North Point

North Point
Flag
Motto: "Sic Semper Tyrannis" (Latin: Thus Always To Tyrants)
Anthem: When The Saints Go Marching In
Capital	Jacksonville
Recognised national languages	Praetannic
Ethnic groups (2010)	Praetannic, Questarian, Flamaguayan, Black Crataean
Demonym	North Pointer Northpointan (antiquated)
Government	Common law
• Association Chairman	Harry Paget Flashman
Establishment
• Discovery	April 1529
• Common Law polity	February 10th, 1810
• North Point Company regional government	April 17th, 1821
Area
•	136,057 km2 (52,532 sq mi)
• Water (%)	8
Population
• 2010 estimate	27,000,000
• 2010 census	27,102,387
• Density	130/km2 (336.7/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2015 estimate
• Total	$1.2 trillion
• Per capita	$44,276.54
Currency	Oryontic Dollar (O$) (ORD)
Time zone	(UTC-3)
• Summer (DST)	(UTC-2)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Drives on the	right

North Point is a Common Law entity located off the northwest coast of Veridis. The country is an archipelago famous for its scenic beaches and tropical islands. Geographically, North Point is an especially small nation; with a land area of only 59,000 square miles, it is one of the smallest countries in the world. Its capital city is Jacksonville.

The archipelago of North Point was first discovered by Flamaguayan explorers in 1529 during the first expeditions to western Veridis. Later surveying efforts by the Estates Navy led to peaceful contact with the aboriginal population of West Veridians and the establishment of trading and naval stations on the islands by the mid-1700s. In 1803, a Praetonian Association known as the North Point Company was founded to exploit the vast timber resources on North Point's largest islands. This Common Law association gradually grew to govern the entire territory of North Point, and remains the de facto government for the country.

The country's commanding position in the southeast Oryontic Ocean has placed it as a beneficiary of a three-way trade partnership with Praetonia and the Questers, which along with its shared language, culture, and legal system have made the country into a global commerce center which exercises influence out of proportion to its size.

Etymology

In March of 1751, the Praetonian frigate Endurance visited the island chain while surveying the western coast of Veridis. The ship, being low on supplies, was unable to fully survey the entire area, and so the survey map was famously marked "N PT" before the Endurance was forced to return to Valdivia for provisions. Wallasean geographers then began referring to the area as "the north point". This was soon shortened to just "North Point", and the country has kept this name ever since.

History

The early 16th century saw the first Flamaguayan expeditions to explore the continent of Veridis, which at the time was only known to be somewhere to the south. The Flamaguayans reached most of modern-day North Point by the mid-1500s, but the majority of their settlements were concentrated on the mainland in what is now Valmiero and Carta. The continent was found to be inhabited by a variety of native tribes whose demeanor ranged from peaceful and friendly to violent and combative. The North Point home islands were settled mostly by West Veridians, who hunted the vast inland forests and fished in the nearby waters. Wallasean contact with these tribes was usually peaceful.

The area of North Point remained lightly settled through the 18th century, until a concerted attempt was made by a newly-formed Praetonian Association known as the Honourable North Point Company to establish a timber-cutting settlement on Grand Island. This association gradually expanded its operations to include all of the islands in the North Point archipelago, becoming the de facto government of the territory by 1810. The rest of the 19th century saw the population of the island territory grow steadily as it was governed in a mostly stable fashion by the Common Law associations within.

Politics

As North Point is a Common Law country, there is no officially recognized state government or political authority in the traditional sense. Unlike the larger common law polities of Praetonia and Questers, North Point is governed by only one association: the North Point Company. This single association's military protects the country and all of its borders.

The North Point Company is controlled by the Association Committee, which is chaired by the Association Chairman.

Law and order

Internal security is provided by various Night Watch sub-associations of the North Point Company. These sub-associations are generally distributed throughout the various administrative regions of North Point, and most share a high degree of commonality with each other in techniques and equipment. Nightwatchmen in North Point are usually unarmed.

Armed forces

Main article: North Point Security Forces

The North Point Company provides for the collective defense of the nation through its own private military, which is known as the North Point Security Forces. Unlike Praetonia, North Point maintains a professional standing army and air force, with a highly-trained cadre of officers, most of whom generally serve several years in the militaries of Praetonia or Questers in exchange programs. North Point units are often used as shock troops in Commonwealth formations. The North Point Company's War Department administers the North Point Army, North Point Sea Command, and North Point Flying Corps. Service in an organized branch is voluntary.

