Seratof

Seratof (Seratofian: Sératofas Theitjëmäšljó, IPA: [ˈseːraˌtɔfas θei̯tʲəˈmæʃlʲoː], Seraheltian: Republica Seratofa, IPA: [reˈpʊblika seraˈtɔfa], Veniman: Republik Sjaratova, IPA: [ʁɛpyˈblɪç ˈʃɐrɐtʊfɐ]) is a sovereign nation located in central Artemia. It borders Eranor in the west, Gardarike to the north, and Svenskt to the northeast. It covers a modest area of 220,925 square kilometers, which span multiple climate zones. Currently, Seratof is inhabited by more than 33 million people, and is split between three major ethnic groups. The capital city, Azxara, is also the largest city in Seratof, and is also the center for business and culture. Other cities in Seratof include Gjavašina, Thožafars, Klimtburg, and Varga.

Seratof is a, with great powers delegated to the constituent regions. Generally speaking, Seratof could be divided into four regions: Seratof Country, Venimanland, Heltia, and Sobruza. Sobruza is an island located south of the mainland, and is granted the most power out of all the sub regions. Additionally, the island of Sobruza is granted its own constitution as well as president within the scope of Seratof.

Three major ethnic groups inhabit Seratof: the Seratofian-speaking Seratofian community, mainly located in Seratofia, the Heltic-speakiing Seratofian Heltic in Heltia. and the Veniman-speaking Venimans, mainly located in Venimanland. The Seratofian Heltic community comprises the majority of the population in Seratof, with over 51% of people identifying as such in the last census. Second are the native Seratofians, clocking in at 36% of the population. The Veniman community mainly inhabits the northern portion of the country close to Svenskt and Gadarike. They comprise about 11% of the total population.

The Seratofian economy mainly comprises of and  manufacture as well as  making manufacturing wise, as well as banking and financing services for the service sector. Manufacture is more dominant in the Heltia and northern Seratof Country, especially in the more rural central Seratofian plains. The overall economic output of the country as measured in international dollars was around $1.24 Trillion dollars PPP wise, which puts Seratof as a medium power in the region. Smaller contributions to Seratof's economy mainly come from the mining sector, which has stagnated over the past years, and the growing tourism industry.

Prehistory
The southern Artemian warm winds, providing warmth and fertility to the soil, has always been a major driving factor in the settlement of early humans within the Seratofian lands. Numerous fossil records found in caves inside Seratof Country have indicated that the area was very heavily populated since neolithic times, supported by the bountiful findings of stone structures such as megaliths, dolmens, and tombs near the grave dig sites. These ancient humans who lived in Seratof were assumed to be of a different kind than modern Seratofians, as their DNA strands do not correspond to the typical modern Seratofian.

Earliest evidence of human settlement in Seratof has been dated to be from 80,000 BCE, when early humans were predicted to settle the area in general. Stone tools shaped as axes, knives, and hacks have been found near Azxara. However, the peoples that inhabited the region around Azxara today are not related with any of the three ethnic groups of Seratof today, signaling further waves of migrations from other parts of Artemia. An elaborate pottery culture could be inferred from the findings near Azxara with a various assortment of pots, jugs and other water containers being unearthed in the late 19th century.

Farming had arrived in Seratof by the early 3rd millennium BCE and is evident by the founding of several ancient semi-permanent settlements along the Eršja and Arte rivers complete with several structures, mainly houses and storage facilities.

Antiquity
It is widely believed that the original inhabitants of the Seratofian peninsula were related to other groups in the region, bearing similar DNA strands upon further research with other ethnicities found elsewhere. These ancient Seratofians coalesced first into small farming towns and later on cities with coherent governments and authority, with the first texts and inscriptions being the Kljurgjin inscriptions dated back to the 3rd century BCE dictating the division of land within the city of Gora. Several other cities were also unearthed in the decades leading up to the fall of Seratof Country, meaning that the general area of Seratof today had been fertile ever since the ancient periods.

The Lykoraens, who inhabit what is present day Thalaky, also settled in the southern portions of Seratof Country bringing with them the Lykoraen language as well as Lykoraen ideas, cultures, and thoughts. These early Lykoraen city-states flourished as trade hubs, boasting magnificent ports and architecture, some of which are still preserved until this day.

Ethnic Seratofian peoples are thought to have entered present-day Seratof by the 8th century AD after escaping persecution in East Artemia by the XXX. The original homeland of the Seratofians being in modern-day Rovsnovska is considered by many Seratofian to be the ancestral homeland of the Seratofians, although more recent analysis has concluded that the exact location of the original Seratofians is hard to pinpoint down to a single area with trade shifting the Seratofians around the general eastern Artemian region for centuries.

The mass migration of Seratofians into central Artemia brought massive changes to the original inhabitants of the Seratofian peninsula. Initially, the two people groups existed peacefully but were slowly dwindling in both population and power due to a variety of reasons, mainly being that the Seratofians outcompeted them in both population growth and trade. The Lykoraens suffered the same fate, getting more sidelined with the arrival of Seratofians. The last Lykoraen settlement in Seratof, Adamopolis, was abandoned by its residents after a siege by the neighboring ethnically Seratofian chiefdom sieged the city in hopes of controlling their ports.

Medieval Seratof
With the Seratofians now being the majority of the population in the Seratofian peninsula, ethnically Seratofian kingdoms began to rise by the early 5th century, initially as a loose confederation between city-states and small chiefdoms. The overall structure within this period is a group of leaders congregating once in a while to coordinate the political and economic lifestyle and future of the constituent states, forming an early form of Seratofian confederation within the area. Although such, the bulk of the Seratofian populace still lived under nominally independent states be it in the form of city-states, chiefdoms, or early duchies.

In around 850 CE, the Duchy of Žablja was established with what is present-day Azxara (Šatráp) being made the capital of the duchy. The duchy gained political power by merging several small city-states, chiefdoms and petty duchies into a single unitary monarchial system of government with the treaty of Lizmar. The duchy would eventually grow its borders, expanding its influence outside of its core realms and project economic dominance over the Seratofian peninsula over lesser kingdoms and states. Overall, the Duchy of Žablja is regarded by many Seratofians and experts alike as the first proto-Seratofian state which encompassed massive portions of the Seratofian peninsula with only small pockets of independent states and kingdoms left.

