Republic of Borokanis
Borokanis is an island nation in the continent of Assua, on the planet Thera. It consists of four states, one federal district, and one autonomous region. It is bordered by the Tangaroa Ocean to the east, and the Kisti Ocean to the west, and shares a maritime border with the Kisti Republic. It is known for its natural beauty, mystery, innovation, and high quality of life.
The first Egomim settled on the islands around the 500s HR. After building towns and temples, they mysteriously disappeared.
The islands were then rediscovered by Ebrian explorers and subsequently inhabited by settlers from elsewhere.
In 713 AR, a figure known as Amiro had risen to become the first emperor, starting an empire that would rule until 1847 when the last emperor was ousted out of power and Borokanis became a republic.
Political corruption, riots, and rampant crime would define the late 1800s, until the constitution was finally revised and put the young republic down the road to prosperity and progress.
Since the 1930s, Borokanis is experiencing a golden age in technology, innovation, and progressivism, as one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries in the world.
Contents
Flag
Emblem
Motto: "Hand and Heart Ahead"
"겟 엔 켈딧 우카라" "Ges en Keldis ukara"
Etymology
According to legend, when the first Ebrian explorers arrived, they asked Rogini (미히켐헤) what the name of this land was, and she replied with "Poro?" ("For?"). They mistook this as the name of the archipelago, and their name eventually evolved into Boro.
As the above is a myth, the etymology is still uncertain.
After becoming a republic, the suffix Kania (lit.: country/nation) was added, becoming Borokania. The name “Borokanis” is an Uruki exonym of Borokania.
History
Boro history can be broadly divided into six eras:
Tribes Era
The first Egomim started arriving in around 500 HR. Not much is known about these first settlers, but they may have had a tribe system and built a few temples. The one on Arabal Hill in present-day Metriga has drawings of a buffalo-deity (assumed to be Arabal, goddess of the land) on the walls.
The tribes all mysteriously disappeared around year 0, and the reason for this is still unknown. Stories going back to the time of Amiro tell of one sole survivor from this Era, Rogini (미히켐헤), who is now considered the matriarch of Borokanis, and the prophet of the religion named after her.
Ebrian explorers later discovered the (at this point uninhabited) islands in the 600s AR.
Colonization Era
Ebrian settlers started arriving in in the late 600s AR, and founded the towns that would eventually become today's cities.
Imperial Era
The temple atop Arabal Hill, Metriga.
In the year 713 AR, the people declared a figure known as Amiro as the first emperor. The empire he started would last for four dynasties and ten houses, becoming more tyrannical with every dynasty. The last emperor, Hedero III of the House of Hekua, was ousted out of power in a revolution and a coup d’état in 1847.
During this time populations of the towns had exploded and became the cities they are today.
Revolution Era
On Triamber 20, 1789, a rebellion began against the royal family, who had become decadent and despotic over the last few hundred years. This first rebellion failed, but it lead to the beginning of the Boro Revolution that would eventually kick the royal family out of power and transform the nation into a democratic republic.
The revolution ended when a rebel army lead by EK Negu staged a coup d’état in 1847 to oust Emperor Hedero III and the royal family. Three days later, on December 21, the republic was declared. This new republic was named “Borokania”, and was led by Negu’s army until the constitution was finished in 1850. After the first constitution came into effect in 1850, the first presidential and parliamentary elections were held.
The new republic was divided into the four states (Bondun, Gisen, Arabal, and Tobus), one autonomous region (Neno Isles), and one federal territory (BCD).
Struggle Era
During the second half of the 1800s, most of the efforts to reverse the damage done by the House of Hekua were futile, due to the massive amount of corruption, crime, and general
disarray throughout the young republic. Political problems were not addressed properly, vast amounts of money was embezzled, and anyone who tried to fix anything was either arrested or assassinated.
Eventually, in 1896, the election of Atro Kenkos as president would bring about massive changes to the nation. The constitution was revised, the vices were dealt with properly and efficiently, and the biggest change of all: the transition from a presidential to a directorial republic with the founding of the Kupenko.
By the 1910s, Borokanis would be well on the path to prosperity.
