Ostia

Ostia is a nation situated in Syltor on the island of Yulara. It is one of the smaller nations on the island consisting of one large city: New Savras. Ostia is an Absolute Monarchy with Oligarchist traits. It is led by a Suidhe. Ostia was a republic twice. Once before and after Lennoxer occupation. Ostia was once a part of Bardonia and Lennox. Through history Ostia has had 6 legitimate leaders: Hernicii von Savras, Ian Dubois, Luminex Rioghal, Gribbits Azurov, Bou Rioghal, and Tiberius Rioghal. There has been: 1 Dictator, 3 Presidents, 3 Suidhes.

Pre-Colonization Era
Not very much is know about the Ostian region before New Savras. It had not been settled until Hernicii von Savras reached the shores of New Savras. Gribbits was appointed viceroy and settled the new colony, naming it after the Andornan capital, Savras, thus creating New Savras.

Colonial Era
During the Colonial Era, Ostia had 3 main people in charge. Those people were TheWorstIan, Hernicii and Gribbits. With distance from the mainland seeming ever more significant, Ostia seemed far removed from Andornan affairs. Gribbits attempted a revolution forming the "Socialist Republic of Ostia". This Socialist revolution ended quickly and violently as Gribbits was killed attempting to flee to Savras following the Savyrian capture of New Savras, ensuring that the city remained rather quiet for a few decades.

Bardonian Thalassocratic State
After some time, order and public authority began to break down in the Bardonian Empire (which Andorn, and thus New Savras were subject to) during the Bardonian Coalition War, seeing this instability, the Captain of the Bardonian Navy, Josias von Savras, seized Ostia. The city was greatly depopulated at this time, as many had fled due to war and the persecution of Josias, leading to the colonization order, in which Josias encouraged the settlement of Savyrian settlers into New Savras, this order would produce later figures such as TheWorstIan, whose family migrated from the Savyrian suburb of Bordunhaven.

The Overthrow of Josias von Savras would eventually come when he was deposed by the very Savyrian settlers he invited, the settlers, demanding a new democracy, stormed the government office and dragged Josias out, beating him until he was near death. Josias escaped with his life however, as he rallied the remains of the Bardonian fleet fled and fled to Eldham, where they are rumored to be privateering to this day.

Early-Republican Era
After Bardonia left Yulara, Ian DuBois created the first Ostian Republic. The government was a Representative democracy. It consisted of a Senate and a President. Along with other positions. This was a resurgent era for Ostia. Ian's reign would be cut short with the semi-coup of his government by Luminex. Luminex became president, who refused to cede his presidential powers. Luminex also gave management of a town, Mavos, to Gribbits who then gave that town to Capna, who promptly seceded.

Lennoxer Era
Luminex, seeking protection for Ostia, signed a treaty subortinating Ostia as vassal of Lennox. This treaty afforded Ostia many freedoms, but would not remain so. The Lennoxer Pharaoh, Sirius, started breaking the treaty piece by piece and destroyed Ostian autonomy. Soon Bou Estrian joined new Savras. Bou had experience in governments and planned to rebuild Ostia. Luminex and Sidis started preparing defenses for a war, a radical war for independence. The Lennoxer government was poised to declare war to properly subjugate Ostia, bur this war would never come, Lennox joined the Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, freeing Ostia from Lennox rule. Ostia was now independent once again for a second time, Bardonia offered vassalization to protect the territory. Bou was heavily against subjugating Ostia a second time, but Luminex was open to the option, so with support from former Lennoxer Pharaoh BuzzB, Bou planned a coup against Luminex but was never able to enact it. Ashamed, Bou left Ostia after confessing to Luminex about his planned coup.

