries to fine dining to nationally recognized fast-food establishments.

=== Caviar ===
Caviar, known as ''ikra (икра)'' in Cerulea, was once one of the most sought-after foodstuffs in Cerulea both domestically and internationally. It is either the fresh or salt-cured roe of female fish. Its proximity to Lake Caledonia created a thriving fishing industry along the coastal regions of the inland sea. The most prized being the roe of the Caledonian Sturgeon (''Huso Caledonis)'' which command prices higher than the revered Caledonian ham. Known for its striking purple hue when served fresh and turning crystal-clear upon salt curing, it is known colloqually known as ''almazy ozera (lit. diamonds of the lake)''. Other grades also exist, including salmon, crab and cod roes all being processed into caviar for sale, however none are believed to match the flavor and texture of the Caledonian Sturgeon.

==== In Post-Green Cerulea ====
Today, the caviar industry is seeing somewhat of a resurgence as demand for fine dining increases throughout Cerulea and internationally. Many producers have switched to farm-raising their fish stocks in order to maintain sustainability. However, the Caledonian Sturgeon does not take well to farming conditions and must still be wild-caught - now a heavily regulated industry to ensure maintaining both the population of the species and ensuring that the market is not flooded with the premium caviar. All licensed fishing boats must return any caught Caledonian sturgeon to the waters unless they have the specific license to catch and process them. Licensed sturgeon fishermen may not exceed their creel limits per day. All fishermen must, upon releasing any sturgeon of that species, affix GPS tracking tags to the fish as part of the ongoing sustainability programs.

== Sports ==
Cerulea's primary sport is hockey, governed by the [[Cerulean National League]].
[[Category:Cerulea]]

Cerulea

2023-08-20T15:57:15Z

Nikolaus: /* Restaurant Ownership in Cerulea */

{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea
|commonname = Cerulea or USSRC
|flag =File:USSRCFlag.png
|coa=File:USSRCCOA.png
|motto =Workers of Micras, Unite!
|anthem =
|map = File:Cerulea claim1720.png
|capital = [[Krlsgorod]]
|largecity = Krlsgorod
|lang = [[wikipedia:Church_Slavonic|Cerulean]]
|religion= Cerulean Orthodoxy
|demnoun = Cerulean
|demadj = Cerulean
|govtype = Soviet Socialist Union
|headofstatetitle = First Chairman of the Presidium
|headofstate = [[Konstantin Fyodorovich Zevyagin]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = Premier of the Supreme Soviet
|headofgovernment = [[Vladimir Volodin]]
|legislature = The All-Union Supreme Soviet
|agerank =
|pop = 17,387,149
|activepop = 1
|currency = Rubl
|calendar = [[Norton calendar]]
|abbrev = СССРК (''SSSRK''); USSRC; [[List of two-letter country codes|CE]]
|electricity = 120/240 V - 60 Hz
|drives_on = Right
|food =White Borsch
|drink = Vodka
}}The '''Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea''' (Cerulean Simplified Cyrillic: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик Крлска; Krlski Common Script: ''Sojuz Sovetskih Socialističeskih Respublik Krlska''; USSRC/СССРК, IPA [ kjərl'skə ] or [ ˈkr̩l.skə ]) is a soviet socialist nation in central northern [[Keltia]], descending from the old [[Kingdom of Cerulea]] - itself once a part of the [[Grand Kingdom of Normark|Nordic Union]] (a successor state of [[Normark]]) after its government had collapsed due to civil war.

== History ==
The USSRC began as socialist movements spread throughout the [[The Green]] in and around the old Cerulean cities, most notably the former capital of [[Krlsgorod]]. For the most part, almost all were ethnic Cerulean and existing routes of travel and communication existed between the former Cerulean cities - even some basic infrastructure had been left over from the days of the Nordic Union.

