Orandia
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FINAL DAY–HEADLINES
- In the gymnastics team all-around, Orandia takes the lead in the qualifying round, but somehow places last in the final round with a total score of 262.250.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team prevails against Blue Bubble, earning Orandia's final medal of this Esferiad: a bronze.
- Orandia has earned a total of twelve medals this Esferiad.
COMMENTARY
"Good evening, everybody, in case you don't already know, I'm Lex Lascar, reporting live for the last time from the Second Esferiad. Now, Orandia has had the fortune to see many of our athletes win medals, but today we are especially proud of our most recent acquisition: a bronze in indoor volleyball! Let's go live to the team right now, for some well-deserved congratulations!"
[The camera cuts from Lex in the studio to the Orandian indoor volleyball team, still in uniform and in the arena they recently played in. They're clustered together to all fit in the frame, but a rather short man, team captain Stéphan Hedevary, stands in front.]
Stéphan: "It's been a wild ride, this past week or so. There were a lot of points where we thought we weren't gonna make it this far, but today we managed to pull through, and I'm really proud of the team for that. I think we worked together especially well today, and that's what got us the medal." [He holds up his bronze medal.] "All right, Orandia on three! One, two, three!"
[The team cheers "Orandia!" Then, the camera cuts back to Lex in the studio. He's attempting to spike a volleyball. He hits it, and the ball goes straight up in the air, making a worrisome shattering noise. The ball drops to the floor, along with little shards of glass, and the spotlight that was trained on him has since gone out. Smiling awkwardly, he takes a few steps towards the other side of the studio, the camera re-angling to hide the mishap.]
"Erm, hello again! Just, trying out my moves! Anyway, the indoor volleyball team may have been the last to grab a medal, but they are certainly not the only ones to have done so. Let's check back in with the team. It seems like they've been joined by a few friends."
[Back with the team, the camera pans out to reveal more athletes–every Orandian athlete who won a medal this Esferiad. They wave at the camera, some chat with one another, all generally having a good time.]
"I think that concludes this year's coverage of Esferiad events. Closing ceremonies will be broadcast soon on this same channel, so feel free to stick around, but my time here is over. To all my fellow Orandians and anyone else who may be tuning in, I'm Lex Lascar, and I'll see you next year!"
CONGRATULATIONS
Berix Tomoiaga, bronze, High Jump
Carmen Moscovici, gold, Long Jump
Maiken Morstad/Sigrun Skyberg/Tove Rud/Axelle Reverdin, bronze, 4x200 Meter Relay
Lars Sandvik, bronze, discus throw
Roméo Azaïs, bronze, Gymnastics Floor
Roméo Azaïs, bronze, Gymnastics Balance Beam
Sarah Michaelson, gold, Javelin Throw
Orandia, bronze, Field All-Around
Lisa Zenik, gold, Gymnastics Parallel Bars
Roméo Azaïs, silver, Gymnastics Parallel Bars
Roméo Azaïs, silver, Gymnastics Vault
Indoor Volleyball Orandia, bronze, Indoor Volleyball
~Until the next Esferiad!~
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HEADLINES–DAY THIRTEEN
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team loses to the United Adaikes.
- All of Orandia's gymnasts pass the qualifying round for the vault event. Jules Beaufils suffers from a lopsided finish in the semifinal, earning him a meager 13.575 points.
- Lisa Zenik and Celeste Blanc finish tenth and eleventh, with respective scores of 14.825 and 14.775.
- Roméo Azaïs makes it to the finals, his flawless vault, scoring 16.325 points, earning him his (and Orandia's) second silver medal.
- Roméo places fifth in the all-around with 24 points. Lisa places seventh with 17, while Jules places 18th with 3. Celeste does not place.
COMMENTARY
"It's very easy for a good gymnast to walk away with multiple [medals]." –Lex Lascar, day nine coverage
LOOKING AHEAD–FINAL DAY
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team plays in the bronze-medal game against Blue Bubble.
- Gymnastics team all-arounds take place.
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HEADLINES–DAY ELEVEN
- Orandia places seventh in the track team all-around, but places third in the field all-around with 68 points.
- Jules Beaufils scores a 14.275 on the parallel bars, failing the qualifier along with Celeste Blanc, who scores 14.150.
- Lisa Zenik and Roméo Azaïs nearly sweep the podium, earning gold and silver respectively with scores of 15.550 and 15.525, also respectively.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team wins against Hertfordshire and Jammbo, earning them a spot in the quarterfinal.
Commentary for Day Eleven and projections for Day Twelve are unavailable, due to reasons completely unrelated to the new smash-hit Fletnix show "Octopus Contest." Any following italicized portions also bear no relation.
HEADLINES–DAY TWELVE
- Celeste Blanc scores a 14.100 in the gymnastics rings semifinal. Jules Beaufils scores 14.400, and Lisa Zenik scores 14.725.
- Roméo Azaïs finishes fourth in the final, narrowly missing out on a medal with a score of 15.350.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team triumphs against Larxia in the quarterfinals.
COMMENTARY
"Good evening once again, Orandia! I'm Lex Lascar, as always, and we appreciate your patience with us yesterday. We were, ehm, short a few marbles. But we are here today with gold-medal gymnast Lisa Zenik! While her fellow gymnast Roméo Azaïs has managed to earn several medals in several events under the very broad umbrella of gymnastics, he has yet to earn a gold. Now, Lisa, I couldn't help but notice how calm you looked on the parallel bars yesterday. What's your secret to keeping calm, so you don't crack under pressure?
Lisa: "Honestly? I don't mind crowds when I perform. I know some people don't like it, or block it out, but I like to hear people cheering. In fact, I told the other gymnasts to cheer extra loud when I was up. It's really motivating for me."
"I know I, for one, enjoy a good cheer directed at me. But in the semi-final round, you were in the last qualifying spot. I, and I'm sure all of Orandia, was worried you wouldn't get the green light to continue. What factors do you think contributed to that 15.1?"
Lisa: "I had a new, unique technique I used on the uneven bars, but it didn't quite go perfectly, and I didn't get any medals for it. So my coach and I decided to apply what we could of it for the parallel bars, instead. It takes awhile to adjust a routine like that, and it was very risky, but go big or go home, right? So my head wasn't fully in it for the semifinals, and I didn't get off the bars quite right. But I felt much more confident when I did it for the finals."