The Duchy of Žablja would be the dominating force in the Seratofian peninsula in particular and to a lesser extent southern Artemia until the invasion of the Seratofian lands by advancing Heltic forces from the west.

Heltic Empire
The invasion of Seratofia by Heltic forces coming from the west and the subsequent siege and fall of Šatráp marked the end of an independent Seratofian state for another few centuries. Seratofian lands were made a constituent part of the Heltic Empire where Heltic ideals and language were encouraged unto the local population. Additionally, during the period of the Heltic Empire, many more Heltic peoples migrated into the eastern realms of their empire, giving Seratof its huge Heltic population.

In 1397, a peasants revolt started by Ú.K. Ljirman proved unsuccessful but nevertheless contributed to the continued existence of the Seratofian people and language as well as their culture.

Kingdom of Seratof
See also: List of monarchs of Seratof

By the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Heltic empire had been plagued with a power struggle between the sons of the late king of the empire. Seratofian monarchists and nationalists used the opportunity to declare outright independence from the Heltic Empire and claimed all the lands that were traditionally associated with Seratof such as the Seratofian peninsula as well as areas which were under the jurisdiction and control from Šatráp (present-day Azxara). This was achieved with a proclamation at first and a treaty signed by the constituent governors of the provinces under the new Kingdom of Seratof, which now also included a great portion of land outside of the traditional Seratofian heartlands deep into Heltia and even into the Veniman-speaking communities.

The Kingdom of Seratof was first ruled by King Márkus I from the house of Sántóni. Over the early history of the Kingdom of Seratof, several land reforms were conducted and many anti-Seratofian legislation was repealed. Seratofian was made the sole official language of the new kingdom, and the Seratofian Arsya was made the official currency. The Kingdom of Seratof was by far the largest entity carved out of the collapsing Heltic Empire, and served as one of the region's powerhouses at that time.

Haqiqatan entered Seratof around the period of the Kingdom of Seratof where traders from Asharistan would come in and conduct trade as well as performing some conversions of several people. Eventually, the nobility embraced Haqiqatan due to the preaching from these traders later turned into imams and ustads, and Haqiqatan flourished in Seratof since the late 16th century. King Ahmadi was notably the first Muslim king of Seratof, having converted into the faith two years into his reign.

The subsequent reign of kings and queens in Seratof was marked with various reception and popularity from the Seratofian population itself. Under King Azhar which ruled Seratof for an epic 92 years between 1637 and 1730, The Kingdom of Seratof experienced a golden age, in which the economic output of the entire realm far exceeded that of its neighbors, as well as the overall huge increase in the quality of life and wealth for a lot of Seratofians. The Seratofian baroque style was also popularized by King Azhar which he frequented when constructing buildings, and still is a popular style of architecture in Seratof today.

The Kingdom of Seratof eventually signed a treaty of friendship with the Kingdom of Samotkhe in 1799, forming the Samot-Seratofian Empire which would dominate central Artemian politics in the 19th and early 20th century.

Empire and Grand Campaigns
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Independence and contemporary history
The loss of the Samot-Seratofian Empire in the Grand Campaigns was a major disaster for all aspects of Seratofian life. The treaty of Holmgard in 1925 mandated the partition of the old Seratofian kingdom into a new smaller Kingdom of Seratof, an independent Republic of Heltia, as well as partitioning land towards Svenkst (then known as the Central Artemian People's State). The weakened monarchy accepted these provisions, with the new Kingdom of Seratof only having sovereignty over the Seratofian peninsula. Republican rebel forces led by A. Arša rejected these provisions and rallied a group of rebels to unify the nation.

In early 1926, Arša mobilized a huge militia of peasants and ex-members of the imperial Seratofian army and stormed Azxara, gaining control of both the parliament and the palace. There, the leader of the republican forces proclaimed the existence of the Republic of Seratof which encompassed all the territory owned by the Kingdom of Seratof before the partition. The king was put under house-arrest and from there, Arša continued the fight to march north towards the newly-formed Republic of Heltia.

The new Republic of Heltia was still a weak and inefficient state created in a rush of the Holmgard treaty, which republican forces exploited. The central government of the Republic of Heltia was unaware of an invasion as the republican forces used guerilla tactics to capture strategic points deep inside Heltia. In a surprising turn of events, the commander in chief of the new Seratofian army pledged support for the republican cause on the 17th of March 1926 and allowed for the use of military equipment to aide in the "war of independence". Eventually, the republican forces stormed Varga, the capital of Heltia, in a surprise attack known as the "1st of May 1926 movement", gaining quick control over the city and surrounding areas.

Subsequently, fighting continued until 1929 when the treaty of Azxara was signed on the 17th of April 1929 establishing the Republic of Seratof with Arša as the first president. The new republic encompassed much of Heltia as well as parts of traditional Venimaland. In 1930, the new Republican Army along with forces from Samotkhe invaded the Central Artemian People's State and Seratof regained a lot of land prior to the partition of Seratof. The CAPS collapsed in 1932 and most of the land owned by the Kingdom of Seratof before 1925 was returned to Seratof. In 1967, a confrontation happened with Svenskt over the Börgum region, which would lead to the rise of the far-right Seratofian People's Party to rule the nation between 1971 and 2006. The far-right party which advocated for the absolute rights of the Seratofians was poorly-recieved by many international observers, citing the state as a "fascist state". In order to protect the interests of the Seraheltics in Seratof, Modrovia occupied the western portion of Sobruza as a last resort to tone down the new ruling group in a series of events now known as the Modrovian-Seratofian Affair. The occupied regions were returned to Seratof upon the ascension Seratof into the PAC in 2013.

In 1970, Seratof switched from driving on the right side of the road to driving on the left in an event known as Left day.