For years since the dissolution of the Nordic Union, collectivization and socialization of land and resources was the norm amongst the Cerulean people as a means to survive - a method which had proven to be very successful for surviving in the Green's harsh conditions. Over time, the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]] emerged as a dominant unifying power among the various collectives. In 1709 AN, a formal union of the collectives spread throughout the various old territories of Cerulea, to be reorganized as Peoples' Republics, became the USSRC. Three autonomous republics, which chose the CPC as their governing party, also chose to join the Union. They represent ethnic bastions within the USSRC as they comprise of refugees which had come to the region during the time of the Nordic Union but had conglomerated into relatively ethnically homogenous collectives. This includes Ashkenazis from Benecia, Livlanders from along the shores of the [[Strait of Haifa]] and the Beregozerians along Lake Morovia from [[Vizia]]

The five primary collectives which now constitute major cities of the Union are [[Krlsgorod]], [[Škoda]], [[Karenja]], [[Skjarsgorod]] and [[Čečňa]], all also serving as the capitals of the five current republics of the Union, the [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]], the [[People's Republic of the White Mountain]], the [[People's Republic of Southern Cerulea]], the [[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]] and the [[People's Republic of Čečňa]].

In 1720, following socialist (alliance of [[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|social democrats]], [[Communist Workers' Party|communists]], and [[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|Umraists]]) defeat in the [[1719–1720 Hurmu civil conflict|civil conflict]] in [[Hurmu]], some socialists and Umraists found refuge in Cerulea, among the famous of these, the deposed prime minister [[Annika Raudsepp]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), [[Minister for Local Government (Hurmu)|minister for local government]]
[[Muhammad Abdullah]] ([[Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu|HUHU]]), and [[Nada Lesjak]] ([[Social and Democratic Party of Hurmu|SDP]]), who were immediately naturalized in Cerulea and granted membership in the [[All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea]].

Many vestiges of the union with Normark have been destroyed during the time which Cerulea had descended into the Green, with Ceruleans having grown to regard Normark's influence over Cerulea as an imperialist occupation. As of 1721 AN, Cerulea does not maintain relations with the successor of the Nordic Union, the Kingdom of Normark despite having a border with them. Regardless, the USSRC maintains ties with another Nordic nation, [[Ostland]].

== Government ==

=== The Legislature ===
The Supreme Soviet, formally '''The All-Union Supreme Soviet of Cerulea''' (''Cerulean: Всесоюзный Верховный Совет Крлска'') is a bicameral legislature and is the sole governing body of the Union. All members of the legislature are, by law, members of the All-Union Communist Party of Cerulea.

==== The Congress of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Congress of the Supreme Soviet is lower house of the legislature. All members of the congress are democratically elected from the various KOMIZOK districts of the Union by the citizens and serve terms of four years. These districts are organized in blocs to make up the individual Republics to be represented in the Congress. In the unlikely event that a tie in voting is reached, the Premier of the Supreme Soviet casts a final deciding vote.

==== The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ====
The Presidium is the upper house of the Supreme Soviet. There are approximately 10 members of the Presidium, all elected from members of the Congress by vote. Those members elected to the Presidium serve terms of eight years. Once all members of the Presidium are elected, the Presidium itself holds a vote to elect the First Chairman of the Presidium, the effective head of state of the Union. The Presidium has the unique distinction of appointing a member of the Congress of the Supreme Soviet the Premier of the Supreme Soviet, which in turn is the effective head of the government of the Union.

