Summary

This free-spirited country remains a grateful protectorate of the British Commonwealth, following the War of the Pacific.

The greatest population density is in the southeast, where Melbourne and Sydney contain almost half the population. This large city complex is also the home of the country’s industry, technology and magic centers. The third biggest city, is Darwin, located in the extreme north.  Perth, the nation’s capital, is located in the southwest and remains important for being the seat of government, but not much else.  Population density in the interior of the nation is minimal and much of the interior has yet to be adequately explored.

The most magic and holy location in the nation, Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, a massive rock formation in central Australia, has become a place of reverence for mages, spiritualists, and hucksters.

Australia’s main industries are ranching for cattle and sheep, the booming vacuum tube industry, and its many natural mineral resources, including gold, opals, bauxite and uranium.

History

Darwin was a small town in 1930. However, the constant defense of the area by the British and Anzac military against attacks by the Japanese, during the War of the Pacific, ballooned the city’s population.  It is now the largest and most important port in the nation, and is connected to the rest of the nation by a series of highways and trains.

There was a new gold rush in 1964, when Harvey Scott, who quickly became something of a celebrity, tripped over a 2 pound gold nugget on his sheep station just south of Wallaroo. The area exploded in activity, which saw a rise in crime, both organized and unorganized. Within two years, it became clear that the discovery was a fluke, and most prospectors left the area. Scott himself bought a special dispensation from the government and opened a resort casino, which quickly failed as well.

As is well known, the country was used as a depository for criminals of the British Empire, starting in 1788.   While the extended efforts during the War of the Pacific curbed some of the Australian bent for bucking authority, it is still home to many Strowlers, both in the cities and in the country.

Upon seeing the success of the Maori revolt in Aotearoa (formerly New Zealand), the Aboriginal Australians attempted their own uprising in 1945. This was quickly put down and most of the native population was devastated.  The Aborigine population has yet to recover and they remain second class citizens at best.

Rulers

Australia remains a member of the British Empire, so the rule of the nation still falls under the House of Windsor.  However, local rule falls under that of the Australian Parliament and the Prime Minister.  The current Prime Minister, who has been in power since 2002, is Barnaby Wattle, a cattle baron from Kalgoorlie.  His wife is Jessica Wattle née Falstorm, a soap opera actress.

Magic

Like many of the Pacific nations, Australia is the home of Aboriginal magic, which remains largely incomprehensible to the Western mind.  The few Aborigines that still live in this land have retreated to the bush, continuing to practice Spirit Walking and their intricate native beliefs.  A few “bush mages” have sought out this wisdom, forsaking Western arcanological practices, and taken up the beliefs of The Mother Home.

The center of these practices is Uluru, the massive rock formation in the center of Australia, where The Mother’s energy is centered.