"I can't imagine the skill it takes to change a routine so quickly. You must have felt like there was a tug-of-war between your old habits and the new ones. But you prevailed! Now that Roméo isn't the only Orandian gymnast with a medal, how are conversations with your fellow gymnasts going these days?"
Lisa: "I've definitely rubbed it in his face. But then he tells me he can't hear me over his three medals. I think Celeste and Jules are a little jealous of the both of us, although Jules is better at not showing it. I hope they get medals at some point, too. They've definitely trained hard enough to earn one."
"And that's all we have time for today! Thank you for answering my questions, Lisa. I'm going to go watch the last episo–I mean, the last Esferiad events of the day! I'll see you next time, Orandia, and have a good night!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY THIRTEEN
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team plays against the United Adaikes in the semifinal.
- Orandia's four gymnasts participate in the vault event.
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DAY TEN–HEADLINES
- In the marathon, Guy Vaugeois finishes with a time of 2:18.26, coming in tenth.
- Yvette Ardouin over-extends herself in the first leg of the race, and does not finish.
- On the uneven bars, Celeste Blanc ties for 35th with a score of 14.475.
- Jules Beaufils scores a disappointing 13.475 in the semifinal, coming in last.
- Roméo Azaïs loses his bronze streak, a coin flip keeping him out of the finals with an eighth-place score of 15.450.
- Lisa Zenik comes in fourth in the final, narrowly missing out on a medal with a score of 15.175.
- In the javelin throw, Cornelieu Izbasa, despite placing third in the qualifier, places eighth in the final with a best throw of 84.68 m.
- Sarah Michaelson comes out of nowhere, scoring Orandia's second gold medal with an impressive best throw of 90.20 m.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team loses to Nieubasria, relegating them to third in their group.
COMMENTARY
"Ladies, gents, and all the rest, it's time for another live report from the Esferiad! As always, I am your host, Lex Lascar. Here tonight with me are some very lovely ladies, give it up for Prime Minister Queenie Astier... and Orandia's newest gold medalist, Sarah Michaelson!"
[The studio audience cheers, and the lights come up on Queenie and Sarah. Queenie is nicely dressed, but Sarah wears the trademark bright-blue tracksuit of an Orandian athlete. The gold medal she earned is around her neck.]
"Now, it's been quite a long road for Sarah here to get to the Esferiad. Could you tell me a little more about your journey here, Sarah?"
Sarah: "I almost didn't make it here. The original plan was that Lina Doone would be going, but right before everything was finalized, she shattered her wrist. It was a car accident, and I felt very bad for her, but the one upside is, it let me compete in her place. I'm really glad to have this chance, and I really hope Lina is watching this so she knows I got Orandia the medal. We did it!" [She smiles, holding up the medal for the cameras to see. Lina is watching from her home in Pala, planning to text Sarah after the show with messages of congratulations.]
"Well, all things considered, I think a lot of people are happy to see you here, and even happier to see you atop the podium. Now, Queenie, I believe you had some words to say, too?"
Queenie: "Yes! Um, congratulations on winning gold for Orandia." [She and Sarah stand up and engage in a performatively awkward handshake, then a quick congratulatory hug.] "It's really nice to see our little nation doing so well here. I honestly did not think we'd get as many medals as we have. And both golds in field events! Truly unpredictable. [She sits back down with a small laugh.]
"I agree! It's definitely a refreshing sight to see so many Orandian athletes on the podium this year. But whether or not there will be more depends largely on the performance of our four gymnasts. Stay tuned for the latest predictions of their performances in future events!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY ELEVEN
- Track and field all-arounds take place.
- Match day six for the Orandian indoor volleyball team.
- Orandia's four gymnasts take to the parallel bars.
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DAY NINE–HEADLINES
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team wins versus Fujai, now placing them second in their group. Only Nieubasria places higher.
- On the balance beam, Lisa Zenik scores a 14.325, not enough to qualify for semifinals.
- Jules Beaufils scores a 14.350, also not enough to make semifinals.
- Celeste Blanc scores a 13.825 in the semifinal, placing 22nd.
- Roméo Azaïs does it again, securing another bronze medal with a score of 15.200 in the final.
COMMENTARY
"Another bronze win by the talented Roméo Azaïs! Because of him, Orandia is keeping pace with the big shots, like Giovanniland and Nieubasria. Now, to be a gymnast, you have to excel at every gymnastics event, and each one is another chance for a medal, so it's very easy for a good gymnast to walk away with multiple. Roméo already has two, after all, and maybe more to come. But don't let me tell you any more about a guy who's about to be out here himself. Ladies, gents, and all the rest, here is the man of the hour.
"Mr. Azaïs, how have the last few days been for you?"
Roméo: "Absolutely thrilling. [Grins] Although I haven't been doing much except working out and resting. Watching some other folks train. Coach says it's best not to do too much other stuff, even though the events are so spread out."
"Have you gotten to meet any of the other gymnasts yet?"
Roméo: "Not really. I'm not exactly sure how to approach them, so I've mostly stuck with the other Orandians. Jules and Nina are very encouraging. I had a moment with one of the other guys on the podium today, though. From Giovanniland, I'm pretty sure. We kinda looked, acknowledged each other, while they were playing the national anthem. I didn't get a chance to talk with him after."
"Speaking of the podium, is there anyone or any nation in particular you're watching out for?"
Roméo: "Nieubasria and Giovanniland, of course. If I had to pick one, I'd say Cooper Kinsleye. She beat me out of a silver today, and in training, she's done some of the most flawless routines I've ever seen in... ever. I definitely have to keep an eye on her."
"Thanks for answering those questions, Roméo. I won't keep you any longer from that training and resting. And speaking of training, up next, Jules Beaufils takes us through his workout routine! We're glad you tuned in!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY TEN
- Match day five for Orandia's indoor volleyball team.
- Guy Vaugeois and Yvette Ardouin run in the marathon event.
- Cornelieu Izbasa and Sarah Michaelson toss their lot in at the javelin throw.
- Orandia's four gymnasts take on the uneven bars.
- Arifiyyah, United Adaikes, Fujai and 1 other
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4
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HEADLINES–DAY EIGHT
- Orandia places sixth in the swimming team all-around, with 21 points.
- Celeste Blanc places 41st in the gymnastics floor exercise qualifiers, with a score of 14.125.
- Lisa Zenik places 17th in the semifinals, with a score of 14.300.
- Jules Beaufils places eighth in the finals, with a score of 13.150.
- Roméo Azaïs, with a score of 16.175 in the finals, breaks the previous Esferic record and wins Orandia a bronze medal.
