Eriador
| The Dominion of Eriador | |||
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| Motto: For God and Country | |||
| Anthem: | |||
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| Map versions | ??? | ||
| Capital | Arkadi'os | ||
| Largest city | Arkadi'os | ||
| Official language(s) | Draconian (official) Standard (most common) Arboric | ||
| Official religion(s) | Draconic Umraism | ||
| Demonym | Eriadoran | ||
| - Adjective | Eriadoran | ||
| Government | Council-Style | ||
| - Princess | Yumika Hoshigawa | ||
| - Legislature | National Council | ||
| Establishment | Spring, 1695 AN (as Al Hamra) Summer, 1707 AN (as Eriador) | ||
| Area | NA | ||
| Population | 5,527,654 (1695 AN) 7,326,121 (1707 AN | ||
| Active population | NA | ||
| Currency | Guilder (£) | ||
| Calendar | |||
| Time zone(s) | |||
| Mains electricity | |||
| Driving side | |||
| Track gauge | |||
| National website | |||
| National forum | |||
| National animal | cobra | ||
| National food | Keltian cod | ||
| National drink | black wine | ||
| National tree | palm tree | ||
| Abbreviation | ERD | ||
The Free State of Eriador is a territory in the Imperial Federation. Formerly after the former city of the same name that was located in the center of this territory, the region consolidated with the chain of islands formerly under the rule of Scarterra to form the unified region of Eriador. The southern portion of the islands was originally a gift to Adrestia from the Emirate of Arbor to the nation of Adrestia, the territory still having a significant remnant of the former country's population living there. The majority religion is Umraism on the territory's central island of Arkadi'os, although the population on the other islands in the Eriadoran region mostly practice Draconic along with other native religions. Notably, there is a small population practicing Catalogism living on the fringes of the territory.
The territory's economy is mostly derived from trade between the other territories in Adrestia. Trade flowing from the north normally flows through the islands before arriving at either the regions of Nixtorm or Adrestia proper. The northern islands consist of mostly-independent baronies that answer to the southern government. Mostly agrarian societies, the islanders keep mostly to themselves and their fortified palaces, with the exception of the many naval bases the Imperial Federation (formerly Adrestia maintains on these islands to keep the Sunfire Sea secure from pirates and other ne'er-do-wells.
The islands have had an extremely quiet history since their annexation in 1695 AN. The islands' history took an abrupt course shortly after the Imperial Federation formed and repatriated the northern half of Scarterra's islands away from the region. In the Federation's act of trading the northern two islands to Calbion in a bid to restore them to their original heartland, the five barons of the southern half of the islands chose instead to remain. A conference was held to decide the islands' fate, after which the barons and Al Hamra government chose to consolidate in a bid to retain their quiet independence and status as a prime domestic trading region within the greater empire. The consolidation went into effect at the end of 1707 AN
Government
As a free territory in the Adrestian Empire, Al Hamra has a very high degree of internal autonomy within its government. It is governed by an appointed National Council that oversees the nation's lawmaking, led by a Prince elected from a ruling clan for a life term. Due to its non-sovereign status, the territory ultimately answers to the Imperial Prince (or King) of Adrestia, and as such may not pass laws in contravention with the Royal or Imperial laws of the rest of the Ralgon Empire.
The Prince
The Prince (or Princess) of Al Hamra is appointed by the National Council upon the death or abdication of the previous Prince. Although the position is not hereditary, this has not been established as only one monarch has sat the territory's throne so far: Princess Yumika Hoshigawa, elected upon the territory's formation to represent it in late 1694 AN. The Princess largely acts as a figurehead, although she has the power of veto over Council decrees as well as laws drafted by the National Assembly. As an official member of the Royal Court of Adrestia, the Princess also represents the country at periodic summits held at Gondolin, where plans are laid down that determine the direction of the larger country's future.
The Princess has no power to pass executive actions, that being a power turned over to the Council shortly after the territory's formation. However, she does have the power to approve or deny Cabinet appointments, but has no power to select candidates for the job. During times of war, command of the territory's security forces shifts to her, with Imperial Self Defense forces falling under the command of the Royal Court of Adrestia.
Legislature
National Council
The National Council, the country's upper house of the legislature, consists of twenty people, eighteen of which elected to ten year terms in popular elections. The Council represents four districts: East Island, Central Island, and West Island, along with the region's capital city of Arkadi'os, which hosts some 60% of the territory's population. Every five years, two representatives are elected from each district to sit on the Council, and one other is appointed by the Prince or Princess of Al Hamra to replace the outgoing incumbent. According to the region's constitution, each Councilor may only serve one term before stepping down.
