'ah-NAH-stee-yus and o-RAH-sah'
/a.ˈna.stiː.ˌjəs an̩d ɒ.ˈɹa.sa/
This is the official representative of the Republic of Anastius and Horasa, with a final message to the rest of the world. The islands are now closed to visitors. Good luck.
– Final radio transmission from Anastius & Horasa (2101)
In the face of endless crises and increasing numbers of people fleeing the mainland, Anastius & Horasa went into isolation in early 2101. It is unknown whether the contagion reached the islands before this point. Some see it as one last hope, a land untouched by disaster. Others more cynically conclude they all starved to death in months. For now, the hypotheses remain hypotheses – no one has visited the islands and returned.
Whilst we acknowledge the contributions of these nations, both historically and culturally, to these islands, it is our determination that it is within the interests of our people that the autonomous region controlled by the Bi-National Council of Anastius and Horasa and Associated Islands be formally recognised as an independent sovereign country, henceforth known as the Republic of Anastius and Horasa.
– Excerpt from the Declaration of Unification and Independence (1879)
Initially established in the 1700s as trading outposts for Luat na-Bonswi and Jotama respectively, the twin islands gradually became increasingly reliant on each other over their parent countries. The high level of trade and movement between the islands led to the formation of a shared council in 1850, culminating in their unification and independence in 1879. Perhaps its largest cultural export was the game of Parett. Rumours that this card game was used to determine elections are almost true; delegates from political parties did play Parett, but in a largely ceremonial manner with many unspoken agreements. The origins of this tradition come from an effort to ban duels in the government building, implemented after the infamous incident of 1865.
While initially dependent on trade to sustain their economy, the islands have now become self-sufficient under a direct democracy. Most of the island country's income in modern times came from exporting fruit and fish, along with tourism. Their foreign policy is famously harsh and their disappearance in 2101, while unpleasant, was not much of a surprise.
The international nature of the islands led to a hugely diverse culture, with the largest influences from Jotama and Luat na-Bonswi, but significant contributions from Din Talin and Eirsace too. The islands became a popular location for international boarding schools, giving students an opportunity to meet people from other cultures and gain a well-rounded view of the world. Religious institutions also implemented schools of their own, though children were required to attend at least a day a week at a secular place of education. Students were encouraged to attend the schools of multiple religions and faiths before choosing one to follow into adulthood.
Bausana: 31%
The Bulwark of Devotion: 2%
Evidentiality: 17%
Three Goddesses: 28%Cuan: 13%
Dearr: 8%
Talamh: 7%The Time Being: 12%
Other: 7%
No faith declared: 3%
Of which Spoilt Ballots: 1%
– Excerpt from 'Faith in Anastius & Horasa: 2070', a section of the Din Talin survey on the islands
Over time, as transportation methods developed, Anastius and Horasa became less of a trade hub and a popular location for monastic retreats, primarily Bausanan or for one of the three Goddesses, though preachers of The Bulwark of Devotion found a place too. It is rumoured that the islands have managed to remain a utopia (relatively speaking), whether through their ruthless isolation or divine intervention.
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Anastius & Horasa managed to avoid the worst of the natural disasters that have plagued the End, but encountered new difficulties after the failure of satellite navigation. For a while, they guided incoming boats by radio, but since their departure in 2101, the islands have been effectively lost.
This is the Hyperion, calling any receivers. Report: we have sighted Anastius & Horasa, I repeat we have sighted Anastius & Horasa. We are at longitude approximately–
– Last recorded message of the sailing ship Hyperion (2102)
As with most creoles, the language of Anastius and Horasa developed mostly accidentally. Contact between the Bonswi and Jotamase languages at first created a pidgin – that is, a set of words without a specific grammar used by traders without a mutual language – and then later became a fully grammatical language as children were brought up using the pidgin. The most notable aspects of this language are the sounds of Jotamese and the flexibility of Bonswi.
– From 'Languages of the World' by J. Finch
As with the language, so too was the naming scheme of Anastius and Horasa – a combination of elements from Jotama and Luat-na Bonswi. The differing levels of importance placed on surnames and first names ended up cancelling each other out throughout the development of the language: meaning was still preserved, with people emphasising what was important to them through their names, but not feeling beholden to them. The form of the names too was more subtle, with the fricative-focused Jotamese naming scheme being softened and brightened with added vowels and plosives.