=== Ministerial Agencies ===
Ministerial agencies in the USSRC - known as Commissariats - exist on an ad hoc basis, being created, abolished or reorganized as needed by the Presidium. Several, however, are de facto permanently established, serving necessary top-level government functions. Each Commissariat is headed by a Commissar, all of whom which make of the People's Executive Council. Each Commissar is nominated by the Congress of the Supreme Soviet and confirmed by the Presidium by simple majority - all serving at the leisure of the Presidium. The People's Executive Council is administered by the First Chairman of the Presidium.
{| class="wikitable"
|+De Facto Permanent Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commisar
!Function
|-
|[[Foreign relations of Cerulea|Commissariat for Foreign Affairs]]
| [[Nada Lesjak]]
|Handles all issues relating to diplomacy, diplomatic missions and foreign relations with other nations
|-
|Commissariat for State Security
|
|Handles all issues relating to the preserving of the peoples' harmony within the union, mitigation of foreign and domestic threats and the gathering of intelligence relevant to the aforementioned.
|-
|Commissariat for National Defense
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the Peoples' Army, Navy and Airforce, the gathering of applicable intelligence and all fiscal matters pertaining to them.
|-
|Commissariat for National Commerce
|
|Handles all issues dealing with the primary goal of the prosperity of the people in regard to the regulation of the manufacturing, trade, sale and exchanging of goods and services within the nation in accordance with the values of the CPC.
|-
|Commissariat for the Interior
|
|Handles all issues regarding infrastructure, education and collectivization.
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Other Commissariats
!Commissariat
!Commissar
!Function
|-
|Commissariat for National Sportsmanship
|
|Handles all issues regarding professional, semi-professional, collegiate and amateur sporting activities.
|-
|Commissariat for Energy Production
|
|Handles all specialized issues regarding the production of useful electrical energy not directly under
the jurisdiction of the Commissariat for the Interior.
|-
|Commissariat for Higher Education
|
|Handles all specialized issues relating only to institutions of higher learning such as colleges, technical schools and
universities, providing such assistance as needed to the Commissariat for the Interior.
|}

== Union & Autonomous Republics ==
[[File:Cerulea reps labelled.png|thumb|Map outlining the republics including the subdivided autonomous people's republics]]
The USSRC, as of 1721 AN, consists of five Republics with each one governed by a democratically elected executive known as a Premier. As they are the peoples' executive for their Republic, they do not partake in voting in the legislature but serve as the head of any local republic legislatures.

An autonomous republic forms an autonomous part of an established union republic.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Union Republics
!Flag
!Republic
!Capital
!Premier
!Autonomous republic(s)
|-
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"| [[People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Krlsgorod]]
|rowspan="2"|
| [[Livland]]
|-
| [[Caledonia]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of South Cerulea]]
|[[Karenja]]
|
| [[South-East Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of the White Mountain]]
|[[Škoda]]
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic|Ashkenazi APR]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Skjarskaja]]
|[[Skjargorod]]
|
| [[Beregozeria]]
|-
|
|[[People's Republic of Čečňa]]
|[[Čečňa (city)|Čečňa]]
|
|–
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Autonomous Republics
!Flag
!A.R.
!Capital
!Chairman
!Union Rep.
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Beregozeria]]
|[[Valoria]]
|
|[[Skjarskaja]]
|-
|
|[[Ashkenazi Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Manz]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of Caledonia]]
|[[Kaledonija]]
|
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Livlandic Autonomous People's Republic]]
|[[Lujamaa]]
|[[Annika Raudsepp]]
|[[Stoličnaja Krlska]]
|-
|
|[[Autonomous People's Republic of South-East Cerulea]]
|[[Notranskja]]
|
|[[South Cerulea]]
|}

== Cuisine of Cerulea ==
Cerulean cuisine is widely varied, mostly seasonal and dependent upon the region. There are very few "quintessential" modern Cerulean whole dishes - instead the cuisine is based around simple preparation of a core selection of staple food ingredients. This is large and in part due the amount of time the Ceruleans spent in the anarchy of the Green following the collapse of the Nordic Union. Food was scarce, individual families often relied on their own gardens grown in the fertile soil surrounding Lake Caledonia. Game meat was, and still is, popular from the times of the Kingdom of Cerulea with a resurgence due to the overgrowth of some cities and towns which prompted an explosion in local game fauna - especially the reindeer. With the development of the communes to better pool resources for the struggling people, staple foods and meat became more widely available to the populace - many communes either eliminated or severely curtailed starvation deaths within their blocs.