The Seratofian People's Party whih ruled between 1971 and 2006 were responsible for various forms of cultural, political, and social repression within the country. The use of any foreign language in Seratof was banned in 1971 and the use of any other language besides Seratofian in public environments was completely banned by 1972. The prohibitive clothing act, probably one of the most notable acts and regulations ever released by the SPP, was passed in 1972 banning the use of "indecent and provocative" clothing in all public environments, and encouraged Seratofians to dress formally and with dull colors. The use of bright colored clothing was also banned. In 1974, the SPP declared the formation of the Haqiqatic republic of Seratof. After the invasion of Sobruza, the country changed its name to Seratof Country in 1976 to meet with demands. Under the SPP regime, a national Seratofian identity was pushed even to non-ethnic Seratofians. The green march of 2000 was a massive demonstration against the government which resulted in the toppling of President Tolje's government. His successor, president Molijan Tavar, promised great reforms to the country and started a process of democratization since 2004. In 2005, he chose Alízija Marxalofa, an independent, as vice president, and stepped down in her favor in 2006. The Seratofian Transitional Authority was formed immediately with Alízija Marxalofa as chairwoman of the transitional council. Her short term in office managed to successfully conduct free and fair elections which led to the election of president Íbraxim Timotéus Äliram into office and managed to also successfully repeal all prohibitive and repressive laws passed under the SPP rule. The repeal of the prohibitive clothing act of 1972 is regarded by many contemporary historians as the "focal turning point" in the liberation and transition of the country. A six month notice was given in respect to the law being repealed starting from 1 May 2007. A constitutional amendment was approved and ratified into law by parliament on the same day.

After the constitutional amendments, Seratof became a. Seratof was also admitted as a member of the PAC in 2013. In 2017, President Žuljus Badűrjos was elected.

Geography
Located in the heart of central and southern Artemia, Seratof borders Svenskt to the north, Samotkhe to the northeast and Velselexo to the southeast. Mainland Seratof is also bordered by the Sea of Azxara to the south and the general Eurybian Sea south of the islands of Sobruza and Virja. The country covers a modest area of 220,925 km² spanning a huge variety of landscapes and formations for its small size, ranging from the low lying Seratofian peninsula to the south up to the Biltar plateau on the border with Samotkhe as well as the southern central-Artemian mountain range which defines the border with Svenskt.

The major rivers within Seratof are the Eršja, Arte, and the Velzas. The Eršja river flows through the center of the country and is by far the most important river in Seratof as many agricultural irrigation systems in Seratof Country and Heltia source their water from the river. Azxara is located at the mouth of the Eršja river in what is known as the Eršja delta. The city of Varga, capital of Heltia, is also situated on the mouth of the Arte river, while Velzara, an important wine-making city in Seratof is located less than 20 kilometers from the Velzas.

Elevation wise, Seratof is less varied than most of its neighbors. The elevation levels in Seratof span from the highest point of Seratof Mt. Gúšri on the border with Svenkst at around 3,018 meters above sea level to the low-lying dikes and polders of the Eršja delta at 12 meters below sea level. The Seratofian peninsula is relatively low-lying, with notable exceptions being in the west with the Varga rise where elevations could reach as high as 500 meters above sea levels and the eastern Seratofian hills with a similar elevation level to that of the Varga rise. Heltia is divided between the low-lying Seratofian plains in its more southern locations to the great Veniman hills and mountains to its north. The entire administrative region of Venima is located entirely within the Veniman mountains.

Climate
Seratof is divided between two major climate zones. The southern regions which contain the entirety of Seratof Country, the southern provinces of Heltia as well as the islands of Sobruza and Virja fall under the, possessing warm summers and mild winters. The mean temperature for the southern zones varies from an average of 2°C in the winter months to a warm 22°C in summer months. The warmth of the southern zones of the country are thought to originate from the Eurybian warm currents.

The northern zones of the country fall under the classification. Winters are cold and summers are mild, with the mean temperature of the zones being -5°C during winter outside of the mountainous regions, and summers being a mild 13-15°C. Taller mountains in Seratof fall under the classification, and the temperatures there are generally much colder and harsh than that of the humid continental ones.

Government
Seratof is a   with a  as the  and a  as the. Power at a national level is vested into the federal government and the federal legislature comprising of. Further levels of government include those in the and the, which each have their own. Legislative assemblies in the regions of Seratof are while those in the provinces are. All the branches of government are based on the of Seratof drafted and ratified in 2007. By convention, the President of Seratof is the most powerful post in the country with the ability to appoint and dismiss prime ministers with approval of parliament as well as the general oversight of the national legislature. The president could be impeached by the legislature only after a carried out by the parliament. Previously, Seratof was a full with the president being both the head of state and the head of government. The title of head of government now goes to the second most powerful post in Seratof by convention, the prime minister of Seratof. The prime minister is officially appointed by the president, but in practice is always the leader of the party or coalition in government at that period. The president is directly elected by the people once every five year using a simple. Lower houses of legislatures are elected using in an   setting once every five years. Upper houses of legislatures are simply elected using once every five years.

Seratof's legislature, which is comprised of three chambers, was created under the new constitution of 2007. The Council of Magistrates acts as the upper house and represents the provinces with each entity sending four senators regardless of the population. The Chamber of Censors is an unelected body comprised of experts and magistrates which are appointed by the respective regional legislatures with the advice of the regional judiciary body. The Seratofian People's Communion acts as the lower house and is directly elected by the voting population within multi-member constituencies comprising of 3 to 8 members depending on the population. A total of 300 deputies are sent to the Seratofian People's Communion.

Administrative divisions
Currently, Seratof is divided into 4 regions which are further subdivided into 28 provinces and 1 province-level city. The regions themselves do not constitute as an official division, but only administratively and for historical and cultural contexts. The provinces are then further subdivided into 197 municipalities as well as 4 districts of Azxara and 1 uninhabited nature reserve in Heltia. Municipalities are further divided into districts (in Seratof Country, Venima, and Sobruza) or banates (in Heltia). an Within the legal framework of Seratofian federalism, there exists three levels of governments accountable for a variety of tasks and responsibilities separated in a hierarchal manner. The system goes from the federal government at the top, then the four regional governments and administrations, further subdivided into the 28 provincial governments. Districts and banates do not have their own autonomous governments, but still, have some control over some affairs.