- The Orandian water polo team loses 7-9 to Fujai, along with their spot in the semifinal.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team wins against Hertfordshire and Jammbo, placing them third in their group.
COMMENTARY
"I'm Lex Lascar, live at the Esferiad, bringing you some good news and some bad news. First piece of good news: Roméo Azaïs has earned us yet another bronze for his stunning floor routine. Let's check it out."
[A clip from Roméo's routine plays, set to upbeat, classical music. The studio audience cheers.]
"Incredible! Second piece of good news: Martin Garness is alive and well. According to the doctors at Kharventhin Teaching Hospital, his rotator cuff is fixable, and he'll be back in the pool well before the next Esferiad. And now for the less-than-good news, Orandia: our dear water polo team played their last game of the event today, losing to Cambria in the quarterfinals. As someone who's been watching them since the very start of the Esferiad, I am going to miss them. Let's take a look back at how far they've come in these past eight days."
[A slideshow plays, showing one photo after another of the Orandian water polo team in action, listing every win and loss along the way. It ends with a photo of the entire team posing for the camera, with big smiles on their faces, the person in the center holding a water polo ball. The image fades back to Lex, who is imitating one of the poses.]
"Lots and lots of memories there. I hope the team has had fun being here. I know I certainly have. Now, after the break, we'll hear from Roméo himself about his shiny new medal!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY NINE
- Match day four for the Orandian indoor volleyball team.
- Orandia's four gymnasts perform on the balance beam.
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DAY SEVEN–HEADLINES
- 10k marathon swimmer Liv Sorby finishes 14th with a time of 1:54:09.7. Martin Garness, unable to go on after tearing his rotator cuff halfway through, does not finish.
- Nic Manole finishes the 110-meter hurdles qualifier with a time of 13.64 seconds. Thea Heim places sixth in the final, with a time of 13.32.
- Amanda Riis places sixth in the discus throw finals, with a score of 66.51. Lars Sandvik bags a bronze with his score of 67.43. Both athletes broke the previous Esferic record.
- Orandia's coxed eights rowing team goes into repechage, with a final time of 5:38.89 that fails to put them back in the running.
- The Orandian water polo team wins 11-6 against Dalimbar.
- The Orandian basketball team loses 82-84 to Larxia, losing their spot in the quarterfinals as well.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team loses to Nieubasria, placing them squarely at the bottom of their group.
COMMENTARY
"Gooooooooood evening! I'm Lex Lascar, coming at you live for all you lovely Orandians tuning in tonight. We have some special guests this evening, it's the Orandian gymnastics team!" [He pauses for applause.] "Please give them a warm welcome, it's Roméo Azaïs, Jules Beaufils, Celeste Blanc, and Lisa Zenik!"
[More applause. Jules blows a kiss to the audience, Lisa waves enthusiastically, Roméo does a little twirl, and Celeste simply stands quietly.]
"If you will, I have a couple of questions for you all. First off–what region of Orandia are you from?"
Julius: "I'm from Haute-Claire. I've lived there my whole life."
Lisa: "I am a proud Emblian!"
Roméo: "I'm from Cople, but I trained in Montrose."
Celeste: "I'm from Montrose, too. Well, not 'too'."
"Moving on! What event are you most confident in?"
Julius: "Definitely the floor exercise, for me. I could crawl out of bed and do that routine."
Roméo: "Rings. Not a lot of people are comfortable with them, but I am."
Lisa: "Uneven bars! I've got a unique trick I've been practicing for ages. But I can't tell you what it is! I want to surprise people."
Celeste: "I'm not sure... if I had to pick one, I'd say the beam."
"All right, last question. If you could say one thing to any aspiring gymnasts out there, what would it be?"
Julius: "You gotta work hard, that way, nothing can stop you!"
Celeste: "Believe in yourself. You're stronger than you think."
Roméo: "Lean into the uncomfortable. Also, get enough sleep."
Lisa: "Only you can be you. Whatever you do, stay true to yourself."
"That was... actually genuine life advice. Thanks, you four! I think I'm going home to re-evaluate my life after all this.
One last time, it's the Orandian gymnastics team! After the break, we check in on swimmer Martin Garness in hospital after a nasty shoulder injury. I'll see you then!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY EIGHT
- Swimming individual and team all-arounds take place.
- Gymnasts Roméo Azaïs, Jules Beaufils, Celeste Blanc, and Lisa Zenik perform in the floor exercise.
- The Orandian water polo team plays Cambria in the quarterfinals.
- Match day three for the Orandian indoor volleyball team arrives.
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HEADLINES–DAY SIX
- The Orandian relay swimmers have done it! After disappointing individual rounds, swimmers Maiken Morstad, Sigrun Skyberg, Tove Rud, and Axelle Reverdin win bronze in the 4x200 meter relay. Great job, ladies!
- The Orandian water polo team loses in a close 9-8 match with Blue Bubble.
- The Orandian basketball team loses 96-77 to Cambria.
- Jane Offerdahl and Evelyn Asplund lose the beach volleyball quarterfinals to Fujai, 19/19-21/21.
- Revekah Serbanescu comes in fourth in shot put, breaking the previous Esferic record along with her medal-winning counterparts with a throw of 20.97 meters.
- Manuel Voinea makes a throw of 19.23 meters, not enough to get him into the final.
- In the 10,000-meter run, Pascaline Duclos comes in fifth, with a time of 27:29.67. Lou Ardouin clocks in at 28:09.97.
COMMENTARY
From left: swimmers Maiken Morstad, Sigrun Skyberg, Tove Rud, and Axelle Reverdin celebrate their bronze-medal win.
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY SEVEN
- The Orandian basketball and water polo teams face their seventh match day, the last before quarterfinals.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team faces their second match day.
- Orandia's coxed eights rowing team, led by coxwain Ernest Dahl, takes to the water.
- The 110-meter hurdles event takes place, with athletes Nic Manole and Thea Heim.
- The discus throw, featuring Amanda Riis and the legendary Lars Sandvik, takes place.
- The 10-kilometer marathon swim also happens tomorrow, athletes Liv Sorby and Martin Garness making a splash.
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DAY FIVE–HEADLINES
- The Orandian water polo team wins 12-9 against the United Adaikes.
- The Orandian basketball team wins 85-81 versus Fujai.
