Yathar

Yathar, officially known as the Third Yathari Republic (Yathari: Treas Poblachd Yàtharnach), is a country in Limmo-Neapolia.

Etymology
Yathar comes from the Ottenian word Jathlykan which means Sacred Place.

History
Limmerian tribes settled in modern-day Yathar and parts of northern Skuobia. They formed their own kingdom, which grew and grew.

Republican Era (1976-2015)
Main article: First Yathari Republic

In the late 1900s, the monarchy was abolished after a severe scandal, and thus, a republic was established following an election. This period is nicknamed the Era Poblachtach (Republican Era). During the Republican Era, Yathar was a well-functioning democracy, friendly to neighboring countries.

The economy was doing great, and many countries were investing in Yathar. Yathar also had a special relationship with Jochaena, being a really close ally and trading partner.

And of course, the tragedy of Neapolia was about to strike Yathar too. Starting from the 2010s, its economy began to experience a catastrophic recession, which caused the people to revolt against the country. Things escalated when in 2015, the military launched a coup d'état against the democratic regime, appointing Dòmhnall MacCorcadail.

Dòmhnall MacCorcadail's reign of terror (2015-2024)
Main article: Second Yathari Republic

As soon as he seized power with the help of the military, Dòmhnall MacCorcadail declared a nation-wide state of emergency in a live TV address. He then took iniative of this, and enacted a series of oppressive policies, including the suppression of freedom of speech, imprisonment of dissidents, and the banning of opposition political parties.

In a speech, he accused Jochaena and its people of "ruining Yathar" and "colonizing it", and then started to unleash a brutal and aggressive foreign policy. Jochaena, which at the time... Well, if you know, you know.... praised the Era Poblachtach for it's economic prosperity, was upset with the changes. But it got worse real fast.

Dòmhall then started to arrest innocent people, accused of terrorism and bigotry. Many innocent civilians were executed, with one man apparently having his limbs torn off one by one, and forced to eat An-iochd, a toxic purpleish substance which tasted like chocolate, but made the person explode. Dòmhall also attempted to "cleanse" all Jochaenan and foreign influence, declaring himself An Dia deireannach (The Ultimate God). Those who refused to use this term before naming him were tortured and killed.

The most infamous massacre in Yathar occured on Christmas Eve 2019, where 182 Jochaenans and 10 political opponents were dragged to a sports stadium, where guards dressed in Santa costumes fired on them, killing 170 of them. The remaining 22 were forced to dig a ditch and were eaten by lions afterwards.

In 2021, after most political opponents were dead or being tortured, the dictatorship was made official. Dòmhall suspended the parliament, modified the constitution by giving him near-absolute power, and declared himself president for life. All the wealth the Republican government accumulated with its economic growth was now in complete control of Dòmhall and its closest allies, nicknamed the Oligarchs. He spent billions on himself, and made the situation worse for the people.

He became even more ruthless in later years, often bringing criminals (often accused) to his lavish villas, and feeding them to crocodiles. The last straw was when in 2023, he ordered the military occupation of Lofluaria, accusing them of plotting a terrorist attack. The occupation saw immense atrocities, with civilians being massacred and entire towns being burned.

Massive unrest then broke out in the country soon after, as the people realized that Dòmhall has gone crazy, but he got even crazier.

Jochaclia then cut all ties with the tyrannical government and, allied with the Lofluarian government-in-exile, former republican politicians, and other countries to launch Operation: Green Storm. Dòmhall was then deposed and an interim government ruled by Gillebeart MacCrìsdein was put in place. He would be executed shortly after, in the same brutal way he and his minions used to murder prisoners. This was the last execution ever done in Yathar.

Third Republic and tensions with Skuobia (2024-present)
Yathar began a transition to a democracy as soon as interim president and former Ministry of Education Gillebeart MacCrìsdein took power, but the outcome was somewhat flawed. The transition was completed in 2032 when Gillebeart agreed to resign after protests demanding "an immediate democracy". A snap election was called, won by Raibeart MacPhòil.

Yathar is now back to being multi-party democracy, although its not as prosperous as the former republic. Its economy continued to grow, but at a lesser extent, and had to pay the damages for the brutal dictatorship to Jochaena and Lofluaria ever since. Since the 2050s, tensions began rising with Skuobia, often plotting terrorist acts in the country. A 2053 scandal in fact involved a hijack of Yathari TV with cat noises, which prompted anger.

The final nail in the coffin was in 2058 following a terrorist attack in Pelermo, when all-out war broke out between the two countries and Jochaena, leading to the outbreak of the Third Yenaulian War.

Stay safe
Yathar is a country that is generally safe for travelers, however, it is important to take extra caution in crowded areas where pickpocketing and petty theft is more common. While most of the country is peaceful, the regions bordering Skuobia have been in a tumultuous conflict since 2058 and due to this, many governments advise against all travel to this region. Although the two countries are not at war, military and police presence is active in border areas with Catruosia. This is to protect travelers from the potential risks of kidnapping and forced military service in Catruosia. These abductions are thankfully rare occurrences due to the strong presence of troops. With the right precautions, visitors can enjoy the unique culture and stunning landscape of Yathar without worry.