While the country is led by a president and a prime minister, a region has a regional head acting as the chief official within the regional government serving as the equivalent of governor in other countries. The regional head is on the same level as the regional legislature, a bicameral body which serves as the legislative branch of the region. Below the regions are the provinces with each province maintaining a provincial government headed by a governor whose legislative branch is a unicameral provincial legislature. Governors are accountable to the regional heads, while the regional heads are accountable to the president. Within each region except the region of Sobruza, a council of governors exists which monitors the work of the regional head along with the legislature, creating a system of bi-monitoring.

Out of the 29 first-level divisions of Seratof, only one has special status. The province-level city of Azxara is granted such title as it serves as the capital of Seratof, and the powers of the Azxara city government therefore covers a much larger scope than other city governments in Seratof. There is a municipality-level special nature reserve zone which is uninhabited, and has been kept as such since the Kaluria nature park act of 1958. It is traditionally not counted as being a direct municipality of Seratof as it is considered federal land and territory.

Parties and elections
Ever since the downfall of the Seratofian People's Party in 2006, Seratofian politics have been greatly dominated and influenced by the Social Democrats "Progress" party, contributing to all of the presidents elected after the reinstatement of free and fair elections in the country in 2007. The party also managed to secure the most seats in parliament in the 2018 elections, however was short of a majority in government. The current coalition was formed shortly after the elections when the SDP formed a coalition with the Agrarians and Farmers party and the Seratofian National Party. Other notable parties include the Democratic Party, the Seratofian Moderates, the Center Party, the People's Democratic Alliance, and the Liberal Union.

Seratof has various methods of elections for its legislatures, both at a federal or regional level. At the federal level, two systems are put into practice, with the upper house being elected through in , each constituency being an entire province and sending 4 senators to the Council of Magistrates. The lower house, the Seratofian People's Communion, is elected through with an   method, also in. The president is elected through a simple. At the regional level, the upper house has followed the federal style in implementing a single non-transferable vote system in multi member constituencies, but the lower houses are still elected through in smaller constituencies determined by population.

Law
Seratof adopts a based on traditional Samot-Seratofian laws which preceded the current ones. The courts system in Seratof, like other governmental institutions and agencies, is a tiered one, comprising of the at a federal level, regional courts at a regional level and state courts at a provincial level. A separate was established in 2008 in accordance with the new amendments ratified the year before. Different from civil and criminal courts, the constitutional courts only exist at a national level.

While criminal codes are codified at a national level, private laws are left to the provinces to ratify and maintain, however, provinces are still able to add on to the criminal codes ratified at a national level with their own additional punishments. Traffic fines in some provinces are calculated based on the offender's yearly income on top of the mandated fines, and heavy fines, sometimes up to 10 times the offender's annual income, are given towards those who commit serious crimes such as, , or.

Military
The Seratofian National Armed Forces are the military forces of Seratof. It is currently divided into five branches: the armed forces, navy, air force, marines, and coast guards. The Seratofian military expenditure as of 2018 is at 1.7% of the country's GDP, somewhat lower than the PAC average of 2%.

As of 2018, the Seratofian National Armed Forces consist of 96,000 active personnel with an additional 31,000 in reserves. Until 2006, a one-year compulsory military service was enacted for all men reaching 18 years, but was abolished soon after the fall of the SPP regime and currently replaced with a voluntary service system.

Both during peacetime and wartime, the highest command of the Seratofian National Armed Forces, the supreme commander, goes to the president of Seratof, however, the commander in chief of the armed forces goes to the ministry of defence during wartime whereas in peacetime, a four-starred general is appointed by the president.

Economy
Seratof has a with strong contributions from both the  and the government, although the areas of which these parties exert economic dominance tends not to overlap with one another. It is currently the third-largest economy in southern Artemia by PPP measures. Much of the Seratofian economy is driven by a number of key businesses and industries with the banking and finance sectors being one of the most well-structured and extensive in southern Artemia. Healthy contributions from the and the  also help shape the Seratofian economy.

As a member-state of the PAC since 2013, Seratof has enabled itself to integrate into the common market of the coalition and expand the reaches of its own products and services. Significant economic growth was recorded upon entry into the PAC, with trends foreseeable for the future mimicking those of though on a much more lenient curve. Although part of the common market, the PAC does not possess a single currency and all transactions done within Seratof must be conducted using the Zakka. Azxara was the financial and banking capital of the Samot-Seratofian Empire during the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as being the industrial heartland of the empire. Many reputable banks in Artemia have their regional offices in Azxara during those times, and many still continue to have their regional offices in Azxara. Apart from banking and financing, Seratof is also famous for its automotive production, with the Kajášku automobile company being renowned throughout Anterra. The top 5 exports of Seratof are (in decreasing order of value):, , , , and.

As a consequence of Azxara being the economic and financial capital of the Samot-Seratofian empire, Azxara remains the center for Seratofian stock exchange markets, with the larger of the two legitimate stock markets in Seratof being headquartered in Azxara, the Azxara Stock exchange. The lesser and smaller Varga stock exchange, headquartered in Varga, specializes in mainly Heltic-based corporations and subsequently have less demand. Of the top 100 companies in Seratof, 46 have gone public and many of them being listed in the Azxara stock exchange.

With the reintroduction of in 2007 and the further easing of starting and maintaining a business, the number of Seratofian startups and small businesses have doubled in quantity between the years 2014 and 2019. Currently, they contribute a significant portion to the total makeup of the service sector and employed around 1 million Seratofians as of 2019.

Infrastructure
Seratof's central position in southern artemia, as well as its history as an economic and industrial hub during the turn of the 20th century both, contribute towards the very dense road and rail network which connects both cities domestically and countries internationally. Both the road and rail network in Seratof Country are some of the densest in Artemia. While all and  have speed limits, each province is able to decide the limit, sometimes as high as 340 km/h in the Ljana province. The system of roads in Seratof falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works, where the ministry calculated the total number of roads in Seratof, both paved and unpaved, to reach approximately 157,000 km. In addition to the dense road network, Seratof has about 75,194 km of rail. By the late 1800s, the rail network in Seratof had already been one of the most developed in southern Artemia.

