Azehtyl Ethnographical Questionnaire

Dr. Zahir’s Ethnographical Questionnaire was compiled by David Zahir to help in the description of concultures, and can be found in the files section of the Conculture group at Yahoo.

Questions of Place

Describe the geography of where your society calls home.

The Geography is relatively flat however the landscape is dominated by an overgrown railway. The nation is nearly a half mile in diameter and about 1/3rd of it comprises the Capital City. Most areas outside of the Capital City have been explored however for nearly 2/3rds of the year the Rails are so overgrown that they are relatively impassable.

Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?

The climate of the Free State belongs to a climatic transition zone, at the northern limit of the humid subtropical climate and the southern limit of the humid continental climate zone with an average yearly temperature of 45f in the winter and 64f in the summer, however there have been reports of temperatures as low as -25f in the winter and as high as 108f in the summer. Summers are hot and humid and Winters are cold and snowy. January averages the coldest month; with July the hottest. In winter the accumulated overgrowth in and around Whiskey Road (feutabasina baķeli) dies and is cut down, and normal traffic resumes until late spring when it all grows back.

What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?

Azehtyl deals with many bad thunderstorms during the Summer; Lightening has struck trees in the capital, storms have flooded the capital many times and high winds have caused considerable damage. There have been only 1 Tornado and 1 Hurricane to hit the nation in the last decade, and both only caused minor damage.

What are the most commonly-grown foods?

The most commonly grown foods are strawberries, squash, beans, radishes, cabbage, turnips, tomatoes, green beans, kale, collard greens, spinach and a number of edible mushrooms. Azehtyl has a very well developed foraging culture and strives to grow enough food to need to only import a small amount of things from the United States. Most of the capital city is covered by Farms and Gardens which are tended to by the entire community.

What are the most commonly-eaten meats?

The most commonly eaten meats are chicken, beef, pigs and lamb imported from the United States as the only domesticated animals the Azehtylik People keep are chickens which are kept for eggs. Azehtyl has an excellent culinary tradition stemming from a general appreciation for the finer things in life. Azehtyl's culinary tradition draws from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Coastal America and many other places.

What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?

Imported Whiskey is common in the Capital, however all across the nation you will find locally brewed Beer, Wine and Liquors being drunk by people from the ages of 14-15 years and older. Azehtyl is known for its Winter Ale and its Dandelion Wine, and also its Nocino, a sticky dark-brown liquor that originated in Northern Italy. Absinthe is considered a delicacy and is very rare in the nation.

Is there usually enough food and water for the population?

No one in the Nation goes starving, all citizens are given at least enough to survive. Recently Azehtyl has been working on securing its on Water Supply, however at the moment it pipes in most of its water from the United States. The Farms and Gardens in the Capital City provide a good portion of the food supply during late spring through late fall and the rest is imported from the United States. As its stands the nation simply does not have the space for large scale agriculture and so therefor must rely on foreign powers.

What is this place's most abundant resource?

The most abundant resource of the nation is Clay, which can be found in unusually high quantities near the surface (however this adversely means that crop rotation must be strictly enforced so as not to deplete the thin soil of its nutrients.) One other natural resource is Timber which Azehtyliks will store during the a summer for use in winter to heat their homes. Another major resource is Scraps found alongside the US and Azehtyl portions of Whiskey Road, as Azehtyliks' are very fond of repurposing anything they can and living as sustainably as they can.

What is its most valuable resource?

Azehtyl's most valuable resource is its scrap metal which has been found, modified and repurposed into everything form Walls to Rail Cars to Cities. Azehtyl has been known to export Scrap Metal to the United States at times, however this is not as common as one might think. A majority of money brought into the nation however comes in the form of Renasian foreign aid and Labor Export to the United States, with limited trading with a few nations such as the United States and Gishabrun.

What resource is it most lacking?

Azehtyl is most lacking in Energy esp. Natural Gas and Coal. Azehtyl has yet to set up any system of Solar or Wind Power, despite the general praise of that system, and therefor must import Electricity and Natural Gas (To a lesser extent) in order to power the nation In the case of termination or interruption of power from the United States, Azehtyl has stashes of Food and Supplies and also back up Gasoline Generators in the Capitol.

How do people travel from one place to another?

People travel within the nation either by walking or by bicycle due to the small size of the nation. There have been propositions by certain citizens that call for the construction of a railcar, however this project has yet to be completed and will not be for the foreseeable future.

Are the borders secure? In what way?

The Borders to the nation by way of the Whisky Road Border are secure to the North and South, however the ends are open to foot traffic from the US as the Border is not marked. The North and South border of Whisky Road is blocked off by trees and a few state built fences. During the Summer, however, foot traffic is nearly non existent due to how overgrown the Road is.

How many people live here?

At the time of writing Azehtyl has a population of 5 people with 4 being permanent residents.

Questions of Faith

What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural

events/beings do people fear?