- In the 1500 meter run, Raymond Tonneson barely makes it past the qualifier with a time of 3:36.99, while Alexandra Berg falls short with a 3:38.51. Tonneson places fifth in the final, running a full second faster with a time of 3:35.99.
- Sigrun Skyberg swims a disappointing 1:59.33 in the 200-meter butterfly, continuing the rumored curse on swimmers destined for the relay. Giselle Hémery, however, tops her qualifying heat with an impressive time of 1:55.39, and places fourth in the finals, narrowly missing out on a medal with a time of 1:54.04. Jan Ungur surpasses Skyberg with a time of 1:58.65, but it is not enough to qualify him.
- Long jumper Alexis Popelin fails to pass the qualifier, making a single 7.81 meter jump.
- Carmen Moscovici wins Orandia its first gold, in the long jump, her best jump coming out to 8.2 meters, winning on countback over Nieubasria's Actor Van Knoppen with a better second-best jump.
COMMENTARY...?
Four athletes in blue loungewear form a cluster on the floor, sitting on equally blue pillows. One of them, Axelle Reverdin, ties her brown hair into a messy bun and speaks up. "I'm worried about tomorrow's relay. Do you guys believe in this 'relay curse' thing going around?"
The TV positioned in the corner can be heard. Onscreen, Lex Lascar is congratulating Carmen Moscovici on her gold-medal win.
"I don't," admits Sigrun Skyberg, "but now that you mention it, we've all had horrible luck this Esferiad. I hated being shown up by Ungur, of all people."
"I lost a coin flip for the semis," Tove Rud says quietly, "and Maiken came in last. Maybe it's just nerves. We have more pressure on us than the others, because we were fastest when we were being picked for the Esferiad."
On the TV, Lex is going on and on about how proud Carmen's family is of her.
Axelle glances over at the TV, sighs, and turns back to her fellow athletes. "Maybe we should ask if we can switch out. Ingrid can take my place, or Jesper, even. We don't have to embarrass ourselves more than we already have."
"And lose our only chance at redemption?"
Maiken Morstad finally speaks, brimming with conviction. "This is the one shot we have at telling Orandia–telling the world–that we're better than this! Maybe we mess up, yeah, but we've already messed up. It won't make a difference. But if we do good..."
"Will we?" Axelle's eyes shine with tears. "What are even the chances of that?"
The TV cuts to a clip of Sigrun, making a less-than-impressive flip turn in her butterfly race earlier today.
"Obviously we're no good under the spotlight," she continues. "We're not going to do good. We should let the people who've done good already handle this."
Maiken takes a deep breath. "Think about it, Axelle. Tomorrow, when the relay happens, do you want to say you ran away? Or do you want to be able to say we tried again? You can't see the future. Maybe we'll medal, but we won't know unless we try! We were put on this relay team for a reason, and I don't know about you, but I'm going to see that reason through."
Sigrun nods in agreement. "What was it that basketball guy, Dimitry I think, said a few days ago, about how losing gave his team a fire in their bellies? That's the kind of energy we gotta bring. And they won that day. No reason we can't win, too."
"Besides, I think it's too late to change the roster. Unless one of us gets an injury," adds Tove.
Maiken puts a hand on Axelle's shoulder before the latter can even open her mouth. "Don't even think about faking one."
Lex posits a question to viewers worldwide: Will the relay swimmers follow their declining trend? Or will they rise to the occasion, making something more than the sum of their parts?
Axelle wipes her eyes. "You're right, Maiken. You're right. I don't really want to run away. I'm just really scared."
Maiken pulls Axelle in for a hug, while Lex leads the studio audience in an encouraging cheer. Tove joins in, and when Sigrun wraps her arms around all three, Tove begs her to loosen up a little. "We're all giving a hundred and ten percent out there tomorrow," Sigrun insists. "Promise."
The other three agree, and Axelle finally breaks into a smile.
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY SIX
- Match day six looms for the Orandian basketball and water polo teams.
- The Orandian indoor volleyball team has its first match.
- Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl compete in the beach volleyball quarterfinals versus Fujai.
- Lou Ardouin and Orandian distance running champion Pascaline Duclos compete in the 10,000 meter run.
- Rebakah Serbanescu and Manuel Voinea toss up in the shot put event.
- The 4x200 meter swimming relay takes place, with swimmers Maiken Morstad, Sigrun Skyberg, Tove Rud, and Axelle Reverdin. We can only hope their performance as a group is greater than the sum of their individual races.
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A finely dressed woman easily in her forties stepped off the plane, followed by another, younger woman in a fitted suit, hair neatly tied back. As her transition lenses darkened from the Blue Bubble sun, the woman in the suit gestured widely to their surroundings. "Welcome to Blue Bubble, Queen Enfeld," she said, turning in a circle to take in her surroundings.
The Queen laughed. "There's no need for titles, Queenie. We know one another. You can call me Aurélie."
"Because we're such close friends, or because you think people will mix us up again?" Queenie gulped. "On that note, I think I'll just go by Ms. Astier today..."
The Orandian prime minister and the Orandian queen bore little physical resemblance. Aurélie was taller, broader, older, and had a talent for commanding any room she walked into. Her dull blonde hair was beginning to gray. Queenie, on the other hand, was shorter and soft-faced, her hair an unassuming dark brown. She often stood awkwardly on the fringes of social and international events, looking like she wanted to be somewhere else. But the similarity between the name Queenie and the title of queen had confused many a foreign ambassador or politician. As the two made their way to the upcoming meeting of world leaders, Queenie hoped it would not be the case today.
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DAY FOUR–HEADLINES
- The Orandian basketball and water polo teams do not play today, enjoying a well-deserved day off. They will return in the next day's events.
- Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl cling tightly to their ranking of third in their group, in the beach volleyball event.
- All three Orandian single scull rowers fall into the repechage bracket. Monica Lovdahl and Richard Ancel pass the first round of repechage, but neither makes it into the quarterfinals. Simon Samuelson doesn't even make it to that.
- 10-meter platform diver Amanda Orvik dives into the qualifiers with a qualifying rank of 453.55. A semifinal score of 474.35 nets her a spot in the final, but not a medal, finishing tenth with a score of 452.40 and a knee injury.
- Fellow diver Lasse Heide, with a score of 408.40, does not pass the qualifier.
- Breaststroker Tove Rud loses her spot in the semifinals to a coin flip, her time of 2:11.33 tying her with Maltilda Voigts of Dalimbar.
- Auden Skogen flops with a time of 2:13.99. Nathan Clérisseau qualifies with a time of 2:11.29, mere fractions of a second separating him from Rud and Voigts.