Seratof is served by 2 international airports and more than 14 domestic ones (including airstrips). The Prezident Arša International Airport in Azxara serves as the country's main hub and the main gateway into Seratof for foreign travellers. The national airline, Žamanréko, bases all of its operations from PAIA.

As of 2016, Seratof was the 3rd largest consumer of electricity in Southern Artemia. Since 2007, the government has increased the portion of by adding  and  farms. In addition to the two, energy production has also utilized the Eršja and Varga rivers for. Still, 60% of the country is still powered by non-renewable sources such as and, lagging far behind other Artemian states.

Tourism
Tourism in Seratof contributes a substantial amount to some provinces' budgets. Seratof was the 12th most visited country in Anterra as of 2018, and Azxara is growingly becoming a popular spot for foreign tourists and business travellers. The tourism industry in Seratof is still overshadowed by the huge tourism drive in neighboring Velselexo, with the majority of Seratofians vacationing to Velselexo. It is estimated that only 42% of Seratofians vacation domestically, most to the northern provinces.

The ski resorts near Klimtburg and Börgum are a popular place for domestic tourists. Additionally, the historic quarter of Azxara is a big tourist attraction. The Seratofian Parliament Building, arguably one of the largest legislative buildings in use today, is a major tourist landmark and sight. Several casltes and palaces used during the time of the Samot-Seratofian empire and the Kingdom of Seratof are also of great interest for tourists, with over 3 million visits recorded in 2017. The residence of King Azhar located 6 km from the city limits of Azxara is also cited as one of the most visited attractions within the country.

The wine coast which extends into eastern Seratof is also a major destination for domestic travelers and a growing number of foreign tourists. The iconic landscape of the coast as well as the city of Velzara attracted approximately 2.4 million visits in 2018. Ancient Velic wineries are preserved and maintained, with many of the patrons engaging in wine tasting and sightseeing. Many Seratofians vacation to Velselexo by car and enter through the "wine provinces", creating great strain on the infrastructure system during vacation season, usually in the summer.

Demographics
The Seratofian population as of 2019 stood at 30 million people, up from a recorded 28.9 million in 2015, thus making Seratof the 3rd most populated country in southern Artemia behind Thalaky and Samotkhe and the XXth most populated country in Anterra. With a population density of 137 people per square kilometer, Seratof is arguably denser than south Artemian averages. The fertility rate of Seratof was recorded to be 2.18 children per woman, higher than the required replacement of 2.1 and the Artemian average. The birth rate is significantly higher among ethnic Seratofians than Seraheltics or Venimans. The life expectancy is 78.9 years for males and 80.1 for females. The birth rate has decreased since the fall of the Seratofian People's Party while death rates have remained stagnant. Seratof has a relatively young population, with the median age being 27.5.

Seratof is more homogenous in its ethnic composition than other countries in Artemia due to the historic difficulty of settling in the country for foreigners under the Seratofian People's Party. Recent immigration into Seratof has accelerated since the ascension of Seratof into PAC in 2013, with a majority of new immigrants being either Velics, Samotkhi, or Modrovians. Likewise, many Seratofians now live abroad, with a majority of them (53% as of 2017) citing continuation of study as the reason for living abroad. Modrovia remains a popular destination for Seratofians.

As of 2017, 73.6% of Seratofians lived in cities. Seratof has several major cities, with the largest being the capital Azxara and its metro area. The Varga metropolitan area spans both Heltia and Seratof Country, and is the second-largest metropolitan area in the country.

Ethnicity
Seratof is mainly comprised of three ethnic groups: Seratofians, Seraheltians, and Venimans, who make up more than 98% of the total country's population. The majority of Seratofians reside in Seratof Country, the ancestral homeland of the Seratofians. In more recent decades, many more Seraheltians and Venimans have arrived and settled down in Seratof Country, with the prospects of labor and work being more readily available. The ethnic makeup in Seratof Country is now more or less split between the native Seratofians and the newcomers comprised of both Seraheltians and Venimans, with around 65% of the population of Seratof Country still being ethnically Seratofian and the rest being mostly comprised of resettled Seraheltians and Venimans.

The regions of Heltia and Venima are still mostly inhabited by the respective native ethnic groups. Seraheltians make up more than 95% of the population in Heltia. A subset of the Seraheltian ethnic group but culturally more divergent are the Velics, which inhabit the wine coast in eastern Seratof. The Seratofian Velics are related to the Velics residing in Velselexo, and their numbers range from 1-2 million as the federal government does not make a distinction between Seraheltians and Velics. Small pockets of Seratofian and Veniman communities exist in Heltia, but, different from Seratof Country, services are available in both the native language and in Seratofian, whereas Seratofian is the only language offered in government institutions in Seratof Country.

The Venimans, a group related to the Svenskti people in particular, live in the administrative region of Venima. The islands region in southern Seratof is mostly comprised of the descendants of exiled Seraheltians and Venimans, which contributes to them being a majority outside in their homeland. As is the case with the islands region, some municipalities in Seratof Country do not have a Seratofian majority population, especially those located near the border with Heltia. Azxara is almost split evenly between Seratofians and non-Seratofians as the history of migration into Azxara is more rampant than in surrounding regions.

1.87% of people regard their ethnicity as being different to the three ethnicities listed above, which are mainly comprised of Samotkhi, Thalakeans, and other west Artemian peoples. Small pockets and communities of Keshian peoples who arrived in Seratof during the kingdom era have persisted, with communities ranging between 2,000 to 5,000 in different municipalities and cities. Another important source comes from the states of Lusjki, Vrtgora and Athea, where many who claim to be such often have ancestors who migrated into Seratof during the time of the Samot-Seratofian Empire. Their numbers are considered steady and do not face threat of extinction.

