Kush

"Deus Cactine Invictus"

The Most Serene Republic of Kush is a nation located in the Kushite Sea, off the northern shores of Haven. The nation's capital is built over three islands in the kushite sea that were previously claimed by the Qeshbago Dynasty until said claims were renounced on 2/12/21.

The Kushite people inhabiting the twin islands of "Ku" and "Sh" founded their settlement on February 3rd, 2021, later expanding to the third island of "Period" to the east, naming the Islands after the plant burned in solace to a lost sheep. The nations motto, 'Deus Cactine Invictus', is reflected in their flag. The white stripe representing the sheep, and the dark green stripe representing the cactus and the light green stripe representing the turtles. Those three being the most abundant resources on the island.

Founding
teh1337haxorz (Eddy) and GerConsigliere (Comedian), searching for a new home for the Kushite people, found themselves lost on an ice sheet. Low on supplies and fearful of death, they landed on a pair of islands. They found and sheared three sheep, one of which walked into a cactus and died. In solidarity with the lost creature, believing it to have killed itself of shame after being sheared, the Kushites burned part of the cactus. After this, the cactus immediately regrew and could not be trimmed into submission. The remainder of this cactus is now cherished as the "First Cactus" having grown higher than Kushite scientists can count. This is commonly regarded as the inception of Cactinism, believers of which burn the cacti that grow on the islands and inhale the vapors in an attempt to gain some of the great Cactus's unimaginable power. In the times since, the canon of the faith was expanded upon and includes the reverence for Eddy the Prophet as one of its defining tenets. Places where the Eddyist faith is particularly strong grow great cacti of their own, such as Veratol's Cactus of Flame, growing out of the depths of the earth through a large amethyst geode.

Expansion
Kush saw rapid development in the first months, expanding far beyond its three islands and gaining a vast protective wall around its rectangular perimeter. The wall provides unparalleled security for the denizens of Kush, nourishing peace and prosperity within.

Over the latter parts of 2021, an ice road was constructed around the republic, centered around the capital, and expanding to 'Tuga Town in the South, and up to the Kingdom of Councils (Kush' long standing ally) city Wangshi in the North, although this part of the line seldom gets used beyond Palermo.

Military entanglements
Kush sided with the Third Rathnir Coalition in their war against Bardonia, alongside its allies in the Kingdom of Councils. The latter was later invaded by the Huitca Federation whose government claimed that this intervention was against the terms of the non-aggression pact signed between itself and KoC, a claim whose validity was widely disputed. KoC's allies Kush and Grizagel were subsequently defeated at the First Battle of Palermo. Huitca was prevented from succesfully annexing all of KoC's territory first by a shrewd military engineering effort at Palermo spearheaded by Kushite workers, then by a military intervention from KoC's allies in Eldham, augmented by a large mercenary force, against Aequalis, Huitca's largest city. The first phase of what would become the Ummarnu wars ended in a white peace.

The war was reignited shortly afterwards due to a land dispute on the KoC-owned island of Inades, which the Republic of Ombria wanted for themselves in order to complete their annexation of the subcontinent of Vastallos. After negotiations fell through and Ombria's attempt at full annexation was thwarted by KoC claiming a third of the island, Ombria assembled an army and headed straight for the capital city of KoC, Palermo. The ensuing battle saw another victory for KoC, narrowly escaping total dissolution for a second time. Hostilities between KoC and Ombria (now Carvay) were ceased by the signing of the Treaty of Palermo/Carvay, granting KoC control of the island.

After a series of land disputes and skirmishes between KoC and its neighbors in Huitca and Vrolgar, the straw that broke the camel's back and brought back war upon KoC was the raiding of Bardonia city by some of the country's highest representatives, resulting in widespread condemnation and declarations of war. At this point, the government of Kush decided that holding onto KoC as an ally was no longer worth the effort and declared neutrality, alongside Carvinia, another traditional KoC ally.

Geography
Kush is located across many islands within the Kushite Sea, from Sveppareyja in the southeast to the original islands of Ku, Sh and Period in the centre, to the tropical Wera Atoll in the north. It borders the states of Carvinia, Dracade, Astyllea, Uldarash, Solisios, Kidania and the Kingdom of Councils through maritime borders.

The biomes of Kush are very diverse, from the arid islands of Baikulo and Ila Kamen to more lush ones like Paloria and Viksholm, to the freezing cold waters surrounding the capital city, but none is as unique as the largest island, Sveppareyja, entirely covered by giant mushrooms and their mycelium.

Kush's territory is disjointed on the map and can be divided into several sections - the newly densely populated north with Veratol, the original center with Kush, the west patches of Vantre and Golden Barrel, and the far southeast with 'Tuga Town. In light of constant verbal abuse suffered as a consequence of having these borders, Kush has pursued several land purchases, having fulfilled one with Solisios, buying the islands of Viksholm and Ila Kamen for an undisclosed sum of money and goods.

Culture
The Kushite people are as a rule incredibly proud and patriotic, some going to great lengths to demonstrate this, often at their own peril.

The Eddyist faith is the dominant religion in the state, with approximately half of its citizens adhering to it. Around a third of them are atheists.

Trivia
National Food: Baked Potato

National Animal: Sheep

National Pastime: Fishing

National Language: English

National Plant: Cactus