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'''Astalva''' (IPA: /ʌˈstɑːl.vʌ/, Native language: ''Astalva'', IPA: /ɑˈstʰɑːl.vʌ/), officially the [to be re-determined], is a country located on the northern islands of [[Nagu]]. The majority of the population is a race of sapient non-humans, but there are some regions where humans are the majority. Astalva is bordered by [[Danshapu]] to the | '''Astalva''' (IPA: /ʌˈstɑːl.vʌ/, Native language: ''Astalva'', IPA: /ɑˈstʰɑːl.vʌ/), officially the [to be re-determined], is a country located on the northern islands of [[Nagu]]. The majority of the population is a race of sapient non-humans, but there are some regions where humans are the majority. Astalva is bordered by [[Danshapu]] to the east, with the [[Dragon Sea]] to the south.<!-- add the country's geographic location, name its neighbours (if any) --> <!--Briefly present the country in terms of history, language, politics, something the country is well-known for. --> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
Line 192: | Line 192: | ||
===Music=== | ===Music=== | ||
Traditional Astalvi music tends to feature vocals, string instruments, flutes, and lamellophones. | Traditional Astalvi music tends to feature vocals, string instruments, flutes, and lamellophones. The most common scales are pentatonic, heptatonic or nonatonic (built from 5, 7, or 9 notes). | ||
Astalvi music theorists consider most intervals within the 7-limit tonality diamond to be harmonically consonant. Kasfel Avzas (1837)<!-- Name/date subject to change --> categorized | |||
Astalvi music theorists consider most intervals within the 7-limit tonality diamond to be harmonically consonant. Kasfel Avzas (1837)<!-- Name/date subject to change --> categorized the qualities of 7-limit intervals into the following categories ''(incomplete listing subject to change)'': | |||
* Perfect consonances: All 3-limit intervals | * Perfect consonances: All 3-limit intervals | ||
* "Common" consonances: | * "Common" consonances: 5/4, 6/5, 5/3, 8/5, 7/4, 7/6, 12/7 | ||
* Weak | * Weak consonances: 8/7, 7/5 | ||
* Weak dissonances: 10/7 | |||
The primary nonatonic scales (or ''takillzanga'') are based on stacking four 6:7:8 chords and reducing them to a single octave. The 7/6 is often tuned slightly flat and the 8/7 tuned a bit sharper, helping to widen the smallest steps of the scale and bring them closer in size to the medium steps. The resulting fifths are generally a bit flat, resulting in the inclusion of a single tempered 10:12:15 minor chord and a single tempered 4:5:6 major chord, which can be extended to a complete harmonic seventh chord. Certain pentatonic or heptatonic subsets of the takillzanga may be used as scales as well. These 9 note scales also feature approximations of ratios based on higher harmonics like 13/10 and 11/8, which are generally treated as dissonances. | |||
The primary heptatonic scales not derived from the takillzanga (the [name tbd]) are based upon stacked flat fifths according to Meantone temperament. Unlike the takillzanga, which have lots of consonant intervals involving the 7th harmonic and few involving the 5th, these scales have many consonant intervals involving the 5th harmonic and few involving the 7th; the only important ratios of 7 to occur are 7/5 and 10/7, but these are treated as dissonances in the context of the [name tbd] as they cannot easily be incorporated into consonant chords. Pentatonic scales can be produced from these scales as well. | |||
Various different systems of tuning these scales have been proposed and implemented over time. Most modern methods are based upon building a chain of 6:7:8 chords until it forms a 19 note scale, or by taking a chain of flattened fifths to generate a 19 note scale. Some attempts have been made to make this system playable in all keys by dividing the octave into 19 evenly spaced notes, but such attempts have generally been met with strong opposition by musicians as the resulting approximations to ratios such as 7/6 and 7/4 are very poor. Other equal divisions of the octave that have been proposed as possible systems or tuning standards include 31edo and 50edo. | |||
===Theatre=== | ===Theatre=== |
Revision as of 22:20, 2 April 2020
Astalva |
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Capital | Velḓal | |||
Largest | Zavriel | |||
Official languages | Zveahe | |||
Recognised regional languages | Danshali, Zuosa | |||
Demonym | Astalvi | |||
Population | ||||
- | 2017 estimate | 42898000 | ||
Currency | Draconic Lotus (DRL) | |||
Time zone | (SCT-4:30) | |||
Drives on the | right | |||
Calling code | +14 | |||
Internet TLD | .av |
Astalva (IPA: /ʌˈstɑːl.vʌ/, Native language: Astalva, IPA: /ɑˈstʰɑːl.vʌ/), officially the [to be re-determined], is a country located on the northern islands of Nagu. The majority of the population is a race of sapient non-humans, but there are some regions where humans are the majority. Astalva is bordered by Danshapu to the east, with the Dragon Sea to the south.