Religion
While the constitution guarantees religious freedom, the government does not recognize. As such, atheist figures in the country are highly skewed. There are three main religions in Seratof in which neither one makes a dominant majority. Haqiqatan is the largest religion in Seratof, with around 48.11% of the population adhering to one of the many sects of Haqiqatan. The Haqiqatan practiced in Seratof is mainly based on school of jurisprudence of the Sunni branch at more than 99%. Small subsets of exist, mainly on the eastern coasts of Seratof Country. Traditional Heltic Religion follows Haqiqatan closely with around 40.41% of the population adhering to the religion. The smallest of the three,, is practiced by around 10.85% of the population, mainly. Other faiths include, mainly practiced by Samotkhi migrants to Seratof, and traditional Seratofian religion, practiced by a very small minority of ethnic Seratofians. Currently, Seratof is one of the few countries in Artemia with a substantial Muslim population and one of the few states which do not recognize atheism. The original Seratofian religion revolves around a select pantheon of gods, in which the Seratofians make offerings and blessings towards these gods in the forms of idols and statuettes. The traditional Seratofian religion recognizes two main gods Ërti and Kolur, the creator and the preserver respectively. Different from other gods, these two are believed to be unable to be represented in idol or statue form, and mainly inhabit or take appearance as natural objects such as trees, rocks, and mountains. As such, many sacred places in traditional Seratofian religion revolve around a specific object or landmark which is thought to contain the spirit or the life of the two gods. Several other gods may have their own shrines or places of worship, but nowhere as grand as those dedicated to Ërti and Kolur. A notable place of worship for the "old believers" is located in the Varga rise, where a hill has been believed for generations to be the resting place of Kolur, and therefore, the entire premises of the hill has been converted into a place of worship dedicated to Kolur. The arrival of the Heltic Empire around the 11th century AD changed the religious landscape of Seratof quite radically. The invading and ruling Helts, which adhered to their own branch of an even more ancient Heltic religion, settled the lands of northern Seratof and to a lesser extent Seratof Country with Helts, bringing their Heltic religion with them. Many of the Seratofians were forced to convert to the Heltic religion, which has evolved into a pantheon in Seratof. By around the 14th century AD, the majority of Seratofians have converted to the Heltic religion. In the north of the country, the Venimans, which have settled in the lands of Seratof, kept their protestant identity and maintained their presence until the modern day.

Haqiqatan arrived in Seratof after the fall of the Heltic empire during the Kingdom of Seratof era, where traders from Asharistan and neighboring places came to the ports of Azxara and traded with the locals. Eventually, these Muslim traders married with local wives and started to preach (dakwah) the faith towards other Seratofians. The spread of Haqiqatan in Seratof is known as the Haqiqatization of the Seratofians by most academics, with the culmination of the Haqiqatization being achieved during the reign of King Azhar which declared Haqiqatan the official religion of Seratof in 1648 as the number of nobles and ordinary peasantry continued to shift towards the Haqiqatic faith, a pattern still seen until today. Several older Heltic and Veniman migrants into Seratof Country have, subsequently, converted into Haqiqatan too. A trend of Haqiqatization continued towards those living in Seratof Country. Many Serheltians and Venimans living in Seratof Country have converted into the Haqiqatic faith, which contributes to the overall higher percentage of the adherents of Haqiqatan when compared to the total composition of ethnic Seratofians. Azxara is an overwhelmingly muslim-majority city as the original Heltic and Veniman settlers and newcomers into the area are much older than those in surrounding regions. The trend of converting to the region's largest faith could also be upheld in Heltia and Venima, with most newcomers converting to the largest faith in the region. The bulk of Seratofians who still practice Helticism reside in Heltia.

Ethnic-wise, ethnic Seratofians are overwhelmingly Muslim, with 10,548,590 Seratofians proclaiming themselves to be Muslim, or about 96.30% of the total Seratofian population. 229,090 Seratofians practice Helticism (2.09%) while another 121,249 (1.11%) practice. The rest mostly practice the traditional Seratofian religion, or are converts towards other religions such as Buddhism. 3,219,521 Seraheltians, or about 21.14% of the total Seraheltian population identify as Muslim, most residing in Seratof Country. 11,615,218 still practice Helticism (76.26%) while only 325,444 Seraheltians or around 2.14$ of the total Seraheltian population practice Protestantism. 550,652, or around 16.61% of all Venimans practice Haqiqatan. The dominant faith amongst Venimans is still Protestantism, with around 76.42%, or 2,533,315 Venimans professing to the faith. 215,347 Venimans, mainly those residing in Heltia, adhere to the Heltic religion. Among other ethnic groups, the dominant religion is Protestantism followed by Haqiqatan and then Heltic religion.

The figures for in the country are highly doubted and skewed, with some estimates putting it as high as 15%. The government denies such figures, with the government's estimates putting atheism at only 0.1% to 0.3% with most of the atheists coming from newcomers. Atheism is still a highly taboo topic in Seratof, holding one of Artemia's highest rates of religiosity in which 93% of respondents surveyed claimed that religion "played an important or very important role in daily life" according to a survey done in 2015. The majority of respondents also disagreed with atheism and would not let their children marry an atheist.

However, religious tolerance has always been maintained and well-kept ever since the arrival of Haqiqatan into Seratofian shores. There have been only 3 recorded incidents of religion-related violence in Seratof since 2007, signalling the overall harmonious relationship between religious groups. Interfaith relations have seen an overall increase in conductivity and harmony. A 2018 study revealed that a growing majority of Seratofians would not mind having friends and neighbors with different religions, although many still oppose the idea of interfaith marriages.

Language
Constitutionally speaking, Seratof recognizes 3 official languages, all with equal status, those being Seratofian, Seraheltian, and Veniman. However, in virtually all official circumstances, Seratofian prevails as the language of communication. As a direct result of the Seratofian People's Party forcing the use of Seratofian in all circumstances and mandatory Seratofian education even after their collapse for non-Seratofians, approximately 99% of Seratofian citizens are able to speak, read, or write in Seratofian. Several strict language policies implemented during the rule of the SPP have been relaxed, however, the only language permissible in the national legislature, courts, and all executive speeches remain Seratofian. For most of Seratof's history, Seratofian has always been the sole official language of Seratof, however, restrictions and regulations weren't so strict during the first few decades of the republic.