The Council has the power to pass one-time executive actions not regarding finances. (Any permanent or lasting rule changes, as well as actions requiring financial expenditures must be passed through the Assembly.) It can also appoint non-members to fill cabinet positions within the territory, direct the territory's security forces during times of emergency, and veto legislation passed by the Assembly. While the Council has no power to propose laws, it can still make amendments to any legislation passed by the Assembly and send it back. On occasion, the Council may strike down a piece of legislation. Or, it may override a veto from the Princess with a 75% majority vote. To date, this has not yet been attempted.
Popular Assembly
Because of the government's small size and wide range of existing powers, a lower house was also created to assist the Princess and the Council: The National Popular Assembly. This body of the legislature consists of 100 people, all elected once per year by proportional, party-based representation to pass laws proposed by the Council. Unlike the Council, the Assembly may propose laws, rules, and financial budgets. It may, with a majority vote, bar persons from serving in the Cabinet. With a 75% majority vote, it may override a Council rejection of a proposal and send it directly to the Princess for passage. (Usually, though, she acts on the Council's advice more often than the Assembly's.)
History
Formed in the closing days of 1694 AN, the territory was a national gift from the Emirate of Arbor to the Holy Ralgon Empire, or more specifically, to Adrestia. Seeing a significant portion of former Batavians and Arborians remain behind with settlers from mainland Adrestia, a government was quickly formed to ensure the peaceful atmosphere remained intact on the islands. The capital city, Arkadi'os, was named in traditional Draconic naming conventions, after the Emir of Arbor's former name, Arkadius IV, now known as Sultan Mamoud of Arbor.
Free passage from Arbor to the territory, as well as to all practitioners of Umraism and closely related religions was swiftly implemented by the government upon Adrestia's approval. The territory quickly became a trading hub between the newly resurrected territory of Nixtorm (now located just off the Keltian coast) and Scarterra (a collection of isolated baronies situated on various islands to the north). Trade with Adrestia proper grew quickly, although the region was passed over as a strategic navy base in favor of the vast natural harbors provided by the twin cities Port Bael'os and Nobunag'an City directly to the east, at the northern fringe of Adrestia's mainland.
The selection and elections of the national government were completed by the opening days of 1695 AN, and Princess Yumika formally introduced herself to the Adrestian Royal Court that same year. The islands enjoyed an extremely quiet history since their annexation in 1695 AN, even escaping the worst of the division and conflict that characterized the Ralgon War of Succession.
However, the islands' famously quiet history took an abrupt course shortly after the Imperial Federation formed and repatriated the northern half of Scarterra's islands away from the region, and to their old homelands in Drag'os. In the Federation's act of trading the northern two islands to Calbion in a bid to restore them to their original heartland, the five barons of the southern half of the islands were given the choice to also repatriate, but chose instead to remain. Another conference was held to decide the islands' fate, as it was clear that Scarterra in the Sunfire Sea was no more. After several months of deliberation, the barons chose to petition their southern brethren in Al Hamra to consolidate in a bid to retain their quiet independence and status as a prime domestic trading region within the greater empire.
When the petition was approved, it the consolidation went into effect at the end of 1707 AN, after which the Baronial system and the Princely system of the new consolidated territory assimilated into one another, and thereby went into effect. When asked to choose a name for the new territory, the Barons and the Princess's government mutually agreed to pay homage to the ancient peoples of old Menelmacar and name it in their traditions. After some time, the fertile, paradise-like climate of the islands led the committee to choose the name "Eriador" for the islands. The north group is called "Forod Eriador" and continues to fall under the dominion of the Barons, while the south in "Harad Eriador" continues to see more community involvement from the Princess, while each side of the Eriadoran peoples acclimate to their new form of government.
The new Dominion retains the old autonomy Al Hamra formerly enjoyed, and its status in the midst of the Sunfire Sea is highly strategic to the Imperial Federation. Thus, the region continues to see concessions such as devolved powers and discounted tax regimes lent towards the consolidated territory's modest population. In 1707 AN, the confirmation of the Princess Yumika was conducted, and passed unanimously among the new government, giving her a mandate to serve at the helm for another thirteen years, until her scheduled retirement in 1720 AN in favor of the next Prince of Princess of Eriador.
