The Hordic Republic
| Capril | Nyhavn |
| Demonym | Hordic |
| Date Recognized | August 6, 26 XE |
| Population | 20,511,205 |
| Government Type | Direct Democracy |
| Current Head of State | Prime Minister Alexandria Lindstrom |
Climate Zone: Everfall Zone
Hordad is the most culturally open of the Ten Great Sovereigns and a predominantly Strigoi nation known for direct democracy, strong civic institutions, essential-worker culture, and a comparatively egalitarian social identity.
It is not one of Kepler’s most militarily intimidating states, but it has political importance as a test of whether a Strigoi society can remain open and democratic under external fear and internal vulnerability.
Its defining geographic feature is its complete confinement to the Everfall Zone.
Everfall is cool, dry, and arid, with moisture-depleted air descending over the Western Continent. Its defining political tension is security without militarization. Hordad has no national army and a relatively small police force, so it depends on the Horeslavlyn Block and the World Council for protection.
Geography & Climate
Hordad is the westernmost nation entirely confined to Everfall. The zone is permanently cool and dry. Its air is crisp, its moisture limited, and its environment favors preservation rather than rapid biological growth.
Hordic architecture uses stone, timber, insulated communal halls, dry storage, and wind-protected settlements. The nation is also home to many stone statues, including some of the most iconic statues on Kepler depicting figures such as Sir Magna Carta and its founder, Sørena Hordaland.
Hordad lies along the western coastline with direct access to the Vesthav Ocean through its Rodsten Community Beach and the infamous Bay of Gobs Nudist Beach. As a result, the lack of abundant rainfall does not make water systems, wells, cisterns, and seasonal agricultural planning particularly important to the coastal cities, but these systems remain integral to inland areas.
Raging Fall, from September through November, intensifies drying winds across eastern Hordic regions.
Hordad’s food system relies on hardy crops, preserved foods, managed forests, and communal distribution. The nation’s welfare state is partly a political response to overall nationwide environmental uncertainty.
Mount Kahak is the highest mountain peak in Hordad, reaching approximately 8,100 feet. It is the site of many Hordic folktales and ghost stories.
Government & Politics
Hordad is a direct democracy. Citizens elect the head of state and vote directly on government policies.
Its economic system is a social democracy combining a capitalist market with a large welfare state.
The lack of a national army changes the balance between civilian government and military authority. There is no domestic military institution powerful enough to dominate the political system. Instead, security is externalized through a very small police force, nationwide local neighborhood watches, C-BAR border protection, and the Horeslavlyn Block treaty.
Economic Overview
- GDP: 1.9 trillion UK
- GDP per capita: Approximately 92,600 UK
- Currency: Jureslavic Guilder (JSG)
- Former currency: Hordic Bani (HB)
- Former exchange rate: 20 HB = 1 UK
Relationship with the Continental Border Assault Regiment
Hordad is a sovereign state and receives C-BAR’s highest priority. It pays for the regiment but normally retains authority over C-BAR entry. Its vulnerability is that a border-defense institution cannot automatically solve internal political or security problems.
Hordad belongs to the Horeslavlyn Block with Jureslavia and Evelyn, an alliance built around large Lalumist and Strigoi populations. The alliance is explicitly designed to provide mutual protection if the World Council ceases to exist.
Hordad’s democratic government is one of the strongest supporters of strict C-BAR rules. The Hordic people welcome protection while resisting any World Council expansion into domestic policing.
History
Recognition
Hordad was recognized on August 6, 26 XE.
Hordad was initially skeptical of joining the World Council because its leaders believed membership could affect the nation’s internal politics.
The Horeslavlyn Block
The alliance with Jureslavia and Evelyn reflects the political importance of shared Lalumist and Strigoi identity. It is both an expression of cultural solidarity and a strategic hedge against World Council failure.
Aversion to Presidency
The Hordic Republic is one of the earliest recognized sovereign nation, yet it is the only of the Ten Great Sovereigns that has never had a delegate or a diplomat ascended to the seat of President or Vice President of the World Council.
Even though Hordad has what many consider a big government, and it’s citizen’s tax are generally higher than most other sovereign nations, they do so in the name of communal equity and economic stability. They have a general aversion to positions of power that they consider too imbalanced or existing just for its own sake, which is a reason for why many qualified Hordic diplomats refuse the World Council Presidency and Vice Presidency. Another reason many of them refuse is simply because they view those positions as unnecessary personal responsibility without a specific meaningful goal that they would support.The Hordic are a strong community-oriented people and are generally friendly and open but this doesn’t necessarily mean they care all that much about people outside of their communities.
The Current Crisis
The Warden’s Maw breach threatens Hordad indirectly through the possibility of cross-border pursuit, panic, and anti-Strigoi scapegoating.
Hordad’s elected government may face pressure to expand police powers during the crisis. Its defining political test will be whether it can protect its citizens without abandoning direct accountability.
Culture & Society
Hordad is 100% Strigoi and has a population of approximately 20.511 million. Its economy is built around essential workers and social-democratic welfare.
Many Normans and even some Espers avoid Hordad out of fear, even though the nation is open and welcoming. This creates an external image problem. Hordad must constantly distinguish genuine security concerns from prejudice toward Strigoi physiology and blood requirements.
The Strigoi Civic Tradition
The Hordic people enjoy festivals, parties, camping, and other community activities, but these traditions are usually centered around community and parish-based subcultures and local traditions.
Lalumism is the official state religion, but some Hordic citizens also observe Pentagonism. Lalumist ideas of natural harmony, liberty, and balance fit the nation’s communal self-image, while Petofi-style interpretations of the Crimson Requiem introduce a different theological perspective.
Pentagonist observance introduces a more structured and postwar theological vocabulary into Hordic religious life.
Crescent
Crescent functions as a cross-class community game. Hordic social clubs prefer standard rules or variants emphasizing restraint, observation, and communal resetting over high-stakes gambling.
Because Hordad values essential workers and civic equality, establishments may discourage variants that allow a wealthy player to dominate through enormous face-card combinations.
Notable Figures
- Prime Minister Alexandria Lindstrom — Elected head of state.
- Former Warden’s Maw Warden Sven Bendtmar — Currently a Warrant Officer with the Continental Border Assault Regiment.
- Elsa Alfson — Hordad-born painter and scientist’s daughter whose later life unfolds in Teranua.
- Erik and Freya Alfson — Hordic scientists whose research later became politically dangerous.