Nara

Nara is a nation on CivMC. It is a Feudal Shogunate led by Shikken SwordMaster7777.

History
Initially founded in late 2020 by several members of nations in the Far Seas Alliance in CivRealms 2.0, Nara was planned for the now-cancelled iteration CivEx 4.0. Following the decline of player count on CivRealms, Nara was initially planned as a nation of states, much like Nro'meagh and later the Imperial Federation (albeit with a more rigid federal structure), to make use of some of the planned mechanics of CivEx. Due to the cancellation of CivEx, many members continued on to play CivUniverse or Devoted Hell in the interim. In Hell, many Narans composed the successful nation of Inferno while waiting for a more serious, stable server to release. This did not occur until the announcement of CivMC in early 2022. With CivEx out of the picture, Nara was merged under one banner in preparation for launch, and many of the plans for subdivision into smaller nations (such as the planned nation of Nagoya) were abandoned.

Shiroyama
Shiroyama is the capital city of Nara. It is a Japanese word best translated as either White Mountain (白山) or Castle Mountain (城山) depending on the kanji used. The name draws inspiration from the real-life Mount Shiroyama in Kagoshima, the site of the Battle of Shiroyama.

As a capital city, Shiroyama is the largest city in Nara. It benefits from its proximity to populated, allied nations, and fringes multiple bodies of water including Lake Biwa to the north, Beartooth River to the west, and the Ebi River to the east. The sizable Lake Biwa is of particular note due to its central location in the plus-plus (+,+) quadrant. It connects at least six different nations both to each other and to the ocean via water.

Port Shiroyama is located on the Beartooth River. It acts as the central area for shipping to and from Nara. It connects to roads Ninjin St. and Taru Terr. which host many of Nara's businesses and residences, respectively.

Noto Peninsula
North of Shiroyama lays the Noto peninsula, flanked by the diverging rivers Ebi and Beartooth. It is the northernmost geographical region of Shiroyama, reaching a northern extremity at Noto Point, the tip of the peninsula. There is a small, unincorporated agricultural community on the peninsula. Notable features include the headquarters of the Naran Agricultural Department and its expansive farm, spanning the entire northern half of the peninsula. It produces mass quantities of products to be used both nationally and abroad. A lighthouse is planned to be built on Noto Point.

Ichinokawa
Ichinokawa is a village in the central birch forest of Nara. It is home to Paragonius, and is a popular destination for visitors looking to get away from dense urban areas. Ichinokawa is also the base of operations for the Puzzles brewery.

Feudal System
Nara is a Feudalist Shogunate led by Shikken SwordMaster7777. Reporting to the Shikken is his Rensho, Prawny331, and the Komuin, who oversee specific parts of the government. Currently, the only Komuin is Bronnakus as Komuin of Player Acquisition ("Newfriend Wrangler"). Vacant positions currently include Domestic Affairs, Transportation, Treasury, and Competition, as well as Taisho.

Also to be part of the government will be Samurai and Daimyo as the need arises.

International Relations
Nara has a very close relationship with the bordering nation of Dalgon. This is due to the fact that the Shikken SwordMaster7777 is a good friend of the founder of Dalgon, fredhun14. This close allyship also assisted both nations during the CivMC launch as they could guard each other's backs from the roaming players at the time, merging their territory until official claims maps could be posted, although this did lead to some confusion with many people believing that the two separate nations were but one.

Nara maintains friendly relations with all of its neighbors, and generally remains neutral on the world stage. Shiroyama hosts a consulate for each of the member nations of the Arsenio Pact, and rail connections to neighbors are an ongoing project.

Culture
Naran culture is built on two pillars:


 * 1) Vibing
 * 2) Environmentalism

Vibing has been integral to the foundation of Nara ever since its roots in the Far Seas Alliance, with Shikken SwordMaster7777 leading the nation of Vibeville. As a principle, Nara does not seek out war with other nations, nor does it engage in wanton expansion. Nara claims that its national interests are to harmonize with its neighbors, to cooperate thoroughly, and to prioritize industry.

Environmentalism is also integral to Nara's roots. Komuin Bronnakus and Rensho Prawny331 ran the colony of New Providence, which was built in a Solarpunk style and strongly valued environmental integration and architectural passivity. This translates today into the careful consideration of terrain that is present in all of Shiroyama's construction. While other nations see little issue with wiping out entire flower fields and cutting across mountains with trenches, Nara is keen on avoiding such things.

Economy
Nara boasts an agrarian economy with an increasing rate of industrialization. The majority of jobs are currently in construction, with mining and farming being other popular choices. Due to Nara's core lands of meadows, birch forests, and taiga, Nara is a leading producer of carrots and wheat, birch wood, and spruce wood, respectively. Other significant exports include wool, dirt, obsidian, and honey. Presently, there is no official currency of Nara, with most shops trading in iron and diamonds.