Ziegeland

Eastern Natopian demesne Kingdom of Ziegeland
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Ziegeland for All
Map versions	6.7.7 - present
Capital	Anmutstadt
Largest city	Andiopolis, Port Trias
Official language(s)	Nats
Official religion(s)	Bovinism
Demonym	Ziegelander
- Adjective	Ziegish
Government	Monarchy
- {{{headofstatetitle}}}	{{{headofstate}}}
- King	Nathan II
- Legislature	Kuhrat
Establishment	1493 AN
- Ranked	{{{agerank}}}
Area
Population	28,111,086 (1707)
Abbreviation	ZL

The Kingdom of Ziegeland is a demesne of Eastern Natopia. It comprises the western third of Yellow Island. The Natopian capital of Lindstrom is surrounded by this region. Major cities are Norrstrom, Old Dracoheim, Vice City, Pavleton, Anmutstadt, Elivia, Port Trias, Micronia City, Avenged City, Fort Ferien Point, and Ferien City. Ziegeland's current borders roughly corresponds to the original land held by the Mehl, Andi, Draconians, and Haas, the native peoples of Yellow Island at the time of Nett Opaegh's semi-legendary unification campaigns. Ziegeland borders Tas Neemia to the north and Hazelwood to the east. It is connected to Fort Silver, Thalassa, in Western Natopia via the Fort Ferien Point Bridge. Ziegeland is the traditional seat of power for Natopia's imperial family, the House of Waffel-Paine. It was previously a constituent Land of the Dynastic Incarnation of the Lands of Flaventia until Flaventia was broken up into Ziegeland, Hazelwood, and Tas Neemia following the establishment of Eastern Natopia.

Geography

The terrain zones of Ziegeland.

The kingdom is divided into two duchies, Lochhatonia in the west and Haven in the west. Lochhatonia occupies the Elivian Peninsula and the islands of Ferien and Micronia. Most of peninsular Lochhatonia is forest. The major rivers of Lochhatonia are the Trias River, the Elivia River, the Anmut River. Lochhatonia is named after the three lakes (Loch Haas, Loch Ton, Loch Nea) east of Anmutstadt, which are considered sacred to the ancient indigenous people of the region. Major features of the island of Micronia are the Vengeance Jungle, the Micron River, and the Vengeance River. The Elivian Peninsula is divided into north and south regions by a band of rocky terrain and foothills of the Vice Mountains.

Haven is characterized by low lying farmlands and the peak of Mount Vice. Most of the fertile farmlands are found between the Pavle River and the Mehl River. An artificial lake, Lake Linstrom, was created by damming the Mehl River and falls on the border between Ziegeland and Lindstrom. It provides drinking water to the Greater Lindstrom Metropolitan Area, which includes Norrstrom and Dracoheim.

History

Ziegeland is one of five original regions of Natopia, along with Lochhatonia (now integrated into Ziegeland), Hazelwood, Macon (renamed as Cheshunt and integrated into Hazelwood), and Tas Neemia. It originally occupied the area that Haven does now. Lindstrom was located within Ziegeland until 1576 when it was split off as an independent jurisdiction under direct imperial control. Ziegeland is named after the national animal of Natopia, the goat (Ziege in the Mehl language). It was, for most of its early history, the personal region and demesne of Nathan Waffel-Paine. He proclaimed it to be a Royal Barony and annexed Lochhatonia creating the United Baronies of Ziegeland-Lochhatonia. The legacy of the united baronies is preserved in the Double Baron's Coronet used in the kingdom's coat of arms and as the king's royal crown.

Culture

The people of Ziegeland, mainly descended from the ancient Mehl, Haas, and Andi tribes, are relatively conservative, industrious, pious, and traditional. They are a stronghold for the Free Juice and Bagels Party, pro-monarchist, loyal and enthusiastic supporters of the Waffel-Paine dynasty, and almost exclusively members of the Dozan Bovic Church. Until Natopia expanded beyond Yellow Island, the culture of Ziegeland defined the "Natopian culture" with other cultures like the Hazel and the Neemites, being still seen as exotic. Ziegelanders take immense pride in their self-appointed status as founders of Natopian culture. They can trace their family genealogy back to the arrival of Nett Opaegh.

In Haven, Mehl lineage is considered superior, as they were the primary group that supported Opaegh's conquest of Yellow Island. Ziegelanders with Mehl ancestry occupy a disproportionate number of positions of power and authority in the demesne and tend to be wealthier. Ziegelanders with Andi ancestry still mostly reside in Andiopolis and its surrounding countryside. In Lochhatonia, Haas lineage is considered important, and older Haas families tend to be wealthier, but the obsession with family origins is not as pronounced as in Haven.

Ziegeland has among the lowest political engagement rates in Eastern Natopia but also reports some of the highest standards of living and other markers of a content and complacent population. The popularity of the Waffel-Paine family, dominance of the Free Juice and Bagels Party, and the Dozan Bovic Church has instilled a culture of royal fanaticism, political apathy, and religious solidarity among Ziegelanders. As a result, Ziegeland is one of the most cultural homogenous areas in the entire Natopian Nation.

Industry

Ziegeland is in the center of Yellow Island's lucrative "Cotton Belt" and grows cotton for the entire nation as well as exports to most of Micras. It has a highly developed textile industry in Haven and an important fashion industry. Uniforms for service members in the Natopian Defense Force and other Raspur Pact armed forces are produced using Ziegish cotton. The coastal city of Andiopolis, controls the fishing industry of northern Borders Bay. The Vengeance Jungle, is home to a flowering plant, called Puncim (Puncimum cyminum) that produces seeds, when dried and milled, has a potent and funky aroma and flavor. It is colloquially referred to as punk spice. The harvesting, production, and export of punk spice gave eventually gave the name Punkrock Isles to Micronia and Ferien.