Present Era
A period of economic stagnation followed the death of Atro Kenkos in 1929. So in the 1930s, Kupenko member Meheno "Iuro" Segia introduced aggressive economic reforms and the economy exploded. By the 1950s, Borokanis had become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. With the technological revolution starting in the 1970s, many of the world’s top tech companies were founded in the Dol Hudas area of Hinga City. This put Borokanis at the forefront of innovation, and is now spearheading the world into the future.
A portrait of Amiro on a wall in Feigin, dating back to the 700s AR.
Daguerrotype of EK Negu, taken in 1844.
Atro Kenkos from an 1890 campaign poster.
Iuro Segia in 1934.
Geography
Satellite image of Borokanis, taken in 2030.
The islands encompass a wide variety of landscapes, with the north and central dominated by mountains, the south by flatlands, and the west by saltwater marshes. The east contains the Hamra Coastal Plains. The Neno Archipelago are all strato-volcanic islands, except for Sakra Island which is coral.
The population is generally concentrated in the west, south, and on the Hamra Plains in the east.
The islands were formed by a massive supervolcano eruption that happened at some point in prehistory. The caldera of that volcano is what became the main islands.
Borokanis lies between latitudes 40°22'0.48" S and 41°25'56.64" S, and between longitudes 89°24'54" E and 91°44'42" E. Mountains make up about 45% of the landmass, with the primary peaks being Rogini (3,754 m), Amiro (2,797 m), and Keni (1,173 m). Mt. Rogini has a large menhir on the summit, dubbed "Perul Rogini" which gives off an enormous amount of heat. Because of this, the snow level on this mountain, which starts at around 2,700 m, abruptly ends at the 3,500 m mark. It is unknown how this rock came into existence.
Mt. Amiro contains an extensive network of man-made caverns inside, but with no discernible writings or art. The top 500 meters of Mt. Keni is almost entirely composed of the mineral boothite, which gives it its distinctive blue color.
The lowest point in the country is Cape Perul, at barely 2 meters above sea level.
Borokanis has several bays, including Rakim Bay, around which Hinga City, Keni City, and Rakim are situated, and Mutra Bay, around which Metriga, Cape Perul, and Husan-on-the-Hamra are situated.
Rogini Rock.
Mt. Keni.
Climate
The climate of Borokanis is generally quite temperate, but can vary a bit, from the pleasant Aruma-like climate of Miniville and Hinga City, to the oceanic marine climate of Metriga and Fort Pelbos. The Neno Isles are subsolsticial, except for Gihat and Bak Islands which have a subnorthern oceanic climate.
The heaviest precipitation occurs in the states of Arabal and Gisen, and in the Neno Isles, in Triamber and Quattorber. It snows in the states of Arabal and Gisen in winter, between Hexember and September. Gihat Island has snow throughout the year, and Bak Island has snow between Quattorber and October.
Flora and Fauna
There are many different animals native to Borokanis, including the white-bellied sea eagle, the tobus lion, and the water buffalo on land, and the gisen orca in the sea.
Borokanis has, since ancient times, been a haven for rabbits, especially the Boro spotted rabbit, which is the national animal.
Native plants include the mira conifer, a tree found in abundance in the Mira Forest, and the striped apple tree, whose fruits have a distinctive dark stripe on them. The national flower is the kohirus.
Map based on the Köppen Climate Classification system.
Boro spotted rabbit, the national animal of Borokanis.
Politics
The first constitution was written between 1847 and 1850, immediately after the revolution. However, it was largely misinterpreted or ignored until Atro Kenkos was elected president. He did a complete overhaul of the system, and his constitution, which came into effect in 1910, is the one in use today. It outlines all the rights of the citizen, and divides the powers among all the branches of government.
The three main branches of the Boro government are the Garat Honoki (legislative), the Kupenko (executive), and the Boro Supreme Court (judicial).
The Garat Honoki consists of 100 democratically elected representatives. They are elected by a system of proportional representation, depending on the population of each state/region. Council members serve for a period of five years. Through referendums, citizens are allowed to challenge any law passed by the council, thus making Borokanis a direct democracy. The centrist-progressive party Hinultos Borokania has dominated Boro politics since the 1950s.
