Kingdom of Syndrono

About the Kingdom
The Kingdom of Syndrono is a small monarchy located in southern Europe. King Syndrono has taken great steps to insure the survival of the region's automotive heritage. The country is known for its extensive highway system, maintained to rigorous standards. The German model of speed limits was adopted, resulting in the de-restriction, at some times, of the entire super-highway portions.

Government
The Kingdom of Syndrono is, as its name suggests, a Monarchy. However, recently, due to changing political attitudes worldwide, Syndrono has begun to move towardsa constitutional monarchy, although the monarch retains tremendous power, to the point that the parliament's influence on political life is negligible. King Syndrono has a very strict "zero-transparancy" policy when it comes to issues of national security and intelligence.

Allegations of Criminal Activity
Recently, outside organizations have criticized this policy, which is enforced through fear-based cultural integration, and recognizable flat-black Audi RS6 Station wagons. These vehicles have had their mufflers removed, and are fitted with upgraded exhaust components. These specialized units, unkindly referred to as "kill-teams" by left-wing international organizations, are responsible for maintaining the internal security of Syndrono, as well as the safety of Syndronians abroad. The King has backed this policy, saying "you can hear them coming miles away, but by then it's already too late." Officially, these units are only responsible for giving cupcakes to children, and transporting government officials.



Syndrono Highway Network (SYNHiN)
The Syndrono Highway Network (SYNHiN) is famous for having some of the few public roads in the world without blanket speed limits for cars and motorcycles. Certainly, speed limits do apply at junctions and other dangerous points, like sections under construction or in need of repair. These limits vary between 80 km/h and 200 km/h. Construction sites usually have a speed limit of 60 km/h or 100 km/h, depending on whether a temporary central barrier is installed or not. These construction speeds are enforced only when actual construction is under way. The lower speed restrictions are enforced with a minimum one-year license suspension, and a fine of two percent (2%) of the offender’s previous taxed yearly gross income. Certain stretches also have restricted speed limits used in cases of noise pollution limits, bad maintenance state or unfavorable conditions when wet. Some parts of the Syndrono Highway Network feature dynamic speed limits, according to limiting conditions such as heavy traffic, which are announced by electronic signs mounted above the roadway.

In any case, it is important to note that an advisory speed limit of up to 200km/h always applies. In case of an accident while driving faster, a court can decide on shared liability due to the increased operational risk. Speed limits are enforced by the Syndrono Highway Network Traffic Enforcement division of the national police force, using temporary roadside-mounted equipment and marked and unmarked high-performance patrol vehicles. The Syndrono Highway Network has no average-speed surveillance systems. The drivers chosen for the division are highly skilled drivers, and use highly modified BMW and Porsche vehicles, capable of over 300km/h. Syndrono requires a full year licensing course, which is paid for by the government. All citizens may participate in this, and it includes basic training, as well as several months of autocross and track training. To be accepted into the program, citizens must fist pass a written test. The minimum age for application is 18.

In areas without a general limit, there are mostly also no restrictions on overtaking, except for a rule that requires drivers to use the right lane if possible and only pass other cars on their left, except when heavy traffic does not permit this. The right lane of a typical Syndrono Highway Network is often crowded with trucks. Trucks are prohibited from overtaking on two-lane portions of the highway, due to safety concerns.

Traffic Laws and Enforcement
Notable laws include the following:
 * Syndrono Highway Networks may only be used by motor vehicles that are designed to achieve a maximum speed exceeding 100km/h.
 * The right lane must be used when it is free, and the left lane is generally restricted to passing only. Drivers using the left lane when the other lanes are free will be stopped and heavily fined by Syndrono Highway Network police.
 * Overtaking on the right is forbidden, except in traffic jams where it may be practiced with caution. The fact that the car overtaken is illegally occupying the left-hand lane is not an acceptable excuse. In these cases the police will routinely stop and fine both drivers.
 * In case of a traffic jam, the drivers must form an emergency lane to ensure emergency services can reach the scene of a possible accident. This lane must be formed between the left lane and the lane next to the left lane (i.e., between the two leftmost lanes).
 * It is also unlawful to turn around or back up on the Syndrono Highway Network under any circumstances. Doing so is considered a Class II Felony, similar to attempted murder, and is tried as such.
 * The distance between vehicles (in meters) should be at least half the speed (in km/h) at all times (e.g. at least 60 meters at 120km/h). This corresponds to a "lead time" of just under 2 seconds. Again, the fact that the car in front is illegally occupying the left-hand lane when the right-hand lane is free does not excuse following too closely. At speeds of over 100km/h, keeping less than 30 percent of the recommended distance now results in the suspension of one's driving license for one to three months.
 * Syndrono’s legal regulations explicitly allow drivers to honk or flash headlights shortly in order to indicate intention of overtaking. Obtrusive actions of the potentially overtaking car, such as constantly flashing headlights or driving at insufficient distances for a longer period of time is illegal and may be prosecuted accordingly. This may also apply to drivers not allowing faster cars to overtake their car if the traffic situation allows it (e.g. by occupying the left-hand lane for a longer period of time).
 * Tires must be approved for the vehicle's top speed. Tires for lower speeds (i.e., cheaper than high-speed tires) are only allowed if they are marked as Winter tires (M+S or M/S). In this case the driver must have a sticker in his field of vision other than the windshield as a reminder of the maximum speed.