Etymology
The common name for Astalva is the same as that of its largest island.
History
Astalva was an important link in the path from Miraria to Boroso in prehistoric human migrations. In its early history, Astalva was split amongst several different tribes and generally did not have any semblance of central powers. This began to change as a result of encroachment of foreign powers and interests such as Dhwer in the 8th to 13th centuries. In the [tbd] century, Zavriel began to grow in power, rising to become an important city-state in the region. This growth was bolstered by success as a trade hub and status as a tax haven at the time. By the [tbd] century, all of Astalva was united as a single nation. Astalva was a member of the Shohuanese commonwealth for a period during the [tbd] centuries, although it still remained relatively autonomous.
Geography
Geology
Geologically, Astalva consists of several islands consisting of relatively low-lying terrain. Around half its land area lies less than 500 meters above sea level.
Climate
Astalva has a temperate to subtropical climate, strongly influenced by the ocean surrounding it and the lack of large rain shadows from its mountains. The majority of Astalva receives similar levels of rain in summer as in winter, with an average tendency towards dry summers. A small region in the east, however, observes monsoon seasons with considerably greater rainfall during the summer.
Biodiversity
The range of climates and biomes throughout Astalva, combined with large regions of intact forests, help contribute to quite considerable biodiversity for a non-tropical region. However, this is tempered somewhat however by the indigenous population, and even accounting for pressure from hunting, the high overall diversity is not necessarily reflected in all regions.
Politics
Government
Astalva has a mixed representative demarchy/democracy system of government. There are no official or recognized political parties, although interest groups for various causes and ideologies are commonplace.
Administrative divisions
The government is split into three main divisions: legislative, executive, and judicial. Terms generally last 3 years for legislators, with an option for a double term.
Foreign relations
Astalva's relations with other nations tend to be influenced strongly by racial equality and treatment. Nations where slavery is allowed are often completely embargoed, and those where non-humans have few to no rights tend to be seen in a strongly negative light.
Military
Economy
Astalva's main economic sectors are agriculture and the software industry. Trade and tourism are also important in some regions.
Transport
Transport between cities is generally by boat, airplane, or train. While many long-distance public highways accessible by motor vehicles (in addition to non-motor vehicles) exist, few are able to support high-speed traffic: many have very rough paving if any. Most rural locales are within a few hours' travel of a train station, and cities often have streetcars, with larger cities sometimes having metro systems as well.
Energy
As of 2017, Astalva still gets a large amount of its energy from burning fuels, whether sourced from petroleum and coal or from biomass. However, wind and solar energy generation have shown increasing uptake since 2008. Solar has already become the main source of electrical power in isolated rural areas, where maintaining coal power plants and bringing power in from distant plants are both impractical.