The current members of the Kupenko, L-R: Moris Keita, Iraia Kikut, Jordan Belhi, Daisuke Kerados, and Hibo Bedia.
The Kupenko direct the administration, and can be referred to as a collective head of state. It is a collegiate body of five members, each representing a different state/region. They are elected for a five-year term by the Garat, for which they exercise oversight.
The function of the Boro Supreme Court is to hear appeals against rulings of the state or regional high courts. The judges are elected by the Garat for nine-year terms.
Administrative Divisions
Borokanis is divided into four states (with some autonomy), one federal district (headed directly by the central government), and one autonomous region (almost completely self-governing).
Military
The Boro Defense Force has been in existence since 1850. It has three branches: the Boro Army, the Borokanis Naval Forces, and the Boro Air Force. Both the Army and Navy have their base at Banbi Island, and the Air Force is based on Bafbi Island. Both islands are administered by the Borokanis Capital District.
Foreign Relations
Borokanis is a founding member of the United Nations of Assua, an international organisation consisting of the six nations on the continent of Assua.
Borokanis has close ties with its neighbors Makkalnata and the Kisti Republic, as they provide minerals, crude oil, and other raw materials. Masrek and the Teru Kingdom share strong cultural ties with Borokanis.
Borokanis' closest ally is Arobikanis, often called Suesikania ("sister nation") as they are similar in culture, language, and economy. They share a monetary union, and the Arobi Deynara is pegged to the Boro Denari.
An Uruka-07 from the Boro Air Force.
Flag of the United Nations of Assua. Borokanis is a founding member.
Demographics
As of 2030, the total population is 7,677,527.
Borokanis is an overwhelmingly urban country, with only 0.001% living outside the cities. 94% of the population live in the four big cities of Metriga, Hinga City, Miniville, and Fort Pelbos. Cities in Borokanis generally rank high in livability indices, for example, Miniville and Metriga were numbers 2 and 7 respectively on the 2029 quality of life index.
The life expectancy for Borokanians in 2030 was 90.3 for males and 94.3 for females. The fertility rate is 2.1. Rates of aging have been rather consistent, with all age groups having approximately equal populations.
Metriga
Hinga City
Top 10 Largest Cities in Borokanis
Fort Pelbos
Miniville
Language
The official language of Borokanis is Borogi, a Kisti-Uruki language with heavy Ebrian influence. It was supposedly spoken by the original tribes and then expanded upon by the Ebrian settlers.
There are two main dialects of Borogi. Kekria Borogi is spoken within the caldera, and is considered the standard dialect. Terus Borogi is spoken in the Neno Archipelago, and is more slang-heavy and vowel-shifted.
You can read more about it here.
A bilingual sign in Metriga.
Economy
Borokanis has a stable, prosperous, and high-tech economy, being ranked as one of the wealthiest countries in the world per capita in multiple rankings, while also being ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. It is also ranked as the most innovative country in Assua, and as one of the most innovative countries in the world. It is considered a relatively easy place to do business, and the cities of Metriga and Hinga City are considered global cities.
The currency is the Boro denari (KAD), which also circulates in neighboring Arobikanis.
Historically, industry in Borokanis revolved around agriculture and R&D, with those same industries continuing to drive the nation today. High demand for Boro agricultural products from the rest of the world helped Borokanis achieve higher living standards in the 1950’s onwards.
2021-series denari banknotes.
Borokanis is home to several large multinational corporations, including techgiants PG, Abros, Hoosi, and Set, and media companies like Serona Media and TV Metriga. Borokanis has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.
Borokanis’ most important economic sectors today are R&D, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
Trade
As there are few natural resources produced in Borokanis, the nation is heavily dependent on international trade. This dependence is what led to the creation of UNA, allowing Borokanis to benefit from lower costs of raw materials such as petroleum and minerals from the Kisti Republic and Iria.
The oldest and most famous export from Borokanis is dega tea, grown on the slopes of the Dega mountain range. Historically, other major exports included agricultural products, and paper and palm oil from Mehel Island. Today, agricultural products are still a major export, however it has since been dwarfed by other exports like integrated circuits, health and pharmaceutical goods, and consumer electronics. Cultural products like movies, music, and fashion are also major exports.