Today, as in the past, the potato, the onion, the beet and various forms of cabbage are what can be considered the truly iconic ingredients of Cerulea - all four of which can be found in the nearly unlimited methods of preparation of the national dish, borsch (''Cerulean: борщ / IPA: /bɔːrɕ/) -'' a hearty soup or stew often simmered for many hours or even over-night. In its simplest form, potato, onion, cabbage and white beets are simmered until tender with the potatoes providing a starchy, gravy-like broth. When available, the addition of meat - especially wild boar - is very popular. With the unification of the communes under the Party, more and more preparations are being seen throughout Cerulea ranging from the basic to the very opulent as served in some high-end restaurants. ''Leonid's'' in Krslsgorod is known for having one of the most sought after and complex recipes for borsch, containing over 20 ingredients total, although what they are and exactly how many is a closely guarded secret by the restaurant.

=== Use of Herbs and Spices ===
The use of herbs and spices is ubiquitous throughout Cerulea and has been since ancient times due to the very basic staple foods used. It was seen as a means to transform the simple flavors of ingredients like potatoes, beets and cabbage into something more appealing. Dill and parsley are the most common and loved by the Cerulean people as they grow plentifully in the wild, are easily domesticated in the home garden and preserve well through drying. All portions of the onion are used with the bulb of the onion being used most often as a vegetable, but its shoots and flowers being seen as frequently used herbs. Garlic, a cousin of the onion is also quite ubiquitous in Cerulean cooking. Other wild herbs also find themselves into various preparations of Cerulean food, including tarragon, wild mints, sage, juniper berries and the hearty thyme and rosemary bushes. Many of the aforementioned are used exclusively in meat dishes and in the preservation of meats. Most home gardens are not considered complete without at least a few plants of each.

=== Preservation ===
The preservation of food, especially meat, has been a part of Cerulean culture since before the Kingdom of Cerulea, but has become that much more a part of Cerulean society since the collapse of the Nordic Union. The use of sea salt with herbs and spices, smoke and other methods of curing or preserving meat has become one of the most commonly used methods for the preparation of meat throughout the country as, as fresh meat was only prepared shortly following the hunt. Today, with the revitalization of society, law and order through the CPC, industrial farms and supermarkets, fresh meat is once again taking a place on the tables of Ceruleans. However, the preservation of meat still remains extremely popular and is even produced commercially.

==== Caledonian Cured Ham ====
Caledonian Cured Ham, known locally as ''Каледонская ветчина/Kaledonskaya vetchina'' is considered a delicacy throughout the world, with its production methods being tightly regulated by the government in order to protect the authenticity of the product. Only free-range boars of the species ''Sus Caledonis Domesticus'' may be used in the preparation of the ham and it must be aged a minimum of 12 months (known as young ham). The costliest hams are aged up to 36 months but are considered the finest and most delicious - fetching premiums in many export markets. One of the largest buyers of Caledonian ham manufactured for export is [[Ostland]] where a 36-month-aged Caledonian whole ham can sell for a full [[Ostland#Currency|Gulden]].

The ham itself is made from a whole hind leg of the Caledonian boar hog, packed in sea salt from the lake of the same name and allowed to dry-cure in the salt for a minimum of 12 months. After this, the salt is rinsed from the ham and may be sold under the designation of Young Caledonian Cured Ham. If the ham is allowed to dry-cure for longer, it may then be designated as a fully matured ham. All hams, once cured in the salt, are rinsed and then air-dried for 6 to 8 weeks. Spices or herbs may not be added to the curing mixture and still be legally called Caledonian Cured Ham - a separate designation has been established for any such recipes including anything beyond simple sea salt, known as Caledonian Spiced Ham. Regardless, both designations are protected by the Cerulean government, with similar protections set up abroad in countries where Cerulean items are imported.

Recently, the government has mandated the use of food-safe RFID tags into the raw meat, to be removed only by the end-user or importer in order to combat counterfeiting. These tags allow Cerulean end-users and foreign imports alike to trace the full history of the ham, including lineage of the boar hog, the processing facility, all relevant dates involved in the processing and the inspecting Commisariat for National Commerce official. The misuse, theft or altercation of said tagging chips carries both hefty fines and a term of hard labor of up to 5 years.