Science and technology
Tourism
Demographics
Ethnic groups
Astalva's population consists almost entirely of Astalvis (as in the species), consisting of over 90% of the population, with Humans making up most of the rest. A few Kavs and Dalar minority groups also exist. Of the Astalvi (species) population, a plurality are of Zveah descent (~45%), followed by [tbd] (~25%), [tbd] (~15%), and [tbd] (~10%), with the remaining groups making up the last 5%. Human ethnicities mainly divide into the Danshahi (35%), [tbd] (~25%), and [tbd] (15%), with other groups filling out the rest. Kavs and Dalar both tend to be present in localized groups, with Kavs tending to be more common in the south, and Dalar generally being more abundant around the northern coast, with the greatest number in Zavriel.
Urbanisation
Language
Zveahe is the official language of Astalva, and is the most widely spoken language. About 70% of citizens speak Zveahe natively (whether alone or alongside another language), with another 20% speaking it as a second language. Other languages are also found in Astalva, including Danshali, [tbd], and Zuosa.
Education
Healthcare
Religion
The Zveah religion ([zveahe name tbd]) is the most commonly practiced religion, with about 60% of the population practicing it. Following this are [danshapu's main religion] ([% tbd]) and Paeugism (15%).
Culture
Heritage
Architecture
Literature
Art
Music
Traditional Astalvi music tends to feature vocals, string instruments, flutes, and lamellophones. The most common scales are pentatonic, heptatonic or nonatonic (built from 5, 7, or 9 notes).
Astalvi music theorists consider most intervals within the 7-limit tonality diamond to be harmonically consonant. Kasfel Avzas (1837) categorized the qualities of 7-limit intervals into the following categories (incomplete listing subject to change):
- Perfect consonances: All 3-limit intervals
- "Common" consonances: 5/4, 6/5, 5/3, 8/5, 7/4, 7/6, 12/7
- Weak consonances: 8/7, 7/5
- Weak dissonances: 10/7
The primary nonatonic scales (or takillzanga) are based on stacking four 6:7:8 chords and reducing them to a single octave. The 7/6 is often tuned slightly flat and the 8/7 tuned a bit sharper, helping to widen the smallest steps of the scale and bring them closer in size to the medium steps. The resulting fifths are generally a bit flat, resulting in the inclusion of a single tempered 10:12:15 minor chord and a single tempered 4:5:6 major chord, which can be extended to a complete harmonic seventh chord. Certain pentatonic or heptatonic subsets of the takillzanga may be used as scales as well. These 9 note scales also feature approximations of ratios based on higher harmonics like 13/10 and 11/8, which are generally treated as dissonances.
The primary heptatonic scales not derived from the takillzanga (the [name tbd]) are based upon stacked flat fifths according to Meantone temperament. Unlike the takillzanga, which have lots of consonant intervals involving the 7th harmonic and few involving the 5th, these scales have many consonant intervals involving the 5th harmonic and few involving the 7th; the only important ratios of 7 to occur are 7/5 and 10/7, but these are treated as dissonances in the context of the [name tbd] as they cannot easily be incorporated into consonant chords. Pentatonic scales can be produced from these scales as well.
Various different systems of tuning these scales have been proposed and implemented over time. Most modern methods are based upon building a chain of 6:7:8 chords until it forms a 19 note scale, or by taking a chain of flattened fifths to generate a 19 note scale. Some attempts have been made to make this system playable in all keys by dividing the octave into 19 evenly spaced notes, but such attempts have generally been met with strong opposition by musicians as the resulting approximations to ratios such as 7/6 and 7/4 are very poor. Other equal divisions of the octave that have been proposed as possible systems or tuning standards include 31edo and 50edo.
Theatre
Film
Cuisine
Astalvi cuisine makes considerable use of eggs, meat, and fruits, along with grains (or plants useful for similar purposes) and insects. Dairy may also be featured in the forms of cheese and yogurt. A sizable portion of the population chooses to not eat eggs or dairy in combination with meat taken from the same species of animal. For example, eating beef with a goat's milk cheese is acceptable, but eating beef with a cow's milk cheese is generally considered to be improper. It is not the act of eating the combination that is considered disrespectful, but the act of combining them to begin with.