Education
Education in Borokanis is rather unified, as all public education is controlled by the Ministry of Education. However, there are many private schools as well, including private international schools. Most of these international schools are sponsored by other countries, like Menefer High in Hinga City, or Kisti International in Metriga.
The minimum age for primary school is six years of age. Before that, children attend a pre-school starting from age 3. Primary school continues until the age of 13, when students complete their primary school assessment.
Public secondary education in Borokanis is controlled by the Boro Certificate of Secondary Education (Sehadat ket Denantia Duha Boro, or SDDB), a branch of the Ministry of Education. Students attend secondary school from the age of 13 to 18, which is more highly specializedand flexible. At the end of secondary school, students complete a secondary school assessment and then may choose to attend university.
The Aroka Institute, Metriga.
There are a few world-renowned universities in Borokanis, including Doros University in Hinga City, Subrius University in Fort Pelbos, and The Aroka Institute in Metriga. Other highly regarded universities include the Rok-Arabal College of Engineering in Metriga, and the Desekta Academy in Hinga City.
Energy
Electricity generated in Borokanis is 78% from geothermal plants, 19% from hydroelectricity, and 3% from wind and solar. Geothermal energy is found in abundance in Borokanis, owing to the archipelago’s origins as a super volcano. There is often a surplus in energy, and so the excess is sold off to the Kisti Republic though the Boro-Kisti Friendship Conduit: an underwater high-capacity power conduit built during the 1990s.
Windmills atop the Hinga Range.
Transportation
The primary method of getting around the archipelago is via the motorway system, or through Borokanis Rail. Every settlement within the caldera is linked through the railway system, with an extensive sea-taxi system linking the Neno Isles. Every city has its own urban rail network.
Most international visitors arrive via air, through the two international airports: Atro Kenkos International in Metriga (MPS), and Hinga City-Feigin International (FRC). MPS, the larger of the two, is the main hub for the flag carrier Air Borokania.
An Air Borokania airplane taxiing at MPS. Air Borokania is the flag carrier of Borokanis.
Culture
The culture of Borokanis is descended from that of the Semelli Ebrians, combined with traditional Roginist values. This has created a distinct Boro identity that is characterized by compassion, a strong work ethic, and individualism.
Arts
The oldest art on the archipelago has been found on various monoliths scattered across the islands. Many of them contain calligraphy in the Ancient Script, with one of them even forming the basis of the national flag.
When the first modern Borokanians arrived from Ebria, they brought their art and architecture with them. Because of this, many of the buildings in the older parts of Boro cities are very similar to buildings in Ebria. Traditional Borokanian art includes geometric wood paintings and calligraphy, as seen in wall frescoes and tile designs on older buildings.
Media
Boro media is well-known all over the world, with Metriga often considered one of the great media centers of the world.
When the Ebrians arrived they brought with them a culture of performing arts, such as dabki dance. This evolved into a robust theater scene, which in turn evolved into the world-renowned Boro film and television industry. Boro animation is also extremely popular all over the world.
The music of Borokanis also has its roots in traditional Semelli Ebrian music, although in recent years Borokanis has become a hub for rave and electronic music. Borokanian electronic artists such as DJ Maniac, Rob Korn, and Bekki routinely sell out shows all over the world.
Cuisine
Boro cuisine originates from Kisti and Ebrian dishes made from native ingredients. This includes dishes made from wheat, meats, vegetables, and dairy. A staple is bakek bread (Baresom Kekra, or “circular bread”): a ring-shaped bread which is boiled in water first before baking.
The most popular Boro beverage is dega tea, which is grown on the slopes of the Dega Mountains and has been exported from Borokanis for centuries. Drinking dega is a popular evening pastime, which is often done with close friends and/or family.
Tile design at Amiro Temple, Fort Pelbos.
Paradise Metriga, one of the largest danceclubs in the world.
A typical Boro meal: Bakek bread, Kisti cottage cheese, and a cup of dega tea.