Rest Areas
Along the Syndrono Highway Network, the drivers can stop at rest areas for fuel, restrooms, food and beverages. In Germany, they are called, while in Austria they are known as. These rest areas have restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They may also legally serve alcoholic beverages. Some of the rest stops also have motels. In Germany, the rest areas were operated by a government-owned company until 1998, when it was privatized.

Climate
Syndrono has a warm-summer climate, which is influenced by the oceanic climate and the humid subtropical climate. Nearly every kind of climate is experienced in Syndrono by virtue of its lofty mountain peaks and flat plains. Generally speaking, the rains lash the country from November through May. Heavy snowfalls cap the alpine ranges with snow during the bitterly cold months from December through March though tourists will be able to see the peaks of the Alps and the lower plains covered with snow well into May.

As a result, it has warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Cool and rainy interludes can interrupt the dry summer season, the average length of which is also shorter. Summer afternoons are infrequently hot (indeed, temperatures > 30°C /86°F are rare) as the atmosphere is temperate by constant sea breezes. On the other hand, the nights are very mild, this being due to the fairly high temperature of the sea in summer. Generally, temperatures do not drop below 20°C in this season. In winter, frosts and snowfalls are extremely rare, generally occurring once or twice every ten years.

Financial Disparity
While there are many social classes in Syndrono, the government works hard to ensure all citizens reach a decent standard of living. The average income is USD $30,000 per person, per year.

Language
English is the national language of Syndrono, with German being very culturally prevalent, and widely accepted.

Religion
While King Syndrono has openly accepted all major religions, there are strong European ties culturally, and most of the population remains predominately Protestant (40%) and Catholic (38%). Due to a recent trend, the number of followers of the Baha'i Faith has risen dramatically, and now accounts for approximately 5% of the population. Roughly 10% of the population has their religious roots in Judaism, while 7% practice a variety of other religions.

Bolivia
King Syndrono recently commended Bolivia on its national animal, the llama (See Below). Syndrono, too, holds the llama in great regard as both a current and historically important animal to Syndronian culture, and indeed, all mankind.

There have been reports of military weapons trading between the two countries, alongside increased, more llama-friendly activities.

Mauritius
Recently there has been tension with the nation of Mauritius, over their national animal. King Syndrono was seen on TV mocking their choice of the Dodo as a national animal, saying, "Really? Are you bloody serious?".

Mauritius has refused to officially comment, calling issues with a national animal "childish". It should be noted that the llama is a most serious and respectable ungulate.

Free Peoples
The relationship between Syndrono and Free Peoples is an important one for both countries. Though Free Peoples is a far larger nation, the two collaborate well on regional issues, and share a common interest in the llama. Additionally, the leaders of both nations are personal friends, and hold road rallies which often utilize both nation's highway systems, closing them to the public for the duration of the event. This has caused many more issues within the federal government of Free Peoples, where people debate the right of the government to hold such an event, and the implications it has regarding the class struggle. Syndronians are much more compliant, with rallying, and proper track-based racing events playing a significant role in their culture and lifestyle.

National Animal


The national animal of Syndrono is the Llama. Llamas are seen as almost magical creatures, much like the Cow in India. King Syndrono has made it evident that he will consider any act of cruelty toward the Llama an act of war against the Syndronian people. The llama (Lama glama) is a camelid, widely used as a pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-hispanic times.

The height of a full-grown, full-size llama is between 1.7 meters (5.5 ft) and 1.8 meters (6 ft) tall at the top of the head. They can weigh between approximately 130 kilograms (280 lb) and 200 kilograms (450 lb). At birth, a baby llama (called a cria) can weigh between 9.1 kilograms (20 lb) and 14 kilograms (30 lb). Llamas are very social animals and like to live with other llamas as a herd. Overall, the fiber produced by a llama is very soft and is naturally lanolin free. Llamas are intelligent and can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. When using a pack, llamas can carry about 25% to 30% of their body weight for several miles.

Llamas appear to have originated from the central plains of North America about 40 million years ago. They migrated to South America about 3 million years ago. By the end of the last ice age (10,000–12,000 years ago) camelids were extinct in North America. As of 2009, there were over 12 million llamas in and around the Kingdom of Syndron, and neighboring Free Peoples.