As outlined in
our recent announcement post, Moderation are working with the Forum-Based Countries Coordinator to improve the descriptions of the forum-based countries. Below you can see our first proposed updates for the countries of Rapa Pile and Vascania. Please let us know what you think, whether you have queries, suggestions or just general thoughts.
Rapa Pile
Rapa Pile is a country with a diverse and multi-ethnic society, having experienced constant migration from throughout Dovani, Temania and Vascania. As a result, there is no single, clearly defined Pilese identity and individuals choose to identify in different ways. Although some will refer to themselves simply as Pilese, others will refer to their family background or emphasise both using terms such as "Raktavani Pilese" or "Esinsundu Pilese".
Pilese (Sinhala) is the most commonly spoken language in the country and arrived on the islands from nearby Vascania millennia ago. Kalam (Tamil), Kunikata (Japanese), Yingdalan (Chinese) and Kitembo (Swahili) are among the other most commonly spoken languages. Rapa Pile is similarly diverse in terms of religion. Daenism (Buddhism) is the largest single religion but there are significant communities adhering to most of the region's major religious traditions.
Vascania
Vascania is composed of the entire Vascanian continent including the island of Kayal. For several centuries, the continent was divided between two separate states, Vanakalam and Kalkalistan, however the two were united in a series of conflicts known as the Vascanian Wars in the 45th century. In cultural terms, Vascania is among the most diverse countries in the world and is home to dozens of ethnic groups and languages. Broadly the population can be divided between Kalkali (Indo-Aryan) groups in the southern regions and Vanashishu (Dravidian) peoples in the north.
Each of the country's thirteen states has its own official language but Rajutti (Hindi) and Kalam (Tamil) are the most widely spoken among the overall population. Rajavanshi (Gujarati), Utsari (Bengali), Khoni (Sindhi), Samanari (Marathi) and Bhapori (Kashmiri) are among the other notable languages, each having tens of millions of native speakers in their own right. Luthorian (English) was previously widely spoken in Vascania but has become taboo due to its association with Luthorian imperialism and colonial rule.
Sundarat Dharma (fictional fusion of Buddhism and Hinduism) is the national religion of Vascania and originated in the region through a combination of traditional beliefs, Geraja (Hinduism) and Daenism (Buddhism). Although developing in ancient Vascania, the religion in its modern from was born in the past two thousand years and has become commonly associated with Vascanian national identity.