Late-Republican Era
After a long period of turmoil and radicalism, the Late Republican Era finally brought a time of peace and stability. There was a new election, with Luminex winning as President and a new set of Senators being instated. These Senators were a true representation of the new Ostians that had migrated. Ian DuBois returned to Ostia along with Gribbits. Bou returned at their request to help them with their political ambitions. Bou, Ian and Gribbits formed the Democratic Socialist Party of Ostia. They ran in the 2nd Ostian Election with all DSPO Candidates, winning the election with a majority. Ian was a very idle President, with the whole nation being kept afloat by Luminex and Bou. After that horrible month the 3rd Ostian Election was held, Gribbits vs Bou. This election was seen as a battle between the older Savyrian settler class versus the new international settler population that came with the Late Republican Period. Gribbits ran with Tiberius, and Bou ran with Luminex. This election resulted in a tie, which was resolved via coinflip, which Gribbits won. Gribbits was also a very idle President, much like his predecessor. Bou left Ostia again after his loss, as he wanted Ostia to flourish without Socialism, as his socialist views strained thin. Tiberius and Luminex eventually called Bou back to run for President. He came back and ran unopposed, winning with an absolute majority.

Autocratic Era
The election of Bou Estrian, later with a marriage Bou Rioghal, is generally considered the beginning of the Autocratic Era. As Bou Rioghal became a part of the Rioghal Royal Family, he saw an opportunity. He issued "The Rioghal Decree", implementing an Absolute Monarchy. He conducted many diplomatic actions, his most significant act being the Reclamation of Mavos. This diplomatic incident nearly sparked a war that could've caused the dissolution of Ostia, nethertheless, Ostia reclaimed the town that was stolen from them during Luminex's Presidency (Early-Republican Era). The technical heir to the town, Cloke, began to gear up for war, but Bou ensured peace. A treaty was written that gave Cloke that current Mavos claim, with Ostia still expanding in the south. After this incident, Suidhe Bou saw that his goals were completed and "left this world". He then gave the throne to the current Suidhe Tiberius Rioghal.

Leadership
There is a very Autocratic structure of Leadership:


 * Suidhe - Absolute Monarch; holds most of the powers
 * Prime Minister - Hold little power; mainly a backup heir
 * Parliament - Little power; Mainly to get people's input of secret topics; Comprised of mostly Nobles

Noble Families
There are really only 2 main Houses in Ostia:


 * House Rioghal - The current ruling royal family; almost entirely Ostian
 * House Whiterose - A small noble family; vary diverse

Architecture
The main building designs you will see are made to look fairly simple sandstone buildings, most resembling Babylonian architecture. That means there is a lot of sandstone and sandstone related blocks. The Builds are quite simple as well with small, compact boxy housing.

Geography
Ostia is placed in a coastal dryland on a bay near the Sea of Petals. The dryland gets a fair bit of moisture from the current running beneath it. The terrain used to be quite hilly but now there are a few hills and it is relatively flat. Most housing in in the southern portion of the country and the government/industrial related buildings residing in the northern section of the country.

Heraldry
The meaning of the flag is subtle. There is a meaning to every part of this new flag:


 * Black - Strength through Ostia's tough times
 * White - Purity of the Ostian People
 * Orange - Representation of the Sands of the Desert
 * Green - Gift of plant life in a hot humid desert

This was a new interpretation of the older Savyrian symbolism which was as following:


 * Black - The authority of Savras
 * White - Honesty and Integrity of the Savyrians and of Savras.
 * Orange - Representative of Andorn as a whole.
 * Green - Did not exist on the Savyrian Colonial Flags.

Imagery


 * Fox - Calm and coordinated actions of the Ostian People
 * Wreath - Representation of the Monarchy; Rioghal Family
 * Slanted Bars - Difference of government and ruling policies than the Ostian Republic
 * Eagle (Removed following the end of Savyrian Colonial rule) - The city of Savras itself, the Savyrian naval and battleflag.
 * Anchor (Removed following the end of Thalassocratic rule) - The authority of the Bardonian navy.
 * Dove (Removed following the end of the First Republic) - The peaceful and honest nature of Ostia and the Ostian people.