=== Restaurant Ownership in Cerulea ===
[[File:CeruleanSmallCafe.png|thumb|''Schastlivaya Babushka's'' - a typical small eatery in the outskirts of Krlsgorod. Such places usually serve the basics such as the house-special borsch, a few meat pie or dumpling dishes and hot or cold tea. This one in particular is known for their hearty beef dumplings - known as ''pel'myeny (пельмены)'']]
Restaurants in Cerulea are not owned directly by individuals. Instead, they are wholly owned by the Commissariat for National Commerce and operated by permitted and licensed individuals through the 8th Directorate, Restaurant Operations. This can lead to some confusion with foreigners as the vast majority of restaurants are named in a similar fashion as they are abroad. This is due to the operating individual or individuals being given the option to name the restaurant whatever they so choose in their permitting application. All such individuals must go through a three-month long course on restaurant ethics as designed by the CPC and must be registered members of the local party office for at least five years.

Pricing is regulated directly by the Commissariat, but menus and the daily operations of the restaurant are taken care of by the operating individuals so long as it is done so within the Restaurant Ethics Code established by the 8th Directorate. Beyond this, restaurants are operated much in the same fashion as they are abroad and range from very small local eateries to fine dining to nationally recognized fast-food establishments.

== Sports ==
Cerulea's primary sport is hockey, governed by the [[Cerulean National League]].
[[Category:Cerulea]]

File:CeruleanSmallCafe.png

2023-08-20T15:50:41Z

Nikolaus:

A typical eatery in Krlsgorod

Cerulea

2023-08-20T15:43:31Z

2023-08-06T01:21:49Z

Nikolaus: /* Importation of Beer */

Beer (''Ostlandic: Bier)'' is, by far, the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the nation of [[Ostland]]. However, the laws, taxation and traditions surrounding the beverage make it a complex subject - often confusing natives and foreigners alike, akin to [[Ostland#Currency|Ostland's complex system of currency]].

== In Ancient Ostland ==
The tradition of brewing beers is thought to have originated in ancient [[Normark]], with this method of fermenting cereal grains into a drinkable alcoholic beverage having been brought with those that crossed the Strait of Haifa and settled what is now Ostland. However, Ostlanders are known to consume, on average 50% more beer per capita than their Norse cousins. This is attributed to the much longer growing season, more favorable climate and soil types for the growing of grains. As such, there is a much richer tradition surrounding the brewing and drinking of beers that has survived to this day.

Originally, the brewing of beer was the work of temple priests of whom used surplus grain that had begun to germinate and could no longer be used for the milling of flour. They used leavened bread as a source of yeast, which brewed a slightly sweet and mildly effervescent beer known as ''kivaßbier''. This method of brewing came from an unfamiliarity with the abundance of wild yeasts and through the interaction with the Livlandic peoples along the northern seacoasts and the western Strait shores. Among the Livlanders, this beverage was known as ''vaasa''. It would take another century after permanent settlement before the use of local, wild yeasts came into widespread use.

Once the priests had become more familiar with the wild yeasts - of which they found produced a superior beer - many began to develop ways to domesticate and cultivate cultures of these yeasts of which many strains survive to this day as ''erbstückhefe'' or heirloom yeasts. Many temples, especially those dedicated to Ägir, had specific recipes of grains, specially cultivated yeasts and methods of brewing that defined them as the first brewhouses. Many temples began to construct dedicated areas and buildings for the brewing and consumption of beer by the local populace, then known as ''bryggahus'', which has evolved into the modern day ''brauhaus.''