The use of Seratofian in everyday life has increased dramatically over the past few decades. The use of Seratofian in major cities outside of Seratof Country has reportedly increased, especially among the youth who prefer to speak in Seratofian in public due to its higher status in the country, and is often seen as the gateway to achieving higher and better reputations for future employers and universities. The use of both Seraheltian and Veniman consequently is declining at an alarming rate. Several regulations passed by the regional legislatures of each respective region contain the promotion of the Seraheltian and Veniman languages to be spoken and used, mainly in schools and public spaces. For example, it is now illegal to speak any other language other than the region's language in the regional parliaments, as well as mandatory inscriptions in the region's official language alongside Seratofian in virtually all public spaces.

Regional languages now enjoy more legitimate status as one of the three official languages of Seratof as per the 2007 constitutional amendment. Now, local schools and local media outlets are permitted to broadcast and replicate news in their own respective languages, leading to a revival in both Seraheltian and Veniman. Some local schools, especially those located in more rural areas of the country, only offer courses in the regional language with Seratofian only used for Seratofian language class. Courthouses and regional parliaments have incorporated back the regional language as the main language of communication between parties, and courses dedicated towards the literature of Seraheltian have begun to be offered in various universities throughout Heltia. More and more ethnic Seratofians are learning Seraheltian or Veniman as a second language.

Seratofians are renowned throughout Anterra for their incapability of speaking foreign languages. It is not uncommon to see university graduates who are not able to speak any foreign language. Government regulations barring the use of foreign languages during the SPP era may have contributed to this phenomenon. It is reported that out of 17,398 primary and secondary schools in Seratof, only 192 or 1.1% offered courses in foreign languages as of 2018. The current Social Democrat government has pledged to make foreign languages mandatory in the near future but has been opposed by the Seratofian National Congress citing the return of foreign imperialism into Seratofian lands.

Education
Education in Seratof is not centralized and is reserved for the regional governments to maintain and provide. There are four education boards in Seratof currently, one for each region. Although so, the education structure as a whole is uniform throughout the four educational boards and regions all subordinate to the ministry of education at a federal and national level. Reaching a secondary diploma in Seratof is mandatory, although the number of years a student invests in the education system as a whole greatly varies between each individual. Currently primary schools last between 5-6 years (depending on program selected) and secondary schools last between 4-6 years (depending on school selected) too. Secondary education is divided into technical school, high school, and low institutes. Technical school lasts 4 years, high school last 5 years and low institutes last 6 years. Students usually enter at age 6-7 and graduate from one of the three secondary schools at ages 15-18.

Three standardized tests are therefore issued by each regional education board every year. The Mátlaz is a technical school leaving exam administered to final-year students and is the main requirement for admission into vocational training in various institutes across the country. The Génerala is the high school exit exam which final year high school students take in order to graduate. The scores of the Génerala can be used to apply to some universities, though most universities prefer the Altimus, a low institute exit examination. All high school graduates are allowed to take the public Altimus administered twice a year as entry to university if a Génerala score does not suffice after enrolling in what is commonly known as a year-long preparatory course offered by some low institutes to facilitate the curricula needed to succeed in the Altimus. Usually, Génerala scores could be used to apply to tier 2 or tier 3 universities while tier 1 universities usually only accept Altimus scores.

Entry into Universities in Seratof are usually graded on a per-candidate basis, with the score on the candidates Altimus or Génerala being strong factors taken into consideration. Seratof has a variety of well-known universities, such as the University of Seratof, Imam Tarxali Technological Institute as well as the Azxara Technological Institute ranking high in academic standings. Vocational Institutes are counted as tertiary education by the Seratofian government. These vocational courses usually last 3 years as opposed to the 4 years in most bachelor programs. A majority of Seratofians graduate from these vocational courses.

Health
Since 1958, Seratof has employed a universal healthcare system under the jurisdiction of the ministry of health. The system of hospitals more commonly known as the Dheramos and consists of a variety of medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and trauma centers. Healthcare spending in Seratof has increased over the past few years and now covers approximately 10.8% of the GDP. The entire population is covered by a nation-wide insurance plan and contribute to the fund mostly through taxes. More than 75% of the healthcare fund in Seratof comes from the government while the rest is made up from contributions of the private sector and other non-governmental organizations.

The average life expectancy for Seratof in 2017 was 79.4. It is 78.9 years for males and 80.1 years for females. The infant mortality rate of Seratof stood at 4.7 deaths per 1000 live births, and the preventable hospitalization rate has decreased. The suicide rate remains very low at 3.1 suicides per 100,000 people. The most common cause of death in Seratof is cardiovascular diseases which accounted for 41% of all deaths in 2017 followed by stroke at 18% of all deaths. Obesity is a growing concern across the country with obesity rates surging to its highest point in years. Approximately 17% of Seratofians are overweight or obese.

Culture
Seratofian culture is rich and varied owing to the tremendous amounts of influence from various different ethnicities and locations. The original core and elements of the ethnic Seratofian culture, at its most basic form, mimics a lot found in other Sera-Borealslavic groups as evident from the traditional Seratofian religion as well as its documented practices. In addition to the culture of the native Seratofians, the Seraheltians and Venimans contribute to the richness of the culture of the nation as a whole with vastly different sources and influences when compared to that of the ethnic Seratofians. The arrival of Haqiqatan into Seratofian shores also greatly shaped the evolution of traditional Seratofian customs, adding a great deal of influence and ideas that has affected virtually all aspects of Seratofian culture.

The country has long been regarded as one of the cultural centers in central and southern Artemia. Many Seratofians artists, composers and writers are some of the most renowned throughout Anterra, especially during the Samot-Seratofian Empire, and Seratof to this day is still regarded as a cultural center albeit with a much lesser influence. The formation of a Ministry of Culture and Public Interests early on in 1947 would ensure the continuity and preservation of various cultural contributions and works under the name of the state.

Many sites in Seratof have been internationally recognize as an ingenuity of humankind, with the Seratofian Parliament Building probably being one of the most recognizable feats of Seratofian architecture and engineering. In 2018, more than 4 million tourists visited the building.

Art
The origins of classical Seratofian art which dates back to the early until late industrial periods (c. 1700-1850) could be traced back to a diverse set of influences both from traditional Seratofian principles and themes as well as newer techniques and styles adapted from western Artemia as scholars and painters returning from these states spread the ideas towards aspiring artists and painters alike. Kalijar, arguably one of the most influential and prolific Seratofian painters, was said to have travelled to various western Artemian states and is said to have experienced the new evolving styles first-hand.