- Clérisseau ties for the top of his semifinal heat with an impressive time of 2:08.91, but places fifth in the final with a slightly less impressive 2:09.25. Again, no medal.
- Nathan Messier and Catalina Rotaru pass the 400-meter run qualifier with times of 45.43 and 46.10, respectively. But semifinal times of 44.95 and 45.07, also respectively, are not enough to put them in the finals.
- Pole vaulters Martin Thévenet and Margarita Olinescu do well in the qualifier with scores of 5.65, Thévenet making four of his vaults on the first try. In the finals, though, he only makes one of his vaults, and Olinescu makes none.
COMMENTARY
"Lex Lascar, once again, coming at you live from day four of the Esferiad! Brilliant performances by many of our athletes today, although none were enough to earn Orandia another medal. It is how it is today, folks, and no one knows that more than our very own star diver, Amanda Orvik. How's the knee looking, Amanda?"
[The camera cuts to Amanda's knee, wrapped with a cold compress. It then cuts back up to Lex and Amanda's upper bodies.]
Amanda: "It doesn't hurt much anymore. It was bound to happen sometime, at the rate I've been diving and swimming. There's a lot of knee-bending when you dive, after all. This is just... a really unlucky time for it to happen. Yeah, really unlucky."
[Amanda tries to say more, but she's having a hard time keeping herself composed. She looks as though she might cry. Lex gives her a reassuring touch on the shoulder.]
"We all have our off days, Amanda. I won't keep you here any longer. I speak for all of Orandia when I say, get well soon."
[Amanda leaves. Lex turns back to the camera.]
"Speaking of off days, we'll have more athletes who didn't quite make the cut today for you in a few minutes. After the break, stay tuned to hear from pole vaulters Martin Thévenet and Margarita Olinescu, and breaststroker Nathan Clérissau!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY FIVE
- The Orandian basketball and water polo teams return for match day five.
- The 1500 meter run, featuring the quickly rising star Raymond Tonneson and fellow runner Alexandra "Ice Berg" Berg, takes place.
- The long jump event, featuring Carmen Moscivici and the barely-qualified Alexis Popelin, takes place.
- Sigrun Skyberg, having dominated nationwide swimming championships in the past year, makes a splash in the 200-meter butterfly. Giselle Hémery and Jan Ungur will also partake in the event.
- Arifiyyah and United Adaikes
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DAY THREE–HEADLINES
- The Orandian basketball team loses 79-78 to Giovanniland. The game was so close, it went into overtime.
- The Orandian water polo team loses 8-5 vs. Nieubasria.
- A win was in the cards today for Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl, now third in their group after beating Teryalon.
- Kai Haagen and Jonathan Stuart place fourth in the multihull event, narrowly missing out on a medal with a score of 34.
- Backstroker Quentin Sylvestre finishes with a time of 2:12.76, not enough to pass the qualifier.
- Fellow backstroker Maiken Morstad finishes dead last in her heat, with a time of 2:18.62. Let's hope this is not a trend among swimmers destined for the relay, given Axelle Reverdin's performance earlier in the games.
- Arnold Nordrum, surprisingly, beats them both out, with a time of 2:11.29. However, it is still not enough to qualify him for the semifinals.
- In the 100-meter run, Jean-Christophe Genest speeds past the qualifier with a time of 11.29 seconds, placing second overall. His rival, Ilie Andreescu, is right behind him with a time of 11.65 seconds.
- Nina Millet breaks her personal record with a time of 12.29 seconds, but she just barely misses the cutoff to qualify for semifinals.
- Genest and Andreescu finish the semifinal with times of 11.14 and 11.24 respectively, but neither makes it into the final.
- Berix Tomoiaga ties for ninth in the high jump qualifiers, but makes it to the finals, winning Orandia's first medal–a bronze!
COMMENTARY
"I'm Lex Lascar, reporting live from the Esferiad! I'm sure we all saw Mr. Tomoiaga's history-making high jump earlier today. History-making as in, he's earned Orandia its very first Esferiad medal! We've brought him here to the studio. Berix, how does it feel to have gotten Orandia's first medal?"
Berix: "Wow. Just... wow. Everything since I made the jump has been a blur. People were cheering. Coach, my coach, and Germaine and a few others were carrying me around on their shoulders. It still doesn't feel real yet. I have to hold onto it, like this, so I know it's there." [He clutches the medal, holding it close to his chest.]
"I can imagine! It's got to be a big shift. Has your family sent you congratulations yet?"
Berix: "Oh, yes. My mother, my father, even my sisters. Congratulations, congratulations. I hear it everywhere I go."
"We've got time for one last question. Do you have any words of advice for aspiring high jumpers, or Orandian athletes in general?"
Berix: "Hm... get sleep. That's the first thing. Set a time every day to practice, that's the second. Finally, well, don't go into it with a flat back. Be ready to curve around the bar. That's what gets you extra height."
"Thank you so much for those thoughtful answers, Berix. But it seems our time is up. Thank you, Orandia, for joining us live here and now."
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY FOUR
- Match day four arrives for the Orandian basketball and water polo teams.
- Match day four as well for beach volleyball team Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl.
- Amanda Orvik gets her second chance at glory in the 10-meter platform dive. You can do it, Amanda!
- Tove Rud, Nathan Clérisseau, and Auden Skogen perform in the 200-meter breaststroke.
- The single-scull rowing event, featuring Monica Lovdahl, Simon Samuelson, and Richard Ancel, will take place.
- Nathan Messier and Catalina Rotaru race in the 400-meter run.
- Finally, the pole vault event takes place, featuring Margareta Olinescu and Martin Thévenet.
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DAY TWO–HEADLINES
- The Orandian basketball team wins 89-59 vs. Dilber.
- The Orandian water polo team loses 6-9 vs. Hertfordshire and Jammbo.
- The Orandian beach volleyball pair, Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl, place fourth out of fifth in their group.
- Windsurfers Jarle Overbay and Therese Hoyland fail to pass the qualifiers, with scores of 91 and 92 respectively. (A lower score is better in windsurfing.) Therese's remarkably good first race, scoring a meager 2 points, was not enough to net her an equally impressive overall score.
- Star diver Amanda Orvik places first in her 3-m springboard diving qualifying heat with an astounding score of 293.85.
- Fellow diver Oliver Hougen qualifies as well with a score of 276.15. In a shocking turn of events, Hougen places just above Orvik in the semifinals, by a difference of about three points, but neither of them qualify for the finals.