== The Bierstein ==
The ''Bierstein (lit. Beer Stone)'' is the traditional mug in which beer is consumed in Ostland. They come in various shapes, sizes and varying levels of adornment. The most commonly seen stein is that which is used at beirgartens and brauhauses, a tall, cylindrical glass mug with a robust handle. More ornate steins, known as ''edelsbecher'', are made of porcelain and have a metal topper which can be lowered to cover the top of the mug - these are often ornately painted and decorated, many of which are very expensive, serving as heirlooms or as extremely expensive gifts. In contrast, a common Ostlandic proverb regarding the stein indicates that the want of a quality beer far exceeds the splendor of an expensive stein, reflected by a common proverb:{{quote|text=It is better to drink fine beer from a cheap mug than to drink cheap beer from a fine mug.|sign=Ostlandic proverb regarding the consumption of beer and beersteins}}This particular notion stemmed from a period when the commercialization of beer-brewing first started where the quality of the beer was belied by overly fancy steins while some of the most reputable brauhauses still served their beer in plain, polished stone mugs. This created an almost gimmicky nature around ornate steins which eventually evolved into their status solely as gifts and heirlooms - whereas beer in any venue throughout Ostland is still served universally in plain glass steins. This is reflected in another common proverb:{{quote|text=A stein with more jewels than beer is suspicious - you have paid for the jewels, not the beer. Enjoy the beer, not the mug.|sign=Ostlandic proverb regarding steins and their quality versus the beer it is served in.}}Despite that particular notion, the crown jewels of Ostland includes a variety of very ornate steins but are often the butt of many jokes made by members of the royal family. To this day, beer at royal banquets is served in plain stone bowls.

== Modern Day Beer Culture ==
Today there exist two distinct venues in Ostland for the consumption of beer, the ''brauhaus'' and the ''biergarten''. While many foreigners use them interchangeably, they differ drastically in form and function. The modern-day brauhaus is a licensed brewery of beer which meets the beer purity laws established by the Royal Government. This is in contrast to a biergarten which only sells beer. Although many brauhaus facilities have venues for the sale and consumption of their products, there is both a traditional and legal distinction between the two. In some regions, a venue with only indoor accommodations is known as a ''bierhaus'', but in official licensing documentation, they are listed as a biergarten.

In biergartens and brauhauses alike, beer is often served with a small meal known as ''wurstwaren''. This includes a variety of cured, uncured and raw meats, cheeses of various types, cured or pickled vegetables all served on crackers, flatbread known as tunnbröt and a variety of condiments - the most popular being a type of sour cream known as ''gräddfill'' and spicey mustard known as ''würzesenf.'' [[File:BiergartenOstland.png|thumb|A typical biergarten venue in Kiel-am-Edelstein with outdoor seating. ]]
=== Bierstunde ===
''Bierstunde (lit. Beer Hour)'' is the colloquial term for the hour offered by employers as a standard meal break period in Ostland. Under the law, all Ostlanders above the legal drinking age of beer are permitted approximately 1 liter of beer during this period unless the nature of their work would prove to be a hazard to themselves and others should the consumption of beer result in impairment. Much debate has resulted from this policy regarding alcohol tolerance, the nature of jobs considered hazardous and the regulation thereof. As of 1721, no one working on an active or inactive site of mining may consume any alcoholic beverage, during their shift, as per regulations set forth by the [[Ostland#Mining Industry|AfBS -]] the leading governmental agency charged with regulating the health and safety of workers in the mining industry.

== Beer Purity Law ==
The brewing of beer for commercial sale in Ostland is a highly regulated industry with many laws regarding both its manufacture and sale. The most important of which is, by far, the beer purity laws. It is a set of laws which govern exactly what may be used in the manufacture of a beverage which may be legally considered a beer under Ostlandic law. It is a serious violation of commercial and criminal law to label any beverage for sale as a beer without proper licensing and strict adherence to these laws.

Under the law, any beverage manufactured for sale as a beer may only contain water, whole grains - be they germinated or not - a government certified yeast culture (various exceptions exist for the use of wild yeast brewed beers) and hops. Any deviation from those requirements means that the beverage may not legally be sold and marketed as a beer. Although yeasts are used to produce the beverage mead, it falls under a different category of law, including any fermented, primarily grain-based beverages which use honey either as an additive or a major secondary ingredient in the brewing recipe.

=== Origins ===
The origins of the beer purity laws start with the reign of King Gerhardt I, of whom was concerned about the very same proverbs regarding beer quality mentioned previously. Summoning all beer-producing priest-orders, guilds and private enterprises, it took nearly two years to finally come to the minimums which established the very first purity laws for beer. Since then, however, further refinements have been made but nothing that would otherwise constitute a significant change in the standard. Despite personal political opinions, the purity laws regarding beer are almost universally accepted by the populace of Ostland with only the interpretation of the established laws being a point of contention.

