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| The '''Free State of Rulak''', commonly referred to as '''Rulak''', is a small island nation located off the southern coast of [[Apollonia]]. It is a theocratic democracy ruled by a High Lama who serves as the head of state and a Prime Minister who acts as head of government. | | The '''Free State of Rulak''', commonly referred to as '''Rulak''', was a small island nation located off the southern coast of [[Apollonia]]. |
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| ==History==
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| Rulak was founded by a group of Sino-Keltian monks in 719 ASC (July 25, 2001). The monks were missionaries who had been travelling across Micras. When they reached Rulak they found it to be inhabited by a lone bull with horns that branched like a deer, which was seen as a holy sign, and they decided to settle there. The bull was cared for and called Rulak (meaning branch horn), living out its life peacefully. After the bull’s death the name became associated with the island. Originally governed by the lamas of the monastery, the Rulakans came under the influence of communist upheavals in Umoja and Proletaria, and soon experienced their own revolution in 1231 ASC (December 19, 2002). The lamaist government was replaced by the dictatorship of Tserin Hariti (Thomas Hubert), a local revolutionary-turned-general.
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| The communist period lasted from 1231 to 1514, during which time Rulak became a part of the Republic of [[Baracão]], based on the nearby Islas de Libertad. Following the collapse of Baracão, Rulak briefly became part of [[Freenesia]], but that too soon collapsed as well. Rulak was then left to fend for itself, sometimes allying with, and sometimes against, the neighboring islands. But before long it came under sway of [[Eura]] as the Kingdom of [[Babkha]] launched its campaign onto Apollonia to conquer Terre d’Riches in 1710 (April 11, 2004). This marked the beginnings of the reintroduction of monarchist and conservative politics to the island.
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| Babkhan ambitions on Apollonia made Rulak an ideal staging point for the crossover from Eura. It was during this time period that the island saw its largest increase in population. When Babkha and Eblis launched their war against Sennar, Rulak was at the frontlines of the fighting. Many shepherds and clavigers settled on the island, and the monastery reopened, first as a hospital and then as a religious sanctuary. For the first time in nearly two hundred years, the monks of Rulak were free to worship openly. The war against Sennar was long and costly, lasting until 1934 (November 24, 2004), after which time many Babkhans returned to Eura and Rulak’s population began to shrink again.
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| [[Antica]] acquired Terre d’Riches in 2349 (January 10, 2006), and Rulak along with the neighboring islands in 2428 (March 30, 2006). For the next 2500 years Rulak would remain an Antican holding, and surprisingly change little over this vast length of time. The Anticans introduced a republican government to the island that lessened years of authoritarianism by the ruling parties. This led to a renaissance of classical Lamaism and a flowering of the arts. The monastery in Khimtsang was returned to the monks and many people returned to the grassroots religion of Rulak’s earliest days. Presently the island is a successful combination of religious retreat, center for the advocacy of peace and study, and a rural getaway.
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| ==Government==
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| ==Geography==
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| '''Khimtsang'''
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| Khimtsang is the capital and largest city on Rulak, even so it is still classified a village. Founded by monks, the city has ancient roots but has remained modest throughout the centuries. In the Rulakan (Tibetan) language, Khimtsang means "home" and was named thus as a place for those working at the monastery, or for those tradespeople, to settle permanently.
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| '''Yumdrok'''
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| Yumdrok, also known as the Jade Pasture, was built on the grassy shores of western Rulak. Between this tiny hamlet and Khimtsang is the famous pasture where the bull Rulak was found and kept for the duration of his life. Considered a holy site, the original pasture has become a collection of gardens and temples. Yumdrok serves as a fishing community and trades with Khimtsang for more modern goods.
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| '''Marpo Guoxie'''
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| Founded as Red Village by the communist regime, Marpo Guoxie is a leftover from the days of the Soviet Republic of Rulak. Although only a tiny hamlet, the city serves as the only true industrial center on the island and has several mechanic shops and a cement factory. It's proximity to the mainland also makes it an ideal spot for quick trade runs via the tiny Soviet-built airport.
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| '''Dorje Dzong'''
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| The fortress of Dorje Dzong, or Diamond Fortress, was built by the warrior monks of the Khimtsang monastery as a means to defend the island from raiders. Today it is maintained by the Aryashti military and is garrisoned by the local Rulakan militia, which still includes a command of our own warrior monks.
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| '''Dawalaya Mountain'''
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| The Moon Mountain, or Dwelling of the Moon, is revered as a holy place and is often visited by trekkers and pilgrims alike, not only for the reverie of meditation but also for its scenic beauty.
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| '''The Amala River'''
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| Mother's River is the primary source of freshwater on Rulak and is fed by mountain springs and winter snowmelt on Dawalaya. The river runs south-by-southwest and eventually exits near Khimtsang.
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| ==Demographics==
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| The country has a total population of 450,293 citizens.
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| The following was the ethnic breakdown of the country, according to the 2019 census:
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| *[[Sino-Keltian]]: 302,119
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| *[[Aryashti]]: 75,600
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| *[[Antican]]: 32,811
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| *[[Jingdaoese]]: 15,737
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| *[[Other]]: 24,026
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| ==Culture==
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| Rulak is one of the oldest Sino-Keltian nations on Micras and the oldest on Apollonia, predating the rise of [[Jingdao]]. Following the collapse of [[Attera]] on [[Keltia]], numerous Sino-Keltian nations arose to fill the vacuum, including [[Kampong]], [[Dipingxian]], [[Shenzhou]], [[Chine]] and others. These Sino-Keltian nations, many of which only survived for brief periods, nonetheless populated much of eastern Keltia and created flourishing cultures. It was during this golden age that monks from the area - the exact origin has been lost to time - travelled across [[Micras]] on a mission to spread peace and tranquility. When they finally settled upon the island of Rulak, the area was dominated by Apollonian peoples descended from the native tribes of [[Audentior]] and [[Kildare]]. Thus the Rulakans established their unique culture in an area otherwise completely dominated by a different racial group.
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| That Rulak remained a small and isolated island of little economic value, combined with the non-combative and neutral stance of its people, served to preserve its unique nature from obliteration by the myriad of conquering powers over the next several millennia.
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| ===Religion===
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| ==Economy==
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| The Rulakan economy is extremely small but for the most part self-sustaining. The only major manufacturing center is at Marpo Guoxie, which became highly industrialized during the Communist Era. The rest of the island economy is based on agriculture and tourism.
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| ==Military==
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