North Point is unique for its Guard Force system, which allows for massive mobilization of many dozens of light and motorized infantry regiments at short notice if necessary.

Administrative divisions

North Point is divided into seven administrative divisions. Each of these divisions is administered by a local sub-association of the North Point Company, which governs local affairs, administers the region's Night Watch Association, and raises and equips a Guard Force unit. Grand Island itself is administered directly by the North Point Company.

Geography

A physical map of North Point

North Point is an archipelago comprised of one large landmass (Grand Island) with dozens of other islands surrounding it. The island chain of North Point sits off the western coast of Veridis, bordered to the south and east by Valmiero. The submerged Great North Point Ridge extends nearly 500 kilometers to the north of the country, and its collection of coral atolls and shallow shoals and banks poses a significant navigational hazard.

To the west of North Point, the Lauderdale Trench drops off steeply at the subduction zone between the Crataean and Veridian continental plates. The Albion Deep, the deepest surveyed point on Earth, lies just 100 kilometers west of Commander's Point on Lauderdale Island. Geologists largely agree that the islands were the result of volcanism along this subduction zone some 40 million years ago.

North Point's islands generally fall within the tropical climate classifications, though humidity and temperatures are less extreme due to nearly constant trade winds from the east. Summer highs usually reach 88°F (31°C) during the day and 73°F (24°C) at night. Winter day temperatures are usually around 80°F (28°C); at low elevation they seldom dip below 60°F (15°C) at night. Snowfall occurs regularly in the higher elevations in the mountainous interior of Grand Island. Most of North Point experiences only two seasons; the dry season runs from May to October, and the wet season from November to April.

The warmest temperature recorded in North Point, in Northreach on June 7th, 1941, was 99°F (37°C). The record low temperature was -24°F (-31°C) on December 19th, 1978, on the summit of Longs Peak on Grand Island at 14,256' elevation.

Environment

Environmental issues

Vast inland forests were logged nearly flat in the late 19th/early 20th centuries; nearly all forests on the islands are 3rd and 4th growth. Hurricanes sweep north through the Questarian Sea and batter the islands each hurricane season (August-November, generally) and have resulted in North Point having well-developed meteorological and weather-research groups. Earthquakes along the subduction zone west of North Point sometimes cause damage in the islands and tsunami warning systems are in place in most cities.

Settlement by Wallaseans in the 17th and 18th centuries resulted in a 15% decline in biodiversity among the existing animal species. Chronic over fishing, illegal dumping of toxic waste, and several large oil spills during the 20th century have led to dead-zones, coral bleaching, and sea life decline, a problem only fully understood by 1970. Resulting attempts by the North Point Company to reduce impact of human activity on the environment have been mostly successful in halting additional damage.

Economy

Services-based and rich. Lots of tourism. Some heavy manufacturing (mostly ships). Raw materials are imported. World leader in fossil fuels extraction and refining (North Point engineers invent oil drilling etc). Timber industry existed in the early days but now largely works overseas.

Demographics

Largely homogenous society of white Praetannics, with a variety of Wallaseans and other foreigners thrown in for good measure. A small population of indigenous Maori/aboriginals who are very much assimilated and considered equals with the Wallaseans.

Language

English with a small subset of Spanish and Portuguese speakers due to proximity with Veridian narco-states.

Religion

Likely some form of Christianity practiced in Praetonia or elsewhere.

Education

"The Rugby school had me back a few years ago to give a speech. On courage, of all things! Which proves they're just as big of hypocrites now as in Arnold's day."

Health

Highly-developed but likely very expensive healthcare system. Location of first heart transplant, leader in medical advances, etc etc etc.

Culture

Arts

Electronic dance music

Media

The North Point Times newspaper published worldwide and mostly-respected. Lauderdale Inquirer provides all the latest Kardashian and Bruce Jenner headlines, to much dismay.

Cuisine

Mexican food

Sport and recreation

Soccer, tennis, shooting, North Point rules football, rugby, basketball, hunting, fishing, sailing