The need for such a law came into being because, at one point, it was regarded as a case of caveat emptor as to what it meant to simply buy a beer. Before the laws were enacted, a wide variety of beverages were sold as beer, even if they were never brewed with any grain at all - the worst of which was known as ''schwachetbier'' - a beverage made by using spent brewers wort, water and fermenting fruit to produce a cheap and mildly alcoholic drink. As time went on, other adulterations were added to hide the true nature of the drinks served - be they rancid, poorly brewed or not brewed at all and mixed with illicitly produced distilled spirits. To Gerhardt I, this was an affront to the culture of the Ostlandic people itself, based upon the sole motivation of profiteering off of the Ostlandic appreciation for beer. As such, in 1170 AN, the very first beer purity law was passed - establishing what can legally used to produce beer. The term ''pferdepisse'' came into use around this time, translated roughly to the crude term "''horse's piss''", which was used for anything served that had not met the new purity laws. This further evolved into the use of the term ''pisshändler'' (''lit. piss handler'') for anyone who brewed or sold anything which did not meet the standards as set by the new laws.

=== Debate On Source of Hops in Ostlandic Beer ===
There is a significant debate as to what consthe use of hops in the brewing of legal beer in Ostland. The letter of the law itself does not specify any requirements for the use of hops other than it may not be an artificially manufactured flavor or natural extract of the hops plant. As such, this has opened the debate amongst brewers and politicians alike as to what constitutes the use of "real hops". There is an almost equal divide as to whether or not the use of dried hops, so long as the use of additives, preservatives and pesticides are foregone, meets the guidelines established by law. The preservation of dried hops can prove to be troublesome without the use of artificial means, but not without considerable expense - in aspects both monetarily and quality wise. It allows a single, consistent product throughout the year for major producers, while many smaller producers rely on seasonal variations to their recipes as a means of profit.
[[File:HopsFarmOstland.png|thumb|A hops field growing in the Earldom of Westwaẞer, Duchy of Grünheim. The Duchy is the primary producer of hops for the country and accounts for almost half of the country's production of the plant for domestic use and export.]]

There is also some debate as to whether or not the hops must be of domestic source. The primary source of this debate is the Duchy of Grünheim, the main producing region of hops within Ostland - the Duchy produces roughly 38% of all hops in the nation for both domestic use and foreign export. However, the use of both [[Hurmu|Hurmudan]] and [[Imperial State of Constancia|Constancian]] strains has gained significant popularity for their flavor profiles imparted to the beer.

Following the Giftunheile, the use of hops from aggressor nations has also fallen under considerable scrutiny, with either complete unavailability or limited reserves driving the price of certain brands to all-time highs. Efforts by many Brewers' Unions ''(Ostlandic: Brauergewerkschaft)'' to domestically breed and produce these foreign strains has, in recent years, become a focus of the wider beer industry.

