Ecumiz
One of the nations of the ‘New North,’ Ecumiz is an oddity, at least in it’s terrain. According to the Frontiersmen guild, the nation sits mostly in a desert. But any who come to Ecumiz looking for hot, sandy wastes are sorely disappointed. Instead, they find vast plains of compacted dirt, where no vegetation grows and the ground is frozen solid. The moniker of desert is granted due to the terrains lack of rainfall, with an average of maybe three days of precipitation across an entire year, most of which falls as snow. The reason for this lack of water is down to the queer geography of Ecumiz. It is almost completely surrounded by mountains. These ranges catch the cloud banks and force the rain to fall before it ever reaches Ecumiz. Yet these same mountains are the reason Ecumiz is populated. Vast mines are beginning to develop in the highlands, where miners are bringing out hauls of iron that rival the daily output of some nations. The iron of Ecumiz is pure and plentiful.
It is around these mines that Ecumiz grows. Each mine becomes a walled settlement, drawing water from below the surface of frozen lakes, and either importing foodstuffs, or grazing animals on what little vegetation there is. The ruling body of the nation is the Ecumiz Mining Concern, a board consisting of the owners of the nations mines. They are seen by many as more tyrannical than any feudal king, and have a reputation for leaning heavily on the side of industry, ignoring the people under their care. Yet people continue to work for them, because the pay is no worse than elsewhere, and the jobs are plentiful.
Structure
The ultimate authority in Ecumiz is the Ecumiz Mining Concern
Demography and Population
Ecumiz has no official records of the demographics of it's mining communities, although it is noted that the higher echelons of the Ecumiz Mining Concern are predominantly Dwarven.
Technological Level
In terms of domestic technology, the people of Ecumiz are considered backwards and rough, with barely any of the settlements even having working sewer systems. But no expense is spared when it comes to purchasing new, efficient, equipment for the mines from the Legion of Progress.
Education
The vast majority of Ecumiz workers are uneducated and illiterate, and only the higher up members of the Ecumiz Mining Concern seem to have anything more than a general level literacy.
Infrastructure
Ecumiz has a surprisingly robust system of roads, designed to accommodate large amounts of cart traffic from the mines. The roads and borders are well guarded and watched by various posts, patrol houses, and forts under the control of the Ecumiz Protection Force, who work hard to stifle bandits and highwaymen who would strike at the metal laden carts.
Founding Date
3001
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Ecumizian
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Oligarchy
Major Exports
The primary export of Ecumiz is Iron, in vast quantities. Ecumiz can export more Iron in one day than some countries can produce in a year. The mines also produce various other metals, precious and not, that are exported as well.
Major Imports
Ecumiz imports vast amounts of food and water to keep it's mining towns well supplied. Animal products and wood are also valuable imports.
Legislative Body
All laws are set by the Ecumiz Mining Concern
Judicial Body
The laws of Ecumiz are enforced by the Ecumiz Protection Force
Official State Religion
Location
Comments