- In the 1500-meter freestyle, the ever-popular Ingrid Mundahl loses her last chance to make a splash, failing to pass the qualifiers with a time of 15:18.93. Livia Bengescu, unexpectedly, beats her with a time of 15:16.93, but also does not qualify.
- Fellow swimmer Viggo Knutsen, however, qualifies with a time of 14:45.10. Viggo comes in sixth in the semifinal, with a time of 14:58.93.
COMMENTARY
"Lex coming at you live once again from the Esferiad! Today, I thought we'd gather up some comments from the athletes themselves on their performances today. First up is the captain of the Orandian basketball team, Dimitry Gheorghiu. What inspired this turnaround?"
Dimitry: "After the first loss, it's safe to say it sobered us up. We knew it was time to get serious. We were being serious before, of course, this is Esferiad, but I think this put fire in our bellies. And we gave it our best, and I'm proud to say it paid off."
"All right! Next is the talk of the town, Amanda Orvik! Can you tell me what went on in your head when you were making those amazing dives?"
Amanda: "The first dive was kinda harrowing. It happened so fast, I was purely going on instinct. [Laughs] I think that's what really impressed the judges, that's what made it so good. I kind of got it in my head that I could do anything, you know? I took a bit of a risk in that second dive, I was a bit more conscious, and I think that's what got me. Yeah, that got me. It's a good lesson, though. I'll carry it into the 10-meter dive, for sure."
"We couldn't get ahold of Ingrid Mundahl for an interview, unfortunately, so last but not least, here's Viggo Knutsen, semifinalist in the 1500-meter freestyle. How're you feeling, Viggo?"
Viggo: "A strange calm. When you're in there, it's just you and the water and the ends of the lanes. No cheering, no noise when you're submerged. But fifteen minutes is a long time to stay in there. I was still tired going into the second race, my time was not as good. But you don't get to decide when you swim and when you rest here. You have to bring it all right then."
"There you have it, folks, exclusive interviews with Orandia's top athletes. Tune in next time to hear from two bitter rivals in the 100-meter dash, and the return of Kai Haagen and Jonathan Stuart in the multihull event!"
LOOKING AHEAD–DAY THREE
- Match day three looms for the Orandian basketball and water polo teams.
- Match day three is also on the horizon for Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl, the beach volleyball pair.
- Kai Haagen and Jonathan Stuart return as a pair for multihull sailing.
- Amanda Orvik will have to wait for her second shot at a medal. Instead, backstrokers Maiken Morstad, Quentin Sylvestre, and Arnold Nordrum take the stage.
- Track and field events begin! Berix Tomoiaga and Germaine Rodin compete in the high jump.
- In the 100-meter dash, rivals Ilie Andreescu and Jean-Christophe Genest go head-to-head. Also in the event is Nina Millet.
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HEADLINES – DAY ONE
- Jesper Herre makes it past the first heat of the 200-meter freestyle, with a time of 1:58.45. However, he places 15th in the semifinal, cutting him out of the competition.
- Ingrid Mundahl, despite all eyes being on her, flops with a time of 2.00.95, not making it past the qualifiers.
- Axelle Reverdin, despite routinely beating Mundahl in training sprints, fares even worse with a time of 2.04.20. David Donnet clocks in at 2.03.84.
- Kai Haagen places 15th in dinghy sailing. Fellow athletes Jonathan Stuart and Julia D'Amboise place 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
- Evelyn Asplund and Jane Offerdahl, the beach volleyball pair, lose to Nieubasria, 13/16-21/21.
- The Orandian water polo team loses to Fujai, 11-10. Very close!
- The Orandian basketball team loses to Dilber, 89-65.
- The Orandian artistic swimming team places ninth.
No medals so far. We hope to change this in Day Two!
COMMENTARY (by Lex Lascar, reporter for the Esferiad Committee)
"Especially with her bearing the flag with Amanda last night, the nation has been cheering so hard for Ingrid. Qualifying for two events in the Esferiad, no matter how closely related, is no small task. When asked about her less-than-impressive 200-meter run, she insisted she has always been a better distance swimmer than sprinter, and that this failure will only push her further to succeed when she takes on the 1500-meter freestyle tomorrow.
"Jesper Herre has captured the hearts of many Orandians today, as the only athlete thus far to qualify for a semi-final. He admits to not expecting this degree of success–he was genuinely surprised to hear he had placed third in his heat. And despite his low placement in the semifinals, he remained a good sport. At the end of the race, he could be seen exchanging a few kind words with the athletes in adjacent lanes. We here at the Esferiad Committee are very proud of him, and I'm sure much of Orandia is too.
"And Axelle Reverdin, placing last in her heat, seems to have hurt a muscle in her leg during training exercises. Whether it came from a desire to stay ahead of Ingrid, I can't say, but I certainly hope she's back in peak form when she returns to the pool for the relay event."
LOOKING FORWARD TO DAY TWO
- The Orandian beach volleyball team takes the stage.
- Therese Hoyland and Jarle Overbay compete in Windsurfing.
- Ingrid Mundahl has her second and final chance at a medal in the 1500-meter freestyle. Also in the event are Viggo Knutsen and Livia Bengescu.
- Headline-making diving star Amanda Orvik performs in the 3-meter springboard dive. Also in the event is Oliver Hougen.
- Arifiyyah, Saint Mark, embubbleblue and 1 other
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"I'm Lex Lascar, reporting live from the Grand Esferic Stadium in Quoriv.
"The Opening Ceremonies of the Second Summer Esferiad went off without a hitch! I'm sure everyone enjoyed the incredible performances put on by the host nations. I don't know about you, but I always like a good story of reconciliation. And the music was, of course, flawless. But I'm sure what you all tuned in tonight to hear about was our own Orandia's presence in the parade of nations on this opening night! We'll take you right to the center of it."
[The camera cuts to another reporter next to two athletes wearing loud suits in Orandia's national colors. Between them, the athletes are holding the Orandian flag.]
"Thank you, Lex. I am Angela Dalca, and these are our lovely flag-bearers. The only Orandian athletes to take on two individual events this year, it's Amanda Orvik and Ingrid Mundahl! Ladies, what has being here tonight and bearing the flag been like?"
[Amanda Orvik–Springboard and Platform Diving]
"To be honest, Angela, it's like a dream come true. I've been wanting to do something like this since I was a little kid. I'm really proud of all the work I've put in, and everyone who's supported me. I think getting to hold the flag with Ingrid is like the cherry on top. It's all been a magical experience."