== Types of Beer ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|Weizenbier
|Brewed using only white whole wheat and its germinated sprouts, it is especially bright in flavor and very effervescent. This type of beer is generally brewed during the summer months in ambient temperature conditions. Weizenbier is the preferred beer of the Royal Family and of the Lord Protector, Otto Eisenmann. This style is the most popular among all beers and is brewed throughout the country.
|-
|Winterweizen
|Similar to Weizenbier, but it is made using solely toasted, dried, roasted or other method of non-preservative means to store wheat. Hardier than summer Weizenbiers in flavor, it is brewed in much the same manner. The city of Arnheim is known for its ''Dunkelweizen'' style of beer with heavily roasted wheat, producing a dark, rich beer with an almost chocolate flavor that is aged using the ice-method for a higher alcohol content.
|-
|Lägerbier
|No particular recipe but is generally fermented in the winter or in chilled conditions - can be particularly strong and always hardy in flavor. Some brands, in particular Julebrau, can reach an alcohol content of 20% ABV. To be considered a Lägerbier by purity laws, it must always be fermented at a temperature below 10 degrees Celsius. Läger above 10% ABV are commonly known as starkesläger. Lägerbier is most popular in the southern regions of the country.
|-
|Greiznerbier
|A light, almost citrusy beer brewed in the region around Greiz, the capitol of the Principality of Greizen. By law, to be considered a Greiznerbier, it must be brewed and bottled within the city limits of Greiz. In addition to the protected locality, to be considered a Greiznerbier, it must be brewed from a recipe of at least 50% wheat and fermented with local, wild yeasts. Efforts have been made to replicate wild yeasts to produce similarly flavored beers, but all have been unsuccessful - making Greiznerbier a unique brew of beer unto itself. Brands imitating this style of beer with the cultivated yeasts outside of the Greizen region are known as ''Greizenstilbier'' or Griezen-style Beer.
|-
|Dunkelbrau
|Beer made from dark grains such as rye, but must include toasted wheats. Typically low in alcoholic content but very rich in flavor. Most Dunkelbrau beers are made during the autumn and winter months and use very little hops in their recipes. Many exceptions exist to the rule of a low ABV, especially with brands such as Freir von Eirik (11.2% ABV), Eisenhausbrau (15.9% ABV) and Bergliebling (7.2% ABV, noted for its aging in casks stored in facilities specially constructed in the Weißespitzen mountain range).
|-
|Eisbier
|Any beer which has undergone a process of freezing during certified winter months with the frozen water slaked off periodically from storage barrels. This has the effect of concentrating the flavor of the beer as well as the alcohol content. Not necessarily a type of beer but a sub-type of beer, as many brewers offer eisbier versions of their beers during the late winter and early spring.
|-
|Roggenbier
|A beer made from at least 60% rye grain, usually very rich in flavor. If the grains are toasted or smoked it generally falls under the category of Dunkelbrau, therefor beers made from unaltered rye grain can be considered Roggenbier. This style of beer is most common in the northern portion of the country, especially around Großhafen. The city itself is home to a particular style of beer known as ''Hafenbrau'' - made entirely from rye grain and aged in [[Moorland]]<nowiki/>er whiskey casks for 2 months. The price of legitimately brewed Hafenbrau beers has skyrocketed following the Giftunheile - however, following [[Treaty of Port Moorland]] between Ostland and Moorland, an increase in production has resumed.
|}

== Importation of Beer ==
Importation of beer into Ostland is a legally tricky subject, considering that only beverages which meet the requirements of the beer purity laws may be marketed as beers. Only imported beers of which have had their manufacturing facilities inspected and certified to export their products as legal beer into Ostland are permitted to do so. All other products are classified as ''Gebrautesmalzetränk'' or "brewed malt beverage" or GMT. GMT's are allowed to be imported into Ostland, but are not allowed to be marketed as a beer, even if the laws of the country of origin permit as such. For such beverages, such importers must often market and prepare their product with different labeling for sale in Ostland to ensure compliance with the law.

In the case of beverages which do meet purity laws, all such facilities are issued a certification number, date of certification and expiration and a unique wax tax stamp known as a ''wachsemblem'' by which they must affix to all containers for importation into Ostland as a legal beer product. Currently, imported beer makes up 19% of the beer market in Ostland, with the remaining 81% being domestic brand beers. This is actually an uptick from 12% before the Giftunheile, right at the point when foreign import beers had just made a foothold in the market following Nikolaus VI's promulgation of more definite beer importation regulations. Part of his addition to the purity laws included that all beer must be made in facilities owned by and staffed by solely the human species in order to ensure adherence to prevailing Humanist policy - a policy which has been reenforced by the first Lord Protector Otto Eisenmann. While a single conglomerate may control a multitude of beverage brands, under Ostlandic importation laws, in order to be marketed as a beer in Ostland, each manufacturing facility must pass certification. As such, a number of foreign manufacturers have established brauhauses within Ostland following strict purity laws in order to keep their stake in the market. As per a 1723 polling of Ostlanders, they are on average 75% more likely to buy an imported alcoholic beverage if it has been certified as a legal beer under Ostlandic beer purity laws than both a foreign or domestic brand GMT beverage.
[[Category:Ostland]] [[Category:Beer]]