The United States of Oceania (USO)
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This massive governing body is responsible for the affairs of state of a whole continent. Many years ago, when Australia finally declared its independence, differences in governmental opinion led to a slow fragmentation of the country into a number of seperate states. Over a long, long time, through a minor civil war or two (or five), the states finally became united via a spit-and-rubber-band coalition, first formed for trade reasons. Over the decades, this makeshift republic cemented itself into a working, rock-solid government, with rules formed by consensus of its members and gradual evolution, thanks to the flexible system for proposing, implementing and scrapping laws that perfectly streamlined the legislatory system.
With this easy approach to government and the typical Australian mindset to work with, most of the population of this odd world superpower are a peace-loving, happy people, if a little apathetic. Life seems to move at a slower pace in the USO, especially in the deep Outback.
Physically, the country is on a vast scale; even the smallest farmstead is likely to be enormous compared to one in the Empire or Europe. The landscape is unaccountably beautiful wherever you are - on the coasts, in the grasslands or in the desert.
Currently, the USO has a strategic and trade treaty with the Republic of Tasnica. They also have official sanctions in place against the Empire due to their oppresive regime.
While you're here, you may want to visit...
The Grand Mana Palace
Forming the centerpiece of Lorima, this enormous gothic castle towers high above the city. Situated directly in the centre of the Australasian continent, it is the home of the Nature Elemental Dryad, although the palace does have a wing dedicated to each element. Few are allowed to enter its sacred halls, but those who do tell stories of a place of wonders with the occasional deviation from normal physical laws (especially in the Cosmic magic wing, where chaos is, in fact, the norm), including the rather worrying observation that the inside is... somewhat larger than the outside. Considering the size of the outside, that really is worrying.
Dryad can pretty much manage the palace by herself, but a small group of dedicated followers of all species work and study there, forwarding the cause of Mana magic research. Although not a teaching centre like the Water Palace, it is a vast repository of Mana magic lore.
For those looking for more detail on the inside: little is recorded. Most of the center palace, the neutral area outside of the magic wings, is decorated in green marble, but once you enter the respective wings then the decor changes to match (for example, the Fire wing is all done out in red). Due to the presence of high levels of raw elemental magic in each wing, strange things happen there. In the Air wing, for example, a continous breeze runs through all the rooms no matter how tight the doors are closed, and the air currents cause the occasional indoor electrical storm or cyclone, which plays havoc with all the loose paper. And very few dare to enter the Darkness wing without a very good reason (usually you can't see past the end of your nose anyway...)
Dryad resides in her own wing, occasionally emerging to bestow her wisdom or her powers upon Mana Mages seeking to visit (although as the most powerful of all elementals, the gift of her magic is a very, very rare one indeed).
Cities and Towns
Lorima (Cap.)
Government: Republic
Ruler: Chancellor Arkle Erizatz
Population: 2 Million (approx.)
Military: Local army & airforce garrisons, local
police presence
Crime Rate: Low
Major Imports: Water, metal ores
Major Exports: Mana Magic, machine parts, bureaucracy
This massive city is, unlike most, not a natural evolution of a smaller town; it was deliberately constructed by the Oceanian government to serve as a symbol of power. It was built around the Grand Mana Palace in the dead centre of the continent, and is a seat of industry, learning and government.
The Oceanian Senate sits here, with representatives from all over the continent meeting bi-monthly or in case of crisis. The senate elects a chancellor every five years to serve as a head of government and to keep order. Currently, the chancellor is Arkle Erizatz, a former fisherman from the south coast. A large, jolly man, Arkle has no idea how he got into government in the first place, but he enjoys every minute of it. His popularity perhaps stems from the fact that he is a down-to-earth soul, and has no truck with endless discussion and personal power-grabbbing.
Those of you who know of Australian geography might be pointing out that the centre of the continent is in fact in the middle of the desert, and you'd be right. Lorima's main water supply is in fact pumped all the way in from the ocean via a network of pipes and desalinating plants that serves the whole country. In case of emergency, the city can draw off a small supply from the Grand Palace (all that excess water the Water wing produces has to go somewhere... 8-]). They grow most of their food either near to or in the city, using all the water and highly efficient hydroponics systems.
Lorima is a large city, and expanding fast. It is known throughout the world as, in short, a very nice place to live.
Sydney
Government: Republic (see Lorima)
Ruler: Mayor Grace Reinhardt
Population: 1.5 Million (approx.)
Military: Local navy harbour, local police presence
Crime Rate: Low
Major Imports: Trade products
Major Exports: All continental products to overseas,
culture
One of the few cities remaining from the old glory days of Oz, Sydney serves two functions. Firstly, it is the USO's major seaport, serving trade all around the globe, although particularly ships heading to Tasnica. Due to the high volume of trade passing through here, if you want something, you can usually find it in Sydney.
Secondly, the city is responsible for a lot of culture. Many of the world's foremost architects study here (see - Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House), and of course, the city is home to one of the world's premier musical and dramatic societies in its huge Opera House on the seafront. The Opera House puts on regular plays and concerts. Sometimes it even does an opera.
The city's ruler is the local Senate representative, Grace Reinhardt. Formerly an opera diva, she bears all the physical characteristics of that stereotype; very large, very imposing, and very, very loud, in both physique and personality. One of the few people who can match Chancellor Erizatz for sheer overbearing jolliness.
Deep
Outback
(a nickname; the town's real name is Aboriginal and
almost unpronounceable to anyone speaking English)
Government: Tribal
Ruler: Chief Azuya Karila
Population: 274
Military: Roughly the whole tribe
Crime Rate: None
Major Imports: None
Major Exports: None
Deep Outback is the largest stronghold of the native Aboriginal people. Its location is not fixed; its people are somewhat nomadic and tend to move around a lot. It's a traditional place; whilst they don't mind the occasional outside influence, they tend to stick to themselves, farming and hunting as they have done for thousands upon thousands of years.
The last attempt to try and "civilise" the town came to a bit of an abrupt end. Since Mana was reintroduced into the world, the ecologically-minded Aboriginies took to it with incredible natural skill. The somewhat misguided construction project trying to build on tribal land was uprooted by a mysterious hurricane and flung all the way to the outskirts of Lorima. Since then, the various native communities have been left in peace.
The people of Deep Outback do mistrust strangers, especially the kind carrying big weapons, but once their trust is gained they will sacrifice their lives to aid those they call friends. They expect nothing less in return.