Cocytus

Nation Information
Cocytus is a growing, developing, and established nation at 158 days old with citizens primarily of British ethnicity whose religion is Islam. It is a backwards nation when it comes to technology and many refer to it unkindly as a 'Third World Nation'. Its citizens pay extremely high taxes and many despise their government as a result. The citizens of Cocytus work diligently to produce Fish and Oil as tradable resources for their nation. It is an aggressive country that some say has an itch for war. Cocytus is currently researching nuclear technology for the use of nuclear power plants but believes nuclear weapons should be banned. The military of Cocytus has been positioned at all border crossings and is arresting all drug traffickers. Cocytus does not allow any form of government protests. Its armed police forces work quickly at "dissolving" any and all government protests. Its borders are closed to all forms of immigration. Cocytus detains individuals who participate in slanderous comments about the government. The government gives foreign aid when it can, but looks to take care of its own people first. Cocytus will trade with other nations with questionable ethical treatment of their citizens but prefers to keep such trade agreements a secret.

Nation History
The story of the nation of Cocytus is a long one, many historians to this day still argue on some of the details, but below is a summary of the official history of the nation taught in schools.

Ancient History
Cocytus' roots date back to time before time (OOC: Nationstates) when the glorious Yi Ta empire. The Yi Ta had started life as a small state, but over the years had developed itself into an empire spanning many nations and millions (some suggest billions) of citizens.

Not many records exist today of this empire, but from recent findings it has been concluded that this empire lasted for hundreds of years. It appears to have been a dictatorial system with the strongest among the empire holding power, the head of this structure was known as the Dread Lord and was the undisputed leader of the empire.

The last documented Dread Lord was Chris Arkema, records show he was an exceptionally cruel man, even by the standards of the Dread Lords and it is hypothesised that this is what led to the eventual downfall of the empire.

Records of the Yi Ta empire seem to abruptly end roughly 2000 years ago, there are many theories as to what happened, but the general consensus is that the people rose up and deposed Arkema and could not choose a new leader from amongst themselves, leading to infighting and the break up of the empire.

Lichens Creation
After the breakup of the empire, many smaller states were once again formed, unaccustomed to governance many were absorbed by others or simply ceased to exist, but one that survived was the nation of Lichen, led by a man who called himself Lord Destino, it is thought the title Lord was a throw back to the Yi Ta title of Dread Lord.

Lichen, under the leadership of Destino, started to bring together some of it's nearby neighbours who had been states within the empire and in this way expanded to a size where it could exist in safety and stability.

There were some minor wars with other states who were keen to absorb all who had previously been in the empire as well as with other nearby nations who feared the strength Lichen was bringing together, but the state stood united and was able to handle all of these challenges.

Lichens Downfall
500 years later and Lichen had grown to a size rivalling that of the old empire, it is not sure how many leadership changes the nation went through in this time as the only leader referred to is Lord Destino, many historians agree that the explanation for this is the title and name becoming hereditary, much like the old Dread Lord title each leader would simply be referred to as Lord Destino, after all, the man would have been over 500 years old by this stage.

Shortly before the 500th Anniversary of Lichens creation, archaeologists uncovered what was thought to be a temple of the Yi Ta empire, within were contained a series of tablets prophesying certain events. Of interest to the team was that the tablets (among other things) seemed to foretell the fall of the empire, the creation of a new system to replace the empire and, most worryingly, the fall of that system, below is the text of the tablet.

“The Lord of the empire shall withstand all challenges that face him and shall fear none but the chosen three, for they and they alone shall bring the downfall of all he has created.

The three shall be known to him, but he shall be powerless against them.

The first shall be the one whom he cares for above all others. The second shall be the one whom he trusts above all others. The third shall be the one whom is his opposite, but equal in every way.

On the second day of the tenth month of old, on the half-millennial of the empire, he shall know his time has come, for the three shall see what he has become, what he has created and they shall stand against him.

When this day doth come, may the gods of our world have mercy upon us, for our fate shall be sealed.”

Obviously the government of Lichen was quick to issue a statement labelling the tablets as mere ramblings of long dead priests, but many within the nation started to question who these “chosen three” could be, there were several individuals identified as the most popular theories:

Toricia – Wife of the first Lord Destino, although she had been believed dead for over 400 years. Thought to be the first of the chosen three, as the one whom he cared for, although this would imply that the first Lord Destino and the last were the same person, something many thought to be impossible.

Vernie – Adopted daughter of Lord Destino, another popular figure thought to be either the first or the second of the chosen three.

Elizabeth Valentino – Lord Destinos chief of security, also believed to be his top spy and assassin. Thought to be the second as his most trusted confidant. There were rumours she was also his mistress and so some claimed she was the first of the chosen three, or that she even could have been both the first and the second.

Elizabeth of course was quick to deny any rumours of a personal relationship with Destino and even quicker to state that, even if the tablet was a genuine prophecy, she could not possibly be one of the three mentioned.

Chris Arkema – Last Dread Lord of the Yi Ta empire, thought to have been killed over 500 years ago. Thought to be the third, as Destinos opposite (leader of the old empire) but his equal (as Lichen had grown to rival the size of the old empire.)

There were of course many other suggestions (Juniper, head of the Health services. Chris Walker, head of Internal Affairs and other prominent government members.) But all were quick to denounce the tablet and call for people to instead focus on the upcoming celebrations of the anniversary.

The celebrations were the most spectacular in the history of Lichen, a week long holiday was declared for all citizens, music, performances, food, drink, everything was on offer. At the height of the celebrations Lord Destino appeared before the masses to give his state of the nation address.

