Kus

Kus (Kusian: Kuś), officially Commonwealth of Kus (Kusian: Kuśkeja Súdraugwíśvús), is a country in northern Zemlya. It is bordered by Kudravina to the east, Sataria, Sremia and Lipnitia to the south, Bloodia and Reismov to the west. Kus is a subdivided into 4 Lands and further divided into regions, having an area of 565,428 square kilometres and a mainly continental climate. With a population of approximately 57.2 million people, Kus is one of the most populous countries in Zemlya. Kus has two administrative capitals, Vatéńsa and Sandrygas, with Vatéńsa being the country's largest city. Kus uses a traditional calendar and year counting system, with the current year being 8751.

The nature of Kus ranges from the cold rocky shores of the north and marshlands and lakes of the north-east to the heavily forested mountainous areas in the central regions and agriculturally rich southern and western grasslands and mixed leaf forests. A vast river network flows through the country with the main rivers being Waumira, which starts in the north and flows into Sataria, and Lapshura which starts in the south and flows into the Apshulgian Sea. Kus has sea access to the Whitewind Sea to the north and the Apshulgian Sea to the east. The climate is mild with warm continental summers and cold and snowy winters due to warm winds being caught by mountain ranges and the cold waters of the north.

The core populations of Kus consist of Kapet-Vatenians in the north and Chirnians in the south. These two main groups of Kusians are descendants of Early Slavic tribes and city-states that settled the north of Zemlya around the 1th century BCE, being one of the earliest known Slavic groups. Another main ethnic group of Kus are the Sangitavians, an Apshulgic people who arrived in modern day Kus before Slavs. Due to advancements in maritime trade, the first tribal and city-state unions began to arise by the 5th century.

The First Commonwealth of Kus was formed in 5th century and existed until its collapse following the Reismovi Rebellion. In 1346, southern parts of modern day Kus fell under the control of the Lipnitian Empire. By 1586, northern Kusian City-states had been unified by the Vatenian Prince Voĺaudźeomer Zoreogastér, beginning the Reclamation War against the Lipnitian Empire which lasted for almost 100 years. In 1602 Volaudźeomer issued the Act of Elective Monarchy, giving the Veche the right to elect monarchs from the Reismovi royal family to represent Kus on the international arena. Under the rule of Queen Larisra Čerwéńkyra, most historically Kusian lands were retaken from the Lipnitian Empire by 1669. Due to religious tensions, the Čerwéńkyra dynasty were replaced in 1789 by the recently ousted Bloodian Kržepadźarski (Fallen Cross) dynasty.

Etymology
The source of the name Kus and the s includes endonyms (the way Kusians refer to themselves and Kus) and exonyms (the way other peoples refer to the Kusians and Kus).

The name Kus has its origins in 4th century CE when the Great Houses of Peomorźis united to form the First Commonwealth. The name originates from the Old Kusian word for gulf or 'bite', referring to the Gulf of Peomorźis. The name was imposed on all Kusian-speaking lands after Peomorźis dominated the southern Kusian chiefdoms and lesser lands. The name was later loaned into other Zemlyan languages due to the influence of the Kusian maritime fleet.

Prehistory and antiquity
The first evidence of human settlement in the region dates back to 12,000 BCE, with hunter-gatherer cultures in the southern part of modern day Kus. However, these cultures never became a permanent population. Many ancient tools, jewelry and other artifacts have been found in the forests of southern Kus. The first permanent human settlement in the region occurred around 4000 BCE with cultures who still led a common Mesolithic hunter-gathering lifestyle, with some evidence of early agriculture. They are presumed to have been the builders of the oldest man made structures in Kus which are the Rajukas Temple in the north-east of Kus and Faxysa Paĺćeoaj in the east.

Early Kusians
Early Kusians were divided between settlers and farmers in the north and semi-nomadic peoples in the south. Kusians presumably arrived in northern Zemlya around the first century BCE.

First Commonwealth of Kus
The First Commonwealth of Kus arose in 474 as the Great Kusian Houses began to organise, protect and optimise trade from the north to the south. With the expansion of trade, the First Commonwealth of Kus had trading posts and entirely newly built cities in modern day Reismov, Bloodia, Kudravina, Sremia, Sataria and Lipnitia.

Kusian city-states
Following the Reismovi Rebellion of 1167, the First Commonwealth of Kus crumbled into numerous city-states, some of which remained under the control of the Great Kusian Houses. The Lipnitian Empire took over all Kusian city-states south of the Luvreńćis Mountains. This was considered by chroniclers to be the most volatile period in Kusian history.

Kusian Empire
After years of relative calm, the Vatenian Prince Voĺaudźeomer Zoreogastér led a combined effort by the northern Kusian city-states to reclaim Kusian lands from the Lipnitian Empire, beginning the Reclamation War which would last for almost 100 years. With the reunification of Kus under Queen Larisra Čerwéńkyra, the country went on to expand its territories to the north-east and, by the 17th century, acquired possessions overseas.

Interwar period
After being defeated by Sremia, the Kusian Empire lied on the brink of collapse. Kus began a large rearmament project in preparation of retaking its possessions and overthrowing the Communist Sremian government. However, this was never achieved due to internal threats from opposition to the monarchy.

Second Great War and Cold War
In the Second Great War, Kus allied with Reismovi forces. Despite a formal declaration of war being issued against Bloodia, not a single casualty was caused to either side.

Geography
Kus is located in northeastern Zemlya and shares land borders with Kirsimaa to the east, Sataria, Sremia and Lipnitia to the south, and Bloodia and Reismov to the west. Kus has a coast on the Apshulgian Sea to the north, characterised by the Gulf of Peomorźis, or 'bite' (Kusian: Кус́, Kuś), the namesake of the country.