The mid 18th century became a golden age for Seratofian art. As the kingdom of Seratof was at the peak of its golden age, art created by more refined masters flourished, as demand for more aesthetic paintings increased with the opening of various galleries and art installations, further increasing the appeal for such paintings, especially nobles. Themes of valor, courage, and a return to the classical era before the subjugation of the Heltic Empire proved to be very popular with the elite as well as borrowing themes from Lykore, an advanced people group which many Seratofian thinkers, most of them being nobles and elites themselves, admire and look up to.

As a shift towards more and day-to-day themes surged in the late 18th century. Seratofian artists mimicked the growing trends across Artemia and developed their own style of the romanticism movement growing in western Artemia and adapted it with more traditional Seratofian themes. This new development was later named the ‘’Mazurian’’ style owing to Baron Mazuria II of Ailuman who would often frequent and commission these paintings for his personal collection.

By the turn of the 19th century, Seratofian motifs and trends continued to develop. The formation of Samot-Seratofia brought back themes of grandeur and obsessiveness, reviving the style popular before the rise of industrialism in the country. A return to more natural themes coupled with its obsessive nature helped shaped the neo-Mazurian style, combining elements from both styles. Many of Seratof’s most famous painters and paintings adopt the neo-Mazurian style for its intricate designs while keeping a natural touch to the work as a whole.

The Academy of Seratof was established in 1818 to maintain a standard of quality for all aspiring painters and their work. The academy tried to maintain the qualities and themes already well-set in Seratofian art at the time and also tried to prevent the loss of such qualities in future work as more recent influences have opted for more personal expression of the artist themselves rather than to attain a standard created by a body. By the early 20th century, several new themes and styles of art have entered and enjoyed more popular status in Seratof, especially the impressionist and expressionist movements.

The Academy of Seratof initially opposed these changes, but relented in 1920 and permitted the existence of professional art that does not conform to the standards set by the academy. This further led to the deviation of Seratofian art from the set standards and gave birth to various new styles, especially after the Grand Campaigns. Seratofian contemporary art now focuses on more abstract concepts, a style of art adorned by many modern Seratofian artists.

There are approximately 150 museums across the country which showcase a diverse set of artworks created by various artists. The Seratofian National Gallery in Azxara is the largest art gallery in Southern Artemia built in 1819 by the Academy of Seratof to showcase the highest qualities of art at the time. A huge collection of artwork by various masters have been housed in the national gallery since its creation. At least 5 million people visit the gallery every year. Outside of Azxara, nearly every town in the country has a form of art collection or storage, with larger towns having small museums showcasing works of art from local creators.

Gender and sexuality
In general, gender and sexuality in Seratof are still heavily influenced by Haqiqatic teachings and traditional Seratofian beliefs, and remains a taboo topic rarely discussed in all public environments. The preconceived beliefs regarding to gender and sexuality for most Seratofians today stem from the hard line Seratofian People's Party beliefs, in which several key foundations and definitions were set within law, thus affecting the implementation of laws within daily life. Gender and sex are the same concept in Seratofian law, and Seratof does not recognize the existence of a third gender or the kind. are free to select their own gender, but requires surgery and the fulfillment of paperwork to be recognized as such.

Marriage is legally defined as being between a male and a female, and any other combinations when put forth to the Seratofian religious body is considered null and void. Since 1976, all marriages in Seratof are required to be religious, with the state only recognizing such marriages in its national registry. Religion plays an important role in marriage too, as couples who are of a different religion can not marry unless one converts to the other. Between 1974 and 1976, divorce was illegal, marking the only period in Seratofian history to forbid divorce.

Sexuality remains a very heavily censored topic even until today, however the degree of censorship and acceptance throughout Seratof varies considerably. Most ethnic Seratofians who are overwhelmingly Muslim consider the topic very sensitive, and is rarely, if ever brought up, to be discussed openly. Seraheltians and Venimans are more open towards the concept and have begun regularly bringing it up more often in public settings within the past few years. Adultery was still a punishable crime in Seratof until 2007, but social stigma towards the act of adultery persist. It is common for adulterers to be reported to the police for domestic disturbance, although most cases are often left to the contracting parties to settle by themselves. It is both Haqiqatic and Seratofian custom to be virgins until marriage, a belief held strongly until today even after the decriminalization of most intercourse-related laws. It is reported that 86% of ethnic Seratofians enter marriage as virgins, with 78% of ethnic Seratofians losing their virginity after the age of 21. The average age of losing one's virginity is 22.9 years, one of the highest in Anterra.

LGBT rights and culture
Seratof has one of the most ambiguous laws regarding to LGBT rights in Artemia. While it is generally accepted that being gay or lesbian is not illegal, its actions contain many repercussions associated with it. Intercourse with people of the same sex has never been illegal in Seratof as there has never been a bill forbidding it. Openly gay and lesbian relationships are also not mentioned in any bill or law, however marriage or unions are considered null and void. While it is not possible for members of the LGBT community to be convicted of being gay or lesbian by itself, many do end up in jail or paying fines due to domestic disturbance or other clauses related to the matter. In addition, telling children gay and lesbian people exist counts as disturbance according to many Seratofian courts. Thus, LGBT discrimination protection does not exist within the country.

Although the laws placed on the Seratofian LGBT community are stringent, this has not stopped underground clubs and associations from springing up within the country. The Seratofian Rainbows, the oldest gay association in the country, was established in 1964 to campaign LGBT rights in the country though met with minimal success. Since then, more LGBT communities have started to be established, mainly in the capital of Azxara. These underground communities are usually public knowledge, but nothing significant have been done so far in respect to the eradication of such groups. LGBT communities provide safe spaces for members to express their feelings and to have intercourse where normally this would be seen as domestic disturbance. Many communities also bribe police officers and local councilmen in order to turn a blind eye towards these institutions.

Even though the stigma of being gay or lesbian persists, Seratofian gay porn has really excelled and elevated Seratof's name in the adult film industry across Anterra. Seratof has become infamously known as one of the gay porn capitals of Artemia.