Cerulea
| Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Cerulea | |||
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| Motto: Workers of Micras, Unite! | |||
| Anthem: | |||
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| Map versions | |||
| Capital | Krlsgorod | ||
| Largest city | Krlsgorod | ||
| Official language(s) | Cerulean | ||
| Official religion(s) | Cerulean Orthodoxy | ||
| Demonym | Cerulean | ||
| - Adjective | Cerulean | ||
| Government | Soviet Socialist Union | ||
| - First Chairman of the Presidium | Konstantin Fyodorovich Zevyagin | ||
| - Premier of the Supreme Soviet | Vladimir Volodin | ||
| - Legislature | The All-Union Supreme Soviet | ||
| Establishment | |||
| Area | |||
| Population | 17,387,149 | ||
| Active population | 1 | ||
| Currency | Rubl | ||
| Calendar | Norton calendar | ||
| Time zone(s) | |||
| Mains electricity | 120/240 V - 60 Hz | ||
| Driving side | Right | ||
| Track gauge | |||
| National website | |||
| National forum | |||
| National animal | |||
| National food | White Borsch | ||
| National drink | Vodka | ||
| National tree | |||
| Abbreviation | СССРК (SSSRK); USSRC; CE | ||
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 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 democrats, communists, and Umraists) defeat in the civil conflict in Hurmu, some socialists and Umraists found refuge in Cerulea, among the famous of these, the deposed prime minister Annika Raudsepp (SDP), minister for local government Muhammad Abdullah (HUHU), and Nada Lesjak (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.
| Commissariat | Commisar | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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
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.
| Flag | Republic | Capital | Premier | Autonomous republic(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People's Republic of Stoličnaja Krlska | Krlsgorod | Livland | ||
| Caledonia | ||||
| People's Republic of South Cerulea | Karenja | South-East Cerulea | ||
| People's Republic of the White Mountain | Škoda | Ashkenazi APR | ||
| People's Republic of Skjarskaja | Skjargorod | Beregozeria | ||
| People's Republic of Čečňa | Čečňa | – |
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 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
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.