Geology
Due to the Luvreńćis mountain range and several fault lines crossing through the country, Kus is occasionally affected by earthquakes.

Climate
Overall, the climate of Kus is cool and windy with summer temperatures averaging around 27°C. However, spring is usually a lot cooler and drier than in the northern parts of the country.

Foreign relations
Kus maintains foreign relations with and has ambassadors in every country in Zemlya, excluding Lyrinia, which the Kusian House of Foreign Affairs does not recognise as an independent country and instead considers a territory of Kadolha. Kus is a founding member of the Lewkogród Armed Response Pact and maintains close political, economic and military ties with its members.

Administrative divisions
Kus is a subdivided into four semi-autonomous lands (Kusian: Źemis), respectively: Čirńeźemis, Peomorźis, Sanžitava, and Zaapšulźemis. These lands are further subdivided into 42 regions (Kusian: Vaulaxyń).

Military
The Kusian Armed Forces is the military of Kus, led by Hwoloveoaj Vaujvaudźra Antéyr Moroxén. The Kusian military has a total of roughly 384,000 active military personnel enlisted, with roughly 1,500,000 reservists. The Kusian Armed Forces conduct defensive, offensive and policing roles in Kus and abroad.

During a state of emergency, the head of state of Kus assumes the powers of the head of the military, effectively rendering Kus a in wartime. The majority of the military are volunteers, whose training originates from the traditions of ancient Kusian militaristic guild. All members of the military carry a personal rifle that can also be carried off duty. Marksmanship has been a key element of Kusian military training since the early 19th century.

Law enforcement
Law enforcement in Kus is handled by Kuśkeoja Varta, the Kusian Police, which operates under the supervision of the Kusian Armed Forces.

Economy
The economy of Kus is the fifth largest in Zemlya, behind only Bloodia, Kadolha, Reismov and Sremia. The economy relies mostly on domestic goods, with minimal reliance on imported foreign goods. Kus is the leading producer and exporter of honey in the world.

Industry
A vast array of industry exists in Kus, ranging from trains to microchips and semiconductors. However, Kus lacks a developed oil industry. With a large industrial capacity, Kus is one of the largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemical substances, textiles, and processed foods.

As of 2017, Kus is the fourth largest automobile producer in the world as well as the leading rolling stock and locomotive manufacturer in the world.

Energy
Kus, once the main producer of energy from fossil fuels in Zemlya, has sought more sustainable means of producing energy since the 20th century, with hydroelectric dams built and nuclear energy now being the predominant source of energy and heating for most of the population. Kus exports almost 30% of its produced electricity to neighbouring countries. As of 2011, 68.6% of total electricity generated was from nuclear power. Kus is home to largest nuclear power plant in Zemlya, Oboulžeměs Nuclear Power Plant. Hydroelectricity and thermal power stations are the second and third largest kinds of power generation in the country.

Transport
Railroad is the most popular mode of transportation in Kus for both passenger and freight service, covering 37,736 kilometers of predominantly double-track railways which are responsible for 61% of national freight hauling. The Trans-Zemlyan Railway carries on from Lipnitia into southern Kus which meets the Apshulgian Sea at Fyreoćys-Apšulgis and then branches north into Kudravina.

Other modes of transportation in Kus include air and water transportation while long-distance automobile travel is not popular. An intercity highway system runs through the country, built in the early 70s, although limited only to the major cities. Travel by sea and rivers is extensive, carrying on from Kusian river trade traditions. However, water and automotive transport are often the centre of problems involving outdated infrastructure, due to a larger focus being placed on development of rail travel. Contrary to most of Zemlya, Kus has a left-hand drive system.

Kusian urban transport systems are extensive throughout the country with trolleybuses, trams, and metro systems being common in all urban centres. Kus has the largest tramway network in the world, with significant expansions being made in the 1970s. Seven metro systems exist in Kus, in the urban centres of Vatéńsa, Sandrygas, Sauĺeosadźić, Čirńys, Fyreoćys-Apšulgis, Titevs and Kulyń-Waumis. In addition to underground third rail powered services, Kus has multiple suburban transport networks with commuter trains powered by third rail feeding, highly integrated into cities' transportation systems.

Education
Kus has one of the highest computer literacy rates in the world, with Computing having been a compulsory subject in Kusian schools since the 1990s.

Culture
Kusian culture has been influenced by the multi-ethnic nature of the country, with each of the ethnic groups having its individual identity. Despite this, the geographic environment and historic background of the country has led Kusians to share many cultural traits with one another.

Visual art
Traditional patterned clothing is still used on a daily basis, with Kusian fashion not being influenced by foreign trends.

Cuisine
Common ingredients making up the traditional Kusian diet include meats such as chicken and other poultry and pork, but also other ingredients such as fish and mushrooms. Popular beverages in Kus include stewed fruit and fruit juices, milk and buttermilk, as well as tea and coffee. Alcoholic beverages popularly consumed in Kus include beer, wine and mead.

Kusian cuisine relies strongly on the tradition of foraging. Wild berries and mushrooms are widely used in dishes and mushroom picking is a popular pastime from mid-summer to autumn. Mushrooms are usually harvested in the forest or occasionally purchased at roadside markets or mushroom farms that provide mushrooms to shops and dining facilities. Dried mushrooms are often used to make seasonings.

Kusian cuisine has a rich soup culture, ranging from different kinds of sweet or sour fruit soups such as apple soup to sour cabbage soup, creamy mushroom soups, traditional fish soups and, bearing similarity to Lipnitian baršt.

Sport
Popular sports in Kus include competitive shooting, cycling, racing and hunting.