[Ingrid Mundahl–200 and 1500 m Freestyle]
"Like Amanda said, it's a dream. There are lots of people and flashing lights, but getting to represent Orandia like this is definitely worth it. I've been kinda dazzled by it this whole time, Amanda has been guiding me through it. [Laughs] It's definitely been fun."
"Well, I won't keep you any longer, ladies. I'm sure it's been a long night for everyone, and good luck on your flag-bearing duties. Back to you in the studio, Lex."
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Done with skill modifiers and all! We don't have every event, but Orandia is ready to go!
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Regional/cultural groups in Orandia (plus regional demonyms!)
Cultural groups in Orandia are largely divided by the environment in which they live. The modern regional borders took these differences into account when they were made.
Mountainous regions (Montrose, Haute-Claire, Embla): The Orandian royal family originated here, and these mountain-dwellers played a large role in unifying the nation. Many of their political trappings are reflected in Orandia’s current government, and many elements of their culture have seeped into others, for better or worse. These folk easily have the most influence over the nation as a whole, leading many of these people to develop superiority complexes, thinking of themselves as the best. So while they are the most influential in many ways, they are not always the best liked.
What people do like, though, is Montrose’s famous pink mountainsides. Covered in pink flowers that bloom in late spring, travelers flock to see the beautiful mountains. Pick up any travel brochure about Orandia, and it’s likely to have a picture of these mountains front and center.
Regional demonyms: Montrosian, Hautian, Emblian. “Montie” is a casual, sometimes derogatory term that refers to someone from any of these regions, especially Montrose.
Coastal regions (North Coast, South Coast): The other cultural group that largely influenced modern Orandian politics. Invented the modern orandi. The eastern coast of Orandia is home to another famous part of the nation—its fishing towns. Its people are hardworking, but also fun-loving. Dainroa and the South Coast coastline are popular vacation destinations for other Orandians.
There is a strong history of women in politics here—they are viewed as coolheaded and trustworthy. Many past Orandian prime ministers can call the eastern coast home.
Regional demonyms: Northern, Southern. If this gets confusing, just say “from the North/South Coast.”
Forested regions (Soris, Knapp, Pala): Indigenous to the forests of Orandia, these people were once isolated natives before making contact with their neighboring peoples. Because the way they govern themselves is highly localized, with each settlement dealing with their own issues themselves, they have contributed little to the modern Orandian political system. They care deeply for the environment, and strive to lead sustainable lifestyles. Recent agricultural developments have been encroaching on their forest homeland, and as a result they have made bigger and bigger efforts to preserve as much of the forest as possible.
The Montes are making an effort to strengthen relations between themselves and these folk. Most notably, Ophelia Kihime, a young woman from Pala, is marrying into the Orandian royal family.
Regional demonyms: Sorian, Knappan, Palan
Lakeside regions (Cople, Istul): Originally part of the same group as the forested regions, but has grown apart from it over time. Living near the lakes in southwest Orandia is warm and idyllic, and the people who live here reflect that. They have a reputation for being remarkably relaxed and carefree, and most importantly, happy. Their fertile soil means they produce quite a bit of valuable exports, and Orandians come from all over to vacation by the lakeside.
Regional demonyms: Coplian, Istulian
Masly (Masly): Maslians are an odd lot. When Masly became part of Orandia, it was largely uninhabited. People from all walks of life and from all over the nation migrated to it, and it’s developed its own offbeat culture. Most folks here live in the countryside, and tend to want to keep things the way they’ve always been. They care for the environment and for the most part don’t make much noise on a national scale. However, the countryside does hide a good number of troublemakers and eccentric criminals, and the largely unfiltered news outlets of Masly have unintentionally sparked the creation of a popular Orandian meme, “Maslian Man.”
Regional demonym: Maslian
Urban (Aidnaro): Orandia’s bustling capital city is so large and diverse that it’s developing a culture all its own. Throw every group above into a big pot and mix it all up; that’s what Aidnaro is like. Some districts of the city are themed around a region or group, but for the most part, the distinct cultures that make up Orandia are well blended here. It’s a place where people from all over the country live shoulder to shoulder, among the most advanced technology and infrastructure in the nation.
Regional demonym: Aidnaroan
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Dramatis Personae (important people)
Prime Minister Queenie A. Astier: Born and raised in the capital metropolis of Aidnaro, Queenie (not to be confused with the Queen) is the youngest prime minister to date at thirty-two years of age.
Queen Aurélie Enfeld: The current head of the Orandian royal family, situated in Nordiaa. Forty-two years old. Stern and serious, but cares deeply for her people.
King Félix Enfeld: Forty-four years old. Originally from Idonara, Félix married into the Orandian royal family twenty-two years ago. A once-lively man known for his grace and dancing skill, the death of his youngest daughter still saddens him greatly.
Crown Prince Alexander Enfeld: At twenty, carries the future of the Orandian royal family on his shoulders. Only serious because he has to be. Soon to be wed to a woman from Naiador (Ophelia).
Princess Adora Enfeld: Sixteen years old, and cares little for the responsibilities of a princess. She puts up with the less fun parts of royal life grudgingly, but dreams of one day traveling the world and leaving her previous commitments behind.
Princess Andrea Enfeld: Would be thirteen currently, had she not died at age eleven from a heart condition. Despite her illness, which had troubled her since birth, she is remembered as an optimistic and resilient young girl.
Ophelia Kihime (soon Enfeld): Nineteen years old; a young woman from Naiador's upper crust. It is unknown whether her engagement to Alexander is for political or personal reasons, or a mix of the two, but the union will surely be beneficial in strengthening cross-cultural relations in Orandia.
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"What's a motto with you?"
Nation Name: Orandia
Three-Letter Code: ORA
Two-Letter Code: OR
Capital City: Aidnaro
Government: Westminster system
Head of Government: Queenie A. Astier
Head of State: Queen Aurélie Enfeld
Currency: orandi
Timezone: IAT (+0)
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The official national news outlet of Orandia brings you the latest, most important happenings in the nation!
Prince Alexander's Engagement Finally Announced!
Just yesterday, Crown Prince Alexander Enfeld publicly announced his engagement to Ophelia Kihime, a young woman from the lakeside city of Narodia--an unexpected choice indeed, but far from an unwelcome one. Born to a high-class family in the foggy capital of Pala, Ophelia's parents describe her as intelligent, thoughtful, and kind. She seems to be a good fit for the next queen of Orandia, but the reasoning behind Prince Alexander's choice remains a mystery. Some claim that Ophelia is a means of strengthening cross-cultural relations, while others think the two have simply fallen in love. Still others believe it was an effort on Alexander's part to please his parents and provide a stable future for the royal family. When asked about the reasoning for his choice, he told us, "Ophelia might not have been my richest suitor, nor the most well connected. But that matters little. What's more important is that she's got a good head on her shoulders, and she's more than ready to take up the responsibility of her new position. And," he continued, with a smile in Ophelia's direction, "she is someone I can see myself sharing my life with." Both of Alexander's parents have heartily given their approval of Ophelia and Alexander's engagement. The two plan to be wed shortly after the new year.
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Orandia's regional borders tend to be defined by environmental features such as rivers and mountain ranges. Warm-colored regions are mainly mountainous, yellow and green regions are dominated by forests, and purple and blue regions lie among Orandia's prosperous coastline. While each region has a unique name, the regional capitals are all anagrams of the name Orandia!
Some fun bits about the regions and their capitals:
-Haute-Claire, meaning "high-clear" in French, refers to the many tall mountains in the region–the tallest in all of Orandia. Haute-Claire contains both the highest elevation and the highest-elevation city in the nation, the latter being the regional capital of Nordiaa.
-Knapp is the heart of Orandia's agriculture industry. Farms and fertile riverbanks dot the relatively flat countryside here, and forested areas are still being cleared to make room for more farms.
-Naiador, the regional capital of Pala, sits beside a large lake. The local climate is so foggy that the city has gained a reputation for being mysterious.
-The twin cities of Dianaro and Narodia are situated on twin peninsulas, connected by two of the nation's longest bridges. They are also the regional capitals of Cople and Istul, respectively.
-Montrose is named for a species of pink wildflower that grows abundantly on mountainsides in the region, making them seem dotted with pink.
-Dainroa, a sizable port city, is the nation's largest exporter of fish.
-The forest, mountains, and coast all meet on the peninsula the Aidnaro region inhabits. Much like New York, New York, the region and its capital share a name.
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In the olden days of Orandia, there was no formal currency. People bartered and traded for whatever they needed. This system went on for a surprisingly long time nationwide, until finally tokens were introduced. These copper coins, fittingly decorated with the image of a fish, were worth the price of one fish, with differently sized coins corresponding to differently sized fish. Other items were either still traded or attributed a token value. However, when Orandia's contact with other nations increased and globalization became more prevalent, an official, formal currency was needed. Enter the orandi.
The orandi is a colorful, paper-and-coins currency that does not use decimals. 100 orandis is comparable to 100 yen. Today, it is used widely across the nation, and in all urban areas. Only in rare, old-fashioned fishing towns are fish coins still in use.
Orandi coins come in values of 1, 5, 25, and 50. Two and ten-orandi coins have been discontinued and are now little more than collectors' items. Each coin is simple, depicting only the number of its value along with a slightly raised border. Orandian bills, however, start at 100 orandis. Each one is a different color, with the 100-orandi bill being red, and features not important figures' faces, but instead select species of plant or animal. The featured flora and fauna on the bills is changed periodically: every twenty years, voters across the nation weigh in on what makes it onto the money. Older bills still remain in circulation.
Just months ago, at the beginning of 1420, the newest designs were unveiled and put into production. Surprisingly enough, this new set of currency is the first to not feature the national animal.
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On 5/9/2020 at 5:43 AM, Aelitia said:
Nation name: Orandia
3-Letter Code: ORA 2-Letter Code: OR
Capital City: Aidnaro
Government Type: Westminster system
The population of my nation is: Below Average / Average / Above average
The GDP per capita of my nation is: Below Average / Average / Above average
Government Spending - Which statement best describes your nation?
My nation provides moderate social programs, or a small selection of social programs.
x My nation has an extensive social safety net, or provides multiple programs like universal healthcare, welfare, and free tuition for its citizens
My nation does not provide social programs beyond bare necessities and/or high school educations.
My nation does not prioritize social spending, but engages in some large-scale government or public spending projects.
My nation’s government spending is a vast majority of our GDP, such as having to coordinate our import-dependent economy.
(this option is subject to Cartography Board approval)Military Indicator - Which statement best describes your nation?
My nation has made a commitment to security, and maintains a moderately sized modern armed forces within our means.
My nation has little incentive or political drive for military spending, but maintains a small-to-moderate modern armed forces.
My nation has prioritized military spending at the expense of other key areas and may have been criticized for lack of freedom or human rights issues.
x My nation does not prioritize military spending due to other priorities, the belief we are safe, or we don’t have enough money left over to fund it.
My nation is heavily embattled and we believe we face an existential threat.
(this option is subject to Cartography Board approval)Any other inspirations or concepts you want to share: Orandia has a large fishing industry; its coasts are dotted with fishing towns. Its people are largely peaceful, if reserved.
[Factbook] The Republic of Orandia (WIP)
in Atlas of the Occident - Map & Factbooks
Posted
Putting the map here to consolidate things.
Orandia's regional borders tend to be defined by environmental features such as rivers and mountain ranges. Warm-colored regions are mainly mountainous, yellow and green regions are dominated by forests, and purple and blue regions lie among Orandia's prosperous coastline. While each region has a unique name, the regional capitals are all anagrams of the name Orandia!
Some fun bits about the regions and their capitals:
-The name Haute-Claire refers to the many tall mountains in the region–the tallest in all of Orandia. Haute-Claire contains both the highest elevation and the highest-elevation city in the nation, the latter being the regional capital of Nordiaa.
-Knapp is the heart of Orandia's agriculture industry. Farms and fertile riverbanks dot the relatively flat countryside here, and forested areas are still being cleared to make room for farmland.
-Naiador, the regional capital of Pala, sits beside a large lake. The local climate is so foggy that the city has gained a reputation for being mysterious.
-The twin cities of Dianaro and Narodia are situated on twin peninsulas, connected by the nation's two longest bridges. They are also the regional capitals of Cople and Istul, respectively.
-Montrose is named for a species of pink wildflower that grows abundantly on mountainsides in the region, covering them with pink.
-Dainroa, a sizable port city, is the nation's largest exporter of fish.
-The forest, mountains, and coast all meet on the peninsula the Aidnaro region inhabits. The region and its capital share a name.